A cheer arose from the crowd, making John blush as he received the rare collection of unexpected treasures from the gentleman. Next to John, Rachael beamed at Mr. Bradshaw’s words and actions.
“I’m proud of you, cousin.” Emery Davis was the first to congratulate him, shaking his hand.
Monty joined them and held out his hand, too. “No one is more deserving, John.”
Simultaneously, everyone heard a woman call, “Antonio!” She came to his side, and surprisingly, they embraced. A hush came over the crowd as they watched this display of affection between Mr. Bradshaw and the lovely woman, dressed in a pretty, pink dress, with a ringlet of white roses at her wrist and one in her hair. With her was an even greater surprise ~ the Hathaway sisters’ dear brother, Robert.
“As you may have noticed, I prefer to be called ‘Antonio,’” he laughed. “This is my sweet sister, Miss Robin Bradshaw, whom I have not seen for a time, with her fine escort, Mr. Robert Hathaway.”
Applause resounded throughout the room. Robert went to his astounded sisters, Rachael, Viola, and Phoebe. “Robin is a dear friend of mine, girls,” he informed them with a huge smile. Pleased, they smiled in return, while extending their hands to the young woman. “Mother and Father have already met her.”
After heartfelt applause subsided, the speaker turned to John and Rachael. “May I continue?” When they shook their heads affirmatively, he again addressed the crowd. “It also gives me great pleasure to surprise you with a further announcement, which some of you perhaps have already noted.” He paused. Guests and staff just looked at each other. Some began to whisper. “At this time, I would like to announce the promised engagement and impending wedding of Knight John Davis, M.D. and his future bride, Miss Rachael Hathaway. A date for their wedding is not yet set. But you may all congratulate them and discuss that and encourage them further.” He beamed and shook hands with John and bowed at Rachael.
Amidst cheers, the crowd rushed toward the newly betrothed couple with their official congratulations. Robert and Robin moved aside, where he introduced Mr. Bradshaw to Phoebe and Viola. While they shook hands and made acquaintances, the musicians struck up a quiet wedding march to honor the happy couple, John and Rachael, and further celebrate an evening full of delightful surprises and magical moments.
In a minute, Phoebe brought Rachael a glass of her favorite sweetened mint tea and called her aside. The two stepped toward the door and hugged. Rachael showed her the ring. “Did you accept Monty’s proposal?” a breathless Rachael wished to know. After taking a sip of her tea, she asked, “Isn’t this the most enchanting evening?”
“Yes, it is.” Phoebe looked down at her new blue ball gown and loved it. Its flowing lines were quite becoming, she thought. Its pastel color was a wonderful shade of robin’s egg blue, and she was so glad that Monty, Rachael, and Viola had talked her into it during a last minute shopping trip to Merry Market, for she had fully intended to borrow one of Rachael’s frocks for this occasion. “No, I did not accept his proposal of marriage, Rachael. I wished to speak to you about it first, since I have not known him all that long, my dear sister,” she confided. “Besides, I’m planning to return home very soon again, as you well know.”
“I felt the very same way when John proposed tonight, Phoebe. I wanted your opinion. But did you want to accept the lieutenant? I know it was right for me to accept John.”
“Of course, I did!” she said with a grin. “I’m fond of him. He’s a handsome and wonderful man!”
“Dear, you saved his life. You know that,” Rachael informed her. “You two now have a sweet bond.”
Phoebe did not agree with her comment. “I did not save him. I merely assisted, nursed him through a difficult time, his fever and chills. We all helped, Charles Earl, especially, plus Cousin Emery and Miss Worthington, whom I came to know quite well during that time of crisis, I might add. I consider them all to be my special friends.”
“Good. But, the doctor said it might have been life-threatening. You pulled him through it.”
“I’m sure it was, and yes, I helped him. Yet, my assistance did not require a proposal of marriage, Rachael,” Phoebe insisted, though she was absolutely serious about her opinion of Monty Graham. “He is a fine man.” She gazed at the handsome lieutenant standing near John and the others. Rachael knew that stare to be ‘The Look Of Love.’
“Take good care of him, Phoebe,” Rachael whispered, a note of authority in her calm voice, as Viola danced over to join the two, and lovingly placed an arm around each of her sisters’ waists.
“How can I take care of him from Bower Farm, for that’s where I’ll be, Rachael?” Phoebe related.
Viola comically stared, first at her, then at Rachael, waiting for more information to surface.
“Well, accept him, for goodness sake.” Rachael was adamant. “Phoebe, you are spending the night here and so is he, for John said so. Speak with him about an engagement or promise, dear,” Rachael admonished, unwavering in her opinion that her sister and Monty should become a couple. “He’s very understanding. I’m sure he’ll wait for you if you desire a long engagement.”
“Yes, speak with him about it, Phoebe, please,” Viola laughed, mimicking Rachael. Thereafter, the discussion dissolved into laughter, just before Viola announced her own startling request. “I, myself, would prefer to speak with Mr. Francisco Antonio Bradshaw, in private,” she whispered, waiting for their responses.
“Ohhhhhhhhhhh,” Rachael and Phoebe happily responded in unison.
“That can be arranged,” Rachael cheerily told Viola, handing her glass to the waiting Crane, as he held out a tray for it. Taking her sisters’ hands, she led them to where the men were discussing crop rotation. Shortly afterward, before Viola could speak to Antonio, they were interrupted when a guest came to ask Mr. Bradshaw if he was the one who organized Cinco de Mayo. He answered that he was one and the same.
“Oh, you did a fine job, Mr. Bradshaw. You’ll find a thank you in our next edition of the local newspaper,” the man told him, shaking his hand. “I do hope it becomes an annual event in Velvet Villa Village.”
“Why, thank you very much. A public thank you is not necessary at all, however. I liked the way the community came forth to support it and seemed to be having a good time during it,” was his reply. “That is thank you enough for me, sir, and I certainly shall plan to help with and delight in it, annually.”
The Hathaway sisters retreated to chat. “I was so surprised and thrilled when Mrs. Davis asked us to stay the night right here at Black Woods Castle. I must say, I’m looking forward to the very prospect of it,” Phoebe enlightened her sisters. “Not long ago, I was in puzzlement about if there even was a castle, and its whereabouts, and now I’m actually going to be staying in it. That is hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Rachael was overjoyed, too. “You should be delighted, Phoebe, since it affords you the opportunity of speaking with Monty again, at least at breakfast. Do you love it here as much as Fernhaven? Anyway, we shall room together and discuss our weddings. I’m just jubilant at having our family together, aren’t you? I wonder where Mother, Father, Grandmother Rachael, and Aunt Millie will stay. John arranged it all secretly, and we haven’t had a chance to discuss it, since their wonderful surprise entry.”
“It is a bit premature for me to discuss my wedding, wouldn’t you say?” Phoebe admonished. “You are relentless, Rachael. Yet, I am filled with joy at your upcoming engagement and wedding.” The three sisters hugged joyfully, as Miss Mariah joined them.
“It’s just marvelous. It reminds me of my own brief engagement,” Viola confided, smiling.
“I would not say that it is premature at all to think of our upcoming weddings, is it Miss Mariah? Don’t you know you will both be betrothed someday, too?” Rachael asked, as the group settled into veranda chairs. “Do you think there will be flowers blooming in winter if we have a
December wedding next year? Of course, you all must be my lovely bridesmaids. You’ve known that, I must say. We shall have so much fun planning our dresses, shoes, hairpieces, and bouquets. Perhaps we should have wristlets and ringlets of roses in our hair, just like that darling Robin has in hers tonight. What do you think?”
“That is such a beautiful idea,” Viola voiced.
“I’d love that, and I am simply amazed that Robert has a lady friend,” Phoebe confided.
“I’d love to wear a wristlet and ringlet, too, Miss Rachael,” agreed Miss Mariah.
At that very moment, they were joined by John, Monty, Robert, Robin, Antonio Bradshaw, and Crane. John put his arm around his bride-to-be. Monty bowed low and congratulated Rachael. Then, he turned to her sister. “My offer still stands, Phoebe,” he whispered. Leaning toward her, he added, “Do you care to discuss our courtship any further this evening? We can adjourn to the quiet of the gardens for such, and privacy.”
Phoebe blushed and slipped her arm through his, thrilled at his invitation and another chance to further discuss their friendship, which Rachael was pushing for, anyway. “In private would be my preference, Lieutenant M,” she replied, with a charming smile and a wave of her fine fan, Monty’s gift for this occasion.
Intrigued, Rachael asked in a whisper, “What does the M stand for, Phoebe? Is it Monty?”
“Mine.” Her response was quick, quiet, quaint, and certain. She made absolutely sure that the lieutenant heard her. “Don’t you love my fan, girls? It’s from Monty.”
“We do. To Indigo Gardens go you two.” Rachael laughed, pointing to where she and John had found privacy. “She’s not usually like that,” Rachael whispered to Viola and Miss Mariah. “She was being pushed a little by me to join him.”
“I know,” Viola responded. “Shame on you, Rachael.” Then, the ladies laughed together.
As the two started toward the floral beds, Monty winked at John. Music changed their minds, though. Immediately, he and Phoebe whirled away to a waltz, as John embraced his sweetheart. He was excited over this turn of events for the pair, and for himself, relieving Monty’s competition, and for Rachael, too. At that very moment, to their delight, Antonio Bradshaw surprisingly asked Viola to dance. She accepted, happily, and her wish to speak with him in private came true. Next, Robert asked Robin to waltz. The pairs disappeared indoors. It was then, out of the blue, that John proposed another exciting idea to his lady love, one which would be more than well-received. “Let’s have a double wedding!”
“What?” Rachael fairly squealed with joy. “Can we?” She grabbed his arm in excitement.
He shook his head, affirming it. “At Christmastime, we can!” He flashed a brilliant, warm smile.
“Can we, at Christmastime?” Rachael gleefully repeated herself, her voice a pitch higher the second time, since it seemed he’d read her mind as to the season of their wedding. “I really do desire a Christmas wedding. But, how did you know?”
“I knew. We’ll have to ask the other half, though.” He happily gestured toward Monty and Phoebe just inside the door.
“Let’s do it now!” Rachael was beyond excitement. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined a double wedding for her and her sister. Now, though, after John’s suggestion, she could instantly picture it, and the idea seemed so perfect.
“Of course, we have to give him a chance to ask her again and for her to accept,” John advised.
“Oh, come on, John. He was on his knees before her earlier. Let’s see if they’ve made promises yet.” Rachael rose, since she could barely contain the stirring emotion welling within her.
“Darling, let’s just begin dancing and move toward them. We’ll take it slowly.” He loved the excitement he had created within her this evening. Somehow, he had changed her mind about matrimony and staying at Magnolia Gardens. Extremely happy at her reaction, he took her in his arms and kissed her.
“I don’t want to take it slowly,” was her retort, arms around his neck. “Oh, how exciting this is!”
“You do wish to marry me, then, don’t you, darling?” He wanted her absolute reassurance.
“Of course, I do, John. You know I do,” was her happy reply, as they strolled inside, hand in hand.
“Will it be at Christmastime, for sure?” He stopped moments later to study her beaming face.
“It shall be at Christmastime, for sure,” she whispered adamantly, just before they kissed again.
“Let’s go ask them, then,” he declared, since he, too, could hardly contain his joy.
Together, they strode right up to the unsuspecting, dancing pair. Judging by Monty and Phoebe’s warm gazes toward each other, John did actually think that Monty had already asked her again and that a marriage would occur.
“We have something to ask you two.” John ventured boldly, knowing full well Rachael wanted him to do so.
“What is it, my friend?” Monty asked, without stopping his steps to the music with Phoebe.
“We wish to know if you two are betrothed yet?” asked Rachael, rather breathlessly, for she could hardly wait for their answer.
“Rachael!” gasped Phoebe. She stopped dancing at the unexpected question.
“Well, for your information, I have asked Phoebe, and we are discussing it,” Monty volunteered.
Phoebe shook her head, giving her sister a glance of half disgust, which had only happened a very few times in their lives together. “Don’t be so pushy,” she scolded. “Go dance.”
“What is there to discuss?” John then boldly asked, laughing happily, further annoying the couple. “We are thinking of a Christmas wedding ~ a double wedding, if you get my meaning,” he chuckled. There, he had said it. Rachael seemed pleased, even if no one else was. He and his bride-to-be waited patiently for the reply.
“You two want a double wedding?” Monty repeated, smiling brightly at the idea, and at Phoebe, whose mouth was open in complete and utter astonishment. “We haven’t even discussed my medical practice yet, or how long our engagement might be, much less, a wedding date.”
“We’re not trying to pressure you, old buddy,” John told Monty, with a pat to his shoulder. “You and Miss Hathaway may give us your answer bright and early in the morning, at breakfast,” he laughed. “We’ll wait. We discussed my medical practice and Rachael agrees completely with us opening one together. Discuss that!”
Monty laughed.
“Of course, you wouldn’t pressure us,” Phoebe laughed, shaking her head at the pair of handsome men she and her sister had fallen in love with. “What shall we do about these two?” she asked Rachael.
But, before Rachael could answer, “Marry them,” or they could further discuss the wedding issue, they heard excited voices across the room, which stopped them cold.
“Thief!”
“A tussle seems to be occurring over there,” Monty remarked to the startled group.
John, Monty, and the Hathaway sisters could hardly believe this was happening at their cotillion. All of the guests had seemed to be having such a good time earlier. Carefully, John made his way through the crowd to the entry rug, with his three friends following close behind him. There, they saw the three young soldiers they had previously helped, pointing, accusing some robber. To John’s horror, he knew the accused quite well.
Chapter Twenty Two
“Father, it’s you!” called John, when he saw his own father near the three soldiers. Just now, the three were restrained by his protective Cousin Emery, Dr. Buddy Callahan, and Sheriff Joe Turner. “What is the meaning of this? Why have you three disrupted our celebration? What could possibly be wrong?” he asked, glaring at them. “We have helped you, and who invited you, anyway?”
Directly, Rachael gently placed her hand on her intended’s arm. “I did, John. They came to the garden and we talked. They have knowledge of the horse theft; so I asked them to jo
in our happy throng tonight. I’m glad they did, too. We were going to discuss the pertinent information in the morning, with you. They know about your horses, John. They were going to sleep in your barn overnight and speak with you privately tomorrow morning. So, I asked them to join us tonight. They needed to eat dinner before turning in and we had plenty,” Rachael testified indignantly, moving closer to the trio.
“Be that as it may, you asked them here without my permission?” he asked, touching his head, knowing it sounded curt, abrupt.
At that point Cousin Emery and the others unhanded the men. The three promptly shook out their clothing and brushed themselves off, quietly thanking Rachael Hathaway for intervening on their behalf.
“Yes, I did.” Rachael was not smiling, for, she felt that she had done the right thing.
“What kind of information do you have?” John wanted to know. He glanced at Rachael, then Cousin Emery. His cousin moved beside him for moral support. “Just what kind of searching did you do?”
“We know who took your horses, sir. That’s all.” Jason answered, head held high. “We searched after learning they were missing. Antonio mentioned it when we were at The Market On The Main.”
“You’re the one who was injured, aren’t you? How is your wound?” Dr. John Davis asked in a somewhat lowered voice, the physician in him now apparent. This spoke volumes about his compassion.
“Yes, Dr. Davis, I was hurt. Your friend helped me one day on Mousefield Road. I thank him greatly for that, since it helped me heal. We also are very grateful for the delicious food you gave us and the ride. That is exactly why we wanted to find your horses.” Jason easily revealed his feelings to his host, as if no one else was present. “My father, chief of our people, thanked Dr. Graham with a mint plant, you and yours with a salmon tonight. We also thank you with the discovery of where your horses are kept.”
Sanctuary Page 41