Mattie smiled. “We had been out for quite some time. I don’t blame them for wanting to come inside.”
“Ye are always so kind.”
“Nonsense. Coming in out of the cold worked quite well for us. Outside we are always with other people. Coming inside meant that Jacob and I could actually speak alone for a few minutes.”
Excitement hummed in the room.
“And…”
A large smile lit her face. “And he’s still talking with Father. They called for Mother just before ye arrived.”
Joy billowed Ann from her chair. The doll gown stuck to the wool of her skirt. “And are ye happy?”
Mattie took Ann’s hands in her own and spun them around, eventually catching Ann in a hug. “I don’t have words to describe how I feel.”
“Mattie?” Mrs. Lawson, countenance beaming, rounded the door. “Yer father and I would like to speak to ye for a few minutes.”
Mattie froze and then a frisson of fluster agitated her first step. She clasped her hands in front of her waist as though she’d grabbed a lightning bug and didn’t want it to get away.
Ann heard the two whispering down the hallway toward the library.
“I think we will have good news from Miss Mattie today.” Betsy and the Vicar swept into the room. Betsy sat across from Ann.
The Vicar took a spot next to a window across the room.
“Working on yer hope chest?”
Ann felt the pink rise to her cheeks. She retrieved the doll dress from her skirt. “No. It’s a doll dress for my niece, my sister Olivia’s daughter.” Glad to have something to keep her from conversation, she stuck the needle into the seam.
“Working on yer hope chest?” Hugh bellowed into the room. He plopped on the settee next to Betsy.
“She’s working on a doll for her niece.”
Ann fumed. She barely knew the man. Of course, she wouldn’t be fuming if Reed hadn’t opened his heart today. No matter. The fact was she did know and could do nothing about it. It was also true that she barely knew the man and had no way to judge if the same incident that had drawn Reed to Christ had made a brother out of Hugh as well. Though his behavior caused her to seriously doubt it. She pierced the fabric again and began to draw the thread through the seam.
Mattie and Jacob returned to the room hand in hand.
“Well?” Hugh demanded.
A beaming Jacob sought approval from a glowing Mattie.
Mattie gave a slight nod and turned her gaze back to the room.
“We had planned on waiting to announce our news, but since ye are all here…” he glanced around the room, “except Reed.”
“I’m here.” Reed’s deep and commanding voice calmed the bristle Ann felt at Hugh’s presumed leadership of the room. Reed took the place behind Ann’s chair.
“Ah, there ye are. Good.” Jacob rubbed his hands together. “Well. Mattie has agreed…that is, Miss—”
“She’s made ye the happiest man in the world by agreeing to be yer wife.” Hugh’s announcement dripped with sarcasm. How dare he presume? How dare he make such an announcement in such a voice. Hot anger gripped Ann’s middle.
“That’s right…” Jacob’s voice drifted into a cacophony of glee that filled the room.
Ann glanced up at Reed and agreed with the scowl she saw on his face. She made her way to her friend. She pushed away her annoyance when Mattie turned her now radiant countenance on her. If Mattie didn’t notice or did not care about the slight, Ann didn’t need to carry the grudge either.
Talk of the bride and groom and all sorts of arrangements dominated the conversation the rest of the evening, the next day, and the day after that. A beaming Jacob no longer hid his regard, and Mattie blossomed under his attention.
Never had Ann seen her friend in such joy.
And then there was the change in Reed. He stood by her side nearly every moment, beating Griff for her hand at backgammon and cards. Dancing with her, escorting her. In short, he answered her petition to be attentive. Enough that Griff turned his attention to Ruby, who appeared to welcome his change in focus.
Three days after Jacob’s announcement, all but the older guests were showing signs of restlessness.
“Even ye have to be tiring of all this snow, Miss Ann.” Hugh challenged as they once again sat at cards.
“I never tire of snow.” Ann countered.
“I much prefer the summer.” Griff offered. “The activities are more varied. There is always something to do outside in summer.”
Across from him, Ruby nodded in agreement.
“I prefer to be outside un-accosted by insects.” Ann answered.
“Fair point, but the opportunities are limited in snow, don’t ye think?” Hugh smirked.
“On the contrary. There are things one can do in the snow that ye cannot in the summer. Perhaps we can agree that they both have their attractions and leave it at that.”
Hugh rolled his eyes.
