The Proposal (29 page)

“Here’s the entrance,” James directed. “We’ve been through it so many times you’ll probably find our footpath. If you get very lost, call out. We’ll come for you.”

“You can do it,” Penny added.

“You can even pray if you feel a need,” Thomas teased her, thoroughly enjoying her answering laugh.

The three watched as she entered. Marianne looked back long enough to shake her head at them and then forced herself to walk within the walls of shrubs, a solid foot over the top of her head. She heard the scramble of the children’s feet as they dashed away from the entrance and knew she was truly on her own.

She soon learned that James was right. Footprints could be detected from time to time and for a while she followed them. Soon a feeling of claustrophobia began to surround her, but she pushed the panic away. In less than three minutes everything looked the same. Marianne wandered for a time and then stood quite still, her arms folded tightly over her chest as she worked to remain calm and review all her options.

She finally had the idea that some of the walls might not be as high as others and began to look up. When she did, she looked directly into the handsome face of William Jennings where he stood at Penny’s window. With a finger to his lips and a smile in his eyes, he began to direct her.

“Go back,” he mouthed as he pointed behind her, and Marianne walked until she came to a break in the path.

With nods or shakes of his head and the occasional hand direction, he took her to the end of the maze. Marianne heard the children just beyond her and looked up one last time to throw Jennings a beaming smile and mouth a word of thanks. He disappeared from the window a moment later, and Marianne emerged from the maze.

“You made it!” The children welcomed her as if she’d been gone for ages.

“Was it hard?” James asked.

“Very!”

“How did you manage it? Did you pray?”

“Well, I looked up,” she said, just holding her laughter. “And that seemed to help.”

“How did she do?” Jennings, suddenly on the scene, asked innocently.

“She made it through.”

“Well done. I wonder if Cook would have any refreshments on hand to be enjoyed on the veranda. It’s been a hard morning of work.”

“We’ll go see!” Penny volunteered, and the three children ran in the direction of the house. Jennings and Marianne began a slow walk toward the rear veranda.

“Thank you,” Marianne said quietly. “I was feeling a bit frightened.”

“I could see that.”

Marianne blushed, wondering how long he’d been watching her stumble about in a near state of panic.

“You could have told the children,” he said.

“I didn’t wish to disappoint them.”

“Just as you didn’t wish to disappoint them by declining the trip.”

Marianne looked at him gratefully, glad he understood. “I’m so sorry it’s worked out this way,” she said, her voice telling of her regret. “I know it’s not your choice to have me along. I just didn’t know how to say no, especially to Penny.”

Jennings was opening his mouth to tell her she was under a wrong impression when the children ran to join them. He regretted the interruption deeply but saw no help for it.

“Cook says she’ll have it ready before we can sit down.”

“Well, lead on,” Jennings directed as they continued toward the house, but Penny didn’t leave them, so he wasn’t able to clear the matter with Marianne.

The activities continued on the veranda with cool fruit drinks and cakes, and the children shared more about their home and past times at the sea.

It occurred to Jennings that the children, although growing more comfortable with him, were already very at ease with Miss Walker. He’d known this all along, but it was most interesting to observe firsthand. Watching them, he realized that at least part of it was her ability to ask good questions. Jennings could have listened to her all day.

“If you were looking for a spot at Morehouse in which to curl up and read a book, where would that be?” was Marianne’s next question.

“There was a good chair in the small parlor. Do you remember that one, James?”

“Yes, we used to race for it.”

“And what about here, James? Where would you read at Thornton Hall?”

“I have a grand chair in my room. I think I could sit in it all day.”

“And you, Penny? Where do you like to look at books?”

“Here or at home?” she asked, and mentally Marianne flinched. How many months would it take for this little girl to see this as home? And how did her words make Mr Jennings feel? Marianne glanced at him, but his expression gave nothing away.

“Both places,” Marianne encouraged her.

“At Morehouse I like to be by the fire. Here I like to be...” her voice trailed off as she thought. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you’ll have to find a special place to call your own.”

“Will you help me?”

“Certainly. We’ll look around your room and see if you have just the spot.”

“And what about you, Miss Walker?” Jennings put in, surprising her. “Where would you go for a good read?”

“Oh, well, I think if the day were fine, I would venture outdoors, but I also like the window seat in my room.”

It was a simple question, but the nod Jennings gave and the way his eyes watched her caused Marianne to blush. She could have pinched herself. She was doing it again: behaving like a school girl.

“Is anyone ready for a walk?” Marianne asked in an effort to get her mind off her red face.

“You look a little warm, Marianne,” James said innocently. “Are you sure you wish to?”

“I’m fine, James. It’s sweet of you to ask.”

“Well, then,” Thomas inserted, “shall we be off?”

Marianne thought she stood with the children and was right with them but suddenly found herself alone with Mr Jennings. She glanced up to find his eyes still on her.

“I’m not sorry you are accompanying us on our trip, Miss Walker,” he began without preamble. “I only hope you can enjoy yourself.”

Marianne could only stare at him for a moment. She had expected nothing like this and knew not what to think.

“Thank you,” she barely managed as she heard the children call for her.

“We had best join the children.”

“Yes,” Marianne agreed but still hesitated. “Mr Jennings?”

“Yes, Miss Walker.”

“It’s only just occurred to me that you might have had plans today. Should I tell the children we’ll walk at another time?”

“Not at all. I’ll just come along and learn.”

Marianne started off the veranda but stopped.

“Learn?”

“Your technique. Why the children like and respond to you.”

To this Marianne was utterly speechless. She finally left the veranda, glad that Lydia had told her of her brother’s decision. Had she not known of it, she wouldn’t have understood the complete change in the man.

As it was, it was so astounding that her heart and mind could hardly reckon with it.

“That was hard!” Frank said when he met Thomas outside the maze at Thornton Hall the very next day.

“I would tell you that Marianne made it with ease, but we found out later that Jennings was in Penny’s window directing her.”

Frank’s head went back as he studied the rear windows of the house.

“That’s Penny’s room that looks right down?”

“Yes. We never even saw your uncle, and the next thing we knew, Marianne was coming out. James and I thought her most clever. We went for a walk in the park, and she confessed.”

“Do you think they planned it?”

“I don’t know.” Thomas’ voice was thoughtful. It did seem to him that Jennings and Marianne were rather aware of each other lately, but he wasn’t sure if that was what he was seeing or not.

“Let’s go riding,” Frank suggested.

“All right. I think Jennings is in his study with your father.”

The boys went that way, unaware of the discussion going on inside.

“Life just goes on, Palmer, but I’m not the same.”

“That’s an excellent explanation, Jennings. Most days are lived in a regular way, but what makes it different for us is the big God that lives inside of us.”

“I’ve been reading the Bible.”

“Good. You’ll probably need to do that every day.”

“What do you think of my starting in Genesis?”

“I think it’s perfect,” Palmer told the new believer. “It’s the beginning. I can’t think of a more logical way to read a book.”

“You know, that’s been part of my problem. I haven’t seen God for the logical being that He is.”

“He is logical. At times it’s beyond our human comprehension, but God doesn’t act without reason.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing Pastor Hurst tomorrow,” Jennings said, his face showing excitement. “I want to tell him what a help he’s been.”

“He’ll enjoy that.”

“Come in,” Jennings called to whoever had knocked on the door. “Hello, gentlemen!” he said on seeing the boys.

“What can we do for you?”

“We’d like to go riding. Will that work out?”

Jennings looked to Palmer.

“I think so,” Palmer gave permission. “Keep it to about an hour.”

“All right. Thank you.”

The young men left in a hurry, excitement filling their eyes.

“What did the children think of your news?” Palmer asked next.

“Thomas and I spoke first, and we talked for quite some time. I know he was pleased. James and Penny only smiled at me. Penny also told me she had Jesus in her heart.”

Palmer smiled.

“That was sometime after she asked me if I would marry Marianne.”

Palmer’s mouth opened.

“She said that to you?”

“Yes. Her brothers were very upset with her, but she wants Marianne for a mother, and I told her she could always tell me how she feels.”

Palmer said nothing. Questions came to mind, but Jennings’ face was so thoughtful and serious that he felt as though he’d be intruding to voice them.

Heavenly Father
, he prayed instead.
Help Jennings and Marianne. If Your plan puts them together, make it so clear to them. Help the rest of us to stay out of the way and let You work. And thank You, Father. Thank You for saving Jennings.

Palmer thought he could weep at the goodness of God, but he didn’t want to do that right now. Instead he suggested they check on the boys. Jennings stood up swiftly enough that he knew he’d made the right choice.

“What did you get them?” Walker asked of his wife and daughter after the three of them had loaded into the carriage for the ride to Tipton. On this day the Jennings children had become thirteen, eleven, and seven respectively.

“A book of maps for Thomas, a compass for James, and a small tea set for Penny’s doll,” Marianne answered.

“The boys are interested in maps, are they?”

“Yes. It seems to be a Jennings-Palmer passion. I guess Godwin Jennings also loved maps. I can always find young Frank and Thomas bent over one when I stop at the house.”

“Palmer has liked them since he was a lad himself,” Walker put in. “I remember how well he liked that large one my father gave me.”

“The one with the black background?”

“That’s it. He could study it for hours.”

The remainder of the ride was uneventful, and when they arrived, two other carriages could be seen.