Isabella_Bride of Ohio

by Debra Parmley

  She smiled at the thought as she watched him emerge from the building and walk down the sidewalk. He was a tall man with a long stride and made a handsome figure.

  What a handsome man he is and how lucky I am to be marrying a man with a good position to maintain.

  She glanced down at her dress, realizing though it was fashionable, it was last year’s fashion and was a bit worn like most of her dresses. Though he had not said a word about it, she knew she did not cut such a fine figure as he. There had been no time to sew new dresses before boarding the train, nor time to buy one. She wished she had a sewing machine here. Several of the women in Lawrence had shared a machine but that was all behind her now.

  I shall have to ask him for a machine after we are married and set about at once to create a new wardrobe fitting my new place in society. I must do all I can as I take my place by his side, to be a wife he can be proud of.

  ****

  The next morning she put on her best dress and took extra time to braid her hair before going downstairs to meet Donald for breakfast.

  “Right on time,” he said nodding with a smile. “I trust you slept well?”

  He seemed so pleased with her punctuality that she made a mental note of this being one way to please him.

  “Yes,” she smiled in return. “Indeed I did. On a nice soft bed with nothing moving. I feel much better now.”

  “Very good.” He nodded, offered his arm and they headed for the dining room.

  She accepted the seat he pulled out for her as the waiter came over with the menus. She hoped Donald did not try to order for her this morning. So strong was the thought that when the waiter arrived, she did not even wait for him to speak. “I believe I shall have the eggs benedict and orange juice.”

  There was a flash of surprise from Donald, but he recovered quickly. “And I shall have the same. With tomato juice instead.” Without a word, the waiter bowed, tucked the menus under his arm and left.

  Donald turned to her and smiled. “I see we share a favorite breakfast.”

  Isabella gave a slight shrug. “I don’t know how to cook the dish, so it is quite a treat for me.”

  Donald threw back his head and gave a laugh. “Ha! Then I shall have the cook prepare it for you as often as you wish.”

  She smiled in return, then cautiously began to speak of thoughts which had been on her mind. “Mr. Jenks, there are many things we must discuss if we are to be married.”

  Sensing a shift into a more businesslike mood, Donald sat forward. “Yes, my dear, of course. What would you like to discuss first?”

  “Well, you handling everything. I realize a man such as yourself is used to handling every aspect of his life and as you have never been married, you may not realize some wives prefer their husbands leave the handling of certain things to them.”

  “Please go on,” he said. “What would you prefer I let you handle?”

  “Well, for one, the hiring of the household servants. A wife would like to be included in this decision making. To be consulted, and I would hope we would agree on who to hire.”

  “And if we did not? Then who would decide?”

  She blinked. “Why…I don’t know. I suppose if it were a cook then I would. If it were a butler you would. Of course I would wish to hire my own lady’s maid.”

  “Oho, and I would have no say in her hiring I suppose,” Donald said with a wag of his finger. “Now that hardly seems fair.” Sitting back, he allowed the waiter to serve their breakfast.

  “Oh well it is not. You are right.” She said after the waiter had left, picking up her fork. “But no, it would be fair if you were to hire your own valet.”

  “Indeed.” Turning, he signaled for coffee. “And what other reservations do you have before you would consider me as a husband?”

  “Well, you mustn’t,” she blushed. “You mustn’t play patty fingers with any other ladies and must never touch the female servants.”

  “Of course not.” He appeared affronted. “Whatever would make you think I would do a thing like that?”

  “Well. You said you have been single a long time. And I have worked in a house with servants and heard all sorts of tales.” She shook her head. “The women can’t complain or they would lose their jobs and the men, they take advantage of the younger women. It isn’t right.”

  “You were not molested by your employer.” His words were a question which made his eyes burn fierce. “You are still a virgin.”

  “Yes. Yes, I am,” she said blushing. “It was not me, or my employers. It was a young woman who had come from another house, serving them and she had been pursued in a bad way. She nearly took her life. The man would not leave her alone and his wife hated her. She finally left them and took a job as helper to the Peterson’s cook whose hands were more and more crippled. She will be happy there. But she told me so many stories of things she and other girls had experienced. It was dreadful.”

  “And hardly a subject for a fine lady such as you are, or for breakfast.” Reaching over, he threaded his fingers through hers, holding her hand on the table. “My dear Isabella. I have never behaved as less than a gentleman toward any lady. It is my great hope that in time you will forget the sordid things of your past. Toiling in the factory, working as a servant. All those things you experienced and the stories you heard. It is time to set those things aside and move into a better life. One that I can give you. Allow me to show you the house after we eat and then you can make your decision with all of the facts of what I have to offer you.”

  Isabella brightened at the thought. “I would love to see the house.”

  “Very good.” Donald leaned back, returning his thoughts briefly to breakfast. “Now as to the question of church. As you know, there is no Lutheran church in town. There is a United Methodist church and we are more than welcome to marry there if we choose to. I have already spoken to the pastor.”

  “My goodness. You have been busy,” she said, arching her eyebrow.

  “There are many details to attend to if there is to be a wedding. Which is yet to be determined. Are you ready for that walk now?”

  “Yes and I cannot wait to see the house.” Isabella put down her fork and placed her napkin on the table.

  He stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and rose. Then with his hand on the small of her back, he guided her through the dining room.

  Outside Neff House, they stood on the long porch and he pointed down the street. “My house is on Jackson Street, just a few blocks to the north, on the edge of town.”

  “I do love to go for walks,” she said. “It is something I used to do every day, back in my homeland. When I worked at the factory I was too tired to go walking after I got off and with the Petersons I had to stay there and sing the children to sleep before I could go home, so there was no time.”

  Donald smiled. “Now that you are here you must take all the walks you wish.”

  “I believe I shall.” As they rounded a corner, Isabella gasped.

  The house was everything she had dreamed of and more. A walkway bordered by yellow rose bushes led to a white two story house with a large front porch.

  “Oh how lovely,” she said. A smile of wonder crossed her face. It really was happening. A dream house and a husband to be, who was more handsome and charming than she could have imagined. It felt like stepping into a beautiful dream. Far better than her daydreams had been.

  After a long moment, Donald leaned close, whispering, “Would you prefer to see the house first or the garden?”

  “Oh.” She clasped her hands together and gazed brightly into his eyes. “The garden.”

  “I thought as much,” he nodded with a chuckle.

  She smiled up at him.

  “Come.” He placed her hand on his arm and led her around the house to the back to where the garden was.

  “Oh.” She stopped short at the sight which awaited her and she caught her breath.

  Rows of flowers met her gaze. Tall orange ones
and medium yellow ones and smaller red ones. The tall orange ones waved in the wind as if saying hello and yellow rose bushes were planted on each side of the garden. A bird bath adorned by cherubs stood in the middle, with the rows spreading out around the circular middle like spokes on a wagon wheel. The garden was orderly, yet overgrown as if the flowers had tried to take over, escaping their boundaries. Never had she seen such a profusion of cheerful color in a garden, with yellow predominating.

  “They are lovely.” She turned a beaming face up at him, “and so cheerful. Why, you can’t help but smile and be happy when you look at them. I simply love them, Donald. This garden is perfect. Far beyond what I had dreamed of.”

  “As are you.” He bent down on one knee.

  She caught her breath and held it as he reached inside his pocket for a ring.

  Gazing into her eyes said, “Isabella Britta Stolt, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  Chapter Six

  Isabella let her breath out and said, “Yes.”

  The gold ring, in the shape of a leaf, held a ruby in the center, with a ring of rose cut diamonds around it.

  Donald slid the ring onto her finger and she gazed down at it in awe.

  This really is happening. The house, the handsome husband and this beautiful ring.

  It felt as if she had stepped into one of the fairy tales she had read as a child. All the bad things which had happened to her since coming to America had brought her to this moment. The beginning of her happy ever after.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said as she gazed at the ring which caught the light in the facets of the stones making it appear even more lovely. She turned her hand this way and that.

  “I am glad it pleases you.” Rising, Donald brought her near and bent down, wrapping his arms softly around her waist.

  Isabella’s hands gently landed on his strong chest and she gazed up into his eyes. They closed as his lips descended.

  His lips brushed hers softly at first. Caught in the emotion of the moment, she let herself give in. The sensations, all so new, swept her away as her eyes closed, her breath caught and she kissed him back instinctively.

  When he broke away, Donald stood looking down on her and said, “You have made me the happiest of men.”

  Beaming up at him she said, “I am happy too.”

  “I am glad. Now, shall I show you the inside of the house?”

  “Oh,” she said, remembering that she had not yet seen it. “Yes, please.”

  Placing her hand in the bend of his arm he led her to the house.

  In the parlor was a fireplace. “Oh, it is perfect,” she said.

  “I am pleased that you like it.”

  Everywhere she looked the furniture was polished, as were the wooden floors in the parlor and the dining room. The house had, as he’d said, been readied for a new bride. Yellow and gold were throughout the house in the draperies, the upholstery and the carpets. It gave a cheerful mood to the dark somber wood and the contrast was one Isabella found charming.

  She walked about, touching the furniture and looking.

  “So lovely,” she said, looking up at him. “And cheerful.”

  “And all yours,” Donald said with a smile. “I am glad you find it cheerful.”

  “Is yellow your favorite color?” she asked.

  “No,” he shook his head. “I prefer red. Come let me show you the kitchen.”

  “Yes, and I would like to meet our cook.”

  “Mrs. Blevins is not in today. She will return the day of our wedding. As will Dolcinda, your lady’s maid for the day. There’s time enough to meet them later. Today we have the house to ourselves.”

  Upstairs were three bedrooms. The largest had a window which overlooked the garden in the back. She walked to the window and looked out. A red bird landed on the limb of a large oak tree near the window.

  Donald followed her over to the window. “This will of course be our room.”

  “It has a lovely view,” she said, still watching the bird.

  “That’s a cardinal,” he said as he slipped his arm around her waist. “Does the house suit you? You may redecorate it as you see fit.”

  “Oh yes, it does.” She looked up at him “I shall be very happy here, with things just as they are.”

  “I’m pleased to hear it,” he said. “We shall keep things as they are.” He took her hand and led her away from the window. “We have much to do before the wedding. We shall go into Springfield today and pick out your dress.”

  “Oh, today?” Surprise filled her voice.

  “Yes. We must get things started without delay. Come, I will take you back to your room to freshen up and then we must be off.”

  Everything is happening so fast all at once. Today I have had my first kiss and become engaged! And now we must shop for my wedding gown. Right away.

  “Everything is happening so quickly.”

  “We have a lot to do to get ready for the wedding. There are many details to attend to.”

  “Yes, of course there are.”

  Back in her room, she took a minute to catch her breath. Mr. Jenks was so enthusiastic about their wedding and so full of plans that his enthusiasm wore her out.

  We must shop for the wedding dress today, for Mr. Jenks insists. He is so eager to marry. Why, I only just arrived yesterday and have barely had a chance to catch my breath.

  Donald was taking charge of everything, every last detail of the wedding, with a speed which was astonishing.

  He is so busy making these plans and so excited to be married. Such enthusiasm to be wed. I have never seen the like in a man.

  Yesterday I arrived, today I am engaged, and now we go to shop for my dress. Tomorrow I have only a few hours to myself to rest and we will pick up my dress. The following day we will be married. So soon!

  Three days after she stepped off the train, she would become Mrs. Donald Jenks.

  Mr. Donald Jenks was adamant about her need for a grand wedding gown. One befitting his position in society. She pushed aside the hurt that lingered from his dismissal of her mother’s gown as plain and old fashioned.

  Of course I must take my place beside him in society. That is the way things are done.

  Placing the gown away in the trunk, she then closed the lid more heavily than she had intended and tried not to think of the heavy feeling on her heart. He would call upstairs for her soon, once the carriage was ready to drive her into town where they would go shopping.

  I must put away the past and move into the future. My future now is pleasing my husband and making a new and happy life here.

  She moved over to the window to look out. In the distance, a train was leaving the station. She could see the column of steam from the stack of the engine. Her thoughts drifted to Tom.

  Where was Tom now and what was he doing? Has he given any thought to me since we met or has he forgotten all about me? It was too bad he couldn’t be here in town. I would invite him to the wedding. It would be nice to have at least one friend near.

  He had such a calm and comforting presence, which might have calmed her nervousness about this wedding.

  ****

  Madame Boulange’s shop in Springfield, Ohio was full of the latest wedding fashions. Isabella stood inside the door, holding on to Donald’s arm and looking about. More wedding gowns than she had ever seen filled the room and all in unfamiliar styles.

  “This is the latest design from France,” Madame Boulange assured Mr. Donald Jenks, holding up a dress with huge puffed sleeves. “These are the best quality.”

  He looked the dress over as she turned it from front to back, with her assistant displaying the long train. He nodded his approval.

  “And the veil.”

  With astonishment, Isabella realized the veil was as long as the train. “It is so long.”

  “Yes,” Madame Boulange nodded. “With Queen Victoria’s wedding all the gowns changed. Brides must wear white, for purity, and a longer veil.”

&nbs
p; Isabella frowned, thinking of the soft cream-colored gown, which had been her mother’s.

  No wonder Mr. Donald Jenks did not want me wearing mother’s dress and thought it had yellowed. As a virgin I must wear white. How embarrassed I would have been had I worn the dress and not understood the customs in America. Everything is so different here and I must do all I can to adapt to my new country.

  Somehow now mother’s gown did not seem as lovely, as if Madame Boulange and Mr. Jenks had sullied it somehow. Sadness filled her heart.

  But weddings were supposed to be joyous occasions. Not wishing to appear an ignorant country bumpkin, Isabella resigned herself to wearing whatever Madame Boulange recommended and resolved to think only happy thoughts about it.

  Donald stepped into the other room to wait as Isabella tried the dress on. The gown, after its massive cloth was slipped over her head and onto her arms, felt heavy. The material was thick and covered with decorative trims which hung heavy upon her small frame. She felt lost inside of it, like a small doll.

  Madame Boulange bustled about, pulling here and there. “The sleeves are too long and the hem must be taken up or she will trip.” She snapped her fingers and her assistant came with the pins. Taking one pin after another the assistant adjusted the gown so it could be taken in.

  After removing the dress, Isabella stood in her underclothes with goose bumps on her arms, chilled, but relieved the heavy dress had been removed.

  Madame then fitted her with underclothes which included white silk stockings with embroidery running down the entire front. When all the underclothes had then been taken away, and when Isabella was once again clothed in her day gown, Madame Boulange said, “The gentleman may return,” in such a voice she might have been announcing royalty.

  Mr. Donald Jenks stepped back into the room. Turning her attention to him, Madame Boulange said, “I can have the fitting completed by tomorrow evening at the earliest.”

  “I will pay extra for your quickest work as we discussed. We marry the day after tomorrow. I do not wish to wait one hour longer than necessary to be wedded to my beautiful bride.” He gave Isabella a smoldering look that made her feel aflutter.