A happening documented upon the seventh of September in the year 1879, at the Endicott residence, involving the honorable Mr Batholomew Endicott and the esteemed Miss Adelaide Montgomery.
Tabitha set down the basket in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ringing and hurried to answer the door. Her arthritis was flaring up so it meant she was slower than usual. "I'm comin'." She called out cheerfully, then when she opened the door and saw who it was, a big beaming smile spread across her wrinkled face. "Why, dearie, it's good to see you again. I expect you've come to see Master Endicott. Come in, come in. I was just about to make a fresh pot of tea." She gestured for Adelaide to enter, and began to wipe her hands vigorously on her apron. "It's preserve season again. Been picking some blackcurrants from out back, still got the stains to prove it." She led the way into the sitting room and indicated Adelaide take a seat on one of the chaise lounges. The room was one of the largest in the house, with several book cases and a writing desk on the side overlooking the harbour. "He's upstairs with his ma'am. Took a turn this afternoon and needed some smelling salts. Doctor's been and gone, says it's nothing to be too concerned about. Shouldn't have taken that stroll in the garden." Tabitha shook her head and clucked her tongue.
"Oh." Adelaide's face fell, concern clear in her features. She hesitated to sit, instead lacing her hands together as she chewed on her lower lip. "It's a bad time, then. I'll come back." Trailing off, she glanced towards the desk. "If I could just leave a note..."
"Tish." Tabitha gestured for her to sit even more emphatically. "It'll do him good to see your pretty face. Sometimes he gets so caught up in affairs of the house, running his pater's business all by himself. So serious." She headed for the kitchen to put the kettle on. The sound of footsteps could be heard on the stairs. "That'll be him now. I'll set out some nice tarts for you both."
The redhead nodded reluctantly even as she took a step towards the window the moment Tabitha disappeared from the room. She took low, slow breaths, listening for the approaching steps. Unable to quite avoid fidgeting, her fingers picked at the nearest curtain as she stared out the window.
Bart had been coming down to tell Tabitha not to bother with the tea when he was greeted by the sight of his fiance waiting in the sitting room. She was gazing rather pensively out of the window. He paused, simultaneously pleased to see her, but also somewhat less than prepared for her visit. Self-consciously he pulled on the front of his vest to straighten it, and moved to her side. "The view seldom changes, what could possibly have you so deep in thought, Adelaide." He spoke, gracing her with what he hoped was a warm welcoming smile. "I did not expect you, otherwise I would have taken more care with my appearance." His sleeves were still rolled up, and he flushed slightly in embarrassment, then leaned in to place a chaste kiss upon her cheek. A tentative brush of lips against her freckled skin.
While she had started at his sudden appearance at her side, Addie submitted to the kiss quietly and a faint flush appeared beneath the freckles. Then she turned to hold out her hands to him. Though her cheeks were still pink, her expression was solemn and she regarded him with amber eyes. "Don't fret about me, Bartholomew," she answered quietly. "You have more than enough. How is your mother?"
He took her hands, squeezing them gently. "She's currently sleeping. I'd told her she was not up to walking outside yet, but she inisisted." His face creased into a concerned frown. "She had a dizzy spell, and would have fallen had I not been at hand. However, Doctor Shelby informs me that her condition has not worsened. That is something to be thankful for." He tilted head to the side, regarding her more intently. "How can I not fret about you as well? You are my betrothed. What concerns you also concerns me. These past few months have been trying, but I am confident that once we are married, things shall fall into place and the worst of it will be past us."
At his words, Adelaide dropped her eyes to study their clasped hands and she squeezed back in a gentle sort of way. "Very trying," she agreed. He watched as she took a slow, shallow breath before lifting her head again; it was enough to set off all sorts of warning bells. "I believe we should talk about that."
Bart was not the most perceptive man when it came to affairs of the heart, but he'd known Adelaide since they were young. "Should I be sitting down?" He half-teased, trying not to read too much into her demeanor. "Is the wedding gown going to cost me next month's profits?"
Instead of answering immediately, she used her grip on his hands to draw him towards the couch and, by sitting herself, indicated that he should join her. Then she smiled a bit crookedly. "I can safely say it won't. Even if... Bart," she interrupted herself and fell into the familiar nickname, "you know I don't have extravagant tastes."
"I know." He couldn't help but smile back as he took his seat beside her. "But at the same time, I wish for you to not worry about expenses. I am taking care of that. I shall provide for us both as I promised I would. Father's business is doing well, so we can afford a few indulgences. I was even thinking...of hiring a private airship for the reception." Then he looked a little sheepish. "It's probably too much. It is, isn't it? But you know I've always wanted to. How we'll get mater to set foot on one again, though, I haven't yet worked out."
The smile melted in the face of his surprisingly boyish plans and she disengaged one hand, lifting it to push a curl back behind her ear. "Bartholomew," she said, "You're very busy, aren't you?"
"I have many duties to attend to, yes." Bart replied carefully, not sure where she was going with her inquiry. "If I have been negligent in giving you the attention you deserve, I offer my apologies. I do tend to get somewhat tunnel-visioned at times. There's a mix up with the most recent shipment at customs that has me wanting to pull my hair out." The truth was, he wasn't entirely sure how a fiance was supposed to act. If he was doing a good job in that regard, or not. Did she feel neglected?
"No, you're a very good man." She shook her head to reinforce her words. There was a distinctly pensive look to her face but he could also pick up the underlying stubbornness. "I understand more about the world of business than you would think. Even if I'm naive in other ways."
"I never said you were naive. You are inferring something I was not..." Bart tried to keep himself from responding to her tone in kind. "Of course you are aware of the stakes involved. You have experienced first hand the tragic results of a fickle market upon the welfare of a family." He bit back a remark that would slight her father, though in his opinion the man had listened to bad advice in pursuit of elusive riches. "I would that you feel reassured that I am doing all I can to ensure that you are not subjected to similar misfortune in the future."
"Ah, that. I've been thinking along those lines as well." She hesitated and drew her other hand away to fold both in her lap, pale against the deep rust of her skirts. "I don't think it's likely that I'll suffer the same misfortune twice. I only had the one father and... The world of business is not fated to be my world."
"Well, there is no need for it to be, as I have everything well in hand." Bart agreed. He was perplexed though by the withdrawal of her touch. "Addie..." He reverted back to her childhood name, trying to regain the closeness in a different way. "What is it that troubles you?"
Adelaide straightened her posture and again reached to take one of his hands. "Bart," she answered - quiet, careful, firm - and she met his eyes unflinchingly. There was sadness and resignation that even he could read. "I think it would be best if I released you."
Bart blinked at her for a moment, completely disbelieving that she had uttered the words that he had heard. It was not possible. His gaze searched hers in the vain hope that she was playing a cruel trick on him. But Adelaide's expression confirmed that she was indeed in earnest. It was his turn to slowly take back his hand. When he finally spoke, it was with a markedly cooler tone. "I see. Might I be offered an explanation for this apparent change in heart? How I managed to fall in your estimation and affection?"
She flushed again but this time it was with discomfort, maybe even shame. "You haven't," she answered. "You are as you've always been. You're a good man. I just... It's not in my nature to force you to save me when you have other, more important things in your life."
Why did she keep calling him that? If he was a good man, surely she would want to marry him? He stood up abruptly and moved to stare fixedly out of the window. "You are not forcing me to do anything of the sort. How can you even imply that you are not of great importance to me? You are very dear to me, as you always have been." Adelaide had made up her mind though, what could he say to convince her otherwise? "You have been practically like family to me all of my life already. What more logical step could we take but to join in matrimony?"
"We could remain friends." She stared at his back, biting her lower lip to keep herself steady. "You will always have a place in my life, Bart. My thoughts, my heart."
"But you are rejecting my offer of marriage." He pointed out flatly. Then sighed, a weariness coming over him. He didn't have the energy to fight her, despite his bitter disappointment. "What shall you do?" He was keenly aware of the fragility of her situation, and now for some inexplicable reason she was scorning the security and stability that he could provide her.
"I'll use my education." She paused and there was a long silence as she stood and crossed to stand beside him. Her hand was gentle on his shoulder and she seemed determined to have him look at her again. "Please don't worry. You have more important duties than me." Unconciously, she echoed his words from a previous conversation; she was duty and responsibility and he would not fail her.
Bart turned reluctantly to look down at her, then he shook his head. "Use your education? You are going to seek employment? As a tutor? They pay a pittance." He took her hands in his again, his tone softening. "Adelaide, this is foolishness. I can look after you. I want to. You deserve to be looked after."
She smiled slightly, allowing him to claim her hands again. "And you deserve a good life where you have what you like," she murmured, "and aren't always pretending to be my Good White Knight." For all of her calmness, there was a slight wobble at the corner of her mouth. She had not expected it to go easily but this was far worse than she could have imagined.
Bart's expression became more tinged with anger and hurt at her attempt at kindness. Didn't she understand how much he'd needed her with Alexander gone? "And what if the good life I envisioned also had you as a part of it? What then?" Nothing he was saying was getting through to her. "Obviously I am not your Good White Knight. Merely the one who *pretends* to be so." He was inadequate in some way. It was now becoming clear.
Her face fell, eyes shining, damp. "Not pretending," she answered quickly. "Having to be. I misspoke."
"Perhaps you also misspoke when you accepted my proposal in the first place." He pointed out, not bothering to hide the sense of betrayal he felt. "That might have spared me some humiliation, though not all."
She sucked in a quick breath to stabilize herself and dropped her eyes. There was still a suspicious glimmer along her eyelashes. "I never want to hurt you. I never could want to shame you. Whether you believe me or not, I -do- care for you and your feelings as though they were my own. Which brings us here."
Bart relented, regretting the harshness of his previous comment. "Of course I believe you. You are not a deceitful or spiteful person, Adelaide. I think I at least know your heart in that regard. But I cannot pretend that I am happy with your decision. It might be easier for you, if I did, but we have always been honest with each other, have we not?"
She nodded minutely, not daring to raise her head again. Her hands worked in her lap a bit, though, fingers chafing against each other. "We have," she agreed. "Very honest."
"I would not have you believe that I think any worse of you." He added quietly, feeling the need to comfort her, as though she were the one having been cast aside instead.
Finally, she looked up and one of her hands reached for his, hesitating as if half-expecting him to draw back. "I know, Bart," she murmured. "And I don't want you to think you mean any less to me either. This is... Difficult to say the least. I'm fond of you and wish you a very happy life."
Bart did not draw back, though the urge to protect himself was still strong. He nodded, regarding her solemnly. "If you cannot be happy with me, then I would wish for you to find that happiness elsewhere."
It was at that moment that Tabitha reappeared laden with a tray of tea and cakes. "I found those almond tarts that I know you like." She informed Adelaide cheerfully. But then she noticed the expressions on their face. "Oh dear, I've interrupted you. I should-"
Bart shook his head, stepping back from his now former fiance. "No, it is quite alright, Tabitha."
Adelaide blinked hard and summoned a faint smile as she also turned towards the maid. "I don't think I'll be staying for tea, Tabitha, but thank you so very much for your kindnesses."
He didn't protest at Adelaide's announcement that she was leaving. The thought of sitting through a tea with her after what had just happened was more than he could bear at that moment. "I'll see you to the gate." He replied, indicating his acceptance of her need to depart.
"Thank you." She again hesitated but then held out her hand for his, the usual escort duty.
As he walked her to the front gate, his mind was already on how to present the change in their association. "Perhaps if we published that our engagement was dissolved by mutual agreement in the Gazette it would be less damaging to us both."
"Whichever is best for you." Adelaide's arm in his was warm and familiar and he was warm and familiar beside her and that made it even more unreal.
"I am thinking of your reputation too, Adelaide." He admonished, though with a gentler tone due to the delicacy of the subject. "If you are in agreement then, I shall post a small notice to that effect." His footsteps slowed as they approached the gate. "I also think it would be best if we did not see each other for a few weeks."
"Whatever you think best." They arrived at the gate and she slowly released him, turning to look up at his expression. She offered a small, wavering smile and suddenly reached up to touch his cheek. She followed it with the faintest of kisses to the area. As she settled back to her feet and stepped away, her eyes held his. "Please take care of yourself, Bart. I'm... I'll miss you."
Bart couldn't help but tense slightly at the soft touch and the contact of Adelaide's lips against his cheek. That she should kiss him after rejecting him as a prospective husband. That she would presume he would allow her to. That he would let her do so without shoving her away from him forcibly. He felt impotent to do anything other than to nod and watch Adelaide depart. He had lost her. But had he ever truly had her?