As he finally rode away from Thornton Hall, Blackburn Manor his destination, he wanted to laugh at his own foolishness. He hadn’t seen a lot of Marianne since that day he’d declared himself in her yard, but what he had seen told him she was not adverse to his company.
Blackburn Manor came into view, and Jennings’ heart skipped a beat. For the first time in days the children had receded from the forefront of his mind. He couldn’t wait to see Marianne Walker.
“She’s away right now, Mr Jennings,” Mrs Walker said kindly, completely mastering the smile that wanted to break through. “But please, come in and sit down.”
“Thank you,” Jennings said graciously, his heart so disappointed that he could hardly think. He had ridden up with such excitement and nearly leapt from his horse’s saddle, only to have Marianne’s mother calmly dash his hopes to bits.
“How are you, Mr Jennings?” the lady of the house asked once she’d seen her guest comfortably seated.
“I’m well, thank you. And you, Mrs Walker?”
“We are very well, thank you. Did the children get off to school as planned?”
“Yes. It’s been a bit quiet without them.”
“I remember those days,” Mrs Walker said, and Jennings did his best to attend. It wasn’t lack of interest on his part so much as extreme distraction, a point that came home suddenly when he realized his hostess was no longer talking but sitting quietly and watching him.
Jennings gave up. He knew from the look in her eyes that she had him figured out.
Feeling more than a little embarrassed but also somewhat desperate, Jennings asked, “Would it be presumptuous of me, Mrs Walker, to ask when Miss Walker plans to return?”
“Not at all, Mr Jennings, but I can’t tell you. Marianne wasn’t firm on her plans when she left.”
Jennings took this in stride.
“In light of your graciousness, Mrs Walker, may I also ask what day she left?”
“Yesterday.”
Not many words could have been more disheartening.
With a kind smile, Mrs Walker stood, allowing Jennings to excuse himself. When he thanked her, it was most sincere, but as he took his leave he wondered where all his good sense had gone. Had he realized only a day sooner how poorly he was taking the children’s departure, he might have seen Marianne by now, been able to speak with her, and reiterate what was in his heart.
Halfway home, Jennings filled with new resolve. Marianne was away from Blackburn Manor, but that situation would alter. He would simply check each and every day until she returned. He had a most desperate need to see that lady, and he would not give up until he had!
Tipton
“Have you seen Jennings lately?” Lydia asked of Palmer.
“Not since Sunday. He was looking for Marianne.”
“She was at Caroline’s on Sunday. I think she still is.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Lizzy said she wanted him to take her out in the pony cart. I thought if he was missing the children overly much, it might help to play with her.”
“Oh, he’s missing them all right.”
“How do you know?”
“I know.”
Lydia waited for Palmer to explain, but he didn’t go on, although it wasn’t all that hard to figure. Palmer always missed the children as much as she did. Nevertheless, he might be talking about something else. Lydia’s stomach was feeling a bit upset at the moment, and she thought that eating might help. As she rang for Judith, she determined to check with her husband at a later time in order to confirm her suspicions.
Blackburn Manor
Mrs Walker had words of hope for the first time in four days.
“She’s not here, Mr Jennings,” that lady had said. “She took a walk in the park.”
Jennings couldn’t stop his smile.
“Do you mind terribly, Mrs Walker, if I don’t stay?”
“Well, I do have a lovely new book on flowers I wanted to show you,” she said with great regret.
Jennings paused. The two stared at each other until Jennings laughed. Mrs Walker could not hold the act; her mischievous eyes gave her away.
“Go, Mr Jennings,” Marianne’s mother said with a laugh of her own. “And don’t come back until you’ve found her!”
That man had needed no further urging. Jennings knew that if it took the rest of the day, he would stay in the forest until he located Marianne Walker. He’d been riding for less than ten minutes, but it felt like hours. The temptation to call out was mighty, but he held his peace and prayed.
Five minutes later he spotted her dark head. Surprise lifting his brows, he saw that she was in the identical spot where she’d previously hurt her ankle. Sitting on the ridge, eyes toward the valley, she remained rather still, just as before. Jennings dismounted and strode toward her. He stood looking down on her, his eyes warm.
“Hello,” he said at last.
“Hello,” Marianne said, feeling her cheeks heat, although her eyes remained on his.
“This is a familiar place,” Jennings commented, amazed at how satisfying it felt just to gaze at her.
“It is,” she agreed, “and isn’t it ironic, I seem to have hurt my ankle again.”
Taking her at her word, Jennings went down on one knee even as he realized she sounded quite pleased about the fact.
“Shall I check it?”
With a swift movement, one that belied an injury, Marianne moved her dress even farther over her ankles and feet.
“There’s no need,” she said, her voice almost playful as her eyes watched him. “I believe it’s already quite swollen.”
Jennings worked at not smiling, but one peeked through. Their eyes held for several more lovely seconds before Jennings slowly leaned forward and brushed her lips with his own.
“Do you know what you’ve been doing to my heart?”
“I think I must.”
Jennings kissed her again.
“Will you marry me?”
Marianne sighed quite audibly.
“I feared you would never ask.”
A moment later she was on her feet and in his arms.
“I’m sorry it took so long for me to come to you.”
“I think I understand. It was about the children, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. It was foolish, but I felt completely forsaken. It took me several days to see what I was missing with you. I still miss them, but my time is finally free for you.”
“You’re sure?” Marianne teased him. “I could go away again.”
His arms tightened around her.
“I don’t think so. I’m going to see your father straight away and have the matter settled.”
“What matter would that be?”
Jennings looked deep into her eyes.
“I’m going to tell him that I love his daughter and want to make her my wife. And I’m going to tell you that there will never be a time when I don’t need you.”
“Even though you now know how deceitful I can be?”
“On the contrary,” Jennings said as he lifted her in his arms. “Your ankle is swollen. I’d best carry you.”
Marianne’s laughter sounded in the forest before the man she loved escorted her home. And just as he’d promised, he asked for an audience with her father and settled the matter straightaway.
Epilogue
Marianne Jennings leaned toward the window of the carriage as the horses drew it closer and closer to Thornton Hall, her eyes scanning the acreage for signs of the children.
“I see Penny,” Jennings said from beside her, having spotted the little girl first. “She’s just seen the carriage.”
Husband and wife laughed as the little girl ran in circles of excitement. They laughed again when she threw herself at them the moment they emerged from the carriage.
“Welcome home,” Thomas greeted as he emerged from the house.
“You’re back!” came from James.
“How are you?” Marianne asked, tr
ying to hug and kiss them all at once.
“We’re fine.”
“When did you arrive?” Jennings asked as he led his family inside.
“Yesterday.”
The children had been taken from school for a special weekend so they could witness the vows of William Jennings and Marianne Walker, but that had been nearly a month past. The newlyweds had taken a long trip with plans to arrive home for the children’s week off. The Palmers and Hursts had done duty to get them to Thornton Hall so the “new” mother and father could drive directly there.
“And we’re here a whole week!” Penny said.
“Yes, you are,” Marianne agreed, now in the drawing room and taking that little girl in her lap. “And we are going to have a wonderful time.”
“Did you sea bathe?” James had to know.
Jennings and Marianne both laughed.
“Yes! It was very cold, but we couldn’t resist.”
“When will we go again?”
“I think next summer,” Jennings told him. “When the weather warms.”
For a moment they all looked at each other.
“We hoped you would marry,” Thomas admitted. “We wanted it for a long time.”
“I prayed,” Penny put in.
Marianne hugged her again and smiled at Thomas before looking to her husband. His eyes were on her, and for a moment they exchanged a look that didn’t need words.
“I need to show you something,” Penny said next.
“All right. Where is it?”
“It’s in my room. I made it at school.”
This was the way Jennings and Marianne spent their first day at home. The children thought of tidbits from school that they wanted to share or showed off art or papers they had worked on. Meals were relaxed and informal, and conversation was easy. Marianne had left on her honeymoon right after she was married, so she’d never lived even one day at Thornton Hall, but she could already tell she was going to like it.
And as lovely as the day was, it didn’t hurt her feelings in the least when it was time for the children to retire and she could be alone with her husband.
Jennings’ mind was running in the very same vein. He wasted no time taking her hand and leading her to their room.
“Am I dreaming,” Marianne said in his arms, “or am I really here with you?”
“You’re here,” Jennings said softly, as though trying to believe it himself.
“And the children—they’re mine now, aren’t they?”
Jennings smiled. “Each and every one, for better or for worse.”
Marianne held him a little closer. She wasn’t foolish enough to think that there would never be a worse, but right now, close in her husband’s arms, his head lowering to kiss her, it was the last thing on her mind.
About the Author
LORI WICK is a multifaceted author of Christian fiction.
As comfortable writing period stories as she penning
contemporary works, Lori’s books (6 million in print)
vary widely in location and time period.
Lori’s faithful fans consistently put her series and
stand-alone works on the bestseller lists.
Lori and her husband, Bob, live with their
swiftly growing family in the Midwest.
To read about other Lori Wick novels,
visit www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Books by Lori Wick
A Place Called Home Series
A Place Called Home
A Song for Silas
The Long Road Home
A Gathering of Memories
The Californians
Whatever Tomorrow Brings
As Time Goes By
Sean Donovan
Donovan’s Daughter
Kensington Chronicles
The Hawk and the Jewel
Wings of the Morning
Who Brings Forth the Wind
The Knight and the Dove
Rocky Mountain Memories
Where the Wild Rose Blooms
Whispers of Moonlight
To Know Her by Name
Promise Me Tomorrow
The Yellow Rose Trilogy
Every Little Thing About You
A Texas Sky
City Girl
English Garden Series
The Proposal
The Rescue
The Visitor
The Pursuit
The Tucker Mills Trilogy
Moonlight on the Millpond
Just Above a Whisper
Leave a Candle Burning
Big Sky Dreams
Cassidy
Sabrina
Jessie
Contemporary Fiction
Sophie’s Heart
Pretense
The Princess
Bamboo & Lace
Every Storm
White Chocolate Moments
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
About the Author
Books by Lori Wick
Lori Wick, The Proposal
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