Fate's Intervention

by Barbara Woster

  “My lips are permanently sealed on the subject, if you promise that you’ll never mention it again as well.” Marcelle smiled.

  “Thank you, Marcelle,” Carol Ann murmured, focusing back on her stitching.

  “I still think it’s wonderful that Matthew’s cousin decided to come for the wedding,” Marcelle interjected deliberately and smiled as another blush stole into Carol Ann’s alabaster cheeks.

  “Yes, I never thought he’d be able to tear himself away from his business in London for a simple wedding invitation, but amazingly enough, he did,” Lilith added, a grin on her face.

  “Yes, it is wonderful, isn’t it?” Carol Ann smiled wistfully.

  Marcelle grinned at the continued glow on Carol Ann’s face and was glad that the two of them had been able to reconcile over Matthew, and that Carol Ann had agreed to be in her wedding. She giggled as she remembered the day that Robert Daragh appeared on their doorstep. Carol Ann was at the house, helping with the wedding when a knock sounded at the parlor door. . . .

  “Come in!” Lilith called and Jeremy poked his head in.

  “You have a guest, Madam,” he said.

  “Show him in, please, Jeremy,” Lilith said and Marcelle’s curiosity peaked. Carol Ann was here, the Stanharbor’s had moved to New York – there was no one else in the neighboring counties that she could think of that would be paying them a call, unless, of course, Brian Walker had finally returned from Pinedale to court her. She dismissed the thought. He was probably deceased by now.

  The man that entered was a stranger – to her anyway. Lilith, on the other hand, appeared to know the man well. He seemed, to Marcelle, to be in his mid-twenties and was, by all accounts, a fine specimen of a man. He was tall – at least six-foot-one, with black, wavy hair that fell to shoulder-length and strong features. His skin was fair, but not pallid, and he carried himself with an air of authority that filled the room.

  She cast a quick look at Carol Ann and wasn’t surprised to see the thrall on her face.

  Lilith stood to greet the caller, “Robert, dear!” She exclaimed, “How good of you to come.”

  “Aunt Lilith,” Robert said, stepping into her embrace. “How could I refuse such an invitation?” He said, a glint of mischief in his eye. “After all, it’s not every day that my cousin marries. Where is Matthew, by the by?”

  “He’s out with the horses,” Marcelle answered, moving to stand beside the couple.

  “Robert,” Lilith said, “may I introduce Marcelle, Matthew’s fiancé.”

  Robert bowed formally, then placed a light kiss on the back of Marcelle’s hand, “It is truly a pleasure to meet the woman who has captured my cousin’s heart.”

  “The pleasure is mine,” Marcelle smiled. “I’m sure Matthew will be pleased to know that you’ve come for his wedding. From where do you hail, sir? Your accent is unfamiliar to me.

  “England, Ma’am,” Robert answered, glancing over her shoulder. Marcelle smiled at the distraction and turned. “Robert Daragh, may I introduce my neighbor and dear friend, Carol Ann Blackwarth.”

  Robert moved to stand beside Carol Ann, whose color remained high in her cheeks, “The honor is truly mine, dear lady. Are, you perchance spoken for as well?”

  “No,” Carol Ann whispered, casting her gaze downward.

  “Mmm,” Robert smiled, “That has indeed made my afternoon a delight.”

  That’s how it had started. The two were seriously courting now and there was even a hint that another wedding would be right around the corner. She looked over at her future mother-in-law and her heart swelled with love for the elder woman. If it hadn’t for her mischievous interference, Carol Ann would most likely have been stuck with one of her old rejects, instead of the possibility of wedding a wealthy young man from England. Marcelle still wondered what method of persuasion Lilith had used to get the young man to leave London for a trip west. After all, Lilith was right – a mere wedding invitation wasn’t likely to send someone traveling half way across the world, especially when he hadn’t seen the groom in well over ten years.

  Whatever her method of persuasion, she wasn’t parting with it and neither was Robert. Still, Marcelle was grateful to her for taking pity on the young motherless child and doing her best to see her properly taken care of.

  A loud knock interrupted Marcelle’s thoughts.

  “Enter,” Lilith called.

  The door opened and Matthew strode in, dusty from working the horses, followed by a dapper-looking Robert, and a healthy-looking Peter.

  “Hello, darlings,” Matthew smiled, and moved across the room to plant a firm kiss on Marcelle’s lips. “How are my lady loves today?”

  Robert moved to stand next to Carol Ann, “Yes, indeed, how are you faring this fine day, Miss Carol Ann?” Carol Ann blushed deeply and Robert laughed softly under his breath. “I take that to mean you are doing rather nicely.”

  “We all couldn’t be better, sweeties,” Lilith answered, “but we’re trying to accomplish the impossible, given the amount of time before your wedding, and it won’t get done if you keep barging in here every few hours and interrupting our work!” Lilith admonished, half-heartedly.

  “Are you certain that you’re faring well, Madam?” Peter asked from over Lilith’s shoulder. “You sound as cantankerous as an old codger.”

  “And if I didn’t know that teasing tone so well by now, Mr. Weatherman, I’d stab that conveniently-placed hand of yours.” Lilith retorted jokingly and laughed when Peter snatched his hand from atop her shoulder.

  “Now, now, Lilith,” Marcelle laughed, “I’ve just found out that my father is going to live to a ripe old age, so I prefer not to have his life cut short by needle stabbing.”

  “Perhaps I’d do better to skewer him with a knitting needle, was it?”

  “How did you . . . Father, you told them?” Marcelle screeched, the blush in her face increasing when everyone burst into laughter.

  “Told what?” Robert asked. “What’s this about a knitting needle?”

  “Don’t you dare!” Marcelle ordered, but he conveniently ignored her.

  “Well, you see,” Peter said, thankful to see Matthew’s hands holding Marcelle in her chair, especially since the look she sent him promised retribution for tattling on her, “my daughter used to tell potential suitors that she had skewered a man with a knitting needle for ogling her breasts too long and hard. It was her way of getting rid of undesirables – which was everyone I found to call on her. It’s also why I took ill.”

  “Oh, Father,” Marcelle groaned, “I really didn’t mean to cause you such distress.”

  “Oh, yes you did!” Peter continued. “You caused so much distress, in fact, that my doctor mistook the stress and continued upset stomach as a dire condition that was to result in my demise. Amazingly enough, however, when Matthew agreed to see to my daughter’s future, my health made a complete turnaround, much to the amazement of my physician who proclaimed it a miracle!”

  “Unbelievable!” Robert exclaimed softly.

  “Oh, it’s quite true, I assure you,” Peter said, giving his daughter a mischievous smile.

  “So, what brings you gentleman into our little work domain, today?” Lilith asked, bringing the subject back around to their visit.

  “I miss my bride-to-be, Mother,” Matthew grinned, keeping his eyes pinned on Marcelle, “but if it will put your mind at ease, I did have an actual purpose for stopping by this time.”

  “And what might that by, Sweetheart?” Marcelle said, and smiled as Matthew’s grin widened. She remembered his reaction the first time she’d used the endearment on him and a blush stole into her cheeks. The blush mounted in intensity when he lowered his head and kissed her again.

  “I love when you call me that,” he purred, and planted yet another kiss on her slightly parted mouth.

  “There are others present in the room, dear hearts,” Lilith snapped playfully.

  “Sorry, Mother,” Matthew apologized insincerely, “
but I can’t seem to keep my hands off her.”

  “As well it should be, dear,” Lilith laughed and Marcelle coughed, still unused to the candor with which mother and son communicated. It shouldn’t be shocking, since she tended to be that way with her father, but she wasn’t usually the subject of the conversation, so she still found their bluntness a little disconcerting.

  Her discomfiture was nothing compared to Carol Ann, who appeared as if she would have a fit of the vapors at any moment. Robert placed a hand on her shoulder, meant as a gesture of comfort, but to Carol Ann, unused to attention from the opposite sex, appeared ready to swoon.

  “Perhaps I should return home now,” she whispered, keeping her eyes deliberately averted from Matthew’s overly affection display.

  “Nonsense, Child,” Lilith chided. “Matthew is just about to tell us why he’s dragged the entire male household in here, weren’t you, Matthew?”

  “For enlightenments sake, Mother dearest, I did not drag Peter and Robert up here. They saw me heading in this direction, and merely decided to accompany me, isn’t that correct, gentlemen?”

  “For certain,” Peter smiled. “After all, ladies, you have hidden yourselves away in this room for the better part of two weeks, and we men folk simply aren’t used to not having a woman underfoot, harping over every little thing.”

  “Well, if Matthew would quit interrupting our work continually, we would have been done with Carol Ann and mine’s dresses, as well as Marcelle’s trousseau and be able to flit about the house disrupting your lives to everyone’s delight. Now, Matthew, tell us why you’ve come, so that we can do just that.”

  “Very well, Mother,” Matthew smiled, “I came to let Marcelle know that I’m going away for a short while to deliver the horses to our clientele.”

  “And I’ll be accompanying him, Carol Ann,” Robert interjected. “To help drum up business for the future breed stock. At Matthew’s request, of course.”

  “Do I take that to mean that you won’t be returning to England any time in the near future, Robert?” Lilith questioned, watching Carol Ann’s reaction carefully.

  “Well, Matthew has been kind enough to offer me part interest in the horse business and since I’ve always found horseflesh an interesting commodity, I’ve decided to take him up on that offer. Especially since I’ve found good reason to stay – that is, if she’ll have me.” All eyes fell on Carol Ann, who stiffened visibly when Robert moved to kneel in front of her chair.

  “I know we haven’t known each other for very long,” Robert whispered, “but I feel an affinity towards you that I can only hope and pray you return in some small measure. If so, I beg you to consider becoming my bride. If you accept, I vow to do everything within my power to see you well cared for, well provided for, and forever well loved. Will you consent to marrying me, Miss Carol Ann Blackwarth?”

  “Oh, my!” Carol Ann cried, and to everyone’s surprise, she launched herself into Robert’s arms, knocking him onto the floor. He wrapped his arms around her tightly as they landed in a heap.

  “Is that a yes, my love?” Robert breathed.

  “Yes, oh, yes!” Carol Ann laughed, the people around her temporarily forgotten. Robert leaned up and planted a quick kiss on her mouth and Carol Ann gasped.

  “Get used to it, Sweetheart,” he smiled, “because you’ll be getting plenty of those.”

  Carol Ann blushed prettily and then gasped again as their position on the floor and the spectators suddenly registered.

  “Oh, my,” she whispered.

  “Here, let me help you up, Carol Ann,” Matthew laughed. He reached down and clasped Carol Ann by the elbow, pulling her to her feet. Carol Ann sank into her chair and hid her face in her hands.

  “Are you all right, my child?” Lilith asked, far from concerned. In fact, she was enjoying the whole affair immensely. Carol Ann bobbed her head up and down, but didn’t move her hands away from her face.

  “Carol Ann,” Marcelle hedged, attempting to keep her laughter at bay, “you don’t have to be embarrassed. After all, we’re family now, and as a member of this family, you are going to have to learn to toughen up a bit. If you hadn’t realized it by now, shenanigans are a large part of who we are. Can you accept that?”

  Carol Ann peered at Marcelle from between her fingers, then at everyone sitting around her. When her gaze drifted back to Robert, still seated on the floor in front of her, she moved her hands away from her face, “You don’t mind if I behave . . . well, as Marcelle said?”

  “Sweetheart, I want you to be so comfortable with me that you wouldn’t hesitate to run around the house in your bloomers if you felt like doing so,” Robert laughed.

  “Truly?”

  “Truly,” Robert said, then quickly amended, “however, I prefer you wait until we have a home of our own before doing so.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Carol Ann retorted and then blushed at her own audacity. “You know, I used to think you were a poor influence on me, Marcelle. Now I think I couldn’t be happier to know you; since, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to tease my husband like this. It feels – freeing.”

  “Yeah. It does, doesn’t it?” Marcelle grinned, looking at Matthew with all the love that her heart contained.

  “That’s my girl,” Lilith grinned. “Now, if you gentleman wouldn’t mind, it would appear that we now have a wedding gown to prepare as well. Good thing I brought that material with me from New York, but since we will also need to come up with a trousseau for Carol Ann now as well . . . just get out! All of you, shoo, and I promise, Peter, that we’ll be down before long to see that dinner promptly served. Fair enough?”

  “That’s okay, Lilith,” Peter smiled, pleased to hear her say his first name. “As it is, I’ve decided to accompany Matthew and Robert on this trip. Now that I’m feeling better.”

  “That’s wonderful, Father,” Marcelle smiled.

  “It sure feels good to be useful again, that’s for certain.” Peter grinned. “If you ladies would simply consider stepping out of your little hideaway long enough to see us off, we’re ready to go.”

  “Oh!” Lilith said, putting her sewing aside. “Well, in that case – shall we ladies?”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony,” the preacher began, “and I must say,” he whispered, leaning closer to Matthew, “that it’s nice not to see a shotgun in attendance.”

  Matthew laughed, “I’ll explain later,” he said, seeing the look of confusion that crossed Marcelle’s features.

  “Now, do you Marcelle Magdalena Weatherman, take this man, Matthew Stephen Daragh, to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to honor him, obey him, and keep a sharp on eye on him for the rest of your life?”

  “I do.” Marcelle’s provided tentatively, a perplexed look upon her face. Confused looks appeared on everyone’s face, with the exception of Matthew, whose humor was beginning to fade.

  “And do you, Carol Ann Blackwarth, take this man, Robert Lewis Daragh to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, honor him, and obey him for the rest of your life?” The preacher asked, turning to face the second couple.

  “I do.” Carol Ann’s response was far more confident, but she wondered why the pastor had phrased their questions differently.

  “And do you gentlemen take these women to be your lawfully wedded wives? Do you promise to honor them, keep them, and protect them from harm – especially you, sir?” The preacher concluded, eyeing Matthew with a stern visage.

  Matthew blushed and tugged at his collar.

  “I do,” the men said in unison.

  “Then by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husbands and wives,” the preached said, “and may God have mercy on your souls.” He grinned at Matthew, then promptly burst into laughter. “You deserved it, and you know it.” He grinned.

  “Uh, preacher,” Robert said, “I’ve never been mar
ried before but I’m pretty certain that last line doesn’t belong . . . ,”

  “He knows,” Matthew interrupted. “You know, Pastor, for a man of God, you’ve got a rather large vindictive streak in you.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I figure that there was a reason that God set you on my trail to perform your ceremony.”

  “Oh, really?” Matthew asked. “What reason was that? I thought I was trying to make up for the shotgun wedding we forced you to perform on the train.”

  “For certain, and to get even with you for making my first marriage ceremony a living hell,” he said, then turned to address the audience. “Ladies and gentleman, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Daragh, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Daragh.” He announced loudly, “And now,” he finished softly, “I think a rapid departure might be in order.”

  “You are definitely going to have to explain what all that was about,” Marcelle said, placing her hand on the crook of Matthew’s arm and starting down the aisle.

  “I’m a bit curious as well, Matthew,” Robert said, walking beside the other couple.

  “Let’s just say, I’ll know better than to upset a man of the cloth from now on,” Matthew said, then smiled as the well-wishers surrounded them.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  “How much longer, doctor?” Matthew asked. He stopped his pacing as soon as the physician entered the room, running to greet him at the door.

  “Not for a few hours yet, I think,” the doctor replied, “I just wanted to stop in and see how you gentlemen are holding up before I go back upstairs and check . . . ,”

  “But what about Carol Ann, sir?” Robert exclaimed, moving to stand near Matthew’s side. “You haven’t told me how she’s faring?”

  “She’s a few hours shy of delivery as well, Son,” the doctor sighed tiredly. “Did you really have to impregnate your wives at the same moment, gentlemen?”