Page 82 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
“I should like to ask your permission to speak with your father,” Thomas said.
Sophia’s heart began to flutter. Was this the very moment she had only just been thinking about? Was this the day that he was going to propose to her?
“Yes, yes you must if that is what you wish,” she replied, urging him to go to her father.
Lady Silsby grinned at Thomas and then came to Sophia, leading her to a bench where they might be able to sit and wait out the conversation that would be taking place inside the house.
“I am so happy for you, my dear,” Lady Silsby said.
“Thank you, Mother. I could not be happier myself,” she replied.
“And to think that all this time, the two of you loved one another. That your father and I missed all the signs. That you were meant to be from the very beginning…” she said.
“Yes, well I think my stubbornness compounded with his was enough to prevent nearly everyone from seeing what was right before us all,” Sophia said.
“That sounds about right. Generally we are the last to allow ourselves a true measure of happiness. And I think that it must be that you and your intended are every bit as guilty as the rest of us,” Lady Silsby remarked.
“But you are happy that he is the one that I shall spend my life with?” Sophia asked.
“My dear, I could not be happier. He is an excellent young man and the very sort that your father and I would have wished for you. Thomas Gregory, the whole Gregory family, they are good people. They have been friends of ours for as long as I can remember and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she replied.
Sophia nodded, relieved for that final confirmation. She imagined that upstairs, her father was speaking with Thomas, giving him that very same approval. And with that approval would come a future. A future of happiness and joy and love. A future in which everything they could ever want was theirs.
Things were settling nicely and Sophia was very happy that they had come so far. She leaned her head against her mother’s shoulder and sighed in relief that this day was finally here.
“Are you ready for the moment that your father calls you to him? Are you ready for the moment that you get to tell Thomas that you wish to be his wife?” she asked.
Sophia had never been more ready for anything in all her life.
“Oh, yes, Mother. I am ready. I have been waiting for such a very long time and I wish that this day had come years ago. I know that it was my own fault that it did not. But we have come past that. Things are where they ought to be now. Thomas and I are finally together and everything, every moment of grief and pain, has been worth it,” Sophia declared.
“I imagine as much. You two are perfect, my dear. And this is going to be a lifetime of joy that you shall share. It is going to be a wondrous day when I see you standing before him and becoming his wife,” Lady Silsby said.
Sophia was quiet, thinking about that moment. She imagined how she would dress, how she would do her hair, every last detail. It would be a day to plan for, to prepare for. Every moment would have to be designed as she wanted it to be.
And yet, the most important part of it was already decided. The man that she would stand beside would be the man she loved more than anything in this world. She would be with Thomas. They would commit themselves, finally, to the union they had always been meant for.
And yet, that had not happened yet. She was getting ahead of herself. Thomas was still speaking with her father and she had to remember that. There was not yet a commitment made. Only the hope that one was soon to come. Only the expectation.
It was not long before she saw him. Thomas was walking towards them, looking flushed and with a smile that she could not ignore. Whatever the discussion had held, Thomas was happy with the results.
“Lady Silsby,” he began.
“Yes, Officer Gregory?” she replied.
“I must ask your permission for a private audience with Lady Sophia,” he said.
Sophia’s mother nodded happily and departed as quickly as she was able, leaving Thomas and Sophia on their own.
Sophia looked into his eyes, expecting him to propose immediately. But instead, he appeared to have other intentions.
“Shall we walk?” he suggested.
Sophia nodded, trying to keep her disappointment at bay. Why would he not just immediately propose to her? Was this some sort of game that he was playing?
Sophia could hardly bear it. She wanted to beg him to propose immediately so that they could finally begin their life together. But it appeared that Thomas had other ideas and he walked slowly beside her, guiding the path that they were taking.
“Did you have a nice time with your mother?” he began, slowly.
