They continued walking as the forest was engulfed in the darkness of night, their pace slowing as their eyes adjusted to the lack of light. James stopped only when they reached a spot where the trees were less densely packed together, and Isobel tilted her chin up to take in the stars that littered the section of sky above them, her view somewhat obstructed by the spattering of leaves over their heads. An owl hooted not far from them, and a gentle breeze brought with it the sound of rustling leaves and the scent of oak.
“It’s beautiful,” Isobel whispered, almost scared to speak too loudly and risk shattering the peace of the forest.
James smiled and nodded. “I love the forest, but I’ve grown so used to the noise of the estate and the city that the silence sometimes scares me,” he admi
