Chapter Forty-One
For the next few days, Gilbert kept as much as possible to himself.
He spoke but little during family meals, and took long, rambling walks during the day.
Often, he would end up in Doddington at the little tea shop, hoping to be able to chat with Nancy, but there was a different girl behind the counter now.
He assumed Nancy felt it beneath her to work in one of her father’s businesses now that it was running successfully.
Gilbert saw no reason to call upon her quite yet.
He was certain he could make his offer of marriage to her at any time.
Marrying Nancy had become Gilbert’s new plan.
He certainly had no other firm ideas for his future, as he had confessed to Frederick when his brother-in-law came to speak to him.
Gilbert had been quite grateful for Frederick’s kind and solicitous manner during their long discourse.
While confessing his disappointment in Gilbert’s actions, Frederick said as a second son himself, he understood the limited options available and the difficulty in finding your way.
“So, Gilbert,” he had said, “if you truly feel being a rector is not for you, then you had best not attempt it. Better to know now than after you take orders and begin your pastoral duties.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Frederick. Tell me—did you have doubts about entering the church? Would you have preferred to take over your family estate?”
Frederick had screwed his face up, thinking a while before replying, “I cannot say. Managing an estate is a tremendous amount of responsibility and, had I been the first-born son, I would have known that burden was mine to bear, so I would have been prepared for it. To take it on now would seem a tremendous hardship, so I am content as I am.”
“But—did you not think it unfair that your older brother gains it all and you get nothing?”
“I never resented my brother for his fortunate birth position, if that is what you mean. I always thought becoming a rector with a suitable living a fine future, even as I believed that lofty position might be years away. I am still so very grateful to your father for giving me the living at Clayton House. Had he not elevated me so quickly, I might still be only a poor curate, living at my family home on a mere thirty-five pounds a year, and wondering how to be able to afford a wife.”
“You were lucky,” Gilbert said in a voice tinged with bitterness. “I see no such fortunate offer coming to me.”
Frederick reached out and gripped Gilbert’s arm.
“I was lucky, I suppose, but I also firmly believe that God puts you precisely where you are meant to be.
It was His plan that I meet your dear sister, fall in love, and then be given the living here so that I could marry Charlotte.
We are so happy and now we have a beautiful son.
I could never have imagined such a future only a year or so ago.
“So, my point is, Gilbert,” Frederick continued, “I feel quite certain that there is a similar happy future for you, though you cannot see it yet. I urge you to put your faith in God and let Him reveal His plan for you in His own time.”
“You are so firm in your belief, Frederick. If I had had your faith in God, I might then have had what it takes to enter the church, after all. Instead, I have no hope for being given the same happy circumstances God sent you.”
Alone in his room later, Gilbert reflected on the conversation.
He still felt his plan to marry Nancy was the best path forward, and had very nearly confided it to Frederick.
But, instead, he had not shared his idea to propose to Nancy with his brother-in-law, nor with any other member of the family.
He knew Dorothea, and possibly Lavinia, too, would think he was marrying beneath him, even though Nancy’s father was quite well off.
Another reason Gilbert kept his plan a secret was due to remembering his confiding his love for Miss Wells to Dorothea, only to have his offer rejected, which had added significantly to his humiliation.
Better for me to make my offer to Nancy, have it accepted, and bring her to Clayton House as my future wife than to raise any expectations yet.
Gilbert let another three weeks slip by before he moved forward with his plan to make Nancy an offer.
Dorothea departed for the journey back to Haverstone.
She would have enjoyed a longer visit, she said, but after the many weeks with Gilbert in London and then coming back to Clayton House, it was past time for her to be with her own family again.
It was now early August. Gilbert had received a letter from Carter full of news of the final ball, during which several other eligible young ladies and gentlemen had announced engagements.
I depart with my dear Mary and her family directly to the Landry estate.
I am most eager to see the property, as it will become our home for most of the year.
We have not yet set a wedding date, as I would wish to await the return of my father from the West Indies.
However, it may be longer than a year before I see him again, and I do not believe I can wait that long to make Mary my wife.
So, I expect us to wed at Christmastide.
Kirkpatrick and Miss Wells are already married—the banns were called the Sunday after we all learned of their engagement.
I assume having worked so very hard to secure an offer, the lady was unwilling to wait any longer to make it official.
Perhaps she feared he might change his mind?
Well, they deserve each other, that much is certain.
Once more, Gilbert felt a pang of regret over how things ended with Diana, but it was tempered somewhat by the belief that he would soon be married to sweet Nancy and he would not be too badly off, at the end of it.
Carter’s news of the many engagements in town made Gilbert decide it was time to make his offer.
The next day, he dressed well, although not too elegantly.
He did not wish to appear too much the high-ranked gentleman and intimidate Nancy with his offer to join his family.
She might feel a bit ill-at-ease in joining the most prestigious family in this part of the county, so he thought it best that he approach her in more modest attire.
He knew Nancy was one to dress well, but simply, despite having money.
That was a mark in her favor, he thought, for she would not be a spendthrift wife who spent all her allowance on fripperies and new gowns.
No, he knew that Nancy was level-headed and sensible and would make him a good wife.
Not wishing to get dust all over his nicer shoes, Gilbert took a horse into Doddington, stopping first at the tea shop, just in case she was working there, but when he saw she was not, continued on to her home on the far edge of Doddington.
It was a fine house—a half-timbered, three-story structure that was more than large enough for Nancy and her father.
Gilbert had been in it quite often when he and Nancy played together as children, but as he walked up to the large door with the imposing brass knocker depicting a hound’s head, he realized he had not been inside the Slade home since Mrs. Slade had passed away.
A chubby maid answered the door. Gilbert saw she was unable to keep the surprise off of her round face to see who was standing there.
He asked to see Miss Slade and the girl said she was upstairs and if he might please wait in the entry.
She hurried upstairs and Gilbert stood, looking about the hall.
It seemed little different than he remembered, with perhaps a new rug?
He admired the tasteful décor, which spoke of a comfortable living, but was in no way ostentatious.
He felt he could be quite comfortable in this home.
At least, until Nancy inherited and they might consider selling off the businesses and retiring permanently to the estate they might purchase with her dowry.
“Good morning, Gilbert, what a surprise to see you.” Nancy reached the bottom of the stairs and stood considering her guest.
“I hope it is a pleasant surprise, Nancy,” he said, grinning. “I know I have not been in your home in some time, but I should be sorry if I were no longer welcome.”
She gave a small smile. He noted she looked weary and her eyes appeared red. Had she been crying?
“You have always been a friend to us, Gilbert, and will always be welcome.” She paused before adding, “What brings you here today? Have you come to speak to my father?”
Gilbert smiled broadly—she clearly was anticipating his proposal and the need to voice his intentions to Mr. Slade. “Indeed, I do wish to speak with him, but I wonder if we might discuss something first—just us two.”
She gave him a curious look, but nodded and indicated the way down the hall to the sitting room.
He followed her, taking a chair across from her on the sofa.
He noticed she did not offer him any refreshments, but then, it was not even ten o’clock and he had enjoyed a large breakfast. Best to get right down to business.
“What did you wish to discuss, Gilbert?” she asked. “I am afraid I am quite occupied just now. You see—”
“Nancy,” he interrupted, leaning forward on his knees, “we have known each other for many years. You were my dear playmate when we were children, for even though I was almost three years older than you, you were such a scamp and able to keep up with me better than some boys.”
“That was many years ago, Gilbert. I no longer climb trees and clamber over rocky hills,” she said with a small smile. “I, too, look back with fondness on our childhood antics.”