The House of Eve (37)
Finally, William took several deep breaths and then sat beside her. Two squirrels chased each other on the grass in front of them. Eleanor watched as one carried something in its mouth and hopped up into the tree. She couldn’t stand the thought of William thinking differently of her. Or more horribly, abandoning her. What if he claimed it wasn’t his? Accused her of being with someone else?
“I guess we should get married then.” He cut into her thoughts.
Stunned, she turned to him. “Because I’m pregnant?”
“That, and because I love you. And I’m pretty sure you love me, too.”
Eleanor didn’t know what to say.
“Hey.” He tipped her chin so that their eyes met. “It’s my job to protect you. The best way for me to do that is to make you my wife.”
William had said exactly what she had wanted to hear, what would make this all work and allow her to keep her respectability. Offer them the life that she had often envisioned. But then she played the scenario forward and blurted. “But your mother… she’ll never accept me.”
“Don’t worry about her. It’s me and you, baby.” He kissed her cheek and then rested his forehead against hers until their noses touched. Eleanor felt relief spread warmly through her whole body and then she was crying.
“I thought you’d be disappointed in me.”
“Shh, it’s all right,” he whispered in her hair. When she had settled, William got down on one knee.
Eleanor covered her mouth, still in disbelief that this was happening to her. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching them, but there was nothing but a couple of pigeons searching the grass for seeds.
“I didn’t hear your answer. Eleanor Quarles, would you do me the honor of being my bride?”
His deep, hearty words covered Eleanor like a quilt. He was offering her every girl’s dream. This baby would have two educated parents. There was no question that she loved him.
“Yes. William, of course I’ll marry you.”
He leaned up and kissed her deeply. “Tomorrow we’ll go pick out a ring. Oh, and I’ll need to call your father and ask permission.”
William wiped the dust from his slacks, and then pulled her up from the bench.
“Yes, he’d like that.” Eleanor threaded her arm around his waist. “You sure about this? Marriage is forever.”
“I’m sure we’re going to be a family. And I’m sure that I’m the luckiest man in the world.” He brought her hand to his heart and then kissed her fingertips.
* * *
On Sunday, William insisted that they attend his parents’ brunch. Eleanor had not wanted to go. But now that they were going to be married, she knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. Rolling her shoulders back, she took William’s hand and walked into the palatial home with a fake confidence that she did not feel. If she were to be his wife, she would have to learn to mingle. The four women she had previously mistaken as white sat on the velvet tufted chairs, and Eleanor made it a point to ask how they were enjoying the good weather and to inquire about their plans for summer. William handed her a glass of tomato juice, and she could tell he was pleased, though he was quickly pulled into a conversation with one of his father’s doctor friends.
The four women eventually decided to view the new flower beds on the patio, and Eleanor was left alone. To pass the time, she found a dark corner in the parlor to sit, where she occupied herself by looking through William’s family photo albums that she found stacked on a bookshelf. There were pictures of William as an infant dressed in white, as a toddler on a tricycle, with his dad and brother on a fishing trip holding up his catch, underneath the Christmas tree in a velvet vest and knickers. Each picture he looked happy and healthy with his brother, mother and father. Rose Pride was young and always glamorous, and William Senior’s chest was always puffed out with pride. That’s what Eleanor wanted for their child, to be in a family full of love, happy and healthy.
When the meal was served, Eleanor took a seat next to William, pleased to find that Greta and her parents were absent. That made the food go down easier. She half listened to the bantering at the table of twelve, set against the soft instrumental music playing on the Victrola. After slices of coconut cake, coffee and cordials the guests started drifting off into various clusters around the house. The weather was nice enough for her to walk around the garden, and she found a bench against the backdrop of bushes on which to pass more time.
It seemed like an eternity before the final guests left, and when William came back outside to get her, she knew that it was time.
“You ready for this?” she whispered to him, and she thought she saw a flicker of something in his eyes. But he quickly smiled it away.
The four of them met on the back patio. One of the servant women in gray brought out a tray of tea, with shortbread cookies and cream.
“Why don’t we have a seat,” William gestured to the wrought iron patio table and the four matching chairs with thick pillows.
Eleanor’s hand shook as she poured herself a cup.
“What are you majoring in, Eleanor?” Rose Pride held her teacup in a way that jutted her pinky in the air.
“History.”
“Planning to be a teacher?”
“Actually, archiving in the library.”