“I'm amazed how much has been done since I last saw the house!”
Rose turned slowly, taking in the main room of the house as Gillis leaned against one of the freshly painted walls and watched. “Was that even there the last time?” she said, pointing to the large fireplace. “And the color of the walls … this room is perfect. I mean, I'm sure it's perfect for you,” she amended quickly, and turned to study the mantle with great interest.
The movement wasn't lost on Gillis, but he kept his chuckle to himself and schooled his face into a neutral expression as she turned back to him. “'I'm happy to hear someone say they like it,” he said, and motioned Rose into the next room. “In here, I put the kitchen,” he said, standing behind her as she stepped into the room.
Despite the fact that the room wasn't finished yet, Rose could easily envision what it would look like, and was impressed by the detail. She moved through the well lit space, running her fingers along the stone and wood counters. “The oven is large enough to feed a whole village!” she exclaimed, passing by it, and then stuck her head into the pantry on the far end. “Lots of space for everything a cook could want. My mother would love this!” She turned and smiled broadly at Gillis.
“Well, it's certainly clear that you love it,” Gillis replied lightly, though he stood straighter as he continued the tour with her. “Of course, you had such good ideas for everything, that I simply took most of your suggestions,” he added, motioning towards a door off to the side. “The sitting room for instance.”
“I'm sure you had some lovely ideas as well,” Rose mumbled, turning pink at the praise as she peered into the room. “Oh! I can imagine sitting and watching the sunrise from here,” she said, motioning towards the windows along the far wall.
Gillis stood at the doorway, and watched as Rose headed over to the window to look outside, studying her reaction intently as she exclaimed over the view. “Best view in the house,” he agreed, his eyes never leaving her. “If you wish, we could have lunch in here.”
Rose reluctantly tore her gaze from the view of the outdoors, and turned back to Gillis. “Lunch? Well, of course, we could. But I'd hardly want to be a bother, everyone being busy and ...”
“You're hardly a bother, Miss Rose,” Gillis raised his hand to halt the flow of words. “And I do believe I invited you to eat. Besides,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “I hear a certain young woman has a particular fondness for berry pies, and I happen to have bought one from the best baker in the market.”
“Well, that's true ...” she frowned a moment, before the rest of what he said registered. “Berry pie? One of mother's new berry tarts?” Her expression perked up as he nodded. “Those are her best ones yet! She let me try one when she was testing out the recipe! You're in for a real treat!”
“We, Miss Rose, not me,” he chuckled, and motioned her to sit down. “You're eating as well, remember? Now, relax and I'll go get the food.”
Before Rose could formulate a response, he had turned and walked away, leaving her shaking her head. “He is certainly a stubborn man,” she said to the air around her, and sat down on a bench beneath the window to look outside again. It's amazing, how much he's gotten done in the past couple of weeks, and so much of it is almost as I saw it in my head. She traced the window sash as she stared out the window, hardly seeing the sunlit stream as she imagined what it would be like to live in the house when it was complete – the kitchen smelling of fresh baking, the rooms warm and cozy from the fireplaces, children laughing as they played outdoors. So deep in thought was she that she didn't hear Gillis return.
“Here,” he said, clearing his throat to get her attention as he headed towards the bench to set the tray down. “I hope you like everything. Other than the pies, I wasn't really sure what you might like.”
“It all looks just fine,” she said, looking down, and reached for a slice of bread. “I like most any food, really, so long as it's cooked well.”
Gillis nodded, taking a seat on the other end of the bench, and the two sat companionably together and talked while they ate. Back and forth they went on, and soon Rose was smiling merrily as Gillis recounted a tale from his boyhood. “You did not really put a mouse in your mother's stocking drawer!” she exclaimed.
“Most certainly did, but what else was a fellow to do? Didn't have anywhere else to put it. Still,” he added ruefully, “I did learn that my ma wasn't overly fond of small, furry animals. I thought for sure I'd not hear again after the hollaring I received from her. Not to mention the whooping my pa gave me when he came home from the fields.”
Rose squealed in laughter as he stood up and rubbed the affected backside. “Oh my! That's almost as bad as the time I decided mother's flour would be a great way to cover the spots on my face! I can still see the look on her face when she came into the kitchen, and I was covered head to toe.”
Shaking his head, Gillis offered her his hand as he helped her up.”I can only imagine you all covered in white. Though, those spots,” he reached over and ran his finger along the freckles on her nose, “are rather nice. It's a good thing flour doesn't stick.”
“They're not cute,” Rose replied, blushing as she stepped back. “But try as I might, I've never been able to get rid of them.”
“Think as you wish,” Gillis shrugged and let his hand drop to his side.
Rose looked down and scuffed her foot on the floor. “I should probably get home, before my parents come looking for me. Ever since … well, since I've returned home ...”
“Yes,” Gillis said, his voice taking on a sharp edge that had Rose looking up in surprise. “Can't say I blame them,” he added, forcing his tone lighter and offering Rose a smile. “And your father knows where you are ...” he grinned wider as Rose's eyes widened. “Well, you didn't think I'd bring you here again and not tell him first, did you? Besides, I had something I needed to ask him, so you came up.”
“Ask him? Business? He is a wood carver, so I imagine ...” she trailed off at the amused expression on Gillis' face. “What?”
“What I had to discuss with your father,” he said, as he led her back to the main room, “had naught to do with business.”
“Then what?” Rose asked, tilting her head at him.
“I was asking his permission to court his daughter.”
Seconds ticked by as Rose thought about this, her face creased in concentration. “But … I'm his only daug … me?! But why?”
“Thought by now it was pretty obvious why Miss Rose. But I'll leave you to figure it out.”
Rose stared at his face, watching various emotions play across it – amusement, patience, pain – before it dawned on her. “You … like me?” she asked quietly.
“No, Rose. I love you ...”
