"I learned as a boy. Me master had a cart and horse and sometimes he would need me to take both to the market. I am no expert, but I can ride fairly well I think." He gave a little bit of a shrug. The line started to move and they found themselves picking two horses. "I can teach ye to ride after we marry," he said with a grin.

Rose eagerly sat on one of the horses when it was their turn - sideways all decently like a lady out riding of course. But she nearly fell off for the excitement of it when Andrew said he could teach her once they were married. "Oh, An,-" she suddenly let out a little shriek when the carousel started moving, and quickly grabbed on, laughing. "That would be lovely indeed!"

He sat on the horse next to hers and laughed when she nearly fell off and was laughing herself. His eyes sparkled as he reached a hand out to help steady her if needed. "Careful now, lass!" He gave a bellow of laughter as the ride moved and so did the horses.

In that moment, Rose was the happiest girl in the world. She noticed how his eyes sparkled while he reached out to steady her, and she blushed deep and looked up at him, all shy all of a sudden. The music of the carousel faded and she wasn't riding, she was soaring. Wasn't this what she had always wanted? Someone to love her and protect her? Surely this had to be a dream? Such happiness didn't come to her, especially not this easily. But here it was. She touched his hand with hers.

It seemed as if the rest of the world faded for both of them. It was as if they were alone together as the carousel moved around and around. His smile faded into a more serious look, but obviously not in a bad way. Thoughts of Abi were further from his mind in that moment.

"Oi, lovebirds! If ye want another ride, get back in line and pay again!"

Rose snapped out of it. The music had stopped playing and the carousel had come to a stop, and new people where getting on the horses. The manager glared at them impatiently. Rose blushed, but couldn't help grinning widely at Andrew. "C'mon," she muttered while she slid off the horse. She took his hand and dragged him away from the bustle, feeling giddy.

"Oi, sorry, mate!" he called, and as Rose was leading him off the ride, he was laughing a belly laugh. He looped his arm through hers again after a few moments and said, "Did you see his eyes bugging out of his head?" He gave another laugh, then turned her about to face him. His smile and laughter turned into another look like he had given her on the ride. "Ye know, ye're beautiful when you laugh." And he meant it.

Rose laughed with him, but stopped and blushed when he complimented her looks. Did he really think her pretty? She knew she wasn't ugly, but her face and features were plain, and her body too sturdy and muscular for her liking, not like the gracious shapes of wealthier young ladies, and her hands were rough, like a working woman's. And yet he thought she was pretty when she laughed. She looked down, trying not to show her very smug smile.

And then she made up her mind, grinned, and pulled him away. "Come on..." She pulled him towards the back of the games stalls. Everyone knew that behind the games stalls was where lads and lasses who liked one another kissed.

He found himself being pulled and he didn't protest. The moment they were around the corner, he ignored anyone else that might be there and kissed her soundly, not holding back this time. This time was different from their first kiss for him at least. He found himself more attracted to her than he had before and it showed in the way his mouth meshed against hers. When he pulled back, he was looking down at her with laughter in his eyes. "Ye're naughty," he quipped.

Rose leaned back against the wooden panels that made up the back wall of the stall and she pulled Andrew towards her as they kissed. It felt more natural now than it had before. No longer was she concerned with the strategies of finding a husband. Andrew was going to be her husband. He loved her. Or at least he thought she was pretty. And she could surrender to all this delightful excitement, the joy of knowing that someone loved her, and the wonderful feeling of his strong arms.

Henry crossed her mind again.

He was an asshole.

It was suddenly so clear. When he pulled back, she beamed at him, but there was a burning sensation in her eyes of tears forming. She let out a shaky laugh and gave him a playful push. "Are ye complainin'?