Lady And The Cad
Page 16
Her aunt’s promise left Eunice with a feeling of such happiness that she wanted to fly. She stepped out into the sunshine, just so she could be closer to the possibility. The sky had never seemed bluer. The sun never shone more brightly. She breathed in a gulp of fresh air. Lifting her arms skyward, she twirled, the bottoms of her pink silk shoes tapping against the ground.
“Eunice!” Aunt May interrupted. “What are you doing? Get back in the house this instant! Do you want to ruin your new slippers?”
“Oh, Auntie! Who cares about slippers?” Eunice took her aunt’s hands and tried to convince her, with gentle tugging, into joining her in the joyous dance.
Aunt May pulled her hands out of Eunice’s and swatted at her as though she were a pesky fly. “I am long past such frivolity.”
“But Auntie, would you say so if the brigadier general were to ask you to dance?”
Aunt May sniffed. “He is much too dignified for such nonsense.” She shook her head. “Impetuous child!” She held up the letter she had just written. “I suppose I shall have to find one of the stable boys to deliver this to Sutton Manor.”
“Can I not deliver it myself?”
“Child!” Aunt May nearly swooned with horror. “Have you lost all sense of propriety? Of course not.”
Eunice wished she could fly the letter to Cecil herself, but she could not. She would have to wait for Cecil’s response. She could only pray that the wait would be a short one.
❧
A week went by and still there was no word from Cecil.
“Are you quite sure that the letter was delivered to the estate?” Eunice asked Aunt May over breakfast.
“Yes. Philip told me he delivered the letter himself.”
“Oh.” Eunice knew disappointment weighed heavily in her voice.
“Do not become discouraged, dear,” Aunt May said. “If he is not kind enough to respond to my letter, then he is not the one for you.”
Eunice nodded. She knew her aunt was right, but what Aunt May didn’t know was how fervently Eunice had been praying that Cecil would visit soon.
“Perhaps you could call on Abigail later this morning?” Aunt May suggested, her tone conspiratorial.
“No, Auntie. I will not create an excuse to see him. He will have to come to me.”
Aunt May sighed. “Very well, then.”
Eunice searched for a way to take her mind off of Cecil. “The flowers in the great hall need to be refreshed. I think I shall gather a bouquet today.”
“A splendid idea. And you might pick a few for your room, too.”
“Yes. Nothing is more cheery than flowers.”
“I think the lilacs are in bloom. They fill the house with such a lovely fragrance.”
“Yes, I quite agree. I shall search for lilacs, then.”
Before venturing into the garden, Eunice, with the help of her ladies maid, changed from her morning attire, meant to be worn indoors, to her gardening dress. Green dots decorated the white sleeves and skirt, which were brought together by a green bodice. Three rows of lace decorated the skirt a few inches above the hem, the same lace that could be found on the matching bonnet. Cream-colored, kid leather, half boots protected her feet, clad in white stockings, from any mud she might encounter.
With a reed basket swinging from her arm, Eunice ventured out to the east garden, where she knew she would find plenty of lilacs. Spending time in the garden among the many scented flowers soothed her. Each petal reminded her of God’s tender loving care for His creatures. Not only did He provide delicious vegetables, but He gave the world the flowers that added color for the eye to behold, soft petals for the fingers to touch, scent for the nose to inhale.
She was losing herself in the scent of an especially full lilac bloom when she heard the clomping of a horse’s hooves. She turned and saw someone mounted tall and proud upon a fine steed.
Cecil!
Apparently he spotted Eunice, as he directed General to approach the garden. Eunice wanted to run to him as fast as her feet would carry her, but she could not let go of all her dignity. Holding her head up with pride, she meandered toward him.
Judging from the way he leapt off his horse and hastened toward her, his own dignity was the last thing on Cecil’s mind.
“Eunice!”
She tried to keep her voice calm, despite her beating heart. “Good morning, Cecil.”
Instead of his usual sweet greeting of brushing his lips against her wrist, he chose a more urgent gesture of placing his palms on her forearms. “I rushed here as soon as I received your aunt’s letter.”
“Rushed? How can you say that?” She raised her eyebrows. “She had it delivered last week.”
“I know. At least, I know now. Oh, Eunice, I thought I had lost you.”
Eunice was more confused than ever. “Lost me?”
“Yes. Olivia stopped by without warning and demanded that we marry.”
“When?” She searched his blue eyes for an answer.
“She wanted us to marry within the month.” He tightened his grip on her arms, although his touch remained gentle. “But I just could not agree to set a date. Not any date. How could I ever marry her when my heart is with you?”
“With me?” Eunice clutched the handle of her basket, then let it drop to her side upon the ground.
Father in heaven, please keep me from fainting dead away with ecstasy!
“She could see, and so could I, that a marriage between us would be an awful mistake. But when she left, she said she was coming here.”
“And she did.”
“What did she say? She did not do or say anything to hurt you, I pray.”
“Of course not. Why, if she had not visited us before she returned to London, Aunt May never would have granted her permission for you to see me. Olivia convinced her that she should not keep us apart.” Eunice felt her cheeks grow hot. “I have said too much.”
“No, my dear, you have said just enough. I am sorry I did not come here to see you sooner. But you see, I did not receive your letter until just now.”
Anger rose to her throat. “Then my stable boy shall be dismissed!”
“Please, do not take such a rash action. Your servant is not to blame. He delivered the missive straight into Tedric’s hands. But that morning before the letter was delivered, I was called away on urgent business. I only returned today.” He took her hands in his. “During this entire week, in every free moment, I thought of nothing but you.”
“And I thought of nothing but you. I was sure you had ignored my aunt’s letter. I was certain that your silence meant that you never wanted to see me again.”
“But I do. Every day for the rest of my life.” Obviously not mindful of how the mud might affect his beige riding pants, Cecil knelt on one knee before her. He took off his top hat and held it to his chest. With his free hand, he grasped both of hers. “Miss Eunice Norwood, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes!”
Cecil rose to his feet in an instant and took her in his arms. “I trust our experience in this garden will be quite different from our first encounter.”
“Indeed.”
As his lips touched hers, she dissolved into the moment. The past was but a distant memory. All she cared about was the present and, as she sought the long-awaited pleasure of his lips, the future.
“I never thought I would say this, but I am glad you slapped me silly the first time I tried to kiss you,” he said in between kisses.
“Your love has been worth the wait,” she whispered.
“I know our match will seem odd, my love,” Cecil said between kisses. “We are certain to be called the lady and the cad.”
“On the contrary. We shall be the lady and the gentleman, my darling,” Eunice replied. “For that is what the Lord has made you—a gentleman in every sense of the word.”
About the Author
Tamela Hancock Murray shares her
home in Virginia with her godly husband and their two beautiful daughters. The car is her second home as she chauffeurs her girls to their many activities related to church, school, sports, scouting, and music. She is thankful that several local Christian radio stations allow her family to spend much of their driving time in praise and worship. Tamela hopes that her stories of God-centered romance edify and entertain her sisters in Christ. Email Tamela at: Tamela@juno.com
Dedication
To my mother-in-law, Marjorie Murray
A note from the Author:
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Tamela Hancock Murray
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