Epilogue
Summer Recess, June 1898
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
II.iii
Concordia sat on her suitcase to keep it shut as she wrestled with the buckle on the strap. It was at this inopportune moment that someone knocked on the door of Willow Cottage.
Drat. Since she was alone in the house, she would have to get that.
The man at the door was holding flowers. Concordia recognized both the flowers—prize-winning roses from President Langdon’s garden—and the man.
“David?” Concordia stared at him, her hand gripping the knob.
He gave her a tentative smile, which dimpled his cheeks but didn’t quite reach his brown eyes. “I couldn’t stay away. Can we talk?”
Concordia took a deep breath. “Come in.” She opened the door wider. As he passed her, she couldn’t help but notice that his n
