by Joyce Alec
“Dear, could you help me in the guest suite? I want it everything to be ready when John and Agnes arrive so we can spend as much time with them as possible.”
Robert smiled. They had just returned home, and she was already hard at work once more. He followed the sound of her voice down the hall off the kitchen and found Alice standing beside the small guest bed they had set aside for guests. It would eventually become a room where children would sleep, but for now, until they had a family of their own, it was a perfect space for people visiting them to stay.
Her back was to him, and it appeared she was unfolding a quilt. When he approached, she turned around, and he was surprised to see a small, brown wrapped package in her hand.
She smiled at him and handed it out to him.
“For me?” he asked, taking the small package in his hands.
She nodded her head. “Go ahead, open it.”
His fingers closed on the thin string and pulled it free. He gently unfolded the paper, pulled the item out, and discovered it was a book. But there was nothing on the cover, no title or name. There was nothing to distinguish it from any other book.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Open it,” she replied.
He smirked curiously at her, and opened the tiny book slowly.
Inside, he found handwritten notes, in a beautiful, easy script. And there were dozens of them, as he began thumbing through the pages. He was shocked to see that every three or four pages was dated as well.
“This is your handwriting,” he said quietly, slowly scanning the pages.
Some of the days looked as if she had plenty of time; her hand was steady, each word uniform. Others looked as if it had been hastily written, or under some great duress.
“These are journal entries from when I moved to Bridgewater, including the day that we met.”
Robert looked up at her, feeling as if his heard was as light as air. “Truly?”
Her face brightened, and she nodded. “Indeed. I felt it was only right that you saw these and read the words from my heart as we were building our relationship.”
“May I read one?”
She flushed. “What, right now?”
He nodded. “I would love it.”
She looked down, the reservation plain on her face, but she smiled. “All right.”
He flipped to an entry a dozen or so pages in. It was the day after they had met.
Today I saw Lord Robert Stone again. Something about that man has captured my attention. It is not only his handsome face, but also the confidence with which he carries himself. And his smile is so kind and gentle. His brother, Lord Bridgewater, is also a handsome man and quite amiable. But his brother has obvious strong conviction. And I feel as if every time I have seen him that he has a book in his hand.
When he spoke to me, I was shocked, but I was pleased at the same time. I have seen that Agnes has a good relationship with him.
Apparently, she has also asked him to stay for the remainder of the month. This has left me torn for some reason. The chance to see him again is enticing to me; as I have said, he is quite pleasant to look at. I have enjoyed having chances just to watch him.
Yet, I am not foolish enough to think that anything could ever happen with him. He most likely has already forgotten that I exist. Why would he not? I am but a servant, after all. There is no reason why he would ever give me a second glance.
That is for the best, I believe. Better that I forget about him, as well, so as I do not dwell on a man that I could never have.
Robert looked up, his finger still poised on the page.
“It is not as if any of this surprises me,” he began, “But to hear it from a point of time when we were not aware of each other’s feelings is…very intriguing. I…” he reached over and pulled his wife into an embrace.
“Thank you for this wonderful gift,” he said into her hair.
She hugged him tightly. “I am glad that you like it. I worried that you might think it was too much or something too personal.”
“Why on earth would I ever think that?”
She pulled back and shrugged. “I do not know. Perhaps I was afraid of how vulnerable it would make me.”
He grinned. He took the book and placed it gently on the table beside his side of their bed, touching it affectionately before returning to the guest room where Alice was waiting.
Together they finished making the bed, tucking the blankets in, and lighting the fire in the fireplace in the corner of the room. Alice absently rearranged some wildflowers in a vase beside the door.
“Do not worry, my love,” he said. “They will love it here.”
She smiled softly. “I know. I just want them to be as comfortable as possible.”
They did not have to wait long. The rain dissipated slightly, enough for them to hear the sound of the carriage as it came up the road. They went to the window and peered out, checking to see if it was their guests or another person passing through the village. When it turned into their drive, they glanced at one another happily and then went to the front door to greet them.
Robert stepped outside and up to the carriage, waiting beside the footman who had hopped down to open the door.
The grinning faces of John and Agnes met him as they peered out into the rainy day.
“Welcome, our honored guests,” Robert said, holding out his hand to help Agnes from the carriage. “Welcome, welcome.”
John followed his wife out, and they thanked the footman, who returned to the back of the carriage to begin removing their luggage.
John walked over to Robert and held out his hand. The two men shook hands and clapped one another on the shoulder.
“Brother, it is good to see you.”
“It is good to see you both as well.”
Agnes said. “Alice’s letter arrived a few weeks ago. We were so pleased that you were able to find a parsonage so close to the church.”
John nodded. “Not to mention able to find a church within a half a day’s ride by carriage from home. Mother was beside herself wondering if you would end up in Wales or in Brighton. She was most pleased when you were able to relocate here.”
Robert nodded. “Oh, I am quite aware of how Mother felt about all of this. Thankfully, Father has been most understanding.”
They smiled knowingly at one another.
“Shall we retire inside?” Robert asked, gesturing back toward the doors, and the three made their way up the stone path to the door.
“I hope your trip was agreeable?” Robert asked.
“It was, aside from the rain,” John answered.
Agnes peered up at their home.
“Oh, Robert, it is just so charming,” she said. “I never could have imagined it was this perfect.”
Robert waved his hand. “This is nothing like your home.”
She smirked. “I would be just as happy to live here as I am to live where we live right now.”
“Would you now?” John replied in a teasing tone.
“I would. You know I do not need all of the fancy furniture or the artwork or space.” She turned to Robert. “I think this is just beautiful.”
The three entered inside. Agnes found Alice at once, and the two women embraced.
They began talking excitedly, and arm in arm, they made their way into the sitting room across the foyer.
“It brings me joy to see them so happy together,” John said. “Agnes has spoken of little else than visiting you both in the last week.”
“Alice as well,” Robert replied. “We are so very pleased that you are here.”
The men followed the women into the sitting room. They women were already speaking rapidly, sharing wide smiles.
The men sat down in wide chairs across from them.
“Truly, this place is just perfect for you both,” Agnes said. “It is comfortable and spacious. I had hoped for something almost half this size for you. It appears that God has been gracious and provided you with someth
ing far grander than I had expected.”
Robert smiled. “God has been good to us. My father and my uncle provided us with the connection of someone in town who was giving the home to a distant family member of poor standing. After some discussion, and a little bit of money changing hands, we acquired the house for next to nothing. Not only has it brought peace to a town that feared the possible tenant here, but it has been more than we could have ever hoped for.”
Alice beamed. “And on top of all of that, many of these lovely pieces of furniture have been gifts from parishioners. One man in the congregation is a carpenter, and he crafted that lovely table for us,” she said, pointing at the dining table through the archway into the next room. “And the chairs were a wedding gift.”
“It sounds as if everyone is accepting you as one of their own,” John replied.
Robert and Alice grinned at one another.
“It is true,” Robert said. “We have only been serving at this church for three months, and already we feel as if we have been here for many years.”
Agnes beamed. “Oh, that brings my heart such comfort to hear. I could have only hoped that this is where you needed to be.”
“And what of you?” Robert asked. “I suppose much has happened since we left the estate. I know that our dear sisters are preparing once again for spring and all of the balls they will attend. I suppose winter will be full of boredom and restless arguing among them all,” and Robert and John gave each other knowing looks.
“Well, we have settled into our home, and everything seems to be going well,” John replied.
“Though I must admit that it is awfully lonely without you,” Agnes said, squeezing Alice’s hand.
“I do miss you as well,” Alice said.
“But, I am so pleased that we are family now; that is something that we could never have imagined as girls, could we?” Agnes said, and the girls smiled at one another.
“Father and Mother have begun to understand that we enjoy our space,” John said. “We may be close, but we have our own life now.”
“That is true,” Robert said.
John and Agnes looked at each other and smiled.
“What is it?” Robert asked. “I know that look on my brother’s face.”
“Well, we do have one piece of news that might interest you,” John began.
Agnes’s face began to shine. “Our large house is not going to seem so large anymore.”
“Are you…?” Robert began.
Alice nearly leapt out of her chair in excitement. “Are you pregnant?”
Agnes and John both grinned widely, and they nodded.
The room was suddenly full of happy cheering, hugging, and tears.
“When are we to expect the baby?” Alice asked.
“The doctor believes it will be here by early spring,” Agnes replied. It was then that Robert noticed she had been sitting with her hands on her stomach. Perhaps she wasn’t even aware that she was doing it.
“My brother, a father,” Robert said, clapping his brother on the arm. “Well done. Do Mother and Father know?”
“Not yet,” John replied. “We found out just before we left, and we didn’t want them to know and then worry about Agnes traveling.”
Alice clapped her hands happily. “Oh, this is just wonderful. We will make sure to take care of you while you are here! I will make sure that you and the baby eat well, and that you rest, and that you have plenty of walks.”
Agnes and Alice turned to one another and began discussing the intricacies of women and only things that they could understand.
The men smiled at one another.
Robert went to the kitchen and returned with some fresh water. He poured each of them a glass, and he raised his into the air.
“To my brother and his lovely new wife for coming to visit us.” He smiled at the two of them. “And to your little one. May God bless you, and keep you. May He protect you, strengthen you, and bring you peace.”
The other three raised their glasses into the air, wide smiles on everyone’s faces.
John added, “And to my dear brother, who recently discovered God’s purpose for his life and found the love of his life.”
Together, they all drank from their glasses.
The rain continued to drizzle outside, pattering against the roof. The drops chased each other down the window panes, but in the distance, the sky had begun to break. Sunlight had started to peak around the clouds, and the first signs of a rainbow were visible in the east.
Life was wonderful, blessed, and full of joy.
THE END
Part VI
A Dance at the Christmas Ball
By Caroline Johnson
1
The Letter at Breakfast
Miss Madelene Blackmore was in the habit of maintaining a prompt schedule. Every morning she rose at dawn, spent a half hour in prayer, brushed her long, auburn hair and braided it tightly, and was the first to join her father at the table for breakfast. Here, they would share in the latest news of the town and the family, discussing both literature and social standing.
It was on a morning such as this that Madelene received a letter that would lead her down a path that would alter her life forever.
Her father rustled the newspaper in his hands to be able to read it more clearly. “It appears that a one Mr. Kingston is leaving his estate to his youngest son.”
“Youngest?” Madelene replied, adding a lump of sugar to her steaming teacup. She gently stirred the leaves before pouring some milk in as well. “That seems a bit strange, does it not? I thought that Mr. Kingston had several sons, the oldest of whom was now an attorney.”
Her father nodded his head, lowering his paper as Mrs. Fields, the housekeeper, delivered his own fresh cup of tea. “Thank you, Mrs. Fields.”
“Are you all right, dear? Would you like me to leave you another?” Mrs. Fields asked Madelene, who smiled in reply.
“Thank you, Mrs. Fields.” She always enjoyed two cups of tea before breakfast.
“It appears that all of his older sons have married into more upstanding families and have no need for such an estate.”
“But it is so lovely there,” Madelene replied, admiring the glint of the sunshine on the saucer painted with little blue and red roses. “How could anyone not want to live in a place with a view such as that one?”
Her father smiled at her. “Ever the idealist, are we not?” He asked.
Footsteps sounded from the stairwell, and then grew louder from the hall. The door opened to the dining room, and a small, round face greeted them.
“Good morning, Lily,” Her father said. “Come and sit; breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Good morning,” Lily said from beneath the bounce of blonde curls. Not a fortnight older than seven, the dainty girl could not even touch the ground when she sat in her chair. She beamed at Madelene. “Good morning, dear sister.”
Madelene reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Good morning, little one. How did you sleep?”
The door to the room opened once more, and Lily’s governess, Mrs. Rose, very nearly stumbled in. “There you are, Miss Blackmore. I asked you to wait in your room this morning.” She bowed her head quickly. “Mr. Blackmore, my deepest apologies for barging in like this.”
“I couldn’t wait,” Lily replied. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Rose, I was simply too excited.”
“Excited for what?” her father asked, folding his newspaper and setting it down. “What’s gotten you so excited that you aren’t listening to your governess?”
Lily grinned and pulled something out from behind her back. “This! It’s for you, father!”
Mr. Blackmore took the parchment from her and unfolded it. Madelene watched his eyes scan the page, and as he did, his face grew tender, and his eyes welled with tears.
When he was finished, he lowered the letter and smiled at her. “Thank you, Lily. I love you, too.” He cleared his throat and looked more closely at her. “Mrs
. Rose, you have done a fine job. Her handwriting is far better than it was even a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Blackmore,” Mrs. Rose replied, her hands clasped in front of her.
“Your mother would have been very proud,” Mr. Blackmore said, his eyes bright.
Lily smiled even wider, and Madelene wondered which was more radiant: her face or the sunshine.
“Miss Blackmore?”
Madelene looked over to see Mrs. Fields had reappeared in the room.
“Yes?” Madelene asked.
“A letter has come for you.”
Surprise caused her cheeks to flush, and she lifted the sealed letter off of the tray that Mrs. Fields offered her.
“Do you know who it is from?” Madelene asked, holding the letter in her fingers.
“It’s from your aunt and uncle.”
Madelene gasped. “Aunt Edith?”
Mrs. Fields nodded and bowed herself from the room.
Madelene eagerly opened the letter, and she felt little Lily suddenly at her side, pressing herself as close to Madelene as she could in order to read the letter too.
“Our dearest Madelene,” Madelene read out loud, for she knew her father would wish to hear the letter as well, “We hope this letter finds you well and in good health. We have heard the weather had been rather warm this fall, and we know how much joy that must have brought you. Your uncle and I have missed your company dearly, as has your cousin, and we would like to invite you to come and stay with us for the some of the winter season, even Christmas if you would desire it. Discuss with your father, and if he is quite satisfied, then we hope you will come at your earliest convenience. They are welcome to join us for the week of Christmas! Say hello to that darling niece of ours, as well as to Mr. and Mrs. Fields. With greatest love, Aunt Edith and Uncle Matthew.”
Madelene looked up from the letter. Lily squeezed her arm.
“They mentioned me! They mentioned me!”
She looked at her father. “Can I go?” she asked.
“I don’t see why not,” her father replied, smiling at her. “It’s been some time since you went to stay with your cousins.”
