Chapter 6: Resolution

Bertie Pelham was standing at his favorite place in Brancaster. Along one of the walls it offered the best view of the place, and it had become his favorite place to stop and think. Even as an agent, he would come to this place. Many times Peter had sought his counsel along this wall.

Peter... thinking about his cousin made him pause. Peter's lifestyle and the way he was treated and talked about at and around Brancaster had given Bertie more of a backbone than he realized. Even now, with his mother, he wasn't afraid to stand up to her. He may not be able to stop her comments, or everyone else, but he was able to take them and handle them. It made him sop and think about the situation with Marigold... could he handle the rumors about her?

Bertie sighed and pulled out his journal. As he did, a piece of paper flew out and hit the ground. He picked up the paper and smiled at the handwriting- his beloved grandmother Rebecca Matthews. When things became overwhelming with his mother, he would seek out her refuge and advice. She was a strong woman of faith, and always had a quote for him. Before she died, she gave him this piece of paper and told him when he met his future wife to always remember these verses. If he could treat her with the same respect, it would be a long and happy marriage. He had forgotten about that piece of paper until now... so, he reverently read it once again- imagining her voice reading the sacred words to him once more.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Remember, dear Bertie... Charity is another word for love just as Christ loved us... So, remember love always conquers all. By all, I mean everything- lies, past mistakes... even things this dear grandmother can't imagine. Don't let these things stand in the way of your future happiness.

Bertie wiped away the tears in his eyes. He was glad no one was nearby to see him weep over a simple piece of paper. His grandmother would have loved Edith, and would have been ashamed that he had not let the love in his heart conquer everything. He wasn't happy at all right now.. his diet and work had suffered and he knew the only cure was to get things straightened with Edith.

I proposed marriage today to Edith. She didn't immediately say yes, but she didn't say no either. After the day we had at the races and the unfortunate death of Charlie Rogers, I can see why she may have been hesitant. Something else was holding her back...

Bertie read the last line and could see the last puzzle piece fall into place. As his mind flew through the last time he had seen Edith, he realized that in reality he had pushed her for an answer. The shock of Marigold's parentage hadn't really been the final nail in the coffin for their relationship, it was just another obstacle. She had been willing to accept him as a lowly agent and made him feel like a prince. When he had become the Marquess, she still had accepted him no matter the reservations. She saw the problems before them with the news of her illegitimate child, and had hesitated. She tried to give him a way out of the engagement, but he had pushed forward. The broken engagement was as much her fault as it was his. It was only now- with the grief for his cousin in check- that he could see the answer in front of him- he must find a way to win her back and soon.

"Lord Hexham... there's a phone call for you. She says her name is Mary Talbot and it is important" came the voice of his butler. Bertie turned at the name, shocked by it, but went to answer the phone.

I'm going to London to win the love of my life back. This last month without her has been terrible. I am thankful for my journal right now, for it has become my voice of reason throughout this. And I thank my grandmother for having the words to say to me- even from the grave. I must take the time to remember those words and put them into practice. If Edith accepts me, the only way our relationship will survive and thrive is if we can love each other with this kind of love.

There are many obstacles in front of us- my new reign, my mother, Marigold- but with our love I know we can survive. I know know that her story shows only her courage, her decency, her loyalty, and her high regard for truth! And if I'm truthful with myself, she has been the better person throughout this ordeal, and I can only hope I can show her through my love, my loyalty and my treatment of her how much she means to me.

And now the story catches up to the meeting at the Ritz... I have an epilogue of sorts coming... this chapter took a different turn than I was thinking it would... the 1 Corinthians 13 passage was running through my head and I had to use it... and I had a grandmother, much like Bertie's, who taught me much about faith.

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