Rigmarole
SEPTERMBER 2002
BY: ae
**Lost? :)
Click here
if you have not read part three.**
PART FOUR
Feeling quite the
inept fool, Dan shrugged off his suit coat and pushed up his sleeves before
shoving his hat on his dark head and swinging aboard his mount. His
face sporting a bit of a frown, he pressed the heels of his boots into
the chocolate sides of Charlie Brown, the five-year-old gelding he had
purchased a few months back. He had been fortunate enough to meet
an old man with the same name back in Boston a good time ago and for some
reason, it had just seemed right to use it now—perhaps as a conscious thanks
for the willing ear and helping hand the kind eyed gentleman had offered
so many years ago.
Dan's nostalgic
abstractions veered in another direction, however, as he headed from the
Laurence's neatly manicured estate. Mrs. Laurence approved of his
wish to marry her daughter! Her acquiescence had relieved the burden
of feared rejection and apprehension from his shoulders—for her doubts
had been his main concern. Mr. Laurence had accepted him, given him
the benefit of the doubt since his first encounter at Plumfield; but it
had taken the wealthy and considerate philanthropist's wife a much longer
to warm up to him.
But with his questionable
past, who could blame her? Especially when it was her only daughter
he was asking to marry?
Despite the natural
tensions of it all, his lips twisted into an unbridled smile. Fiery
tempered Elizabeth Laurence was going to become Mrs. Daniel Madison—assuming
she accepted his proposal, which would follow only after he did the respectful
thing and asked for her father's permission as well. Still, the thought
sent a current of eagerness through his insides. Without a doubt,
he considered himself the luckiest fellow in the world!
* * *
Blast! Handsome
and clean-shaven, Thomas's face furrowed into a scowl. In his preoccupation,
he had walked out of the Laurence's house without remembering to retrieve
his hat. He could not very well just up and leave it—and coming to
that particular decision, he leaned out the side of the carriage and hailed
the driver.
Following the
older man's nod of affirmation, Thomas settled back into the seat, hands
stapled in thought as the elegant horse-drawn vehicle made a switch in
directions. Did the Laurences know of Dan's nefarious past?
That their good friend picked pockets and was probably still hiding from
the law?
He could only
assume not, for typical people in the Laurence's social position did not
hold such ruffians in high esteem—let alone associate with them.
Thomas could not help but ponder the curious relationship shared between
both parties. Dan Madison, awkward and a pick pocket, hugging the
man's wife... and hadn't Theodore mentioned having a daughter?
'My wife and
daughter...'
His darks brows
rose upward. Mr. Laurence had mentioned a daughter—his only
daughter; one of the two girls he had noticed on the staircase?—and more
than a couple of times throughout their earlier conversation. This
offered a more interesting twist? So many plausible possibilities....
Leaning out the
side again, Thomas Gerard waved to the hired driver.
* * *
Her husband's head
resting in her lap for the ease of his newly returned headache, Amy massaged
his temple with gentle fingers. "He seemed like a very nice young
man," she commented, referring to the cultured Gerard, Jr. who had come
in his father's place. "So intelligent and responsible for having
just turning twenty six."
Mumbling an almost
incomprehensible word of agreement, Laurie offered a slight shift of his
head, eyes remaining closed. "He's got a level head strapped on his
shoulders, I think," he answered, knowing his wife would want some sort
of response. "And is very popular with the ladies, no doubt." Such
gentleman as the one he had just arranged a business agreement with did
not go unnoticed by the female population of any town.
Amy's delicate
brows curved inward. It had not been intentional, but his words gave
an ominous feeling she couldn't quite decipher. Jo had used the same
words to describe Mrs. Albright's nephew following their first encounter
with the cunning college aged rogue . . . and look where that had gone.
"Amy?"
"Yes, dear?" She
pushed her musing aside.
"What was Dan
doing here?"
"Dan!" Her
countenance brightened. "I almost forgot. He came by for tea
and we—talked."
Laurie peeked
up at his blonde wife through a dropping eyelid. "Tea? I know
there's supposed to be a first time for everything, dear, but I hardly
think that such a thing could possibly apply when putting 'Daniel Madison'
and 'tea' in the same sentence," he countered in a wry tone. "It's
an oxymoron."
"Well, we did
talk and he did have tea. In fact..." she started to squirm
and a bubbly smile started at either corner of her rosebud mouth.
"In fact, what?"
Was he going to have to pry it out of her? Gracious! Who was
this and what had she done with his real wife?
"He wants to marry
Bess! And I told him that would be just fine."
"You what!?"
Laurie bolted upright, looking back at her with eyes more round than dinner
plates.
"He wanted to
speak to you, but I pried it out of him before you arrived." She
giggled. "Poor boy—he was so nervous! Enough that I thought
he might up and faint dead away."
He said nothing
for a moment, it was all somewhat of a shock. "He wants to marry
Bess?"
Amy nodded, oblivious
to his sudden change in mien. "He's going to ask you for permission,
of course, but I told him I thought it would be just lovely."
Just lovely?
She sounded like she was planning a tea party rather than their daughter's
future. "Did he say when he might be coming by?" he queried, keeping
his thoughts to himself.
"Oh, I don't know.
In the days few days, I would suppose. Maybe even tomorrow?"
Laurie ran a hand
through his hair. Dan—marry Bess. He had always had a soft spot for
Jo's "firebrand" and had even unconsciously suspected something like this
would eventually happen. But now that it was <i>here</i>—that
he was actually asking permission for Bess's hand.
Questions filled
his mind. Dan Madison was a honest young man with a good heart and
a desire to do what was right. And it was honest to say that he could
not ask for a better young man for his daughter than Daniel Madison.
His character—no matter how wonderful—would not put food on the table,
though. It would be a definite asset in finding a position, but he
did not have the same qualifications as a man who had received a full education.
Could he provide enough for a family? He was a diligent worker, that
was for certain. But would it be enough to get by?
Laurie closed
his eyes and let his head rest back in Amy's taffeta cushioned lap, feeling
the intensified ache in either side of his temple. Could Dan support
a wife, children later on? Perhaps. Although he knew it would
likely not be close in comparison to the way some young men could provide
. . . ones like Thomas Gerard, Jr.
* * *
Bess Laurence accepted
the extended bundle of mail with a polite smile to the older man situated
across the old oak counter. "Thank you, Mr. Gerson. And please
thanks Mrs. Gerson for the roses. I know Mother will be thrilled
when she sees them."
Mr. Gerson nodded
his balding head, returning her kind gesture. "You're most welcome,
Miss Laurence. And I'll be sure to pass the message on," he promised.
"Now you have a nice afternoon."
Miss Laurence.
Bess's lips curled into a secretive smile of wistful delight as she
exited the general store. Before too long it would be Mrs. Daniel
Madison . . . at least she hop—
"Whoa!"
Her letters and
the small bouquet of flowers Mrs. Gerson had sent along went up and then
fluttered to the ground like a shower of leaves falling from a tree as
she collided with a tall, distinguished—and altogether dashing young man
just entering.
He looked up.
And she flushed.
Noting her polite
embarrassment, he spoke. "I hope you're all right? It was most
barbaric of me to come barreling down the boardwalk like that, entering
with such force. I fear I was in a bit too much of a hurry."
Bess shook her
head, a slight smile touching her mouth. "Oh, no. I'm fine,
thank you. But it was my fault—I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention."
Her brows furrowed a little. "Are you all right?"
"I survived alive
and unscathed, thank you, Miss." He swept off his fashionable hat
then, giving a half bow. "Please forgive me. I'm Thomas Gerard."
His greenish gray
eyes twinkled when he smiled, so she noticed. "It's a pleasure to
meet you . . . Mr. Gerard." Why did that sound familiar? Bess
extended a small gloved at the extension of his.
Blonde . . . flustered
. . . smiling. She looked familiar . . .
"I'm Elizabeth—Bess—Laurence."
To Be Continued . . .
(Want to write a part? Email
Melissa/Honey Bee!)
Constructive criticism helps a great deal,
so let me know what you think!
Email: besslaurence@paxemail.com
(ae's)
Little Men Fan Fiction
Main
Page
