How One Becomes a Guardian Angel
Cocojane:
Oddball011,
What browser do you use? Can you try IE if you are not using it? I am just curious...
Coco
Cocojane:
Few months went by...
Both Marcus and I (and Arthur Merchant) found ourselves to spend more and more of our time at the Knightley's. As it was only a few months away from the Harvest Festival, Marcus suggested that we ought to have a Ball to celebrate the Harvest Festival. His suggestion was met with much excitement (especially from the ladies...).
Our evenings were now filled with planning for the Harvest Ball and practising our dance steps. On one such evening, I caught a look on Marcus' face as he danced with Miss Woodsworth. His gaze at Miss Woodsworth was so tender and affectionate. "Was that a look of a man in love?", I wondered.
And the expression upon Miss Woodsworth's face! Hers was equally happy and tender. "They are in love!", I thought, and at once I felt as if someone had kicked me swiftly in my stomach. "Am I in love with Emma Woodsworth?", I wondered. "No, I am not!", I tried to convince myself. "I am not even going to entertain such a ridiculous idea", I repeatedly told myself. I tried to fill my thoughts with the thoughts of Miss Merchant, beautiful and wealthy Miss Merchant.
Marcus was not the only man who had set his eyes on Miss Woodsworth, as Arthur Merchant was not a kind of man who would be satisfied courting one woman at a time. I caught him pulling Miss Woodsworth close, too close in my opinion, to him during one dance and whispered something in her ears. Miss Woodsworth's face coloured for a brief moment. She pulled away a little and then I caught her said," Mr. Merchant, you must have mistaken me for my cousin Megan! Let me fetch her for you at once". She quickly extricated herself and walked away before Arthur could say a word. I smiled to myself, "Finally, a woman who does not succumb to Arthur's charm!".
Cocojane:
"You seemed far away tonight, Mr Whyte. A simmoleon for your thought?", inquired Miss Woodsworth as we finally had our dance. "Oh, I do apologize Miss Woodsworth, if I seem distant. But it's nothing to worry about really. I do not want to ruin your pleasant evening".
"I am your good friend, am I not Mr. Whyte? How can I have a pleasant evening if I know that my friend has something in his mind that troubles him so? Troubles him so much that he could barely said two words to me through the whole evening?".
Dear Emma, how could I tell her that I couldn't stop thinking of her, no matter how hard I tried? How could I tell her that I look forward to my evenings for I know I will see her then? It was understandable that she fancied Marcus more, for he was much wealthier than me. He could provide her a kind of luxurious and leisurely life that I never could. And Marcus was my closest friend! I would not stand between him and his happiness. So I finally said," Maybe some other time Miss Woodsworth. Some other time..."
That evening as Marcus and I walked home from the Knightley's, he turned to me and asked, “Lucas, my good friend, you know I value your opinion more than anyone else's, so now be honest with me. What do you think of Miss Woodsworth?". My heart sank, "Did he...?". I finally said, "You know I think that she is a splendid girl. Why do you ask?. "Well, you see, I am in love with her", said Marcus. His eyes were bright. "I am going to ask her to marry me", he continued. Again, I felt that peculiar pain and sadness in my stomach. I ignored the sensation and put my hand on Marcus' shoulder. "I am very happy for you, my friend", I lied. "You and Miss Woodsworth make a great couple. So when do you plan to ask for her hand in marriage?". "At the Harvest Ball. Perfect setting, don't you agree?", answered Marcus with a boyish smile. "Tomorrow, I shall haste for the Capital to inform my family of my plan and purchase an engagement ring for Miss Woodsworth".
Cocojane:
In the morning of the Harvest Ball, Marcus Meadow returned from his trip to the Capital. However, instead of his usual cheerful self, he had a grave look upon his face as he entered the house. "Lucas, I have something to tell you", he started. "My family has disowned me. They wanted me to marry a girl of their choice and I refused". "What? Have you told them what a wonderful girl, Miss Woodsworth is?", I asked. "Yes, but it does not matter to them. They did not like Miss Woodsworth because she is penniless. The bride of their choice comes from a very wealthy and powerful family. I told them that I would marry Miss Woodsworth no matter what, so they disowned me! They took away my inheritance and all my trust funds!".
"Everything?", I asked in disbelief. "Everything, save for this house. This is all I have", he answered. I was silent for a few minutes, not knowing what to say. I was baffled how Marcus was willing to sacrifice the life he had for a woman. I finally said, "What are you going to do now, Marcus?"
Marcus was deep in thoughts and then he slowly answered, "I will have to sell this house. I shall use the house profit to open a small shop here in the Village. I have to let the servants go, of course, but I shall manage", he cheered up considerably. "I will be fine. I will have to work very hard but I know that everything will be just fine". "And Miss Woodsworth, have you told her?", I asked. "Not yet. I shall tell her tonight at the Ball. And then I shall ask for her hand as I have planned.", Marcus said.
"And thus we shall see what Miss Woodsworth's true intention is. What she is really made of", I thought to myself.
Finally the Harvest Ball that everyone had been waiting for. I chatted with Miss Merchant while keeping an eye on Marcus and Miss Woodsworth.
Marcus pulled Miss Woodsworth aside, "There is something I would like to tell you". "What is it Mr. Meadow?" asked Emma. Marcus then recounted to her how he had refused his family's choice of bride, and as a consequence, they had taken all his assets and inheritance. Emma was shocked. Her heart fluttered. "Why would you do that Mr. Meadow? Why did you refuse your family's plan?", she asked.
Cocojane:
"Because my heart belongs to you..."
"Emma, my love, I cannot promise you a luxurious life. I cannot promise you material wealth. But if you will have me, if you will marry me, I promised to do everything in my power to provide for you. I promised to always love you". "Always?", whispered Emma. "In this life and the next, I will love you", said Marcus.
"Then I shall be the luckiest girl alive...".
I remembered thinking, "I could not believe these two gave up a chance to a good life for the sake of love!". Ah, how little did I know then. I did not know that one day I would make even a greater sacrifice for love...
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page