Ethan Foster (Part 2)

Emmy could not erase the comments that Laurel had said and after tea she snuck into the library. This was her sacred spot for years, and no one came in here since Grandfather Arthur had passed away, so in this spot she had found solitude and inspiration from the characters she wished to follow in their foot steps. She knew immediately who to go to for advice, Jane Austen, she wrote characters such strong women but no one not even Mr. Darcy could see flaws in Elizabeth Bennett. Emmy knew that story like the back of her hand. But Fanny Price was always seen as having a good temper and Emmy thought her almost mousy. That is who she must follow. She climbed to the top of the ladder and pulled down the copy of Mansfield Park.

As she climbed down the ladder she saw Laurel and Ethan coming back from their walk through the woods. Emmy noticed a little bit of Laurel’s dress was wet but Laurel seemed to care very little for she had such a smile, one that Emmy had never seen on her older sister. Emmy had wished so bad to know what was in Laurel’s heart.

Laurel was completely at ease something she had never felt with a man minus her father. She remembered climbing on his lap and whispering to him the dreams she had. He would smile and tell her that every dream could come true. It been so long since she thought of her father but Ethan reminded her a lot of her father. He was tall with chestnut hair, and deep eyes one that if you looked into you could see forever. He also had a firm chin with a little dimple it made Laurel wonder how he shaved in there. She caught herself thinking “this wasn’t right” and she could feel a blush upon her face when she concentrated on any part of him.

The rest of the house noticed how the two of them were found in frequently together. Ethan sough out her companionship after dinner rather it was helping her turn the pages while she played the piano or playing a game of cards together. No one could miss his attentions to her. No one could miss the way Laurel lit up a room when she smiled at the little jokes they had. Victoria ached that he was not showing any attention to Julia but it made her sister in law delighted to watch Laurel get a long with a man so well. Fiona believed Laurel had finally found a man who suited her and she believed she was as fond of him as much as he seemed to be of her.

“My dearest Laurel, I haven’t see you so happy so long. Mr. Foster must be a good friend,” Fiona said when they were surprisingly all alone.

The mother and daughter had not been a lone in weeks but the men had gone out hunting before day break and Victoria took Julia and Emmy into town to shop.

“He is far kinder than any man I have ever met. At first I thought he was very rude to talk to

Grandma Danford the way he did but now I see it as true passion. He has a deep passion for life. You know if he did have all the money in the world I think he would travel every inch of this planet. And if it was possible he would go to the depths of the universe. So when he spoke of his drive it was not to be rude or inconsiderate of his hostess. He was just speaking honestly. I don not think he could be rude at all.:

“Well my, my Laurel you seem very taken with him.”

“He is so considerate to everyone,”her tone changed realizing how much she had expressed and wishing then to take it back. She had not meant to shear so much.

“Considerate indeed,” Fiona could tell Laurel had regretted that she had said so much. “He seems so at ease here I would think he would like to spend the rest of the summer.”

“He can not do that. He will have to return to work when uncle goes back.”

“Well perhaps your uncle can bring him back for the end of summer he is always welcome,” Fiona gave her daughter a delicate smile.

“I think he visits his aunt at the end of the summer.”

“Oh well, I will let him know he is always welcome here.”

“No mother you must not do that.”

“Why not?”

Laurel felt a blush come over her face.

“You do like him Laurel,” Fiona asked.

“I think very highly of him.”

“Oh Laurel, speak from your heart.”

“Like Emmy?” Laurel’s tone was sharp.

“No like yourself. I want to hear what you feel.”

“Mother, I don’t have the luxury of being a sentimental fool like Emmy does. You must believe me that yes I like Mr.Foster and think highly of him and maybe I feel more than I can describe. But it is nothing worth going silly over.”

Laurel could talk no more and got up and went right to her piano. Fiona’s heart went out to her daughter. But Fiona still hoped that a proposal would come and all the wall’s Laurel put up around her would dissolve.

A week later a letter came in the morning post that Ethan said was from his aunt but every one was quick to notice how suddenly his face changed.

“Does your aunt call you to New York so soon this season?” Fiona asked.

“No just some business in Boston she needs me to take care of for her. I thought the case had been resolved but my aunt is not satisfied.”

“A case?” Uncle Charles perked up, only hearing case and nothing else.

“Oh nothing to do with the firm.” And with that Uncle Charles was back in his paper.

“I hope nothing is too wrong,” Laurel said trying to sound angelic.

Ethan looked at her with sad eyes “nothing I can’t bear.”

The sad look on his eyes was not just noticed by Laurel but by Emmy too.

“Did you notice the sad look on Mr. Foster’s face?” Emmy asked Julia.

“I have always thought he carried a sad look. I am sure if he wasn’t worth fifty thousand dollars none of us would put up with him,” Julia said not knowing the truth of his fiances.

“I think Laurel would put up with him even if he was worth fifty dollars.”

“Yes they are both so hum drum they seem only fit for each other.”

“I do not think they are like that to each other, in fact I think they are completely opposite. After all he seems to light up when she is around.”

“I dare say you are right. I have only see a man look at a woman the way Mr. Foster looks at Laurel when he seeks marriage. I have seen it on a few callers myself.”

Emmy rolled her eyes at her cousin’s nonsense. Julia had apologized for her harsh words and told Emmy she hoped they could go back to being close friends. Though Emmy accepted the apology Emmy had seen Julia change too much to completely trust her. She also know not to believe every word coming from Julia’s mouth. With this Emmy guessed they would never be true friends. With a sigh she wrote in her diary about it “at least not in the same way we had been.”

Though people noticed a change in Ethan no one, least of all Laurel, expected he would wish to leave so early. He stayed only two days after the elusive letter came. He shared the contents with no one Emmy was surprise that Laurel could not speak of what the letter contained.

“Did he not share with you the letter?” Emmy asked Laurel one night alone in her room.

“He told you it was from his aunt about some business in Boston. Why are you so curious?”

“No man would leave the woman he loved to go back to work, at least not so suddenly?”

“Love?’ Laurel sounded surprise at Emmy saying these words. “Have you been speaking to mother?”

“Yes occasionally but not about you and Mr. Foster. But you do love him?”

“I could not say. I admire him.”

“Admire, Laurel. You admire a horse for its speed or a vista for its view.”

“I like him. He is kind.”

“Oh Laurel that is worse than admiring him.”

“I don’t know how to speak so sentimentally like you all gushing.”

“But aren’t you engaged isn’t that the time to gush.”

“Engaged?”

“Heavens no.”

Little did they know Ethan overheard them talking he did not hear much or stay long but he heard Laurel’s tone when she said “heaven’s no.” He thought then that all his actions, all of his gestures of kindness and all his feelings were not reciprocated. He left before the next part was spoken.

“But you do wish he would propose?”

Laurel thought yes but said “I can not say. I can not speak of his feelings. He is too much a gentleman to rush into anything and we have only known each other a short time.”

“A short time is all some couples need.Look at Romeo and Juliet they met one night, married one day-”

And before she could finish “and they were both dead by the end of it. You must find better role models to follow Emmy or you will find yourself buried in a crypt waiting for your love.” Laurel laughed, Emmy could tell this laugh was not at her expense but that Laurel was honestly making a joke and Emmy began to laugh too. Both laughing so loud the whole house heard it including Ethan and deep down insecurely he thought it was about him and it pained him.

“Miss Cromwell,” Ethan said approaching Laurel the next day in the stable “ I am about to take off.”

“So soon?” Laurel looked sad.

“I am afraid my aunt needs my immediate assistance in resolving the matter in Boston quickly.”

“Do you mind Mr. Foster if I ask the matter to what needs to be done?”

“Nothing much.”

“Oh,” Laurel could tell that was all he was going to say. Then after a moment but a moment that seemed to last forever to the couple. Laurel reached into her heart and finally said “I do wish you didn’t have to go back so soon. It has been such a pleasure with you here.” She wanted to say more but if she said more it would be inappropriate.

“Thank you Miss Cromwell. I will always remember my summer here.”

“My mother says you are welcome to come back.”

“Perhaps if business brings me back out this way I shall invite myself to tea, if you do not mind.”

There was both more they wanted to say to each other but they didn’t.

“Ethan,” Nicholas interupted their silence. “Your car is all ready.”

“Than you Nick.”

“But the clouds look bad, my aunt said and suggested you might want to stay another day.”

“Thank your aunt for me but I must get going I can not delay.”

Nicholas left them alone in their silence.

“Miss Cromwell, thank you so much for your hospitality,” he shook her hand and was off.

“Oh mother,” Emmy said to her mother at the same time as Ethan and Laurel were parting ways. “What are we to do? I am convinced they are not engaged.”

“Do not worry my sweet girl. I have a plan. Your Aunt Iris wrote yesterday inviting you girls to visit her in Boston this fall. Won’t that be perfect, Laurel can go to Boston and see Mr. Foster.”

“The fall is so far away. Laurel will close her heart again by then. She has been so open these last few weeks and if she is not around Mr. Foster she will close back up and all will be lost.”

“Don’t lose faith Emmy. If it is right it will all work out. Remember your father had to follow me all through Europe and we got married.”

No scheme that Emmy and Fiona could think of kept Ethan from leaving and soon the mother and daughter heard his motor car drive away from the house. He was gone and no one knew when he would be back. But everyone involved told themselves he would be back with in a fortnight with a ring to give to Laurel.