The Guinea Thief - Chapter 4 (Continued) - John's proposal

An hour later Rosie and John were still deep in conversation in the yard.

“Rosie, it’s time you got back to work. There’s tables to clear and pies to take out. Maggie’s fair going out of her mind in there.”

The sound of Albert’s voice shocked the two lovers back into the real world. Rosie jumped up apologising profusely and blushing a deep shade of crimson. Swiftly she re-arranged her cap, and headed back into the kitchen.

John began to realise how cold and stiff he had become while sitting on the barrel and stood up awkwardly. Both men stood for a moment each seeming as anxious as the other.

“Albert,Sir....Mr Wright.”

“Yes, John?”

‘I’m sorry for keeping Rosie talking.”

John fiddled with his belt, hesitating on how best to start this conversation.

“ There’s a question I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Very good, lad. As there’s a question I would like to ask you.”

“Oh.” John looked Albert squarely in the eye and tried to judge how this was going to go.

“Go ahead, you first.” said Albert.

“Well, it’s like this you see - me and Rosie, well we get along just fine. More than fine, in fact.”

John took a deep breath.

“The thing is I love her. Sir.”

To John’s relief Albert smiled.

“Excellent. That’s how it should be. For I do believe she is in love with you John. Now tell me, what are you going to do about this?”

When John had been planning this, he had not got this far.

“Well I’d like to marry her Sir. If that’s alright with you and Magggie?” John hesitated.

“Have you asked Rosie what she thinks?”

“Not in so many words. No. I thought I’d check with you first.” John shifted the weight on his feet. His left leg was dead with the cold.

“Well if Rosie is happy, we are both very happy. You’ll make a fine couple. Now your family? What do they say?”

“Pa has said that we can have the cottage on the farm. It needs a bit of work doing on it like, but it’ll be right fine for the two of us.”

“Good, very good. Listen John. Rosie’s mother Lily hasn’t anything set aside for Rosie.”

John looked down at Albert.

“We don’t need any money Sir. We will be just fine on what I have saved already.”

“Very good lad. But still Rosie is a fine girl and I want to do right by her and my sister Lily. I’ve a small sum I would like to give Rosie for her dowry.”

Albert held up his hand.

“No. I insist. I want to do this for her. She deserves this and so much more. Enough to buy her trousseau and get the two of you off to a comfortable start.

John smiled, “That’s most generous of you, but I would have taken her anyways.”

“I know lad, that’s why I’m glad she has chosen you.”

Albert held out his hand and John grasped it with both of his, almost crushing Albert with his enthusiasm.

“So I guess you had better get on and ask Rosie. Make sure you do it proper. Down on one knee lad. Tell her you have my blessing. Oh and one last thing. Before you go round telling the whole world, go down as soon as you can to see Lily and let het meet you. It’s only right that Lily should give you her blessing too.”

John nodded. Albert was right. John wanted to make sure everything was just right. Rosie deserved that.

John wiped his forehead. Even though the conversation had gone better than he could have hoped for, still he had broken out in cold sweat.

“Give me a moment and I’ll send Rosie back out to you here. If you’re ready that is?”

“Oh yes. I’m ready, more’n I’ll ever be.” John beamed.

“Good then, that’s settled then. Oh by the way. Just one more thing. When were you thinking of for the wedding? Only it takes a little while for the ladies to plan this sort of thing, the banns have to be read, and all that.”

“After the harvest is in. September.” John added decisively.

“Perfect.”

John stood waiting in the yard for what seemed an age. At last the door opened and Rosie stepped into the yard.

“Rosie?”

“Yes John?”

John got down on one knee.

“You’re going to get yourself filthy down there!”

“I don’t care. Rosie. Will you make me the happiest man alive? Rosie, will you be my wife?”

“Yes, yes of course.” Rosie flung her dainty arms around the broad shoulders of her beloved John and kissed him.

The sudden movement took John by surprise and he fell over taking Rosie with him. They landed sprawling on the floor laughing as they fell.

Maggie and Albert stepped into the yard to find them picking themselves up and dusting each other off. Clearly they had been listening on the other side of the door.

“Congratulations to you both.” said Albert.

Maggie gave Rosie a big hug, tears welling in her eye.

“Thank-you” Rosie and John chimed at the same time. Smiling to each other, their happiness shone out of them and seemed to light up the yard around them.

“I think this definitely calls for a drink.” said Albert. ‘Let’s go inside, tonight it’ll be drinks on the house all round.”

Albert was clearly relishing the moment. John and Rosie’s hearts sung. And Maggie, for Rosie’s sake she tried to hide her disappointment as best she could. The tears were tears of joy she said and Albert had no reason not to believe her.