The Shoemaker

by Lisa Prysock

  “You are welcome, Miss Lyndon.”

  The next few days proved to provide the pace she needed to regain strength and find a sense of routine and belonging in her new surroundings. She had time for prayers and reading each morning before an early breakfast with Kingston in the Dining Room. They usually took Max on a walk in the snow or for several turns in the Conservatory after breakfast. A few hours of embroidery and letter writing in the Morning Room gave her ample time for discussions with the Duke’s sisters and their friends. Callers sometimes arrived late morning or just in time for tea, served at two o’clock each day, followed by cozy afternoon naps. The dinner meal was usually served at five o’clock, and everyone dressed accordingly. Catherine had to remain content with her meager wardrobe though the other ladies had numerous day dresses.

  Catherine severely lamented that she only had her brown day dress or the peach wool day dress. The peach wool day dress featured a cream muslin bodice complemented by a peach wool spencer. These were the choices for ordinary morning or afternoon dress. The other ladies each possessed four or five day dresses and numerous evening gowns.

  For informal evenings, she had to choose between the midnight blue satin, or the dove gray evening dress with the cream bodice. She had a few formal ball gowns to choose from, but she wisely decided to save her most formal attire for the proper events. Her formal ball gowns consisted of a rose silk, the olive satin gown, a plum velvet ball gown, and a white gown in layers of muslin trimmed in red ribbon. She did appreciate that Mother had managed to provide her with the forest green travel suit; two walking suits, one of red wool and the other, the velvet purple walking suit; and a dark green riding habit… which she would not be able to wear until riding season. All of her gowns had been handed down from her sisters, but the good Lord had provided. She forced herself to be thankful though her heart longed for new items that hadn’t been worn by anyone else. It was difficult for her to be excited about gowns that someone else had previously worn and chosen. She tried to close her eyes and imagine the less fortunate. This made it easier for her to be thankful for what she had been provided. She was so accustomed to having no new gowns due to having so many sisters that it had barely dawned on her mind that she could afford to order a few gowns from the funds the Duke had advanced.

  Early evenings consisted of various light activities such as reading in the library; playing games like chess or having discussions in the Drawing Room; taking a turn in the Gallery, Conservatory, or in the hallways for exercise; more embroidery or light sewing work; drawing or letter writing; playing the piano in the Music Room; or engaging in one of the artistic pursuits favored by Lady Amiée-Jo, such as making paper flowers. A late supper was served around nine o’clock, just before everyone returned to various activities until about eleven o’clock, at which time the house retired to bed. Each evening, Kingston asked her to join him in the library for a brief discussion. Every day he insisted that he would soon marry her, and each day she replied coyly that this remained to be seen as she continued to pray. She read books before falling asleep for almost an hour every evening.

  On Sunday, they attended the parish Anglican Church at Glad Crown. At least this one event gave her a resemblance of her home in Chelmsford. The familiar hymns and reciting prayers from The Book of Common Prayers helped alleviate her slightly homesick feeling. If the weather was poor, Lady Anne-Marie informed her, they attended the chapel at Hillbrook Hall. Maguire, Boggs, their wives, and Crane were soon installed at the Dowager House which boasted four additional bedrooms. They were a wonderful addition to the festive meals and daily activities leading up to Christmas.

  Lady Burke and her daughter had eventually emerged from the Gold Room as if nothing had ever been amiss. Lady Burke remained somewhat aloof among such a younger set, but she seemed to blend into the guests gathered at Hillbrook Hall waiting for the Annual Christmas Ball. She occasionally provided them with a number of stories of interest from days gone by. The smile Lady Agnes now wore when she looked in Catherine’s direction signaled that she had finally won the argument with her mother regarding how her marriage would begin, if it began at all. It seemed as though it would since from that day forth, she slowly began to speak of the Earl, Lord Grenley, as her fiancé. Aggie seemed easily startled and a bit apprehensive about whether or not her betrothed would appear at Hillbrook Hall, but at least Catherine had been able to dutifully warn Kingston when he accompanied her by his personal coach into Northampton to retrieve her shoes from the shoemaker the Friday immediately after the Christmas Dinner Party.

  As the household lingered around the Drawing Room the Sunday evening following the Christmas Dinner Party, Winnie found herself lost in her memories as she recalled how the visit to the shoemaker in Northampton had gone--:

  Seated with the Duke in wooden chairs which had been placed near the fireplace since their previous visit, she had inspected the repairs to the satin blue mules. The shoemaker, distracted with his sons, first General, and then Cap, directed their work, answering questions about several other customer orders. She was about to try them on, when she spied a slip of paper inside one of the shoes. She smiled, recalling the words of Kingston’s sisters, and eagerly reached inside the shoe to retrieve the paper. It was neatly folded in half. She opened it and read the lines on the paper in the shoemaker’s handwriting: And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. Genesis 24:58

  Catherine quickly folded the verse and closed her eyes momentarily, allowing the verse to run through her mind several times. The story of Rebekah at the well was a familiar passage to her. Rebekah had agreed to marry Isaac, sight unseen. She hadn’t wasted any time in following the servant sent to find her. When she opened her eyes, Kingston was observing the work going on about the shop and hadn’t seemed to notice. She slipped off her kid leather half boots and tried on the mules. They felt just as comfortable as before and looked beautifully repaired, as good as new.

  As she stood up and walked about the shop trying out the shoes, she noticed the shoemaker’s daughter appear with a pair of shoes she had completed for the front display windows. As River placed the shoes on one of the poles by the heels so those passing by could observe them, the shoemaker returned to their side.

  “Where is Anna today?” Kingston inquired.

  “Oh, today is the day she goes to place flowers at Mariana Rose’s grave,” the shoemaker replied.

  “Ah, I see,” Kingston nodded. “I know how you must miss her.”

  “Not a day goes by we do not miss her laughter, her smile, her sweet spirit. She was so very young. We are so thankful for the time God loaned her to us,” Mr. Wilmore expounded slowly, peering through his spectacles at them. “Just five short years…”

  Catherine returned to the seat beside Kingston and sank into the cushion, nodding, listening to every word. Her ears ached to hear some perspective that would release her from the prison of pain she lived in whenever she remembered Cammy’s short life and the heartache that came with her loss. Had she never talked through the suffering and grief with her parents? Had they been too busy with their own grief or with helping their older children through the loss? Had she been too young when Cammy had died to understand how to mend, how to fully grieve? Had she been too close to Cammy herself since they two had been the youngest?

  Yes, it was some of all of these things… but I am watching over you. I have witnessed your suffering… every tear, every moment, every setback, every time you felt overlooked.

  He cared. He wanted her to heal and be able to move forward. It was as if a ray of sunshine had suddenly burst through the clouds of her mind.

  The shoemaker’s voice that had faded into the distance as she heard God’s voice speak to her heart continued after he took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his spectacles. His white mustache seemed to twitch when he spoke, the only sign that it was still hard for him. “She gave us so much joy in such a short time, but always she li
ves on in our hearts. We know that we will see her again on that side of eternity, when we go home to be with our blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Yeshua.” He pointed toward heaven.

  “She was too precious for this world; a pure jewel the Lord wanted close to His side,” Kingston inserted.

  The shoemaker nodded. “She had finished her work here on the earth early, sent to bring us joy and also, break us with suffering into obedient vessels who can share more light through our cracks,” he said. “I usually go with Anna, but this year, I promised to meet her there in a little while. She likes to have some time to talk to the Lord about our Mariana. I wanted to ask you about the color of your wedding dress for the shoes, and then I will go to Anna. You like the blue shoes I repaired for you, yes?”

  “Very much, very much, thank you, Mr. Wilmore… and I am very sorry to hear of Mariana’s passing. I, too, lost a little sister… Cameron. She was just four years old. We called her Cammy.”

  Mr. Wilmore nodded and placed his wrinkled hand over hers. “They live on in our hearts and memories, and in heaven, waiting for us with open arms. I pray for comfort for you and your family. It is a loss, but we go on, don’t we? Our loss, but heaven’s gain… It is just temporary, just temporary. We are but pilgrims here, passing through. We will meet them again, so we embrace the Lord’s will.”

  Catherine had tears streaming down her cheeks. She was finally able to release the pain that had engulfed her heart. Yes, just as the shoemaker said, some are too pure and good, too precious for this world. More rays of sunshine burst through her mind, bringing warmth, understanding, and healing. Kingston reached over and gently wiped her tears away with a corner of his own handkerchief.

  “Mr. Wilmore, I think your Mariana and our Cammy are playing together at the feet of Jesus, on streets of gold before the throne of God-- at this very moment,” she whispered.

  “Yes, they are,” the shoemaker nodded. “I’m sure they have a song in their heart and the Son is shining upon them with His radiant light.”

  She nodded and paused to think of Cammy and Mariana Rose playing together with Jesus. Suddenly she felt perfectly at rest. Looking up at the shoemaker, she added, “I believe I would like my wedding shoes to be a shade of plum, velvet… with some colorful gems along the upper edge of the shoe. Lots of red gems too, and gold, emerald, sapphire… Cammy and Mariana would like that I think, as little girls do like colorful and beautiful things.” Looking up at Kingston, she added, “Just in case a certain someone asks me properly on bended knee, with a proper wedding ring, and say a bit more convincing, romancing, and assurances.”

  Kingston’s eyes glistened as he reached over to hold one of her hands in his own. “Bended knee, a proper ring, a bit more convincing, romancing, and assurances… I think that can all be managed.”

  Mr. Wilmore laughed. “I’ll have your wedding shoes ready in a few days. Never purchase just one shoe when only a pair will do, for if love finds you, the journey taken together is beyond rewarding.”

  Kingston and Catherine locked eyes upon each other. Seth Wilmore’s words gave them a refreshing marriage testimony of endurance, joy, and satisfaction he obviously shared with his Anna.

  “Oh… and there are these,” Catherine, thinking of Max, could not help but laugh as she handed him the olive green shoes. She shouldn’t have left them on the floor after the dancing when she could have easily put them in the wardrobe. She had been so tired though. It was of no use to continue to berate herself. “We’ve had another mishap; this time with a Corgi. Now these are also in need of repair.”

  Seth Wilmore accepted them graciously. “Certainly…”

  “Father, are you ready? It’s time to go. Mother will be getting too cold,” River said, hurrying the shoemaker as she handed him a thick, wool coat and then proceeding to finish buttoning her own. Turning to them she added with a curtsey, “I do hope you will both forgive us for having to depart like this. If you need anything else today, General or Cap will be glad to assist you. We shall return in just a little while.”

  Catherine had enjoyed the ride back to Hillbrook Hall. From the coach windows she had been able to view a museum, a gallery, pubs and restaurants, a library, several churches, and even a group of Christmas carolers at the town square. The Duke pointed out many shops, establishments, churches, and important sites as the driver gave them a tour of Northampton, “specifically for the lady,” Kingston had requested of the driver.

  “Will we tour the inside of the round church sometime?” she asked.

  “Of course, but not with Lord Edwards,” Kingston replied firmly. She smiled, detecting a bit of protectiveness and jealousy in his tone.

  The carriage drove down Corn Hill, Mercer Row, Gold Street, Sheep Street, Horse Market, Bridge Street, and St. John’s Street … each appropriately corresponding with the events that happened upon them. Kingston also pointed out the Gibraltar Barracks; the first cotton mill driven by a water wheel called Marvel’s Mill; the Lancaster cotton mill owned by Abner Lancaster; a glimpse of the tannery owned by the Franklin brothers; and the mayor’s elegant house, where Mr. Samuel Hughes resided with his daughter, Miss Hannah Hughes. Next, the driver followed orders to drive them through the village of Glad Crown.

  On the way, as they traversed further into the countryside, Kingston pointed out Jessie and Cora Miller’s estate and that of Sylvester Elkins and his wife, Bonnie. Glad Crown had a pleasant town square with a town clock, several churches, a general store, a milliner, haberdasher, linen draper, a book store, an Inn, a blacksmith, a doctor’s clinic with a three bed infirmary, a one room school, a tea room, several restaurants, a candle shop, a dressmaker, a solicitor, a bank, and a number of other establishments. It was a charming village with cobblestone streets and tidy, spacious boardwalks. A number of cottages and dwellings formed most of the remainder of the village. A few residents, recognizing the Duke’s family coat of arms waved at Kingston’s coach in a friendly manner as she peered out of the windows. This had been reassuring to her of his reputation and she found herself contemplating all that she had encountered as she worked at stitching a sampler in the Drawing Room.

  “Have any other items come up missing ladies?” Lady Burke inquired. This drew Winnie instantly back into the present.

  “I don’t think so,” Lady Frances offered, looking about the Drawing Room guests questioningly.

  “Very good then,” Kingston inserted. “I cannot believe we have a thief among any of our guests or servants. My guess is that one of the hired help may have been to blame. Keep me informed.”

  Luke 6:36 (KJV)

  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

  Chapter 10

  Morning of Mercy

  “I’m sorry to inform ye, Master, my Lord, Sir…” Polly Childers stood before Kingston’s desk nervously the Monday morning following, December the 17th. “Bertha’s entirely gone a missin’! ‘Tis been since the very evenin’ o’ the Christmas Dinner Party since we seen her, but the oddest thing is her babes still come ‘round for the seed. Somethin’ ‘as ‘appened to her. She is gone. ‘Tis not motherly to abandon her flock so young.”

  “This is disturbing,” Kingston replied, “but I have no idea where the mind of a goose will lead to know what has become of her. We shall simply have to choose another.”

  “Aye, and we ‘ave done so, but she not as plump,” Polly fretted.

  “Then we shall also serve a ham,” Kingston decided.

  This brought a grin to Polly’s face. “I knew ye’d have an answer. Thank ye kindly, my Lord.” She bobbed and curtsied, leaving the library with a happier bounce in her step than when she had entered.

  As Mrs. Childers left the library, Kingston glanced at Winnie who was searching for a book from his shelves. They exchanged amused looks and smiles. The days and evenings since their visit to the shoemaker’s shop had been filled with tender moments between them and more fulfilling conversation than ever before. They were continually retreating
behind closed doors to the library to be alone whenever they could possibly escape the endless stream of company that filled the house to the brim.

  She discovered that he despised being late and waiting; disliked squash of any kind, oyster stew, pigeon pie, tongue, and was not fond of onions unless they were chopped finely. He loved beef stew, roast beef, ham, salmon, kidney pie, rice pudding with nutmeg, and custard pie. She knew of his favorite flowers; his love for reading and books; his Corgi; his mastery of the violin; and now, of their mutual enjoyment of horses and riding; that his horses were named Prince Sylvanus and Mordecai; how his mother had spoken often to him in French; and that he very much enjoyed the responsibility that had been handed down to him of giving through a great many charitable avenues.

  In turn, he learned obedience to meeting the demands upon his wealth and station in life and the gift of his giving was a divinely arranged complement to her love for philanthropic activities; something Vicar Lyndon had deeply instilled in his daughter. He discovered that having apple trees in her back yard and shadowing Betsy in their cozy Chelmsford kitchen, she occasionally loved baking all things of apples: apple muffins, apple pie, apple cake, apple tarts, apple sauce, roasted cinnamon apple rings, apple jelly, apple butter, and apple dumplings. He was delighted to discover she was proficient at preparing roast chicken, bacon and eggs, and various pies, breads, biscuits, and tarts. When Mrs. Childers required a day off, they would certainly not starve if she had anything to do with it. To her surprise, he informed her that he had acquired a number of fond memories as a young lad observing and assisting his mother whilst the former Duchess displayed her skill in making currant jellies and jams, breads, pies, and a variety of soups and stews.

  He knew of her love for sewing; gardening and taking walks; piano; reading books; her penchant for education, particularly for women; her favorite flowers; cats; and letter writing. She disliked pea soup, mutton, venison, and refused oatmeal. She loved roast beef, potatoes, salads, vegetables, asparagus, lemon cake, anything with apples of course, and plum sauce. He tried to learn more about her family; what her perceptions were about the differences of their social classes in life; that she had a horse named Millicent which she called Millie.