Sprig of Thyme

by Jenna Dawlish

  After many minutes, Joel spoke. “I have dreamed of doing that for five long years.” He gently kissed her cheeks, eyes, her mouth rhythmically. “And when you are my wife. . .”

  But he did not have time to continue. There was a sudden knock at the door, it opened and Sarah ran in. She flew into Joel's now empty arms, and Adella stood up and smoothed down her dress. Joel's mother walked in a few moments later.

  “Papa, can you come and play yet?” Sarah asked.

  “Not outside, no. But I am glad you have come in, I want you to meet someone important. This is Adella,” he said looking seriously into his daughter's face.

  Sarah looked up at Adella, then stepped forward and held out her hand for her to shake it. She was as pretty as Adella remembered.

  “Frederick says that you are going to be my new Mama and that I must be nice to you, else Papa will be upset.”

  Adella shook Sarah's hand, “I am pleased to meet you Sarah.”

  “Now Sarah. Adella has not yet decided if she is going to live here forever. But she will be our guest for now, and Frederick is right, we must be nice to her, or I will be very unhappy. Do you understand? Will you make Adella feel at home?”

  “Yes,” she said nodding with great exaggeration.

  “Good girl. Now run along, and I will see you later.”

  He kissed her forehead, and she ran out, closely followed by Joel's mother. When the door closed, Adella spoke first, “You should be proud of her. She is a lovely girl.”

  Joel sat back and smiled, “I am. She is the only good thing that came out of my marriage.”

  The reference to Cynthia made Joel hesitantly look at Adella to see how she reacted.

  “It's alright,” she said, reading Joel's expression. “I accepted a long time ago that you married. You need not shy away from mentioning it. We must be honest no; no secrets. Cynthia was, Sarah's mother after all. You must never let Sarah think badly of her.”

  “I won't.”

  “You look tired,” Adella said and sat down beside him once more and brushed away a lock of hair from his brow.

  “I am a little. I think I should rest for a while.”

  ***

  During the next few months, Adella spent much of her time taking charge of nursing Joel back to health. He gradually regained his strength, and was able to walk about and become more active. It was a common sight around the Polwarth estate to see Adella and Joel walking about arm in arm. One sunny afternoon, they were out in the grounds with Frederick and Sarah in tow.

  “I'll race you to the pond,” Frederick said to Sarah.

  Joel and Adella watched as they both ran off into the distance laughing. Fredrick allowed Sarah to win.

  Joel watched Adella's face, a soft smile on her lips. Then she turned to Joel, “I think Sarah is the only woman who will ever have command of Frederick.”

  “Oh, I don't know. I think Frederick is ready to fall in love, if only he would meet with a woman who he likes.” He guided her to a nearby bench.

  “He will, I'm sure. It is possible he has already met her and does not yet realise she is the one.”

  “There are plenty of women in the area who would love to be Mrs Garner.”

  “I'm sure there are. I look forward to meeting a few of them in the future, and watch as they tussle for his attentions.”

  “So you are happy to stay here?”

  “Yes, I am beginning to think of Bedfordshire as my home.” She stretched her arms out. “I am content.” But then her face clouded a little. “Joel, there is something I must tell you. I have to leave for a few weeks. Leonard's wedding date is set, and I wish to attend.”

  “Very well. We can travel whenever you like.”

  Adella grimaced, “I must go alone. You are not well enough to travel all that way.”

  “I am!”

  “You are not, and besides, I would prefer to go alone.”

  “Why?”

  Adella sighed, “because I think it would do us both good. To see how we bear the separation.”

  “I will not be able to bear the separation.” He grabbed her hand, “Haven't I told you enough times that I love you?”

  Adella put her hand on his cheek. “Yes, you have, more than enough times. I love you too,”

  “I want to marry you.”

  “Yes, but. . .”

  “But?”

  “But, it is my brother's wedding, and I would hate to miss it. I have decided. It must be this way. Please don't make this any more difficult than it already is.”

  Joel felt helpless but deep down he knew further argument wouldn't help matters.

  “You might stay in Bath, and I'll never see you again. You'll find another man and marry him instead. It would be what I deserve.”

  “I promise you now, that I will return.”

  “And you won't fall in love with, or marry another man?”

  “I promise.”

  “Can I still not persuade you to marry me? I would be much happier if I knew we were engaged when you left.”

  But as soon as he said the words, he suddenly regretted them, “I'm sorry. That was thoughtless of me after what I did to you - breaking the engagement.”

  “It's alright, but when will you realise that I have forgiven you?”

  Joel thought for a moment, and with a slow smile said, “When you agree to marry me of course.”

  Frederick returned with Sarah a few minutes later, and this time she dragged Adella off, and left Frederick and Joel to walk back to the house behind.

  “Why so glum?” Frederick asked, “You look like you have received bad news.”

  “Adella is leaving for three weeks. Her brother's wedding and she is to be bridesmaid.”

  “And?”

  “She will not let me accompany her to Bath,” Joel said.

  “I think it is a good thing. Let her go,” Frederick made a dismissive gesture with his arm, “the separation will do you both good.”

  Joel stared at Frederick in utter disbelief, “How can you say that?”

  “Only, that the separation will make her realise how much she loves you, and there can be nothing better than her attending a wedding. It will make her wish to be a bride. I guarantee she will come back here eagerly expecting you to propose again. How many times have you asked he now?”

  “I've lost count, but I think it must be at least once a day. You seem to think you know a woman's mind. Though I see your point. But what if she realises that she does not wish to marry me? What then? Have you thought of that?”

  “Then I shall say only this: has she, over these last months shown anything other than the deepest affection for you? Do you not think that she would have left here already if she did not love you?” He crossed his arms in defiance and his mouth hinted at a smile.

  “You had better be right,” Joel said, “Otherwise, we will have a prolonged stay in Bath, while I try and persuade her to marry me. I won't let her slip away from me.”

  “Both of us stay in Bath?” Frederick said taken aback, “I have interfered enough in your affairs of the heart. Leave me out of it.”

  “Of course both of us. I thought you liked Bath. Besides, you are the one who told me to let her go away. I hope you realise how miserable I will be, and how you will have to cheer me up when she's gone.”

  ***

  Three weeks later and Joel stood by the drawing room window, his hand on the frame tapping his fingers impatiently. His mother and Sarah played quietly nearby. Despite Sarah's earlier entreaty to play too, Joel could not face it. He looked out again at the single track road that led up to the house.

  “I'm sure she'll be here soon,” his mother said.

  “It's nearly six o'clock. She ought to be here by now. I should have travelled to Bath to collect her myself, despite her insistence I stay here.”

  “She did not want you to have a set back in your health.”

  “I know.”

  Finally, Joel saw the carriage appear at the bo
ttom of the lane. He straightened his jacket. “Come mother, Sarah. She is here.”

  He led them outside and they all waited for the carriage to stop. Joel grabbed the door and yanked it open.

  He peered in and his eyes instantly locked onto Adella's. She grinned at him, and he offered her his hand.

  “I thought you would never get here,” he said and kissed her hand.

  “Neither did I! But I am here now.” She looked at him, “Your health has improved I think? You have much more colour in your face and you don't look so tired.”

  “I am nearly fully recovered.”

  “I'm glad of it.”

  “Aren't you going to help me out as well?” Frederick's head popped out of the carriage door.

  “I'm sure you are quite capable of doing it yourself.”

  Frederick alighted the carriage. “You could at least thank me for accompanying Adella back.”

  “Of course, another debt I owe you,” Joel said.

  They all entered the house, and refreshments were sent for.

  “Tell me, how was the wedding?” Joel ventured after a short while.

  “It was lovely,” Adella said. “Simply lovely. Flora looked like a princess, and Leonard; well he was the happiest I have ever seen him. He did not stop smiling all day. I am glad he has found such a lovely girl. I don't have to worry about him any more.”

  “When exactly was it?” Mrs Polwarth asked.

  “Three days ago,” Adella answered.

  “And was it well attended?”

  “Oh yes, the families being there of course, and all the doctors and chemists in Bath attended too. Also - ”

  But Adella was interrupted by the arrival of the refreshments, and she used the opportunity to pull Joel away and speak to him on her own at the other side of the room.

  “It was a lovely wedding, but there is something I have not told you,” she said in a whisper.

  “Oh?” Joel moved closer.

  “I was miserable without you. All I did was think about you alone in this house, and how I wished you were with me.”

  Joel breathed a sigh of relief. “Then we will never be apart again?”

  “Never again,” she replied shaking her head.

  He seized her hands, “Then let us set a date, my love, before you change your mind.”

  “I will not change my mind, and let the date be as soon as the banns can be read. I cannot wait any longer.”

  “I will send for the Rector immediately,” he replied and he drew her into a tender kiss to seal the promise.

  Epilogue

  Frederick poured himself a Brandy, lit his cigar and seated himself in the large chair by the fire. “How was the honeymoon?” he asked Joel, with a mischievous smile full of deeper meaning.

  “It was everything I dreamed it would be,” Joel said raising his eyebrows. “You really should think of getting married yourself.”

  “Hmm, and how was Sidmouth?”

  “Just as I remembered. Our former employers, were a little taken aback when we both turned up on their doorstep, but they were gracious and acquitted Adella after I explained everything. In fact, they were reproving of me, not that I didn't deserve it.”

  “And did you take the coastal walk to Branscombe?” Frederick asked.

  “Yes. It too was as I remembered,” he said. “Though I do not recall much of the scenery now I think of it.” He said with a distinct sparkle in his eyes.

  “I thought as much,” Frederick said with a small laugh.

  They both looked round as the door opened and Adella came into the room.

  “Ahh and here she is,” Frederick said standing up. “Mrs Polwarth, how are you? You look radiant though, so you need not answer. I trust married life suits you?”

  “Frederick, how wonderful to see you. But call me Adella,” she said and offered her hand.

  “I will not call you anything other than Mrs Polwarth, for though it be formal, I wish to remind myself all the time that finally Joel is married to the woman he loves.”

  Adella laughed, “I am sure you will tire of the formality eventually. But Joel, what do you say to this?”

  “Leave me out of it. Though I shall not stop Frederick calling you by your legal name, however formal it is. I like to hear it too.”

  “Very well,” Adella reluctantly said, “but I shall return the formality, until you realise how ridiculous it sounds, Mr Garner!”

  “A battle of wills. I shall enjoy it Mrs Polwarth. But I must leave, I only dropped by because it has been exceedingly dull here without you both, and I was terribly bored. But I will leave you to yourselves now. If I were the bridegroom, I would want my bride all to myself the night before the rest of the family descend. They all arrive tomorrow?”

  “Yes, and I shall not stop you from leaving,” Joel said, “I do want my bride to myself. Be off, and return tomorrow when Mrs Polwarth and I shall be glad to see you.” He exchanged a tender glance with Adella, and added, “Not too early though.”