I'm very, truly, really, mushroom-y [yeah, I don't even know either.], for sure sorry that I haven't updated in over a week! I got in trouble, and had my computer taken away. It gets harder to type when you have nothing to type on XD. But I planned out my little book here up until chapter 21, drew some pictures, and can't wait to write more! So without further ado…chapter five! Review please, my doves!
You would think that everything that happened at the beach would turn the family against each other. You would think that there would be screaming matches over everything Mother had done. But the thing is, they didn't know. Both Margaret and Mary were too scared of their Mother's reaction to say anything to her, and Father was just acting as if everything was normal, and nothing had ever happened.
Just like they would any other day, the entire family sat at the breakfast table. The mood was no different, Mother and Father were chatting, and Margaret and Mary sad nothing, unless spoken to. However, they did have a special guest.
"Do pass the sugar, Carolyn." Iverson said, clearing his throat. The sugar was passed to him, and the meal resumed.
"Margaret!" Mother said, jerking her head up and snapping her fingers, as if she had just made a great discovery. "Look this way. I do have some excellent news for you! Excuse me." Mother stood up and walk-ran to the kitchen in a flurry of petticoats. She was back in just a minute. "Oh good," she smiled. "I knew I didn't misplace it! Oh, oh this is just too wonderful! Everyone, get up, get up! I shall make the announcement in the parlor. Then we may return to breakfast."
The family got up and pushed their chairs in, headed for the parlor. They were ushered by Mother, who seemed to be very eager to say whatever her announcement was. They all sat down on the deep mahogany chairs and Iverson sat next to Margaret on the loveseat.
"What is it?" Mary asked.
"Well it's great news!" Mother exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "Especially for you Margaret, for this will be a very special night for you."
"What is it?" Margaret said.
"The Richardson's are throwing their annual ball." Mother smiled. "I'm sure I've told you of it."
"The Richardson's Ball!" Mary exclaimed, clasping her hands together. Margaret, who had no idea how Mary knew of this, gave her an odd look. "Oh, how I've always wanted to go! People come in from as far as Vermont! 'Tis a lavish night, with wonderful food, music, and company!" Mary gushed.
"That it is!" Mother smiled.
"Ah yes, I've been in attendance ever since I inherited my father's money." Iverson said, stretching an arm across the loveseat and resting it lightly on Margaret's shoulders. Margaret shuttered. "Is not a bad night. They have an excellent selection of liquor."
"Oh, what I would do for an invitation!" Mary said.
"And that's just it!" Mother exclaimed, pulling out a small scroll. "We have been invited! Specifically, you and Margaret have. Only so many people can be in attendance!"
"Oh how wonderful!" Mary shouted, standing up. "I cannot believe it! There are…there are just no words to describe my joy! Oh Mother, are you positive it is we who have been invited, and not some other Mary and Margaret?"
"I am certain!" Mother said. "Here, look at the invitation!" she handed the invitation over to a bubbling Mary. Margaret, eager to be out of the touch of Iverson, stood up and went to go look at the invitation.
"Oh, this is so nice!" Margaret admitted. "I must say, I am a little eager to see if the hubbub this event gets is deserved!"
"Oh, I have one more surprise, Margaret!" Mother said. "Now, the reason we were invited was due to the fact that you are marrying Mr. Iverson! Now, Mrs. Richardson heard of the match, and decided to not only invited you and Mary, but Charlotte as well!"
"Charlotte is coming!" Margaret smiled. Oh how wonderful!"
"Oh yes! She said…how did she put it? Well she said you were the guest of honor, and the soon-to-be most prominent member of society should have a comfortable group of people around her. It was so nice of her to do, and you must be grateful! These invitations are like a key, to a better world, better society!" Mother gushed, a smile stretching across her face, in an almost comical fashion.
"Oh Mother!" Mary interrupted. "Can we have new dresses? After all, we must look our best! Oh please Mother!"
"Well I don't see why not!" Mother said. "The ball is in a few weeks, so it will take some fast work, but I'm sure that three pairs of hands could manage!"
"Oh!" Margaret snapped her fingers. "That explains it!"
"Explains what, dear?" Mother asked, an eyebrow raised.
"When I went over to Charlotte's house yesterday, she had a fancy purple dress on. It wasn't quite finished yet, but I could already tell it was going to be very pretty!" Margaret smiled.
"Oh how lovely. Purple was always her color…"Mother smiled.
"I was thinking..." Iverson said.
That's a first. Thought Margaret bitterly.
"Well you mentioned that the reason Margaret and her friend got invited was because of the engagement." Iverson continued. "So does it not seem fitting that we make the formal engagement announcement there? The ballroom has a stage, we call everyone's attention, and I announce our engagement!"
"You should make it even more romantic!" Mary insisted, sitting down next to him.
"How so?" Iverson asked.
"You should propose to her there!" Mary smiled.
"Now why would I do that?" Iverson said, sitting up stiffly.
"Well you're already going to get married, but it'd so romantic for you to propose!" Mary said.
"That would be a sweet thing to do." Mother said. "But it is up to you, Mr. Iverson."
"Sure, why not?" Iverson said. "Are you excited to marry me Margaret?" he smiled.
"Absolutely not! You are a gambling, conceded, pompous man, and I never wanted to marry you! I already love someone, and you are the sole thing in between us! I don't want you here, and you sir, are welcome to leave!"
Or at least, that's what she wanted to say. But Margaret, being Margaret, just looked down at her feet and said nothing.
"Well?" Iverson was becoming angry at her lack of response.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" she said, running out of the room.
She stopped in front of the door. What if it was Alexander? Oh! She smoothed her skirts and opened the door. It was not Alexander, it was Charlotte.
"Well you're coming with me, young lady! I need to hear everything!" Charlotte demanded.
"Okay, okay! Just let me tell Mother." Margaret said, turning to go back to the parlor. Charlotte saw herself in.
Margaret entered the parlor. "Oh Mother!" she called.
"Hush for a moment, Margaret." Iverson said. "I have a bit of a…headache, and your yelling is starting to annoy. It has been decided, I will, er, propose to you at the ball. Very good? Yes, now what were you going to say?"
How could they have decided that without me? I didn't get a chance to put in one word! Margaret thought, her mouth dropping open and forming a little 'o'. But she gained control of herself quickly, and resumed with what she had originally planned to say. "Mother, I am going over to Charlotte's house."
"Very good, be back soon." Mother said, a little confused at why Margaret would want to possibly leave amongst all of the excitement, but seeing no particular reason for her to stay, allowed her to leave.
Margaret smiled and left the room as soon as she could, before Iverson could demand a kiss goodbye. Charlotte grabbed Margaret's wrist and yanked her out of the house and down the steps. Charlotte was trying to make Margaret run, but Margaret was a little tired still, and was not exactly an "outdoorsy" person. So it ended up looking like a small dog being held back by a short strand of rope. Eventually, Charlotte pulled Margaret up into her room, and sat down next to her on a small couch.
"Well! What on earth did he say?" Charlotte asked, leaning forward.
"What did who say? Charlotte, you're not making any sense!" Margaret said, her brow furrowed.
"Alexander! I want to hear every word!" Charlotte said, what little patience she had draining from her.
"I told you. I didn't say anything. He asked me to court him." Margaret said bitterly. Why was she rubbing this in?
"No, no!" Charlotte said, rubbing her knees vigorously. "After that! When you went to go tell him the real story! The next day! Tell me!"
"Charlotte!" Margaret said. "I didn't go see him the next day! How could I?"
"You didn't?" Charlotte said, disbelief clouding her face. "What? Why not?"
"How could I?" Margaret wailed. "He'd be furious!"
"So?" Charlotte said. "You needed to go! I told you it'd take courage, but you had to do that, Margaret! I told you that!"
"It's just, I just can't! No! I won't!" Margaret said, pulling her knees up.
"Well then tell me what he said." Charlotte sighed.
"Don't try and be funny Charlotte." Margaret spat.
"No, no, I know you didn't go to him, but tell me what he said when he found out." Charlotte reassured her that she did not mean to poke more fun at her.
"How would he have found out?" Margaret said.
"Are you kidding me?" Charlotte laughed without humor. "This is the biggest event this town has seen in years! It got you, and me, and invitation to the most snooty, upper – class ball there is! Everyone has been dying to match their daughers up with this man, for they'd be set for life! Don't think your father was the first to try to set up a match with him! Nearly every girl in this town has met him!"
"So do you think he would have already heard?" Margaret asked.
"I think," Charlotte said. "If he had heard, he would have already come to you, demanding an explanation."
Margaret bit her lip. "So you still think he doesn't know?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying!" Charlotte said, a smile breaking out on her face. "So do you know what this means? It's not too late! You must go, go now! Go talk to him! Before he does find out! You're lucky enough that he doesn't already know!"
"Oh Charlotte, I couldn't!" Margaret said, standing up and throwing up her arms. "Oh never, never!"
Charlotte stood up and followed her. "Oh, but Margaret! You have to! It'll take courage to go, but not as much as after he knows!"
"But he'll never forgive me!" Margaret wailed. "He'll think that I led him on, and lied to him, and, just…I just can't!"
"But you must!" Charlotte said. "It's better that he hears it from you than on the streets! If you go and tell him yourself, then he'll have the whole story, and how you never meant to hurt him this way! He'll forgive you, he loves you! He won't stay mad at you, or at least not for long." Charlotte squeezed Margaret's shoulders, but Charlotte's face darkened as she presented the other outcome. "Or if he hears it from anyone else, or even worse, Iverson, the outcome may not work out. The engagement will be thrown through rumor mills. People will mishear dates, will misunderstand intentions and understand it differently. And a small town's confusion will be balled up and presented to him."
"What do you mean?" Margaret said, looking down at her feet and biting her lip. "Could it really get that bad?"
"Well, let's say Jennifer Richardson marches into the shop." Charlotte said, referring to the gossipy, spoiled, daughter of the infamous Richardsons. "For no outstanding reason. A spool of thread, perhaps. Alexander helps her. She brings up the ball, and naturally, the guests of honor. Alexander is confused. Iverson and Margaret Davidson? He refuses to believe it, he asks more questions. Jennifer tells him you have been engaged to Iverson for months now, and the smart match will be the center of her famous ball." Charlotte said, imitation the condescending way Jennifer carried herself, with stiff shoulders and nose up in the air. "She tells of what a lovely couple they'll make, and more gibberty – jabber. Then she will direct the conversation back to herself, as she usually does. Alexander, of course, will pay her no mind, and his mind will reel. He'll come over here, demanding answers to burning questions! He'll-"
"Stop!" Margaret said, holding up a hand. "I understand. Believe me, you've played the part well. But you don't understand Charlotte! I can't, I simply, truly can't!"
"Oh yes you can!" Charlotte said. "You're legs aren't broken! Your tongue is capable of sound! It'll take courage Margaret, I know it will! But I also know you can do it!"
"He needs to know." Margaret stated, as a fact. "Someone who knows the whole story needs to tell him."
"Right you are, Margaret!" Charlotte smiled, glad her friend was coming around. "Now go, before the store closes!"
"Someone who can explain everything." Margaret continued. "Someone who is not on Iverson's side." She turned to her best friend. "Can you go?"
"What?" Charlotte said, her eyes widening. "You want me to explain everything to him?"
"Oh yes, please Charlotte!" Margaret begged. "You're braver than I, please go try to convince him! You know the whole story, and I know you can answer every question, and you'll tell him the truth! I know you're on my side! Oh Charlotte, I know it's asking a lot! But please, please do it for me! Please!"
"Margaret," Charlotte said softly. "Margaret, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Charlotte, you don't understand!" Margaret said, hands clasped together. "He has to know! But I can't! You can! You're my best friend, Charlotte, no one else can do this for me! Oh please!"
"I think this is something he'd like to hear from you." Charlotte said, voice still barely above a whisper. "I don't think I should do this."
"Come on, Charlotte!" Margaret said. "I'm begging you! Is this not better than Jennifer? Do you not want me to be happy?"
"Of course I want you to be happy!" Charlotte exclaimed.
"Well then help me be happy!" Margaret said.
"Fine." Charlotte said, her voice a sigh. "I'll go. If you really can't do it, I'll go."
"Oh thank you Charlotte!" Margaret wrapped her arms around her friend.
Now Charlotte could talk the talk, and she could walk the walk. But this still didn't feel like her battle.