CantrellsBride Page 3

  “That problem has been addressed.” Henderson scooted his chair away from the table. “If you ladies are finished, please follow me to Miss Laura’s room.”

  Filled with curiosity, Laura and Claudia set aside the remainder of their meal and followed the stalwart servant. They paused in the doorway then exchanged startled looks. There, laying on the bed were all of Laura’s belongings and one or two items of her aunt’s.

  “I don’t understand,” Laura said, walking over to pick up the quilt her mother had made her as a child. “How did you get these? I thought we didn’t want anyone to know I’d visited Claudia last night?”

  “It was my suggestion, ma’am,” Officer Howard said, coming in to close the hall door. “Once Henderson proposed his idea to me, I knew you’d have to disappear completely.”

  “I can’t believe Aunt Ellen would just give you my things without asking questions.” She sat on the bed and lifted a leather-bound book. It was a copy of the very first adventure story she’d penned. Then she fingered the brown cookie jar she kept filled with baked treats for any children who came to the boarding house.

  “She didn’t.” Henderson looked a little sheepish. “I had some expert help removing your belongings without detection.”

  “Who?”

  He opened the door connecting her room with Claudia’s. There, seated at a small table sat two boys with dirty faces and hands, busily wolfing down plates of bacon, eggs and biscuits. These were the two pickpockets she’d been trying to reform over the past two years. Instead of thievery, they now had jobs delivering coal to homes. She’d also bedded them down in the carriage house after her aunt retired for the night, bought them clothes and saw that they had two hot meals every day.

  “Adam? Joey?” she asked, going into the room.

  The older of the boys, blond and thin, stood and gave her a hug. “Miz Laura, me and Joey got yer things just like Henderson told us to do.”

  Not to be outdone, the smaller, dark-headed boy swallowed his food and nearly toppled over his chair to hug her too. “We went in that basement window yer aunt never fixed and snuck past the witch’s room. She and yer mean cousin was sleeping like this.” He made a loud snoring sound, very much like her relatives made each night.

  Pure joy filled her heart to near bursting and she smiled at his antics. “I see you remembered my books.”

  Adam nodded, then sat back in his chair. “Henderson said not to leave nothin’, and we knowed yer loved those books.”

  “And we got the cookie jar.” Joey grinned, then stuffed another piece of bacon into his mouth whole.

  “That wasn’t mine, Joey. That belonged to Aunt Ellen.”

  He shrugged. “She’s too mean to have a cookie jar.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she watched the boys eat. Once she left town her aunt wouldn’t hesitate to have them arrested the first time she found them sleeping in the carriage house.

  Laura swallowed the lump in her throat then patted both boys on the back. “Thank you both for bringing me my things. You finish eating, then you can tell me all the details.”

  As the adults filed back into Laura’s room, the boys attacked their breakfast with renewed vigor.

  “What’s going to happen to them?”

  Claudia wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry about the boys. Henderson and I will take care of them.”

  “I believe we could always use good help at the townhouse, miss.” Henderson’s lip twitched slightly, suggesting he’d enjoy mastering the two street orphans.

  The care of her charges decided, Laura’s heart lightened a bit. “Then I suppose there’s nothing left to do but pack.”

  “I took the liberty of bringing a carpetbag and two small crates from Miss Claudia’s for that purpose.” Henderson pointed to the corner of the bedroom. “When you’re ready for me to load them on the carriage just knock on the door. I think I’d like to keep our young friends company until we go to the train station.”

  He stepped back into the other room and closed the door. Both boys began chattering at once.

  Laura glanced at Claudia. “He’s remarkable.”

  Claudia laughed. “Let’s just hope your future husband is as dependable.”

  * * * * *

  Neil Cantrell laid his pen on his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Closing his lids, he willed the pain sending off fire bursts behind his eyes to fade. After two weeks of interviewing half the interested women from Baltimore and surrounding towns answering the advertisement, he was no closer to finding a woman to fill Nathan’s requirements for his mail-order bride than when he started.

  When the letter arrived three weeks ago, he’d had his misgivings about his brother going to such an extreme to find a new wife. However, his own wife Beth begged him to take on the task, reminding him that Nathan’s daughter Rachel needed a mother to care for her.

  So Neil agreed to interview the candidates. He’d hoped it would take only a day or two. But that first day he discovered the task wouldn’t be as easy as he’d anticipated. The caliber of woman ranged from stern schoolteachers who brought back bad memories of a tutor he and Nathan shared to women he suspected were prostitutes from the city’s seamier side.

  To top things off, today Beth insisted he take six of their seven children with him. When he’d protested, she’d claimed exhaustion from the recent birth of their youngest and he’d given in to her request.

  “Mr. Spencer, please send in the next candidate,” he said to his secretary, who was seated near the hotel suite’s door.

  “There are no women left in the anteroom, Mr. Cantrell, except the children’s nanny.”

  Neil straightened in his chair. “Nanny?”

  “Yes sir.” Spencer smiled from the door. “I didn’t know you’d hired one, sir, but she’s quite good with the children, telling them stories all afternoon to keep them quiet. She is quite remarkable.”

  “Spencer, my children have no nanny.”

  Neil strode across the room and stared in amazement. In the far corner sat a rather plump woman with the two smallest of his children sitting in her lap, snuggled against her and sound asleep, while the four oldest sat at her feet enthralled with the story the lady was telling.

  “I believe she is telling them about King Arthur, sir,” Spencer whispered behind him.

  She wasn’t a beautiful woman, nor was she ugly. Her dark hair was pulled away from her face in an unadorned hairstyle, her features soft and plain. Neil studied her. She didn’t seem hardened by life, as had many of the women he’d interviewed this week. Her voice was warm and enticing. More importantly, she looked nothing like Nathan’s first wife. Kirsten had been a beauty on the outside with only darkness on the inside.

  His oldest son said something to the lady. She laughed, then smiled at him. The smile lit up her features and transformed her face entirely, making him want to say something humorous just to see it again.

  This was the woman for Nathan and Rachel.

  “Spencer, bring me a chair.”

  Neil quietly moved into the room. The woman stopped her story as he approached and started to dislodge herself from his children. He smiled and motioned for her to remain seated. “Please, don’t. They appear quite content, Miss…?”

  “Melbourne, sir. Laura Melbourne,” she said and a light blush filled her cheeks.

  It had been years since a lady had blushed for him.

  “She’s telling us a story,” his daughter Jilly said from Miss Melbourne’s feet.

  “About knights and dragons,” Jilly’s twin brother James added.

  He patted his children on the head and they scooted to the sides as Spencer brought his chair. Neil sat and took his youngest son from Miss Melbourne. “If you are quiet while Miss Melbourne and I talk, perhaps she’ll finish her story later.”

  That promise had them all grinning at each other, but also gained him their cooperation. He studied the woman across from him for a moment. Eve
n though she nervously glanced from his children to him, her hand continued to lightly stroke the top of his daughter Betsy’s head.

  She had a mother’s instincts.

  “Tell me, Miss Melbourne, are you here to interview for the mail-order bride advertised in the paper?”

  Another soft blush filled her cheeks, but her deep green eyes never wavered and her gaze never left his face. “Yes, Mr. Cantrell, I am.”

  “May I ask why?”

  Something crossed her features for a brief moment. Fear? Uncertainty? He didn’t know for sure, but she seemed to weigh her answer.

  “Mr. Cantrell, I want a chance at a family. Most men won’t glance at me twice. I am thirty years old and the prospect of living the rest of my life working in my aunt’s boarding house under her thumb doesn’t appeal to me. This may be my only chance to have a life of my own.” She swallowed hard at the end of her appeal, her gaze shifting to his children once more.

  Despite feeling there was something she was leaving out, her words and the intensity with which she spoke rang sincere to Neil. But for his brother’s sake, he had to press the issue.

  “Miss Melbourne, are you in any kind of trouble with the law?”

  She licked her lips before answering. “No sir.”

  Again, Neil saw her hesitation. “Is there anyone searching for you? A father, brother, or perhaps…” He cleared his throat and mouthed the final word so his children wouldn’t hear, “Lover?”

  Her eyes widened in shock. “Oh no. I assure you, Mr. Cantrell. I have never…” Again she blushed a deep crimson.

  Neil relaxed and gave her his most charming smile, the one he reserved for nervous clients. “I apologize if I was indelicate, miss. But as my brother’s lawyer, I would be remiss if I hadn’t asked.”

  She blinked a few times. “I understand. I just wasn’t expecting… No one has ever questioned me…”

  “Have you ever been ill?” Neil moved on to another question, trying to relieve the lady’s apparent continued distress.

  “I had the measles when I was ten years old. Since then nothing more than an occasional chill has bothered me.”

  “Good. Hearing your rendition of King Author and his round table, I assume you’ve attended school?”

  This subject seemed to relax her. She shook her head. “My mother did teach me reading, writing and sums before my parents died. And I have worked in a library for the past ten years, furthering my own education through books.”

  “You are an orphan then?”

  “Yes, from the measles when I was a child. Then I went to live with my aunt and cousin.”

  Neil smiled. “The aunt who runs the boarding house?”

  “My aunt owns the boarding house. I run it, doing the cooking and cleaning on a daily basis.” With pride in her voice, she sat a bit straighter and her hand tightened protectively around his daughter to keep her from sliding off her lap.

  Neil made a mental note of her protectiveness. “My brother has no servants, Miss Melbourne. As his wife, he will expect you to prepare all the meals and run his house.” If she agreed to go through with this marriage, he wanted her to know exactly what awaited her. Her life in Colorado wouldn’t be one of ease.

  “As it should be, sir. I would expect nothing less.”

  The straightforwardness of her agreement and the gentle way she cradled his daughter convinced Neil he’d never find a better woman to meet his brother’s needs. Whatever real reason she had for marrying a stranger and moving out West couldn’t detract from what she brought to the marriage, a willingness to work, a quick mind and a love of children. He wished his brother hadn’t sworn him to secrecy about Rachel. The little girl’s situation wouldn’t frighten this woman off.

  His decision made, Neil held out his hand. “Miss Melbourne, if you’re willing, I’d like to offer you, in my brother’s name, a proposal of marriage.”

  * * * * *

  “Do you, Laura Melbourne, take Nathan Cantrell to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold, to honor and obey, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.”

  The words sounded so odd to Laura’s ears, as if a stranger uttered them. From the moment she accepted the proposal of marriage she’d been in a giant whirlwind of activity.

  First Mr. Cantrell—Neil as he insisted she call him—had explained the legalities of her marriage. His brother wanted a time limit of five years agreed to in a legally binding contract. Odd though the stipulation was, she actually relaxed after thinking on it a moment. If things didn’t turn out well, she wouldn’t have to stay married to him for the rest of her life.

  Next, Neil had insisted she bring her things to his house where the ceremony would take place, instead of her staying at the hotel for the night. There she met his wife, Beth, a little, plump, blonde woman who chattered so fast and so happily that she reminded Laura of a yellow canary—a very efficient canary.

  Before she knew it, Beth had Laura ensconced in a comfortable bedroom in their home and had laid out the plans for the ceremony, which was to take place that evening. No detail had been overlooked. Beth’s father, the judge, would perform the ceremony just to be sure everything was legal. Her mother would provide flowers from her hothouse, because of course there were no fresh flowers in Baltimore in January. And of course, dinner would follow, because she must be famished after her trip from Washington and the long day with the children.

  Laura’s ears still rang from the whole conversation with Beth, yet she found herself smiling at the memory. If her new husband was anything like his brother and she could be as happy as her new sister-in-law was, Laura knew she’d made the right decision.

  “Congratulations, Mrs. Cantrell.” Judge Miller smiled and took her hand, bringing Laura out of her reverie.

  “Thank you, sir.” Her cheeks heated with embarrassment as Beth, her mother, Neil and then the four older children hugged her. It was so strange to think of herself as married, yet not have a clue what her husband looked like or what kind of a man he was.

  “Let’s go celebrate the newest member of our family,” Beth said, linking her arm through hers as if they’d been friends for years and leading her to the dining room.

  Dinner passed in a blur of food and conversation. The older children joined the adults at the table, breaking with formal traditions, their parents’ pleasure in their company very evident. Laura relaxed for the first time since her brother-in-law had introduced himself.

  “So, young lady,” the judge sat back in his chair, sipping his wine, “you lived in our nation’s capital?”

  Laura carefully wiped her lips with her napkin then returned it to her lap. “Yes sir. I have lived there all my life.”

  “It is a remarkable place. I have always enjoyed the current of power that seems to hum through the air there.”

  “You have been to Washington, sir?”

  “Father is very active in the Republican Party here in Baltimore, Laura. He and mother attended the inauguration of President Garfield. He will be a wonderful leader, don’t you think?” Beth paused for a breath.

  Laura didn’t know if she was supposed to agree or give a comment, so she simply smiled and nodded.

  “Grandpa knows lots of people in Congress,” Robert, the oldest son, informed her.

  “I have met a few myself,” Laura replied. Seeing everyone studying her, she rushed to explain. “The library where I worked was very close to the Capitol Building. Many senators and congressmen visited us.”

  “I have a very good friend serving in Congress. We attended Harvard Law together.” The judge sipped from his wine once more.

  “Oh, who is that, sir?” Laura asked more out of politeness than actual curiosity.

  “Perhaps you have heard of him, Senator Thomas Anderson?”

  The earth tilted on its axis. The room spun around Laura.

  “Laura, are you all right?” The concern in Neil’s voice pulled her from the dark cavern where her mind had p
lunged.

  Feeling hot and dizzy, she forced herself to take a drink of water. “Yes. I think perhaps this has all been a bit overwhelming for me.”

  “Oh, you poor dear.” Beth scooted her chair away from the table and hurried to her side. “Let’s get you upstairs and in bed. It’s not every day you leave the security of your home for such a new adventure.”

  Laura didn’t argue with her new sister-in-law as she led her away from the dining room, chattering all the way up the stairs. Until the judge mentioned Senator Anderson’s name, she’d completely forgotten what had brought her to Baltimore and this desperate act of marrying a complete stranger. But with one sentence, all the fear came crashing in once more.

  “I am just so happy Neil found you today,” Beth said as she lit the oil lamp on the bedside table. “He had so despaired of finding the right kind of woman for Nathan’s wife. I just knew I had to help him as much as I could.”

  Laura blinked, trying to make sense of the words flowing so freely from Beth’s lips. “How did you help him?”

  “By sending the children with him, of course.” Beth giggled and turned down the covers. “I just knew if the children went with him, they would help him weed out the less desirable women and help him see what Nathan needs is a wife who isn’t a floozy like his first one, may God rest her soul, and a mother for little Rachel.”

  Laura stared at her. “Little Rachel?”

  “Nathan’s daughter. Surely Neil mentioned her?” It was Beth’s turn to stare in confusion.

  “I don’t believe he did.” Her husband had a daughter.

  She had a daughter! Warmth spread through her chest.

  “Men,” Beth said with exaggerated exasperation. “Here, you sit and I’ll tell you all about her. It’s a rather sad story really.” Beth plumped two pillows against the headboard, then settled herself in the rocking chair facing the bed as Laura leaned back.