"I wonder why Mrs. Fortescue wanted to see us so soon after the engagement party," Rose was saying, for they had remembered their noon "appointment" with the elderly lady—at the very pub where Rose and Mrs. Fortescue had become friends!
Rose and Emmett arrived at the pub ten minutes early, but Mrs. Fortescue was already there, challenging a stranger to a game of darts. The rather dapper-looking man she had put to the test was looking somewhat annoyed, for Mrs. Fortescue had just beaten him at a third game. Rose and Emmett were grinning as they stood by to watch.
"Let me just win this one last game," Mrs. Fortescue said, seeing the pair watching her. She did win, and with a triumphant backwards glance, Mrs. Fortescue walked away from her stunned competitor.
"Haven't lost your touch, have you?" Rose said, and Mrs. Fortescue made no attempt to sound humble.
"Never have come near losing it," she said, shamelessly arrogant. "Laura Madeline Fortescue is the grand master of the dart board."
"Is that your full name?" Rose commented. "It's a very pretty name."
"Thank you," Mrs. Fortescue said. She moved toward a quiet booth in the back corner. "It's more private back here. I have something I wish to discuss with you two."
Mrs. Fortescue's tone was solemn but mysterious. Rose and Emmett glanced at each other, curious.
When the odd trio had settled down and ordered a round of meals and drinks, Mrs. Fortescue spoke of her purpose for meeting Rose and Emmett. Before she started talking, however, Mrs. Fortescue held up her hand warningly.
"I am going to explain something, and I don't want to hear any protests or interruptions," she said with authority.
The newly engaged couple exchanged a baffled, somewhat worried glance. They respectfully heeded the elderly heiress's wishes, however, and listened to what she proposed.
"I know that you two, with your financial status and with the damned economy the way it is, cannot afford a house. I remember you two mentioning that you'd find a nice apartment to rent. That cannot be"—this with the noble air of a queen giving a command. Mrs. Fortescue continued:
"You two need a house to call your own, to—if you'll excuse the old adage—grow old in together. That is why I am going to let you both pick out any house you wish, and hang the expense!"
Rose and Emmett had been sitting speechlessly as Mrs. Fortescue had blithely and without pause for breath presented her proposal. Now she was watching them, with the expression of a hawk watching its prey, for their reaction.
"Mrs. Fortescue, we can't—," Rose started to say, and winced when Mrs. Fortescue sharply smacked her shoulder with her walking stick.
"I do not wish to have a gift refused," Mrs. Fortescue said sternly.
"But, Mrs. Fortescue, it's all too mu—," Emmett cut in, but backed off when the elderly woman threatened him, in turn, with that lethal stick.
"I said not to interrupt. Now, listen, you two," Mrs. Fortescue said gravely, "I have more money sitting around than I could ever need, for no earthly use. I won't be in this world much longer, and I'd like to see it put to some good. My only relative now is a distant, many-times-removed niece living in France; the bulk of the estate will go to her, but I'd like you two to have a real home to move into."
Rose and Emmett glanced at each other and realized that they could not refuse.
"How lovely of you, Mrs. Fortescue," Rose said softly, her eyes misting.
"I don't know how we can thank you," Emmett said, stunned.
"Just pick out a nice house—and don't let anyone see it before I do," Mrs. Fortescue commanded.
Mrs. Fortescue added one more condition a day later: Rose and Emmett must find a home they liked before the wedding, if possible. After all, it would be ideal for the new couple to be able to go right to their own home after the wedding. Thus, Rose and Emmett went house-hunting during the week before they had scheduled to discuss the technical details of the wedding ceremony itself.
Rose and Emmett had both agreed to look in the Buckets' and Liz's neighborhood, for Rose actually wanted to be near Hyacinth, the eldest sister, who had held the family together during the tragic days after Mummy had died—with all due respect to her other older sisters—and Emmett wanted to be near Liz, his older sister and only sibling.
"To think I'd ever want to live near Hyacinth," Rose said on their first day of house-hunting, as the realtor escorted them into a house two streets over.
"To think I'm not frightened at that prospect!" Emmett said with a laugh.
For almost the entire week, Rose and Emmett looked at houses. To their initial dismay, there was something about each one that somehow did not 'say' home.
Then, six days into the search, Rose and Emmett found the perfect house—and it was right next door to the Bouquet residence. It had been for sale for almost a year, which made them suspicious, leaving it at the bottom of their list.
It was a plain house indoors, and needed some work, which was probably accounted for it still being on the market, but Rose and Emmett chose it because the 'blank canvas' of a house would allow them to make it uniquely their own. They would get new wallpaper, tile, carpet…and eventually decorate it as well..
"You get that house made up nicely before your wedding," Mrs. Fortescue told them when she met them at the pub for the last time before the wedding.
"Well, we're planning on having the wedding in two months, so that won't be hard," Emmett said.
"And remember, I see the house first!" Mrs. Fortescue reminded Rose and Emmett—as if they would forget!
...
On the evening that Rose and Emmett had found the house, they went to the Cherry Blossom Café to discuss a few odds and ends. As they started on their dessert, Emmett brought up the subject of where they were to be married.
"I'd like to get married in the Church, more specifically, at St. Mark's parish, since I've been a part of it for so long," Emmett said.
Rose startled and she said shakily, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Emmett caught her meaning and gave her an encouraging smile.
"I don't think the vicar will judge. He was never, um, 'interested' in you, so it shouldn't be awkward."
"It's not about him, it's about Mrs. Evans—it would be so awkward for her!"
"Why should that prevent us from getting married at St. Mark's?"
"I suppose it couldn't," Rose admitted, "but I can't feel completely at ease until I apologize to Mrs. Evans. I'd like to do that before you call the vicar to arrange a date for the ceremony."
"That does sound like the proper thing to do," Emmett agreed. "Listen, there's another senior citizen's outing being held by the church on Saturday morning, to the seaside carnival again. The vicar is going along, of course, but Alice isn't. That'll give you an opportunity to talk to her."
"Or try to," Rose said doubtfully. "Saturday...that's the day after tomorrow. Wish me luck."
...
Saturday came, and at eleven o'clock Rose found herself on the doorstep of the Evans' home. Despite her resolve, Rose's hands were cold and clammy and she felt very uncomfortable inside. Still, Rose forced herself to ring the doorbell.
A few seconds passed before the door opened. There stood Alice, and for a moment she looked inquiringly at her caller. It took her several seconds to recognize Rose.
"Rose, how nice to see you!" Alice said with venomous sarcasm in every word. "I didn't recognize you at first, seeing as you're fully clothed."
Rose winced slightly, but she did not protest, for she certainly couldn't say that she didn't deserve the scorn.
Alice made a move to close the door, but Rose boldly put her foot out to prevent just that. Alice's eyes flashed at this bold defiance.
"Mrs. Evans, I wish to speak to you," Rose said fervently.
Alice narrowed her eyes.
"Why?" she demanded curtly.
"I could explain more easily if I could sit down," Rose said.
"All right. We'll go inside," Alice said officiously, giving Rose a scrutinizing look. "I'll let you talk-but I am not promising I'll say anything-and I can dismiss you at any time."
"All right," Rose humbly agreed.
Alice silently escorted Rose into the house, slamming the door rather violently behind them. She then ushered Rose into the living room and pointed to a chair.
"Well, talk away," Alice said coolly, as soon as Rose sat down.
Rose launched into her apology, but at the end she could barely remember her own words. She looked unflinchingly at Alice as she spoke. The vicar's wife's expression was unreadable, and when Rose finished speaking, there was a long, unpleasant silence.
"I see," Alice said stiffly at last. "Does this have anything to do with Emmett, perchance?"
"Weeellll…" Rose was not sure what Alice was implying. "Emmett and I are engaged now. He—he's helped me change. I've realized that I was going the wrong way, more and more. I am very sorry, truly I am, but I can say nothing more."
Alice frowned, but she was neither any more friendly nor was she hostile when spoke again.
"If Emmett believes you have changed, I respect that he does so. I, however, cannot accept your apology."
The answer was blunt and to the point. Rose nodded.
"I understand," Rose said, rising from the chair. "I can't fault you for withholding forgiveness."
"Then this conversation is over?" Alice said; it sounded like a question, but was not.
"One more thing," Rose said quietly, with a grave smile. "Your husband never, ever gave me so much as a passing glance. You're the only one he wants."
Rose walked away without another word, leaving the vicar's wife looking after her with a puzzled expression. Whatever had been Rose's reason for adding that last remark?
Later that night, Rose told Emmett about how she had fared in regards to her apology to Alice. Emmett admired Rose for commandeering the courage to follow it through, but Rose brushed away the praise with a wave of her hand. After all, she couldn't rightly have done anything else.
Though Alice had not accepted the apology, Rose had the satisfaction of knowing that she had truly tried to make amends. Now, Rose thought, she could look forward to planning the wedding with a clear conscience.
The next morning, Emmett rang the vicarage so that a date for the ceremony could be set; then plans would really start moving quickly.
