Sunlight and Shadows

by Christine Cross

  “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 19 of 20

  The First Impression

  “Sophia, my dear, you look absolutely ravishing this evening.”

  “Thank you, Father,” she answered smiling. A pretty young girl, at the age of nineteen sat beside her mother in their carriage. Her golden, fair hair was adorned with a fresh white rose, and her bright blue eyes were the color of the sea.

  “What about me, Father?” a mousey haired girl beside him asked, her bottom lip protruding in a very unladylike fashion.

  “Of course you do as well, Lydia darling,” he looked across the coach to his eldest daughter. “But tonight is for your sister. We may have a chance to wed her to a very influential man.”

  “But I am only a year younger than she,” the younger sister retorted. She huffed as she crossed her arms and flattened herself against the seat behind her.

  “Hush now, darling,” the mother replied. Her hair was the same as her youngest daughters, like freshly cut oak wood.

  The carriage came to a stop, and soon after, the door was opened by a gentle-faced man with a wide jaw and a clean, white wig.

  “Good evening, Mr. Worthington.”

  “Ah, yes, good evening,” he replied before stepping out of the carriage. The footman greeted each of the ladies as he helped them from the carriage.

  “Welcome to Highrose Park.”

  The house was beautiful, with crawling ivy and open windows to every room. The summer air was thick that evening, but a breeze rushed through the trees of the forest behind the house.

  “Come along, girls,” their father exclaimed. “We mustn’t be late.”

  The girls, arm in arm, walked up the steps to the house. Miss Lydia seemed to forget her frustration once they arrived.

  The inside of the home was even more splendid than the outside. Candles covered nearly every surface, giving the room a starry effect. There was a pianist in a room beyond the foyer, and laughter carried through the long halls.

  “It’s magical,” Sophia exclaimed, excitedly squeezing her sister’s arm.

  Her sister nodded fervently.

  “Come, the ballroom is through these doors,” another voice said. A pleasant looking man with a wide moustache bowed to them and gestured for them to follow their father into the room on the western side of the house.

  Through the doors, the girls were greeted with the sight of many couples dancing to a lively cotillion, all laughing and clapping.

  “Oh, what fun! Father I want to dance!” Lydia called. Her father laughed.

  “In time, dear daughter. You must be patient.” He looked about. “There are plenty of young men here who I am sure would be most pleased to dance with you.”

  Lydia beamed.

  Sophia was looking about the room when her father turned to her. “And a very agreeable young man is to meet us this evening as well.”

  Sophia smiled as well. She knew that her father would be delighted if she and this man were to be a suitable fit for one another. She hadn’t given it much thought, but she indeed felt a bit of nervous tension. Would he be handsome? Would he be amiable? Would he have a pleasant sense of humor? But beyond that, she was unsure what to expect.

  Best not to make a decision until you’ve met the man, she told herself. Otherwise you might find yourself disappointed. It is a far braver thing to keep one’s mind open about these matters, and allow them to happen as they will.

  “Now you wait here, my dear. Your mother and I will go find the m
an and his family, and then we will ensure you are introduced.”

  “I will remain right here,” she replied and nodded her head.

  “Good girl.” And then he and her mother walked through the crowd to find her suitor.

  The dance came to an end, and she and her sister joined in with all of the guests who clapped in appreciation of the musicians. The couples all smiled and laughed before leaving the dance floor.

  “My, father was correct when he said that there were many handsome young men here this evening,” Lydia commented.

  Sophia examined the crowds. Certainly there were many young men, but she dared not look too closely. What if she decided one of the men was indeed quite handsome and he was not the one her father wished her to meet? Surely that would make the evening more difficult for her.

  “Oh come now, sister,” Lydia said and laughed. “You look as a statue would there against the wall.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sophia said. “I just wish to make a good impression on the gentleman.”

  “You’ll do a fine job, never you fear,” her sister said and squeezed Sophia’s arm. “And if things do not happen the way that our father desires, then there will always be another suitor to woo.”

  Sophia laughed. “Perhaps you are right.”

  “You are far too deep in your own thoughts, sister dear, as per usual,” Lydia added. “It would do you good to not consider each and every outcome. I can see it in your eyes that you are doing it even now as we speak.”

  Sophia looked down. “I am fine, Lydia.”

  Lydia’s eyebrow arched, and she smiled. “If you are certain, dear sister.”

  “Excuse me, Miss Worthington?”

  The girls looked over and saw a friend of theirs approach from the side, Thomas Watson. He smiled at them, and bowed his head.

  “How are you ladies this evening?”

  “Doing quite well, Mr. Watson. And yourself?” Lydia replied.

  “I am quite well, thank you for asking.”

  He gestured over his shoulder at a gentleman who stood behind him.

  “I would like to introduce a friend of mine, a one Mr. Nightingale.”

  Lydia and Sophia glanced up and were met with a tall gentleman with ginger hair that looked as if it had been swept by the wind on horseback. His eyes were a pale blue, like water in a spring.

  Sophia was startled.

  “My, that was awfully fast,” Lydia commented. Sophia glanced at her so quickly she was certain the gentleman would not see, but Lydia would understand her frustration at her remark. She was baffled that her father would send Mr. Watson in his stead to introduce Mr. Nightingale to her and her sister, but as Mr. Watson was such a dear friend, perhaps he thought that Sophia would be more comfortable with him.

  “It is a great pleasure to meet you both,” Mr. Nightingale said.

  “And for us as well,” she replied, and she curtsied.

  The gentleman bowed his head with his hand on his chest. “I have heard much about you, Miss Worthington,.” his eyes fixated on Sophia.

  Sophia, still a bit startled, blinked a few times at him before she smiled.

  He was dashing, far more than she could ever expected before. His smile was wide and honest, and his jaw was strong and his face kind.

  “And I you,” she replied. She was unsure what to say. Never in any of the imaginings she had about this gentlemen did he look the way that the man before her did.

  “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

  Lydia’s eyes were wide, but her face remained soft and inconspicuous. She nodded in an ever so small way, encouraging Sophia to reply. Mr. Watson also smiled encouragingly at her.

  “Yes, I would be delighted.”

  Mr. Nightingale smiled again, and Sophia felt her heart begin to pound in her chest.

  So this is what it feels like, she thought as they made their way to stand among the other couples that were gathering for the next dance. This is what it feels like to have all of your dreams falling into place.

  He stood across from her, and she couldn’t help but smile at him. He was very pleasing to the eye, and she wished to reprimand herself for noticing that particular detail so much. Several of the other women around had noticed as well, for their eyes continually flickered over to where they stood. But it didn’t bother her. He had asked her to dance, and she felt as if she could fly.

  “So you are the beloved Mr. and Mrs. Worthington’s eldest daughter,” he stated as they began to dance.

  “Such kind words,” she replied.

  “I only speak the truth,” he answered, and smiled.

  “I am indeed their eldest.”

  “And Lydia, I take it she is the youngest?”

  “Indeed, sir. She is my only sister.”

  He nodded his head. “I too only have one other sibling. A brother, and he is quite a lot older than I.”

  They spun around before they came together once more.

  “You have the most interesting eyes,” he said to her, and the way he looked at her, it made her feel as if they were the only two people in the entire room. “They are like perfect gemstones, whose value could not be understood.”

  “My heavens, Mr. Nightingale. You flatter me so,” she replied, and her cheeks grew warm.

  He smiled. “If you are flattered, then I have done more than I could have hoped for.”

  The candles overhead sparkled like stars, and her heartbeat matched the rhythm of the music in the air around them. Her head felt as if it was spinning, but she enjoyed the feeling deeply. He was so frank, so upfront with her. And instead of fearing it, she welcomed it with arms wide open. She had feared this night for many weeks. If she had known that this was what was to meet her, she would have delighted in every moment.

  “I will be honest, Miss Worthington. I did not know what to expect when I anticipated meeting you. But I must admit that I am most pleased with the lady that I am dancing with.”

  “And I had no earthly idea what to expect about you either, but you have surprised me.”

  He smiled wide at her remark. “I do hope that you will allow me to spend more time with you this evening, so as to learn as much about you as I possibly might.”

  She laughed readily at his words. “Mr. Nightingale, nothing would make me happier.”

  “Good,” he replied. He smiled wide and asked, “What is your favorite book?”

  “Anything by Charles Dickson.”

  “Favorite food?”

  “Roasted chicken with potatoes.”

  “Favorite place to visit?”

  “I absolutely adore Brighton in the springtime.”

  He smiled. “Very good!”

  “Well now, what about you, kind sir?” she asked in return. “You cannot think me uninterested in what you think about these same things?”

  He smiled coyly at her.

  “Great Expectations is by far my favorite; I’ve read it a dozen times, at least. I adore anything that is sweet and is supposed to be saved for special holidays, and I also enjoy spring in Brighton. But my favorite place of all is sitting atop a hill, with nothing around but the sound of the wind in the grass and the smell of the wildflowers.”

  She felt her heart soften even further in her, and for the first time wondered how this gentleman had not been married already. Such elegance, such charm. He at once seemed like the perfect sort of man.

  “I must tell you a secret, Miss,” he said in a lower voice, and his face suddenly became quite serious.

  Oh no, here it is, she thought. This will be the explanation to why he is so sweet and kind and forthcoming and yet still single.

  “I really don’t wish to tell you this for fear of what you may think of me. You might consider yourself a fool to be dancing with me.”

  He was silent for a moment before taking a great, deep breath and looking her straight in the eyes.

  “I do not care much for roasted chicken. Or potatoes.” He let his head fall down in shame. “There, I
’ve said it. Now you may mock me and ridicule me all you’d like.”

  And then she laughed. She laughed so hard that she could not contain herself. She laughed until her sides hurt and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn’t even contain herself enough to continue dancing. She just stood there in the middle of the room, laughing with joy at what the gentleman had said.

  And he laughed along with her. Oh, what delight it brought her. The fear had left just as quickly as it had come upon her, and she felt almost dizzy at its departure.

  She was certain that there would of course be things about him that she would not find agreeable, but she was almost certain to not discover any of those trifling attributes that evening.

  “Good sir, that was quite the clever scheme you had,” she finally said.

  “Oh I am so glad that you were not hurt by it. Some ladies have not taken my jests quite as gracefully as you. In fact, you are the first to be so well receptive; so much so that I am curious to know if you are laughing at me or at what I have said.”

  “Oh heavens, I’m not laughing at you!” She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at him. “Well, haven’t we made quite the disruption!” And quickly they fell back into step with the other couples who were dancing and giving them cross looks at their lack of propriety.

  “My apologies,” he said, quietly once more. “I have never been very good at these sorts of social gatherings. I always find the harder I try at being normal, the more unnatural I become.”

  She smiled. “No, I have never cared much for these events either. They are beautiful, of course, and it is always a nice way to see friends, but I would much rather spend my evenings at home in a much more quiet fashion. Perhaps with a book and a cup of hot tea.”

  The music came to an end, and the couples seemed to have forgotten Sophia and Mr. Nightingale, and had returned their attention to their partners.

  “I had a most pleasant time,” he said, with less confidence but more sincerity than when he had asked her to dance.

  “I had a pleasant time as well,” she replied.