The Proposal

by Lori Wick

  “Come along,” he invited, and Penny raced inside and into the large chair Jennings had been occupying. Jennings was not put off in the least. He went to the chair, scooped her up, sat down, and deposited her in his lap.

  “We have good news for you,” he said, ignoring her large eyes. “We’re going sea bathing.”

  “Sea bathing?” Penny perked up, completely forgetting in whose lap she sat. “I can come?”

  “Yes, you can. After your birthday we’re all going.”

  “And Marianne? Marianne can come?”

  “Yes,” Jennings said with a bit less enthusiasm but remembering that at some point in the past he had said as much.

  “I wish you could marry Marianne.”

  Silence descended on the room, a total and devastating silence that lasted the better part of a minute, until Thomas, his voice telling of his horror, took his sister to task.

  “Penelope Jennings, you apologize this minute!”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, scrambling from Jennings’ lap in fear.

  Seeing her reaction, Thomas was instantly sorry for his tone and would have spoken up, but Jennings beat him to it.

  “Come here, Penny,” the older man bade. “Come back so I can tell you something.”

  Penny went back to him with no intention of returning to his lap, but as soon as she was close, Jennings took her back on his knee.

  “You must never fear telling me how you feel, Penny. I won’t be angry with you. You can always tell me. And by your statement, I assume you wish you had a mother.”

  “Marianne,” Penny admitted quietly, a slight quiver in her voice. “I wish we had Marianne.”

  “She’s very kind, Penny. I can see how you would feel that way.”

  “You could like her,” Penny went on almost pleadingly, shocking her brothers so that their mouths fell open. “Emma said her parents liked each other and then fell in love. You could like Marianne.”

  Jennings looked into her earnest little face and eyes before smoothing the riot of hair from her brow.

  “It does work that way at times, Penny, “liking” turning to “loving,” but not always. You understand, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  She sounded so sad about it that Jennings didn’t know what to say. It was a natural yearning on her part, but that didn’t mean he could fix it.

  “I think we’ve stayed up late enough,” Jennings finally suggested. “I’m for bed, and you should be too.”

  Goodnights were said as the room emptied. Jennings followed the children slowly, planning to check on everyone once they were settled. Lantern in hand, his eyes caught a large map of the earth—one of his favorites—that had been hung in the hallway. He stopped to study it, wondering at the last time he’d even noticed.

  There was a time in his life when his own pursuits and interests were his world. Jennings went on to the children’s rooms, not giving the map another thought.

  “I’m going sea bathing,” Penny told Megan as she brushed her hair the next morning.

  “You are?”

  Penny nodded. “After my birthday.”

  “You don’t have a birthday coming up, do you?” the housekeeper gently teased.

  “I’ll be seven.”

  “Seven is a very big girl, but I don’t know if that’s big enough to go sea bathing.”

  “It is! I’ve gone for years.”

  “Have you? Do you swim, Miss Penny?”

  Another nod answered this query. “Papa used to say I swim fine.”

  “Did he go in with you?”

  Penny nodded. “James and Thomas too.”

  “Won’t that be fun,” Megan commented as she put the finishing touches on Penny’s hair and tied the little bow at the back of her dress.

  “Maybe you can come, Megan,” Penny stated.

  Megan smiled at this, not wanting to dampen the child’s spirits, but not the least bit interested in doing something that would either drown her or cause her to be chilled to death.

  “You’re all set, Miss Penny.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Breakfast is on the table. You’d best scoot.”

  The little girl was out the door a moment later. Not ten steps into the hallway she encountered Mr Collins.

  “I’m going sea bathing.”

  “Are you, Penny?”

  “Yes. So are James, Marianne, Mr Jennings, and Thomas.”

  “Well, now, won’t that be fine.”

  Penny smiled at him and went on her way, but only until she spotted Bates, who was just coming from one of the rooms downstairs. Cook was the next to hear her news, and at last Penny arrived at the breakfast table.

  “Where have you been, Penny?” James asked.

  “Seeing Cook.”

  Thomas caught on immediately.

  “Was she glad to hear you’re going sea bathing?”

  Penny nodded and reached for the toast.

  “Don’t tip your juice, Penny,” Jennings entered the room in time to say. He sat down at his place, reached for his napkin, and continued to watch his youngest charge. “Do you suppose there is anyone at the table who is excited about going sea bathing?” he teased, seeing a moment too late that he shouldn’t have. Penny jerked in surprise to tell him she was, and over went her juice.

  The little girl looked upset about this incident but didn’t apologize. Megan was called in to clean up, and things were put to rights. After prayer was said and the meal began again, Penny wanted to know only one thing.

  “Will we still go sea bathing?”

  Jennings nearly choked on his coffee for laughing.

  Blackburn Manor

  “I wanted to come yesterday, Mari, but there was no time.”

  “Mr Jennings came to Christ, Lydia? Yesterday morning?”

  “Yes!”

  Marianne’s sigh was long and deep.

  “You’re not going to believe this, but I couldn’t sleep on Sunday night and ended up praying for your brother off and on all night.”

  “He told us he got almost no sleep that night, and that’s why he came to see Palmer Monday morning.”

  Accompanied by their own laughter, the women hugged.

  “Tell me about it.”

  Lydia recounted the story, and for a time they talked about the changes that had come in the last few months— no contact with Jennings for so many years, and now almost more activity than Lydia could handle.

  “And there’s more,” Lydia eventually went on. “I think I’m expecting.”

  “Lydia Palmer!” Marianne scolded. “You had no business coming over here in the carriage.”

  “That was Palmer’s reaction, but then we talked and realized that I have to be somewhat normal, risks or not.”

  Marianne calmed a bit.

  “I’m pleased for you, Liddy—you know I am. I just don’t want to see you ill again.”

  “I know you don’t. I told Nigel to take it very slowly, and he did. I’ll do the same on the way home.”

  “How far along do you think?”

  “About six weeks.”

  “And you feel well right now?”

  “Yes. I sense things will go better this time, but maybe that’s wishful thinking.”

  “Be wise, Liddy. Don’t be afraid to slow down and use caution. I’ll help with the children or whatever I can do.”

  “Thank you.”

  For a moment Lydia stared at Marianne. A thought had just occurred to her, and she was surprised that it had taken this long.

  “What is it?” Marianne asked under the scrutiny.

  “Mari, my brother is a believer now. You don’t have to guard your heart any longer.”

  Marianne smiled a little before saying, “Yes, Liddy, I do. He isn’t in love with me. Before God the union would be righteous, but I’ve no desire to be in love alone.”

  “Of course you don’t.” Lydia reached for her hand. “That was thoughtless of me.”

  “Not at all.
You just want to see me happily married and are beginning to think like my mother: It’s never going to happen!”

  Lydia laughed at Marianne’s perfect imitation of her mother’s face and voice.

  “How did the children take the news about Jennings?”

  “My children or his?”

  “Both.”

  “Well, ours were very pleased, and all of them prayed for Jennings last night before bed, but Jennings was going to handle things with his own, so I haven’t heard.”

  “I can’t help but think that Thomas will be especially pleased.”

  “I think you must be right. His heart is sensitive to spiritual matters, and I think he’s felt it most keenly that Jennings has not shared his father’s faith.”

  “If only Godwin had known how valuable his training would be. God certainly went before Thomas Jennings.”

  “Yes, He did. It makes me remember my own mortality and urges me to make sure the children are claiming Christ for their own and not just imitating Palmer and me.”

  “That’s a wise thing to pray for.”

  “And hopefully we’ll have a fifth little person to include in that prayer.”

  Marianne smiled. “We’ll pray for that as well.”

  Lydia had to be leaving, but the women took time to pray together. Mrs Walker checked on them just as they began and joined in their prayer time.

  Marianne sat alone after her friend left and while her mother was working on the daily post. Her mind traveled to Jennings and the children. She so wished he’d never asked her to marry him and then realized that God’s hand was moving even then. Nevertheless, it made her dreadfully uncomfortable in his presence, and she so wanted to spend time with the children.

  “Well, he did ask you to visit the children,” Marianne reasoned to herself, wondering how much of a coward she might turn out to be. She decided not to be a coward at all!

  I’ll go at the end of the week, Marianne told herself, also concluding that it might be best not to think of it again so she wouldn’t change her mind.

  Thornton Hall

  “I’m going sea bathing,” Penny told Marianne the moment she saw her. “After my birthday.”

  “You are?”

  The twosome were visiting in the parlor. At the moment they were alone.

  “Yes. And do you know what?”

  “What?”

  “You can come.”

  “I can?”

  Penny nodded. “Mr Jennings said.”

  Marianne doubted that would actually happen, but she still smiled and hugged the little girl close.

  “I’m going to be seven.”

  “Yes, you are, and in just a matter of days.”

  “Thomas and James are older. Thomas will be thirteen and James will be eleven.”

  “That is old,” Marianne said. She tried not to smile, but it was nearly impossible. Penny Jennings was one of the most adorable, winsome children Marianne had ever known. Every thought and feeling showed on her face, and when she was comfortable with a person, her warm and engaging personality emerged quickly.

  “Where do you go sea bathing?” Marianne asked.

  “At Weston-super-Mare. We always go there.”

  “What do you wear?”

  “I have a bathing costume. It’s blue with stripes.”

  “That sounds...”

  “Hello,” James said from the door before Marianne could finish.

  “Hello, James. I hear you’re going sea bathing and having a birthday.”

  James smiled.

  “Penny is excited.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “I am too,” he admitted.

  “Here you are,” a fourth person said as he stepped across the threshold. Marianne stood when Jennings entered the room. “Please excuse my tardiness. I had some pressing business.”

  “Penny was keeping me company,” Marianne explained as they all took seats.

  “Thank you, Penny,” Jennings said before addressing their guest. “Has my sister spoken to you about the birthday party?”

  “Yes, she has. We’re planning on being there.”

  “Good. It should be a fine time. Also, the children and I are planning an outing to their home in Bristol, and then on to Weston-super-Mare for some sea bathing. The date is set for the first weekend in August. Will you join us?”

  Jennings actually watched Marianne begin to shake her head to decline, a hand going to her throat. But that was before she looked down at Penny, who was on the footstool at her feet. Her eyes then shifted to James’ smiling, expectant face. Forcing her hand to her lap and her eyes to her host, she answered.

  “I will join you, Mr Jennings. Thank you so much.”

  The most amazing feeling of tender compassion that Jennings had ever known filled his heart. She had wanted to decline. It was written all over her, but for Penny and James she’d accepted.

  And what of my proposal? Had she wanted to accept that day? Had acceptance been the deepest feeling in her heart, but had she forced herself to decline in the name of her faith?

  “We’ll have such fun,” James piped in, and Jennings hoped he hadn’t been silent too long. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts, but that wasn’t possible at the moment.

  “Is it a long drive to Weston-super-Mare?”

  “Not from Morehouse,” James answered. “Just a few hours.”

  “And will we stay at Morehouse or just visit?”

  “I should think we would stay,” James stated logically. “Will we, Mr Jennings?”

  “Probably, James, but I think I’ll send word ahead and ask if they can manage a visit.”

  “Why would they not?”

  “I don’t know how much of the staff stayed on, James. Megan and Mr Collins will be with us, but the staff at Morehouse might need some warning at the very least.”

  James was very accepting of this, and to everyone’s surprise, he began to tell them about the house in detail. Thomas joined them before his brother finished, choosing to sit quietly, but then he looked at their guest.

  “I was hoping you’d come soon.”

  “Why is that?” Marianne wished to know.

  “I was thinking a trip through the maze might be fun.”

  Marianne laughed before asking, “Is it very hard?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “At times.”

  The answers varied with the child. Thomas ended it by saying, “If you get terribly lost, we’ll come and find you.”

  Marianne shook her head in mock dismay.

  “I was thinking parlor games or a walk through the park today, and here you want to lose and confuse me. Is someone going to be with me?”

  “I will,” Penny volunteered.

  “It’s actually easier if you’re on your own,” Thomas said. “Too much advice about where to go next only confuses the matter. We’ll wait for you at the end.”

  “How will you know if I’m lost?”

  “It should only take you about ten minutes. If you’re not out in that time, we’ll come for you.”

  “What if you can’t find me?” Marianne asked, and for a moment Jennings caught a very real hesitancy in her eyes.

  “We’ll find you,” Thomas assured her with extreme confidence, and as a group the children came to their feet.

  Marianne saw no help for it. Amazed that she’d been talked into this, she accompanied this band of shanghaiers to the yard. Not until they were out standing next to the maze did she notice that Mr Jennings had not joined them.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Here’s the entrance,” James directed. “We’ve been through it so many times you’ll probably find our footpath. If you get very lost, call out. We’ll come for you.”

  “You can do it,” Penny added.

  “You can even pray if you feel a need,” Thomas teased her, thoroughly enjoying her answering laugh.

  The three watched as she entered. Marianne looked back long enough to shake her hea
d at them and then forced herself to walk within the walls of shrubs, a solid foot over the top of her head. She heard the scramble of the children’s feet as they dashed away from the entrance and knew she was truly on her own.

  She soon learned that James was right. Footprints could be detected from time to time and for a while she followed them. Soon a feeling of claustrophobia began to surround her, but she pushed the panic away. In less than three minutes everything looked the same. Marianne wandered for a time and then stood quite still, her arms folded tightly over her chest as she worked to remain calm and review all her options.

  She finally had the idea that some of the walls might not be as high as others and began to look up. When she did, she looked directly into the handsome face of William Jennings where he stood at Penny’s window. With a finger to his lips and a smile in his eyes, he began to direct her.

  “Go back,” he mouthed as he pointed behind her, and Marianne walked until she came to a break in the path.

  With nods or shakes of his head and the occasional hand direction, he took her to the end of the maze. Marianne heard the children just beyond her and looked up one last time to throw Jennings a beaming smile and mouth a word of thanks. He disappeared from the window a moment later, and Marianne emerged from the maze.

  “You made it!” The children welcomed her as if she’d been gone for ages.

  “Was it hard?” James asked.

  “Very!”

  “How did you manage it? Did you pray?”

  “Well, I looked up,” she said, just holding her laughter. “And that seemed to help.”

  “How did she do?” Jennings, suddenly on the scene, asked innocently.

  “She made it through.”

  “Well done. I wonder if Cook would have any refreshments on hand to be enjoyed on the veranda. It’s been a hard morning of work.”

  “We’ll go see!” Penny volunteered, and the three children ran in the direction of the house. Jennings and Marianne began a slow walk toward the rear veranda.

  “Thank you,” Marianne said quietly. “I was feeling a bit frightened.”

  “I could see that.”

  Marianne blushed, wondering how long he’d been watching her stumble about in a near state of panic.