Family Fortune Š 2016 by Kathleen Eyke All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any written, electronic, recorded, or photocopied format without the express permission from the author or publisher as allowed under the terms and conditions with which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author's rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author. Family Fortune is a work of fiction. All names, characters, events and places found therein are either from the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to persons alive or dead, actual events, locations, or organizations is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. For information, contact the publisher, Hot Tree Publishing. www.hottreepublishing.com Editing & Formatting: Hot Tree Editing Cover Designer: Claire Smith ISBN-10: 1-925448-58-4 ISBN-13: 978-1-925448-58-0
Dedication
To my parents, who have supported and encouraged me through this. And Jason, my muse.
Chapter One August 1855 Emma Johnston blinked as she awoke. The whitewashed walls that had been her home for the past four years slowly came into focus. She had moved to Macon, Georgia with her aunt Lynda and cousin Elizabeth to attend college. Having just graduated the month before, she was still in a state of shock. The graduation ceremony had been attended by none other than Catherine Brewer Benson, the first woman to receive a degree from Georgia Female College, before it was renamed. In a pregraduation gathering, Catherine had spoken to her directly, telling her she had chosen a noble and worthwhile degree and encouraged her to be true to it. Considering the discouraging meeting she’d had with her adviser just weeks before graduation, the encouragement was most welcome. Emma hugged herself quickly and then flung the covers aside. Her feet shrank from the ice-cold, polishedwood planks that made her floor. Crossing the room, she rinsed the sleep from her eyes using the cool water on the washstand as she rang for the maid. Patricia Duncan came bustling in as Emma
selected her morning dress from the wardrobe. Taking the garment from her, Patti proceeded to help Emma dress. “Bet it feels marvelous to not have to rush off to the classes anymore, doesn’t it?” Patti was an orphan who Aunt Lynda had rescued ten years before. Even though her papers had been paid off years earlier, Patti still served willingly, and she had jumped at the chance to move to a new town when Elizabeth and Emma were both accepted to college. Now she was more of a companion for the two girls than a servant. “That it does, Patti. Now I have to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. You know as well as I do that my father expects me to come home and marry. Papa never did approve of my going to school. He didn’t even come to my graduation,” Emma finished sadly. Her father felt that she needed a woman’s influence and had sent her to live with her aunt, who at the time had lived in Baltimore, shortly after her mother, Marissa, died when Emma was only fourteen. She had never been close to her father, and the physical distance seemed to make the emotional distance worse. Even after living apart for seven years, she craved his approval in her life. Aunt Lynda told her this was normal, but she needed to be realistic and accept she never would have her father, Sebastian’s, approval on anything she did, unless it was something he planned for. “So what are you going to do with yourself now that you are done with classes?” Patti asked as she started straightening the room after Emma was dressed.
Emma sat down at her vanity and absently began to brush her hair. “I’m not entirely sure. Liz had a job offer two weeks before she took her finals. She was confident she would pass them all. Now she’s always talking about how she’s going off to start her new job and how wonderful it will be.” Emma’s voice was a little wistful. “Well, that’s fine and dandy for her, but what about you? You took the same classes and passed just as she did. What are you going to do now?” “Stop, Patti. You sound just like Aunt Lynda.” Her aunt was always after Emma not to wait for someone to make her decisions for her, but to actually think and do for herself. “I have applied for jobs. I just haven’t had much response.” With one last stroke to her hair, Emma set the brush down. Patti moved behind her and swiftly arranged her hair in soft coils, which were looped up and pinned in place with a ribbon hairpiece. “You do know Liz has asked me to go with her to her new job, don’t you?” Patti asked Emma as she worked on her hair. “She said she couldn’t do without me. Not that I believe her, but well, you know how she carries on. So I inquired, ‘Liz, what will Emma do without me?’ And you know what she said to me then? ‘She can come with me too. They said in the letter that they really felt that after a year or so, they would need to hire a second teacher since the area was growing so fast, and if Emma is already there, well then, it would only make sense for them to hire her.’” Patti nodded as she finished with Emma’s hair.
Emma’s eyes widened. “Do you really think that little bitty town will need two teachers in just a couple of years?” She wondered why the town hadn’t mentioned that when they contacted her about being Liz’s assistant for the next year. “That’s what she said. If they will need a second teacher, I don’t rightly know. I’d best be getting along now. Liz ought to be waking up any minute and will need my help too.” Smiling at Emma’s reflection, Patti nodded her head once more in appreciation of a job well done and briskly left the room. Emma smiled and shook her head as she watched the older girl leave. Patti was only about five years older than Emma and Liz, but at times she acted decades older. The wisdom she doled out, though, and the way she did it, made one think. Some people thought Patti was a little sassy for the role of lady’s maid, but she fit the personalities of the two she served so well that they didn’t care. Emma let her mind drift back to what Patti had said about the job Liz had taken. She couldn’t figure out why the town hadn’t told her that they would be expanding. Had they contacted the school and somehow been advised by Professor Thompson that she was an able assistant, but not full-fledged teacher material? The thought that Professor Thompson would go so far to ensure that she did not attain the position she had studied so hard for made her temper rise. Against her will, she
flashed back to that meeting with the professor from three weeks earlier. “You are an able student, Miss Johnston, exemplary almost, but you have to acknowledge that you do not possess the talent needed to capture and hold a classroom’s attention and keep them focused on the subject at hand. You have also demonstrated noticeable difficulty with the transition between subjects,” Professor Thompson explained to her in a patronizing tone, almost as if he were speaking to a small child or someone who wasn’t quite bright. Emma struggled to keep her composure. “What are you saying, Professor Thompson?” Professor Thompson heaved a sigh as he circled his desk and sat before Emma on the corner of it. “Miss Johnston, it means that you are only qualified to be an assistant. You will never be a teacher.” Emma couldn’t prevent the involuntary gasp. “What? But I scored as high as some others on all my exams! I… I don’t understand…” Emma’s voice trailed off. “Miss Johnston, it’s not that difficult a concept. You simply are not teacher material. Were I cruel, I would say that you had wasted the last four years in school, that would have been better spent finding a husband and starting a family. As it is, your education can be put to good use teaching your children what they need to know before they are sent off for a proper education.” “Proper education? What’s that supposed to mean?” Emma sputtered. Professor Thompson tilted his head forward as he
looked over his glasses at Emma. “Really now, Miss Johnston, I’m sure you know what I mean. You will never be qualified as a teacher. I’ve said this before. You can instruct them in their letters and numbers, but anything beyond that is past your abilities.” As the memory started to fade, Emma shook herself. She looked firmly at her reflection. “No sense crying over spilt milk. We have to move on from here.” Resolving to put the episode behind her, she gave herself one last look and rose from her vanity. Emma walked downstairs to the breakfast room. The cook had promised to make the girls’ favorites that morning to celebrate their graduation. Liz was already at the table, much to Emma’s surprise. She must have been halfway through getting dressed when Patti went to assist her. Aunt Lynda was seated at the table as well. “Good morning, Liz, Aunt Lynda,” Emma greeted them. “Emma, darling!” Aunt Lynda exclaimed from her seat. “How delightful to see you up so early.” Waving her into the room, her aunt angled her cheek for the expected kiss and hug. “We have so much to do today. Elizabeth simply must have new luggage, and we do so want you to come with us on our little excursion. You never know when you might need some too.” Her cousin gave a small smile at her mother’s use of her full name. Aunt Lynda never had quite approved of Emma’s pet name of “Liz” for her, saying it was “too gauche.” Moving around to the buffet, Emma picked up a
plate and began to serve herself as she spoke. “That does sound like more fun than sitting around the house. Where are we going on this grand expedition?” “To Father’s store. We should be able to find just about everything we need there. I also thought we might go by the haberdashery and see about a new traveling bonnet or two for you.” “That sounds ideal,” Emma agreed, making her final selections. “We should be done by lunch,” Liz informed her cousin. “I have to be back no later than early afternoon to get ready to see Jonathan this evening.” Liz had started courting Jonathan Denby almost six months before when he had started his tour of the States after finishing medical school. “Where are you going tonight?” Emma asked, curious. She had never had a serious beau, and lived somewhat vicariously through her cousin’s very active social life. “He’s taking Mama and me to the opera tonight,” Liz said. “Then we are going to dinner.” Emma smiled at her excitement. “What are you going to do when you move to Cottonville to start your job?” “We haven’t talked about that yet, though I suppose we must.” Liz paused, her emotions taking an obvious downswing. “If he’s serious about you, I’m sure that he won’t mind waiting for you,” Emma offered, trying to cheer her up.
“That is a thought. And I’m almost ready for the move!” Liz couldn’t contain her joy. “Just think, in only two weeks, I’ll be on my way to my new home and starting a new chapter in my life.” Liz let out an excited laugh from her end of the table. “And don’t forget our birthday ball is next weekend.” Emma and Liz had been born on the same day, much to the surprise of everyone involved. Their mothers were identical twins who loved to do everything together. The family had joked for years this was why they had gone into labor at the same time. “We have so much to do. How will we get it all done?” Liz bemoaned. Emma laughed. Liz had said the same thing so many times over the past few years that it was almost expected. “The dressmaker sent word your new gowns are ready. You can pick them up at any time, or she can have them delivered. We just need to send word, which we shall do,” Aunt Lynda stated as Emma sat down to eat her breakfast. “I suppose while we are out shopping, we can stop by the dressmakers and pick them up today. It will keep us from having to rush out to do it later in the week,” Emma suggested. “You can also have Patti help you with the packing and enlist whatever help you need from the rest of the staff,” Aunt Lynda offered. “Then I suppose it just comes down to a matter of
scheduling,” Liz said, somewhat calmer. “Delivery would help your schedule so much,” her aunt pointed out quickly. “It would also free up more time for shopping today.” “I never knew so much went into moving. We should have started weeks ago.” Emma shook her head at her cousin, and Aunt Lynda laughed. “You will have it all done and ready by the time you leave in two weeks, my dear. I know you and your penchant for planning down to the last detail. Besides, if you find there is something you still need, all you have to do is write to me or telegraph, and I can have it shipped straight away.” Emma listened as her aunt calmed Liz down. She still hadn’t told them about the position she’d been offered in Cottonville, and wondered briefly if now might be the time to do so. Before she could say a word, the cook came in with hot chocolate and coffee for them. Emma and Liz finished their meals and sipped their hot chocolate. Aunt Lynda added cream and sugar to her coffee then rang for Patti as they were finishing their drinks and asked her to let the coachmen know they were ready to leave. Emma followed her out to fetch parasols for herself and Liz. Emma took her place in the carriage sitting next to Liz, and they were on their way. They had barely made it to the main thoroughfare outside their cul-de-sac when they heard someone hailing them from another carriage. “Well, good morning, ladies,” a cultured drawl
exclaimed. At Liz’s instruction, Charles drew the carriage to an easy stop. The other coachman pulled alongside. Emma gave a mental groan. The voice belonged to none other than Mrs. Louisa Thompson, the wife of Emma’s adviser from college. Gritting her teeth, Emma gave what she hoped was an acceptable smile. A quick glance at her aunt told her she hadn’t quite succeeded. Trying harder, she forced a pleasant smile to her face just as Liz turned to the other carriage and greeted the lady. “Why, Mrs. Thompson, fancy meeting you here this early in the day. How are you this morning?” Emma murmured a quiet greeting, which was thankfully lost in the chatter as Liz introduced Louisa and her daughter to Aunt Lynda. Glancing to the Thompsons’ carriage, she felt a wave of relief wash over her as she realized Professor Thompson wasn’t with his wife and daughter. “Where are you ladies off to so early this morning?” Mrs. Thompson inquired. “Oh, just to do some shopping. Elizabeth still needs travel trunks. We thought we might stop by the haberdashery and maybe Mrs. Martin’s dress shop on the way home,” Lynda replied. “I adore Mrs. Martin’s shop. I have her do all of my Christina’s apparel,” Mrs. Thompson proudly announced. Christina smiled shyly at the girls and gave a small wave from the far side of the carriage. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Mrs. Thompson,” Liz said. “You as well, my dear. We simply can’t wait until
your ball next weekend. My Christina’s gown is divine. Not quite what I had envisioned for her, but well, Mrs. Martin certainly knows what looks best on a girl.” Mrs. Thompson nodded in satisfaction. Seeing that she was inclined to sit in the carriage and talk all day, Emma was relieved when her aunt stepped in and made their excuses. Within a matter of minutes, they were once again on their way to the store. Her relief was short-lived. Once the Thompson carriage was out of earshot, Aunt Lynda fixed her gaze on Emma. Emma cringed inwardly as she waited for her aunt to speak. She had the distinct feeling the time had come to confess her new position, lowly as it might be. “So, what was that look all about?” she pointedly asked Emma. “What look, Mama?” Liz was puzzled. Aunt Lynda’s gaze never wavered from Emma’s face. Raising a brow, she waited silently for Emma’s reply. “I—” Emma blinked as she tried to figure the best way to phrase her reply. Sagging slightly in defeat, she softly confessed. “Her husband was my adviser in college. He told me I wasn’t smart enough or talented enough to be a teacher. He refused to write my recommendation for any position other than a teacher’s assistant.” Using her parasol to block the gazes of curious onlookers, Emma quickly wiped at the gathering tears with her fingertips. “He even went so far as to suggest I had wasted valuable time in school, and the best I could expect to use my education for was to teach my children their letters
before sending them off to school for a proper education, as he called it.” A choked sob escaped before Emma bit down on her knuckle. “Oh, dear!” Liz exclaimed in sympathy. “And here I’ve been prattling on like a ninny about our working together. I never stopped to ask if you had received your recommendation. I just assumed….” “Well,” Lynda said briskly. “Nothing can be done about that. Only you and time can prove him wrong. Do you still feel up to shopping, dear?” Emma smiled through her tears and nodded. Her aunt had a way of seeing the heart of things and making her feel better, no matter the situation. “Em,” Liz began, squeezing Emma’s hand in silent appeal, “I never would have gone on like that—” “I know,” Emma said, cutting off her cousin’s apology. “It’s all right, really it is. I’m glad you got your position. It’s so exciting.” “But you didn’t get one as well,” Liz protested. “Actually, I have. I just wasn’t sure how to tell you. You see, the town of Cottonville approached me as well, but for the position of your assistant. I accepted just the other day. So we will still be going and teaching together, in a way. Besides, I think we would both be too frightened to go alone. I really think things have worked out for the best.” Smiling, the two girls hugged. The carriage slowed as they reached the business district. At Aunt Lynda’s direction, Charles pulled the carriage to a stop in front of Jones’ Emporium on Market Street. Jack, the new coachman, scurried down from his
position beside Charles to open the door and set the step. Silently, he assisted each lady down, then leaped back to his seat. “Meet us back here in two hours, Charles. We will have several trunks to take home. Then we may go shopping for other items.” Nodding to the driver, her aunt tugged at her gloves and started toward the shop. “Grandfather’s shop is doing well,” Emma commented, as they made their way through the throng of people coming and going through the main entrance. “Yes, Father is pleased with the new manager he hired. He says Mr. Fillmore has increased profits and turnaround on inventory significantly in the short time he has been here,” Aunt Lynda informed her wards. As they made their way deeper into the store, Emma noticed a young man who seemed to be there every time she looked up. She looked at him briefly, wondering where she had seen him before. As she watched, he grinned at her. She gasped and looked away when he winked. After a moment, she looked around again, but he was nowhere to be seen. Her aunt continued to lead them to the back of the store where the trunks were. She gave Emma no indication that she had noticed the young man or Emma’s reaction to him. “Who is going to put your trunks away for you once you get where you are going? Where and how are you going to store them?” Aunt Lynda inquired when they seemed unable to decide which trunks to purchase.
The direct comment was all it took for them to realize they would be without the small army of servants they currently took for granted at Aunt Lynda’s house. Emma saw her point and quickly decided to use several smaller trunks. After only a moment’s hesitation, Liz followed her lead. The major part of their visit to the store concluded, and Lynda lead the girls in a seemingly aimless path through the store, stopping to inspect displays of various items. The last display she stopped to inspect was of new sewing machines. Emma smiled slightly as she thought about how she had convinced her grandfather to allow her to invest in the invention. He still wasn’t sure it was that great of an item, but he was willing to indulge her. Emma didn’t think he realized how much work went into the making of garments; he was, after all, a man. He couldn’t be expected to know things that were, for the most part, a woman’s domain. “Emma should be very familiar with this particular item.” Her aunt’s voice brought her out of her reverie. “How so?” Liz queried, looking between the machine, her mother, and Emma with interest. “Possibly because it is one of my investments,” Emma answered her. She stared at the machine. “I didn’t think it would be this big,” she commented idly, twirling the tip of her closed parasol on the floor. Other customers were gathered around the machine, listening to the representative from Singer
explain how the machine functioned and how it would save time for any woman or seamstress who made clothing or other items. Emma and her family listened politely as the representative went through her spiel, touting the machine as a wonder that would make sewing quicker and easier. “So I think this will make a wonderful addition to the house. What do you think, girls?” Aunt Lynda asked. “Who would use it?” Emma questioned, half amused. Her aunt always said women had more important things to do with their time than sew and, in fact, never sewed. “We would,” Aunt Lynda stated. Emma and Liz both stared at her incredulously. “What?” Emma gasped, feeling a shiver of alarm. It was almost a complete reversal of her aunt’s wellknown low opinion of sewing. Were they in trouble financially? “Yes, it would be good for us,” Aunt Lynda said emphatically. Liz’s face betrayed her concern as well. Glancing around, she leaned closer to her mother and whispered urgently, “What has happened? We haven’t”—her voice dropped even more—“we haven’t suffered a reversal have we?” Emma held her breath as she waited for her aunt’s reply. She had never known poverty, but had seen enough of her friends suffer losses and knew it wasn’t something to be trivialized. Her aunt laughed. “Of course not. In fact, we are
better now than we were before. I just felt that this would be a good thing for us to learn to do.” Emma was more confused than before. “If we are better set than before, why do we have to learn to sew? You never seemed to think that was important….” Her voice trailed off as the woman giving the demonstration approached them. “Mrs. Lowery, so good to see you again,” she greeted Lynda. “Mrs. Brown, a pleasure. I brought my daughter and niece to see your new machine.” “What charming girls you have, Mrs. Lowery,” Sadie Brown commented, as both girls gave her a curtsey. Emma was struck by how effervescent and composed the woman seemed. Even after her lengthy talk on the machine, she still seemed to bubble with good cheer. “When are you having your machines delivered?” The girls looked at Lynda curiously. “They will be delivered Monday. We are looking forward to starting the lessons with you soon.” Emma felt puzzled as she noticed her aunt studiously avoiding her gaze. She couldn’t help but wonder what the woman was up to. “It will be my pleasure to teach you,” Sadie responded. She made her excuses to the trio as another customer called her name, wanting more information on the machine. Emma and Liz both watched her aunt closely for a moment. Aunt Lynda was quite good at not giving away anything in her expression. Finally, Emma looked at her
cousin and shrugged slightly. They would find out soon enough her full motive about things. Emma had learned long ago that there was no point in trying to pressure Aunt Lynda for details before she was ready to give them. “How many machines did we purchase?” Emma questioned casually. “Three,” was the short reply that came. “Oh,” Liz said. “We have to support Emma’s investment,” Aunt Lynda said blithely. Knowing they were going to inherit a sizable fortune from him, their grandfather and Aunt Lynda had been teaching Emma and Liz how to handle their money and make wise investments to increase their wealth. Grandfather told them this was necessary before they could take control of the money when they turned twenty-one. He had also encouraged their suggestions on investments and often would approve the inventions they endorsed after careful consideration. “Yes, I suppose we do,” Emma said wryly. “I just never expected to make anything but money on this one.” Liz and Lynda laughed at her wit. The crowd around the machines was starting to drift away, and they drifted with it. Making their way to the front of the store, they paid for their purchases and arranged for everything to be picked up by Jack and Charles. “So, remind me again why we bought three machines?” Emma queried as they made their way out of the store. Once on the walk outside, she and Liz carefully opened their parasols and held them aloft.
“Consider it an early wedding present,” Lynda replied. “Neither of us are engaged, much less about to marry,” Emma pointed out. “In fact, that would jeopardize our contracts with the town.” She turned to Liz, who nodded in agreement. “Life is unpredictable. Anything could happen,” her aunt said wisely. “One could just buy the bride a machine when she got married,” Liz suggested. “One could, but this is just as practical, and it’s done, so there’s no sense rehashing what could have been,” she replied, sounding irritated. The girls exchanged a look and then chorused their agreement. When Aunt Lynda used her that’s final tone, it was best to let the matter drop. “So, where to next?” Liz asked. “Well, if we are going to be traveling soon, I’d say the dressmakers for traveling dresses,” Emma suggested. “We can also make arrangements to have the dresses delivered while we are there.” “I still cannot believe you two ordered practically identical gowns for your party next weekend.” Aunt Lynda expressed her dismay as they strolled toward the shop. “Oh, but they aren’t,” Emma protested. “The green beading on mine will match my eyes, while Liz has blue beading on hers and should look marvelous in the candlelight.” She stopped speaking at her aunt’s frank look.
“You know what I meant,” she stated. Liz giggled. “Mama, you know we both took after you in our selection of clothing. You do have to admit you tend to select green for Emma since it sets off her eyes so well. The ice-blue of my gown will be spectacular.” “I was referring to the cut of the dress, not its embellishments,” Aunt Lynda pointed out. “They are not all that similar, Mama. You’ll see once we have them on, and you can properly compare them, side by side,” Liz assured her. “Do you think we could finish a gown or something on the machines in the week we are learning about them?” Emma inquired, wisely changing the subject. Emma knew Liz and Aunt Lynda loved each other, and her, but sometimes it was better if she could head them off before they were fully embroiled than let a conversation keep going. She found that playing the moderator for her aunt and cousin kept her wits sharp. For the first time, since she had signed her contract, she wondered what life was going to be like without her aunt there for her cousin to spar with verbally. “Maybe not in that one week, but surely we could finish a small, simple project in that time. Don’t you think so, Emma?” Liz’s question brought Emma back to the conversation. “How proficient do you think we will be at the end of one week?” Emma was still doubtful. Aunt Lynda considered the question. “I suppose it depends on how much effort we are willing to devote to it.
I imagine Liz is quite correct. We should be able to complete a simpler piece of clothing by the end of the week, while more challenging things would require more practice.” “Look, there’s Charles. He’s brought the supply wagon with him.” Emma waved to the driver. He nodded to let her know he had seen her and began to maneuver the carriage toward the spot where they were standing. “It’s such a nice day. Do you think we can get Charles to take the larger things back to the house and pick us up later?” Liz asked. “It does seem to be shaping up for a pleasant day to walk.” “That seems like a splendid idea,” Aunt Lynda agreed. Upon reaching the curb where Charles had managed to stop the carriage, she spoke to him briefly. As they waited, Emma spied the same young man again. He was strolling along, making a great show of casually proceeding along the boardwalk. “I instructed Charles to wait for us at the other end of the street. Jack is going to pick up the trunks and take them to the house,” Aunt Lynda informed them as she rejoined the girls and led them up the street toward the ladies’ shops. Three doors down from the emporium was Alice Delaney’s haberdashery where Aunt Lynda always brought the girls. Emma enjoyed shopping in Mrs. Delaney’s store. The woman decorated it in a light and airy manner, with the décor changing to match the seasons.
“Lynda, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you in today?” Mrs. Delaney and Aunt Lynda had attended school together before they married. Emma was fascinated by the fact that she’d had the courage to open and run her own store. Grandfather had listened to both his daughter and Mrs. Delaney and agreed to back her in the venture, a decision he had never regretted. Even after Mrs. Delaney had married, she continued to run the store, making designs for hats that were constantly in demand in society and even branching out to outerwear. “The girls, of course!” Aunt Lynda laughed, hanging back while the girls wandered deeper into the shop. Emma walked with her cousin to the far side of the store while her Aunt Lynda quickly detailed out the new bonnets she wanted for the young ladies. “Did you notice that man?” Emma questioned her cousin in a hushed tone when they’d reached the far side of the store. “Man?” Liz looked blankly at her cousin. “Yes, he followed us into Grandfather’s shop, and when we came down to Mrs. Delaney’s, he was right behind us.” Emma nervously glanced at the front of the shop, searching the passing crowd for a glimpse of the man. “I’m sure you are imagining things,” Liz said, trying to allay Emma’s suspicions. “I don’t think so,” Emma said, casting another furtive look out the front windows of the shop. Finally, she spotted a man clearly loitering outside. Her eyes
widened as he smiled and touched the brim of his hat with two fingers. Emma nudged Liz, trying to get her to look out the window. “Em, I’m sure he’s just out enjoying the day. Why would you think he is following us?” Liz said, still perusing the fabrics before her. “I caught him watching us a few times today, and when I have, he doesn’t look away. He tips his hat, or he winks, or smiles at me,” Emma whispered urgently. Liz stopped and looked at her cousin with a small smile on her face. “Em, you are an attractive girl, out walking with her family. Of course a gentleman is going to smile at you.” Emma frowned slightly. “No, I think there’s more to it than simple attraction.” As she watched the man in question, he smiled. Emma gasped and turned away, embarrassed to be caught looking, again. Liz started laughing softly beside her. “Don’t laugh at me,” Emma whispered hotly. “Em, this isn’t the first time a young man has shown interest in you. I must say, though, it’s the first time you have noticed it before he has approached you.” Liz didn’t bother to look out the window at the man in question. Emma pursed her lips, then turned back around again. “I suppose you could be right,” Emma conceded. She continued to look at the gentleman. He was tall with dark hair, but she couldn’t quite make out his eyes. A little on the lean side but well dressed. “Should I tell Mama?”
“No,” Emma said, her expression panicked. “I’m probably being silly. Let’s just move on with the shopping, shall we?” They moved toward the back of the shop. Emma couldn’t help but glance back toward the front from time to time. Each time, the same gentleman stood there, smiling as he watched her. “Liz, he’s still there,” Emma whispered as she nudged her cousin. Liz huffed as she rolled her eyes. “I’m certain you are imagining things. Why would he still be outside watching you?” Emma bit her lip. “I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.” Turning on her heel, she marched to the front of the shop. To her disappointment, by the time she reached the front door, the man had disappeared. She frowned as she glanced up and down the busy street.
Chapter Two
Disappointed, Emma returned to the shop and to her cousin’s teasing about the mysterious man she had been seeing all morning. She waited, disconsolate, as her cousin and aunt finished their business and bid farewell to Alice. Their next stop was Mrs. Martin’s dress shop. The shop was so busy, it was impossible to pick up the dresses. Aunt Lynda managed to corner an attendant and arrange for delivery. Exiting the shop, the three decided they’d had enough shopping for one day and headed home for lunch. The ride home was made in comfortable silence. As they approached the house, Emma told her aunt and cousin she thought she would take a nap after lunch. The morning had stressed her, and she felt a headache coming on. Her aunt assured her that she would make sure to send Patti up to give Emma a massage in hopes of relaxing the headache away after lunch. Lunch was waiting for them when they entered the house, and they ate a light repast in the cool comfort of the airy dining room. Emma quickly finished and made her excuses. She sighed in relief as she closed her bedroom door behind her. Absently, Emma began pulling her hairpins out,
dropping them on her vanity. She massaged the dull throbbing in her left temple as she drifted to her window to look down on the garden. The peaceful scene it provided always helped calm her emotions. Patti quietly came into her room to help her get ready for her nap. Emma let her head fall forward as Patti swiftly undid her dress and urged her to sit. The girls weren’t sure where Patti had learned the trick, but they were grateful the maid was talented in the art of massage. Sometimes, if caught early enough, one of Patti’s massages could stop the pangs of Emma’s headaches before they got a good hold on her. Emma hated taking the popular headache cure, laudanum, for a number of reasons, but mainly because it tasted so horrible. Patti’s massages gave her the relief she needed without the unwanted side effects of taking the drug. After just a few minutes, Emma felt the tension ease in her head and neck. Patti kept working until the muscles were completely relaxed through Emma’s neck and shoulders. She knew from experience if she stopped too soon, the headache would just come back, sometimes worse than before. “All right, Emma. Lie down and take a nice nap. Don’t worry about waking for dinner. I’ll make sure you have something if you feel up to it later.” Patti handed Emma a cool cloth to lay over her eyes and then opened the windows and French doors to the back balcony. “It looks like it might rain this evening, and those cooler breezes will help to finish blowing that headache
out of your mind.” Patti quietly exited the room. The evening sounds of crickets and bullfrogs gradually crept into her awareness and pulled Emma from her sleep. Waking slowly, she stretched and then relaxed in her bed. Her room was bathed in the muted shadows of dusk. A slight breeze stirred the curtains and brought the refreshing scent of rain to her. Inhaling deeply, Emma smiled with relief as she noticed her headache was gone. Her clock said it was almost eight in the evening. She cocked her head to listen for a moment, but all she heard were soft footsteps in the hall that stopped at her door. Emma watched as Patti opened the door and poked her head in. “How’s your headache?” she asked, smiling with slight concern. “Gone, thank heavens,” Emma replied with a smile. “I certainly am glad you were here to help with it.” “My pleasure,” Patti responded. “I just wanted to check on you.” Emma made a soft sound of approval. “Did Liz and Aunt Lynda go to the opera after all?” Emma had been concerned they would stay in because she wasn’t feeling well. “Yes, they left about two hours ago. Mr. Denby picked them up in his carriage,” Patti informed her. “I had Cook save something for you. Would you like to eat now?” “That would be splendid. Thank you, Patti. Do you think it could just be a tray brought up here? I don’t feel like getting dressed again if it’s just me.” “Of course. I was going to suggest it myself.” Patti
smiled at her. Stepping back out of the room, Patti disappeared for a few moments and returned with Emma’s dinner tray. “On the desk?” Patti asked, already headed in that direction. “Please. I can sort my mail while I eat. Has anything new come today?” Emma queried. “I put it on your desk while you were in town earlier, shopping,” Patti replied. Setting the tray down, she lit the reading lamp next to the desk. Turning, she asked Emma if she needed anything else. “No, thank you, Patti.” The maid nodded as she left the room. After she had left, Emma poured a cup of tea and put her fingers around it as she stepped to the French doors. Sipping the hot brew, she leaned against the doorframe as she watched the sun slip slowly below the horizon. Turning back to her room, she surveyed its quiet comfort. The days seemed to be passing too swiftly to when she would be leaving her aunt’s house. She was somewhat sad at the thought of leaving, but also excited at the same time. Moving away from the balcony door, she started to wander around her room, touching and taking it all in. Reaching her desk once again, she set her cup down and gracefully sat. Picking up the stack of mail, she hummed as she began to sort her correspondence between social and business. Almost absentmindedly, she picked at her meal as she worked her way through her mail.
Emma was still sorting it when she heard Patti’s quick knock on the door. “You know reading in this poor light will ruin your eyes,” Patti chided good-naturedly as she came to stand beside Emma. Emma looked up, smiling. “So you and Aunt Lynda keep telling me. But you know I don’t like leaving this for the morning.” “Aye.” Patti nodded. She gathered the miscellaneous dinner things onto the tray. “And that would be your grandfather speaking now. He never could abide leaving things undone at the end of the day.” She sat back to allow Patti full access to the desktop. “I suppose I could stop writing and do something else,” she mused with a trace of humor. “But really, isn’t reading or needlepoint just as hard on your eyes in this light?” A hint of a smile teased at her lips. Swatting at Emma’s arm, Patti laughed. “It shouldn’t be more than an hour or two before your aunt and cousin return home.” Patti hefted the tray and headed for the door. Emma was already lost in thought before Patti made it to the door. She sat staring into the fire with her left elbow on the arm of her desk chair, her hand fisted and propping up her chin. She didn’t even notice when Patti left the room.
Chapter Three
Liz had never been more charmed in her life. Jonathan Denby was an attractive and attentive suitor. At just under six feet tall, he was almost a full head taller than Liz. His brown hair and eyes gave him a dashing air, and the wirerimmed spectacles he wore emphasized his actual intelligence. While the quality and cut of his clothes said he was well off, he never put on airs. His clothes were tasteful and well made, not flashy like some dandy. All around them were the muted sounds of others enjoying their dinner. Glasses and silverware clinking, while the soft piano music played in the background, combined to create a wonderful ambiance for them to enjoy. Their conversation over dinner had already reviewed the opera they had attended and the persons they had seen. Now it had taken the inevitable turn to her upcoming departure and tenure with the school in Cottonville. Jonathan expressed his disappointment and even concern over her heading west, but he didn’t try to dissuade her from going. He even had tips and advice he freely passed on to her from his own time in Girard, the next sizable town over from Cottonville, while traveling.
“You know, Auburn is not far from Cottonville, maybe just twenty miles. Girard is about the same distance, only in the other direction.” “Is it dangerous there? I’ve heard stories of Indian raids on small towns that far west,” Liz stated. Jonathan smiled at her. “Well, a long while back, say fifteen or twenty years ago, that was true. But the area has settled nicely now. There aren’t that many Indians left in those parts.” “That is a relief. Are there any major towns around at all?” Liz’s mother sipped her wine. Liz looked at her mother curiously. Since Emma had grown up in Columbus, a small city just on the west edge of Georgia, they knew the area rather well. Cottonville was only a day’s carriage ride from Columbus. “Columbus was established back in about eighteen twenty-eight. It’s right across the river from Girard. The railroad has a major hub there, which runs right through the town, going west, and they are working on the lines running northeast back toward Atlanta, northwest toward Auburn and beyond. The new northwest line runs straight through Cottonville.” “I’ve heard Girard is not all that tame of a town,” the older woman said with a sniff. Jonathan chuckled. “Well, ma’am, it does have some citizens who are of questionable moral character, and it is perhaps a bit rowdier than you are accustomed. But it is safer than some places I could mention, such as the recently renamed town of Opelika. Columbus is more
settled, being older, as is Auburn. But you would expect Auburn to be more settled since it is a college town. I’ve heard rumors that they have a new men’s college opening there next year.” He paused to take a sip of his wine. “Opelika, on the other hand, is somewhere to avoid. Auburn has schools attended by people from our class. Cottonville is also making a similar name for itself with its growing girls’ academy. Opelika, however”—he shook his head sadly—“Opelika is more like those gold rush towns you read about in dime novels. Dirty, noisy, rough. No place for a lady.” Liz was fascinated. Even her cousin’s descriptions weren’t this vivid, and she had lived in Columbus until her mother died when Emma was fourteen. “The mayor, Mr. Williams, wrote that a fire had destroyed most of the town last year. It sounds like they are still trying to pick up the pieces.” Liz picked at her meal as they talked. “Yes, I had heard that. Cottonville has been one of the largest cities in the area for the past two decades. It shouldn’t take long for them to get back on their feet though.” “Shouldn’t, but sometimes it is too hard to rebuild,” Mama stated. “It’s usually smaller towns that fall apart after a major fire or a similar catastrophe,” Liz told her. “The mayor seems confident that the town will return to its former glory. It’s been the county seat for years, so it’s not as if Cottonville was a smaller town.”
Liz knew her mother wanted her to stay in Macon, but she was determined to have this adventure for herself. She felt it would help her become a better person. If nothing else, it was bound to give her a better appreciation for the hard work it took to support oneself and give her a new appreciation of a working spouse. She didn’t understand why her mother was so hesitant about letting her go. It wasn’t as if being a schoolteacher was a dangerous occupation. “So what are your plans if the town does fall apart after all?” Jonathan asked, idly swirling his wine glass. “Well, I’m only signed on for one year. We just found out this morning Emma has accepted a position there as well, for the same time period. At the end of the year, we are supposed to review with Mr. Williams, and the rest of the town council, to see if we are still needed and if we want to stay on longer.” Her mother sipped her wine, then redirected the conversation, asking Jonathan about his next moves in life. Liz listened avidly, hoping her mother would ask the right questions. Jonathan had graduated near the top of his class for his medical studies in England. Liz had met him through their grandfathers. Liz’s grandfather, Lawrence, had attended Eton with Jonathan’s grandfather and the two had kept in touch through the years. Her grandfather had moved to America after his brother inherited the family holdings in England. There were more opportunities for a younger son to make something of
himself in America than existed in England. He had spent the past forty-odd years building his personal empire, purchasing a plantation and developing the supply chain so he controlled every step of it. As a result, he was very prosperous and had amassed quite a fortune to leave to his family. Liz knew he was considering selling off his holdings in Georgia and making the move to England permanent. Until Jonathan had started courting her, she hadn’t had an opinion on this. She loved Jonathan. She didn’t care where they lived, but having her mother near her would make things easier for her, and having her grandfather move to England would make it easier to convince her mother to join them. If she could find a way to bring her cousin with them all, life would be perfect. Lynda finally asked him a question that gave Liz hope. “Where do you plan to set up your practice?” “I will say my decision on where to set up practice will be influenced by who I marry.” “Have you narrowed your choices for living down?” Liz questioned breathlessly. Could he be hinting at wanting to settle down with her? “I have. It’s down to Macon or London,” Jonathan told her with a smile. “Oh,” Liz said. She blinked, then smiled widely as excitement created a swelling tightness in her chest. Talk drifted to the differences between Georgia and southern England. Jonathan admitted the frequent trips his mother and aunts would make to Bath to take the waters there drew his interest in healing. With a smile, he
admitted he firmly believed the waters did nothing. He did, however, believe the brief holidays from each other had possibly strengthened his parents’ marriage. “A more devoted pair, I’ve yet to see,” he said with a smile. “I know it’s not considered a fashionable marriage, but it’s shown me what one can be. To be quite honest, I find it’s what I want.” Liz smiled with approval. Her parents had not had a fashionable marriage with affairs on either side but had enjoyed a devoted marriage. “It sounds a marvelous relationship. Mama and Papa had that for the longest time,” Liz said wistfully. The rest of dinner was pleasant, but the topics stayed light, inconsequential. Liz tried to sound Jonathan out some more about his feelings over her contract with Cottonville and where he wanted to set up his practice. Much to her frustration, he kept changing the subject every time she brought it up. The carriage ride back to their home was made in companionable silence. Mama sat on the carriage seat with Liz. The dip and sway was lulling, soothing her almost to the point of drowsiness. Liz and her mother managed to rock together until the carriage slowed to make the turn into their drive. The turning of the carriage, and the sound of the wheels crunching on the crushed seashell drive, alerted Lynda to their arrival. Discretely nudging Liz, she gathered her wrap close about her shoulders. Bracing for the stop, Mama waited for Jonathan to alight before she
moved to the door of the carriage. Jonathan assisted first her mother, then Liz from the carriage and offered an arm to each as he escorted them up the front walk. After an awkward moment, Liz finally went in the house, leaving the two of them alone. She nervously waited in the hall for her mother to come inside. Jonathan had hinted at a future at dinner, and Liz was dying to know if it included her. Finally, her mother opened the door and came inside. “Whatever took so long, Mama?” Liz started innocently, her fidgeting betraying the curiosity in her voice. “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all,” she said simply. “Well, if you are certain it was nothing….” Liz let her voice trail off suggestively. Her mother smiled at her. “Good night,” she said serenely. Liz watched, puzzled, as Mama sailed up the stairs to her room. Liz looked back and forth between the front door and the stairs for a moment. Curiosity was still eating at her as she followed her mother up the stairs. Liz’s gaze followed her to the end of the hall. Pausing before entering her room, her mother looked back, smiled, and nodded. Liz smiled back and entered her room. Patti had heard the carriage and was already in Liz’s room waiting to help her undress. To her delight, Emma was also there with a tray of sweets and coffee. “Headache all better?” Liz asked Emma, as she presented Patti with her back. “Much better, thanks to both of you. But never
mind that, you must tell me all about dinner and the opera.” Liz smiled. As Patti helped her out of her evening wear and into her night rail, she regaled them with her descriptions of the opera, the actors, the audience, who was in attendance, and what was worn. Patti smiled as she helped Liz prepare for bed. “Your night sounds so exciting.” “Oh, it was.” Liz’s eyes sparkled. “Jonathan was so handsome tonight. He was acting a little strange toward the end of dinner. We had started talking about my position, and he was telling us about the Cottonville area.” “Acting strange?” Emma perked up. “How?” “You remember how earlier today you asked me what his feelings were about my contract. The subject came up at dinner, and we talked briefly about it. But it was strange. It was almost as if he didn’t want me to go,” Liz said thoughtfully. “Doesn’t want you to go? What did he say?” “It wasn’t so much what he said, but how he said it.” Liz paused, thinking about what had happened at dinner. From the reflection in the looking glass, Liz noticed Emma exchange an eager look with Patti. Eyes growing wide, Patti drew the brush through Liz’s hair one last time and set it aside. Swiftly braiding it, she secured it with a ribbon and perched on the side of the bed with Emma. Liz found she could hardly breathe as her thoughts raced. “Well?” Emma demanded, her voice almost
breathless with excitement. “First he started talking about Cottonville, saying it was nice and all as far as small towns go. Then he started comparing it to Macon and then London of all places. He even brought up Bath.” Liz started talking faster as she grew more animated. “You must tell me what he said about Cottonville. It’s only right. I’ll be living there too,” Emma insisted. “Not now,” Patti objected. “Let her finish with what he told her. You can rehash details of the town later.” Liz laughed. “Here’s what he had to say,” she continued, taking pity on Emma. “He said Cottonville was small and trying to recover from last year’s fire. Then he told me about some of the surrounding towns, how this one was rough and that one was nice. He also waxed eloquent about Macon and London and their charms and conveniences we take for granted here that don’t exist in a small town in the middle of nowhere.” “How did London come into all this?” Patti queried curiously. “Mama asked him where he planned to set up his practice, now that he was about to finish his Grand Tour. He said he wasn’t sure, but he said for certain he had narrowed the choice to Macon or London.” “I would think he would lean more toward London. You remember the picnic we went on once where he told us his father and grandfather are both respected physicians in London,” Emma recalled. “He said the choice would be influenced by who he marries. Do you think that—” Liz stopped, her eyes
growing large. “Oh my.” Emma glanced at Patti, who shrugged, and then looked back to Liz. “What?” Liz was practically bouncing off the vanity stool in her eagerness. Too thrilled to stay still, she jumped up and raced to the bed where Emma was seated. “Oh, Emma,” she gasped, clutching at her cousin’s hand. “I… I think he is going to ask me to marry him.” The last was said with almost breathless excitement. Emma and Patti both let out happy squeals as they hugged Liz. “Do you really—” “Has he asked—” “He stayed—” Everyone began speaking at the same time. Laughing, all three fell onto the bed. Patti recovered first. “Do you know if he has asked your mother or grandfather yet?” “I don’t know. I know it took forever for Mama to come in tonight after we got home. I asked her what was going on, but she just gave me this mysterious smile and said good night.” “Why would she do that?” Emma inquired, still not quite completely calmed down. “I don’t know. I think she did it to leave me in suspense,” Liz bemoaned fondly. “I wonder what they talked about while they were out there.” Patti was frankly curious. “I’m not sure, and I wish I were.” Liz sighed as she situated herself to recline against the pillows. Patti sat at the end of the bed with her back
against the corner post. Her right leg curled under her, she fisted the covers in her hands, then leaned forward, half lying on the bed. “Maybe he asked her when would be the best time for him to come and formally ask for your hand,” Patti suggested, an excited gleam in her eyes. Emma and Liz responded with enthusiastic noises. “I can’t believe it. You’re getting engaged.” Emma flopped onto her back, across the middle of the bed. “Can you imagine? Mrs. Jonathan Denby.” Liz sighed contentedly. “I’m imagining. Just think, you… married.” Emma smiled. “It’s so wonderful! And such fun! The parties and balls given in our honor, the dresses, the gifts, the—” “Planning, the moving, the writing of thousands of thank-you notes and invitations,” Patti interrupted dryly. Liz threw a pillow at her. “The wedding night,” Emma injected with a quiet whisper. Patti and Liz whipped their heads in Emma’s direction, mouths agape in shock. Emma’s innocent look gave way to an impish grin as a blush stole over her face. “Well, she’ll have one of those too,” Emma said defensively as her blush deepened. At her overly loud statement, Patti and Liz dissolved into helpless laughter. After a few moments, the giggles settled down. “Do you think he will want to marry here or in England?” Liz mused out loud. “I’m not sure. It’ll be an interesting wedding to be sure. Your friends and family are all here. Most of his are
in England,” Patti pointed out. “I wonder when he will approach Mama. Do you think he will ask Grandfather as well?” Liz looked at Patti expectantly. “If he does it as a proper Englishman, he will. He would have to go to your closest living male relative who has some sway over you. After he presents his suit to them, he can ask you, but only if they both approve of the match.” “I don’t see why they wouldn’t,” Emma commented. “After all, his grandfather and ours have been friends forever, and he is a perfectly upstanding gentleman. He even has a means of supporting Liz so she can live in comfort without relying on her money.” “It is all still terribly exciting,” Liz restated. Emma and Patti murmured their agreement. Liz fell silent as she started to imagine what it would be like being married to a prominent physician. She knew as Jonathan’s wife she would be admitted to high society in England, even be presented to the queen herself. She sighed happily as she thought of the dresses and jewels she would wear, the events she would go to, and the people she would meet. Her mind shied away from the icy reception that many American girls received from their British counterparts, who resented a foreigner coming in and scooping up their eligible bachelors. She even began to wonder what their children would look like. A boy for him, tall and handsome, with her dimples and his father’s dark eyes. A girl for her, all curls and sunshine, smiling as she played in
the garden. Patti spoke quietly, “What does it feel like to almost be engaged? I don’t know that I could do it. With everything you have going on, I don’t know how you are going to handle—” “Oh no!” Emma gasped, interrupting Patti. Eyes wide, she sat up and faced her cousin. “Liz, what are you going to do?” “What do you mean?” Liz blinked as Emma’s obvious concern brought her out of her daydreams. “You can’t get engaged!” “Why not?” Patti probed, confused. “Your contract,” Emma said meaningfully. Liz gasped as her eyes grew round, and she began to follow her cousin’s train of thought. “I didn’t even think about that,” she exclaimed in dismay. “What contract?” Patti inquired, puzzled at the cousins’ abrupt emotional downturn. “The contract she signed with the town of Cottonville for her employment as a teacher,” Emma explained. “Most teaching contracts offered to women have what we commonly call the spinster clause. It states that we are not allowed romantic involvements, and should we be foolish enough to fall in love and get married, we would be required to give up our teaching positions.” “That’s not fair. Does it say you can’t even be engaged?” Patti asked Liz, confused. Liz was concerned, but she was more offended than anything. Liz’s gown flew up as she shot off the bed. Racing
across the room, she dug in her desk until she found her contract. Hands trembling, she returned to the bed with it. Emma shifted so she was sitting cross-legged on the far side of the bed. “Here, you look.” Liz shoved the sheaf of papers into Emma’s hands. Crawling back onto the bed, she sat covering her eyes while she waited. Emma appeared nervous as she cleared her throat and started to read the pages. “This is remarkably specific in your teaching duties,” Emma commented. “But what does it say about being engaged?” Liz wailed. “Shush a minute. I haven’t come across that yet.” Emma read quietly while Liz waited impatiently. What if she couldn’t get engaged to Jonathan? Would he wait for her? “Hours, wages, leave, breaks,” Emma muttered as she passed each section. “Ah, here it is, marital status.” Liz and Patti waited in nervous silence as Emma read. After a moment, Emma raised her head. Liz peered at her from between her fingers. Gravely, Emma shook her head no. “It says here you are not allowed any romantic relations that might result in a proposal, marriage, or any other situation which would remove your primary focus from the education of your pupils. I’m sorry, Liz, but according to this, you wouldn’t be permitted to accept Jonathan’s proposal or even court with him while working as a teacher in Cottonville.” Silent tears began to run down Liz’s face. “It’s so
unfair. If I were a man, they wouldn’t have said that.” “If you were a man, you wouldn’t be anticipating Jonathan’s proposal,” Patti said, not without sympathy. Quickly she gathered up the pages of the contract and moved to set them on the desk. Liz sat at the head of the bed, mourning what could have been. Emma scooted up beside her, and Liz felt her comforting presence. “But what am I going to do?” Liz questioned, still weeping. “I don’t know,” Emma said softly, her arm still around Liz. Silence reigned for a moment. “He hasn’t asked you yet, has he?” “No, you know he hasn’t,” Liz answered, sniffing inelegantly. Liz saw Patti cringe at the sound and pull a handkerchief out of the vanity before returning to the bed with it. “So really, there is nothing to worry about yet.” Emma held up her hand to forestall Liz’s protest, and Liz would have smiled at the gesture if she’d been able to do anything but feel the despair of her situation. “I know, he seemed on the cusp of it tonight, but he does know you are under contract already, correct?” “Yes, I told him when it came in the mail. He went over it with me and even accompanied me to send my signed copy back to the town.” Liz wasn’t sure where Emma was going with this. “What are you saying, Emma?” Patti queried. “Well, since he knows she’s already under contract, and he seems so in favor of her doing this, maybe he won’t object to waiting a year to propose.” Liz was puzzled. “I
think he might be simply expressing his intentions so that once your contract is up, he can propose.” “Sort of putting her on notice, you mean?” Patti questioned as she settled back on the foot of the bed. “That’s really smart of him to do so if you ask me. You know you have had droves of callers in the past, and while your contract might keep them at bay for a while, once it gets even close to being up, some will start to come around. There are even going to be those who won’t care about the contract, thinking marriage to them is better than getting out and exploring the world for a bit on your own.” Liz relaxed a little, considering Patti’s words. “Do you mean he’s doing this to let me know he wants to marry me, that way I won’t be distracted by anyone else who might come along?” Liz asked, mulling over her friend’s words. “Almost like being engaged to be engaged?” Emma queried. Patti nodded eagerly. “Could he really love me enough to allow me this adventure?” Liz said slowly, considering the words as she said them. “Yes,” Emma and Patti replied. “He obviously loves you, Liz,” Emma continued, after a quick, shared smile with Patti. “You know this. Aunt Lynda knows you love each other.” Liz smiled as she warmed to the idea. “And it’s clear that he wants your next adventure to be as his wife,” Patti told her. “He must be willing to keep it a secret until my contract is up.” Liz tried to keep her hopes from getting
too high. “I’m sure he is.” Liz smiled as she relaxed into the realization that Jonathan was likely to allow her this adventure. “I suppose it could be rather nice. And a secret for us to share till my contract is up.” She sat back against the head of the bed again, lost in thought. Emma and Patti also relaxed, each apparently wrapped in their own thoughts on the situation. All too soon, the mantle clock was striking midnight. With a yawn and a stretch, Patti rose and offered her apologies as she made her way to the door and her bed. Emma followed, giving her cousin a happy smile as she passed through the door on her way to her own bed. Liz sat reclining against the pillows at the head of her bed, a smile curving her lips as she thought of married life, with Jonathan by her side.
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