Elsie

Chapter 16: A Celebration

Clement wasn't bluffing when he said that he would ask Lois and Verda to bake a cake. The next day, an entire feast was prepared in celebration of the newly engaged couple, and cake was one of several desserts that the two ambitious sisters prepared.

Mr. Jones invited the entire staff to dine with him in the grand dining hall for the special occasion, even making a toast in honor of the betrothed. Elsie beamed at them from across the table, incredibly happy for them. Hannah was glowing with love, and Adam couldn't have torn his eyes off of her if he had tried.

"Have you decided when the wedding will take place?" Verda asked, as she and Lois served the cake.

"New Year's Day," Adam answered decidedly.

Elsie's eyes widened. "So soon?!" she exclaimed.

Adam smiled as he put an arm around Hannah's shoulders. "I've waited an entire year, Els," he explained. "I can't wait to make her my wife."

Hannah attempted to bite back her shy smile, but she was fooling no one. Everyone could see that she was just as anxious as Adam to be married.

"Oh, we've so much to prepare!" Nora vexed.

"Oh, no, Nora," Hannah cut in. "There's nothing to be prepared. We've already decided. Mr. Jones has given us permission to wed in the parlor. It will just be the parson and everyone in this room," she explained. "There's no one else."

"What about your parents, Adam?" Nora pressed.

Adam and Hannah shared a brief look of disappointment before Adam cleared his throat. "They don't approve," he said simply.

"But we must prepare a feast," Lois chimed in, trying to lighten the mood once more.

"This is a feast," Hannah exclaimed.

"Oh, nonsense, this is just a few things we threw together," Verda interjected. "We must have a real feast!"

"And so we shall," Clement agreed. "Spare no expense," he commanded the cooks cheerfully.

"Yes, sir!" Lois and Verda sang out in unison.

"Where will you live?" Elsie asked.

"Mr. Jones has graciously offered us a bedroom upstairs," Adam informed them. While Hannah and Adam each had their own rooms in the servants' corridor, the beds were too narrow for more than one person. They could have put two beds in the same room and pushed them together, but it would have made for a very tight fit.

"And we will move into the gardener's house as soon as it is completed," Hannah followed up.

"We will commence building in the Spring," Clement nodded, taking a sip of his wine.

"Oh, how exciting!" Nora exclaimed happily.

During the entire meal, Mr. Lane was the only one who remained silent, but Elsie could see his content smile as he listened to the conversation around him. The engagement seemed to have brought everyone together, and Elsie had never seen Mr. Jones act as carefree as he did that evening.

"This will be a joyous Christmas season!" Nora proclaimed.

Elsie shot a quick glance to Clement. Just as she suspected, his face darkened at Nora's words. Elsie could only imagine how difficult Christmas must be for him after losing his parents, uncle, and beloved housekeeper during the season years ago. She bit her lip and tried to think of a way to change the subject.

"What will you wear, Hannah?" she blurted. "For the wedding, I mean."

"Oh, nothing I don't already own," Hannah smiled. "I don't need a fancy dress."