Page 70 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“Forgive me, Mr. Digby,” he bowed swiftly.
“My lord,” Mr. Digby bowed in return.
“I did not mean to come here and disturb your home,” Nathaniel said with passion.
“I imagine that you did not. However, our intentions are often ill-suited to our behaviours,” he replied.
Nathaniel nodded, considering how true that had been for him of late. After all, he had made such a great number of mistakes in every way he had gone. Through it all, his intentions had never once wavered. He had tried to remain true to goodness even when it led him to make the most grievous of errors.
He couldn’t help but sigh. He was between three people who hated him for the way he had wounded someone they so dearly loved. He had made a dire error and was coming apart because of it. Yes, this had all been his own fault and he wondered how he could ever recover his reputation in their eyes. Without their approval, he would certainly never acquire Miss Digby’s.
“Now, to what do we owe this visit?” Mr. Digby asked flatly.
Nathaniel was still trapped between the sisters who stood in the doorway and the father who was blocking the short, narrow path to road.
“Mr. Digby, I understand that you do not approve of the existence of a courtship between your eldest daughter and myself, but I have made an unfortunate and ill-purposed mistake that caused her to be hurt and angered. I should hate to think of her in pain of any sort,” he said.
“As would I. And yet, it would seem that you have brought out her most extreme of emotions every moment of your influence upon her,” Mr. Digby noted.
Nathaniel hung his head, knowing that was not entirely a good thing.
“Yes, Mr. Digby. I believe that I have,” he acknowledged.
“Now, I should like for you to join me in the parlour that we might discuss it. Keep in mind that our parlour is not so grand as your own, but I believe you have already seen it and it shall not be a shock to you,” Mr. Digby said in a cynical tone.
Nathaniel understood that he was still not a man to be considered trustworthy by Mr. Digby, but the invitation helped ease his nerves. The two young women parted for them and the men entered and found their seats in the parlour.
Nathaniel waited, ensuring that Mr. Digby could be the one to initiate the conversation and begin the discussion in whatever direction he wished. The father looked to the second Miss Digby and nodded in a code that Nathaniel did not quite understand until she rushed to the kitchen and brought out two teacups and saucers and a small amount of sugar.
“It will be only a moment,” she commented quietly, returning to the kitchen from which Nathaniel soon heard the sound of water boiling.
Mr. Digby eyed him with curiosity and wonder, as if taking in the sight of this man.
“Are you going to tell me exactly what it is about my daughter that has you so utterly intrigued?” he began.
“Yes, Mr. Digby. Of course. You see, I do love her very much and I am here to not only tell her that, but to show her. I have this letter for her that explains what really happened.”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I do not think that you have properly heard me. I am willing to give my daughter this letter that you seem so desperate for her to have, but you must understand that a father wishes to protect his daughter. That means that it is up to me to ensure you are the sort of man she ought to care for. If you can prove to me that you are, indeed, the best man for Olivia, I shall hand her this letter,” he said with determination.
Nathaniel took a deep breath and nodded. He understood what was going to be required of him and he wanted to ensure that he met the expectations laid out. Indeed, he wished to make Mr. Digby happy, but it seemed nearly impossible.
“Of course, Mr. Digby. I shall make every effort to explain myself to you,” he said.
With that, Nathaniel went into great detail with Mr. Digby about his former courtship and painful neglect of informing Miss Digby about it. He could feel himself struggling at times from the overwhelming emotions that had come into his heart regarding the way he had hurt the young woman.
Expressing his love for her and his desire to never wound her again, Nathaniel could sense that her father was listening intently.
“Have you not told her once already that you would prove yourself and not hurt her again?” Mr. Digby challenged.
“Yes, Mr. Digby. And that is the part of this that is the most difficult for me. My mistakes have been grave, and she has already shown me more grace than I was ever worthy of,” he confessed.
But Mr. Digby allowed Nathaniel to continue. After explaining all that had taken place at the ball, and admitting that he had hosted it with the knowledge that it would require the young women to disrespect Mr. Digby’s wishes, he came to the point of the previous day.
“You see, my grandmother insisted upon our union despite my not having known why,” he said.
Mr. Digby leaned in, his face weathered from the discussion.
“I should like to have an answer to that as well,” he remarked.
