Thanks as always to my betas thegladelf and mryddinwilt and to captainswanandclintasha for all her gorgeous picsets!
Mary Margaret felt a constant weight pressing down on her chest in the days following the receipt of Kelly's letter. She had mistakenly assumed that the knowledge of David's honorable behavior towards Kelly West would be enough to suppress the majority of her heartache in the event of their marriage. But that was not the case. Loving someone she couldn't ever be with was not an easy burden to bear. In her heart of hearts, Mary Margaret realized that she had been half-expecting the engagement to be broken off by some means or the other. Kelly West had waited for four years for David to open the matter to his family, and finally losing patience, had done it herself, to disastrous effect. She had mistaken Regina's agreeable treatment of her for real fondness, not realizing that part of Regina's motivation had been to spite her sisters-in-law. Kelly had obviously not anticipated Lady Spencer's complete obduracy in the matter of her stepson's engagement. She would most definitely have not expected David to be cast out practically penniless into the streets. Mary Margaret was ashamed to admit that she had expected Kelly to break her engagement to David when things came to such a dire pass.
Would a woman who truly loved hold a man to his engagement under such circumstances? Especially knowing that her betrothed had formed an attachment to someone else, but was only sticking with her because they felt honor-bound to it? Mary Margaret did not think she would be capable of marrying someone if she had been placed in a similar situation. But then, she had never been as wanting for money as Kelly West had been. Mary Margaret wanted to give the new Mrs. Spencer the benefit of the doubt, but for once in her life, she was finding it extremely difficult to do so. Because, in this instance, David's long-term happiness was involved.
And to compound everything, they would be here within a few short weeks to take up residence at the parsonage and begin their new life. Captain Jones had received a letter from David informing him that he had taken ordination and would soon be able to assume his position as rector. Mary Margaret had been dreading David's arrival at Misthaven ever since. Now, with Kelly's added presence right from the start, it was going to be ten times more awkward and painful to meet with David in the round of normal social life. Mrs. Lucas had called in her kindly and enthusiastic fashion to talk over Kelly and David's marriage and how social life in Misthaven would be affected by the addition of the newly married couple. Thankfully, Emma and Cousin Ingrid had skillfully directed Mrs. Lucas's remarks away from herself. Indeed, her sister and cousin had tried to offer her every manner of comfort in their power, and their affectionate solicitude had kept Mary Margaret from sinking deeper into her state of despair.
One morning about a week later, she, Emma, and Ingrid were in the parlor, variously occupied, when they heard the rumble of a carriage approaching the cottage.
Emma got up and peered out of the window. She gasped and quickly turned to look at the other two.
"Who is it?" Mary Margaret asked, following her sister to the window. She looked. She saw David drawing to a halt in front of the cottage on his gig. Without a word, she went back to her chair and sat down. She heard Emma and Ingrid whispering to each other in the background, but Mary Margaret's mind was a whirl of confusion. Had he and Mrs. Spencer arrived at Misthaven? Was David making the first social call alone so as to avoid awkwardness?
After a few moments, she heard the knock at front door, and Ashley rushing to open it. In another instant, the parlor door was being thrown open, and David was announced into the room. David made an awkward bow comprehending all of them and sat down almost at the edge of a chair. For some moments, nobody spoke.
Ingrid took the initiative to break the ice. "How good to see you, Mr. Spencer. I take this opportunity to wish you joy."
David flushed, and then mumbled something, but Mary Margaret had no idea of the actual words he had spoken.
"Have you come to Misthaven to see if the parsonage is ready for occupation?" Ingrid continued.
"No…Yes…That is…" David stumbled. He paused, cleared his throat, and continued, "I do plan to call on Captain Jones and look over the parsonage."
"You have left Mrs. Spencer well, I hope," said Mary Margaret, determined to make normal conversation. "Is she still at Plymouth?"
"You mean, Lady Spencer?" David was frowning. "My stepmother is in London."
"Mary Margaret was inquiring after your wife," said Emma, jumping in. Mary Margaret felt grateful to her sister for making the explanation.
"My wife?" David stared at the three occupants of the room in turn. He shot up from his seat and walked to the window. After a few moments, he turned to face them and said. "I see you have not heard the news. I thought…"
"What news?" asked Emma. Once again, Mary Margaret was glad that Emma was taking the initiative to hold the conversation, as she herself was unable to articulate a single word.
"Miss West married my brother Walsh last week."
"What?" Emma burst out. Mary Margaret was sure that Emma's almost ludicrous expression of astonishment was mirrored on her face. She fixed her eyes on David.
David kneaded his hands together. "Miss West wrote to me saying that she had dissolved our engagement and married my brother. The notice of their wedding appeared in the principal London papers two days ago."
Mary Margaret pressed a hand to her mouth. The oppressive knot of sorrow and pain she had been carrying since November of last year suddenly loosened as the enormity of David's news crashed down upon her at once. Past embarrassment, Mary Margaret could not keep down the sobs of relief that burst out any more than she could have stopped the birds from singing. In a haze she saw Emma and Ingrid stand up and leave the room. A linen handkerchief was pressed into her hands. Soon, Mary Margaret had composed herself enough to stop sobbing, though she could still not help the tears that continued to stream down her face.
David was kneeling in front of her, tears sparkling in his eyes, which did not dim the brilliant smile on his lips. He took her trembling hands in his.
"You have tarried long," quoted Mary Margaret, a tiny laugh breaking through her tears.
David huffed out a laugh at the shared memory. The tears slipped from his eyes and ran down his cheeks. He said, "I was too young and impulsive when I entered into the foolish engagement with Miss West. I am neither of those now. Miss Blanchard—Mary Margaret—I love you with all my heart and with all my rational convictions." He paused to take out a ring from his pocket. It was the same peridot ring that Kelly had shown her as proof of her engagement to David. "This belonged to my mother. She said true affection followed the ring. I do not know if she found that with my father. But I know that I have found it in you. Mary Margaret, will you marry me?"
Mary Margaret's smile lit up the whole room. "Yes, David. I will."
David grinned. He put the ring in her finger and rose, lifting Mary Margaret to her feet. Taking her in his arms, he crushed his lips to hers. The sweetest sensations flooded Mary Margaret, and she lost herself to them as she kissed the man she had loved so deeply and with so little hope.
Emma and Ingrid, no longer able to wait patiently outside, banged on the door. Laughing, Mary Margaret broke off from David and called out, "Come in."
She held out her hand to her sister and cousin, showing her ring, as they rushed to embrace her, and then, David. The next hour was a joyous and confused blur of laughter, tears, inadequate explanations, and celebratory toasts. The servants were told of the good news as well, and Mrs. Patmore made her special Chantilly cake for tea.
When Mary Margaret and David got some time to themselves the next day, they had the opportunity to finally talk openly about his previous engagement with Kelly West.
"When my father died, I felt adrift," said David. "My stepmother was never very outwardly affectionate—not just towards me, you understand. It is just not in her nature to be demonstrative."
Mary Margaret nodded. "Robin got engaged around the time your father died, as I recall. So, Regina and your stepmother were probably preoccupied with the wedding preparations and settlements as well."
David nodded. "My tutor at Oxford saw how much my father's death was affecting me, and invited me to stay with him frequently. Miss West was always very kind and attentive whenever I visited, and…" He made an expressive gesture.
"You don't have to explain any further." Mary Margaret gave an understanding smile. "You were young and in need of kindness at the time, and naturally you gravitated towards the people who were offering it."
David sighed. "By the time I graduated from Oxford and started mixing more in society, I began to doubt the wisdom of my actions. But by then, Miss West and I had been engaged for two years, and in all that time, she always appeared unfaltering in her affection. It was only when I met you that I realized the full extent of my folly.
"I tried to tell myself that all I felt towards you was warm friendship. But I couldn't continue to fool myself for long. When I learned that you and your sister were moving to Misthaven, that's when the full import of my feelings crashed upon me. I felt trapped—and in utter despair."
"Why did you come to Misthaven? You ought to have stayed away, David. Both for your sake and mine," Mary Margaret scolded, the severity of her manner counteracted by the way she was softly stroking David's hand.
David gave a remorseful smile. "By then, I'd succeeded in convincing myself that what I felt for you was one-sided. I was honor-bound to Miss West. I thought that would give me enough strength to be in your company and not be pained by comparisons between the two of you," David gave a self-deprecating laugh. "How wrong I was!"
Mary Margaret smiled.
"When the engagement came out into the open, I had to stand by it, even though I'd come to utterly regret it by then. I had made Miss West wait for four years." David gestured helplessly. "After Lady Spencer cut me off from my inheritance, I offered to release Miss West from our engagement if she so wished. But she adamantly refused, assuring me again and again of her affection and loyalty, reiterating her determination to stand by me even when my prospects were at their lowest! Until I got her letter informing me that she had married Walsh, I believed her to be utterly devoted to me."
"She told me that her father had always insisted that, no matter what she felt on the inside, she should put on a good face to the world," said Mary Margaret. "I think she was practiced in masking her true feelings when it suited her."
"She certainly was very successful in her subterfuge," said David, wryly. "My own feelings seemed in utter and shameful contrast to her steadiness and apparent selflessness! But all it needed was a more financially superior offer to present itself to effect a transfer of her affections."
Mary Margaret did not wish to pain David by mentioning to him Kelly West's insincere behavior towards herself. She said instead, "What I cannot understand is how your brother could have fallen in love with her! He is so…er…fashionable…"
"You might as well call him a dandy, because that's what he is," David interjected with a grin.
Mary Margaret huffed out a laugh. She continued. "I cannot imagine he would spare a second glance for someone who was not turned out in the most modish style."
"Now that is something I can understand," said David, giving a small laugh. "My brother has always had a penchant for theatrical behavior. I suppose he felt a grand sense of accomplishment in 'stealing' my fiancée and in fooling his mother by his coup. I am fond of Walsh, but we are as unlike as oil and water."
"I can't say I'm unhappy about the turn of events," Mary Margaret replied, laughing. "I shall shake his hand very cordially and wish him joy the next time I see him."
David grinned.
They were silent for some minutes. Then, Mary Margaret said, "Do you know how Lady Spencer has taken the news?"
"According to Robin, who came to see me, she feels utterly betrayed by Walsh and has disowned him." David's eyes flashed with humor. "And by the same token, I believe she will forgive Walsh much more quickly."
"Very likely." Mary Margaret smiled.
David's expression sobered. "Walsh is my father's son, so I do not begrudge him the family estate, except on one point. I wish I could provide a better home for you, Mary Margaret. A clergyman's income is all I can offer you now."
"Oh, David," said Mary Margaret, taking his hand in hers. "I would happily build a cabin in the woods and spend the rest of my days hunting rabbits for supper, if that was all the life you could offer me," she said, pressing an affectionate kiss to his knuckles, "as long as I have you by my side."
His eyes brimming with warmth and gratitude, David leaned forward and pressed his lips to Mary Margaret's, pouring all the adoration he felt into the kiss.
Mrs. Lucas was amazed when Emma and Mary Margaret called on her to tell her all the news. Her invectives against Mrs. Walsh Spencer were quite energetic!
"That hussy! Making use of me like that! Fooling me and all of you into thinking she'd married Mr. Spencer—when it was the brother all the time! Lawks a-mercy! I thought she was a nice girl, though prone to be a bit obsequious. But I made allowances for her background and situation—but I don't hold with such—and poor Mr. Spencer, to have lost his inheritance standing up for this piece of baggage—it served that stepmother of his right well—But, all's well that ends well, as they say. And I'm very happy for you, my dear Miss Blanchard. I must write to Ruby at once. Won't she be surprised!"
David took up temporary residence at Arendell Cottage, where he was to remain until some much-needed renovations were completed at the parsonage house. Oh, what a contrast this was to his previous visit! That visit had been marked by restraint and mixed messages. But now, there was no dearth of warmth, openness, assurance, and overall gratitude for the happy turn of events. There was a remarkable change in David's manner and spirits. The happiness in his heart was expressed not just in words, but in the smile in his eyes, and the ease of his manner. While a large part of this might be attributed to his honorable release from the engagement to Kelly and his subsequent engagement to herself, Mary Margaret got the impression that his newfound independence from his stepmother had something to do with it as well.
Ingrid issued an invitation to Captain Jones to dine at Arendell cottage so as to give David and his patron an opportunity to get better acquainted. If Ingrid had another motive in the matter, she did not openly disclose it, but Mary Margaret caught the sparkle in her sister's eyes.
Mary Margaret had observed Emma's growing inclination for the naval captain with surprise at first. She had not expected Emma to move past her heartbreak over Neal Cassidy so quickly, even with the exposure of his mercenary and fickle nature. However, though she had been surprised, Mary Margaret was not displeased. Ever since his kind offer of the Misthaven living to David, she regarded the captain with esteem, even if his offer had initially appeared to facilitate the union between David and Kelly West. The qualities of kindness and generosity were always recommendations to her favor, and his evident partiality for her sister added a degree of warmth to her regard. She could not help suspecting that Captain Jones had invited his mentor, Admiral Nemo, to Misthaven specifically to meet Emma.
Over the course of the admiral's visit, Mary Margaret had observed a change in Emma's manner towards Captain Jones. While earlier, she had seemed guarded in her interactions with him, there was now an open warmth and a spark of happiness whenever she was around him. Emma's growing attachment to the captain was less exuberant when contrasted with her behavior towards Neal Cassidy, but Mary Margaret had the impression that Emma's feelings ran deeper for all that.
Captain Jones arrived at a quarter to five and was soon appraised of the Shakespearean turn of events with respect to David's matrimonial prospects. As his good offices towards David had resulted in a serendipitous advantage to Miss Blanchard, the captain did not offer anything more than his congratulations on hearing the news.
He and Emma sat next to each other during dinner. Mary Margaret could not help noting how frequently their eyes strayed towards each other. And she was not the only one to notice it. Ingrid seemed to be making an effort to not smile whenever she caught the oblivious couple exchanging looks and David soon directed a questioning eyebrow in Mary Margaret's direction with a subtle nod of the head towards the pair.
The conversation at the table ran along the lines of parish matters and the renovations being carried out at the parsonage.
"The parsonage will be ready for occupation in another week as far as the vital repair-work is concerned, Mr. Spencer," Captain Jones assured David. "The builder is at your disposal for any additional changes you may wish to make."
David thanked him, adding, "That would work very well for me. I will write to London and have my personal effects sent over at once."
Mary Margaret was not too disappointed that David would be moving to the parsonage soon. She was indeed quite eager for David to get settled at the parsonage, and assist him in picking out color schemes for window curtains and china patterns as far as their limited budget would allow.
After dinner, the two sisters and Ingrid moved to the drawing room, but the men did not linger behind for long. David, who seemed to have assigned to himself the role of protective big brother to Emma, walked up to the sofa where she was sitting by herself and sat down beside her, leaving Captain Jones with no option but to sit elsewhere. Emma, however, ingeniously foiled David's plot by rising, walking to the desk by the window, picking up a couple of books, and making her way back with apparent casualness to sit next to the captain. Mary Margaret and Ingrid exchanged an amused look.
"Captain Jones, we have a habit of asking our guests to read aloud after dinner. Would you be so good as to read something for us?" She cast a sly glance at David. "David here likes Wordsworth. But perhaps you prefer a different poet?"
The captain took the proffered books, an amused glint in his eyes. "I would be happy to," he said, and started leafing through the pages. He picked out the latest collection of poems by Mr. Coleridge and started to read the poem "Kubla Khan". Mary Margaret could not help suspecting a hint of mischief in the captain's selection of the piece, which the poet claimed had come to him in an opium-induced dream. He was certainly playing up to Emma's antics. Mary Margaret gave David a pointed look, who sheepishly rolled his eyes.
After Captain Jones had left and everyone had retired to their bedrooms, Emma said to Mary Margaret, "Now that you are getting married, you should take the breakfast china."
Mary Margaret protested. "It belongs to both of us, Emma. We should divide it."
"Really?" Emma gave her sister an exasperated look.
"It was our mother's. I couldn't possibly take the whole set."
Emma's gaze softened. "I have Mama's pianoforte. It is only right that you take the breakfast set. Besides, the blue willow pattern would be just perfect for a parsonage."
A teasing glint entered Mary Margaret's eyes. "I quite admired the Wedgwood set at the Abbey when we had breakfast there the other day."
A hint of color spread over Emma's cheeks. "Oh?"
"Emma…." Mary Margaret cocked her head to one side. "Are you going to pretend there's nothing between you and the captain?"
"There is nothing between the captain and me."
"Really?" Mary Margaret arched her brows.
"Well…perhaps…well…I do like him," Emma admitted with a blush.
Mary Margaret laughed out loud. Emma looked chagrined. Mary Margaret composed her face immediately. "I'm sorry, Emma. I was not laughing at you. I was just reminded of a certain conversation we had about the same time last year. You quarreled with the 'banal' words I used to describe my feelings for David. The boot is on the other foot now."
Emma threw a pillow at her sister.
Mary Margaret laughed again as she caught it. Emma huffed and stretched out on her bed, turning away to face the wall, and pulling the covers over her head as she did so. Still smiling, Mary Margaret blew out the candles and lay down as well.
In the dark, Mary Margaret whispered, "I'm sure he likes you too, Emma. Very much so."
The sheets rustled as Emma turned towards her sister. "You think so?" she whispered back.
"Absolutely."
Mary Margaret could hear the smile in her voice when Emma wished her a good night.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you think. :-)