She didn’t know where she’d get a good a position if Miss Miranda decided to do her own housekeeping. Her husband had tried, but he just couldn’t keep a job. Tony Hudson had been in one of the prison camps and his lungs were weak. Too much exertion and he got a fever. No one could use a man who couldn’t be there half the time. But he was excellent with their son, and she enjoyed the work here.
While she said a brief prayer that she’d be kept on when Mr. Sylvester finally got around to proposing, the brothers were marshalling their thoughts.
“I want to propose to Miranda,” Sylvester blurted out, only to realize his brother had started speaking at the same time.
“I think it is time I asked Celeste to marry me.”
They both burst out laughing, although Sylvester said slyly, “How will she know you mean it this time?”
“I’ve meant it every time. I knew when I asked at the train station when I first met her. She smiled and my heart caught fire and it has been burning for her ever since. But I mean to do it right, on my knee and with a ring.” And he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a magnificent ruby.
“It’s the same color as the fire in her hair,” he sighed, contemplating the ring as he moved it around, watching it flash in the light.
Then he looked at his brother. “You know their mourning period is over for both mother and husband. I went over to see her father last night and he gave me his blessing.”
Sylvester laughed, reaching into his own vest pocket. The ring he pulled out was a diamond, as pure and beautiful as his intended bride.
“I saw him on Sunday.”
“No wonder he seemed to be laughing at me!”
~~~
Miranda had appreciated Sylvester’s restraint, honoring the mourning ritual which she would have had to forswear if the original plans had been adhered to. But now she was getting anxious. She’d thought he might take the hint when she began to wear her more colorful dresses but other than complimenting her looks, he seemed rather distant of late. Perhaps, after all, he had lost interest in her, thought of her as too plain, perhaps. Although they did have such a good time together.
Well, as long as he didn’t shift his interest to someone else, she would stay near him and enjoy his company for as long as she could. She opened up the brief she planned to work on this morning.
A few minutes later, Sylvester strolled in, wishing her a good morning in a rather brisker fashion than usual. Her eyebrows rose slightly as she returned the greeting.
“I’m sorry I’m a few minutes late. I was just arranging with Mrs. Hudson to stay on and serve dinner this evening. Will you join me?”
“Just the two of us?”
“Yes, I thought that might be rather nice for a change. I see quite enough of my brother, after all. And Mrs. Hudson will be there to chaperone.”
“Then, yes, I would enjoy that. She is an excellent cook.”
“Since we are eating in, I thought perhaps we could just go through to next door instead of you having to make the trip home and back. You look absolutely lovely in that dress.”
Miranda blushed slightly. It wasn’t that he didn’t compliment her. He did, and often. But there had been a certain . . . intensity.
She acquiesced, and he went into his office and to work. Actually, he got very little work done that day. He spent most of his time mooning out the window and daydreaming, crafting his speech to her, kissing her when she accepted.
And then he stopped, in a panic. What if she said no? What would he do then?
She couldn’t say no! She needed him?
Well, no, it was her sister who’d been destitute, or so she’d thought. But at least the ploy had brought her to safety and to the attention of his brother who might otherwise, even now, have been married to his darling Miranda! He shuddered at the idea and offered up a heartfelt prayer of thanks.
At last the workday was done and he went in to offer his arm to Miranda to escort her into the main house. She’d never actually entered by this door before. The few times she’d visited, she and Celeste had come in the front, generally escorted by Chip.
She had seen this hall, but hadn’t realized the door was to the office. The main house was, after all, quite large.
Mrs. Hudson came out of the kitchen beaming.
“You’ll want to freshen up, I’m sure. Let me show you to the ladies’ withdrawing room,” she said, leading the way.
The room had been prepared to a nicety with fresh, hard-milled, scented soap and clean, fluffy towels. Mrs. Hudson pointed everything out and then indicated the bell.
“Just ring if you need anything or when you’re done and I’ll escort you to the drawing room. Mr. Hardwick is primping a bit himself,” she grinned.
They sat across from each other, playing with their food, not saying much, and casting occasional anxious glances, each at the other, tense and uneasy in a way they had never before been together. Finally they each looked up at the same time, and Sylvester swept his napkin from his lap, flinging it onto the table as he jumped up and walked over to her.
“Oh, this is ridiculous!” he muttered. He reached out a hand, which she accepted and drew back her chair with the other. Her napkin fell to the floor unheeded as he walked her across the hall to
