Into the Wilderness
Page 58
Elizabeth could see no sign of his early trauma in him: he was nothing more than an ordinary man preoccupied with a goal, and insensible of his surroundings.
"Well," he said. "As a matter of fact, it does have something to do with my housekeeping." He paused, drew in a deep breath, and then turned to face her.
"You are aware that I own some three thousand acres of land bordering on your father's holdings. I own houses in Boston, Albany, and Paradise. I studied at medicine as an assistant to Dr. Adams and Dr. Littlefield of Albany. Since I left them I have been practicing medicine on my own with some considerable success. I have substantial resources and can be of assistance to your father in his current difficulties. I am thirty years of age, and in excellent health. Let me see—" He seemed to consider for a moment, and then his face lit up. "Oh, yes, on the first day of the new year I gave both my slaves their freedom."
Elizabeth had been following this narrative with carefully hidden amusement, but the last statement did take her by surprise.
"I am very glad to hear that," she said. "I mean, about your slaves. As to the rest of it—"
"Please allow me to finish. It comes to my attention that you are the kind of lady who would be able to take up a life where I live—on the edge of the wilderness, as you are aware—and flourish, in spite of the fact that you're English. Since I am in need of a wife, and you are unmarried, and there are material advantages to this match, I offer you my hand with your father's permission and approval."
She had been somewhat prepared for this event, but still Elizabeth was so surprised by the simple forcefulness of his application that she took a moment to collect her thoughts. Richard stood with one arm on the mantel watching her closely.
"You sound like a man with a business proposition," she said finally, "rather than one who wishes to marry."
She thought for a moment that he would smile, but the seriousness of the situation won out. Richard inclined his head.
"When you first came to Paradise I did try to court you in a more traditional manner, but you made it quite clear that you didn't appreciate those efforts. Now I do you the honor of presenting you with the truth of the matter," he said. "You are not a frivolous person, and I didn't think you would want loud protestations which you must yourself observe to be less than truthful."
Elizabeth was feeling a little more sure of herself, and she settled back into her chair. It was very strange to be receiving a marriage proposal, even as unusual a one as this, and while she would not wish for it, it was an interesting experience. Richard had clearly been practicing these speeches for some time, as awkward and silly as they were.
"Are you saying that you do not care for me, but that you wish to marry me anyway?"
"No!" He jerked up both hands as if to stop her. "I am saying that I respect your intelligence and that I thought you would appreciate an offer uncluttered with—with—"
"Emotion?"
A look of discomfort passed over his face, and then he nodded.
"Let me see if I understand you correctly," Elizabeth said. "You want to marry me because you think we shall both profit from such a marriage. You have considerable wealth and lands to offer me, a life of leisure. Would you agree to my teaching school, as your wife?"
He shrugged. "If you find it necessary to your happiness," he said, as if she had asked for permission to paint screens or study music.
"Exactly in what way would you benefit?" She expected protestations of loneliness, the want of children, or the social demands of a person of his resources, but Richard was capable of surprising her.
"I need a wife."
"But there are other, younger women you have known longer," Elizabeth pointed out. "Why does the urge to marry take you so suddenly? Especially as you don't seem to harbor any tender feelings——" She paused. "For me."
The formal posture Richard had adopted on coming into the room suddenly loosened, and he sat down on the edge of a chair, with his hands on his knees.
"I like you fine, Elizabeth," he said, sounding himself for the first time.
Because she could see that this was in fact true, that he did like her a little even if he did not love her, Elizabeth felt some small softening toward him.
"Come now, Richard," she responded with a small smile. It was the first time she used his name, and it came to her with some difficulty. "You began by saying that you thought honesty was the best way to proceed."
"I thought it was best to discuss your marriage portion with your father directly," he said, a muscle fluttering in his cheek.
"Why don't you just tell me what transaction is at the bottom of your wish to marry me," Elizabeth said. "I will find out from my father if you don't tell me, you realize."
Richard jumped up again and went over to a curio cabinet, where he began to fiddle with a china shepherdess followed by lambs of decreasing size.
"Your father is years in arrears on his taxes," Richard said with his back to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth drew in an audible breath. She had not anticipated this particular complication. That her father was so much in debt, that he could not pay his land tax. She had been controlling her temper, but now the first flush of anger spread through her. She watched Richard nudging the lambs into a line while the meaning of this raced through her head.
"If I don't wish to marry," said Elizabeth finally, "I am sure my father will find another way to manage to pay his debt. There is always the possibility of mortgage."
"Well," he said. "As a matter of fact, it does have something to do with my housekeeping." He paused, drew in a deep breath, and then turned to face her.
"You are aware that I own some three thousand acres of land bordering on your father's holdings. I own houses in Boston, Albany, and Paradise. I studied at medicine as an assistant to Dr. Adams and Dr. Littlefield of Albany. Since I left them I have been practicing medicine on my own with some considerable success. I have substantial resources and can be of assistance to your father in his current difficulties. I am thirty years of age, and in excellent health. Let me see—" He seemed to consider for a moment, and then his face lit up. "Oh, yes, on the first day of the new year I gave both my slaves their freedom."
Elizabeth had been following this narrative with carefully hidden amusement, but the last statement did take her by surprise.
"I am very glad to hear that," she said. "I mean, about your slaves. As to the rest of it—"
"Please allow me to finish. It comes to my attention that you are the kind of lady who would be able to take up a life where I live—on the edge of the wilderness, as you are aware—and flourish, in spite of the fact that you're English. Since I am in need of a wife, and you are unmarried, and there are material advantages to this match, I offer you my hand with your father's permission and approval."
She had been somewhat prepared for this event, but still Elizabeth was so surprised by the simple forcefulness of his application that she took a moment to collect her thoughts. Richard stood with one arm on the mantel watching her closely.
"You sound like a man with a business proposition," she said finally, "rather than one who wishes to marry."
She thought for a moment that he would smile, but the seriousness of the situation won out. Richard inclined his head.
"When you first came to Paradise I did try to court you in a more traditional manner, but you made it quite clear that you didn't appreciate those efforts. Now I do you the honor of presenting you with the truth of the matter," he said. "You are not a frivolous person, and I didn't think you would want loud protestations which you must yourself observe to be less than truthful."
Elizabeth was feeling a little more sure of herself, and she settled back into her chair. It was very strange to be receiving a marriage proposal, even as unusual a one as this, and while she would not wish for it, it was an interesting experience. Richard had clearly been practicing these speeches for some time, as awkward and silly as they were.
"Are you saying that you do not care for me, but that you wish to marry me anyway?"
"No!" He jerked up both hands as if to stop her. "I am saying that I respect your intelligence and that I thought you would appreciate an offer uncluttered with—with—"
"Emotion?"
A look of discomfort passed over his face, and then he nodded.
"Let me see if I understand you correctly," Elizabeth said. "You want to marry me because you think we shall both profit from such a marriage. You have considerable wealth and lands to offer me, a life of leisure. Would you agree to my teaching school, as your wife?"
He shrugged. "If you find it necessary to your happiness," he said, as if she had asked for permission to paint screens or study music.
"Exactly in what way would you benefit?" She expected protestations of loneliness, the want of children, or the social demands of a person of his resources, but Richard was capable of surprising her.
"I need a wife."
"But there are other, younger women you have known longer," Elizabeth pointed out. "Why does the urge to marry take you so suddenly? Especially as you don't seem to harbor any tender feelings——" She paused. "For me."
The formal posture Richard had adopted on coming into the room suddenly loosened, and he sat down on the edge of a chair, with his hands on his knees.
"I like you fine, Elizabeth," he said, sounding himself for the first time.
Because she could see that this was in fact true, that he did like her a little even if he did not love her, Elizabeth felt some small softening toward him.
"Come now, Richard," she responded with a small smile. It was the first time she used his name, and it came to her with some difficulty. "You began by saying that you thought honesty was the best way to proceed."
"I thought it was best to discuss your marriage portion with your father directly," he said, a muscle fluttering in his cheek.
"Why don't you just tell me what transaction is at the bottom of your wish to marry me," Elizabeth said. "I will find out from my father if you don't tell me, you realize."
Richard jumped up again and went over to a curio cabinet, where he began to fiddle with a china shepherdess followed by lambs of decreasing size.
"Your father is years in arrears on his taxes," Richard said with his back to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth drew in an audible breath. She had not anticipated this particular complication. That her father was so much in debt, that he could not pay his land tax. She had been controlling her temper, but now the first flush of anger spread through her. She watched Richard nudging the lambs into a line while the meaning of this raced through her head.
"If I don't wish to marry," said Elizabeth finally, "I am sure my father will find another way to manage to pay his debt. There is always the possibility of mortgage."
