Ever wonder where Kent got the idea that he needed to get money in order to take Ann from Todd in Falling In Love With Her Husband?  This is the scene I wrote to answer that question.  🙂

The next day, he waited until Ann left the school before he asked her to sit with him under the trees.

“Oh Kent,” she began, her face flushed with pleasure, “I saw the most beautiful wedding gown the other day.  Agnes says it’ll be perfect for our wedding, but I want you to see it and tell me what you think.”

Surprised, he asked, “Didn’t your father talk to you?”

“About what?”

He studied her face and realized she had no idea he’d gone to talk to her father about marrying her.  He wasn’t sure what to say to that.  Was it a good sign?  Did it mean her father might relent?  Was her father trying to gauge how serious he was about marrying her?  Whatever the reason, he had to plan for the possibility that her father would never agree to let him marry her.  Making sure no one was in hearing distance, he said, “Ann, how important is it that you have money after we get married?”

She laughed.  “I don’t understand the question.”

No, she couldn’t.  Not really.  And he didn’t know if he should explain why he was asking it.  If her father never approved of the marriage, then she’d have to give up the lifestyle she was accustomed to.  But he couldn’t tell her this without exposing his parents’ lack of wealth.  “What if,” he ventured, “your father refuses to let me marry you?”

“He wouldn’t.  He knows how much I love you.”

He sighed.  She really had no idea what was going on.  “Let’s say he refused to let us marry.” When she shook her head, he added, “He didn’t want me to court you.  It’s not unlikely he’d say no to marriage.”

“He has to understand that I don’t want to be with Todd.  I don’t care what my father thinks.  I’ll never be happy with him.  Todd isn’t you.  You’re the only one I want.”

“Is that why he didn’t want me to court you?”

“I think so.”

And maybe that was why he refused to let her marry him.  He was hoping for her to change her mind and choose Todd.  What was it that made Todd so important to the man?

“But it doesn’t matter,” Ann said, offering him a smile that made him believe anything was possible.  “I’ll always love you, and nothing will change that.”

“Do you love me enough to go somewhere else and live off a working man’s income?” If he had to leave Virginia to be with her, he would gladly do so, no matter what the cost.  He wasn’t afraid of hard work.  After all, what good did it do to have servants at his beck and call when he wasn’t happy?

“That’s silly, Kent,” Ann replied.  “We both come from wealth.  Do you not know how substantial my dowry is?”

Yes, but would her father give him that dowry if he didn’t approve of the marriage?

“I’ll go anywhere with you, Kent,” she continued, “but you have no need of worry about money.  There’s plenty of it.  Even if my father prefers Todd, he’ll honor his promise to give my dowry to you, and your parents will leave you a sizable inheritance since you’re their only son.”

He stared at her for a moment as he considered her words.  So she loved him but she’d need money, too.  She wouldn’t be happy if she had to be the wife of a man who had no money to his name except for what he could earn at a job.  He wasn’t sure how he was going to secure her father’s permission to marry her.  Maybe he’d consent because Ann would speak on his behalf.  It worked before.  He got to court her because she pleaded his case.  It shouldn’t be that way.  Her father should have agreed based on his merits, but apparently, his merits weren’t enough.

And maybe he would be able to establish financially beneficial business connections without Mr. Johnson’s help.  Mr. Dawson was almost as influential as Mr. Johnson.  His father was impressed with Mr. Dawson.  Maybe it was time to become friends with Alex Dawson, even if he was Todd’s friend and pulled senseless pranks.

“Would you like to walk me home today?” Ann asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

“Um…  Actually, I have a few errands to run,” he replied.  “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He stood as she rose to her feet.  As she walked down the winding path, he returned his seat and considered how he was going to make everything work.