Laughter rang out from the parlor room of the Bolger household, and Estella was glad to hear it. She had been distraught when Fatty had confronted Merry, terrified her brother would lose such a dear friend over something that truly had not bothered her too deeply. Yes, she had not liked being used so publicly, but really, there had been no harm done. She had encouraged Fatty to apologize, and it seemed his apology had done the trick. That was a week ago, and now Merry was paying his first visit to the Bolger home since.
"Stella!" Fatty called.
She quietly padded into the sitting room, smiling at Fatty and Merry. "Yes, gentlemen?"
"Would you mind fetching us something to eat from the pantry? Maybe some of those tea cakes you made?"
"I'll bring that and some tea too, if you'll give me a moment."
Her mother was already busy about the kitchen. Apparently, Rosamunda had anticipated the lads request for refreshments, for she had tea prepared and was setting cheeses, bread, and butter on a tray.
"Estella, be a dear and take this in for me. I can hardly bear to look at young Mr. Brandybuck since last month! How hurtful and cruel he was to you!"
Estella rolled her eyes and let an exasperated sigh escape her lips. "I wasn't hurt." Quickly, she fetched the tea cakes Fatty had requested. "Merry was rude, but there's no reason to hold it against him when Fred and I have not." With that, she took the tray and brought it into the parlor. She intended to go back to her room but was invited to stay. Being a hobbit, Estella was not in the habit of turning down an invitation to eat, so she joined the lads.
Merry was back again several days later, and several days after that. In fact, he was over quite often. On days Fatty worked he would come in the evenings and stay late into the night. Other times he would arrive early in the afternoon. Estella had noticed that when she went out of her way to avoid the parlor during his visits, she was often called in and asked for her opinion on whatever topic of conversation was currently at hand. She was often asked to join in a game of Yes and No, or just if she would mind bringing them some tea cakes, which Merry had developed quite a taste for. Whenever this happened, she was always invited to join them for refreshments.
Rosamunda had brought this up to Estella one night, quite excited. "Well, he can't possibly be trying to make Miss Bracegirdle jealous now, when he's already been seeing her. Perhaps he really is taken with you, Stella, dear! Perhaps he will come to call formally very soon!"
"Mam, stop," Estella said firmly, but gently. "He will not. Even if he was interested, he told Fred he wouldn't."
"Why would Freddy make him promise something like that? He's the only lad that's ever showed interest in you and he'd be a fine match! You'd be wealthy beyond anything anyone else could give you! I don't know why your brother would want to ruin your chances of being happily married!"
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she explained for the umpteenth time, "He's still calling on Peony, so there's no reason to believe he has interest in me."
But Rosamunda would not be persuaded to give up hoping yet.
During one such visit on a rather dreary afternoon, Estella was in her favorite chair, a book Merry had brought with him spread on her lap. In it were detailed illustrations of Rivendell and Lothlorien. Everything from the vegetation to the small, close-up minutia of the architecture seemed to be pictured. Estella found she had to keep reminding herself that these places were real. Not only real, but places Merry, Frodo, Pippin, and Sam had been to!
"I've never seen such trees!" she exclaimed, her hands gently tracing the edge of the page.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Merry asked. "Legolas thought Pip and I might enjoy sharing it with our friends."
Once again, Estella had to remind herself that this was no pretend act. Merry Brandybuck really was friends with an elvish prince. She flipped the pages, admiring the illustrations. "I'll bet Peony will be excited to have you show it to her," she remarked.
"Oh, well, I've stopped... I've stopped seeing her," Merry admitted.
That got the attention of both Estella and Fatty. The two exchanged looks. Fatty made a gesture that indicated he would ask Merry to leave, but Estella subtly shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
Fatty's voice broke the tense silence. "That's a shame, she seems to be a sweet girl."
Merry nodded. "She is, she is. Just not right for me, is all."
Estella closed the book and handed it back to him, standing to leave. "It seems like a girl is never right for you after a few weeks." She kept her tone cool and gave Merry a smile before excusing herself, more for Fatty's sake than her own. Rosamunda wasn't the only one who had noticed the increasing frequency of Merry's visits, but while he had still been calling on Peony, Fatty was willing to not concern himself with it. Estella couldn't deny her disappointment. She had been enjoying Merry's visits, and now she knew Fatty would welcome them less often. She sighed deeply as she closed the door to her bedroom leaning against it for a moment, her mind racing. She wished desperately Merry had just gone on and married Peony. That way she could have continued on in her friendship with him without Fatty being bothered by it.
She laid on her bed for what she guessed to be a quarter of an hour till Fatty knocked lightly and stuck his head inside. "He's gone now. I think I'll head down to the pub. Mam's gone down to the Smallburrow's for a visit."
"Alright."
"Are you?" he asked.
She laughed, getting up from her bed. "Yes, Freddy, of course I am. I've told you before and I'll tell you again, I haven't got a heart that a Brandybuck could break, even if he tried."
Fatty smiled lovingly at her. "That's my girl. I'll be back later, Stelly."
Estella saw him out the door, then went to collect the tea things from the parlor. The first thing she noticed was Merry's book on the table. Groaning, knowing exactly what this meant, she went about starting to tidy up. She'd barely gathered the cups when there was a knock on the door. Indignant, she went to the door and practically threw it open, only to see Merry standing there, his hair and shoulders damp now from the falling rain. "What do you want?" she asked, having to fight the urge to throw her arms in the air in frustration.
"I've forgotten my book."
Estella stood aside and gestured for him to enter. As they walked down the hallway, she pointed a finger at him and said, "Let me be clear, Meriadoc, I know you intentionally left it here. There is no way you would leave such a book, and a new one too, by mistake. Don't put up a pretense with me. I know you've done this on purpose, and I know you waited for Fred to leave so you could talk to me." She placed both hands on her hips and watched him as he claimed his left behind book, satisfied to see that she'd taken him by surprise with this.
He shifted the book awkwardly in his hands. "Yes," was all he said.
"Talk then," came her command. She motioned for him to take a seat.
Merry sighed, then did as he was asked. "I fancy you, Estella. I tried not to. I liked Peony as well, but it's different with you. I'd be on a walk with her and find myself only thinking about how much I'd like to tell you about it the next time I came here. When we would be invited to tea, I could only think that I would have had a nicer time if I had been with you instead. I enjoyed spending time in her home, but I always had more fun here, especially when you joined us."
"Freddy asked you to stay away from me."
"He did."
"You gave him your word," she said seriously.
"I did," Merry confessed.
"And yet, here you are. You know, I thought your behavior at the dance was reprehensible, but I did at least think you capable of keeping your word. Especially words to an old friend." She walked to the window and watched as the raindrops ran races down the panes.
"I know. And you're right! You were right at the dance; your brother was right when he shouted at me in front of everyone in the pub! And I don't like that you were right. But I have grown so fond of you. If you'd let me, I'd come to call on you tomorrow."
"Well, I'm sure you understand why it's difficult to believe you." She turned quickly to look at him when she heard him rise from his seat as well. He took a few steps towards her before she gave him a warning look that stopped him from coming closer. "You know I am not overly sensitive, but you used me Merry, when it was not needed, and in front of everyone. Peony would have accepted your offer without what you did to me. And now you come in here, saying you fancy me instead… I can't work out what you're playing at."
Merry stood silent for half a moment before reclaiming his seat. "You were the one I meant to make jealous, not Peony."
Estella was stunned. He could have said almost anything and it would have surprised her less than this admission. She felt laughter bubble up in her and couldn't help but let it spill out, filling the room. It was too absurd not to laugh at! She watched Merry begin to laugh as well, realization of what a silly idea it had been coming over him, she guessed. The tension that had been in the room dissipated and Estella took a seat as well, drawing her feet and legs up under her to sit more comfortably. "That is the most tweenaged thing you could have done. I had told you not even a fortnight before that I didn't want those kinds of attentions from you."
"I know," Merry said, shoulders still shaking just slightly from the laughter they had shared. "It was a rotten thing of me to do. To you and her."
Estella was so glad he had finally been open with her. She was much more at ease in his presence now, which is how she had been wishing for things to be. "Next time you can just ask me to dance. I'll not turn you down."
"But you still don't feel the way I do," Merry asked more than stated.
She shook her head. "No, I don't. Time may change that. It may not. What's more likely is that in a few weeks you'll find another lass to set your mind on, and then you won't be concerned about me anymore. Perhaps she will feel the way you do and be more suited to you."
"You won't let me try to change your mind?" he shifted in his seat, as he said this, earnestly hoping her answer would be different than what she felt she had to say.
"Those affections don't come from the mind, but my heart is decided too. I cannot help how I feel any more than you can."
He nodded and stood. "I do hope you'll forgive me."
"I already have, Merry. But you'd best be on your way. Forgiven or not, you did give Freddy your word. He called you many things, but I do not believe 'liar' was among them."
Merry took his book under one arm and said, "I'll ask you again, next time I see you."
"Ask me what?" she wondered.
"If your feelings have changed." The smile he gave her was actually quite charming and she couldn't help but return it. With his admission of what he had been trying to do at the last dance they'd attended, she felt as though she was able to slip into the ease and familiarity of an old friendship with him.
"Feel free to ask whenever you'd like. I'd much prefer your honesty than to play games with you."
"I think my playing days are over," Merry said, and left the Bolger's residence.
Estella hoped they were, for his own sake.
