If anything, he envied her sense of adventure. But that was exactly the thing that his mother would dislike. She was a firm believer in a woman knowing her place in society. Would she feel the same way about life in the West though? Was that even fair?
“Benjamin,” his mother said, drawing him from his thoughts. “May we go inside? This cool weather isn’t agreeing with me one bit.”
“Yes, mother,” he said, allowing her to take his arm as they walked up the steps. Her lady’s maid followed behind with her traveling valise, never speaking one word unless spoken to.
As they approached the door Carl opened it with a wide grin. “You must be Mrs. Epps. I see that you are the very source of Mr. Ben’s good looks.”
He saw his mother try and hold in her smile but it was of no use. Carl was charming in his own way. Behind Carl he saw Kate and then Lucy.
His eyes were drawn to his future wife. She had a lovely dress on but her hair was a mess and, when he looked more closely, he could see mud on the hem of the dress. Had she gone out for a walk that morning? He wouldn’t have put it past her.
“Well, aren’t you going to introduce me to your future bride?” his mother urged.
“Yes,” he said, stepping forward. “This is Miss Lucy Castle.”
“I see,” his mother said. “Pleased to meet you.”
“You as well,” Lucy said, giving a slight, but elegant courtesy which eased Ben’s anxiety slightly. She was no stranger to high society; he had to remember that.
They all went in to the sitting room where Carl served tea, but as the discussion turned from news of the city, his mother began to pry more into who Lucy was. It made Ben practically squirm.
“You say you have no aptitude for music? None whatsoever? But I thought you grew up in society.”
Ben saw Lucy’s back straighten a fraction of an inch. “I did, ma’am. And, despite my father’s deepest wishes, I did not have the talent. Believe me, it was more painful than it was helpful. Especially for those listening.”
Ben bit his lip to keep from laughing and his mother turned a wary eye toward him.
“Well, that’s interesting. I suppose I’ll forget sending that pianoforte I thought of as a wedding gift.”
They conversation continued on in the same way, his mother finding more and more things to be displeased about with Lucy. Finally, when he could take it no longer, Ben stood.
“I daresay, mother you must be tired. Why don’t you rest until supper?”
Her lingering glance at Lucy finally shifted to him and she nodded once. “That would be agreeable.”
Sending Lucy an apologetic glance, he ushered his mother upstairs, praying that additional sleep would help ease her critical views of the woman he was going to marry. Either that or Lucy was going to have to seriously prove herself before their wedding.
***
Lucy was exhausted. She felt as if she’d been through an interrogation, having to sit and endure Ben’s mother’s bitter comments. So she couldn’t play the piano, it wasn’t the worst trait to lack in the world. Did her knowledge of books not make up for her lack of musical talent?
She was about to make her way to her own room to rest when Ben appeared in the doorway, a look of agony on his face.
“I’m sorry,” he said, stepping closer to her and taking her hands in his. “I didn’t think she’d give you the inquisition this early in her visit.”
“I would have prepared had I known,” Lucy said, forcing a light laugh.
“You handled it well though,” he said. His smile was warm and she felt the distance she’d placed between them.
“And I’m sorry,” she said. By his look of surprise, she knew he hadn’t been expecting those words from her. “I’ve needed some time—alone—to adjust here. I didn’t mean to leave you out of it, I just…it’s all so new.”
He nodded, his thumbs rubbing soft circles on the backs of her hands.
“I understand,” he said. “If there is anything that will help you, anything I can do, please let me know.”
She thought about his offer. Was there anything he could do? In truth, he seemed to know what he wanted—it was her, as his bride—but she was the one conflicted. Yet, somehow sitting in the sitting room being attacked by questions from Ben’s mother, she had started to see how he defended her. How he sends her apologetic looks when his mother wasn’t looking.
He cared, and she had easily discounted that for her own gain.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “If anything, it’s what I can do. How can I get your mother to like me?” She said it with a smile, but she could see that her words had a deeper impact.
“You want her to?”
“I think it would make things easier on you.”
He nodded slowly, “Yes. I suppose it would.”
“Then, what do I need to do?”
He frowned, searching for the words to share with her. “Did you go to many dinner parties while in New York?”
“Of course, nearly every weekend if not more so.”
“I assumed as much. And what did you do there?”
“Nodded politely, attempted to add to the conversation when possible—which is wasn’t often—and then left feeling exhausted.”
He laughed. “I see. Well, treat my mother’s visit like an extended social party. She will respond to you if she sees your high class character.”
Lucy cringed but covered it up quickly with a smile. “I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. Now I must go see to the dinner menu. Wouldn’t want anything to go wrong there.” He squeezed her hands, leaning down to give her a quick is on the cheek. “Thank you,” he said, linger to look into her eyes for a moment before he left.
When he was gone she deflated, feeling the weight of what he’d asked. He saw this as a simple task, but it meant she had to give in to the very thing she’d been trying to get away from.
Chapter 5
It had been a week. One whole week, and Lucy was exhausted.
Entertaining Mrs. Epps was exactly like Ben had described it. An extended dinner party without the added diversion of other guests. While Ben tended to the ranch, Lucy’s sole responsibility was to cater to Mrs. Epps’s every whim and need.
They had spent hours upon hours discussing social life in Boston, of which Lucy knew next to nothing, talking about Mrs. Epps’s upcoming dinner party, agonized over the meal she would serve, discussed the music—which Mrs. Epps felt Lucy had less of a say in—and other frivolous details.
And now it had come to the point that Lucy had feared from the beginning. She cared for Ben—more than she would have imagined when she first met him—but it was a distinct possibility that his mother would not approve of their marriage. What was more, Lucy wasn’t sure she wanted their marriage to hinge on the opinion of his mother, no matter how well-meaning she was. There was something confining about the thought.
“Dear, did you hear me?”
Lucy snapped out of her thoughts. “Yes, Mrs. Epps.”
“Well?”
Lucy was caught. She hadn’t heard a word the woman had said. As they were alone in the sitting room she had allowed herself to drift off mentally to ease some of the annoyance she felt toward the woman. Now she had to admit yet another mistake.
“I’m sorry, I actually didn’t hear you.”
“I thought as much,” she said, an eyebrow arching. “You lack so many lady-like qualities, it’s a miracle your father didn’t marry you off just to avoid you making a grievous faux pas at a dinner party or something.”
“Mrs. Epps!” That was it. Lucy had heard enough, her blood running hot in her veins. “How dare you. In truth, my father did want to marry me off, but as a pawn for his business dealings and I would not have it.” She was breathing hard now. “And another thing—I may not be musically inclined by I have no trouble thinking for myself, unlike many ladies of society. I find that is a trait to be prized, not diminished.” She stood, staring the woman
down. “And I’ll have you know that, despite what you may think of me, I am a good match for your son. If you care more about yourself than him, then you’ll forbid this marriage. But I’ll have you know we are rather fond of one another so take that into consideration when you make your decision about me.”
Before the woman could respond, Lucy spun on her heel and left the woman with her mouth hanging slack.
It served her right. She had every type of thought regarding the woman her son should marry, but none of them involved him or his happiness. Hopefully some of Lucy’s words had gotten through to the woman.
***
Ben slipped into the study as Lucy breezed past, her hair flying in all directions and her skin hot from emotion. She was so beautiful—and so opinionated. He held in a laugh as she stormed past, then excited the safety of the study to meet his mother in the sitting room.
No doubt Mrs. Epps would have something to say, but he was beginning to see what Lucy was saying. They had a connection that couldn’t be easily broken. Since his mother had been here, they had stolen away for rides in the morning and conversation after she went to bed. His affection had only grown for the beautiful woman, but he could also see that she had softened toward him as well.
Yet there was still the problem of his mother.
He cringed, feeling that the word problem was too harsh, and yet possibly very accurate.
“Hello, mother,” he said, stepping into the room. She looked stunned, her mouth a hard line and hands clasped in front of her.
“You’ve sure chosen a willful woman to be your bride, Benjamin.”
He swallowed and sat down in front of her. “But I love her.”
His mother rolled her eyes. “You think that, but what do you know of love? The more important question is if she will make a suitable wife!”
“What does suitable even mean? You do realize I live in the West mother—it’s not East Coast high society. It never will be.”
She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the delicate lace handkerchief she held in her hand. “When your father died I considered moving out here with you.”
She had? She’d never mentioned it.
“But I thought better of it. My place is in the halls of society in Boston. It has always been my home and I have never imagined living anywhere else.” She met his gaze. “But Lucy is different.”
Ben wanted to defend her, to showcase her admirable qualities, her beauty, her intellect, but something in his mother’s gaze made him hold his tongue.
“In fact, I don’t think she was ever suited for high society—and I don’t mean that to diminish her character. I think she is the perfect wife for a man who lives in the West.”
He didn’t dare to breathe. Was his mother saying that she approved of their marriage? Was that too much to hope for?
“What exactly are you saying, mother?”
“You know what I'm saying,” she said, the hint of a smile surfacing on her lined features. “You should marry Lucy, though I don’t think she would have waited for me to give my approval anyway.”
He laughed. “You are very right. I don’t think she would have.”
“I wish you both the best, dear.”
He jumped to his feet, knowing that he couldn’t waste a moment. He had to go find Lucy, and he knew exactly where she would be.
Chapter 6
Lucy striped pieces of grass, tearing them into smaller pieces. She didn’t know what to do. She’d just ruined any chance of Mrs. Epps giving her approval for Lucy to marry Ben. She’d gone off and spoken her mind, which had gotten herself in trouble—like it always did.
But she couldn't sit by while the older woman spoke poorly of her. It wasn’t right, and it certainly wasn’t fair. If Ben would choose his mother over her, what kind of marriage would they have?
She laid back in the tall grass, staring up at the clouds. Did this mean she had to go back home? She couldn’t go back. She couldn’t face her father. She would find a job before she did that.
The thought made her smile, though she found litter humor in it. Mrs. Epps would have a fit that she’d even considered working.
The sound of branch cracking cause her to sit up, looking around for the source of the sound.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
Ben stood several feet away. He was breathing hard and there was a reddish tinge on his cheeks like he had been running.
“I’m sorry,” she said before he could berate her for speaking back to his mother.
“For what?” he said, coming to sit next to her.
“Have you talked with your mother?”
“Oh, for that,” he said, giving her a knowing smile.
She frowned. How was he smiling? Was he happy that his mother wouldn’t give her permission for them to marry? Had his feelings changed then?
“I see,” she said, looking away from the piercing gaze of his deep brown eyes. “So you’ve changed your mind.”
“About what?”
“Me.” She twirled another long piece of grass until his hand covered hers.
“Never.”
Her gaze flew to his, the look of love radiating in his eyes.
“But—but your mother. I spoke rather forcefully to her and—”
“And she deserved it,” he said.
“Do you mean that?”
“Completely.”
She studied his features, so close to hers as he sat next to her. The warmth of his hand over hers wound its way into her heart.
“Ben, I…” she pursed her lips, thinking of the words to say. “I’m sorry, but I’ll never be like those women. The perfect wives in high society. I left New York because I didn’t want that life.”
“And I don’t want you to be like them.” He grinned. “I think at first I did, because that’s who I thought you were, but then I saw the real you…and I like that even better.” He leaned closer. “You’ve got to understand something, Lucy.”
He was so close and her heart was beating so rapidly that she could barely ask the question. “What is that?”
“I love you, not who my mother wants you to be or who your father was going to use you as. I just want you.”
***
Ben hoped the look in his eyes added even more truth to his words. Could she see that he didn’t care about everything else? He just cared about her. About loving her well and starting their life together. Everything else could work itself out in time, but his love was nonnegotiable. She had to know that.
Then, surprising him, she closed the gap between them. Her soft lips found his and his eyes closed, savoring the moment. He never wanted to leave her side. To be near her always and to feel the warm of her touch, taste the sweetness of her kiss, and know that she loved him would be enough. No—more than enough.
She pulled back and rested her hand on his cheek. “And I love you, Ben Epps. Or should I say Benjamin?” She giggled and he drew her against him in a hug.
“No. That name is reserved for my mother—not to mention it’s much too stuffy for me, wouldn’t you say?”
“I agree.”
He looked down into her green eyes, vibrant against the background of nature. “I do have one thing to ask you though.”
“What is that?” she said with a coy smile.
Taking a big breath, he said, “Will you be my wife, Lucy Castle?”
She leaned in close again and whispered. “Now and always.
Epilogue
The Sun shone brightly across the field of wildflowers as Lucy made her way toward her groom. Ben stood under a tree, the shade of its large branches reaching out and offering shelter. He stood tall, a big grin on his face, his eyes glued to her.
Some of the men from the ranch, Carl, Kate, and Mrs. Epps sat in chairs that had been carted out to the field. It was an unconventional wedding, but Lucy hadn’t seen the day going any differently.
As she approached the front where a trellis of wild flowers and vines had been constructed, she
faced Ben and he joined their hands together, giving her fingers a light squeeze.
The pastor from town spoke of love and devotion to one another, but the only thing Lucy could think of was the fact that Ben loved her for her. He saw her flaws, her unconventional nature, and her wild ideas, and yet he still loved her. He did what her father never had—accepted her. And now she would pledge her life to him, not because of a business merger or because her life was a pawn to be used, but because of love.
Finally, when they had spoken their vows the pastor named them man and wife, giving Ben the approval to kiss his bride.
He stepped close, lifting the delicate veil that had covered her face. The wind swept across her skin sending shivers down her arms, but the warmth from his eyes made the coldness fall away.
“Just remember,” Ben whispered, leaning so close his breath fanned across her face, “I love you, my dear Lucy, and all of who you are.”
His lips met hers and she knew his words were spoken in truth, the reality of his devotion overwhelming her. She would spend the rest of her days showing the man in front of her just how much she believed him, and how much she loved him back.
THE END.
Looking For Love
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1
When the train whistle blew, Cora abandoned her seat on the sofa and hurried to the window. She pulled back the heavy burgundy drapes and sighed deeply. In the dusky light, she could just discern the locomotive as it snaked its way across the tracks toward the Alexandria station. “Look, Hannah! Isn’t she beautiful? I haven’t traveled by train in ages. I’ve quite missed it. And oh my, how the Potomac has risen since the rains! We must walk by the river tomorrow.” She glanced over her shoulder.
Her dearest friend Hannah sat on the sofa in the O’Leary family parlor, her red hair gleaming in ringlets about her shoulders, her freckled face bright with happiness, not much different than when the two were children.
[2016] My True Love Page 37
