The Pattern of Her Heart (42 page)

“All of that is true, yet I see no alternative.”

Reggie stepped through the doorway and announced, “I prayed while I was fixing supper, and God gave me the answer.” She plopped down beside Elinor.

Justin appeared as surprised as Elinor was. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

“Because it’s better to tell you when we’re all together.”

They both stared at her, waiting.

“Well?” Justin finally inquired.

“We’re going to get married.” Her eyes shone with delight as she looked back and forth between them. “I love both of you and you both love me and you love each other, so we should get married,” she said in a rush.

Elinor looked at Justin, wondering what he must be thinking at this moment—yet unsure if she truly wanted to know.

Reggie held up her hand. “Nobody can say anything yet. First I have to tell you
all
the reasons. Besides all of us loving one another, if you two marry, I will have a mother right here at home to help me with my schoolwork and teach me all the things you want me to learn about being a proper lady,” she said while looking at her father.

Then she turned toward Elinor. “And if you marry my father, you will have a house of your very own, and we won’t have to share you with the girls at the boardinghouse.
And
you will have me and Father right here so you can still bake and cook and go on picnics and fishing—and take care of us,” she added softly.

Reggie glanced back and forth between the two people she loved most in the world. “Well, didn’t God come up with a wonderful answer?”

“Indeed He did,” Justin replied. “At least I think so. What about you, Elinor? Would you consider becoming Mrs. Justin Chamberlain? As Reggie so adeptly pointed out, I do love you,” he said softly. “And I would be proud to have you as my wife if you’ll have us.”

Reggie giggled and applauded as Elinor clasped her bodice, deciding whether to laugh or cry. Surely this wasn’t happening. Justin Chamberlain had just declared his love for her—love she surely returned. A nudging doubt crept into her heart.
If he loves me so much, why didn’t he say so before?
She pushed the thought aside.
I love him. Despite my fears, I
cannot deny that one thing
. “I would be honored to become your wife
and
Reggie’s mother,” she whispered.

“And a little child shall lead them,” he said, grinning at his daughter. “Now why don’t you fetch that tea you promised us so that we may have a few moments alone.”

“I’ll be in the kitchen for at least fifteen minutes, and I promise not to peek if you want to kiss her,” Reggie sang gleefully as she skipped out of the room.

A moment of awkward silence filled the room after Reggie had departed. “Elinor, I want you to know that although it required my daughter’s prompting, I have been in love with you for some time. However, I was afraid to express my love because I knew you had vowed never to marry again. I feared if I hinted about my feelings, you might withdraw from my life—and I knew I couldn’t bear to lose you. Unlike Reggie, I didn’t have the courage to speak of my love.”

A faint smile crossed Elinor’s lips. “How could you have known that you had broken down the barricade that surrounded my heart? Like you, I was afraid to hope for anything more than friendship. Until today, I had not even acknowledged my love.”

He clasped her hands and brushed each palm with a featherlike kiss. “I don’t want you to change your answer, but I do want you to be certain this is what you want and not a marriage forced upon you by circumstances—or my daughter,” he said. “I want you to come to me because it is your heart’s desire.”

“There could be no other way,” she whispered as he tenderly gathered her into his arms and kissed her with an ardent longing that spoke of his love.

Slowly he pulled back, and she gazed into the depths of his greenish-blue eyes, her heart pounding with the force of a blacksmith’s hammer striking his anvil. Suddenly Elinor knew she had underestimated God’s plan for her future.

“With the boardinghouse closing in less than two weeks,” he said, “I see little reason that we should wait to wed—unless you want time to plan an elaborate wedding.”

She laughed softly. “No. I believe all we need is a minister, Reggie, and the two of us.”

“Good,” Reggie said as she reentered the room and placed the tea tray on a small walnut table. “Spencer and I rode Larkspur over to Billerica earlier this evening. Reverend Foster said he would be pleased to marry you on the last Saturday of the month at seven o’clock in the evening,” she proudly announced. “I told him we’d be sure to arrive on time.”

It was impossible not to laugh. In a matter of only three hours, Reggie had arranged their marriage. “Have you also decided what I should wear for the wedding?” Elinor inquired.

“I think your peach-colored gown with the ivory lace would be very nice,” she replied without hesitating for even a moment.

“In that case, it appears as if the arrangements have been decided, and we need only relax until then,” her father remarked.

“Oh, Father!” Reggie said in an exasperated tone. “We must have a reception after the wedding, but you need not worry about that either. Spencer’s mother said she would be delighted to host the reception at their house. She said not to worry about a thing.”

“You asked Mrs. Houston to host a reception before you knew whether we were actually going to wed?” her father asked.

“Spencer told his mother about the wedding before we went to Billerica; he needed permission to take Larkspur,” she explained nonchalantly. “And I didn’t ask—she offered.”

“I couldn’t possibly put Jasmine to such an inconvenience,” Elinor protested. “That is far too much to expect of anyone, Reggie. Besides, your father and I don’t need a reception.”

“Mrs. Houston said you would fuss and argue, but to tell you that once the church ladies got wind of the marriage, they’d plan their own reception for you. She thought you might find her party more enjoyable.”

Elinor bit the inside of her bottom lip to keep from smiling. Jasmine was correct; she didn’t want Martha Emory and Nancy Sanders planning a party for her. They’d be angry enough when they discovered the pastor was no longer an eligible candidate for either of their daughters!

“Mrs. Houston is right,” Elinor said. “I’ll go and visit with her tomorrow.”

Reggie beamed. “We’re going to have a grand wedding, aren’t we?”

Mary Margaret was waiting inside the front door, and at the sound of Paddy’s voice commanding the horses to a halt, she ran down the front step to greet him.

“It looks like ya’re a mite anxious ta see me,” he said with a grin.

“Aye, that I am. Do ya think we could take a walk? I have something to tell you.”

“Just let me tie the horse and we’ll walk down toward the river. Ya’re looking a wee bit worried, lass. Is something wrong?”

She nodded her head. “I’ve troubles more than I’m able ta solve on my own, Paddy. I’m needing some sound advice.”

“Then I’ll do my best,” he said while offering her his arm.

She rested her hand inside the crook of his arm and immediately felt less frightened about her circumstances. “The day I’ve been fearing for quite some time arrived today. I went into work, and all was fine until we shut down the looms for the evening. I was one of the first to pass by Mr. Dempsey, and he handed me my notice. I’ve lost my job, Paddy. I do na know what I’m ta do. I was na so terrified at first, for I knew Mrs. Brighton would let me stay on at the boardinghouse.” Her words were bursting forth like floodwaters. “But then I get myself home, and she sits herself down to the supper table and tells us she was served with a notice to close the boardinghouse at the end of the month.”

“Take a breath, lass,” Paddy said as he stroked her hand. “ ’Tis na such a bad thing that’s happened. I did na want my wife ta be working anyway.”

“There ya go again with telling me what I can and can na do. I’m the one ta be deciding if I want ta be . . . Did ya say
wife
?” she asked, jerking on his arm and pulling him to a halt.

“Aye. I said
wife
. Ya’re gaping at me as though ya’re surprised, when I know ya’ve been wondering if I was ever going ta ask ya,” he said with a lopsided grin.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Are ya really asking me ta marry ya, Paddy?”

“I do na know what it’s gonna take ta convince ya, lass! Let me try this: Mary Margaret O’Flannery, will ya marry me and be me lovin’ wife?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the lips. “Aye,” she whispered. “There’s nothing I’d rather do than become Mrs. Padraig O’Neill.”

“Ya see? There’s no problem at all. I’ll talk to Kiara—she and Rogan have plenty of room in their house. Ya can stay with them until the wedding, providing the two of ya won’t start making elaborate wedding plans that will delay our marriage. I do na want ta be waiting much longer for ya ta become my bride,” he said with a wink.

“J
ASMINE
! W
HAT A
pleasant surprise,” Violet greeted. “I was just preparing to have tea in the garden. Won’t you and Alice Ann join me?”

“I imagine Alice Ann would much prefer a visit with her cousin Zachary. Is he outdoors?”

“Indeed he is. I cannot keep that child in the house until the dead of winter sets in—and even then it remains a difficult task. I’m disappointed you didn’t bring Clara along.”

“I had a number of errands to accomplish and promised Alice this could be our special day together, but I’m anxious to see the baby. I’m sure little Mattie Rose has grown inches since last I saw her.”

“Unfortunately, she’s hardly a baby any longer. Children seem to grow up in the blink of an eye, don’t you think? Why, she’s already pulling up to a stand and toddling about while we hold on to her fingers,” Violet proudly announced. “It has been far too long since we’ve seen you,” she continued while looping arms with Jasmine as they walked outside. “Have you and McKinley argued? He denies there are any ill feelings between the two of you, yet since your return from Mississippi, I feel he hasn’t made any attempt to socialize with you and your family.”

Jasmine hesitated for a moment and watched as little Zachary and Alice Ann embraced each other before hurrying off to inspect the late fall blooms in Violet’s garden.

“We haven’t argued. His days are likely filled with problems relating to the mills. After all, this is a difficult time,” Jasmine said. “However, you might mention that there is a matter I need to discuss with him in the near future.”

Violet brightened. “As a matter of fact, he’s in the library. Why don’t I look after Alice Ann and Zachary while you visit with McKinley? We’ll have tea when you return.”

“Are you certain he won’t mind the interruption?”

“Of course not. He was working on his ledgers when I went outdoors and said he wouldn’t be going to the mill until after the noonday meal. Do go and see him,” she urged.

After quickly telling Alice Ann to behave during her absence, Jasmine entered the house, crossing through the parlor and turning down the hallway toward her brother’s library. The sound of men’s voices floated from the library. Jasmine hesitated outside the partially open door. She didn’t want to interrupt if McKinley was conducting business, yet Violet hadn’t said he was entertaining any visitors.

Her brother was discussing the finalization of a sale as expeditiously as possible. She listened intently to the voice of the man now responding. The deep southern drawl sounded strangely familiar. Her brows furrowed as the man continued to speak.
Cousin Rupert!

What was
he
doing in Lowell? In McKinley’s home? Without her knowledge? And they were discussing the sale of something. . . .
The Willows!
McKinley had gone behind her back and was making arrangements to sell the plantation to that dreadful excuse of a man. How dare he!

“How will you ever get your sister to agree to this sale?” Rupert questioned. “After all, she is part owner, and the sale will hardly be legal without her signature. And,” he chuckled, “we don’t want any more misunderstandings about my trying to forge her name on papers.”