“Don’t blame yourself. I hope you don’t mind that you married a disfigured woman.”
“Disfigured? Hardly, but it’s a nasty scar. How did you come by it?”
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Sara announced. “I need to get washed up and make sure your clothes were cleaned.”
After Sara left, Johanna admitted, “I really like Sara.” She sighed then, ready to finally explain herself to Paul. “I was working on a machine when it came apart and a piece of metal speared my leg. It had been badly mangled, I’m afraid.”
“Did they seek immediate medical attention?”
“No. I mean, the foreman called the doctor, but he wasn’t the best sawbones you ever met. He cleaned and sewed my leg back together the best he could, but it became infected and had to be drained many times.”
Paul gritted his teeth. “That’s horrible. Who took care of you?”
“I couldn’t work for two months, but the other women from the factory took care of me, and luckily some had enough medical knowledge to be of use. I hated how it made me feel, and I’ve never been able to repay the women like I would have liked. And now they’re all mail-order brides.”
“I’m sure the women knew you appreciated their help.”
“I thanked them all the time, and they told me we weren’t only co-workers but sisters. We knew the factory owner couldn’t care less if we were injured, or anyone else for that matter. All he was concerned with was the money lining his pocket. The manager thinks he even set the factory on fire, but there was no proof.”
“Perhaps you should rest, Johanna.”
“You need to listen to your own advice. You look quite the sight.” She braved a smile.
Paul ran a hand across his razor stubble. “I know, but I couldn’t leave your side. What if I did and I wasn’t here when you woke up?”
“I’m sure Sara could have taken turns with you.”
“She’s really a gem, and I won’t forget her dedication.”
“I’m sure that’s who she is as a person.” Johanna bit her lip. “You should probably take a break now. I’m sure your mother won’t be happy you’ve been wasting your days up here with me.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I heard her in my room right before I woke up. It seems she expected me to die.”
“We all did, in a way, but I wasn’t willing to give up. I’d have sent for another doctor if I had to. My mother is good at making her opinion known, many times when it’s least welcomed. She does take some getting used to. I had to send her back downstairs more than a few times.”
“I imagine she worries about you.”
“Yes. She’s always been a strong and domineering woman. My father never minded it since she ran an efficient household while he was working the farm. He built it up to be one of the most profitable farms in Ohio. I began to help out when I was twelve, and the farm was eventually sold when my father insisted we all move to Saginaw to get into lumbering. He invested heavily in railroads, lumbering, and even a few mines. It was then that my parents moved into a beautiful Victorian mansion on the north end of town. My mother was instantly transformed into a social butterfly—”
“Something I rather enjoyed,” Cecilia interrupted from the door before she asked, “May I join you, Paul?”
“Of course,” Johanna said with a smile.
Cecilia moved stiffly across the floor to the bed. Her white hair seemed to match her complexion, or it might have been the black dress she wore.
“I’m glad to see you awake. You’ve given us all quite the scare.”
“I can see that, but now that I’m awake, I thought you could tell me a little more about yourself. I’m not trying to steal your son from you.”
“I never exactly thought about it that way, but I certainly could have been warmer to you. I’m sorry if I haven’t made you feel at home here.”
“Perhaps if we knew more about each other, it would help. Paul just told me you were a social butterfly.”
“Social icon, they say. I had a knack for organizing dinner parties and fundraisers for the orphan train children.”
“I think I remember someone talking about that. Street children have even left from Lawrence before. Now that is a terrible plight to be in. I can’t tell you how many children there were running the streets.”
“Perhaps you could help me with a fundraiser when you’re feeling better,” Cecilia offered.
“I’d love that. What was your husband like?”
“He was hardworking, loyal, and willing to help out his fellow man. I loved him so much that my heart is still broken since he died.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, truly. You must have been married a long time,” Johanna said.
“Over forty years. Paul is our only child, so I suppose that’s why I worry so about him.”
“That’s understandable.”
“My father took me fishing every chance he could, when he wasn’t working,” Paul admitted. “He taught me how to treat my workers fairly, about how important they were to a company. ‘If you treat a man fairly,’ he’d say, ‘they’ll work harder.’ I took that one step further and had cabins built, as you’ve seen. When you’re better, I’ll take you to an actual lumberjack camp.”
“I don’t think she’ll be able to do that for some time,” Cecilia scolded him.
“My mother is right, but we’ll be here to help you any way we can.”
It warmed Johanna’s heart that Cecilia was being kind to her. Perhaps she had misunderstood her, since Cecilia had admitted how much she loved her husband. Johanna yawned and sighed. “I think Paul is right. I need to rest. Would you please make Paul leave? He needs some sleep, too, and a change of clothes.” She laughed.
Paul gave Johanna a soft kiss and left the room with his mother. She touched her lips after he left. Her heart soared each and every time he was near her or gazed into her eyes. She’d do her best to heal so she’d be able to tell Paul how much she loved him. When she woke up and saw how he looked, it moved her to tears. It was quite apparent that he had been glued to her side while she was out. Sara also had proven her worth. She imagined Sara had most likely told Paul to get some rest, and it meant so much to her that they were both right there when she woke up.
Johanna moved her leg over, a stabbing pain ripping through her, but she knew that was how it worked. She’d have to endure the pain; otherwise, she’d be stuck in her bed forever.
Chapter Twelve
Johanna turned the page of her book but was interrupted by a loud knock at her door. Paul popped his head in. “Are you decent?”
“Yes, Sara helped me get dressed not long ago.”
Her eyes lit up when the men carried the sewing machine inside, setting it down by the window. “I hope you don’t mind, but I think you have a sewing project you’ve been neglecting.”
Johanna moved her legs off the bed and grimaced as she stood up. It had been two weeks, but her leg still hurt to a good degree. “I need my fabric and thread and needles,” she instructed them. “And please, don’t let Sara in here while I’m working.”
“I sent her off to visit her sister. She went reluctantly.” Paul laughed.
“She’s a stubborn one, that girl. She’s been hovering over me like a bee searching for pollen.”
“Do you need any—”
“Help? No! I can manage quite nicely.” Johanna carefully walked over to the bench that was also brought in and sat down. From between clenched teeth, she said, “See? I made it just fine.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m staying here while you work. I can’t have you fainting and injuring yourself further.”
“I won’t argue the point.”
The fabric was carefully carried in by Cecilia. “I think you’ll need this.” She also had a maid she didn’t know carry in the sewing supplies. “This is Barbara. She’s the new maid, since Sara is now your lady’s maid. We can’t afford to be short-handed. That kitchen maid shouldn
’t be serving the meals. I almost wore my tea a few days ago.”
Johanna smiled, but was too busy threading the needle. “Thank you. This was such a lovely surprise.”
Everyone left the room except for Paul, who pulled a chair closer and eased himself down. “You’re beginning to charm my mother. She’s been so much easier to deal with since that day you woke up. I barely know the woman, but from the sounds of it, she expects a grandchild within a year.”
Johanna focused on gathering the fabric together, pumping the pedal that worked the needle up and down with her good leg. “Grandchild, you say? That might be hard to do.”
“That’s what I told her, but I still have hopes that sometime in the near future, you’ll be sleeping in my room.” Johanna’s heart throbbed, and she had to really concentrate on her task at hand. If she didn’t start paying attention and soon, she’s spear her finger for sure. She was giddy on the inside and wasn’t sure if she should respond or not, until Paul took her hands, turning her to face him. “How do you feel about that?”
Play dumb, that always works! “Feel about what?”
“Sleeping with me as a wife does her husband.”
Johanna’s eyes glistened. “Do you really want me to?”
“Do you?”
“I asked you first.”
“I brought it up first.” When she still didn’t answer him, he added, “I love you, Johanna. I think I have from the first day you walked from that train station into my life, and I don’t even believe in love at first sight! I know I can’t dare to hope you love me, too, but I’m willing to wait and hope you grow to love me in time.”
Johanna’s breath was caught in her throat. Had she heard him actually admit he loved her? No, I must be dreaming. It was too much to hope for and yet ... Paul loved her! “I’ve been such a fool,” Johanna admitted, her hands covering her face.
He pulled her hands down. “You’re not the fool, I am,” he said with a hurt look on his face. When he went to move away, Johanna took his hand in hers. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this to happen yet, especially today. It’s not fair to tell me you love me now when I’m not able to sleep with you in the way you’d like.” Tears trailed down her cheeks. “I love you, Paul, is all I can say. I had hoped you felt the same, and I’ve been a fool for keeping this to myself.”
Paul took her face between his hands. “Are you sure, my love? I didn’t mean to press you for a response.”
“You haven’t, but I’m very happy to know you love me. It makes it much easier.” She pulled him down to her. Their lips gently touched with the softest of kisses before Paul claimed her as a man does his wife with a more demanding one. She returned his kiss, yearning for so much more even though she knew it wasn’t possible just yet, not until she was fully mended. When his tongue plunged between her lips, she pulled away. “I think we should stop. If I don’t get this dress finished before Sara comes back, how will I be able to surprise her?”
“You’re right. I’ll sit here and try to not think about ravishing you. I’m not an insensitive man. I know I’ll have to wait until you’re back to your old self.”
“I don’t want to be my old self, more like my new self. You’ve changed me for the better. It’s important for us to love each other and create a child someday built out of that love.”
“I think I have enough love for the two of us.”
“I love you more.”
“No, I don’t think you do, but I’ll show you when you’re better.” He winked.
Johanna went back to work, which was very hard with Paul sitting so close. Her cheeks hurt from all the smiling she was doing. She felt great from head to foot, and she’d not let the pain from her leg dim this magnificent moment. Her mind screamed, Paul loves me, and I love him!
Johanna instructed Paul to hand her fabric, and she sewed it to the other pieces she’d already finished. She flipped it over and worked from the inside out until she was ready to sew the collar on, which was made of lace. She carefully cut it and sewed it by hand then turned it right side out. Standing, she shook it out, presenting the finished dress to Paul. “What do you think?”
“That you’ll put all the seamstresses out of business and that our staff will be the best dressed in town.”
“I have to sew on the buttons. If I hurry, I’ll be finished before Sara insists on coming in here.”
Johanna sewed the pearl buttons on and barely finished before there was a knock on the door. “Johanna, are you all right? They told me I couldn’t come up here.”
“Let her in, Paul.”
Paul opened the door and Sara made a mad rush inside. “Whatever is going on in here?”
Johanna held the dress up. “I was making you a surprise. I hope it fits.”
“What is it?”
“Your new maid’s dress.”
Sara shook her head sadly. “Your husband’s mother will never allow me to wear that.”
“And why not?”
“It has lace for the collar, for one, and it’s blue. Everyone knows all maids have black dresses.”
“Not here, they won’t. I also have a great idea for a maid’s apron.”
“You tell her, Mr. Worthington,” Sara murmured.
“I thought it was a strange idea at first, too, but why don’t you humor my wife by trying it on? I’ll go downstairs and assemble the rest of the staff to get their thoughts,” Paul stated.
Paul left and Johanna held it out. “I insist you try it on.”
“And if I refuse?” Sara asked with raised brow.
“I’ll have to ask the kitchen maid to be my new lady’s maid?”
‘That’s funny, but I’ll try it on all the same.”
Johanna helped Sara off with her dress and on with the new one. Johanna buttoned the dress up and said, “It looks like a great fit.”
Sara turned to face her. “If you think so.”
Johanna ushered her to the mirror. ‘Take a look.”
Sara stood stiffly before the mirror. She turned to both sides and with her back facing the mirror, she also gazed at her reflection. She smiled at Johanna. “I love it, but we still have to convince your mother-in-law.”
“You’ll have to straighten you posture so it looks the best. I can hardly wait to find out what the other maids think. I made this dress especially for you.”
“But why?”
Johanna hugged Sara. “You’re not just my lady’s maid, you’re my friend.”
“Thank you, Johanna. I was so worried when you were sick.”
“I know, and so was Paul. He told me he loved me while you were gone.”
Sara’s face lit up. “That is so great. So, will you start sleeping with your husband now?”
“I’m not well enough just yet to do more than sleep.” She laughed.
Johanna pushed Sara from the room and they walked side by side to the stairs, where Johanna had to be extra careful. Her leg was still sore, but with the events of the day, it didn’t hold her back. This might just be the happiest day of my life.
Paul and Cecilia stood waiting for them with the rest of the staff at the foot of the stairs. Sara walked forward and put her hands up in a showy motion, drawing attention to the puffy sleeves and the formed bodice of the dress, smoothing the lacy collar.
“I made this for Sara,” Johanna began. “With the hopes that the rest of staff would be equally dressed.”
“John sure would look strange in that getup,” Ingrid said with a sly smile.
“Fine, we’ll leave it for only the ladies. So, what do you think, Cecilia?”
“Perhaps it’s time to update the look of the staff. Why should they look exactly the same as the other women who work as maids in Saginaw? I rather like that we’ll be set apart. Great idea, Johanna. I had no idea you could sew.”
“It’s something to wile away the time.”
“We’ll be having a seamstress make duplicates of this dress and the clothing you promised the lumberjack’s wife for her
children,” Paul said to his mother. “I don’t want Johanna to waste all of her time sewing. We made plans to go on a honeymoon since we haven’t had the chance yet.”
“Honeymoon?” Johanna replied quizzically.
“It’s what a newly married couple does. They go somewhere alone to get to know each other better.”
“But I thought we’ve already done that.”
“Not quite, dear.”
“I love the dress,” the kitchen maid, Natalie, exclaimed. She walked forward to feel the fabric. “And so soft.”
Sara appeared quite happy that the maids felt the material, telling her how lucky she was that the lady of the house made the dress for her.
“I’m actually impressed, and that’s a hard thing to do,” Cecilia said.
“Thank you, Cecilia,” Johanna said. “I appreciate your kind thoughts.”
“Well, you are the lady of the house. Now I can relax and get back to my charity work.”
Johanna hugged and gave Cecilia a kiss on her cheek. She wasn’t prepared for her to like the dress, or the idea of a uniform change. It was certainly her day. Well, not quite. The seamstress Natasha waltzed in with her assistant Mabel, carrying the dresses Paul had her fitted for.
“This way, ladies,” Paul instructed. He led the way up the stairs, turning to the right instead of left where Johanna’s room was. Did Paul expect her to sleep there?
“Don’t worry, dear,” Cecilia said. “Paul’s just excited, but don’t allow him to push you into anything you’re not ready for.”
Johanna didn’t think he’d do that, but she hoped she could at least be in her husband’s bed tonight.
Natasha admired the dress Sara wore when she came down the stairs. “You’ve done a lovely job with this,” she said. “I’d be happy to measure the rest of the staff and duplicate it. I believe you might just be my favorite customer now.” She laughed. Mable came down the stairs, waving a measuring tape. “Don’t let my assistant frighten you. She really loves to measure women.”
They all went into the parlor and soon the staff was stripped down to their corsets and chemises, Mabel measuring them and carefully writing down the numbers. Natasha, on the other hand, was enjoying a spot of wine that Cecilia poured for her, which shocked Johanna to no end. She had no idea how much Cecilia had changed until recently, and she was liking this side of her.
Johanna: Bride of Michigan (American Mail-Order Bride 26) Page 11
