“Oh, my darling. This is wonderful!”
“Now we can get married!” Helena said, clapping.
But George frowned slightly before saying, “Not quite yet.”
“And why not?”
“While I am very grateful and happy this has been bestowed upon you, it does not change the fact that it isIwho wants to be the one to support you. My feelings have not changed from when you were to have the living from your father.”
Helena pouted. “Oh, Georgie, how stubborn you can be. You are already working with Thomas to create our future, but why wait? There is no reason we cannot get married, settle in a decent house, and begin our family. Why are you being so stubborn?”
“I am the man of our family and it is so because I say it is so.”
Helena arose in a huff. “You are as bad as my father. Now I am going to have to decide whether I reallydowant to marry a man like you or not.”
She charged over to the window and stood looking out, her back to George.
George panicked, and went over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He laid his head on her shoulder and said quietly, “I am so sorry. Please forgive me. You mean more to me than anything in this world. Please, let us not fight. But you need to understand I have my pride. I want to be the one to care for you.”
She turned to face him. “I understand that, but if we are to have a decent marriage we mustbothcooperate in making decisions.”
“You are right. Then let us discuss this further and see if we can come to an agreement.”
Aunt Rosemary came back into the parlor and stood at the door and asked, “So, have the two of you set your date for the wedding yet?”
* * *
The ball was fast approaching, and Jenny was struggling to continue on with her daily work at the bakery and, at the same time, organize for her week of baking at Pemberton. She had enlisted Claudia to cover for her while she was gone, and Jenny was doing her best to get Claudia ready to take over all her duties.
Claudia was learning but she was not the accomplished pastry baker that Jenny was. At times Jenny wondered if she had made the right choice in accepting the Duke’s offer. But this was her dream and her break from the family would have to come at some point if she ever wanted to live her own life.
“You are rolling the crust too thin. It will break in the pie tin and you will have to patch it. And you must keep the dough cold before you roll it out or it will not be flakey.”
Claudia threw her hands in the air. “I am trying. I am trying. Am I doing nothing right?”
Jenny impulsively hugged her sister. “Of course, you are. You are doing a splendid job. It is just that our time together is short, and I want to be certain you will do the best job you can. Now, let me help and we can roll out the next six crusts.”
As they were working, Claudia said, “I talked to Jeremiah and he would love to go to the picnic. When are you thinking?”
“It will have to be this next Sunday because Evan is soon off to Bristol and I have my week at Pemberton coming up shortly after.”
“What should we wear?”
“Something comfortable. Autumn is soon upon us and I notice the late afternoons are starting to be a little chilly as the sun declines.”
Jenny cast a look at Claudia and asked, “Has Jeremiah said anything further to you about his intentions?”
“I think because he is the vicar’s son he is a bit shy, so we have not discussed much beyond the fact that he is off to the university soon. I know he thinks beyond that, but we do not discuss it very much.”
“I hope he is the right one for you, Claudia. What if you meet someone else before he graduates and takes his calling?”
Claudia gave a sly smile. “Well… there is a young man who winks at me when I am out and about.”
“Oh, and who is that?”
“I do not know his name, but I believe he is the son of the cobbler.”
“Well, at least he could keep you in shoes.”
