The Virtuous Woman (34 page)

“He loves me very much, but he won’t marry me until he’s successful. But I will tell you this. In my eyes he’s a success right now. I think he’s wonderful, and I’d like to ask all of you to talk to him tonight and persuade him to marry me as soon as possible. Thank you.”

The room exploded in laughter and applause, and Francis was immediately surrounded by Grace’s siblings. Paige grabbed his elbow and said, “You’ve got to marry her. You’ve just got to.”

Kevin said, “Look, you either marry my sister or I’ll break your neck. You hear me?”

Brian grabbed Francis’s free arm and held it tightly. “Who do you think you are, refusing to marry my sister?”

And then Cara and Phil were there. Phil looked down at Francis, who appeared miserable and confused, but he smiled and said, “Son, I’ve got a shotgun, and I know how to use it.”

Cara, however, put her arms around Francis and said seriously, “You’ve got to marry her, son. She loves you so much.”

Grace stood to one side smiling, and finally she came forward and stood directly before Francis. “It’s now or never, Francis. It’s the Ring of Death for you. Will you have me or not?”

And then Francis Key knew he had no choice. He laughed and reached for her. “You crazy woman! I’ll have to marry you to keep you under control.”

He kissed her, and applause filled the room. She whispered in his ear, “I’ll be good from now on.”

Francis held her tightly. “I’ll believe that when I see it.” Then he realized everyone was waiting, and he nodded to Phil. “I think, sir, it’s time for you to make an announcement concerning your daughter’s engagement.”

“Good! I won’t have to use that shotgun after all.” Phil lifted his voice and said, “I wish to announce the engagement of our daughter Grace to Mr. Francis Key. The wedding will take place as soon as possible.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“My Francis”

The wedding of Kevin Winslow and Lucy Delaney was one week away. The two of them were as happy as human beings could be. Francis, who was working again at the Rader Detective Agency, had started on another book, but he spent every available moment of his time with Grace.

The two of them were walking out beside the fish pond, and she exclaimed, “Those are the ugliest ducks I’ve ever seen!”

“Those are mergansers,” he said.

“So? They’re still ugly.”

“I’m sure they’re not to another merganser,” he said. “Besides, their eggs are very good to eat, and I think they mate for life like swans and Canadian geese.”

“Do they really?”

“So I’ve read.”

“I think you make up most of that stuff you tell me. How would I know if they mate for life or not? How would anybody know?” She grabbed his arm and laughed. “I can just see a scientist following a pair of mergansers around for ten years, following them everywhere they go just to see if they cheat on each other.”

“They look faithful to me,” Francis said with a smile.

She smiled back. “You know, I have more fun with you than I do with anyone. Let’s always have fun, Francis.”

“That’s my plan. After we—” He broke off when he heard his name being called. “Looks like your mother wants me.”

The two started back toward the house, and Cara was
standing on the patio. She said excitedly, “Francis, your agent, Mr. McCartney, is on the phone.”

He blinked with surprise but didn’t move.

Grace nudged him. “Come on, let’s go find out why he’s calling.”

“I don’t want to.”

Grace and Cara gave him questioning looks, and he laughed shortly. “I’m afraid it’ll be bad news.”

“It won’t be. The Bible says a righteous man has no fear of evil tidings,” Cara said. “Now, you go right in there and talk to him.”

Francis made his way inside, and Cara turned to her daughter. “I do hope it’s good news, Grace!”

“So do I, Mom. He’s been so nervous waiting for this call.”

The two women waited on the patio until Francis finally came bursting out. There was no need to ask if the news was good, for joy flowed out of him. “It’s sold!” he shouted. “Random House bought it!” He ran forward and embraced the two women, and they all three tried to talk at the same time. Finally Cara broke away. “I’ve got to get Phil and Paige.”

As soon as she left, Grace kissed Francis. “I’m so proud of you!”

“I’m a little dazed. It’s really happened.”

“And that means you can support a wife!”

Francis laughed and put his arms around her. “So I can. Say, why don’t we get married on the motorcycle?”

“Mom and Dad would hate that. No, I want a big wedding.” She rested in his arms, and then a shadow passed over her face. “Francis, I don’t know the first thing about being a wife.”

He kissed her and then put his lips close to her ear. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you instructions. The first lesson is—give your husband everything he wants.”

She laughed and they clung to each other. Suddenly a flash of green appeared, and Miriam flew right at them, separating
them in their surprise. “She’s gotten out of her cage!” Francis said.

The parrot fluttered around the pair, screaming, “My Francis! My Francis!”

But Grace came back to the arms of her man and laughed. “No, Miriam—this is
my
Francis!”

GILBERT MORRIS spent ten years as a pastor before becoming Professor of English at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas and earning a Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas. A prolific writer, he has had over 25 scholarly articles and 200 poems published in various periodicals, and over the past years has had more than 180 novels published. His family includes three grown children, and he and his wife live in Gulf Shores, Alabama.