He didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Of course I will.” How could he deny her what she’d just given him only a few moments ago?
She visibly relaxed. After a shuddering breath, she again met his gaze with tears glistening in her eyes. “Richard, I love you, too.”
He grinned and slid to one knee on the floor, right there in the dusty aisle of the bookshop. But he didn’t care. He reached into his coat and pulled out his grandmother’s ring. A diamond-accented sapphire with lighter blue topaz around the rim. He held it up to Charlotte, all the love he felt inside ready to burst. “Then will you marry me?”
A lone tear spilled and traced a wet path down her cheek. Richard reached up with his other hand and brushed it away. Silence descended, and the seconds ticked by in slow progression.
“I say,” an unfamiliar but proper voice sounded from the front of the store. “It appears I have arrived in the middle of the most unfortunate circumstances.” The gentleman paused. “At least for me.”
Richard turned to look up the aisle and met the regretful gaze of a well-dressed gentleman about his age, only this man held an ornate cane in one hand and a top-quality top hat in the other. From the way Charlotte stiffened, this man could be only one person. Richard stood and raised his eyebrows. “Mr. Lyndhurst, I presume?”
“The very same,” the man said with a succinct nod. He switched his cane to his left hand and extended his right. “And you must be Richard Baxton.”
“Yes,” Richard replied, returning the handshake.
“Well, I believe I have timed my appearance a mite too late.” Lyndhurst gestured toward Charlotte and Richard and the close proximity in which the two stood. “Or perhaps I am right on time.”
Charlotte started to turn toward Mr. Lyndhurst. “Thomas, I—”
But the man raised his hand that held the cane and lifted two fingers, effectively silencing whatever she’d been about to say. “Please, my dear Charlotte. You owe me no explanation.” He softened his expression. “Only a fool would see the way you are looking at Mr. Baxton and not know of your fervent affection. It is not my place to interfere, nor would I consider it.” Lyndhurst took two steps back and dipped his head, swinging wide the hand that held his top hat. “Now, if you will excuse me, I shall formally retract my suit and take my leave. I wish you both the utmost happiness.”
Silence followed in the wake of Thomas’s exit. Richard and Charlotte both stared up the aisle, as if the man hadn’t really been there. Several moments later, Richard shook his head and turned again to face Charlotte. Resuming his position on bended knee, he again took her hands in his.
“I believe there is still a question waiting for an answer,” he reminded her with a smile.
Charlotte startled and stared down at him. A dazed look clouded her eyes. Her mouth moved, but no words came out. It was as if she stood transfixed, held captive by the exchange that had just occurred.
“Say you will!” Grace’s voice broke the spell.
Charlotte laughed, and Richard joined her. Just when had his niece snuck into the shop? And how had she done so without either of them hearing her? Then again, he had done it.
“It appears we have a curious little songbird in our midst,” Charlotte said. “Bent on trilling out her own cadenza.”
“Yes, she insisted upon accompanying me here. But this is a duet. At least for the moment.” He cast a reproachful glance at his niece. “I instructed her to remain outside.” He returned his gaze to Charlotte. “Even so, you know how Grace feels. I, on the other hand, remain down here awaiting your answer.”
Lyrical laughter again escaped her lips. “Yes! Yes, of course I will marry you.”
Richard nearly jumped to his feet and gave her a quick peck on the mouth. He pulled back to look down into her face, seeing the same longing he felt. He placed the symbol of their promise on her ring finger. Lowering his lips again, he positioned himself for a better, deeper kiss this time.
A few moments later, he pulled back and glanced to his left. A chuckle rumbled in his chest. He shared a special look with Charlotte, emboldened by her nod and the look of love in her eyes.
“Grace, you have already heard and seen everything. And we both know what you think. Now, will you perhaps leave us alone to discuss a few more things?”
Grace obviously took that as a sign to come closer. “There will be time enough for that later. Right now I want to celebrate with you both.” She wrapped one arm around each of them.
Richard pivoted to face Charlotte. Amusement danced in her eyes. He shrugged. They still had so much to discuss. And Charlotte had yet to let her parents know of her decisions.
They could and would discuss the details of their engagement and wedding another time. Right now, Grace watched and smiled as though their entire relationship—friends to lovers—had been entirely of her making. Richard smiled. It had been by God’s design all along.
Epilogue
Charlotte leaned into Richard’s casual yet affectionate embrace as she looked around at the friends and family gathered in her home. So much love and support. She could barely talk beyond the tightness in her throat. But talk, she must. Clearing her throat, she scanned the assemblage, searching for a certain twelve-year-old girl.
“Grace,” she called out after locating her. “Would you please come join your uncle and me up front? I have something very special to present to you.”
As Grace stepped out from the small crowd, Charlotte reached behind her for the carefully wrapped gift she’d prepared specifically for this day. The young girl—no, young lady—stood before Charlotte with an expectant smile on her face. Charlotte trailed her fingers down Grace’s cheek and brushed back a few loose tendrils of hair.
“Grace, you already know how much your uncle and I love you. And we both look forward to welcoming you into our newly joined life together as soon as our wedding concludes. But for now, I would like you to have this.”
She handed the gift to Grace, who took it and stared.
Charlotte nodded. “You may open it now.”
Needing no further encouragement, Grace tore back the paper and withdrew the treasured book Charlotte had spent months attempting to find.
Grace looked down and read the title. “Robinson Crusoe?”
“Yes.” Charlotte smoothed her hand over the cover. “This book once belonged to my great-grandmother’s great-grandmother. It is a first edition with her dedication written inside. I acquired it just prior to meeting you and your uncle.” She tilted her head to gaze up at Richard. He squeezed her waist and smiled, love shining in his eyes. Returning her attention to Grace, Charlotte smiled. “Now I would like you to have it. It will be a constant reminder of how God used books to bring us together and eventually make us a family.”
Grace stared at the book, holding it in her hands like fine porcelain. A moment later, she looked up at Charlotte, then her uncle, then back to the book, and finally again at Charlotte. “You are giving this to me? To keep?”
“Yes,” Charlotte replied. “Because, I believe we share something very, very special.” She winked. “An insatiable appetite for good books. I spent a great deal of time locating this title, and now you can have it for your own.” She tipped up the girl’s chin with her forefinger. “But I have one requirement.”
“What is that?”
“I only ask that you treasure it as much as I have, and when the time comes for you to start a family of your own, you keep this book as a gift for your daughter or son.”
Grace pressed her lips tight, glancing again at the book. “But don’t you wish to keep this for your own children?”
Charlotte’s throat clenched at the forlorn quality in Grace’s voice. Richard squeezed her waist again then reached out and brushed Grace’s cheek. Charlotte did the same. But Richard spoke.
“You are every bit as much our daughter as any children we might have in the future. So this book belongs to you, and we know you will take excellent care of it.”
Grace
smiled, the sheen of tears magnifying the joy in her eyes. “Oh yes!” she said, and hugged the book to her chest. “I shall be certain to care for and keep this book in the best condition possible. And I shall treasure it always.”
“Now,” Richard shifted, removing his arm from around Charlotte’s waist to bend to eye level with his niece. “What do you say we resume the engagement party and get things under way?”
Grace brightened then turned to face everyone else. With one hand sweeping out across the crowd, she announced, “Let the celebration commence!”
Rumbles of laughter and exclamations of delight sounded forth from family and friends. Grace skipped away, and Richard returned to Charlotte.
With a roguish grin, he winked and touched his forehead to hers. “We are going to have our hands full for the next few years.”
Charlotte smiled, her face warming rapidly, as she reached to place a chaste kiss on his lips. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
About the Author
AMBER STOCKTON is a freelance Web designer and author whose articles and short stories have appeared in local, national, and international publications. Her writing career began as a columnist for her high school and college newspapers. Her first publication in a book appeared in the form of nine contributions (as a single!) to 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage by Debra White Smith. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Historical Romance Writers. Some of her hobbies include traveling, music, photography, and MOPS. At age three, she learned to read and hasn’t put down books since. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, and their two children in colorful Colorado. Visit her website to learn more or to contact her at www.amberstockton.com.
Dedication
I want to thank JoAnne Simmons for the golden opportunity to write for this club and for helping me get my foot in the door. I also want to thank my copyeditors, Rachel Overton and Becky Fish. My writing has only improved because of you. Finally, this book is dedicated to my readers, who have faithfully continued to purchase and read my books. I wouldn’t be an author without you!
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Amber Stockton
Author Relations
PO Box 721
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
Bound By Grace Page 16