Plans
“We can have that lovely orchestra that Josie and Walter used at their daughter’s coming out party, what are they called? The Moonlight Waltz, or something or other. Oh, and when you officially propose at the engagement party, we can do it outside so we can use firecrackers, just like they did at that wedding we attended in France. It’ll be wonderful.”
Meg’s fork was poised over her salmon, but her eyes were glued to Charlie’s across the table from her, neither of them even blinking.
“Mother, I really don’t think all of that is necessary. At all,” Charlie began, not losing hold of Meg’s eyes.
“Please, Charlie. My only son will only be getting engaged once,” Pamela insisted.
Meg cleared her throat but said nothing, and rather than taking a bite she moved some of her carrots around on her plate so that it might appear as if she were eating.
“Honestly, Mother, I appreciate the fact that you want to make it a memorable affair, but really, just close friends and family should be sufficient.”
“I wish your sister were here. Perhaps she could talk some sense into you,” Pamela replied. “I spoke to her on the telephone earlier, just as soon as you rang me, and most of these are her suggestions. You know her parties are always so popular in Buffalo. There’s no reason why we can’t make this engagement the talk of New York City.”
“Trust me, dear, it already will be,” Mr. Ashton finally chimed in from his seat at the head of the table. Charlie was sitting next to him on his right with Meg on his left. Pamela sat at the other end. It would’ve been quite awkward if all of the leaves had been left in the table, but they were much closer now that the dining table was only a speck in the grand scheme of the formal room.
“I’m only saying….”
“Mother, perhaps we should talk about this later,” Charlie said with a small smile. “I’m not sure your vision, and Grace’s vision, is in line with what Meg and I want, but we’ve both had a tiring day, and I’d just as soon not discuss it this very moment.”
She let out a sigh. “All right then.” She was quiet for a few moments before she muttered under her breath, “There will be an awfully lot of people who will expect to attend.”
Charlie looked at her but said nothing, and Meg silently applauded his ability to bite his tongue, something she wished she had been better at with her own mother.
“How did your meeting with the lawyers go?” Mr. Ashton asked, looking at Meg, which caught her off guard.
She put her fork down, banging it a bit too loudly which made her jump. “Pardon me,” she said under her breath. “It was… enlightening, I suppose.”
Mr. Ashton nodded and gave her a small smile. “Do you know what you intend to do then?”
“Not yet,” Meg admitted. “Charlie and I are still discussing it.”
“Luckily, Grace and I have been discussing the wedding for several months,” Pamela chimed in, and Meg envisioned the release of thousands of doves at the conclusion of the ceremony. “Should you want to get married in the next few months, we will be able to pull it all together.”
“Wonderful,” Meg said, smiling at her and letting a nervous laugh escape her lips before she caught Charlie’s eyes. She felt his shoe gently tap against her slipper and knew he was signaling for her to humor his mother but not to bother to argue, something she wouldn’t do anyway.
“Well, hopefully we will have a response to Jonathan’s telegraph to your mother soon. I’m sure you’re anxious to know her reply.” Mr. Ashton offered Meg another reassuring smile, and she felt drawn to him as she would if he were her own father.
Charlie cleared his throat. “It is possible we may need to return to Southampton soon. Mr. Westmoreland has gotten himself into a bit of a financial bind, and Meg may be called upon to testify.”
Pamela stopped eating and stared at her son in shock. Meg waited for her to say something, but she didn’t. Her eyes shifted to Mr. Ashton, and he looked as if he knew even more than what Charlie had mentioned.
“Of course, neither of us is looking forward to re-crossing the Atlantic, but if it can’t be helped….”
“Perhaps I should accompany Meg, and you should stay here,” Mr. Ashton offered. Meg could tell by the look in his eyes he was concerned for his son’s well-being. She imagined if it had been her child who had nearly died in such an undertaking, she’d never let him out of her sight again.
“Thank you for the offer, Father, but I would like to go with Meg myself. It will be difficult, I won’t deny it, but if she can do it, so can I.”
“I’ve heard some fellows already went back to London,” Mrs. Ashton stated, shaking her head. “One was said to have gotten on the next boat out. I can’t imagine.”
“Neither can I,” Meg admitted, looking at her plate. The food was delicious, as it always was when Charlie’s cook, Lois, prepared it, but Meg found it difficult to eat while having stressful conversations, possibly the reason she’d been described as a “twig” most of her life.
“We will plan the engagement announcement for next weekend, then,” Mr. Ashton suggested, “and then, if you should have to go back, you shall have it out of the way.”
“I’m not sure that will give us enough time….”
“Actually, I believe it needs to be quicker than that,” Charlie explained, interrupting his mother. “The point is to let the world know that Mary Margaret is alive so that the authorities in Southampton will… stop looking for her.”
Meg thought he was about to mention Charlotte, and while she was unsure as to why he hadn’t shared that information with his parents, she didn’t question it. Surely his father knew; he must read the papers.
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