Agatha,Please! (A work in progress)

Chapter 1

Authors note.

Before you start to read this story,you should know that it is under construction right now. I am going from the beginning and rewriting this story to make it longer and hopefully better! So if you get confused from one chapter to the other that would be why! Oh and remember to comment! Good insight or bad I want to know what you think!~

                                                                South Carolina  1832

Abel Edsall sighed deeply as he sat staring out the window knowing that it was time. He knew his beloved wife would not want him to keep their darling daughter from finding her own happiness. Just as they had. He went in search for her.

"Agatha, are you in here?"  Abel asked as he entered the library of their southern home.

"Yes Father." Agatha replied looking up from the book she read as she rested on one of the plush light green chairs that sat by the fireplace.

"I have been thinking Agatha, It's about time you were entered into society. As much as I want to keep you here at home with me forever, I know that I want you to start your own life, your own family. So I have been thinking about your Birthday is coming up in a few months that we would hold a debutante on your birthday.

"Father," Agatha exclaimed jumping up. Her book fell to the ground. "Really?"

Mr.Edsall Laughed. "Yes, my dear. But you must realize that you must help prepare some of the details and must complete your dancing lessons by then. we can’t have you stepping on the toes of any future suitors, now can we?”

“Oh Father,” Agatha giggled as she gave her Father a hug.

"My debutante." Agatha mused aloud. “This is going to be so exciting! My own coming out party." Agatha squealed throwing herself into her Fathers arms again.

Mr.Edsall eyes sparkled as he looked into his daughters eyes. Taking pleasure in the fact that he had just made his daughter very happy.

"I'm going to go tell Old Sally." Agatha said referring to their slave woman who had become so much like a mother to Agatha.

"We can start thinking of what kind of food we'll need, and music, Oh and a dress! I need a dress!" Agatha practically skipped from the room.

Mr.Edsall sat down onto the chair Agatha had shortly abandoned he bent over and picked up the book she dropped and read the title Sense and sensibility a romance, The romance that had started his Romance. He let his memory over take him.

                                                                 ~~~~

Abel Edsall was walking slowly through the countryside one Sunday afternoon observing the birds and nature trying to take it all in. He was sick of living abroad in this London England, he was ready to go home. To start helping with work on his Father's plantation, soon to be his. His father had some kind of cancer and wasn't suppose to live out 2 more years. It saddened his heart that his Father would not be here to see him have children of his own.

"What a pity it is Elinor, Said Marianne, that Edward should have no taste for drawing." A voice so soft that it could barely be heard, intercepted his thoughts.

Abel walked towards the voice, listening.

"No taste for drawing! replied Elinor, why should you think so? He does not draw himself, indeed but he has great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste,though he has not had opportunities of improving it."

Abel ducking behind a tree as he saw a young lady laying in the grass reading aloud from a book. 

She lay on her stomach her skirts parading around the back of her knees as her barefoot feet stuck up in the air. Her blond hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders.

Abel,bewildered at this beautiful young woman that lay before him, took a step back snapping a broken tree branch under his boot.

She looked up and saw him, confusion on her face.

"who..."  The word fell from her mouth.

She jumped up realizing how immodest she was with her undressed legs in the air. She straightened her skirts around her legs before looking up at him again.

"Who may I ask, are you? A peeping tom?" She asked her voice now strong commanding him to answer her.

He took his index finger and pointed to himself. "Me...I...No!" He stared at her, shocked her soft voice had turned so commanding.

He ran his hand through his short brown curly hair as he said. "I madam am, Mr. Abel Edsall I was simply walking and enjoying the scenery when I heard you and came to investigate! I am No peeping tom!”

“I…” She started then shook her head.

Abel realizing that he had just shouted at her took a step forward. “Forgive me madam, that was rude of me. I should not have shouted at you. I obviously startled you I am sorry for interrupting you and your reading I shall be on my way now.”

Abel turned to go.

“Wait!” She said. “It is I who should be apologizing.”

Abel turned back around and faced her noticing how blue her eyes were.

“Please let me introduce myself.  My name is Della Piercing. I can see not that you are indeed not a peeping tom but just someone who happened upon me. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Della Piercing.” He said loving the way her name rolled off his tongue. ”All is forgiven, though it was entirely my fault.”

Della laughed, her smile captivating him.

“What were you reading?” Able asked walking up to her.

“Sense and Sensibility, it is quite an interesting read.” Della answered bringing the book up for him to look at.

“I do not believe I have ever read that.”

“Oh, then you simply  must join me!” Della exclaimed.

She sat down on the already crumpled grass taking care that her feet were tucked tightly under her skirts she patted the ground beside her as if he had already agreed.

“Well, Alright.” Abel said hesitating he sat  down on the where she had instructed.

“Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would have drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgment in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general direct him….”

As Della began to read again Abel studied her.

“Della.” He whispered. Her name accidently falling from his lips.

She looked up at him smiling and Abel knew then that he had just fallen in love.

                                                                ~~~

Abel stood up and put the book carefully back into it’s place upon the shelves that lined the walls. He looked down at the ring on his left hand rubbing his thumb over it. Knowing he should have taken it off so many years ago when his beloved wife had died.

“Oh, Della I miss you so.”