Page 17 of Rogue of the Greenwood
“Perhaps your cousin isn’t the only one in the household who will have news to share soon,” he said, leaving little doubt to his meaning.
She stammered for words, desperate to speak before he had the chance to continue. Fortunately, she was saved! They had arrived at the point where their road joined up with the other. As if a miracle from heaven, Meg and Mr. Reeve appeared there, his curricle racing toward theirs.
Meg called out to her when they came to a stop, the carriages next to each other.
“Oh, Marianne! I am so happy to see you! We heard screams in the distance and I was so worried.”
“I am fine,” Marianne assured her. “But yes, I’m afraid those were my screams you heard.”
She quickly related her version of the story—Mr. Gisborn valiantly trying to save the imaginary bird and the horses running away with her only to magically stop after a mile, leaving her shaken and distraught, but quite unharmed when Mr. Gisborn finally found her—completely alone. She made sure to stress that element. Meg was shocked to hear of such an ordeal and agreed they should all hurry home so that poor, poor Marianne could be put straightaway to bed. Marianne could have kissed her sweet, worrying cousin.
The gentlemen graciously complied, and the ride home was blissfully uneventful. Even more blissfully,Mr. Gisborn was content to ride in silence. Marianne rubbed her head as if suffering from a headache, but she valiantly did not complain. They bid the men farewell and Meg fussed and fussed over her and put Marianne to bed, just as she had said that she would.
Aunt Regina was out, so thankfully Marianne did not have to keep up her playacting for anyone besides Meg. She couldn’t help but notice, though, that Meg seemed just as eager to believe Marianne’s story as Marianne was eager to have her believe it. In fact, Meg was decidedly much more interested in Marianne than she needed to be.
“Forgive me, Meg,” Marianne said as her cousin fluffed her pillow. “I’ve rattled on and on about my tribulations, but how was your afternoon? I’m sorry that I caused us to turn for home so early.”
“Oh, don’t be sorry at all!” Meg said quickly. “Of course you needed to be home, and I needed to be with you.”
“But wouldn’t you rather have continued enjoying your day with Mr. Reeve?”
Now Meg didn’t answer so quickly. “Well… it was a lovely drive, and he is very proud of his beautiful new curricle…”
“Did you discuss anything other than the scenery or his conveyance?”
By the rush of pink to Meg’s face Marianne knew the answer to that. She put her hands to her mouth to stifle a squeal.
“You did discuss something else! Oh Meg, I am so very happy for you!”
But Meg didn’t look happy. She looked terrified. “No! It isn’t like that!”
“Mr. Reeve did not propose to you?”
“Well… he did…”
“And you accepted, of course.”
“No, not exactly…”
“You told himno?”
“I didn’t answer him,” Meg said, shaking her head. “That’s when we heard you screaming all the way across Sherwood.”
“Goodness! Oh, I’m so sorry, Meg. I ruined your wonderful proposal!”
“No, you didn’t. You see—”
But her explanation was interrupted. Aunt Regina had apparently arrived home and was informed of Marianne’s disastrous ride. She came sailing into the room, a flurry of concern and rare motherly affection.
Marianne allowed herself to be subjected to the woman’s ministrations. She patiently answered all of her questions and recited the tale of the day, once again carefully mentioning that she was totally alone until Mr. Gisborn came to find her. In the end, Aunt Regina announced that both girls should rest and take dinner in their rooms.
Neither girl complained.
“And Meg, dearest,” Aunt Regina said before she finally took her leave. “Your father wants to speak with you, but I will have him wait. Surely tomorrow will be soon enough.”
“Yes, Mamma,” Meg replied, her face falling. “That will be soon enough.”
Chapter 6
