Loveswept

by Murray, Tamela Hancock

  In the meantime, Cecily chatted brightly as though she had no desire to be anywhere else. Her way of flitting from subject to subject reminded Averil of the way she’d conducted herself in the carriage that morning. This time, however, she kept prodding Augusta, either by touching her on the shoulder or by asking her opinions on certain subjects. Augusta didn’t offer much in the way of answers aside from monosyllables and the occasional shrug. Averil began to feel like a character caught up in a drama, although one too hapless to have any control over his own destiny.

  The lunch he had so anticipated with Cecily blurred into an image that reminded him of a painting he had seen once by French Impressionist Georges Seurat. The picture was colorful, but the details weren’t clear. The swirl of Cecily’s chatter, Augusta’s busyness with the picnic provisions, and Professor Tobias’s aggressive eating, all blended together in a canvas of nebulous detail unfitting for such a lovely spring day. To his surprise, he was glad to see the event come to an end.

  He was just as sorry that he had promised Father he’d work that afternoon. He was scheduled to meet the owner of a vacant office building in less than an hour, and he needed time to drive the buggy across the city. He would miss the afternoon’s frivolities. Averil supposed he could have argued that his presence at the entire day’s festivities would be good for business, but Father was determined that Averil should inspect the empty space before some other tenant snatched it up. Averil had discovered a long time ago that winning an argument with Father about business was an impossibility.

  He was grateful when Cecily and Professor Tobias became involved in putting away the remains of their lunch. He took Augusta aside and whispered, “I meant to ask you earlier. Do you know who the tall man who bid on your sister’s box was?”

  “Tall man?” She thought for a moment. “You must mean Delmar Williams. He and Cecily have had an understanding for years.”

  “An understanding?”

  “Yes, an understanding.”

  Anxiety bolted through Averil. Cecily had an understanding with someone else? Why hadn’t she said anything? And if she really were betrothed to this Mr. Williams, why hadn’t he made himself known before now? Averil didn’t want to contemplate the possibility. Best to make his exit now.

  He extracted his watch from his pocket and made a show of consulting it. “As much as I have enjoyed your company, I’m afraid I must be taking my leave,” he announced.

  “So soon, Mr. Kingsley?” Cecily asked. “Why, the day seems as though it has barely begun.”

  “Yes, time does fly when one is engaged in pleasurable pursuits. But my appointment to meet the office landlord is at three o’clock. If I leave now, I’ll have just enough time.” He looked into Cecily’s eyes, which gazed back at him without any hint of guile. “I regret that I cannot see you home.”

  She nodded, a reaction he expected since this was hardly news to Cecily. They had already made arrangements for her to ride home with her parents. “I understand. Perhaps next time.”

  Next time? She didn’t sound like a woman enamored with another man. He searched her eyes for a suggestion of regret and found them filled with emotion. Her look only left him more puzzled. Why hadn’t she told him that she was promised to someone else? Doubt gripped his heart. Was everything good about Cecily just a figment of his fertile imagination?

  As he left the school grounds, Averil wondered about the new facts he had discovered about Cecily. He realized he didn’t know her at all. Certainly she displayed a well-grounded faith and spiritual maturity in Sunday school class. She came from a nice home and a prestigious family. But what else did he know about her? Apparently not enough. Or perhaps too much.

  Averil nodded once with determination. He thought he loved her. His stomach seemed to jump with excitement at the thought. Averil wasn’t a man to fall in love easily, and he certainly wasn’t one to fall out of love easily.

  So what were all these strange feelings? He shook his head, hoping against hope that the motion would clear his brain by shaking out all unwanted and confusing thoughts.

  ❧

  Cecily and Augusta folded the gingham blanket as the music teacher waited. Augusta came toward her, bringing the blanket into a manageable rectangle. She folded the material twice more so that it formed a perfect square. “There. All done.”

  “Allow me to carry these things to the carriage for you, Miss Cecily,” the professor offered.

  “That is quite all right,” Cecily answered. “I can—”

  “Would you, Professor?” Augusta interjected. “I can walk with you.” She looked upon the ground as though she realized she might have been too bold. “Since, after all, you might have trouble finding our carriage among all the others here.”

  Professor Tobias stared at Cecily. His expression indicated he wanted her to intervene, but she refused. “That is an excellent idea, Augusta. I’ll go back to the gazebo and meet Mother and Father. You’ll be joining us soon?”

  “But of course!”

  “As much as I would enjoy your company, Miss Augusta, I’m afraid I must be leaving,” the music teacher protested.

  “Oh?”

  “I’m afraid I have a lesson scheduled.” No apology displayed itself in his tone. “Another time, perhaps?”

  “Another time.” The disappointment in Augusta’s voice was evident.

  Cecily’s heart ached for her sister. If only she could offer some sort of balm! But she could not. “Come along, Augusta. Mother and Father await.”

  Her sister nodded and acquiesced. Cecily had to content herself with her refusal to acknowledge Professor Tobias’s farewell.

  They made their way to the gazebo. Neither spoke, their silence indicative of the fact they weren’t ready to talk about the day’s events.

  “There you are, girls!” Mother greeted them as they approached her. “I take it you had a lovely time?”

  “Yes, Mother,” Cecily answered for them both.

  “Cecily!” a male voice called.

  Her family turned their heads to see Delmar sprinting across the lawn. The motion of running made him seem more awkward and lanky than usual.

  Cecily giggled.

  “Now, now, Cecily,” Mother admonished. “No need to be rude.”

  “I know, Mother, but I can’t help myself,” Cecily explained. “Even you have to admit, he looks a bit odd.”

  Delmar held onto his hat by placing a hand on top of his head, leaving the other arm to swing to and fro in rhythm with his feet.

  “I’ll be happy to admit he looks odd. Maybe even odder than usual,” Augusta remarked. An amused smile slid onto her countenance.

  Mother shushed them as Delmar came within earshot.

  “There you are!” He grinned, a sure indication he hadn’t heard their conversation, and greeted them. Cecily noted that Mother looked a little too pleased to see Delmar.

  “How wonderful that you could be here for the Celebration of Spring!” Mother said in a voice a little louder than necessary.

  “I’m delighted I could sneak away from school for a few days,” Delmar informed them. “And it’s been good to catch up with my old school chums.”

  “It’s good to have you back, Delmar.” Father patted him on the shoulder.

  “It’s good to be back, Sir,” Delmar answered. “But I’m afraid my visit will be all too short. I’m due back for examinations next week.”

  “My, but you’ve barely gotten off the train, and you’ll be getting right back on.” Mother clucked in sympathy.

  “Early Monday morning,” Delmar said. “It’s not so bad.” He looked at Cecily. “The trip was well worth the effort.”

  Feeling her cheeks burn, Cecily stared studiously at her feet.

  “Might I speak to your daughter for a moment, Mr. Eaton?”

  “Why, certainly.” Father beamed. “The rest of us will be listening to the band. You can meet us at the gazebo.”

  Delmar took her by the elbow to lead her behind a larg
e magnolia tree, under which a park bench awaited. Cecily had no desire to appear as though she belonged to Delmar, but she couldn’t find a good way to resist without seeming rude. She supposed the obvious lack of enthusiasm she displayed upon seeing Delmar again was impolite enough, but she didn’t know what to say.

  If he thought her less than mannerly, Delmar acted as though he didn’t notice. “I’m sorry I missed out on eating lunch with you.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t lunch alone,” answered Cecily.

  “No. I ate with my family. Mother sends her regards.” He grimaced. “I must admit, I endured a lot of jesting since I failed to win the bid over the music teacher.”

  Cecily’s lips curled. Delmar’s brothers were a competitive lot. She could imagine their relentless teasing. “I trust you managed to avoid indigestion all the same.” She didn’t wait for him to respond to her quip. “At least the students are all winners. Thanks to you and all the other bachelors, we raised more than two hundred dollars for the school.”

  “Oh?”

  Cecily nodded. “That’s what Mrs. Baxter told Mother. She’s head of the committee this year.”

  “What a success for her,” Delmar remarked. “She outdid Miss Collins.”

  “And set a high standard for next year’s committee chairwoman.”

  Delmar cleared his throat. “I have to confess, I wasn’t thinking of the school while I was trying to win your box. The bidding certainly got hot. If I had known your popularity would grow to such proportions during my absence, I might never have left.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Delmar. You know you have to finish school,” Cecily insisted. His confirmation about her popularity pleased her, but she was not about to be swayed by flattery. “In fact, I must object to your leaving college to break away for the celebration.”

  “You leave that worry to me and my professors,” Delmar said. “Besides, I wouldn’t dream of missing the chance to see you dance around the Maypole.”

  He motioned for her to take a seat upon the white park bench. Cecily was in no mood to sit and chat with Delmar, especially since his mouth had pressed itself into a severe line. She knew that expression well. Whatever he wanted to talk about, the subject was of some importance and probably not too pleasant.

  As always when nerves vexed her, Cecily tried to dissipate the situation with humor. “Now, now. Must we talk about serious matters on such a festive day?” She extended her arm toward the people milling around, listening to the band, eating refreshments, and watching a group of children play tag.

  “I must ask, Cecily, when did you become so well acquainted with your music teacher? He used to be the stuff of sport.” Delmar sniffed. “Remember when you used to poke fun at his misshapen appearance?”

  Cecily cringed. “That was three years ago. Certainly I can be forgiven a lapse or two into meanness. Now, I truly regret any harsh words I said about him.”

  “Aha!” Delmar lifted a forefinger. “So you have become fond of him.”

  “ ‘Fond’ is too strong a word. I like him as a music teacher, but beyond that, I am not well acquainted with him. Especially not as a suitor,” Cecily defended herself. “In fact, I’m not even his music student anymore.”

  Delmar’s eyebrows rose. “You’re not?”

  “No. He sent a letter to Father saying that he wanted to discontinue lessons with Augusta but keep me as a student.”

  “But you and Augusta have been taking lessons from him for years and paying him good money too. Why would he cut off his nose to spite his face—unless he’s come into a surprise inheritance?”

  Cecily pursed her lips together and twirled her parasol. “I’m sure he has plenty of students to fill our places.”

  “But not his heart, apparently.”

  “You know fully well I have no interest in Professor Tobias. Augusta happens to be the one—” She clapped her hand over her mouth.

  “Augusta? You mean to say she has eyes for the music teacher?” Delmar shook his head and chuckled.

  She gave him an imploring look. “You won’t say anything, will you?”

  “A gentleman never breaks a confidence.”

  “You always were a gentleman.”

  “Is that all you can say to recommend me?” His halfway grin belied his serious tone.

  Cecily wasn’t sure how to answer. If she had harbored any doubt about her feelings for Delmar before this day, seeing him again resulted in its complete dissolution. She liked Delmar well enough, but no matter how much her parents insisted, no matter how tall he was, no matter what his lineage, she didn’t love him—even though he had just managed a conversation without once mentioning baseball.

  Delmar leaned toward her, but not so closely as to appear improper. Still, Cecily felt like a little mouse trapped in a corner by an imposing tomcat. “You have no idea why I came all the way here from school, do you?”

  Cecily swallowed. “To see the Celebration of Spring, I suppose.”

  “Not entirely. I also came to see you,” he said. “I didn’t believe Elton when he told me how some door-to-door salesman was pursuing you.”

  Cecily crossed her ankles. Leave it to Delmar’s eldest brother to fill him in on the latest rumors. “I wouldn’t say Mr. Kingsley is pursuing me.”

  Delmar slapped his backbone against the back of the bench and crossed his arms. “So it’s true. That little shrimp of a man is nothing but a door-to-door salesman?” An ugly laugh escaped his lips. “In that case, I shouldn’t have bothered making the trip.”

  “Is that so?” Cecily felt anger rise in her chest. “And I’ll have you know he’s not a shrimp.”

  “Maybe not to the average girl, but he’s certainly a lot shorter than you are.”

  “But he is mighty in spirit,” Cecily retorted.

  “Oh, he is, is he?” Delmar’s jaw tensed. “In that case, let’s send the pastor over to recruit him for the choir. Then you can see him for an hour every Sunday. That’s your only hope of seeing him. Because that’s all it will ever amount to.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Delmar looked at the sky, then back at her. “Surely you know your father better than I do. And if there’s one thing I know for certain, he would never allow such a person to become a serious suitor for you.”

  Cecily dug her heels into the ground. “I’ll have you know that Mr. Kingsley’s company has given him instructions to open a regional office right here in the city.” She couldn’t resist sharing the good news with Delmar. “Why, at this very moment, he is downtown, inspecting a vacant space. That’s the only reason he’s not with me now.”

  “Is that so? I doubt your father would agree with that.”

  “But—”

  Delmar held his palm up in a motion for her to discontinue speaking. “Your father is just being polite. Even I must admit, this Mr. Kingsley fellow made a fair bid on your sister’s boxed lunch, and he won the chance to eat with her—and somehow ended up sitting with you and Professor Tobias as well.”

  Delmar allowed a pause to fill the air, but Cecily didn’t respond.

  He then added in a patronizing tone, “You certainly can’t expect him to see you beyond that.”

  “Indeed? He escorted me to the festivities.”

  “Yes. I’m aware of that.” The pitch of his voice was so tense that it rose an octave.

  “Which is the only reason you made the trip home from school.”

  “Not the only reason.” The usually arrogant Delmar looked at the ground like a shy schoolgirl.

  Cecily knew the uncharacteristic gesture was a sure sign he wasn’t telling the truth. Her tongue burned with the desire to tell him so, but she managed to quench the urge.

  Delmar sighed. “I suppose I have no one to blame but myself for today’s unfortunate developments. I should have been more aggressive in my own bidding. Then you wouldn’t be harboring such a foolish notion.”

  Cecily decided to guide the conversational boat to a safe harbor—if only for
the moment. “Speaking of my box, how did you know which one was mine?”

  He cocked his head. “I asked Augusta, of course.”

  “Augusta.” Cecily nodded. “I should have known. But that doesn’t explain how the music teacher knew.”

  Delmar shrugged. “Maybe he was watching who brought in which box. Or maybe he bribed your cook.”

  “More likely, he solved the puzzle for himself when he saw you and Mr. Kingsley bidding on my box.”

  “Could be. Everyone knows we’ve had an understanding of sorts.” Delmar paused and took her hands in his. “Haven’t we?”

  Guilt shot through her. Had she somehow led him to believe they would one day marry? Her family seemed to think so. Before Averil, she hadn’t done much to cause them to think otherwise. “Perhaps we drifted into some sort of arrangement without either of us realizing it.” Cecily looked down at her lap.

  “I realized it. At least, I thought so.”

  “Nothing was ever said, and—”

  “I know. I blame myself for that as well. I should never have left for school without making our status indisputable.” His eyes took on a longing light as his voice softened. “Let’s not argue, Cecily. That is the real reason why I came home. I see now that I could lose you. I never should have taken you for granted.”

  “Delmar—”

  “Now, now, I know I haven’t been fair to you. If I had made my intentions clear, none of this would have ever happened. So now, I shall.” Delmar breathed in audibly and then exhaled. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. “Cecily, will you marry me?”

  Ten

  “What excitement!” Mother proclaimed as the carriage took them home. “Imagine, three gentlemen bidding on our Cecily’s box at once. This is a day that will go down in history!”