The Proposal (16 page)
“Are you all right, James?” Marianne asked, and that boy started.
“Yes.”
Both Marianne and Walt were watching him, and James felt his face go red. When he averted his gaze, Walt looked to Marianne, who gave him a small smile of compassion. It wasn’t hard for either of them to figure out why James might be distracted.
“What will you shop for in town?” Walt asked Marianne, taking a seat next to her and half wishing he could go along.
“Just odds and ends. Mother and I are planning a trip to London at the end of the summer, so anything that can wait goes onto my London list.”
“My birthday is in the fall,” Walt said audaciously.
“Is it now?” Marianne asked as if she hadn’t known.
“I think a gift from London would be very special.”
Marianne laughed, and James joined her.
“Your birthday is before Walter’s, James. What are you hoping for?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I haven’t given it much thought.”
“Well, you had best start a list,” Walt told him.
“Why is that?”
This question so stumped Walt that he was speechless. He always made a list for his mother for his birthday. Some things he asked for were outrageous, and some were quite sincere, but at any rate it had become something of a tradition.
“Do you exchange birthday gifts in your family, James?” Marianne asked.
“Oh, yes. My father always gave us a birthday present, but I never thought about how he knew what we wanted. I wonder how he did.”
Marianne smiled. “Maybe you gave subtle hints, and he wrote them down.”
This sounded so like his father that James smiled. “Yes, I think you might be right.”
James was on the verge of asking about gift-exchanging in Marianne’s house when Lydia and Penny joined them.
“We’re ready, Marianne.”
“As am I,” Marianne said as she stood but then remained still because Penny was headed over to hug her.
“You look very pretty today, Miss Penny.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready to shop?”
Instead of answering, Penny’s face looked a little worried. She admitted, “I left Mr Pat by my bed so he won’t be lost.”
“I think that’s very wise. Do you have a shopping list, or are you just going to look?”
“I don’t shop,” Penny told her, her small face still serious.
“Why don’t you?”
“I’m too little,” Penny told her, as though this should be more than obvious.
Marianne and Lydia could only laugh at her.
“We’ll see you later, boys,” Lydia said to James and Walt, who saw them out. They waved until the carriage was out of sight and then stood in indecision.
“I wish I could have gone,” James admitted quietly.
“You do?” Walt said in such surprise that James was embarrassed. He ducked his head and studied the toe of his shoe, his head not coming up until Walt said, “So do I!”
James laughed and said, “We missed our chance.”
“I think you must be right. Although I don’t know if Mother would have been too keen on the idea.”
“But Marianne would have talked her around.”
Walt laughed over this.
“You catch on very fast, James Jennings.”
On this light note, both boys headed toward the stables. Nothing cheered either of them like a view of the horses.
“Do you have a long list?” Lydia asked of Marianne as the carriage got underway.
“Not too long, but I do want to find several items. I ordered a fan from Benwick last month, and I hope it’s come in.”
“What was wrong with your old one?”
“One of Father’s dogs got hold of it.”
“But your father’s dogs don’t even come into the house.”
“I know. I dropped it outside and didn’t find it again until it was in Rufus’ mouth.”
Lydia laughed over this and then glanced down. From a seat next to Marianne, her little face peeking out of her bonnet, Penny was studying the passing countryside. Lydia and Marianne were talking as they always did, and while nothing personal had been mentioned, Lydia had forgotten the little girl’s presence.
“Well, Penny, will you have fun with us today?” Lydia asked.
Penny turned to her and nodded.
“Have you been to Collingbourne, Penny?” Marianne wanted to know.
“I think for church on Sunday,” the little girl answered.
“Well, Penny,” Lydia interjected, “our church sits on the edge of town, so I don’t think you’ve actually been to Collingbourne itself.”
Marianne smiled and touched Penny’s nose.
“You’re going to like it.”
Penny smiled back, letting her head drop until it was resting against Marianne’s arm. The little girl thought she might be willing to go anywhere if she could go with Marianne Walker.
Collingbourne
A quaint village on the river Avon, Collingbourne boasted shops and businesses that hummed with patrons and customers on this busy Saturday morning. The street was fairly crowded, but Marianne’s carriage driver, aware of her first stop, maneuvered the coach neatly into place before jumping down to assist with the door.
He had brought them to Benwick’s, a general goods shop that boasted an inventory of infinite variety. Sundry articles such as lace, shoes, stationery supplies, sewing needs, books, candy, glassware, maps, gloves, and much more could be purchased.
Once out of the coach, the three females embarked on their outing, Marianne in the lead and Lydia holding Penny’s small hand.
“You may walk around and look, Penny,” Lydia instructed once they were inside. “But please don’t leave the store.”
Penny agreed to this, but Lydia should have known it was a waste of words. The little girl trailed after Marianne and never left her side. From her place near the younger of the two women, Penny took in the notions and wares of all types. She was delighted with some small jars and bottles in various shades of colored glass, and even spotted a handful of porcelain figures that reminded her of Mr Pat.
“Mari,” Lydia asked, finding them at one point, “did your mother find some of that white ribbon she was looking for last week?”
“No.”
“Benwick has some at the far counter.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll add it to my list.”
The women shopped for a time, working from their lists and also enjoying some spur-of-the-moment purchases. Penny, very content to be with both of them, grew more relaxed as the day wore on, and was even confident enough to walk ahead of them between stores.
“You look thoughtful,” Marianne said to Lydia on one of these occasions.
“I was watching Penny and thinking of Jennings. I can’t help but wonder how this whole situation will work out.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, I can’t imagine he and the children will live with us forever, but I don’t know how he’ll do on his own.”
“Are you sure he’ll keep the children?”
“Oh, Mari,” Lydia said with a sigh. “If you could have seen his face when he had to leave them just for this trip to London. He’s trying so hard, and at times the only way I can describe his face is vulnerable. It’s almost more than I can take when I look at him. It doesn’t really matter that he doesn’t know everything to do. He’s lost his heart and probably doesn’t even know it.”
“And what of your heart?”
Lydia sighed again. “My heart feels like crying all the time. I’ve never seen Jennings like this. I know I keep saying that, but it’s so amazing to me. I can’t help but think that if God can soften his heart to the children, then He can also soften Jennings’ heart about spiritual issues.”
“We’ll keep praying for that, Lydia, and keep our eyes open for God’s will in the matter.”
“You’re certainly right about that.”
The women walked in silence for a moment, and then Marianne, whose mind was also on Jennings and the children, spotted something in town.
“I’ve just had the most wonderful idea,” Marianne suddenly said, but Penny was headed back their way, and she only finished with, “let’s go into Gray’s for tea, and I’ll tell you there.”
Lydia thought that sounded wonderful. Her feet were beginning to hurt, and her throat was dry. So with Penny seated between them, the ladies had a light tea, both of them checking through their lists to make the most of their time in town. They found the most urgent items already checked off, so that lifted some of the pressure.
“Are you finished eating, Penny?”
“Yes, ma’am,” that little girl said, a few crumbs on her mouth.
“Well, let’s get moving again,” Marianne suggested, but as soon as they were back on the street, Lydia caught her arm.
“Oh, Marianne, I see Anne Gardiner across the street, and I didn’t see her Sunday. I think I’ll go over.”
“All right. I’ll go ahead up the street.” The women shared a small smile. “Tell Anne I said hello.”
“I will.”
“Well, Penny,” Marianne said, looking down at the little girl. “It looks as if we’re on our own.”
“Are you still shopping, Marianne?”
“I will be, but right now you and I are going someplace special.”
“Where is it?”
“You shall see in just a moment.”
Penny’s hand in hers, Marianne started up the street to a minuscule storefront where an artist was painting a woman’s portrait. Marianne found herself relieved. She knew if Penny could witness the process, she would be much less intimidated by the idea.
“This artist,” Marianne said as they looked through the window, “specializes in miniature portraits of children. He works very fast and does a fine job. And today, I want him to paint you.”
Penny’s eyes grew enormous at this announcement, but she made no protest when Marianne started into the shop. The artist, a Mr Clay, was nearly finished with his present subject, and Penny was in his chair just five minutes later.
“If you care to look at frames,” Mr Clay called to Marianne as he worked, “they can be found on that shelf against the back wall.”
“Thank you,” Marianne replied as she moved that way, thinking a frame was just the thing to finish off this gift. Had Marianne watched the painter at work even a moment longer, she might have seen that William Jennings, having just arrived from London, had spotted his charge from the window and was swiftly coming inside.
“Penny!” he said, causing that little girl to start. “Where are Thomas and James?”
Penny, thinking she was in trouble, sat very still and said, “I don’t know.”
“Is Lydia here with you?”
“No,” Penny told him, her voice even smaller.
“Hello, Mr Jennings,” Marianne suddenly spoke from his side.
Jennings turned to her.
“We thought you were in London.”
Jennings looked down at the woman beside him, all sorts of questions coming to mind. Only one emerged.
“Did you?”
“Yes. Did you have a successful trip?”
“Yes.”
“Marianne?” Penny was at her feet now.
“Yes, dear.”
“He’s all done.”
“Oh, how lovely. Come and help me with the frame.”
Jennings watched in amazement as Penny accompanied this woman to a shelf full of frames, and he would have gone on watching if his sister hadn’t come in the door behind him.
“Well, Jennings, you’re back!” She went to give him a hug. “How did it go?”
“It went well,” he said in near automation. “How are things here? How are the children?”
“Doing splendidly. How did the painting turn out, Marianne?”
“See for yourself.”
The small painting of Penny was exclaimed over by both ladies, and Jennings watched in some amazement as even Penny smiled in delight.
“Thank you,” Marianne said to Mr Clay as she paid him for his services.
“You are most welcome.”
Jennings followed a chattering threesome back outside, and not until Lydia glanced at her brother’s face did she realize something was wrong. The reason for his somber expression came to her a moment later.
“Oh, Jennings, forgive us. I don’t think you remember Marianne Walker, and here we are talking without you.”
“Oh, Mr Jennings!” Now it was Marianne’s turn. “I’m so sorry. I remembered you, but you must have wondered who had taken Penny.”
“It’s all right,” Jennings said, but not in a manner that Marianne found convincing.