Beginning, Section II, Section III

Jump to new as of August 23, 1999
Jump to new as of August 25, 1999
Jump to new as of September 2, 1999

Chapter The Seventeenth

Posted on Thursday, 19 August 1999

Remarkably for Our Heroine, Who Quite Expected Another Misfortune, the Weather was Quite Fine, and Lauren Found She had an Easy Walk to Town.

Now, Dear Reader, while the Estates of Both Anne Waltmire (Currently Occupied by Mr. Worthington) and Lady Elchuri were Beautiful in Themselves, their Ancestors had Unwisely Chosen to Settle at an Unfortunate Distance from any Large Thoroughfares; and Thusly the Greatest Hostess in the County was Obliged to Dress Herself and Her Daughter in the Offerings of Three Small Milliner's Shops in a Rather Less Fashionably Sized Town than Lady Elchuri No Doubt Felt She Deserved.

It was a Source of Some Vexation on the Parts of Both Lady Elchuri and the Milliners with Whom She Dealt.

However, Lauren, being only of Moderate Fortune, Felt no Immediate Aversion to Walking in to a Small Town, as Opposed to a Large One, and so the Journey, Though a Good Four Miles in Duration, was Accomplished Quickly. This was not only Because Our Heroine was Fond of the Outdoors (and Indeed, had been Something of a Horsewoman before Her Father had Declared Horses to be Too Dear. Only Agnes' Horse was Kept on for Her Amusement). The Rapidity of the Journey might Also be Accurately Attributed to the Certain Anxiety Lauren Felt to Be Gone from Any Place where Her Presence would Draw Ridicule from Sensible People.

Unfortunately, that Meant Returning Home, and Subjecting Herself to the Ridicule of Her Family, who were Not Sensible in the Least.

Such Thoughts might Well have Slowed Our Heroine's Footsteps, had Not Her Sense of Duty to All Those She Held Dear Nipped at Her Heels until She Reached the Outskirts of the Small Town (Which went by the Name of Heatherton, to Any One who Cared to Learn its Name). Once There, Her Resolve Carried Her Almost to the Door of the Carriage Service, when Some Thing Across the Street Caught her Eye.

She Glanced at It.

It was the Fenwick Carriage.

Almost without Her Knowledge (and Quite Probably without Her Bidding), Her Eyes Rose Farther, to the Shop Opposite the Way.

Her Heart, for Some Reason She Could Not Articulate, Sank Heavily.

It was a Florist's.

Whatever the State of Lauren Brumhurst's Feelings at that Moment, they Could not Compare in the Slightest to the Confusion of Sensibility Currently Taking Place Within Jerome Fenwick Himself.

After His own Innocence had Been Established that Rather Confusing Night, He had Hoped to Recommend Himself to Miss Brumhurst as Soon as Could Be (Not in the Least Because of a Certain Competition He Felt with Jonathan Worthington). However, the Following Morning had been the Announcement, and the Very Next Day She had Slipped Away in the Company of Mr. Palmer - a Quite Unexpected Maneuver. Jerome had Rather Hoped She Would be Remaining in the Fenwick Home Long Enough for Him to Approach Her.

However, Being a Young Man not Lacking in Imagination, He Soon Took it Upon Himself to Court her in a More Fashionable and Dramatic Style. Therefore, after Ascertaining Miss Brumhurst's Intended Destination from His Mother (with Whom He had Reconciled Immediately, Neither of Them being Prone to Holding Unnecessary Grudges), Jerome Set Upon a Plan.

The Very Next Day, he Rode into --------shire (Wherein Lay the Waltmire and Elchuri Estates) and Addressed a Rather Too Large Bouquet of Tulips to Miss Brumhurst - Hoping She Would Look Upon the Previous Weeks' Intrigues with the Same Humour and Good Will She Shewed Towards Every Thing Else. Accompanying the Tulips was a Letter, Carefully Scripted by Jerome Himself, Explaining the Situation and Making an Application for Her Hand, in a Style not Entirely Lacking in Finesse.

However, the Flowers had Been Returned to the Florist's that Afternoon, Unaccepted and Unacknowledged, Much to Jerome's Dismay.

Through the Strength of His Feelings, and No Doubt a Trace of Stubbornness on His Part, he Sent a Bouquet the Next Day, and the Next - Each with a Letter (Increasingly Straightforward) that was Also Returned. Jerome Began to Fear that, even with Allowances for Two Day's Travel from Hertfordshire (which Might Indeed be Feasible with the Presence of Two Ladies Suddenly Felt Upon Footmen Accustomed to Caring for Two), His Beloved Miss Brumhurst might have Returned to Her Own Home. He Found this Fear Much Easier to Face than the Fear of His Rejected Suit.

Due to Some Fortunate Coincidence, the Boy who Returned the Flowers on the Third Day was Familiar Enough with the General Neighbourhood to Venture the Theory that Perhaps the Waltmire Estate was Vacant, Due to Anne's Frequent Extended Visits to the Neighboring Elchuris. In Fact, Upon the Weighting of the Young Boy's Pockets, the Lad was Good Enough to Recall the Arrival not a Day Before of Miss Waltmire Herself, in the Company of Another Young Lady, Who Answered in Every Particular to the Description of Miss Brumhurst - Even Down to the Black Spencer Jacket and Scarf that Lent her so Decided an Air of Becoming Mystery.

Jerome Renewed his Suit with New Hopes, and New Flowers.

The Next Day, Lady Fenwick Arrived, Having Guessed the Reason for Her Son's Disappearance and Quite Approving. Her Services were Offered, but Gallantly Declined by the Younger Gentleman, Who Said,

'Madam, I Thank You for Your Kind Offers; However, if I Cannot Win Her by My Own Means, I am Not Worthy of Her.'

Having Hoped for Just Such a Response, Lady Fenwick Promptly Blessed the Union - a Gesture Which, She was Reminded by Her Still Rather Anxious Son, was Somewhat Premature.

She Smiled Gently and Replied,

'Jerome, I Have Reasons to Hope Otherwise.'

Upon a Very Little Pressing, She Explained her Reasoning.

'I Remember When You Were All Young - Indeed, Gregory was Not Yet Twelve, So You were but Ten and Lauren Nine, or Almost So. Your Father and I Spent Many Pleasant Hours Watching You at Play. Once, During a Particularly Intricate Session of Make Believe, Gregory Gave out Parts Thusly -

'"I Declare," Said He, "that I Shall Be King of the Realm - Miss Brumhurst Shall be the Queen, and You shall Have to be the Knight, Jerome."

'Lauren, However, would Have None, Having Always Been a Child of Some Spirit, and Replied -

'"Indeed, I Shall Not Be Your Queen, for They have Very Little to Do. I would Much Rather go out Knighting with Jerome."

'And so She Did. Dear Son,' Finished the Lady, Placing Her Hands on His, 'Lauren is a Young Lady Quite Suited to Your Own Temper - Indeed, Almost Too Well Suited - and Not One to Act Against the Dictates of Her Heart. And in Any Case, You Made a Handsome and Gallant Pair of Knights that Day, as I Recall,' Finished She, Smilingly.

Fixed with Such a Charming and Heartening Image, Jerome was Quite Hopeful upon Finding a Large Envelope from the Florist's Waiting for Him in His Rooms when He returned to Them That Evening.

The Note Read as Follows -

Dear Sir,

I Feel it My Duty to Inform You of the Receipt of Your Flowers by a Lady Residing in the Elchuri Household. Your Note, However, was Returned and I have Now Passed it On to You, Sir, with Regrets.

But Perhaps what Injured Him the Most was the Acceptance of the Flowers.

He Had Found Himself a Conquest of his Object of Love.

Not Knowing What Else to Do, He Returned Again the Following Morning, Another Letter in Hand, to Send More Tulips.

Lady Fenwick, Confused and Saddened by Her Friend's Apparent Rejection of Her Son, Accompanied Him in to Heatherton to Peruse Bookshops and Overhear Strategic Conversations.

At a Glimpse of Black and White Across the Street, He Looked out the Window of the Florist's Shop at Saw Lauren Herself, Seemingly Frozen in the Act of Walking, with Her Eyes Turned Towards Him as Well.

Hardly Knowing what He Did, He Found Himself Across the Way and Standing Before Her, Empty-Handed and Quite at a Loss as to What to Say.

Lauren's Composure and Good Character were Quite Put to the Test by the Sudden Appearance of Her Beloved.

'Oh, it Almost Too Much to Bear!' Thought She '- He Intends to Marry Katherine Elchuri. And Yet, He Stands Before Me as if We were the Friends We Used to Be!'

'Good Day,' Jerome Began After a Moment.

'Good Day, Sir,' Replied She.

This Response Seemed to Both Please and Confuse Him, for He Soon Regarded Her with That Frank Earnestness He Had Ever Possessed, and Said,

'Pray, Miss Brumhurst - Have You Been Long in Town?'

'Indeed, I have Not Been in Town at All. I am Imposing Upon the Kindness of Lady Elchuri and Her Daughter, These Four Days.' She Forbade Herself from Adding the Necessity of Quitting Said Hospitality as Soon as Possible.

'I See,' Replied Jerome, Gladdened in Part to Hear of the Mistaken Address, but Puzzled as to the Meaning it Gave the Acceptance of the Yesterday's Bouquet.

Our Heroine, Becoming quite Discomfited at the Attention being Paid Her, when She was so Obviously a Woman of Disgrace and Ridicule.

'Sir, I Beg to be Excused, for I- '

'It is Quite All Right, Miss Brumhurst,' Said He, Finding Himself Without Sufficient Malice to Still Begrudge Her the Strange Acceptance of the Tulips.

'Indeed.' Relieved and Gratified that Mr. Fenwick Reciprocated the Kindness She had Once Shown Him in Refusing to Ignore an Ostracized Friend, and Not Knowing Quite What She Did, She Continued, 'I Have, in That Time, Become Acquainted with Lady Elchuri and Miss Elchuri.'

'Of Course. And Pray, How do You Find Them?'

'Lady Elchuri is the Greatest Hostess in the County, by Her Own Modest Admission.' When Jerome Smiled at This, Lauren Buried All Traces of Hope and Swallowed All Vestiges of Pride, and Continued -

'And I Must Say, I Find Miss Elchuri to Be a Young Lady of Many Virtues - of Good Sense, Superior Education, Condescending Amiability, and Every Thing Good.'

Jerome, Delighted by His Beloved's Sincere Flattery and Once Again Amazed at Her Possession of Every Proper Thing to Say, Replied Encouragingly.

Said He, 'Indeed! - How Wonderful! She Does Seem Like a Fascinating Young Lady. I Certainly Look Forward to Becoming Better Acquainted with Her.'

Lauren Tried Her Best to Smile.

Jerome, Given Heart by this Pleasant (to Himself, at Any Rate) Conversation, Found Himself Prepared to Broach Less Passionless Subjects, and Began -

'Miss Brumhurst, I Do Find Myself Puzzled. I Hope you do Not Think Me Impertinent, But I Beg to Know Any...Particulars of Yesterday. Forgive Me My Ill-Breeding in Asking, But I am Sure You Understand.'

'I - I Find Myself Forgiving of You in Every Thing, Sir,' Replied Lauren, Unspeakably Saddened but Attempting to Keep Her Tone Even.

Jerome, Thinking this a Reference to Her Earlier Forgiveness of What She Thought to Be His Gambling Debts, Smiled and Said,

'Indeed. - You Have Always Been a Faithful Friend. I Rely Greatly on Your Judgement; and So I Beg You for an Answer.'

Lauren's Heart Broke.

She Thought, 'Ah! - I See My Future Now. I am Forever the Intermediary Between Young Lovers - No Matter the Stakes - No Matter My Own Feelings!'

However, She Said, 'Sir, as to the Particulars of - What You Mentioned - I can Assure You Only of the Willingness of the Lady in Question. I am Afraid Her Family is Not - Without Some Deficiency of Manner. However, Away from any Undue Influence of Her Family, and in the Company of Good People, I am Sure She Will Soon Become Every Thing You have Ever Wanted.'

'I Must Admire Your Reserve, Miss Brumhurst, but Be Assured I See No Need for Any kind of Improvement. She is Already Every Thing I could Ask for in a Companion.'

Lauren's Eyes Came Quite Close to Tearing Up at the Confession of Love for Katherine, and She Felt More than Ever the Time Slipping Away from Her. She had to Remove Herself - She had to Be Long Enough Gone so that When Mr. Fenwick Made his Intentions Quite Clear, there would Be No Trace of Her to Taint the Proceedings.

She Bowed, Murmured -

'Forgive Me.'

- and Slipped into the Carriage Service Without Another Word.

Chapter The Eighteenth

Posted on Sunday, 22 August 1999

Lauren's Father, while Not a Man of Good Taste or Much Good Sense, had at Least the Foresight to Occasionally Allow Lauren to Eavesdrop on Matters of Business of Interest to Their Moderate Estate.

This Secondhand Education Proved to Serve Lauren Quite Well - For Not a Great Number of Young Ladies Attempted Negotiations with Men of Business. However, Lauren Soon Made Her Education and Good Sense Apparent, and the Business with the Carriage-Man, while Regarded as a Touch Unusual by Both Parties, was Soon Satisfactorily Concluded, and Lauren only Waited for Jerome to Finish his Ordering of the Tulips and Depart, Before She Took Her Leave.

Due to the Most Bewildering and Saddening Conversation that had Recently Passed in Town, Her Thoughts Were Well Occupied During Her Walk Home, if Not Pleasantly So. In Her Heart, She could Wish Nothing but Happiness for Katherine Elchuri - Who, She Knew, Deserved the Most Pleasant Companion in the World. And, as Love Must by its Very Nature give Greatest Happiness through Observing the Happiness of the Beloved, She Wished Jerome Fenwick Well.

However, Love is a Many-Faceted Emotion. Sadness Follows Upon the Heels of Joy with Astonishing Alacrity - and so Lauren Found Herself Quite Discomposed Upon Further Contemplation of the Loss She had Suffered. It was Some Time after she Reached the Elchuri Grounds Before Our Heroine could Regain Enough Self Possession to Return to the House. However, She Wandered through the Gardens (Extensively Plotted to Allow for the Greatest Possible Number of Guests at Any One Garden Party) Long Enough for Her Good Sense to Reassert Itself Over Any Foolish Romantic Fancies.

When She Entered the House at Last, She was Able to Calmly Answer the Somewhat Concerned Queries as to her Previous Whereabouts; for While in the Garden, She had Resolved to Think No More of Jerome Fenwick, and to Never Again Allow Her Heart to Interrupt Her Stoic Observations and Objective Insights into the Feelings of Her Friends, Who Relied So Often and So Regularly on Her Good Sense.

The News of Her Eminent Departure Caused a Small Uproar in the Household. Anne Waltmire and Katherine Elchuri (and Jonathan Worthington, Who was Now Spending the Greater Part of Every Day at the Elchuri House) Expressed Deep Regrets at Losing their Friend So Soon. Lauren Accepted all Sentiments, From All Parties, with Equal Graciousness.

Lady Elchuri, Who Seemed Quite Overjoyed at the News of the Young Lady's Departure, Almost Forgot to Entreat Her to Stay. The Entreaty was, in the End, Offered by Katherine Herself.

Lauren Declined Gently but Firmly, Saying there was No Way to Cancel the Carriage Now, and Her Trunks were Packed Already. She could Not, of Course, Mention the Scandal her Sister had Caused as an Excuse; but Katherine's Sensitivity and Kindness Led Her to Accept the Reasons Given, and Not Question Farther.

And So, Lauren Departed at Half Past Three that Afternoon, on a Most Unwilling Journey. She Tried Almost Successfully to Banish all Feelings of Forever Leaving Happiness Behind.

In Keeping with Our Heroine's General Run of Luck, Her Departure Came only a Quarter of an Hour Before the Daily Delivery of Tulips, Which, as it Happened, Were Carried Towards the Front Door at the Very Moment that Katherine Elchuri was Preparing to Walk with Anne and Jonathan Back to Anne's Estate, to Bid Jonathan Good-bye Until Dinner that Evening.

The Man Carrying the Flowers Approached, Greeted the Ladies and Gentleman with Politeness, and Said,

'If You Please, I've Got Flowers 'Ere for a Miss Brumhurst - and a Letter.'

Katherine, Noting the Remarkable Similarities Between the Bouquet Before Her and the Bouquet Found in Her Bedroom the Previous Afternoon, Found Herself Compelled to Ask in Reply,

'Indeed, Sir - Pray, is This the First Bouquet You have Delivered Here?'

'No, Ma'am - I Brought One Yesterday - Lady Elchuri Took it, but She Said that the Letter wasn't Necessary - Sent Me Back with It.'

There was a Moment of Silence on the Parts of the Three Onlookers.

Katherine, at Length, Sighed and Said, 'Sir, I Must Needs Know from Whom These Flowers Came - and I Must Speak with Him as Soon as May Be. Return Them with That Message. I Will Meet Him Here.'

As Soon as the Man had Been Compensated, He Departed Bearing the Message, and Miss Elchuri was Left to Imagine What had Passed the Previous Day.

Fortunately, Katherine was a Lady of Great Imagination. She Excused Herself From the Walk and Went into the Rose Garden to Prepare for a Meeting with a Man Who had Been Greatly Deceived by Her Mother.

When the Flowers were Once again Returned, Jerome (Who had been Waiting at the Florist's for Some Time) had a Moment of Sublime Suffering. However, the Young Man Entered the Shop and, Seeming Pleased to Find Jerome There, Said Without Preamble -

'Sir! Miss Katherine Elchuri Asked You to Come Directly. She Said She'd be Waiting for You.'

'Why, Pray?' Replied Jerome, Quite Confounded.

'Didn't Say, Sir.'

Jerome Concluded the Conversation by Abruptly Running Outside and Riding Quickly in the Direction of the Elchuri Estate.

Katherine, Who had been Occupied in Thought in the Garden for Some Time, Rose and Found the Main Walk as Soon as She Heard Approaching Hoofbeats.

The Rider was, as She had Expected, Jerome Fenwick, and She Smiled at His Rapid Approach. 'Ah! -' Thought She, ' - to be So Much in Love - It is Blessing and Curse Both, I Dare Say.'

She Wondered if She Should Attempt Courtesies, and as Jerome Dismounted, She Began -

'Good Day, Sir. I Trust I Find You-'

But He Interrupted Her with an Earnest Reply,

' - You Find Me the Most Desperate of Men. You have Asked Me to Come Here, Miss Elchuri - Why? Please; I May Go Mad if My Curiosity is Not Soon Satisfied.'

Katherine, Who had Heard Jerome Fenwick Spoken of in the Mildest of Terms (Until, of Course, the Scandal had Begun), was Quite Surprised that She Should Find Such an Anxious Man Before Her.

'I Would Fain Keep You from Madness, Sir, I Assure You,' Said She, and Taking His Arm Towards the Center of the Gardens (Away from Her Mother's Watchful Eyes), Began the Speech She had Prepared.

'Sir, I Beg Indulgence of Your Patience in Relating My Tale.'

'You have It, as Much as I am Able,' Replied He.

'My Thanks.' Katherine Took a Breath and Continued,

'My Mother is a Good Woman in General. However, it Must be Admitted that She Possesses, as does Any One, Some...Peculiarities of Character. One of These, I am Afraid is Her Sincere and at Times Overzealous Wish to See Me Marry.'

Jerome Listened with Sympathy, but a Detectable Amount of Puzzlement.

'I Promise a Conclusion Quite Soon. You See, My Mother, in Her Desire to See Me Settled, Considers Almost Any Action to be a Justifiable Means to an End. Sir...' and Here Katherine was Obliged to Pause and Rally Her Spirits, 'I Fear that Miss Brumhurst Remains Entirely Unaware of Your Suit, and Indeed May Be Very Much Mistaken as to Its Object.'

'No! - But How?'

The Young Lady Ignored His Rather Abrupt Tone, Seeing that it Stemmed from Concern Rather than Anger, and Replied Swiftly.

'My Mother Received the Flowers Yesterday, and Sent Back Your Note. The Flowers Found their Way to Me, as a Present from what My Mother Named 'a Gentleman Caller'. I Believe She Intended for You to Transfer Your Affections to Myself, if it Appeared that Miss Brumhurst had Rejected Your Suit. I would Like to be Able to Say that I Saw the Ruse Directly, but I Assumed She had Sent Them Herself - and I Admit that so Large a Part of Me Wished to Believe Her, that I did not Immediately Question Their Origin - Until this Afternoon.'

'No. - It is Unbelievable. Did Your Mother Truly Think that, Because the Flowers were Sent to You, so My Affections would be Likewise Transferred?'

'Sir, I Chuse to Believe that Particular Example of Self-Delusion, Rather than Think My Own Blood Capable of Petty Jealousy and Base Deceit.'

'Indeed. Than Let Us Say it was Error Only.'

Jerome's Manner was So Distracted, so Downtrodden, that Katherine Reached for His Hand and Said -

'Sir, are You Well?'

'I am Afraid, Miss Elchuri...'

She Waited for Him to Continue; after He did Not, She Prompted Him. 'You are Afraid That...'

'No, Madam,' He Replied, Smiling Gently, 'That is All. I am Afraid. What if Miss Brumhurst Does Not Return my Affections? - I do not Know what I Shall Do.'

'Mr. Fenwick, Surely When You Arrived in Town to Begin Your Suit, You were not Sure of Her Returning Your Affections. No Thing has Changed in that Regard. I Admit, I am a Young Lady of Limited Experience - However, Such Seclusion Leads Me to Cherish Each Opportunity to Learn from Life, Ten Times as Much as Any One Else Would. It is the One Understanding I have Truly Grasped, that Those Who Deserve Love Most, Find it Least. I am Sure You are Deserving of Love.'

Jerome was Deeply Moved, and Clasped the Lady's Hand.

'Miss Elchuri, I Wish Every Thing Good for You.'

'My Thanks.'

Jerome, Not Knowing what Else to Say, Soon Mounted and Rode Speedily off in the Direction of Town.

Katherine Watched Him Go Until He Disappeared Behind the Trees; then Turned in Her Wanderings and Headed for the House, for the Dinner Hour was Soon Approaching, and Her Mother would be Quite Severe on Her if Left Without an Appreciative Audience for Any Period of Time.

Jerome, Spurred on by His Ardour (and Afraid of Losing his Resolve if He Stopped to Consider His Actions), Stopped at the Inn Just Long Enough to Explain the Situation to His Mother, who Had Time to Impart only One Piece of Crucial Gossip to Him Before He was Once Again Riding Swiftly, This Time Towards ---------Shire and the Brumhurst Estate.

Chapter The Nineteenth

Posted on Tuesday, 24 August 1999

Lauren Returned Home in the Most Desolate of Spirits - a Situation not in the Least Ameliorated by the Presence of Her Parents, Being Keenly Felt Before She had Even Alighted from the Carriage.

'Oh! - Wayward Child!' Cried Her Mother, Running along the Path to Meet Our Heroine. Before Lauren Could Draw Breath to Defend Herself, or Even Greet Her Mother, the Latter Continued -

'How Dare You Leave Us in Hertfordshire, in that Hateful Place! Why, We were Kept so Busy with Merchants that We Hardly Saw our Hosts!'

Lauren Felt Untold Gratitude to Gregory Fenwick for That, but Replied Only, 'Indeed?'

'Yes. - And, Worst of All, Your Father would not Purchase Any Thing - though the Gowns were so Fine!'

'I am Sorry, Madam.'

'And Well Should You Be!' Retorted the Lady, Reverting from Sadness to Anger in a Moment. 'You Left Agnes Most Cruelly, and in Her Time of Grief, When Most She Needs the Consolations of a Loving Sister.'

'Agnes has Never Called Me to Her as a Loving Sister. And, Pray, Why Should this be a Time of Grief for Her?'

Her Mother Wrung Her Hands and Exclaimed,

'Oh! - Vexatious Girl! How can You Be so Cruel to Your Own Sister, When You Know Full Well that She Must Now Forever be Condemned - an Old Maid; and Worstly, Shall be Poor!'

Lauren, Utterly Confounded, Replied, 'An...Old Maid?'

'Yes! - Though You are Not So Much Younger, You Know! But Agnes - Who will Have Her Now?'

'Madam, What are You Saying?'

'Stupid, Ignorant Fool! Very Well, I Shall explain. The Regiment Came Through Only Two Days Ago - and, My Girl, I had Half a Mind to Send the Whole of Them to Fetch You, Soon as I Heard They were to March On Where You Were - In Any Case, Your Father Invited the Colonel and His Wife to Dine with Us (Despite the Cost, You Will Note, Lauren). We Were Sitting Down Some Twenty Minutes, Waiting, When of a Sudden, Agnes Burst In - Late, Poor Dear - Waving a Letter and Crying in the Most Heartbreaking Fashion.'

Lauren, Mortified, Muttered, 'It was Heartbreaking for the Colonel as Well, I am Sure.'

'Indeed - for I Believe I May Say that Colonel Brandon is the Most Gentle-Hearted Man of My Acquaintance. In Any Case, Agnes Proceeded to Share the Story with the Whole Party, for She Despises Secondhand Gossip, the Saintly Thing.'

'And in So Doing,' thought Lauren, 'Gave Mrs. Brandon the Opportunity to Inform My Friends of the Relative Safety of My Family Respectability, a Task Which She carried Out, but Most Confusingly So - Though I am Sure She Meant to Ease My Mind, not Throw it into Turmoil.'

Her Mother Continued Unabated Through these Musings. It Seems that Sir Ian had All but Entered into an Understanding with Her, Having Heard Rumours that She was the Eldest, and Therefore the Heiress, of This House. However, When He Discovered that the Opposite was True, and Agnes was Not to Inherit, He Directly Attached Himself to Miriam Barrett - and Good May it Do Him When He Discovers the State of Her Fortune, if She Dares Call it That! But Now, Dear Agnes is Without a Suitor.'

'And Better for It,' Replied Our Heroine, Greatly Vexed. 'For He is a Man Interested only in Fortunes, and Never the Ladies Behind Them. He Tried to Slander Matilda Before Turning to Agnes, and Then Turned from This Family Entirely when He Learned of Our Financial State!'

'Oh!', cried Her Mother, 'but Agnes Could have Been a Lady!'

'Sir Ian is a Man of no Heart, and Less Sense, and Agnes Needs No Such Encouragement if She is Ever to Rise Above this Scandal.'

'What Scandal?'

'Mother,' Cried Lauren, 'Sir Ian is a Blackguard, and if Agnes had Married Him, it Would have Been the Ruin of Us All! As it Is-'

But Her Mother Interrupted, 'As it Is, Matilda has Married Tolerably Well, but for Agnes there is No More Chance! - and I am Sure You will Never have Any Such Opportunities, Yourself.'

Lauren Bowed Her Head and Replied -

'In that, Madam, You are Correct.'

'Well! - I will Not Suffer Agnes to Hear Any of What You have Told Me Here. Your Insults are Not to be Borne by Any of Us! You are to Remain Out of Her Company until Supper!'

With That, the Lady Returned to the House to Comfort Her Beloved Agnes, Laving Lauren Alone, and to Her Mother's Way of Thinking, Therefore Lonely.

However, Lauren Possessed None of the Follies so Evident in the Majority of Her Family, and Knew Better than to Think Being Alone Mean Being Lonely - for to be Out of Her Mother's Company was Always More a Favour than a Punishment. Indeed, Our Heroine's Thoughts were So Far from Being Lonely as to be Almost Overwhelmed.

'My Sister is Not Married! There Lie No Further Ties with That Scandal Upon My Family! Matilda's Own Relatives - the Fenwicks (of Whom She could Still not Think on Without Regret), are Safe.

'And Knowing What I Know, Might My Last Conversation with Jer - with Mr. Fenwick - have been Quite Different?'

After a Moment, Lauren Sighed Regretfully and Answered Herself, 'No. For what Could I have Done? - I Could not Proclaim My Love for Him. And, as He Loves Another, it Matters Not.'

In the Main, However, Lauren could not Dwell on Her Own Sadness when Matilda Fenwick's Happiness and Respectability were Insured, and Indeed there Resided in Her Bosom a Small Amount of Gratitude Towards Agnes and Sir Ian for Acting in Whatever Manner Distanced them from Each Other.

She Longed to go Inside and take Refreshment, and Recover from her Journey Before Dinner; However, Fear of Meeting with Any Member of Her Family Led Her Instead to Wander.

Before Long, She Found Herself at the Fenwick's Residence Unaware; and, Believing the House to be Deserted, Decided to Explore again the Gardens in which She, Gregory, and Jerome used to Play.

Lady Fenwick's Carriage was Dispatched, with Her Inside, as Soon as Her Trunks could be Packed; and She Arrived Home Only Three or so Hours after Jerome had Made his Rather Dramatic Return (for, as the Lady Learned Directly, Jerome had Appeared So Suddenly that one of the Kitchen Maids Took Him for a Ghost and Fainted Straight Away).

Lady Fenwick Found Her Son at Last in his Room, Which had been Left Unoccupied for Several Years. He was Bent Over His Writing Desk, Scratching with a Pen on Paper Like a Man Possessed.

'Jerome?' the Lady Began.

The Addressed Gentleman Replied Hastily, 'Madam, I have not the Sense nor the Time to do Your Devotion Justice - I Must get This Letter Dispatched as Soon as May Be!'

Lady Fenwick Realised the Futility of any Further Attempts at Conversation, and Went to Her Sitting-Room to Summon the Butler. An Express Messenger would be Needed Directly.

Jerome, Having Finished the Letter, Decided to Deliver it Himself. However, Facing Momentary Hesitation in the Face of the Difficult (a Feeling with Which I am Sure We are All Familiar, dear Reader), He Took Himself into the Gardens for a Few Moments of Reflection, and to be Strengthened by Fond Memories of the Childhood He had Shared with the Woman He Loved.

For Lauren, Reprieve from Wandering was at Last Found in the Form of a Marble Bench, and She Sat Upon it and was Soon Lost in Thought (a Frequent State for Our Heroine, it Must be Said).

It was in This Manner that Jerome Came Upon Her, Suddenly. However, Due to Her Introspective State, He had a Few Moments to Prepare Himself, and to Regard Miss Brumhurst, Whilst the Lady was Unaware. He Found Everything - Countenance Denoting not Only Beauty but Good Sense, Composure Befitting a Lady of Her Status, and Indeed a Lady Far Above Her Status, and of Course, the General Inquisitiveness of Mind that Makes a Companion Forever Fascinating - Exactly as He Might have Hoped, and More.

Jerome, Being Hopelessly in Love, could No Doubt have Continued Praising Our Heroine for Some Time; However, She Turned Her Much-Beloved Countenance Towards Him in that Moment, and Though a Moment of Surprise and Shame flickered on Her Face, She Immediately Greeted Him With -

'Good Day, Sir.'

Jerome, Who Possessed to Some Extent the Finer Arts of Conversation, Found Himself in a Most Awkward Position, Being Greeted in His Own Gardens by a Guest Who had For Some Time Been His Only Consideration; and Not Knowing What Else to Do, He Moved to Her and Sat Beside Her on the Bench, a Gesture Which She Seemed to Regard as Unusual but Not Distasteful.

'Miss Brumhurst,' He Replied, 'Good Day.'

Lauren Smiled at Him, Realising the Humour of the Situation, and Said, 'I am Sure You do Not Often Find Young Ladies Wandering Through Your Gardens Without Your Knowledge. I Apologise; I did Not Think Any One would Be Here Upon Whom I was Imposing, and I had...I was in Such a State that...I Beg Your Pardon for My Transgressions.'

'Oh,' She Thought, 'Why is He Here? Why is He Not with Miss Elchuri, Making Preparations - or in Hertfordshire Again, with His Family?'

Jerome Smiled and Replied, 'Madam, I Assure You, You have Committed no Transgression. You are My...My Mother's Dear Friend, and as Such will Be Welcome Here Always.'

'My Thanks,' Replied Lauren, Heart Sinking.

Jerome, Suddenly Finding the Heart to Perform the Very Act Whose Consequences He had Been Contemplating; Pressed the Letter He Carried into Her Hand and Said,

'Please, Lauren, Read this Letter. Reply Tomorrow; I - Tomorrow, Please!'

- and Abruptly Left Her There, Letter in Hand, Very Much Discomposed.

When Lauren could Recover from the Unexpected Closeness (and Intimacy of Address) of Jerome, She Took it Upon Herself to Examine the Letter. It was Indeed Addressed to Her, Though in a Hand that Bespoke the Utmost Urgency.
She Thought, 'It is a Letter from Katherine Elchuri, Informing Me of Her Good Fortune, as I am a Confidante Now. And Jerome Wishes Me to Reply, so that He May be Assured of My Approval, as a Family Friend.'

However, as She had Promised Herself to Remain Impassive and Objective, She Soon Opened the Letter and Began to Read It.

To Miss Lauren Brumhurst,

I have not Slept in Eight Days. I offer this Seemingly Irrelevant Piece of Information by Way of Introduction and by Way of Apology for What will Undoubtedly be a Great Number of Errors in this Letter.

Neither have I Planned the Writing of this Letter as a Gentleman Should, for One Reason - I do not Entertain a Hope of its Necessity. For the Past Several Days, I have Sent a Bouquet to Your Home, Hoping the Sign of My Unfailing Affection would be Recognised and Accepted, Hoping I Might have a Chance to Win Over Even a Fraction of Your Heart. With Each Bouquet, I have Sent a Letter Describing My Feelings for You in the Most Eloquent Terms I Could Muster. And Every Night, I have Thrown Away the Returned Letter and Begun Anew.

However, Whatever Eloquence I Might Once have Possessed has been Tempered Each Night by an Emotion Quite Akin to Despair, and has Therefore Lessened Considerably with Each Letter I have Written. At this Point, I Fear it is Beyond My Powers of Expression to Say Any Thing of Import. Suffice it to Say that the News Katherine Imparted to Me, of the Misunderstanding Regarding Your Whereabouts and the Eventual Recipient, Drove Me Nearly Mad with Joy.

So I Say This, Miss Brumhurst; This Letter is Not Nearly so Eloquent as My Brother's, and I Would Give Up Eight Hundred Times Eight Nights of Sleep if His were the Words I Entrust this Day to Win Your Heart.

My Pen is Capable Only of These Simple Words:

I Love You.

I Beg You to Consider My Suit. I Cannot Bear One More Night of Pacing Up and Down My Rooms.

I Shall ask for a Reply to this Letter as Soon as May Be. If Your Answer Be 'No', Please Say Nothing, for I do Not Think I could Bear to Hear It. Let the Answer be 'Yes', or Let there be No Answer at All.

And I Must Say that While I Respect Your Considerable Powers of Judgement Above All Things, and I Ask You in All Honesty to Reach a Conclusion which Best Befits Your Happiness with No Regard to Mine, I am Strongly Biased in My Favor, a Condition I am Sure this Letter Reflects. However, it Cannot be Helped.

In Any Circumstance, I Remain Eternally Your Humble Servant,

Jerome Fenwick

Chapter The Twentieth

Posted on Tuesday, 31 August 1999

Our Heroine Finished the Letter, and, Beyond Any Other Thoughts at that Moment, Only Said Softly,

'Indeed, I do Believe it is Not from Miss Elchuri.'

She Could not Think of Much Else for Some Time.

However, Upon the Third Reading, Lauren Indeed Began to Ascertain the Meaning of the Letter, and She Rose Swiftly from her Seat and Took Several Quick Steps Towards Home Before She Quite Knew What She was Doing.

She Paused and Thought, 'I have Been Instructed not to Return Home for Some Time, and Yet I Cannot Remain a Stealthy Guest in the Garden.'

She was Caught in this Dilemma, when a Voice Hailed Her from Across the Lawn.

'Miss Brumhurst, it is Good to See You Again.'

Lauren Looked Up into the Kind Face of Lady Fenwick.

Lady Fenwick had not Seen the Exchange Between Her Son and the Young Lady She now Addressed, but the Suddenness of Lauren's Arrival in the Gardens and Jerome's Heightened Anxiety Boded Well for Some Kind of Reconciliation, or Even Better for Lady Fenwick's Imagination, Some Kind of Understanding.

With this in Mind, She Extended an Invitation to Supper.

Lauren, Who Wanted No Thing More than to Return to the House and Contemplate the Most Exciting Turn of Events, Replied,

'Indeed, Madam, I am Flattered, but Unfortunately I Must Decline. I have Been Forbidden to Return to the House Until Supper, Which will be Too Late for Me to Dress.'

'Oh, We do not Keep Mind at All, Miss Brumhurst; it is the Friend I Invite, not the Wardrobe.'

'Which is Unfortunately Not Suitable for Any Thing Other than Mourning, I Fear.'

However, Protest as She Might, Lady Fenwick would not be Dissuaded, and Brought Lauren in Due Time into the Parlour to Await the Supper Bell.

'Shall I Send Word to Your Family of Your Impending Absence?" Inquired the Lady.

'I Doubt They Would Take Notice, Ma'am,' Our Heroine Replied Drily.

Lady Fenwick Smiled. 'Let Me Inform the Cook of Your Presence,' She Said, and Left.

Lauren Knew the Thorough Nature and Kind Disposition of Her Friend, and Guessed that Lady Fenwick would Remain in the Kitchen for Some Time, Making Arrangements for the Unexpected Guest at Least Expense to the Cooks. (As it Happened, Lady Fenwick had Already Decided to Remain Absent, but for Reasons Unrelated to the Dinner, which She had had Prepared for Three Already.)

Jerome, Who had been Pacing His Rooms Since Taking Leave of Our Heroine, Started at the Knock on the Door.

'Yes?' He Called.

Lady Fenwick Responded, 'Jerome, I Believe There is a Book, of Which I have Great Need, in the Library. However, I Seem to have Suddenly Contracted a Most Severe Headache. Might You be Kind Enough to Fetch it for Me?'

Jerome Sighed. 'It is Some Thing to Ease My Mind,' He Thought, 'to Occupy it, at Any Rate.'

To His Mother, He Said, 'Of Course, Madam. Which Book is It?'

Lady Fenwick Paused a Moment Before Replying.

At Last, She Said, 'The Baronetage, if You Would Be so Kind.'

Jerome Left His Quarters Down the Back Stairs, Which Led Directly into the Library.

Lady Fenwick Smiled and Thought, 'If I Know Lauren, She Shall Soon Wander into the Library to Pick Up a Volume, and as I do Not Possess the Baronetage, Jerome Shall Be There Some Time, I Dare Say.'

Fortunately (or Unfortunately, as You Care to Look at It, dear Reader), Lady Fenwick had Greatly Overestimated Our Heroine's Patience, for not Two Minutes after Lady Fenwick had Gone, Before She had Even Called on Jerome, Lauren Made Her Way into the Library to Examine the Numerous Volumes Within.

She had Been Perusing a Shelf of Poetry when a Sudden Noise at a Side Door Made Her Turn; Upon Catching Sight of Jerome, Her Astonishment Matched His Own.

He Seemed Prepared to Speak Several Times, but No Words Escaped His Lips. Indeed, it was Lauren Herself Who Broke the Silence with a Single Word.

'Yes.'

Jerome Responded Quite Fervently.

The News at Dinner that Evening was Joyous, but to Lady Fenwick, Not Wholly Unexpected.

Rather than have Lauren Return Home and Face Certain Ridicule and Insult, Lady Fenwick Sent a Short Letter to Mrs. Brumhurst.

My Dear Lady,

My Son has had the Good Fortune to Secure the Affections of Your Daughter Lauren. She Shall be Staying with Our Family Until the Wedding Day, to Expedite the Procurement of an Extensive Trousseau.

I Can Not Thank You Enough for Turning Her so Often Out of the House. She has Become a Wonderful Walker, Which will Serve Her Quite Well in the Gardens of Versailles and the Museums of Florence.

I am Yours Sincerely,

Lady Kathleen Fenwick

Agnes did Not Take the News Very Well, and Would Surely have Thrown Herself Upon a Dagger had Her Mother Not Begged Her to Desist, for Not only was Black a Trying Colour on them All, but that Particular Mode of Expressing Despair was Already Terribly Passé in Their Family.

The Wedding of Jerome Fenwick and Lauren Brumhurst was a Lovely Affair, Well Attended, and Full of Laughter and Friendship, and, as Every Good Wedding Should Contain, a Large Faction of Distraught Relatives (Which also Provided Great Entertainment for Mr. Bennet and Mr. Palmer).

They Departed Directly After the Ceremony for a Six-Month Honeymoon in Italy and France.

After They Returned, Lauren and Jerome Took Up Residence Quite Near Matilda and Michael Fenwick, in Hertfordshire, for, as Lauren Said,

'Life There Seems Never to Be Dull.'

And for the Many Remaining Years they Lived in Love Together, Lauren and Jerome Made Sure to Always Address Letters with the Utmost Care.

The End.