Charlotte didn’t trust her voice. She nodded instead.
Thomas rose and drew her up with him. “Come, let us seek out your parents and tell them the good news. They are going to be quite pleased, I am sure.”
Yes, they would. But Charlotte was certain it would be some time before she would share in that pleasure.
❧
Richard ran his hands through his hair. He didn’t care if the ends stood out. All he wanted was a conclusion to this entire ordeal. It had stretched on long enough. And he didn’t appreciate being dragged to New York as well as Boston in order to settle his brother’s affairs pertaining to their shipping business. Richard had always been in charge of the building part of the company. Elliott was the businessman. But now Richard was left to clean up the mess.
Two entire months. It should have been settled in one week or less. When he left, he thought that was all it would take. Then he could return to Charlotte and pick up where they’d left off. Now, he wasn’t so sure. He’d been gone a long time. He’d written, but she had yet to reply in any way. And he’d been sure to leave a valid address where he could be reached should a response be sent. He had walked out on her after sharing a kiss. Although his notes had expressed how much he’d missed her and looked forward to seeing her again, the words felt superficial. But oh, the memory of her upturned face and the soft feel of her lips. It was enough to distract a man for days. And he’d had two months to dwell on it. Months that allowed him to realize what he needed to do.
As he stepped on the train at the New York and New England terminal in Boston, Richard prayed the ride would pass quickly. Where Charlotte was concerned, he also prayed he wasn’t too late.
Thirteen
No! No, it couldn’t be. Richard closed his eyes and opened them again, as if doing so would erase the dreadful tidings that greeted him in black and white upon his arrival home. But the Gazette didn’t lie. He had been reading the paper in the carriage and only just reached the society section. What he read caused his heart to drop. Charlotte had been seen repeatedly on the arm of a Mr. Thomas Frederick Lyndhurst, and rumors had it an engagement might be forthcoming.
He was too late.
Richard silently cursed the timing of his trip. Had he been home when he thought, he could have straightened everything out, and Charlotte wouldn’t be seeing this other man now. He was certain of it. Now what was he going to do?
“Uncle Richard! You’re back!” Grace called out across the front hall.
Richard turned to see his niece using only a single crutch for support. “Grace! You’re walking!” Knowing of her progress from the letters he’d received during his absence paled in comparison to seeing the reality right before his eyes. He really had been gone too long. He’d missed so much, and he’d never get that time back. After laying the evening edition on the hall table, he opened his arms wide and waited for Grace to jump into them. Oh, it felt so good to have his niece back.
Grace kissed his cheek then looked over his shoulder. “I see you have read the newspaper.”
Richard angled his head back and sighed. “Yes. And it came as quite a surprise, I must say.”
“I only heard about it two days ago, and I still can’t believe it.”
“Well, it’s right there.” He lowered his niece to the floor. “Her family has allowed the information to be printed in the society column, so it must be true.”
Grace took up her crutch again and leaned on it. “But how could she do this to you? She loves you.”
Obviously not or she wouldn’t have rushed off to be courted by another man. He wasn’t about to share that spiteful remark with his niece, though. “Miss Pringle must have decided otherwise, Grace,” he said instead. “There is nothing I can do about it now.”
“Yes there is,” Grace protested. “You can go find her and tell her you love her, too. Then she can cease spending time with this other gentleman and the two of you can get married, the way it’s supposed to be.”
If only he could do that. Richard slipped off his coat and hat and allowed the butler to take his things. “I’m sorry, but it’s too late. I cannot and will not interfere in her happiness or the choice she’s made.”
“It’s not too late.” Grace stamped her foot. “And she can’t possibly be happy if she isn’t with you.” She grabbed hold of his arm and compelled him to look down at her. “I know she isn’t, Uncle Richard. She told me so.”
Richard widened his eyes. “What?”
“Miss Pringle came to visit me while you were away, and I asked her if she loved you.”
“Grace,” he scolded. “It wasn’t your place to ask her something like that. I am rather displeased to hear you did so.” Although he wanted to hear Charlotte’s answer.
Grace dipped her chin. “I am sorry, Uncle Richard, but she spoke of missing both of us and said she had come to care for us a great deal.”
That was a start. But it wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear. Richard drew his niece to one of two chairs next to each other. Once they were both seated, he replied. “Caring for someone is not the same as loving them.”
“I know.” She nodded. “But Miss Pringle said a lot of other factors were involved and that we both were very special to her.” Grace pressed her lips into a thin line and gave him a rather determined stare. “I am telling you, Uncle Richard. She loves you. And it’s not too late if she’s not yet engaged. You still have time. But not if you don’t believe.”
His niece was nothing if not adamant when she set her mind on something. “Believe what?” he asked, drawing his eyebrows together.
“Believe God knows best, and He is watching over both of you,” she replied. “Believe He wants you both to be happy and that won’t happen if you’re not together. And believe He brought you home at just the right time to do something about it.”
Richard shook his head. He had to admit, Grace made a valid point. Were she a young lad, he might envision her growing up to become a lawyer one day. For now, though, she turned her argumentative prowess on him. And he wasn’t sure he could come up with a valid rebuttal.
A chuckle escaped his lips, and he held up his hands. “All right. All right. You win,” he said with a smile. After tousling her hair, he stood and called for the butler. “I cannot guarantee the outcome will be as you or I hope, but I will promise to try.”
“You can do it, Uncle Richard,” Grace said with triumphant certainty. “I know it will all work out.”
❧
Richard paused just outside the door to Mr. Pringle’s study. The butler had directed him down the hall and said Mr. Pringle was expecting him. Of course he was. Richard had penned a formal missive and requested this meeting almost immediately after arriving home and reading that dreadful news in the Gazette. Now that he was here, his stomach clenched and tension rippled across his shoulders.
With a quick prayer for strength, he took a deep breath and raised his hand to deliver two short knocks to the closed door.
“Come in!” came the immediate response.
He turned the knob and pushed the door open, stepping into the darkened interior and immediately removing his hat. His eyes searched the room and found Mr. Pringle standing next to his desk. The man’s expression was too difficult to read from this distance, though.
“Mr. Pringle,” Richard plunged forward. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
“It is my pleasure, Mr. Baxton.”
Charlotte’s father didn’t make any attempt to move from where he stood, so Richard approached him instead.
“I know you probably have a lot of business to attend to, so I won’t take up too much of your time. I wanted to come here today to speak to you in person about your daughter Charlotte.”
“When I received your note, I had a distinct feeling what this meeting would be about.” The man brushed his fingers across his clean-shaven chin. “Quite frankly, I am surprised it has taken you so long to see me again.”
“Yes. I was
called away unexpectedly on business that kept me away longer than I thought it might. I had to make two additional journeys to New York and Boston and only arrived home yesterday.”
“And what exactly was that business?”
Richard tilted his head. “As you know from our earlier conversation, sir, my family has been involved in the shipbuilding business for three generations. We have financial holdings in almost all of the major ports along the Atlantic Coast. The trouble began when my brother was killed in a carriage accident many months back.”
“I was sorry to hear of your loss, son.” His voice showed his sincerity.
“Thank you.” Richard took a breath. “In short, I was left everything, but there was a seize on the profits and a delay in the ownership transfer. While our lawyer sorted through the mounds of paperwork and legal barriers, I was here caring for my niece and doing what I could to keep everything running. This recent journey finally resolved all the issues and the full transfer is now complete.”
“I am sure that brings you a sense of relief.”
“Yes, it does. But that pales in comparison to the surprise that awaited me in the evening edition of the Wilmington Gazette upon my return. I didn’t wish to waste any more time than I had already lost, so I requested this meeting straightaway.”
“I’m glad you did come, son, in spite of the current circumstances. It says much about you and your level of devotion to my daughter.”
Richard licked his lips and shifted from one foot to the other, turning his hat in his hands. Mr. Pringle’s approval meant so much. He’d dealt with industry and manufacturing magnates without missing a breath, but standing before this man put him on edge.
“I won’t deny that I’ve been aware of Charlotte’s feelings for you for quite some time now, even when she attempted to say otherwise. And I won’t make you any more uncomfortable than you are by asking your intentions toward my daughter. I am certain they are honorable.”
“Yes sir.”
Mr. Pringle nodded. “Very well. Then, the only other issue at hand is the present status of my daughter’s affections. As you are aware, she has been courted by Mr. Lyndhurst of Greenville these recent weeks.” He held up a hand, palm outward. “I might have given my consent to the union, but the ultimate decision lies with Charlotte.” The hint of a grin tugged at the corners of the man’s mouth. “And if I know my daughter, I have a feeling a more personal conversation with her will be forthcoming rather soon.”
Richard swallowed and nodded, unable to speak beyond the tightness in his throat. Did this mean the man was giving his consent for Richard to call on Charlotte as well and offer his proposal?
“You will find my daughter at the bookshop, son.”
Obviously, he was.
“And if you do not wish to miss your chance, I would suggest you depart here immediately.”
Richard straightened. “Oh! Yes. I will.”
“Good. We will leave the rest of the details for a later time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I do have some rather important matters that require my attention before dinner.” He winked. “And I don’t wish to upset Mrs. Pringle by being late.”
“No, sir!” Richard grinned, grateful he’d again found his voice.
“I trust you don’t mind seeing yourself out?”
“Not at all, sir.” Richard turned toward the door then glanced over his shoulder. “Thank you again, Mr. Pringle.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
❧
Richard peered in through the windows. The bookshop looked empty. He didn’t see Charlotte anywhere. Perfect. She wouldn’t see him come in. But she would hear him. Slowly, he opened the door, praying he wouldn’t trigger the bell. So far, so good. He made it inside without announcing his presence. Now he had to find Charlotte.
That didn’t take long. She stood on a stool at the far end of the first aisle, reaching to the top shelf but falling just short. Richard moved in silence and came up behind her, retrieving the book she sought and putting it in her hand.
She didn’t even turn around. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice cracked, and the two words came out in a combination cough and squeak. Richard cleared his throat, and tried again. “You’re welcome.”
Charlotte spun around. “Richard!”
She almost lost her balance, but he put his hands to her waist to steady her. As soon as she righted herself, he dropped his hands to his sides. Of course, he wanted to keep them there. Wanted to lift her down from the stool and into his arms. But he didn’t have that right. She was almost engaged to another. And until that situation was rectified, he had to keep his distance. Or at least try.
“I’m surprised to see you here.” Her voice had a hardened edge to it, and her eyes held a mixture of remorse and regret. “Did you not have other business to attend to?”
Ouch. But he deserved that. He had all but abandoned her, and now, two months later, he expected a warm welcome? What had he been thinking? He had written but never received a reply, so there was no guarantee his letters had even been received. He intended to find out.
Richard looked up at her. “Could you please come down off the stool? I would much rather speak with you on a more even level.”
She did as he asked, but her entire demeanor remained cool, reserved. If she had received his letters, would she still be acting this way?
“Charlotte, I know my appearance here is unexpected and possibly unwanted. I probably shouldn’t have come at all.” Despite having told himself many times that he’d done what he had to do, Richard couldn’t keep the self-condemnation from his voice.
Charlotte closed her eyes. The soft sounds of her breathing accompanied the faint clip-clop of horses’ hooves and carriage wheels on the cobblestones outside. When her eyelids opened again, the same doubt, uncertainty, and fear he felt reflected back at him.
“Richard, we shouldn’t be—”
“Shh.” He cut her off and touched two fingers to her lips then removed his hand. She stared at him with doe-like innocence. “Let me go first.”
An almost imperceptible nod followed his entreaty. All right. He had her undivided attention. Now what should he say?
“Charlotte, I repeated in my mind what I would say to you during the ride over here. And I owe you an apology.” There, that wasn’t such a bad start. “I left you standing in the hospital with a promise to contact you as soon as I returned home. But a trip I believed would take me just a week ended up taking me two months. In all that time, although I sent a handful of letters to let you know what was happening, I never received a response. Still, the letters did not come close to conveying how I truly felt, and you deserved more than that.” He implored her with his gaze. “Can you forgive me?”
It hadn’t come out the way he’d rehearsed it in his head, but it could still work. He hoped it would.
“You wrote to me?” Surprise and tender awe blended on her face as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I never received a single note.”
Well, that explained a lot. “I feared that might be the case,” he said instead. “Nevertheless, I stand before you now, asking your forgiveness.”
Charlotte took several moments before responding. “Of course I forgive you.”
It wasn’t much, but it was a start. “Thank you.” Richard clenched his fists at his side, wanting more than anything to take Charlotte’s hands in his. But not yet. “I know my timing is rather flawed and imperfect. But I came at the first opportunity. And while I do not hold any misconceptions that you will respond the way I would like, I could not in good conscience leave things unresolved between us.” He had to get this out now, or he might lose his nerve. “There. . .there’s one more thing.”
Her eyes seemed to tell him to go on, but the words died in his throat. Perhaps making her smile would lighten the mood a bit and help him say what he came to tell her. It might not work, but he had to try something.
“At least I know I have a captive aud
ience.”
That worked. A slow smile tugged at her lips, even though it didn’t quite meet her eyes. Yes. That’s just what he needed to help him get through the next part of his confession. He braved reaching for her hands to clasp them between both of his. She didn’t pull away.
“Charlotte, it took a longer-than-expected journey to make me realize just how special you are to me. I’m a fool for not seeing it sooner. That kiss we shared at the hospital shook me right to the core. I didn’t know how to respond. I could dare to hope only that you felt the same as I.” He sought her gaze and held it. “Maybe I didn’t want to believe it. Maybe I wasn’t ready. I don’t know. What I do know is I don’t want to lose you.”
A sharp gasp followed his declaration. This was it. He had to say it now.
“Charlotte, I love you. I’ve probably loved you for a while now. I was just too blind to see it. And I know you are being courted by another, with rumors stating an engagement is forthcoming. But I have your father’s permission to ask you—if you can find any fondness at all for me in your heart, please. I beg of you. Do not continue to accept Mr. Lyndhurst’s suit.”
Charlotte’s hands moved beneath his, and she turned her wrist to interlace their fingers. He glanced down at their joined hands then back at her face. Tenderness replaced the uncertainty of a moment before. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Then she seemed to find her voice.
“Before I say anything else, I want to say I was deeply hurt by your silence and the increasing time you were away. I thought I did something wrong. That I somehow caused your silence. That you were possibly ashamed for having kissed me and didn’t know how to take it back. Then my parents pushed me toward Mr. Lyndhurst, and as your absence lengthened, I felt I was left with no choice.” She averted her eyes. “So I agreed to allow him to court me. But I was wrong for doubting you and for believing you had intentionally abandoned me. Can you forgive me?”
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