‘We can’t send her to you with a dowry. We don’t have that kind of money,’ Dorothy said sharply.
‘I don’t expect one. Your daughter’s hand and her heart are enough for me.’ Adam smiled and reached for Lucy’s hand. ‘In fact I was just about to tell Lucy a plan that I have been hatching and, if you accept, then that is my dowry to you, for letting me marry your beautiful daughter.’
Adam glanced at both Lucy and her parents as all of them waited to hear what he had been planning, and what had made him want to visit them that morning.
‘I was successful with my offer for High Ground, so now I own an extra fifty acres, along with the large farmhouse there. The house is no good to me. I aim to stay in Black Moss because, after all, it is my family home. However, I wondered – as Lucy has often complained of the living conditions down here, being so near the flay-pits and her room being so damp – I wondered if I could possibly offer the farmhouse to you and your family to live in? It would be more roomy, and your family would be away from the flay-pits and the smell of them.’ Adam sat back and hoped he’d not insulted his new family, but it had been Bill himself who had said that Dorothy would love to live at High Ground, if they had the money. Well, now she could, and perhaps she could forgive him for being not quite suitable for their daughter.
Lucy gasped and looked at both her parents, unable to judge by the look on their faces what they thought of the suggestion. Her father was a proud man, and Providence Row had always been his family home.
Bill nodded his head slowly. ‘Aye, lad, I don’t know what to make of this. Me and Dorothy here have just come from upstairs, looking at a crack in the ceiling that’s getting bigger by the day. Likewise, there’s gaps appearing in all the houses along this row – the whole lot is subsiding. Do you know how grand your suggestion is to us? We were beginning to despair, and to wonder what we were going to do. But we will not take charity; we will pay you rent.’ Bill looked at Dorothy, who had tears running down her cheeks, and reached for her hand and shook it, while smiling at her.
‘No, I’ve pinched your daughter from you – the house is yours for as long as you and your family need it. It’s for purely selfish reasons, because at least I’ll know that nobody will steal my sheep. And perhaps, when they are older, Lucy’s brothers might help out around the farm.’ Adam relaxed and smiled at Lucy as she went and put her arm round her mother.
‘Don’t cry, Mother. You’ve always admired High Ground. I remember you used always to stop and look at it lovingly when we walked past it. Well, now you can live there.’ Lucy kissed her mother on the brow.
‘God bless you, Adam Brooksbank! You have caused me sleepless nights, when I worried about Lucy here, but you are our saviour this morning. And I must confess that our daughter could not be marrying a finer man – a hero not just to his country, but to our small family. I will not say another bad word against you for as long as I live,’ Dorothy sobbed.
‘As long as I have not offended you. But I was aware that all of you must suffer one way or another, living so near the tannery, and I’m glad my offer has come at such a good time.’
‘It takes a lot to offend this family. We’ve heard it all. After all, we are not in the most popular trade. You’ve done us a big a favour and, when it comes to marrying Lucy, you have our blessing. And we hope you’ll both be as happy as me and my old lass have been.’ Bill stood up and shook Adam’s hand. ‘We are proud to welcome you into our family, and I and Dorothy can’t thank you enough for your offer of a new home.’
‘You are welcome, sir. I love your Lucy and I will always do right by her. We are to travel on to Haworth next and arrange a date with the parson there. I hope you don’t mind us getting married there, instead of Denholme. It’s just that the parson’s a dear friend of mine and I’d like him to take the service.’ Adam looked at the couple and smiled as Dorothy wiped away her tears.
‘No, we have no objections. Haworth will be a grand place for a wedding. We haven’t many relations, so there will not be many attending from our family.’ Dorothy glanced at Lucy. She was beginning to realize Adam’s attractions for her daughter. He was a gentleman and was more than worthy of her hand in marriage.
‘No, nor I. You can probably count the number of my guests on one hand. It’s better to ask the ones you love than those you think you are obliged to invite.’ Adam grinned.
‘You can both meet Ivy. She’s the one to thank, for us realizing how much we thought of one another. She predicted that she’d be coming to our wedding soon.’ Lucy looked at her mother and father, then went to stand next to her Adam and linked her arm through his.
‘Aye, she’s a lot to answer for, but we will forgive her – it’s all for the good. Now, get yourselves gone to Haworth. No doubt you’ll tell us the date and arrangements when you come home tonight, Lucy?’ Dorothy smiled at her daughter. She was still feeling guilty for thinking the worst of her daughter and Adam.
‘I will. I’m hoping – if Adam is
