Page 170 of A Winter By the Sea
He grinned and warmly obliged her.
And Emily decided then that kissing the man you loved wasn’t like poetry.
It was better.
———
A short while later, Emily and James went to share the news with Mamma. They found her reading a book in her room.
“Oh, Mamma! You will never guess. Mr. Thomson is staying on. He has taken a situation with Sir Thomas Acland and will soon take a wife as well.”
Mamma’s brow furrowed; she was clearly perplexed by the unexpected development. Then her gaze dropped to their joined hands and her brow cleared.
“Pray forgive me, Mrs. Summers,” James said. “I should have sought your blessing first.”
Mamma rose. “Never mind. I heartily bestow it.”
“That means a great deal, ma’am. Especially as I have grown fond of you and your entire family while I’ve been here.”
“The feeling is mutual.” She reached out and pressed first his hand, then Emily’s.
“You have the advantage of me there,” Emily said. “As I have yet to meet your family.”
Mamma asked, “They will come for the wedding, I trust?”
Tension tightened his mouth. “My mother will make every effort to be there, I know. I am less certain about my father and brothers.”
Emily knew James longed to be on better terms with them and decided then and there to help him.
When they left Mamma’s room, Emily took both of his hands in hers. “Let’s do all we can to mend the breach.”
“We can try. But don’t raise your hopes too high.”
Together they went into the office, where he sat and began a conciliatory letter, announcing his engagement and inviting his parents to Sidmouth to meet his bride-to-be. James asked Emily to read the draft, and she did so, offering a few suggestions, helping him as he had so often helped her.
After he had sealed it, he said, “Now we wait.”
She laid a hand on his shoulder. “And pray.”
He rose and said, “I will go and post this. I am sure you are eager to share the news with your sisters.”
Awash with giddy happiness, Emily smiled at him. “You read my mind.”
As soon as James left, Emily went to find Sarah, only to recall she’d gone to the market. Georgiana too was out. She would tell them later.
Emily was about to put on her cloak and hurry over to Westmount when Viola let herself into Sea View.
“Oh! I am so glad to see you,” Emily exclaimed. “I am bursting with news.”
“Tell me.”
Emily grasped her hand and pulled her into the office. There, she turned and announced, “Mr. Thomson has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted.”
“How wonderful!” Viola exclaimed. Then hesitation puckered her face. “Except...tell me you are not moving to London?”
Emily shook her head, cheeks aching from grinning so much. She told Viola about the situation with Sir Thomas Acland, adding, “So we might stay here for a time, if our guest house canspare a room. Otherwise, I suppose we could find somewhere to live between Sidmouth and Killerton—perhaps in Exeter.”
“Oh, do stay here,” Viola urged. “When I married, I moved only yards away. I could not bear it if you went too far.”
