The Lunch

Everyone sat down at the long dining table for lunch.

Charlotte rolled her eyes as Lucy sat down opposite her and Gordon.

Bowls were quickly filled with fragrant food. "Mom, you are an excellent cook!" Charlotte exclaimed after tasting several dishes.

Anna beamed in Charlotte's direction.

"I'm glad you enjoy it. Gordon tells me that you've been cooking for him these days. You must be excellent in the kitchen yourself as Gordon is very particular about his food." Anna encouraged her.

"Don't tell me you let your chef go!" Lucy spoke up to Gordon. He frowned at her.

"Of course not. Charlotte cooks dinner for me at her place and I take my other meals the same as always."

"You stay at her place every night?" Lucy was shocked.

Gordon ignored her, quite content that she misunderstood him going to his own home every night to sleep.

"It's perfectly fine for you children to spend time together. You're going to be married soon." Grandmother Stella spoke up. Others around the table nodded in agreement.

"That's right. Charlotte, when can your mother meet with us for a meal to discuss the wedding plans? We certainly want her input." Anna added

"I'll call her this week to find out and I'll let you know soon." Charlotte said.

"I'm trying to talk her into getting our license now at the Civil Affairs Bureau and having the ceremony later." Gordon announced.

"That's not a bad idea!" Grandmother Stella spoke up.

Lucy threw down her napkin.

"We'd be married by now if you'd been this persistent about me when we were engaged!" Lucy spat.

Suddenly the room fell silent for everyone except Charlotte. Lucy has dropped a bomb and the words echoed in her mind.

"Excuse me?" Charlotte asked incredulously before anyone else could speak.

"Gordon didn't tell you? We've known each other our whole lives. We were engaged for two years." Lucy continued.

Charlotte looked to Gordon in shock.

"You said you'd never felt this way before about another woman. You said I was your first girlfriend. Why were you not honest with me?" Charlotte cried in a low voice.

"It's not what you think, Charlotte." Gordon spoke quickly.

Charlotte shook her head in disgust, threw down her napkin, and rushed out of the room.

"Lucy, you've gone too far. I think it's best that you go home." Grandma Stella said.

"But—" Lucy began to protest.

"I thank God every day that I didn't end up in a loveless marriage with you. I'm especially thankful now that I've met Charlotte." Gordon's fearsome voice thundered through the room.

Lucy burst into tears and ran from the room.

Gordon ran out to find Charlotte.

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Charlotte had out the the door leading outside. She needed time to gather her emotions and think clearly. She wasn't even angry that Gordon had been engaged before; she was angry that he hadn't told her. He'd given her the impression that she was his first relationship. Charlotte hated dishonesty.

She saw a garden bench ahead in the path and sat down there.

It had been too fast and too soon. She wondered how many other things about Gordon she didn't know. Where there other women?

Suddenly Gordon sat down beside her. She glared at him.

"I want you to send me home please." Her voice was low and Gordon could hear the emotion behind her words.

Won't you give me a chance to explain?" Gordon asked.

"Didn't you tell me I was your first girlfriend? Obviously that wasn't true. What I don't understand is why you kept Lucy a secret." Charlotte was fighting back tears.

"Can I tell you a story?" He asked.

"Is it true?" She shot back.

"Yes." He said. "Lucy's grandparents were very good friends with my grandparents. Therefore, we grew up together. Before James died, my parents informally agreed with her parents that we would be married. Back then they felt it important to make a marriage match for me that was advantageous to the family because of my position as eldest son, the First Young Master.

Charlotte, I have never been interested in Lucy. Never. We also never dated so she wasn't my girlfriend.

When James died under the circumstances in which he did I went to my parents and told them I would renounce the right to inherit if they continued to force the engagement between Lucy and myself. That's how much I disliked her. My parents agreed to my demand because they had just lost a son under similar circumstances. Charlotte, Lucy means nothing to me. She never has. She never will." Gordon explained, pulling Charlotte into his arms. Suddenly she hugged him back.

"I never lied to you, Charlotte. I wouldn't do that." Gordon whispered in her ear.

"No but you omitted telling me you you had a prearranged engagement. Gordon, she humiliated me in there. If I'd had some foreknowledge I would have been able to combat her comments.

"I know. And I sincerely apologize for that. I should have told you. I just never viewed her as important enough to bother.

She made the others embarrassed too. The family wanted today to be about welcoming you as my future wife. Then she showed up and did that. Grandmother sent her away, Charlotte. They're on your side." Gordon comforted her.

"Thank you, Gordon. I'm curious though. What would you do if they had opposed us?" Charlotte asked.

"Renounce my inheritance, break with my family, and marry you." Gordon said without hesitation.

"Gordon!" Charlotte was shocked.

"I mean it." Gordon said with deep feeling. "I will marry no one but you."

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Lucy stood on the other side of the garden wall and listened to Gordon and Charlotte talking. Originally she'd gone looking for Charlotte to get in a few more comments before she left, but Gordon found Charlotte first.

Lucy clenched her fists until her fingernails made her hands bleed. She had chased after Gordon for years. She wouldn't give him up a nobody like Charlotte.