‘I only thought…’ Matthias was stumped, stupefied. What happened next was up to Rosie. He had made it plain by his gift that he had intentions towards her. Now, how would she react? He held his breath. A proverb raced to mind – fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Rush? He pondered on the word as Rosie lifted the heavy pail to the ground. Before this moment he had never given her the slightest idea he saw her as anything other than a little girl. He should have tried to find out how Rosie felt about him first, before making this declaration to her. Matthias frowned, all the family had thought he was interested in Rosie because of his more frequent visits. Couldn’t one of them have hinted that he might be interested in her? Then this wouldn’t be so difficult and embarrassing now.

Completely taken aback, Rosie said, ‘I’ll find a crock to put them in, Preacher.’

He had been staring anxiously at her pale face trying to read her reaction. ‘Eh?’

‘Thank you,’ she nodded at his hand, ‘for the flowers.’

‘Oh! Yes, of course.’

Matthias stepped forward with the flowers in his extended hand. Rosie accepted them and a smile brightened up her face. There, it was done.

Then disaster. Rosie shrieked as he knocked over the pail and bitterly cold water splashed over her feet and lower legs, leaving the hem of her rough woollen skirt dripping on to her shoes. He apologised profusely. ‘I’m sorry, I’ll fetch some more water and bring it into the house. I should have lifted the pail down off the hook for you in the first place, I’m so sorry.’ Then he added hastily, ‘You go inside and dry off.’

Rosie changed hurriedly out of her wet skirt and stockings and sat shivering on her little bed. She pictured her gift of flowers as she’d left them lying on the kitchen table. She’d been given what she considered the most romantic gesture in the world, and the bouquet of flowers had obviously been picked and made up with much care. Then she thought of Matthias. She was still shocked. Matthias Renfree, giving her flowers, declaring with them that he had an interest in her. It was all so much to take in.

How long had Matthias been interested in her? She must be the reason he had been calling so often at the farm these days. But he hadn’t shown any particular interest in her. But then Rosie recalled the times he had sat next to her at the table, how Alice always called to her to come and greet Matthias when he dropped in. Rosie had thought it had been out of politeness because he was a man with some standing in the parish. She looked out of her tiny bedroom window down into the yard. There was no one by the well now.