The Holiday Wish, P. 7

And this is how it was for the next several weeks. Gregory took her to the theatre, to dinner, parties and visiting with friends. He also took her and her daughters skating, horseback riding, and on walks through the woods. They also had dinner together and played games and read stories afterwards several times a week. It was soon obvious that Elisabeth's daughters enjoyed Gregory's visits almost as much as their mother.

It was the 14th of February and Gregory had arranged to take Elisabeth to dinner and the theatre. It was a mild and very peaceful night, with the bitterness of the cold English winter having taken a break that week. When they arrived in London, they went to a very stylish and popular bistro near the theatre and then on to see a rendition of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". When they returned home that evening, Gregory walked her to her door.

"Elisabeth, I know it's late, but may I come in for a moment. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."

Elisabeth took his hand in hers and led him into the sitting room.

"Would you like some tea?"

"No thank you, Elisabeth.

"Elisabeth, these past few weeks have been some of the happiest in my life. I've enjoyed spending time with you and your daughters. I was wondering . . . I was wondering ... What I am trying to say is ...Elisabeth, I love you. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me", he asked.

Elisabeth looked up at him and said "I love you, too, Gregory. Yes, I'll marry you."

Gregory then took her into his arms and kissed her, a deep lingering kiss that was almost dizzying. And it was odd, but at that moment, the weakness in the knees and the butterflies that always appeared in her stomach when she was around Gregory, disappeared and Elisabeth knew that this is what she had wanted....ever since she was that shy young girl of 14.

"It's late and I should go", said Gregory.

"But I'll be back tomorrow and we can tell your daughters the wonderful news together."

"All right, Gregory" said Elisabeth, "until tomorrow".

They kissed again and he left.

She went upstairs and looked in on her daughters before going to bed. This night she slept very well...very well indeed.

It was early afternoon when Gregory arrived. Elisabeth and the girls were in the sitting room reading a story. Mrs. Beckett showed Gregory right in as she had been instructed to do earlier by Elisabeth.

The girls all ran up to him and gave him a hug. He then suggested they all sit down as he and their mother wanted to talk to them.

"Girls--oh my, I really don't know quite how to say this."

She went to begin again, but Gregory stopped her.

"Sarah, Amy, Annabelle" said Gregory, "I would like very much to have your permission to marry your mother--and to be your step-father."

"Yes, yes, yes" replied the three girls."

"Oh Mother, I am so happy for you", cried Sarah, and she ran to her mother and gave her a great big hug.

And then they embraced altogether in a family hug.

Sarah then pulled away and said "Mother, there is something I must tell you." "Yes, Sarah?" asked Elisabeth.

"Mother, do you remember the day we came to you and asked to go a "gooding" and you told us that we shouldn't believe in folk tales?

"Yes, Sarah, I do."

"Well, you see, Lord Whitcombe's housekeeper must have believed in the folk tale as she put a ‘gooding onion' in the basket along with the other gifts and that night when everyone was asleep, I took the onion and went to your room. I slipped it under your pillow and made a wish..a wish for you, Mother, that you would again find happiness like you once had with Papa."

"But Sarah, there wasn't any onion under my pillow or I surely would have felt it."

"Yes, mother there was. Mrs. Beckett must have found it when she made up the bed and believing in the legend herself never told you about it. I guess there really is something to folk tales after all".

Turning to look at Gregory with a big smile on her face and then back at her daughter, Elisabeth replied "yes, Sarah, perhaps there is. Perhaps there really is."

And they all embraced again.