“Oh, that would be wonderful, Marie. I thought I was going to have to run away and get married to Jonathan elsewhere, leaving everything behind. I don’t even know if Jon would do that, considering how much work he’s put into restoring his father’s farm.”
“Yes, that wouldn’t be a good thing.” Marie scolded her lightly. “I want to be there for your wedding, don’t you ever forget that. Even if you went away to marry, I expect to be given notice so that I might buy a train ticket to wherever you are. But that won’t happen now. All will be well; you’ll see. I’m going to talk to Papa now. I know that Phillip was supposed to retrieve you at half past noon. Is that right?”
Jenny just nodded.
“Well, I will get ready. You stay in bed. I will bring you breakfast, and we will say that you aren’t feeling well.”
“I wasn’t feeling well until now.” Jenny smiled at her. Marie pulled her into a hug.
“I told you I would think of something.”
“Well, it helps that you have feelings for Duke Arlington,” Jenny said. “Love motivates us to do strange and crazy things, doesn’t it, Marie?”
Marie nodded and gave her a soft grin. “It sure does, Jenny.”
Marie dressed as quickly as she was able. She hurried downstairs and sent a servant to fetch Cornelius. She wanted to know if she should expect a brutal response from the man before she ventured off in a carriage with him.
The servant came back with Cornelius in tow. When her friend saw her dressed for a carriage ride, his eyes opened wide. “Marie! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you quite so…”
“Quite so what, Cornie?” Marie was anxious not to look out of sorts. She looked down at her mahogany colored gown. She had allowed Jenny to put her hair into long intertwined braids that wrapped around her head. There were loose strands circling her cheeks and touching her chin.
She blew one away absentmindedly and gave him a wide-eyed look. “Cornie?”
He shook his head as if to get his senses back together. “You look radiant, Marie. I’ve never seen you so beautiful!”
She gasped and put one hand over her mouth. “Why, Cornelius Argabright, I’ve never heard such a lovely compliment. Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome, my dear. Now tell me, what was so urgent that you sent a messenger to fetch me at this time of the morning?”
“When you talked to Duke Arlington at the ball the other day, what did he say? Did he say anything about me?”
“Not a lot. He said you were the piano player. Didn’t you see him looking at you?”
“I did, but he did not hold eye contact for long.”
“What’s happened to make you think of this?”
“He has asked Papa for Jenny’s hand. He wants to court her.”
Cornelius frowned. “Really? How peculiar. I would have put all my money on him waiting to at least dance with you. I wonder why he chose to do this out of the blue?”
“He gave you no indication that he was sweet on Jenny?”
They were walking through the garden toward the house, and Cornelius couldn’t help admiring the beautiful flowers, shrubs and apple and cherry trees all around him. “None whatsoever, Marie, I promise I would have told you. He did mention her but not in a context that he would do something like this.”
“Well, something must be done. I have made a plan, and I would like for you to be present when I speak to my Papa about it.”
“I will be here for you, Marie. What do you want me to do exactly?”
She grabbed his arm and squeezed it, smiling up at him. “Just be my support, Cornie. Okay?”
He placed one hand over hers and smiled back at her. “All right, Marie. Whatever you need, dear.”
“Have you made any progress with your sweetheart?” Marie asked, curiously.
He chuckled. “A little. But let’s focus on your situation today.”
They both laughed.
Marie’s Papa didn’t seem surprised when she told him of her affections for Duke Arlington, and she wondered if she had somehow given herself away. He assured her that she had not been making a fool of herself. After all, she was usually behind the piano. He agreed to send her on the carriage ride in place of her ill sister.
“Do you think he will be angry, Papa?” Marie asked.
He chuckled. “No, I dare say, he won’t be. He would probably be flattered if I told him you volunteered to go.”
“Do you think it would be wise to tell him that?”
“I think I might.” Her father said, a contemplative look on his face.
“It would be nice for him to feel…”
“Wanted?” Her father supplied. She nodded. “I agree. Do you know much about Phillip?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I think you will find that he is a very agreeable man.”
“I’m sure he could be nothing less if you were in agreement that he could court and marry Jenny.”
“You are a smart girl.” Her father grinned at her. “He is a very open man and can be very kind to people. He has been angry and bitter for years now. But he has a good soul under the rough exterior.”
“I’m terribly glad to hear that, Papa. I was hoping he was just that way. I…I could see it in his eyes the times we have been together at the balls and dances.”