Marcelle laughed gleefully and spurred their horse so that they could follow, but Matthew pulled back on the reins.
“Not so fast, Madam,” he said scowling. “You still have to pay for that teasing comment you made back at the fort.”
“Really, Matthew,” Marcelle sighed dramatically, “Am I going to have to pay every single time I open my mouth, when you know full well that you’ll misconstrue most anything I say as teasing? Can’t we just let it slide this time?”
“Not on your life, woman,” Matthew growled and turned to pull her onto his lap. Matthew’s mouth on hers cut Marcelle’s gasp short. He kissed her long and hard before finally allowing her to come up for breath. “I’ve been waiting to do that since I left for New York.”
“You know,” she said breathlessly, “if you consider kissing as a form of payback, I may be tempted to tease you more often.”
“That’s the idea,” Matthew said, and kissed her again.
“Hey, you two!” Lilith shouted, “How about you join us down here?”
Matthew reluctantly released Marcelle’s lips again, “We’ll be there in a minute, Mother!” He shouted back, “I just need to talk to Marcelle a moment more.”
“That wasn’t talking, Son,” Lilith countered. “I’m old enough to distinguish the difference between conversation and . . . ,”
“Thank you, Mother!” Matthew interrupted.
“So, that’s your mother, is it?” Marcelle asked, finding it hard to contain her laughter at the blush that appeared beneath Matthew’s tanned skin. “I like her.”
“I figured you would,” Matthew grinned. “She’s a lot like you.”
“So, what was the conversation we needed to have before we could go join the celebrations?” Marcelle asked, wrapping her arms around Matthew’s neck.
Matthew leaned over carefully and pulled his rucksack up between them. Reaching inside, he carefully pulled out a medium-sized package wrapped in silver paper with a burgundy bow. He let the rucksack fall back into place before presenting the gift to Marcelle.
“Oh, it’s beautiful!” Marcelle exclaimed, releasing her hold on Matthew’s neck. “It’s for me?”
“Open it.”
Marcelle carefully pulled the wrapping from around the beautiful package and gasped. “Is this really from where I think it’s from?” She asked, eyeing the logo on the top of the box.
“Yes, darling,” Matthew smiled. “I only hope you’re as excited about what’s in the box as you appear to be by the box.”
“Now who’s teasing whom,” Marcelle grinned as she pulled the lid off the blue-colored box. “Oh, my,” she gasped. Lying on a bed of red velvet was the largest emerald she’d ever seen attached to a strand of pearls, individually strung and separated by diamonds.
“I’d be honored,” Matthew whispered close to her ear, “if you’d wear that necklace on our wedding day.”
“Oh, Matthew, I would have been happy with the simple proposal at the fort. You didn’t have to go to so much expense just to get me to say yes,” Marcelle said, placing a light kiss on her lips. “Although it is one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Then you’ll wear it at our wedding?”
“Nothing would make me happier. Except becoming your wife, that is.”
“Mmm, I’m glad to hear that, so, what’s say we go on down and give everyone a bit of added news to celebrate,” Matthew said, squeezing his knees against his horse.
Marcelle laid her head against Matthew’s chest, her eyes pinned to the necklace that lay in the open box on her lap. He’d asked her to marry him, just as her father predicted he would. Even though she’d hoped and prayed every day that he’d propose upon his return, she was still astonished that he’d changed his mind about marriage as abruptly as he had. Not that she’d complain – ever. She may not know exactly what she’d done to capture his heart, but she wasn’t ever going to change a thing about it.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
“So that’s the end of it then,” Lilith sighed, sitting on the settee beside her bedroom window across from her son. The celebration had ended moments earlier, and she could see stragglers still milling about the front yard, talking to one neighbor or another – friends that they only saw rarely.
She spotted Marcelle talking to a young girl and her heart lightened, until thoughts of what Mark nearly did to the poor dear intruded again, casting a shadow of sadness over her happiness. She reached up, unlatched the window, and pushed it open. She breathed in deeply, hoping the fresh, crisp air would wipe away the ugliness. She wondered vaguely why she couldn’t cry over Mark’s death, or why she didn’t have any guilt over the feeling of relief that washed over her.
“I guess I should feel some small measure of peace,” she murmured to herself, “that he died quickly and didn’t harm anyone dear to me in the process.”
“However he died, Mother,” Matthew said, moving to stand beside her, “he did so because of the path he chose to lead. Nothing we did could have changed that. Even if the sale of Daragh Steel hadn’t entered the picture, something else would have sparked his violence – eventually. At the rate he was going, I’d have to say sooner was more likely.”
“I know,” Lilith said softly. “It just . . . well, as his mother, I should have had more influence over his life. If I had, perhaps he would have ended up on a different path. A better path.”
“Hindsight is always more clearer, Mother, and berating yourself over what might have been never accomplishes anything, with the exception of making your life more miserable than it should be.”
“You’re right, darling,” Lilith smiled at her elder son, her only son now. “Just how did you get to be so smart, anyhow?”
“It runs in the correct side of the family.”
“Thank you, dear,” Lilith said. “Well, I supposed I should do something about the funeral arrangements. After all, I was his mother. Do you think Elizabeth would care to know?”
“Probably, but not for the reasons you’re thinking,” Matthew said.
“Oh, I have no doubt that I’m thinking the same thing,” Lilith said. “That child was only interested in Mark’s money and now, with him out of the way permanently, she’ll get it without any future concerns. She’ll want to know that, without a doubt.”
“Without a doubt, but don’t expect to see her attending the funeral. I’ll see about sending a wire.” Matthew stood and walked toward the doorway.
“Would it be so wrong of me to say that I don’t really want a funeral? It would just be a hollow gesture on my part,” Lilith said, looking down at her lap. “Did you know when your father died, I felt the same way, but Mark insisted on inviting a who’s who of society? All I wanted to do was put his body in the ground and be done with it. Does that make me a bad person, do you suppose?”
Matthew turned and knelt in front of his mother, placing a hand on hers comfortingly, “Mother, you are one of the most caring women I’ve ever known, and what you felt for Mark and Father cannot diminish that. We’ll have a private burial somewhere, okay?”
“That would be just fine. I wouldn’t want you delaying your wedding nuptials unnecessarily,” Lilith said.
“We’ll wait as long as it takes you to grieve,” Matthew assured her.
“Then how about setting the date for sometime next month. Think Marcelle would mind? I need a cheerful distraction and I think planning a wedding would be wonderful for me.”
“Are you sure, Mother?” Matthew looked at his mother with skepticism, but could see nothing but sincerity in her eyes.
“I couldn’t be more certain of anything in my life, Son,” Lilith assured, placing a hand in comfort on Matthew’s unshaven cheek.
“Well, I’ll go fire off a telegram to Elizabeth, while you discuss wedding plans with your future daughter-in-law. That is, if you’re certain you’re up to it.”
“I’m up to it,” Lilith said. “Go ahead and send her up.”
&
nbsp; A moment later, she saw Matthew leave the front door and approach Marcelle in the yard. The heaviness lifted again from her heart for she could see, even from this distance, the love that shone from Matthew’s countenance when he looked at his affianced.
“I still can’t get over the fact that the man I met – that well-groomed, polite gentleman – was really a murderer,” Carol Ann said.
“Yes, well,” Marcelle smiled grimly, “he was, and it’s a good thing that you didn’t get too attached or you may have ended up in Elizabeth’s shoes and been forced to marry the no-good scum.”
“Poor Elizabeth,” Carol Ann sighed.
“Not so poor anymore,” Marcelle said. A smile lit her face when she saw Matthew approaching. “There’s Matthew.”
“Oh, my!” Carol Ann blushed, and flicked open her fan.
“Relax, Carol Ann,” Marcelle said, patting the young girl on the back.
“But, there’s Matthew,” she said dreamily. “And I know that he isn’t anything like his brother, or he wouldn’t have risked his neck to come after you. Oh, how positively romantic.”
“Carol Ann,” Marcelle sighed, “I think there’s something you should know . . . ,” Marcelle started, but Matthew’s arrival interrupted her.
“Hello, Miss Blackwarth,” Matthew said, bowing slightly at the waist before turning and placing a light kiss on Marcelle’s cheek.
Marcelle saw Carol Ann’s eyes widen at the affectionate display and felt suddenly sorry for the young girl. She really did have a huge crush on Matthew, and now Matthew was off the market. If she’d been there when the announcement was made, perhaps it would have been easier on her, but she’d volunteered to care for Joseph so that Nancy could spend some time with the family, and missed everything, from their arrival up and until near the end of the celebrations.
With a cry, Carol Ann turned on her heel, and fled into the house.
“What was that all about?” Matthew asked, watching as the front door slammed shut.
“If you hadn’t noticed, she’s had a crush on you from day one.
“I noticed, but I thought she knew about us,” Matthew said, sorry he’d hurt the young girl. She’d proven to be a very sweet girl, and she was finally getting along nicely with Marcelle.
“I’d better go have a word with her,” Marcelle said thoughtfully. “Where are you off to?”
“I’m going to wire Elizabeth about Mark, but I should be back in a few hours,” Matthew said, wrapping his arms around her. “Want to hear something nice?”
“Always,” Marcelle smiled.
“Mom wants to start planning the wedding with you. She said it would help her get over Mark’s death. That is, if you don’t object,” Matthew said, eyeing Marcelle’s reaction cautiously.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Marcelle grinned.
“She’s waiting in her bedroom. I think she brought some material with her from New York, so if you want to invite Carol Ann to be a bridesmaid, you all can make a beautiful gown for her and mom. Do you need a wedding gown made?”
“No, I want to wear my mother’s gown,” Marcelle smiled.
“Well, mother brought material for a gown in the event you didn’t have one already,” Matthew said.
“Your mother thought of everything, didn’t she?” Marcelle laughed. “I’m not sure if Carol Ann will want to participate now that I’ve snared the only eligible male within the state of Wisconsin.”
“We’ll just have to see about that, then, won’t we?” A voice said from behind the couple, startling them out of the embrace.
“Mother!” Matthew said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”
“I wasn’t even aware that I was sneaking,” Lilith laughed at her son’s expression, “but since it didn’t seem as if you were going to let Marcelle come up to my room, I thought I’d come down here. Now, what’s this about . . . what’s her name? I’m assuming you’re referring to the young lady that ran away a moment ago.”
“Carol Ann Blackwarth,” Marcelle said, and then sighed. “When Matthew first came to work for us, I told Carol Ann that I wasn’t interested in Matthew, which of course made her happy because it left the door open for her to try and win his affections.”
“Not that she could have,” Matthew assured them both.
“Well, Carol Ann didn’t know that,” Marcelle said, guilt apparent on her face, “and now that she’s seen that Matthew and I are . . . well, you know . . . then I’m sure she feels betrayed and probably very hurt.”
“Well, you go and talk to her, and I’ll see what I can do to take her attentions away from you and Matthew,” Lilith said. “I’ll need to go into town with you, Son. Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes, Mother,” Matthew said, his eyes narrowing, “but you aren’t planning to do something you shouldn’t, are you?”
“I never do anything I shouldn’t,” Lilith assured him, then turned back to Marcelle. “When I get back, I’d be proud to help you prepare for the wedding.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Well, the last of the guests have departed,” Peter said, approaching the small group, “and I must say, Matthew, they are all eager to see the foals come spring, and none has protested the higher prices I quoted, especially when they got a look at the stud male. Impressed ‘em right nicely. Said that they were tired of doing business with Stanharbor anyway, with his cheap mounts, and was glad to see we were making a comeback with the kind of horses they really wanted.”
“So am I,” Matthew said with a smile. “One thing is for certain. Our reputation for producing quality horseflesh will spread far and wide before long, and in a few years time, we will have stables in every state in the Northwest. At least that’s the plan.”
“Thanks to my very astute, business-minded daughter,” Peter said, smiling, “that plan may very well become a reality.”
“Well, don’t forget, that if Matthew hadn’t stepped in and helped purchase the mares, this business would have failed from the outset,” Marcelle said, wrapping her arms around Matthew’s waist. “Thank you for believing in my ambitions – and me.”
“And thank you for hiring me on,” Matthew returned graciously, planting a kiss on her nose.
“Okay, now that all the gratitude has been gushed out, Matthew,” Lilith said, “we’re supposed to be heading to town. Do you need anything, Marcelle? Mr. Weatherman?”
“A few things,” Peter said.
“Let me know what they are and I’ll pick them up for you,” Matthew offered.
“Uh, well, it’s just . . . ,” Peter muttered vaguely. “Would you mind if I just accompanied you?” He finished, casting shy glances toward Lilith. Lilith blushed and turned away, picking non-existent lint off her skirt. Matthew and Marcelle eyed each other and smiled.
“Will you be okay, darling, until we all get back?” Matthew asked, pulling her back into his embrace.
“I’m sure I’m going to be rather busy trying to convince Carol Ann to forgive me and to be a part of my wedding,” Marcelle said, placing a light kiss on his lips.
“I don’t think she’ll object for too long,” Lilith said mysteriously. “Just be her friend. She’ll come around.”
“Thanks, Lilith,” Marcelle said. “Well, you all better leave. Nancy and I should have dinner ready by the time you return.”
“We’ll be back soon, dearest,” Peter said, and turned to help Lilith climb into the carriage.
“There’s possibility there,” Matthew smiled at the two older people.
“Yes,” Marcelle said, but her heart was sad. Finally, her dad had found someone with whom he felt a connection and he wasn’t going to live long enough to enjoy it.
“Are you okay, darling?” Matthew said, noticing the sadness that had crept into Marcelle’s features. “You know,” he said, realizing why she was suddenly sad, “sometimes it’s better to love a short while, than never love at all; so, if they have each ot
her, your father will at least die with the love of a good woman in his heart.”
Marcelle laughed softly, “How did you get to be so smart?
“I’m not sure,” Matthew said, “but I’m glad I am, otherwise I wouldn’t have been smart enough to snare you.”
Ah, but did you really do the snaring? Marcelle thought with a laugh.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
“If only I’d known he was your beau, I never would have made a play for him,” Carol Ann murmured shyly, her head lowered dejectedly. It was the third mention of her appalling behavior since coming to help Marcelle prepare for the wedding.
Lilith Daragh rolled her eyes at Marcelle at the same moment that Marcelle rolled them at her. Both women smiled behind their hands.
“Carol Ann,” Marcelle reassured again, “Two meetings with Matthew, of less than two minutes each, would hardly be construed as making a play for him, dearest.”
“But he must have thought me such an idiot,” Carol Ann moaned, keeping her gaze lowered.
“Carol Ann,” Marcelle sighed, “if you don’t stop berating yourself, then I’m going to get up and smack you a good one.”
“Oh,” Carol Ann gasped, “you wouldn’t dare!”
“Well, no,” Marcelle laughed, “but at least you finally looked at me. Honestly, I didn’t think you were going to look me in the eye ever again.”
Carol Ann laughed, and a blush stole into her cheeks, “You know, I’m glad you’re so outspoken, otherwise, I’d never know what kind of idiot I’m making of myself. If you’d been more outspoken about Matthew, I wouldn’t have acted so doltish around him.”
“And I keep telling you that the first time you met him, Matthew nor I had intentions of marrying, so I couldn’t have told you to stop ogling over him, now could I?”
“I know. I know, but I still feel humiliated at the way I behaved around him,” Carol Ann blushed again. “Was I really that immature?” She asked, getting back to her sewing. When Marcelle didn’t answer, she looked up again. “Oh, pooh!” She huffed at the laughter plainly visible in Marcelle’s eyes. “Well, no matter, you must promise not to ever mention my disturbing behavior to Robert, okay?”
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