Page 67 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
Never expecting that she would give him a second chance, he immediately found himself overwhelmed when she agreed. Indeed, she was delicate and gracious, despite the horrors he had previously visited upon her by his character.
And in the weeks that followed, Nathaniel grew to fall in love with Olivia. He saw that her strength was more than he had imagined. Her beauty was far from her only trait. Her wit was quick and sharp. And her kindness was inherent in her being.
So, one night, Nathaniel made a plan to propose to Olivia. After a season of courtship – one which her father had not approved – he arranged for a ball that she might be invited to. It was there that he intended to make his love for her known.
But Nathaniel had forgotten his past. A past that ought to have been disclosed long before to Olivia.
He had been betrothed once before. Arranged by his father to a young woman he had never loved, the courtship had existed merely through letters and the rare occurrence of seeing one another during the London season.
Prior to meeting Olivia, Nathaniel had ended the courtship. But the woman remained bitter at his rejection. The guilt Nathaniel had once felt for it had been overcome by his love for Olivia and in the midst of it, he had failed them both.
So the night of the ball, when Olivia was gowned exquisitely, when she was radiant with beauty, Nathaniel prepared himself to ask for her hand. But before he could reach her, he was approached by another nearby.
Indeed, it was his previously betrothed. She had come and she sought to ruin his happiness as she perceived him to have ruined her own. Thus, the young woman told Olivia of their history, but in a dark turn, warned Olivia that the same would happen to her.
Nathaniel knew it was not to be so. He knew that his love for Olivia would never fade, that he had never cared for a woman so much as he cared for her.
But alas, it was too late. Olivia’s heart was marred and Nathaniel gave up hope of her forgiveness.
In the midst of all of this, he spoke with his grandmother. She revealed the mysterious circumstances surrounding her choice for this union. She told Nathaniel how she knew of the young woman and why she chose for the two of them to become one.
And with that, Nathaniel found his strength again. He sought Olivia once more and with all his heart, he wanted to tell her the truth.
And in the midst of it all, he hoped that they might live happily ever after.
Releasing a sigh of hope, Nathaniel wondered whether or not Olivia would even be willing to see him, much less read his story. But, despite not being a writer himself, he thought it was the most decent way that he could express to her his love and engage her in listening to him.
Nathaniel then grasped another piece of paper. He had completed the story, but he had not said all that he must.
And now, my dearest Miss Digby, having read my brief telling of our story, I must ask you to forgive me once more. I must beg you to allow me yet another chance. I consider that I deserve nothing more from you. Your graciousness towards me has already gone far beyond my deepest imaginings. And yet, I find that I am in need all over again of your kindness.
My failure to tell you of my former courtship was not borne out of any secret or unwillingness. Rather, I was a simpleton who failed you because my love for you was so great that I never thought of her again.
Yes, perhaps it is cruel that I felt so little for her as that, but I would have told you in a heartbeat had I known that it would have avoided this travesty that we now find ourselves in.
It is you that I love. You are the only woman I have ever loved or ever could love. Will you forgive me? Will you allow me to prove once more that I am not the man you have been shown? Will you allow me to prove to you that I shall never turn away from the love that I feel for you?
You are my greatest joy and deepest love. I wish to be yours always. And I find that I am helpless against fighting for that. May our life together be long and free of any such burdens again. May I never disappoint you with my failures any further.
Yours always,
Nathaniel Norton, The Earl of Glauston and the Servant of Olivia Digby
He was finished. Nathaniel was ready to give Miss Digby the story and the letter and he was desperate for her response.
“Miss Hobbs!” he called.
She returned to him and he saw that she had a bouquet of flowers ready in hand.
“Yes, my lord?” she asked.
“Oh good, you have already prepared the flowers. Thank you. They look lovely. And what about the cakes? When do you think those shall be finished?” he asked.
She looked at him with a small sense of anxiety.
“Well, my lord, they might take an hour or so at the very least. Shall I send a footman out to purchase one already made?” she asked.
Nathaniel considered it for a moment. He wanted her to have something that came from his own house. And yet, he felt that he could not delay for even a moment.
