Love is in the Air

by Denise O'Hara

  That morning Jessamine Gerry woke up with thoughts of Matthew Hurst in her head and the memory of their encounters in her heart. Tomorrow night she would see him again for the first time since their meeting four weeks ago. On that last day of his visiting his brother, Jessie had formally been introduced to Mr. Matthew Hurst in the small orange groves at Orchid Brook Farms. It was obvious that he was quite taken with her, and she with him. It was so unlike her usually careful disposition to be interested in a man she only knew about from a third party. But, she found herself thinking about him constantly and was nervous at the thought of seeing him again.

  Mrs. Bingley had told Jessie not to worry about making anything for the Hurst’s gathering, but Jessie insisted on making special pastries for the dinner. At about a half hour before finishing for the night, and covered in flour, Jessie was surprised to find that Matthew Hurst had wandered into the kitchen. She knew it was no use trying to make herself presentable. Jessie was a very confident young woman and besides that, she was often covered in flour or sugar or the occasional crème sauce. She reasoned with herself that if he truly had any romantic interest in her, he will put up with her appearance at work.

  She walked out from behind the table to greet him with a large sweet smile. “Good evening, Mr. Hurst. Are you here for some pastries?” With a large grin and a small chuckle, he took in her appearance. He found it incredible that she could still look so beautiful though the work day quite literally showed all over her clothes. He also admired her confidence. Most of the women he knew prioritized their appearance over all else, but not Jessamine Gerry. After he had gotten past her beauty, he was delighted to find in those few hours of talking with her, that she always had something interesting to say. “I was actually here to see you. And see you I have.” He said with another chuckle. She beamed at him, “Yes well, I have just finished preparing some pastries for tomorrow as you can see.” She gave a twirl to show off all the ingredients that coated her dress. He grabbed her hand just as she came back around. “I am sure they will be delicious.” He said with a more direct stare and romantic smile. “Now, for the matter at hand,” he said in a fake serious manner. She nodded, mimicking the serious expression. “I have just arrived from London but before I go to my brothers for the night I was hoping that I might secure the first dance with you tomorrow night? And perhaps the third set as well? After the third set, I will accompany you to supper, perhaps?"

  Jessie could pretend to be serious no longer. A huge grin spread across her face. “I would be delighted," she said in almost a whisper.

  Matthew tried to contain his joy so as not to seem foolishly eager. “Wonderful,” he said. “Right, well, good,” he stuttered. “Then, Miss Jessamine,” he said, looking directly into her eyes, “I bid you good night.” With that he tipped his hat and left the kitchen smiling.

  Jessie was elated. She could not help but hum and sway a little as she finished her work and cleaned up the kitchen. She fell asleep that night dreaming of her encounter with Matthew and wondering how her mother would have liked him. She wished she could talk to her and share this, but she was happy thinking that her mother had seen past her father’s quiet, soft-spoken manners. It made her feel a connection to her parent's love story.

  She could not wait to tell Mrs. Wilson about her encounter with Matthew the night before. It brought tears to Mrs. Wilson's eyes to see Carolyn's daughter so happy. She wanted Jessie to find happiness and hoped no problems arose because of Jessie and Mr. Hurst’s different situations in life.

  Chapter Six

  The day went by in a blur and all Jessie wanted to think about was the event that night. She had a new dress made up in anticipation of the occasion. She had worked late the night before, and with no supper to prepare for Bethany House, Jessie’s work day ended early.

  There had never been a reason for Jessie to have a dress for a formal affair. Every dress she had ever owned was serviceable. She worked most days, and for her time off she always chose materials that were sensible for her situation. The young woman felt as if she were floating as she made her way to her room to prepare for the party. Mrs. Bingley had sent Shirley, one of the personal maids, and a friend of Jessie’s, to help Jessie get the dress on. Jessie’s dress was a soft cream color with tiny pink rosebuds embroidered around the waist and sweetheart neckline. A barely discernable sheer, shimmering, pink overlay covered the skirt. The colors were the perfect complement to her complexion and coloring. The two excited women talked as Shirley fixed Jessie’s hair in a soft up-do of the latest fashion. The dress coupled with the new hairstyle proved to be a very becoming combination.

  Shirley went to tell Mrs. Wilson that Jessie was ready. When Mrs. Wilson went to Jessie’s room to see her all done up, Jessie twirled in front of her full-length mirror. "This will certainly reassure Matthew that I can be a presentable young lady after my flour-covered frock from yesterday,” she said.

  “Yes,” said Mrs. Wilson with tears in her eyes. “You look lovely, my dear.”

  Then she heard knocking at her door. Jessie’s heart skipped a beat as she tried to compose herself to leave for the Hursts. She grabbed a shawl and opened the door to greet a very handsomely dressed Harry.

  "Wow!” the boy said with genuine enthusiasm. “You look like a princess from a fairytale book!"

  "Why, thank you, Harry! Shall I tell you a secret?" she said leaning down to whisper in his ear. “I feel like a princess tonight!"

  She rode in the carriage with the Bingleys, who admired her new dress. Charles and Jane exchanged knowing looks, and Jane squeezed her husband’s hand. They both hoped a match was going to be made tonight between two people who deserved to find happiness.

  When the carriage arrived, Charles exited first and helped his wife out. Harry jumped down before anyone could stop him, and a waiting Matthew stepped forward to help Jessamine out. He offered his arm to help her down from the carriage, which she happily accepted. On seeing her looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her look, he felt stunned into silence but managed to smile, and bowed. She smiled and curtsied.

  Then the gentleman offered the lady his arm and escorted her inside. “If it is not too bold might I say that you look enchanting this evening?”

  She glanced at him then at the ground in front of her trying to hide her blushed cheeks. “It is not too bold, thank you. You look quite dapper yourself.”

  As they walked into the Hurst’s home, Jessie felt contentment envelope her like a warm blanket. She had lived in this house as a young child, and those had been her happiest years. She could never return to that time but tonight she was surrounded by those who had become part of her new family. Louisa greeted her with a hug, and Hugh with a big smile. Soon the music began to play, and she danced most of the evening with Matthew. She was falling in love in the house her parents had built. As she thought about this fact, she did not realize she had let out a contented sigh.

  Matthew noticed. “Is everything alright, Jessamine?” he asked.

  “Yes, Matthew. Everything is just as it should be,” she replied.

  When the night was drawing to an end, Jessamine asked Matthew, “How long are you planning on staying in the neighborhood, Mr. Hurst?”

  He looked at her with an earnest expression on his face and replied, “For as long as it takes to win your heart, Jessamine.”

  Jessie could feel the warmth coloring her cheeks. “I was hoping you would be staying for longer than just tonight,” she said.

  He found he had no voice to make a reply, but he need not say anything. The look in his soft brown eyes said all there was to say. Recovering himself he said, “Thank you for tonight. I should like to see you again very soon. May I call on you tomorrow?” he asked her eagerly.

  She nodded, “Yes that would be very nice. Thank you for an enjoyable evening.” Jessamine said sweetly. They paused for a moment savoring the last few minutes they had to enjoy such a lovely evening, reluctantly saying their goodbyes.

  Un
beknownst to Jessie, Matthew had been corresponding with Louisa during the weeks since he had returned to London. Louisa had in turn arranged to allow Jessie to work only half shifts for a week after the Hurst’s dinner party. Matthew was always ready and waiting when Jessamine finished her work for the day. They took long walks, asking each other more questions about their lives and interests. Hugh and Louisa or Charles and Jane would usually accompany them at a distance. The couple found they had many common interests and were happy to find how easy it was to be in the other’s company. At the end of each night, Matthew felt a pang of regret in having to say goodnight.

  Every day Matthew would bring Jessamine flowers. Sometimes he would ask her to accompany him to dinner at the Hursts. The Sunday two weeks after he had arrived was an exceptionally lovely day, and the Bingleys and Hursts joined them for a picnic in Butterfly Orchard. Matthew had to return to London the following day, making the day seem to pass by very fast.

  After a few months of making the trip back and forth from London to Derbyshire, Matthew thought about his feelings for Jessamine and how they had grown from attraction to infatuation, and now to that of love. It was not that he was not expecting this progression he had observed it many times in other couple’s relationships. What surprised him was that he had actually found the person who brought these feelings out in him. He was well into his thirties now, but had never met a woman he could see himself settling down with and having a family. When he pictured Jessamine in the future, he could not imagine a future without her. As he got to know her better, he was convinced she was the best kind of woman to share his life. One moment she could be his closest friend and the next she could do something to fill his heart with romance and passion.

  Chapter Seven

  One day after Matthew had been in Derbyshire for two weeks Miss Paige and Harry were needed to act as chaperones.

  They walked to Butterfly Orchard, and as Harry was swinging from a vine he asked, “Are you going to marry Jessie, Mr. Hurst?”

  Matthew laughed. Jessie blushed, and Miss Paige scolded Harry about his manners for asking such a question.

  “You said I could ask any question at all. You said no question was a bad one,” the boy said as he leaned back a little and looked heavenward, still swinging back and forth on the vine.

  Matthew interjected, “You are right, Harry! It is good to ask questions. Otherwise, we may never get answers.” Both ladies’ eyes were on Mr. Hurst when he said this. Both were wondering if perhaps he would be asking Jessie a certain question soon.

  “What is the answer, Mr. Hurst?” asked Harry still swinging from his vine.

  Matthew laughed. “In this case, Harry, I do not have an answer for you.”

  “Why?” Harry persisted. “I thought you loved Jessie?”

  “Those are two different questions, Harry,” Matthew said as he continued to look only at Harry. “I can only answer the second one. Yes, I do indeed love Jessamine. But you see I can only ask the first question and Jessamine is the only one who can answer it. Come over here, Harry, and I will tell you all about it.”

  Harry let go of the vine, landed on his feet and walked over to Matthew.

  “Well, first of all, Harry, to ask Jessamine that particular question, I would have to get down on one knee. The problem is, I would get my new breeches dirty if I knelt down here.”

  Harry pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Matthew. “You could put this down first,” he said. “Then you would not get your clothes dirty.”

  “Now, that is not a bad idea!” said Matthew as he laid the cloth on the ground. He then knelt down on one knee, still looking only at Harry. “Oh, no! We have another problem, Harry. Before I can ask Jessamine that question, I must have a ring to give her. You simply cannot ask a young lady to marry you without a very nice ring.”

  “What kind of ring do you want?” asked Harry.

  “Hmm, now that is an excellent question. Let me see, what kind of ring did your father give to your mother when they were to be married?” Matthew asked Harry.

  “He got her a sapphire with diamonds. He said the ring matched Mama’s blue eyes.”

  “Well, that does present a problem for me. Jessamine’s eyes are an unusual honey color. Where would I ever find a ring to match her eyes?”

  Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. “I have one that might just work,” Harry said, smiling. He handed the box to Matthew, who was still on one knee.

  “Thank you!” he said. “How much do you want for it?”

  “I would like to be the ring bearer in your wedding,” he answered. “Oh, yes, and I will take a lemon pie just for myself!”

  “You have yourself a deal,” Matthew said, as he laughed and shook the boy’s hand, sealing the deal.

  Matthew finally acknowledged Jessamine. “It seems I have everything I need but an answer to my question. Will you please do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife and being my Jessamine for the rest of our lives?”

  The sun was shining behind Jessie seeming to illuminate her. But the look of joy and love that was plain to see, took Matthew’s breath away.

  “Yes, Matthew, I will be yours forever,” was her answer.

  Matthew stood up and found his emotions were making it hard to get any words out just then. He opened the ring box with his shaking hands and removed the ring. He took Jessamine’s hand into his and slipped the ring he had earlier given his accomplice Harry, onto her finger. It was a perfect one karat, yellow colored, round, brilliant cut, precious fire opal solitaire. Being both transparent in color but displaying a play of colors in reds and oranges, it sparkled more than any ring they had ever seen. The simple design showed off the unique stone and suited Jessamine more than any other ring could have. She stood there speechless. As she stared at the ring on her finger, she thought she had never seen anything so beautiful.

  Matthew was standing in front of her thinking the same thing, but not about the ring.

  “You should get married right here in Butterfly Orchard,” Harry said, breaking the silence. The couple and their chaperone, Miss Paige, all laughed.

  “That is a good suggestion,” said Matthew, finally finding his voice again. “But I think my Jessamine might prefer to marry in the house of her father and mother?”

  Jessie had not previously thought of what her beloved was suggesting. On hearing it, she instantly felt that her happiness would be complete by getting married in the house her parents had lovingly built.

  When they returned to Bethany House, Jessie was surprised to find the Bingleys, the Hursts, and Mrs. Wilson in the Drawing Room. Mrs. Wilson had on her Sunday best and Shirley had done her hair up in a very becoming style.

  “What is all of this?” asked a surprised Jessie.

  Louisa said, “We want to welcome you to the family, my dear.”

  “Yes, welcome to the family, Jessie!” said Harry.

  “How did you do with your part, Harry?” asked Jane.

  “Great! I did it just like we practiced, and I only ever looked at Mr. Hurst, even when Miss Paige scolded me! I almost lost it then, but I kept myself together and hid my smile by looking up.” was his reply.

  Everyone laughed, and Jessie hugged Harry. “You did do an excellent job! Now when do you want that lemon pie, all for yourself?” she asked.

  “What is this about a lemon pie?” Jane asked.

  Matthew chuckled then answered, “Well, Harry said the part we had rehearsed about being the ring bearer in the wedding, but he added in that he would also like a lemon pie.”

  “Harry Sebastian Bingley,” said his mother, shaking her head. “What you will not do for sweets!”

  With a big smile on his face Harry said, “I would have done it for nothing at all, but you know how I love Jessie’s lemon pies! I took the chance while I had it! And, Jessie, I would like it as soon as you can get around to it, no rush. But the sooner you can get it to me, the better.”

  They had champag
ne and chocolate strawberries while talking of wedding plans. Harry was allowed sweet tea for the special occasion. Matthew had already applied to his brother and sister-in-law for the use of their home for the wedding. The date decided upon was to be in three months.

  There was much do be done in the interval. For one thing, Jessie was in desperate need of a trousseau. She had just the one ball gown she recently had made up for dinner at the Hursts. There was much shopping that was necessary. Once again, this had already been thought of, and a shopping trip to London was planned for the following week.

  Louisa excitedly told Jessie all about it “We still have our house in London, and we are going to make it a women’s only week of pampering!”

  Jane said to Jessie and Mrs. Wilson, “As you may have noticed these last few weeks I have spent many hours at the Hursts. Now you may know the reason. Besides planning for our upcoming shopping trip, I have been interviewing cooks to fill both of your positions while we are away.”

  Mrs. Wilson looked confused and asked, “Why would you need to replace me while you are gone, Mrs. Bingley?”

  “Because you are coming with us, of course!” said Jane. “The mother of the bride usually does, you know?”

  Louisa added, “This is our little surprise for you both.”

  Jessie was thrilled by the prospect! She turned and hugged Mrs. Wilson tightly.

  “That is awfully kind of you ladies,” answered the older woman, visibly moved by their gesture. “But I cannot possibly accept. What will people say?”