The Proposal

  “Why?”

  “This might be our last. A little boy would have adventure and fun on his own.”

  Lydia put her hand out, and Palmer joined her on the bed.

  “I’m sorry I was cross at you.”

  Palmer leaned to kiss her. “Forgiven. Want me to rub your back?”

  “Why don’t I rub yours?”

  “We could take turns,” Palmer suggested, a distinct glint in his eye.

  Lydia’s smile was very warm as her husband leaned to kiss her again.

  Thornton Hall

  “I’ll help you.” Penny was at her most convincing as she, Emma, and Lizzy stood at the mouth of the maze on Saturday afternoon. “I know the way.”

  The young visitors did not look convinced. They glanced at the tall shrubs before them and then back at Penny.

  “We can do it,” Penny tried again, but the Palmer girls shook their heads. Penny looked most unhappy with them and tried again to assure them, but it wasn’t working. Lydia came along just in time.

  “Are you going into the maze?” Lydia asked.

  “No,” her daughters said in unison.

  “Why ever not?”

  “We’ll get lost.”

  “You know the way, don’t you, Penny?”

  That little girl nodded, looking grateful that someone understood.

  “Well then, let’s go!”

  “You’ll go with us, Mama?” Emma asked. This put the excursion in a whole new light.

  “Certainly. I’m sure that Penny can get us out. If not we’ll shout and carry on until we’re rescued.”

  Amid much laughter, the four set off. Penny was a determined little leader, not pausing very often in indecision and even showing the girls a few points of interest along the way.

  “This is the duck head,” Penny offered, stopping at a hole in the hedge.

  “Oh, I see it!” Lizzy exclaimed.

  Lydia had to bend some to be at the correct level to view it, but she could see how the hole would remind one of a duck’s head.

  “And there’s a flower up here,” Penny added as they walked along. “James wanted to pull it, but I said it helps me remember which way to go.”

  Hiding laughter, Lydia took Penny’s word for this as the flower sat in an area that could only be leading in one direction.

  “And this—” Penny the guide continued, “this is where I got lost the first time.”

  “What did you do?” Emma asked, eyes large.

  “I cried,” Penny said simply, and Lydia’s hand came to her mouth until she could control herself.

  “I think Emma meant to ask how you got out.”

  “Oh, I just went the right way.”

  Lydia followed in the wake of this seven-year-old logic, very pleased she hadn’t missed this little outing.

  “Are we headed the right way now?” Emma asked.

  “We are! Come on!”

  Penny picked up the pace, and Lydia’s daughters ran after her. She didn’t worry about losing them—their laughter and chatter were easy to trace—but remembering that the older two girls were headed off to school soon after the boys departed was not something she cared to think about at the moment.

  Liddy and the girls have just started through the maze. You can catch them!

  Palmer’s words rang in Marianne’s ears as she exited the house, went along the side of the building, and headed to the gardens and into the maze. Confident that they were just ahead of her, and buoyed by the fact that she’d been inside before, Marianne boldly followed.

  Things went well for the first few minutes, but in very short order the walls of greenery closed in around her, and Marianne became uncertain of the way. She tried one direction and then another, not sure if she was making progress or not.

  She stopped and looked back, wondering if she’d missed something. Even though she had just been that way, she went back around the corner and ran straight into Jennings’ waistcoat. He reached to steady her, and she looked up.

  “Are you lost?” he asked kindly.

  “Yes,” she answered, looking more than a little distressed. “And you’re not in the window!”

  Jennings smiled down on her and brushed a stray curl from her cheek.

  “This way,” he offered, directing her right back the way she’d come. Once he got her turned around, he took her hand and led her to the exit, letting go only as they stepped out to join the group already assembled in the garden.

  “Thank you,” Marianne said quietly as she looked up at him.

  “You’re welcome,” Jennings answered, working not to reach for her hand again. She had initiated eye contact for the first time, and his heart was doing funny things in his chest.

  “You made it!” Lydia congratulated them as they moved into the garden.

  “It’s time for cake!” someone else was heard to say, and the party moved indoors. They feasted on fresh fruit, small sandwiches, scones, biscuits, cheese and sausage rolls, and cake. They drank tea and milk, before leaving the table and getting comfortable in the large salon. Once there, Palmer asked the boys to share a bit.

  “Tell us something you’re looking forward to, something you’re thankful for, something you’re not too keen on, and something you’ll miss. Frank, why don’t you start us out.”

  “All right.”

  That young man stood, smiling at his father’s twinkling gaze before addressing the group.

  “I’m looking forward to seeing my school chums again. I’m thankful that Thomas will be along this school term. What else was there?”

  “Something you’ll miss, and something you’re not overly keen about.”

  “Oh, right. I’ll miss some of my freedom being at home and all, and I’m not too keen on being away from mum when she’s waiting to have a baby.”

  Lydia smiled at her oldest, her heart burgeoning with love as he sat back down and smiled at her.

  “Thank you, Frank. Thomas, can you go next?”

  “I think so.” He rose as well. “I’m thankful for Mr Jennings, who wants us to call him Jennings, but I can’t quite make myself do it, and also for my friendship with Frank. I’m looking forward to some of my favorite classes and getting a first glimpse of the school. I’m not all that keen to be away from Thornton Hall and Penny for the next weeks, and I’ll miss everyone here.”

  Marianne thought if they kept it up she would be in tears. This was not the first year they would be going away, but having to say goodbye to the Jennings children as well as the Palmers was proving to be harder than she thought.

  Walt was next with the list, giving several items he was not that excited about and having to be reminded to name something for which he was thankful. People were still chuckling at him when James began. He stood and faced the group, saying that he would miss his horse but that he was thankful for the holiday they’d taken to sea bathe and visit Morehouse.

  “I’m not in a hurry to go back to school at all,” he shared for the item he wasn’t keen on, “so in light of that, I guess I’m looking forward to term ending and a chance to come home.”

  The adults laughed again, and when they quieted, Jennings spoke.

  “Thank you, gentlemen. I’ve never suggested anything like this before, but I wonder if now wouldn’t be a good time to pray together. It might be the last chance we get.”

  “That’s a splendid idea,” Palmer remarked, and everyone bowed their heads. Palmer began and Jennings ended. They asked God’s blessing on the boys, that they would learn well and apply knowledge to their hearts. They also prayed that they would be diligent in their daily reading of God’s Word, and that those verses would be life changing forevermore.

  With prayer time over, everyone was up for a few games in the yard. The children trooped out first; the adults followed more slowly.

  “You look thoughtful,” Jennings remarked to Marianne as he walked behind her. The Palmers had gone ahead.

  “I was thinking about how much I’ll miss them.”
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  “It’s going to be very quiet around here,” Jennings agreed.

  “You’ll have to find someone to keep you company,” Marianne said without thinking.

  “Are you offering?” Jennings’ already deep voice dropped even lower, and an unfamiliar feeling centered itself around Marianne’s heart. She turned to him, her eyes wide, and began to stammer.

  “I think the children…games are outside…they’re probably looking for you…”

  Without warning, Jennings bent and kissed her lips.

  “We’ll join them, shall we?” he said, looking much calmer than he felt.

  “Yes, that’s a good idea,” Marianne agreed, her voice soft and bemused.

  With a hand to her back, Jennings made sure she went in the right direction. He wasn’t sure the kiss was the best thing to have done, but it was obvious he’d gained her attention. It might backfire on him somewhere along the line, but at least it was a start.

  Jennings looked across the carriage at the little girl with the dark hair and wondered what she was thinking. She hadn’t cried when she said goodbye to her brothers, but she looked rather lost and alone as the carriage pulled away from the school to take them home.

  Jennings had volunteered to take the boys. Pastor and Mrs Hurst would collect them for their first break, the Palmers would take them back, and then Jennings would collect them again at the term’s end, all of which were some time away. Penny would be headed off very soon herself, but the seven-year-old and her guardian had approximately two weeks together.

  “Are you all right, Penny?” Jennings asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sad?”

  “A little.”

  “Do you want to look at one of the books you brought along?”

  “No.”

  Jennings searched his mind for a way to comfort her. He decided on logic and a bit of distraction.

  “I think it’s normal to feel bad when you miss someone, Penny, but don’t forget, you’ll be seeing Marianne soon for your archery lesson. Won’t that be fun?”

  “What day?”

  “I don’t know, but I should think we could go this week.”

  “And she’ll teach me?”

  “She said she would.”

  Penny smiled a little. Jennings smiled as well. He was glad that Penny could learn the sport, but having an excuse to see Marianne suited him very well.

  They’d had a fine time at the party, his last real opportunity to be with her. Jennings did nothing to disguise his interest that day, and he was pleased when Marianne looked his way often. He didn’t think he was imagining anything that wasn’t there, and unless he was utterly delusional, Marianne Walker was interested in return.

  While his thoughts dwelt on the woman who had claimed his heart, Jennings found himself praying for her and then the boys. When Thomas came to mind, Jennings also thought back on one of the last conversations he’d had with that young man.

  “Mr. Jennings, could I have a word with you?” Thomas asked before they could leave for school.

  “Of course, Thomas. What is it?”

  “I feel I must confess something to you. I wish I’d done so weeks ago.”

  Jennings listened, giving Thomas all the time he needed.

  “James, Penny, and I got it into our heads that you needed to wed Marianne. It’s none of our business whom you marry, and we said some things when it wasn’t our place. For that I apologize.”

  “Thank you, Thomas. I assure you I was not upset by anything you said, but I do thank you.”

  Jennings could tell that it was the last thing Thomas needed to do. This job done, he was ready to go to school. Not for the first time, Jennings felt amazed by this young man. He was remarkably special and mature, and Jennings could only thank God that Thomas had come into his life.

  “I have to be excused.” Penny’s words from across the carriage brought Jennings back to the present.

  Jennings hit the roof with his fist, and the coach immediately began to slow. Thankfully, there were woods nearby. Jennings alighted from the carriage with his small charge, glad that she seemed comfortable with his accompanying her, and then waited patiently while she scooted around a bush to take care of the business at hand.

  She didn’t dawdle, and in little time they were back inside, the carriage plunging into motion again.

  “Will you read to me?”

  “I should like that, Penny. Why don’t you come over here?”

  Penny joined him, and much the way he’d seen Marianne do, he tucked the little girl under his arm and held the book so they could both see.

  Jennings would not have guessed her tired, but in less than ten pages, her little head was drooping. Jennings shifted her on the seat until she could stretch out while he moved across to give her room. For the longest time he studied her sleeping face. Like the boys, she was a miracle to him.

  Had I been the one to die, Jennings found himself telling the Lord, I would not have left a single space to be filled, but Godwin Jennings is missed so greatly, and his hard work lives on in the lives of his children. I know that Your hand has moved here, Father, and Godwin himself would probably be the first to tell me so, but I needed to see how selfishly I’d been living my life. Help me to put You and the children first. Help me to show Marianne how I feel and to be gracious if she rejects me yet again.

  Jennings suddenly realized that he was tired as well. Thinking that Penny had the right idea, he stretched his legs at an angle, getting as comfortable as he could manage. He went back to praying, but it didn’t last long. He joined Penny in a nap a few miles up the road.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Thornton Hall

  The letter from Jennings’ London solicitor started without formalities. Jennings read it in his study the very day after he and Penny arrived back.

  The information you sent was both fascinating and frustrating. To think that Mrs Smith walked away from charges she was guilty of is maddening news. I’ll be contacting the judge this week in hopes of reinstating the case. If you’ve omitted anything, send it immediately as every scrap of evidence might count, but I must warn you that even if the judge does find grounds to reopen the case, the chances of finding Mrs Smith are poor. She wasn’t a small woman, but her type can often make themselves invisible.

  I’ll keep in touch.

  Sincerely,

  Jas. Flemming

  Jennings set the letter aside, his eyes thoughtful as he looked out the window. The letter Mrs Dashwood had promised him was already in his files. On paper, that lady had repeated much of what she’d said at the inn that night, and of course she’d included her address. She had also thanked Jennings for his graciousness and understanding.

  Jennings could feel himself tensing. He hadn’t been as understanding as he seemed. The whole affair was abhorrent to him, and he was none too happy about Mrs Dashwood’s admission. Anger spiraled within him just as someone knocked on the door. He stopped just short of barking at whoever it might be, knowing that there was no excuse for such behavior.

  “Come in,” he managed in a calm tone. When Penny walked in he was very relieved that he’d not taken the head from her shoulders.

  “Hello, Penny. Did you need something?”

  “May I write to James and Thomas?”

  “You certainly may.” Jennings decided to snap out of his ill humor—remembering also to confess it—that very instant. “Why don’t you sit here by my desk and use my paper and pens?”

  Penny skipped with excitement over this idea. Jennings set her up to the side of his wide desk, and when she began, he sat and watched her small bent head and serious brow.

  I’ve got to leave Mrs Smith with you, Lord. Penny is safe, and You got my attention on the matter. Thank You that it didn’t last for years. I don’t want Mrs Smith loose to hurt another child, Lord, so please help the judge to be wise when he reexamines the case, but help me to leave it in Your hands without anger or thoughts of revenge.


  “I can’t spell ‘tomorrow,’” Penny looked up and said.

  “I’ll help you,” Jennings replied and spelled the word for her.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. What’s going on tomorrow?” Jennings asked before Penny could continue.

  “My archery lesson,” Penny said as if he should know this, “with Marianne.”

  Jennings opened his mouth to tell Penny that he had not as yet arranged the matter but changed his mind. A drop-in visit to the Walker household might prove to be very fun. He wasn’t trying to keep the lady off balance, but right now he wasn’t sure of another way to go about this. It would help to know what Marianne thought of him; indeed, it would settle the matter completely, but that fact was still a mystery, quite possibly even to Marianne.

  Jennings’ eyes went back to Penny. He knew with that little girl in tow it was unlikely that he’d be turned away. Was it fair to use her that way? Jennings didn’t examine that question too closely. Marianne had agreed to an archery lesson, and Penny’s guardian was simply taking her at her word.

  Blackburn Manor

  “I’ve a letter from your sister,” Mrs Walker told her daughter.

  “Which one?”

  “Caroline this time. Elinore wrote about your visit to her, and she wants to know when you’re coming to Rode Manor.”

  Marianne smiled. A few months back she would have jumped at the chance to visit her sister and family, but right now something in her heart wanted to remain in the area.

  “Tell her I’ll come when the weather cools.”

  “The weather has cooled,” her mother argued.

  “Later,” Marianne stated. “Tell her I’ll come sometime later.”

  Mrs Walker didn’t press her daughter—she even went back to the afternoon post—but her daughter’s response lingered in her mind for quite some time.

  Tipton

  “How did you pinch it?” Jennings asked a tearful Penny as she allowed him to examine her finger. Supper was over, and the adults were sitting in the rear yard. Until Penny was injured, the girls had been enjoying a new ball Lizzy had received for her fifth birthday.