Angélique (Theodore Laurence x OC)

Chapter 8: Meg's Wedding, a Proposal, a Rejection, and Europe

A few years had gone by. Today was Meg and Mr. Brooke's wedding. Meg is now twenty, Jo and I are now nineteen, Beth is seventeen, and Amy is sixteen. Laurie is twenty as well. And as the years went by, my feelings for him only grew. It's too difficult when you are in love with a man when he is simply in love with someone else. Meg and Mr. Brooke's ceremony was beautiful. The next day, Amy and I were told by Aunt March that we were going to accompany her to Europe as her companion. I was so excited that I had to tell someone. I figured I should tell Laurie since I figured Jo already heard the news. Marmee had told me that Laurie was walking with Jo, so I went to find them. I quickly realized that they wanted to be alone so I hid behind a tree and couldn't help but listen in on their conversation.

"Is Grandfather proud," Jo asked.
"Yes. But he wants me in an office. Why can Amy paint china, Abby can sing, and you can scribble, while I set music aside," Laurie asked.
"Why must you," Jo asked.
"If I don't...I'd have to defy Grandfather," Laurie answered.
"Yes, and not the whole of society," Jo said.
"I can't go against the old man. When I imagine myself in that life I can think of only one thing that would make me happy," Laurie said.
"No. Teddy...don't. We have to talk reasonably," Jo said.

I think I know what Laurie is doing. He is trying to propose to Jo. I felt a tear run down my cheek.

"I have loved you since the moment I clamped eyes on you. What could be
more reasonable than to marry you," Laurie asked.
"We'd kill each other. We can't keep our tempers," Jo replied.
"I can...unless provoked," Laurie said.
"We're stubborn and quarrelsome. You can't even propose without quarreling," Jo said.
"Jo...dear Jo. I swear I'll be a saint. I'll let you win every argument. I'll take care of you and your family. I'll give you every luxury. You need write only if you want to. Grandfather wants me to learn the business in England. Can't you see us bashing around London," Laurie asked.
"I'm not fashionable enough. You
need someone elegant and refined. Someone like Abby," she answered.
"I want you," Laurie said.
"Teddy, please. Don't ask me. I'm desperately sorry. I do care for you. You're my dearest friend. But I can't go be a wife," Jo said.
"You say you won't, but...You will," he said.
"I won't, I won't," Jo protested.
"One day...you'll meet some man, and you will love him tremendously. And you will live and die for him. You will! I know you. And I'll be hanged if I stand by and watch," Laurie said as he walked away leaving Jo all alone.

I was tempted to go after Laurie, but I decided not to since he seemed to be in a foul mood because Jo turned him down. I decided to talk to Jo.

"Jo, are you alright? I was looking for you and Teddy and Marmee said you were out here. I heard what happened," I said.
"I'm just fine. I feel as though Teddy is not going to take this well," she said as we began to walk back to the house.
"He'll most likely sulk for a few days and then get over it," I said.
"I hope you're right, Abby. I just don't want this to ruin our friendship," Jo said.

Soon, we were back home and we were sitting with Beth, Amy, and Meg.

"Are you ill," Amy asked.

"She has refused Laurie," I said.

"I'm sure she can take it back. It's just a misunderstanding. Listen to him...," Meg said.

"I must get away," Jo said.
"Of course," Meg said.

"Aunt March is going to France," Amy said.
"France! That's ideal," Jo said.

"Aunt March asked Amy and me to go," I said.
"To Europe? My Europe. When," Jo asked.
"It was decided just today. Amy and I are her companions now. She wishes me to study singing, Amy and me to study painting, and make a good match. But perhaps she wouldn't mind if you stayed at Plumfield while we're gone," I replied.

That day, Jo decided she was going to New York for a while to find herself.