“Never, my sweet. But come… sit. I want to know how you are doing and tell me if there is anything I can do to help you in your time of sorrow.”
She led him to a loveseat where they sat and she sat holding his hand.
“Just having you near me is the greatest comfort of all.”
“Then let me tell you I have decided to stay on here until your father’s memorial service.”
Dorothy’s face lit up, but then darkened. “But I have no idea when that is to be.”
“Harry arranged it for the Wednesday after next. He told me to inform you and Anna.”
“Thank you. And how happy it makes me to think you will be here until then. I hope we shall see each other every day.”
“But my dearest, you are in mourning.”
Dorothy lowered her eyes. “Is it very wicked of me to want to see my dearest every day when we shall soon be separated for who knows how long?” She looked up at him with pleading eyes and added, “I cannot see how it would matter to anyone sensible, considering how much we care for each other and how far apart we shall be.”
“But Dorothy, we are not yet engaged. I could understand if we were, but it might appear to others to be unseemly if we were to spend so much time together while you are in mourning.”
“Well, Christopher… that could be remedied,” she said, coyly, diverting her eyes and twisting her handkerchief.
“I must speak to my father… before… before I can offer to take your hand in marriage.”
Dorothy pouted for a moment. “But my circumstances have changed.”
“Yes, your father has passed away.”
“Not only that.”
“My dearest…”
“You see, Anna and I are now the inheritors of the estate, our father’s shares in the East India Company, and we are also the beneficiaries of a hundred thousand pounds insurance policy. Do you think that might make any difference?”
Christopher was at first too stunned to speak. “I had no idea, my darling… you are going to be a very wealthy woman. I am quite certain there will be any number of interested gentlemen who will come calling once your mourning period is over.”
Christopher could not help himself and he laughed out loud. “My dear, I doubt those kind of gentlemen will wait until your mourning is over. You have no idea how many fortune seekers there are out there, who scrutinize the obituaries, just looking for eligible young heiresses.”
“But there is one way I will no longer be eligible,” she said as she dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. “You may go ahead and ask me now… even if it is to be provisional until you talk to your father.”
“But I am totally unprepared. I have no engagement ring. I have been promised my grandmother’s ring, but it is back in Dorset.”
“Oh, Christopher, do you think that matters to me one whit?”
“But is this entirely proper?”
“Christopher Stewart, I swear, you are more stubborn than any fellow I have ever met. Do you want to marry me or not?”
“I do.”
She gave a great sigh. “Then we are engaged. Now you may kiss my cheek.”
* * *
The dresses had been ordered and would be delivered the day after tomorrow. Maria had returned home after conferring with Warrick and the household staff about the funeral reception. And Dorothy had quite unexpectedly announced that she and Christopher were engaged.What an extraordinary day it had been so far!
But what had surprisingly crossed Anna’s mind was her well house project for Harry. Of course, her life was in turmoil, but the one thing she felt might calm her was her design work. She gravitated to her work table and examined her drawings. She still had not had her meeting with Harry to ride out to the well site, but it was what she longed to do. However, it was not possible. Not now. Unfortunately, that would have to wait.
Then the thought suddenly struck her—her father could no longer prevent her from building whatever she wanted on their estate. She could design, build, and exalt any project she wished from here on out. There were no limits to what she could do. She and her sister would be wealthy women—able to travel, marry, or make real anything they could dream up for themselves.
