“Mr. Gale,” she breathed, her green eyes wide and her cheeks growing more red each moment.
“I realized that I love you dearly, Miss Grace. I always have. I have loved you since we were little. You have been my very best friend for as long as I can remember, and because of that, I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with you. All I know is that it is all I have ever known. You know me better than I know myself, and I realized that no one else in this world would ever know me as well you, nor would anyone know you as well as I.”
She couldn’t speak; her mouth hung open in a slight gape, and her eyes searched mine. She began to tear up, and her arms began to tremble. But I couldn’t stop now, I had to get it all out. I realized that many eyes were fixated on us, but thankfully the music still played, and it drowned out our voices from the rest of the room.
“I had to make a decision tonight, whether I could let you go and live with another man as his wife. I decided if that was going to make you happier than being with me, then I will swallow my pride and my love and I will ask you to forgive me for such an outburst. I will never speak of it again, because my only wish is for you to be as happy as you possibly can be.” I stared into her eyes, and the room and the people and the music around us seemed to disappear.
“But, if that is not what would make you happy, then I ask you,” I laughed, feelings tears well up in my own eyes, “No, I beg you, please, would you take my hand in marriage, and make me the happiest man on God’s green earth?”
She pulled her hands out of my grasp, and she slowly placed them on either side of my face. She searched my face, a few tears spilling out onto her cheeks and down her face. And then she laughed, the tears coming harder.
“You silly, silly boy. I have waited for you to say those words to me since I was a little girl and we sat beside the pond on my parents’ estate talking about our lives one day. I always thought you would think me a fool, and I believed it was just a young girl’s infatuation. But it never left me. It always was there, that hope, way deep down inside of me.”
More tears fell onto her cheeks. “I eventually gave up on that hope when our parents began matching us with different suitors. I assumed that since no one had suggested the obvious, that it wasn’t meant to be.” She laughed heartily. “No man has ever been good enough for me either, because not one of them has matched up to you.”
Without caring about the propriety of my actions, I scooped her up into my arms and spun her around, holding her tightly against me. I felt as if I could fly! I cried and laughed into her hair, my hands trembling with joy, my head light and dizzy. How much the night had changed from when we had first arrived?
I placed her down on her feet and we just smiled at one another.
“Mr. Gale, my answer is yes. It has always been yes, and it will always, always be yes.”
There was an eruption like none that I had heard before around us. Cheering and clapping and calling out. Startled, Grace and I looked around the room at all the people. Everyone had turned to face us. All of their faces reflected the same thing; joy.
“Wha – what?” Grace said, clutching onto my arm.
The faces of our parents made their way to the front of the crowd. Both of our mothers were crying, and our father’s grinned from ear to ear beside them. They all clapped along with the rest of the guests.
My father held up his hands to attempt to calm the crowd. Grace and I could only cling to one another, and embarrassment and shock must have been evident on both of our faces. He laughed as the room quieted.
“Well, it is about time!”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
He rolled his eyes dramatically, and Grace’s father joined him.
“We have been waiting for this moment for four years now.”
Grace pulled away from me, and tilted her head to the side. “You’ve been waiting for this? But how –”
Now it was my mother’s turn to approach us. “The conversation we had earlier was entirely true, my dear,” she told me. “We had wondered if the two of you would simply choose one another on your own. When you didn’t, we decided that these balls would be a perfect chance to encourage you towards each other. Naturally, these were also perfect opportunities for your siblings to meet their own matches, but we also hoped that by meeting other suitors, it might help you two to realize what we had; that you were perfect for each other.”
“Why didn’t you just tell us?”
“Would you have listened? Or would you have rejected the idea?” her mother asked and came to stand beside my mother.
I hesitated. It was hard to focus on my own thoughts with so many eyes fixated on us. “I suppose I do not know.” I looked at Grace who seemed just as confused as I was.
“When this didn’t work, we began to wonder if perhaps we were indeed wrong, and that maybe you would find another of these suitors to be agreeable matches. But we waited patiently, believing that eventually you would discover your feelings for each other.”
“We decided to try one last time, and asked Mr. Montgomery if he would like to meet Miss Fletcher on our behalf. He seemed genuinely interested when we told him of your relationship, and gladly offered to help usher the two of you along.” My mother smiled at me. “He is so fond of you, my dear.”
He appeared at the edge of the circle, and made a deep bow. “I apologize, dear Miss Fletcher, if I led you astray in any way. It was only my intent, at the full discretion of your families, that I play a suitor who resembled Mr. Gale in almost every way. Collectively we hoped that by doing so, it would help you to see your fondness for Mr. Gale. I hope that you can forgive my deceit.”
She opened her mouth, and then closed it. She looked up at me. “You all did all of this…so Oliver and I could be together?”
My father laughed. “We felt as if you never would realize it! But we wanted it to be natural and not orchestrated by outside means. We put all of our hope into this evening, made it well known our intentions. But you had to decide on your own. We could allow for every opportunity, but you both had to come to that realization on your own.”
Her father bowed his head in our direction. “We do apologize, however, for being a bit more…suggestive this evening. Especially to you, Oliver. We may have intentionally directed you in a way to help you along a bit.”
My mother laughed. “I feel as if we were all but outright telling you what we were doing! We were sure you would catch onto our ruse.” She smiled. “But look how it worked! You finally have come to your senses, and we can finally rest!”
The room rang out with clapping and cheering once more.
I had no idea that this many people cared about us, nor that our relationship was this impactful to those around us. Our siblings smiled at us from the crowd, and our mutual friends. It was as if the entire world had waited for tonight, and somehow, that made it all that much more special.
Grace’s father lifted his glass high up into the air, a wide smile plastered on his red face. “Let’s have a toast for Oliver and Grace, the relationship that was always meant to be! May their love grow more and more each day, and may they live happily ever after!”
“Here, here!” The room in unison raised their glasses in our direction. I felt Grace’s hand slide into my own. A feeling that I had long known, but one that meant far more that night than it ever had.
“I love you,” she mouthed to me as several people began to walk towards us to congratulate us.
“And I love you,” I whispered in reply, quite truly the happiest man that had ever lived.
THE END
Bonus Story 8 of 10
Sunlight and Shadows
Miss Bannerman
Mornings at Greenview manor were an absolute pleasure. I found that my favorite place in the early hours was the eastern staircase, as the sun shone through the tall windows, warming the air and casting long beams of light onto the steps, the earthly smell of the wood filling the air. It was perfect comfort, and I often to
ok the long way back down to the kitchens to be able to feel the warm sunlight on my face as I descended.
“Good morning, Miss Honeyfield,” I curtsied to the youngest of the Honeyfield family as she approached the top of the staircase. The young miss was often awake far before the rest of her family, and took advantage of the quiet to explore the manor, especially the deep recesses of the library. Ms. Henrietta, the housekeeper, told me to keep an eye on her, as her curiosity would often lead her to places that would distress her poor father.
She beamed at me, her smile as bright as the dawn’s sunlight. “Miss Bannerman, good morning!” Her golden hair was still very curly from her infancy, and we never found any desire to hide it in a braid or a tight knot on top of her head. She was young still, barely five, and her father especially insisted that she remained that way as long as possible.
“Where are you off to this fine morning?”
She latched onto the railing and took a few steps down to me, and buried her small face into my apron. “The library! Father told me before I fell asleep last night that he brought some new books home for me from Uncle Frederick!”
She yawned wide and rubbed her eyes. I put my hand on her shoulder and helped lead her down the stairs.
“How would you say to a spot of breakfast before you start your adventures? Then I will accompany you to the library and help you read all of these new books?”
She hopped back and forth on her feet excitedly. “That sounds splendid. Can we have some of Ms. Henrietta’s scones?”
I laughed. “I’m sure she would be pleased if you had a few!”
After breakfast, I helped to lead the youngest Miss Honeyfield to the library, and by that time, the rest of the house had awoken and had joined together in the dining room for their breakfasts.
“Miss Bannerman, I greatly appreciate your willingness to adjust your work to be able to help me care for young Marina more,” Mr. Honeyfield said to me as he visited us in the library.
I inclined my head. “Of course, Mr. Honeyfield. Whatever it is you need.”
He nodded his head as well, and sighed. “Things are just not the same around here.”
“No, sir, they are not.”
We looked over at Miss Honeyfield, who sat happily and oblivious to the world, enthralled in her new books. I smiled sympathetically. We both watched her for a moment or two.
“Please don’t forget the older children, Miss Bannerman, in your care for my little one.”
I looked over at him. “My Lord, I would not dream of such a thing.”
He smiled. “That gives me comfort. They love you dearly, and poor Judith would be beside herself with jealousy.”
A distant look came over his tired face, and I looked away, giving him a small amount of privacy.
“Well, thank you, Miss Bannerman. If you’ll excuse me.” And he stepped out of the library into the hall.
I sighed.
“Mr. Honeyfield?” voices carried up the hall from down in the foyer. I didn’t believe that we expected company today. I knew it was not decent to overhear what would be said, so I took another step into the room and made to close the door when I heard the voice of Ms. Henrietta float up the stairs.
“You needed me, Mr. Honeyfield?”
“Yes, I’m hoping that Mr. Carrow here has good news for me.”
A moment of silence, then, “Indeed, my friend, I do. The duke has a fantastic butler himself, and after I sought him out, discovered that his butler had a son, who had spent much time in his estate, and would act as a substitute if more help was needed around the home. I thought perhaps he might be a decent fit for your home?”
A small pang of hurt overcame my heart, and I leaned against the doorframe. The process of looking for a new butler had been hard on the entire household. Mr. Thomas, the manor’s late butler, was a fantastic and noble man. He was kind and generous, and the staff all felt as a family beneath him. There had been discussion for nearly the entire winter about a suitable replacement, but Mr. Honeyfield had never been pleased with any of the candidates. Neither had the rest of us. We feared no one would be able to replace Mr. Thomas.
“The duke, you say? Well, I believe that I might have to inquire about this son of his butler, if he would be willing to spare him for an old friend.”
“No need, I already have taken care of it for you.”
“Did you now?”
“Indeed. I requested an audience on your behalf just yesterday. His son and my own were both interested in the work of the writer Mr. Garrett, and developed a friendship based upon it. The duke invited my family to their last ball because his son insisted upon it.”
“Really? Fascinating.”
“It truly is, my friend. Knowing you were in need, I decided that perhaps you would like to hear about it.”
“What do you know of the man?”
“Well, he’s rather young.”
“How young?”
“One and thirty.”
There were sounds of surprise. “I know, I realize that Mr. Thomas was nearly twice that age. But I have met the man, and he still has a youthful spirit and more than enough energy to be able to maintain your home to your expectations.”
There was a moment of quiet. I was holding my breath, feeling as if I was hearing things that I shouldn’t be. But these decisions would affect us all, and I just could not help myself.
“Very well. My staff and I will meet the man.”
“Shall I call for the carriage?” Ms. Henrietta asked.
“Please do. Let’s see what the good Lord has in store for us.”
*****
Miss Bannerman
Mr. Clarke was an amiable man, and the staff immediately took a liking to him. He was handsome, soft spoken, and an excellent worker. Mr. Honeyfield was so pleased with him that he hired him the very next day after meeting him.
Mr. Honeyfield had seemed to relax considerably after Mr. Clarke came to work at Greenview manor. The household began to run more smoothly, and he fell into step very well beside Ms. Henrietta. They worked together as if they had been their whole lives.
I had not much of a chance to speak to the man myself, as I was kept very busy with my chores with the children. Being a maid as well as a nanny was a blessing, but also kept me away from the rest of the staff for most of the day.
After tucking Miss Marina into bed one evening far later than I had intended, I made my way back down to the kitchens to check in with the cook about the next day, and also have something to eat myself.
I sat down with a bowl of hot soup and a half a loaf of crusty bread when I heard footsteps behind me. I looked over my shoulder expecting to see Ms. Henrietta, but was startled to see Mr. Clarke.
I stood to my feet.
“Please, you don’t have to stand for me,” he said. He collapsed in the chair in front of me, and immediately he laid his head on the table, his blonde hair in a bit of disarray.
I studied him for a moment. “Mr…Mr. Clarke? Are you quite alright?”
He lifted a hand in response, his head still on the table. “I am awfully tired. Mr. Honeyfield provided me with the grand tour today, and had me run things to every room to ensure I learned the layout of the manor.” He lifted his head. “I beg your pardon, miss, for being so frank with you. Please forgive my incivility.” His eyes were the color of the ocean on warm summer’s day.
I blinked. “Not at all, sir. Ms. Henrietta would always prefer we let her know how we are feeling, so as to avoid any conflict within the staff. Mr. Honeyfield feels the same.” I swallowed. “Would you care for some soup, Mr. Clarke?” I asked, getting to my feet and turning away from him.
He cleared his throat. “Oh, yes, that would be quite nice.” He looked down at the table. “Thank you, Miss…?”
“Abigail Bannerman, sir.”
He nodded his head as I crossed to the pot in the cooking fire. As I ladled it into a bowl, he asked, “How long have you been with the Honeyfield family?”
/> A bit impertinent, I thought to myself, but this was a question that he could ask any of the staff, as it was general knowledge. “Ten years.”
“Ten years? But you are still young! How old were you when you started?”
I sighed. “Mr. Clarke, the Honeyfields have been wonderful to me, and took me in when I was barely old enough to take care of myself. Ms. Henrietta took me under her wing and taught me all she knew, and I realize how fortunate I am to live in a home where I am treated well, have a place to sleep that is comfortable and safe, and have plenty of food to eat.”
I placed the bowl in front of him, and passed him the other half of the loaf I had been eating.
“I…apologize, if I upset you at all,” he said.
I sighed. “No, you did not upset me. Yes, I realize that I am quite young to be in the position in the home that I am. But I have been here since young Mr. Honeyfield was five.” I smiled in spite of myself. “Truly I sometimes feel as if I am older than I actually am, having watched the children grow as they have.”
He smiled in return. “This home does seem to work quite well together. The staff all respects one another, and the family respects the staff. It’s quite…refreshing.”
“Do they not where you come from?”
“Well, the duke’s household is so large that I am sure that some of the staff have never even met one another.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “So it was quite strange for me to start here and have met you all in one room.”
The fire’s light was starting to fade in the room, and I just continually mixed the soup in my bowl with my spoon.
“What happened to this family?” he asked, seemingly out of the blue.
Clean Inspirational Romance: Escape to Paradise (Inspirational Happy Sweet First Love Second Chance Romance) (Contemporary New Adult Love Inspired Holiday Short Stories) Page 23