Chapter 17
A few minutes later…or maybe it was hours later, there was a knock on her door. Harlean could tell from the pattern of the knock that it was her brothers.
She stood up and slowly opened the door, her brothers came in and then they closed and locked the door back behind themselves.
"Harlean how-"
"Micah…" Jonah began; he gave his younger brother a look- that closed his mouth. He still looked angry but Harlean knew that was because Micah was too much like their father.
Jonah then looked at Harlean, "Are you alright?" He asked.
Harlean nodded numbly, "Why does he not understand?" She murmured.
"Because Father is right, you should be marrying a man who can pay for your every need and take care of you," Micah interjected before Jonah could reply.
"Micah if all you're going to do is be negative then you can leave right now," Jonah said, more sternly this time.
"I second that motion," Harlean said.
Jonah looked at his sister then to Micah, "Leave."
Micah looked like he might protest but then he got the evil eye from his brother, the same evil eye their mother possessed. The younger Carpenter boy grumbled a complaint but left the room.
Jonah then locked the door again and looked at his sister, "Harlean they are just looking out for your wellbeing. Mother and Father only want the best for you and for whatever reason…they don't think this Bride fellow is what's best for you," he explained.
"But he is! If they just spent some time with him, allowed them to get to know him they would see how much of a dear he is. They would see that I need Harold in my life. He may have been crippled the entire time on the Carpathia, but he still took care of me and made sure I was alright. He never mentioned Uncle except for when he gave me something. Harold knows me better than anyone," Harlean protested.
"What did he give you?" Jonah asked.
Harlean sighed; she walked over to her vanity, opened a drawer and pulled out her Uncle's Pocket Watch. Jonah took it gently from her hands, closed his hands around it and his eyes shut for a moment.
"Uncle had given it to Harold and asked him to give it to me," Harlean said softly, images of her Uncle smiling happily at her the morning of the Docking flashed through her mind. She closed her eyes and when she opened them again the images were gone from her mind, but she knew they would be there when she went to sleep that night.
"Harlean…do you truly believe Mr Bride is the one God has intended for you?" Jonah asked a moment later.
She nodded, "Yes Jonah…truly I do."
Jonah handed the watch back to her and sighed, "I'll talk to Mother and Father. For now take Holly and go and call on Mr Bride. Explain to him the situation and then I will meet you at the house, alright?"
"Yes…I just need to get his address…but I have it written down," Harlean replied.
"Alright you do that."
Jonah leaned down and kissed his sister on the top of her head, "I love you," he murmured.
"I love you too."
Jonah then left the room and Harlean turned around and went through her Vanity drawers, a moment later she pulled out a piece of paper with the address. She also pulled out some money from her safe keeping and found the amount for the dresses he had bought for her and Holly.
Just as she was going to her wardrobe to get her coat out Holly came up, "Are we going somewhere Miss Harlean?" she asked.
Harlean nodded, "Help me into my coat, and putting my hat on. Then fetch your coat, we are to go and see Harold at his parent's home and then Jonah will come and meet us there," she explained.
Holly quickly helped Harlean into her coat and placing the hat on her head when Harlean thought of something just as she was about to slide on her white gloves.
She walked over to her box where her rings were kept and pulled out her engagement ring. Harlean slid it onto her finger and then put her gloves on.
Once Holly was ready the women left the room and headed down the stairs, "Harlean where are you going?"
She turned to the parlor and saw her mother, Father was no where to be seen.
"Holly and I are going to see Cousin Rose."
Harlean hated to lie but she knew she would never be let out of the house if she told the truth.
"You are going to go out in this weather?" Her mother looked worried.
Harlean looked and saw it had begun to rain, "I'll take the umbrella and the car," she answered.
"Very well, be home soon."
Harlean nodded at her mother and she and Holly went to the door. The doorman and driver pulled out a black umbrella and held it up over Harlean and Holly's head as they went outside to the car.
About half an hour to an hour later they pulled up outside a Town House on Ravenbourne Avenue, in the Shortlands part of Kent England. Harlean caught a glimpse of Harold passing a window and was comforted to know she went to the right house.
As she was getting out of the car Harlean smiled at the prospect of living in a small townhouse like this. She had lived in that big mansion all her life in the big city; something small and simple was attractive.
Together she and Holly walked up the stairs of the house and then Holly knocked.
She heard a dog's bark and then the door opened, it was Harold and he smiled at the sight of Harlean.
"Come in," he said quickly.
Harlean walked in and then Holly went in.
Harold took the woman's coats and hung them up in a hall closet. He then went into the parlor and they followed closely behind, "Mother, Father this is."
"You must be Harlean; Harold has told us so much about you." Harold's mother had cut him off before he could finish and she stood up, but instead of offering her hand she pulled the girl into a hug.
"You are just as beautiful as he has said you are," she said.
Harlean smiled as his mother pulled away.
"It's very lovely to meet you Mr and Mrs Bride," Harlean said.
She looked at Holly, "This is my maid and good friend Holly."
"Very lovely to meet you Holly," Mrs Bride shook Holly's hand who smiled back.
"Please sit," Harold stepped out of the way and Harlean and Holly sat down on the sofa that had been offered.
"So how did your parents handle the news?" Harold inquired as he sat down.
Harlean looked down at her hands then back up again, "They didn't handle it…at all. That's partly why I came, but also because Jonah told me to. He came and talked to me, he knows we are serious and he said he'd talk to Mother and Father," she explained.
Harold sighed and his mother frowned at her son's expression.
"I do not understand their discomfort with the engagement. It is bizarre to me," Harlean went on.
"You told me that they wouldn't mind because they had always wanted you to find someone who loved you," Harold said.
"Well that's what I thought…apparently not. They used to joke as well that I would always marry someone like my Uncle…and that seemed to be the thing Father used the most against me. He doesn't want me married to someone who works on the sea," Harlean replied.
"Well that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard," Mrs Bride commented.
"Yes Ma'am, it is," Harlean said.
"Do you think your brother will be able to persuade them? I mean maybe my parents and I should come over and let them get to know us. Were not that much of a bad pack," Harold and his father laughed.
Before Harlean could respond there was a knock on the door, "Oh that must be your brothers," Mrs Bride stood up and walked to the door. But when she got there, there were three men standing.
"Mother this man says he's Harold's girl's brother."
Mrs Bride nodded, "Very well Matthew. Come on in, all of you."
"Thank you Mrs Bride," Jonah said.
Andrew and Benjamin Bride were about two years apart from each other and they were Harold's older brothers. They both carried a striking resemblance to their father. Brown hair and brown eyes, if you saw the three Bride brothers together you would know that they were brothers. Each looked like the other.
Harlean stood up when Mrs Bride introduced Andrew and Benjamin to her and then she saw Jonah, "What did they say?" she asked.
"They are not budging about the matter," Jonah answered.
Harlean sighed and sat back down onto the sofa.
"But I'm not giving up on them. Just give it a few days, let them think about it then we can bring Harold and his family to the house," Jonah looked at Mr Bride, "I hope you do not take this the wrong way but I can see that you live quite comfortably here and I'm sure that will give us one less thing they can use against Harold and Harlean," he said.
"No offence taken," Mr Bride smiled.
"So wait…besides me working on the sea they also used my pay against you?"
Everyone looked to Harold, who was clearly upset.
Harlean nodded, "They seem to think you won't be able to take care of me…even though I could care less about the money," she answered.
"They have no idea what my family's financial status is," Harold said.
"No they do not, which is what has made this whole situation unfair," Harlean replied.
She paused then pulled her purse into her lap, she pulled out the bunched up money and handed it to Harold, "This is for those dresses you're bought for Holly and I," she said.
"Harlean I told you it was the least I could do for you. I still have plenty of money from that interview I gave and for the compensation the White Star Line and the Telegraph Company are giving me. I'm still in their employment but the White Star Line is going to be paying people compensation for a very long time," Harold explained.
"Well I do not feel right about it so I want you to have the money," Harlean explained.
"The other thing mother and father should keep in mind is that you will still be very comfy in a life with whoever you married. Thanks to Uncle Edward," Jonah spoke up before Harold could protest some more about the money.
Harlean forced it into Harold's hands, "I did not think about that," she commented, looking at Jonah.
"Did you inherit money?" Harold inquired.
Harlean nodded, "Uncle was a wealthy enough man. He left plenty for Aunt Eleanor and for my Cousin. Mother gained some money, and Jonah, Micah, and I inherited a fair amount of money," she answered.
"I think for now Harlean and I should be getting home. We will send word when she can call again. In about a day or so I'm going to try to talk to our parents again," Jonah said.
The Bride's all murmured an agreement. Harlean stood up at the same time Harold did.
"Here Harlean I'll get your coat," he said.
Harlean followed him out of the room and thankfully Holly didn't follow.
"I'm sorry about everything," Harlean said as Harold opened the hall closet.
"It's not your fault," he replied, pulling out her coat and helping her into it.
"I love you Sparks…you know that right? And no matter what happens…we will be married, with or without Father's blessing," she said.
Harold looked at her once her coat was buttoned up, "I love you too, I can tell you this…my parents adore you," he said, smiling.
Harlean smiled and leaned up to kiss him. They stood there for a moment in each others embrace and then they heard a clearing of a throat and they pulled apart to see Holly.
Harlean's face flushed a deep shade of red and then Harold helped Holly into her coat.
Everyone made their goodbyes and then Holly and Harlean left in the car they brought and Jonah left in his own car…
XX
A/N- Alright so I couldn't find the name of Harold Bride's brothers…so if anyone knows their real names please let me know.
Thank you sooooooo much to the peeps who reviewed! I loved getting the reviews! Please review some more! :D
Christmas in three more days!!! :D I'm very excited! Alright well review and I'll pass out some cookies and bubbly! I have like a week to finish this story…and I hope to do so in a few days….I really want to wind this down. I have a Doctor Who story now that I'm dying to write….lol….so lots of love to ya! Review and I update faster!!!
Love, Beccs! ^_^