depth of his eagerness.”
Ella’s fact lit up and she withdrew a lace handkerchief from her pocket. “I am so happy to hear that! I didn’t dare hope, but in the past few weeks they seem to have grown so close!” Ella’s smile faded and she gazed at Eunice with obvious concern. “But things haven’t been going well recently. I don’t know what happened between them, but Fan won’t even bring up Christopher’s name. And when I’ve tried to inquire discreetly, even my housekeeper discourages the conversation. I don’t know what to make of it all.”
“I know.” Eunice nodded in agreement. “I’ve noticed the same thing. Young couples, especially when courting, can often let a little disagreement or misunderstanding grow entirely out of proportion. I know Fan is a sensitive girl, and she may be feeling a little shy around Christopher. Do you know”—Eunice leaned forward as if imparting important information—“that she is no longer home to him?”
Ella gasped. “No, I wasn’t aware that it had gotten to that point. I just know that Fan was incredibly happy until recently. Now she stays around the house, doesn’t visit much, doesn’t even socialize with her friends. I’ve been so worried, but she simply laughs and tells me not to be concerned.” She sighed, then sipped her tea. “The last thing I want is for her to be unhappy here.”
“My word, no,” Eunice said sharply. “If that happened, she might even be tempted to…leave once more.”
“I can’t bear to think of it.” Ella’s wrinkled face grew even tighter. “I can’t lose Fan again. Having her back in my life has brought me so much joy.”
“I know.” Eunice nodded, then hid a smile behind her teacup. “Then I think we have to take matters into our own hands. We’ve let the young people handle things, and they’ve only managed to botch up the entire affair.”
“You’re right,” Ella said firmly. “I know Fan has feelings for Christopher. She is cutting off her nose to spite her face, to quote something so vulgar as a cliché. But still, what do you suggest we do? If she refuses to see him, our hands are tied.”
“Not necessarily.” Eunice grinned. “There are ways to help nature take its course. Even with someone as stubborn as Fan or Christopher.” She clanked down her teacup as if she had a sudden inspiration. “Didn’t you tell me that the Mitchells are giving a reception tomorrow evening?”
“Yes,” Ella said in confusion. “But Fan won’t—”
“Let me handle the arrangements,” Eunice said confidently. “By the time we’re through, this marriage will be a fait accompli. You mark my words.”
Katie gently clipped the thorns from the stem of a rose and placed it into her basket. Sunlight poured into the garden, illuminating all of the secret nooks and crevices where morning glories and columbines struggled to bloom. But the soil was perfect for the roses and they unfolded about her, filling the air with a heady perfume.
“There you are, my dear,” Ella said softly as Katie glanced up. “Eunice and I have been looking all over for you. I thought I might find you here.”
Katie straightened, then forced herself to smile at Christopher’s aunt. This was something she hadn’t counted on. She had been successful for several days now in avoiding Christopher, but Eunice was something else again. The older woman had a way of peering straight into one’s heart, and Katie knew better than to tangle with her.
“Aunt Ella. Miss Scott. I was just leaving—”
“Stay, please,” Ella said, her voice firmer than Katie had heard before. “The garden is so beautiful this time of day and we’d welcome your company.”
“I really have some things I must see to—”
“Now, Frances, I insist that you remain,” Eunice said sharply, though she smiled as she spoke. “You haven’t favored any of us with your company for days. You have refused to even see my nephew, you’ve avoided me, and
Ella’s fact lit up and she withdrew a lace handkerchief from her pocket. “I am so happy to hear that! I didn’t dare hope, but in the past few weeks they seem to have grown so close!” Ella’s smile faded and she gazed at Eunice with obvious concern. “But things haven’t been going well recently. I don’t know what happened between them, but Fan won’t even bring up Christopher’s name. And when I’ve tried to inquire discreetly, even my housekeeper discourages the conversation. I don’t know what to make of it all.”
“I know.” Eunice nodded in agreement. “I’ve noticed the same thing. Young couples, especially when courting, can often let a little disagreement or misunderstanding grow entirely out of proportion. I know Fan is a sensitive girl, and she may be feeling a little shy around Christopher. Do you know”—Eunice leaned forward as if imparting important information—“that she is no longer home to him?”
Ella gasped. “No, I wasn’t aware that it had gotten to that point. I just know that Fan was incredibly happy until recently. Now she stays around the house, doesn’t visit much, doesn’t even socialize with her friends. I’ve been so worried, but she simply laughs and tells me not to be concerned.” She sighed, then sipped her tea. “The last thing I want is for her to be unhappy here.”
“My word, no,” Eunice said sharply. “If that happened, she might even be tempted to…leave once more.”
“I can’t bear to think of it.” Ella’s wrinkled face grew even tighter. “I can’t lose Fan again. Having her back in my life has brought me so much joy.”
“I know.” Eunice nodded, then hid a smile behind her teacup. “Then I think we have to take matters into our own hands. We’ve let the young people handle things, and they’ve only managed to botch up the entire affair.”
“You’re right,” Ella said firmly. “I know Fan has feelings for Christopher. She is cutting off her nose to spite her face, to quote something so vulgar as a cliché. But still, what do you suggest we do? If she refuses to see him, our hands are tied.”
“Not necessarily.” Eunice grinned. “There are ways to help nature take its course. Even with someone as stubborn as Fan or Christopher.” She clanked down her teacup as if she had a sudden inspiration. “Didn’t you tell me that the Mitchells are giving a reception tomorrow evening?”
“Yes,” Ella said in confusion. “But Fan won’t—”
“Let me handle the arrangements,” Eunice said confidently. “By the time we’re through, this marriage will be a fait accompli. You mark my words.”
Katie gently clipped the thorns from the stem of a rose and placed it into her basket. Sunlight poured into the garden, illuminating all of the secret nooks and crevices where morning glories and columbines struggled to bloom. But the soil was perfect for the roses and they unfolded about her, filling the air with a heady perfume.
“There you are, my dear,” Ella said softly as Katie glanced up. “Eunice and I have been looking all over for you. I thought I might find you here.”
Katie straightened, then forced herself to smile at Christopher’s aunt. This was something she hadn’t counted on. She had been successful for several days now in avoiding Christopher, but Eunice was something else again. The older woman had a way of peering straight into one’s heart, and Katie knew better than to tangle with her.
“Aunt Ella. Miss Scott. I was just leaving—”
“Stay, please,” Ella said, her voice firmer than Katie had heard before. “The garden is so beautiful this time of day and we’d welcome your company.”
“I really have some things I must see to—”
“Now, Frances, I insist that you remain,” Eunice said sharply, though she smiled as she spoke. “You haven’t favored any of us with your company for days. You have refused to even see my nephew, you’ve avoided me, and
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