Ned sat at the table making entries in his journal. He'd been surprised to find all his early volumes missing until Veronica had explained that Marguerite had insisted they take them, bumping some of Challenger's proof to make room. Ned was touched and a little surprised by her gesture. This was the same woman who had ripped pages out of one of them and was constantly criticizing his work.
He sighed, unsure what to make of her new attitude and hoping they would bring them back along with some new ones. His most recent journal had been hand-made and lacked the quality of the ones he'd brought from London.
Ned was so intent on getting all the details of his homecoming down on paper that he jumped when Finn entered the room with a sneeze. Finn giggled at his reaction, which sent her into a coughing fit.
"Are you feeling okay?" Ned asked, looking at her flushed face.
"I'm fine," Finn snapped, rubbing at her brow.
Ned had to remind himself to be nice to Finn rather than answer with an insult. As he continued to look at her, he realized that she really didn't look that good. "Okay, let me know if you need anything," he said with a smile.
Finn threw him a look and walked into her room.
Marguerite wearily hung her coat on the rack just inside the Challengers' doorway. She slowly made her way into the empty parlor and sat down, only mildly concerned about the dirt she was tracking in. It's so good to be home again, she thought as she sat down on the sofa. She briefly entertained the thought of sneaking upstairs before anyone saw her and washing up. But it felt so good to be able to sit quietly for a while, knowing that she was safe and could relax. She knew that as soon as her friends knew that she had returned, she wouldn't get a moment's peace. Hopefully, the past twelve days hadn't been too stressful for them. She knew that Jessie and Challenger would understand why she had to leave them behind and accept her back with open arms, however she looked. She was worried about John, though. He'd be so angry she left him, especially after she delayed his proposal. She just hoped that he'd actually let her get a word in edgewise and explain why she'd gone, and that he'd actually listen to her for a change. Exhaustion dragged at her as she closed her eyes. I'll only stay here a moment, she thought as she lay down, too fatigued to do anything else.
"She's back," Jessie proclaimed after she was finished talking with the cook. She shared a glance with George as the watched Roxton fly out of the room.
John Roxton was ready to unload all his frustration and anger on Marguerite when he met her. When he saw her stretched out on the couch in a dirty blue dress all his anger vanished.
"Marguerite," he whispered softly, bringing his hand up to stroke her face. Marguerite jumped at his touch and John watched as her eyes became guarded.
"It's okay, Marguerite you're home now," he said trying to make the guarded expression disappear. Marguerite nodded and the closed her eyes and fell asleep. Trying his best not to wake her, Roxton gathered her into his arms and carried her up to the room she'd been using.
Ned checked on Finn, who was still sleeping soundly, and then headed for the elevator. He heard the electric fence crackle, confirming his suspicion that there was something wrong with the windmill.
"Ready to go?" Veronica asked as he stepped off the elevator.
"I think one of us should stay with Finn. I don't think she's feeling very well," Ned explained, casting a worried glance back up at the house.
"No, she'll be fine," Veronica said confidently as she adjusted the strap of her bag. "Besides, I think this might be a two-person job."
Ned shrugged but didn't say anything more. In spite of all he had done to try and make friends with her, she still seemed so hostile towards him. It seemed wrong to leave a sick person in the house all alone. He still didn't know Finn very well, but the others had accepted her and Veronica knew Finn's limitations far better than he did. To ease his conscience, he decided he would make this trip to the windmill as short as possible. Throughout the trip something bothered Ned about Finn's behavior. It seemed so familiar in some way. He was pulled from his musings when they arrived at the clearing.
It was easy to see the problem; one canvas sail had a ripped and was causing an uneven rotation of the blades. It took them about 20 minutes to replace it and pack up the old one to be repaired. On the journey back to the tree house, Veronica kept up a steady stream on conversation, but didn't talk about Finn at all. As they entered the elevator, Ned finally realized why Finn's behavior seemed familiar. It reminded him of Marguerite's earlier behavior. How did they survive those early months together? It took him a moment to find the answer. It had been Summerlee who had listened to Marguerite and who Marguerite listened to. Ned decided to alter his tactics a little and to try listening to what Finn had to say.
Finn woke up to a wonderful smell. She spotted a tray set on one of the small tables in her room. She lifted the lid to discover a bowl of stew and a note. She opened the note and began to read slowly.
Marguerite awoke to the sound of John's pacing. She let him cross the room four times before she got up the courage to make him aware that she was awake.
"Keep it up and you're going to wear a hole through Jessie's floor," she said with a small smile.
Roxton started and then looked relieved. "I'm so glad you're awake," he said as he helped her into a sitting position and settled next to her on the bed. "We need to talk."
"I know," she said softly, knotting her hands in her lap and refusing to meet his eyes. "I know you're probably very angry with me and you have every right to be, but you have to understand...I didn't mean to worry anyone. It just had to be done...."
She slowly trailed off as Roxton slowly reached out and took her hands in his. He waited to see if she would pull away from him, and when she didn't and remained quiet, he gathered his thoughts and continued.
"Before you left, I started to ask you a question. It didn't come out the way I wanted it to, but I meant it," he explained hurriedly as he carefully watched her. She still refused to look at him, but she was absently brushing her thumb over the back of his hand. Taking this as a encouraging sign, he tried again. "Marguerite, I told you once that you were a woman of fire and steel and that I wasn't going to let you get away from me. I had waited a lifetime to find a woman like you, and I cannot imagine what my life would be like without you in it. I love you, no matter what harebrained thing you do or whatever has happened in your past. I will love you until the day I die and even after that. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Roxton slipped off the edge of the bed, and still holding her hand, got to one knee. "Marguerite Krux, will you marry me?"
Marguerite sniffled and grinned as she looked at their hands. "I think you knew my answer when you asked me."
"Well, I think I do, but I'd like to hear you say it. I don't mean to rush you but I've waited damn near two weeks to hear your answer," Roxton said, slightly annoyed.
Marguerite smiled at his hurt expression, and looked over at him for the first time. "Yes," she said, no louder than a whisper.
"What?" Roxton asked, not sure he heard her.
Marguerite placed her other hand over his and squeezed. In a strong and formal voice as she could muster, she said, "Yes, Lord Roxton I will marry you."
In the kitchen, Jessie and George looked up at the ceiling as loud, jubilant whoops of joy and laughter came from upstairs. "I take it things went well," Jessie said cheerfully as she took a sip of her tea.
" 'What were you doing behind the curtain?' he asked.'
'I was reading.'
'Show the book.'
'I returned to the window and fetched it thence…'
"What's 'thence'?" Finn asked, looking up at Ned.
"Thence means she brought it to him," Ned supplied.
Satisfied, Finn went back to her book and began reading aloud again.
Before she got very far, Veronica walked in and looked at the two of them suspiciously. Normally, they couldn't be in the same room for more than fifteen minutes before a fight broke out, but it had been very quiet in the living area for nearly an hour. Hands on hips, she demanded to know what's going on.
"Finn's reading me Jane Eyre," Ned supplied with a cheerful wave at the book.
It took Veronica a minute to digest this information. Before she could get another word out, Finn spoke up. "Ned told me it's one of his favorites. He said his mother used to make him read it to her."
Unsure of how this huge shift in their relationship came about but grateful for the peace, Veronica just smiled at them and continued to pick up the clothing that needed mending. As the two turned back to their book, she looked at Ned's latest ripped shirt and sighed. Normally, this was Marguerite's job. She missed her absent friends and hoped they returned to the plateau soon.
Marguerite restlessly paced the length of her dressing room. Nearly tripping on her train, she shoved it roughly behind her as she settled on a stool. She fidgeted, smoothed any potential wrinkles out of her dress, and picked at her fingernails before sighing in disgust and resuming her pacing.
A knock at the door froze her in mid-step. Lady Roxton opened the door and slipped in. "Marguerite, you look absolutely radiant dear," she said brightly as she walked over and took Marguerite's hands. Seeing how nervous Marguerite looked, she gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. "John is practically beside himself. He's like a child on Christmas morning. He cannot wait to see you. I have had to recruit Professor Challenger to keep him away."
Marguerite smiled half-heartedly and sat on the stool again. "I'm sure George will keep him in line until the ceremony."
"About the ceremony," Lady Roxton began, sitting down next to Marguerite. "There are a few things I would like to talk to you about before we begin. You see, John and I discussed your relationship at length while you were gone. So there are a few things I think you and I need to chat about."
Marguerite swallowed convulsively and looked absolutely faint.
Lady Roxton smiled at Marguerite and patted her hand again. "No dear, it is nothing like that," she said, practically reading Marguerite's mind. "First of all, John has explained that you are worried about your past and its impact on this family. I understand that was the motivation for your…disappearance."
Looking very unsure, Marguerite nodded. Lady Roxton also nodded, and firmly took Marguerite's hands in her own. "Now I want you to listen to me very carefully Marguerite. Whatever happened in your past is just that, your past. It is over and has no bearing on the present or the future." Marguerite opened her mouth to protest but a stern look from Lady Roxton silenced her. "Society likes to gossip. Scandals and rumors are nothing new, and they tend to keep things interesting. After all, one can only stand to discuss fashions and gardens for so long. John also mentioned that you know about our family history, so you know that scandal is nothing new to us. And like any storm, these things eventually blow over. Someone else always provides new and far more interesting things to gossip about. Secondly, by the end of today, you will be a Roxton. If there is one thing that we Roxtons do exceptionally well, it is stand together. So you will never need to worry about being alone again. We will always be here for you, no matter what. Do you understand?"
Marguerite tearfully nodded and smiled at her mother-in-law to be. Lady Roxton smiled in return. Leaning forward, she gathered Marguerite into a tight hug. "John loves you, and I love you, Marguerite. You have a family who loves and adores you. And that, my dearest daughter, is all that matters in life."
The two women looked up at the sound of a knock. A second later Challenger stuck his head in the room. "Are we ready?" he asked. "Roxton is getting rather impatient." Lady Roxton looked at Marguerite and at her nod said, "We will be out in a moment." With one last hug Lady Roxton left the room.
Challenger stepped into the room and looked at Marguerite. He walked over and helped her to her feet. "I must say you look lovely Marguerite. John is a very lucky man. Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath, Marguerite adjusted her veil before looking at him. "As ready as I'll ever be," she answered confidently. "Let's get this show on the road.
The pair navigated the short corridor to the chapel's vestibule. Marguerite got a peek of the crowd who was waiting for the ceremony to begin. She gave a quick prayer of thanks that she had submitted to John's pleas for an intimate ceremony at the church in Avebury rather than the circus that London had promised. Jessie and Lady Roxton had transformed the quiet country church into a childhood dream. The fact that generations of Roxtons had been married here seemed to bode well for the future. She experienced a brief pang that Veronica, Finn, Ned, and Summerlee were missing from this important celebration. Her musings were interrupted as Challenger gave her hand a squeeze. Beaming at her with a certain amount of paternal pride, he slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. "Shall we, my dear?" he asked, motioning towards the center isle.
The beginning notes of The Wedding March sounding in her ears, Marguerite nodded and walked towards her future.
Ned looked up to see the two women waiting for him. He flashed them a smile then hurried to catch up with them.
"Taking over Challenger's job?" Veronica teased as he approached.
"Sorry, got distracted," Ned said, taking a deep breath. Ignoring the girls' amused looks, he glanced up the trail. "Shall we?"
The three of them continued on to the beach where they had decided to have a picnic.
"Nice of Marguerite and Roxton to leave these chairs," Ned commented as the group set up camp. Finn dropped her pack and began to dig around in it, muttering to herself. Ned and Veronica exchanged looks as Finn rocked back on her heels with a triumphant shout. "I found it," she crowed, holding up her treasure so the others could see it. "I brought the Frisbee so we could all play together."
"What about lunch?" Veronica asked as she continued to place the contents of the picnic basket on the blanket they spread out in the shade of a tree.
Finn's face dropped as she looked down at the blanket. Taking pity on her, Ned stood up, brushing off his palms. "C'mon Finn, you and I can get a quick game in while Veronica finishes getting lunch ready." Finn grinned at him and bound off down the beach. "At least she'll be tired out later," he said to Veronica as he followed the enthusiastic young blonde.
"Let's play again," Finn demanded as she hung upside down from a tree branch above the blanket.
Veronica chuckled sleepily from her chair. "We just played with the disc five minutes ago. We're tired Finn."
"Yeah, let the old people rest awhile," Ned added as he lazily rubbed his feet in the sand.
Finn snorted in disdain. "You two just want time to be alone together."
Ned flashed her a mischievous grin as Veronica blushed. "And your point is?" he drawled as he took Veronica's hand in his.
"Ewww….I'm going to go look for some mangos for later," Finn declared as she hopped down and strode away towards the trees.
"Don't go too far," Veronica called out.
"Yes, mother," the mocking answer came from the trees. "Just remember, I won't be gone that long."
"She's horrible," Veronica said, blushing furiously.
Ned laughed quietly as he looked out at the sea. When Veronica looked at him questioningly, he simply said, "Now I know the meaning behind that look Roxton was always giving me."