*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
Della did as Roman instructed her to do. She went home to wait for him to call for her. Days had passed since they had last spoken and she was beginning to think that maybe he wouldn't come for her and that he wouldn't send for her. She truly loved him and held out hope for the time he would come but even then she was unsure if that time would even come. She was growing hopeless as each day had passed but through her hopelessness and her waiting she was spending more time with Dr. Rollins and helping him take care of her mother as she also took care of their home, cooking dinner, taking care of the children and schooling the older children. Seth watched her each day interact with the children, interact with her mother and that was the wife he wanted, the mother he wanted for his children. He was falling in love with her more each day as Della was growing more impatient waiting for Lord Reigns to rescue her. "How is my mother doing today?" asked Della as she returned inside after milking their cow for the milk she would use for breakfast and collecting the eggs from their chickens that she would use for breakfast.
"She's doing quite well," answered Seth with a soft smile. "She's getting stronger each day. The herbs are working, Dell," he said.
"That's wonderful news!" she said with excitement. "I do want my mother to grow well again. My brothers and sisters need her because I won't be here much longer."
"She is getting there," he said as he followed Della to the small kitchen as he left Stephanie in their family room on a cot to drink the tea he had made for her. "Do you need some help?" he asked. "I can help you with breakfast."
"I can manage," she said with a soft smile. "But thank-you."
"You know you do so much and you're wonderful at it," he said as he wraps his arm around her tiny waist as she places the milk down on the wooden counter. "Are you ready to be my wife, Della?" he asked. "I cannot force you to marry me. You're too wonderful a woman to be forced into marriage."
"But what about the promise my grandfather made? How will my father pay you if you and I don't wed?" she asked.
"They won't have to worry about it," he said, "Della, I just want you to be happy but you're so timid with me and cautious with me. You're afraid to open up around me and you don't seem to be joyous when you're in my company, how could a marriage possibly work if I cannot bring my wife happiness," he said.
"You don't want to wed?" she asked confused. "I thought you wanted to make me your wife."
"Della, I do more than anything but if you're not happy how can we have a good marriage. Marriage shouldn't be about paying debts or being promised a hand in marriage it should be about love and happiness. I want to make you happy, Della and I want to love you but I can't make you love me and if you're not with the one you love how can you achieve true happiness?" he asked causing her heart to melt. For the first time she was seeing Seth in a new light, seeing him as someone different; a man that truly loved her and wanted her best interest at heart. He wanted her happiness above his own. That was true love to her.
"Maybe you can make me happy," she said softly. "I'm willing to try."
"You want to try a marriage?" he asked as he turned her to face him.
"Yes," she said. "I do. You have been so wonderful for my mother. You made her well. Your hard work shouldn't be free. My grandfather promised me to you and while you say it's not about a promise but love and happiness. I wouldn't be happy unless I tried to make you happy and kept my grandfather's promise to you."
"Does this mean you'll marry me?" he asked with a smile. "Della, will you be my wife?"
"Yes," she said with a smile. "I'll be your wife," she promised him even if her heart belonged to Roman she could make her heart belong to Seth. He cared so much for her. His feelings for her did not go unnoticed by Della. He was always offering to help her with the children, offering to help her cook dinner. "I'll marry you," she reinstated making a big smile come across his face.
"Oh, Della!" he said with a smile as he wrapped his arms around her. He picked her up and swung her around. She smiled at his happiness before she kissed his lips softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slid his tongue over her plump soft lips, parting them and dipped his tongue into her mouth, kissing her so sweetly and soft something Roman never did. He was always aggressive and rough with his kisses and his passions for her. Seth was more subtle more gentle with her, his hands kneading softly in her back as they shared a soft and sweet passionate kiss as Hunter came into the kitchen clearing his throat.
"Papa," she said as Seth broke the kiss placing her down on her feet. Della straightened her skirts with embarrassment and her cheeks flushed as her father looked over at her.
"Della," he said with a soft smile. "How are you today?"
"I'm well," she answered nervously as Seth wrapped his arm around her waist holding him close to him.
"Seth," he nodded.
"Mr. Helmsley," he nodded back. "I apologize for that. I seemed to have lost my mind through my joy."
"Through your joy?" asked Hunter.
"Yes, Sir, you see Della has agreed to be my wife. She has said yes," he announced with so much happiness in his voice that it made Della smile.
"Congratulations," he said with a smile before he shook Seth's hand. "I'm happy for both of you. We'll start to plan the wedding, you'll be wed before you leave for Spain."
"Of course," said Seth with a proud and happy smile. "I would not return back to Spain without my beautiful wife," he said with a smile as he looked at Della.
"I need to begin breakfast," announced Della. "I apologize."
"Della," said Hunter stopping her. "How about you take the day off? Adelle can tend to the children today and take care of things around the house. Seth you're free to have the afternoon off. I will tend to Stephanie today. You two enjoy the afternoon together," he suggested. "Take the time to get to know each other and enjoy each other's company. You'll be married soon. It's better to know each other before the day comes."
"Are you sure, Papa?" asked Della.
"Yes," he said with a smile. "Take the day for yourselves."
"Thank-you," she said with a smile as she walked over to hug him. He hugged her back. "I love you, Papa."
"I love you too, Della. Seth is going to make you a happy woman and give you everything that Roman never could," he said making her heart hurt. "You'll have a good life and you won't be a farmer's wife," he promised her. "I'm happy for you." He said before he kissed her cheek softly. "Enjoy the day!"
Della and Seth took her father's advice and spent the afternoon together so they could get to know each other and enjoy each other's company on the unusually warm autumn day that wasn't graced with rain but a beautiful shining sun and a clear blue sky. Seth took Della on a tour of the countryside in his carriage before they settled in a courtyard with a beautiful view of the countryside with wildflowers growing around them to enjoy a picnic lunch that Adelle had packed for them. Seth spread a blanket out for them on the bright green grass and placed the picnic basket out on the blanket before he began to pull out their meal for the day. He handed a portion to Della and kept a portion for himself. They sat and ate enjoying the scenery around them. When they finished their lunch Seth laid on his side carelessly as Della laid beside him on the blanket after cleaning up. "Why did you choose Spain?" she asked.
"Spain is one of the best countries in the world," he answered. "Have you ever been?"
"I don't travel much," she answered honestly. "I have never left England."
"I understand," he said as he took her hand into his, lacing their fingers together. "Spain offered me more opportunities and they accepted my practices of medicine in a way that England never would. I also find Spain to be a beautiful place to live. I have always wanted to live in Spain."
"I'm sure it is beautiful," she said softly. "And you like practicing medicine?"
"I do," he said. "I have always wanted to be a physician. I wanted to help people heal from illness and help them heal from injuries."
"What kind of illnesses have you cured and what kind of injuries have you healed?" she asked.
"I have cured Scarlet Fever, colds and many other diseases. Scarlet Fever is the worst I have worked with," he answered. "And I treat injuries such as broken bones and wounds from battle. I helped the Spanish army with their injuries after the war. I take great pride in what I do."
"You seemed to be a wonderful doctor. You made my mother well again. I didn't think she would survive her illness. Have you ever dealt with the plague?" she asked.
"No, I can't say that I have," he answered. "The plague is one of the worst illnesses a physician could ever come across. The plague will kill anyone in its wake," he answered. "Most physicians that come across it don't survive it. That's why there's no cure. And the only thing we can do is bury those that have died from it to kill off the infection and keep it from spreading. It has remained dormant for a while I hope that it does so."
"Where did it originate from?" she asked curious about his profession and the things he deals with when it comes to his profession.
"I believe it began in China and India and made its way to England," he answered her, "but like I mentioned it has been dormant for years now. I don't expect it to make an appearance again."
"I should hope not," she said with a smile. "Do you have any siblings?" she asked.
"I have a brother that's 2 years older than me and I have a sister 2 years younger than me," he answered. "I know you have a lot of siblings. Are your younger siblings the only ones you have are you the eldest?"
"No, I have an older brother and an older sister but we don't hear from them much. They made a new life for themselves away from our family. It is rare we ever see them or receive word from them."
"I see," he said. "I am envious of your relationship with your mother and papa. I don't speak to my parents much. When I moved to Spain we lost touch. My mother didn't want me to live in Spain. She wanted me to stay in England with her but I wanted to go to new land, venture into a new life that had bigger opportunities. Have you ever wanted to do that? You know just escape from your life, find something bigger, be more than you were meant to be?" he asked making her smile.
"All the time," she answered. "My papa always made it seem I would be a farmer's wife, live on a farm and continue my life as a farmer. I never wanted that. I don't want that life. I always wanted something bigger."
"You don't like the farm life?" he asked.
"No," she answered. "I don't want to be a farmer or a farmer's wife. I want more from life."
"I understand, I didn't either," he said shocking her.
"You were a farmer?"
He smiled and answered, "my grandfather was a farmer. I was the son of a preacher and a farmer's daughter. I understand the farm life. I would never wish to be a farmer myself. My grandfather wanted me to be a farmer but my father wanted me to go into the ministry but I wanted to be a physician. I became what I wanted to be and my parents weren't happy about it. I am all about happiness in life. You have to be happy to enjoy life. Being a physician is what makes me happy just like I would never force you to marry me because it wouldn't make you happy but since you said yes I know I can make you happy. I want to make you happy."
"You already do," she said with a smile as she rubbed his arm softly.
"And I will never force our children to do what they wouldn't want to do. They can be whatever they wish," he said making her smile. "You do wish for children don't you, Della?"
"Of course, Seth," she answered. "I enjoy children."
"As do I," he said as he brushed a piece of her dark hair from her face. "You're beautiful," he said making her smile. "Your eyes are the color of summer skies and your hair is soft and beautiful. You're perfect. I wish to produce a lot of children with you. I have seen you with your siblings. You're wonderful with them you're going to make a wonderful mother," he said making her smile. "Do you truly wish to be my wife?"
"Yes, Seth, I do," she answered with a smile.
"And what of the Earl? I thought you were in love with the Earl?" he asked.
"He's to be wed to Lady Amelia," she answered. "I would be nothing more than a mistress," she said still feeling some type of connection and love for Roman. She would be willing to be his mistress but Seth could give her the life she wished for that Roman could not.
"You deserve to be more than a mistress," he smiled. "You deserve to have the world, to be happy and to be loved whole heartedly. I can do that for you, Della. I can make you the happiest woman in the world. I can give you the world. I can't give you a title but I can give you my heart. I can give you the respect that you deserve. To be a mistress is below who you are and what you deserve. You deserve to be a respected wife of a respectable man, a supporter and an encourager. I look forward to you supporting me and encouraging me the rest of my life. Della, I can make you happy, I will make you happy."
"I don't have any doubt," she smiled. "I want to be happy," she said.
"Well, Della, Baby, I'm going to make you happy," he said with a smile before he kissed her lips softly and sweetly. Della had seen Seth in a new light, she saw him as a different man. When he arrived to her home he was nothing more than a physician that she was going to be forced to marry but she never thought that she would develop feelings for him, that she could possibly fall in love with him but she never thought she would be willing to marry him. He was much different than Roman. Roman promised her a life of a mistress while Seth promised her a life of love and happiness. She wasn't sure if she truly had Roman's heart or not but what she was sure of is that Roman had her heart and she had Seth's heart but Seth partly had her heart.
*A/N: Do you think Seth and Della have gotten closer while she's been waiting for Roman? What do you think of Della promising to marry Seth? Do you think they will get married, will she go through with it? What do you think of their date? Are you surprised to learn that Seth's grandfather was a farmer? Why do you think Seth chose to go into the medical field instead of being a minister or farmer? What did you think of Seth willing to let Della go so she can be happy? Do you think Roman will ever come to take Della away like he promised? Do you think Della can love Seth or that she may already be in love with him? Please review and thank-you for reading.