The Artisan's Wife

by Judith Miller

  Ewan waved them forward as they entered the office. “Come sit down. We have a great deal to discuss.”

  Rylan was already seated nearby and drew his chair close to Rose. “Good morning, Ainslee.” He leaned forward and smiled. “I hear from several of your young students that they are fond of Miss Odell. I’m sure that pleases you and will make it easier for you to leave the classroom.”

  She met Rylan’s eyes. “If I leave, it will please me to know the students are content.” She shifted in her chair and looked at her brother. “Rose tells me you’ve heard from Adaira. When will she return?”

  Using only his fingertips, Ewan pushed the telegram across the top of the wooden desk. The overcast skies matched the dreary mood that permeated the office. Ainslee let her attention descend to the wrinkled telegram. “Married on Saturday. Letter to follow. Love to all, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Mulvane.” She shoved the piece of paper back to her brother. “That’s all? Nothing about her obligation to the tile works—or me?”

  Ewan shook his head. “This is all I’ve received, but at least we now know she doesn’t plan to return.” He pinned Ainslee with a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I know you have lots of questions for your sister. So do I. But no matter her answers, they won’t change anything for us.”

  “Maybe not, but her marriage changes everything.” Ainslee glanced at all three of them. “You all know the tile works was Adaira’s dream, not mine. I don’t have the ability to do this on my own.”

  “That’s why I asked Rose and Rylan to join us. Four minds are better than one or two. I’m hoping we’ll come up with some sound ideas.”

  Ainslee perked to attention. “Maybe Rose and Rylan should move to Weston and take over the tile works.”

  Ewan shook his head. “Nay, they’re needed here in Grafton. Their designs are what have increased our sales and made the business profitable. Instead of solving a problem, moving them to Weston could create new challenges.”

  Rylan rested his elbows on Ewan’s desk. “Would you be able to travel to Weston with Ainslee and stay until she’s settled, Ewan? I know Laura might not want you to stay away too long, but a few weeks might help Ainslee feel more comfortable in her new surroundings.”

  Rose bobbed her head. “That’s a wonderful idea. You could help Ainslee get settled into the boardinghouse, and your presence would likely provide a sense of stability during the transition. There may be some resistance to a woman taking charge of the business. You’ll recall I faced a few problems with some of the men when we purchased the pottery.”

  Ainslee straightened her shoulders and jutted her chin. “I remember those early days. You and Ewan were running the business together. He was always at your side to reinforce your position to the men. And even then some of them objected to taking orders from a woman. Even if Ewan is in Weston for a few weeks, once he departs I’ll face that same opposition.”

  “I don’t think there will be any hostility toward you, Ainslee. You weren’t with Adaira and me when we met with the workers prior to purchasing the company. We asked if any of them would object to women taking charge, and none of them were opposed. They only wanted assurance they would have their jobs and that their wages wouldn’t be lowered.” Ewan leaned forward. “Other than the seasonal manual laborers, there are only fifteen skilled workers. This isn’t going to be like the pottery operation, Ainslee.”

  His comment didn’t provide the depth of reassurance Ainslee needed. Truth be told, the only thing that would give her the strength and support she needed was the reappearance of her twin sister. No one seemed to understand her level of fear and frustration. Whether the business was small or not wasn’t the issue. They expected her to move to a town where she didn’t know a soul, move into a boardinghouse with complete strangers, and take over a tile-making operation. With her twin gone, Ainslee felt like half a person, something the rest of her family couldn’t understand.

  When she didn’t respond, Ewan stood and stepped to her side. He leaned against the desk and smiled at her. “I know Laura will not object if I go to Weston with you. In fact, I’m certain she’ll think it a wonderful idea. I can help you get settled in the boardinghouse Adaira and I visited when we were in Weston. Mrs. Brighton is a fine lady. She owns two boardinghouses that sit side by side, one for women and one for men. Adaira thought the rooms were quite suitable.”

  “I still don’t want to go, Ewan.” Her lips trembled, and she bit back threatening tears.

  He reached for her hand. “I know this is not what you and your sister planned, but I’m hoping you’ll keep your word to me, even if your sister did not. I have no choice but to abide by the terms of the contract I signed.” His hand squeezed hers a little tighter. “Much depends upon what you will do, Ainslee. I believe you’re strong enough to meet any challenge if you set your mind to it. Think about those unruly boys who attended your classes at the pottery school. You weren’t afraid to set them on a straight path toward behaving and doing their lessons in order to achieve a better life.”

  “That’s not the same thing as going to a new town and taking charge of a business. Besides, Adaira has always been with me when I faced any new challenge.”

  Ewan smiled. “I understand, but now you must stand on your own. I promise I’ll do everything I can to help you, and I’ll begin searching for a new buyer right away. If I can manage to sell the business without a great loss, I’ll do so.”

  “You will?” Ainslee straightened her shoulders and stared at her brother. Ewan’s offer to place the tile works for sale buoyed her spirits like nothing else she’d heard all morning. “You’ll place the business for sale and attempt to locate a buyer?”

  “Aye, but I doubt it will be a quick process. You need to remember the business had been for sale for more than two years when we bought it.” His brow furrowed. “I do na want you going to Weston with the idea that we’ll soon be selling the business, but I’ll do whatever I can to find a suitable buyer as soon as possible. In exchange, I need to know that you’ll work to maintain a profit. If you don’t, we’ll have all the more trouble trying to find a suitable buyer.”

  Ainslee beamed at him. “I understand, and I’ll do my best. I promise.”

  The revelation that she wasn’t going to be banished to Weston to perform office work and supervise the business operations at the tile works for the remainder of her life was enough to give Ainslee the spark of hope she needed. With Ewan’s promise tucked in the back of her mind, she would set about creating a profitable business that would appeal to a host of investors in short order. At least that would be her goal.

  When they walked into the hallway outside Ewan’s office, Rose pulled Ainslee aside. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you change your mind so quickly, Ainslee. I do hope you’re sincere in what you’ve promised Ewan.”

  Ainslee stopped short. “Why would you think otherwise? I’m not one to break my word.”

  Rose drew near and hugged her. “No, of course not.” Her sister loosened her hold and leaned back with her lips curved in a grin. “But I do recall how much you and Adaira enjoyed playing pranks on all of us. In fact, when Ewan first told me about Adaira’s disappearance, I thought it was just another bit of mischief on her part.”

  “If only it had been.” Ainslee sighed. “I do feel much better now that Ewan has agreed to sell the tile works, but I wish I had gone along when he and Adaira traveled to Weston and toured the business and boardinghouse.”

  “Why didn’t you?” Rose asked.

  Ainslee shrugged. “The tile works was more Adaira’s dream than mine, so I decided to remain behind to conduct classes at the school since the new teacher hadn’t yet arrived.”

  “I know you worry over the tile-making process, but there are employees already trained to perform the work. Besides, from what Ewan tells me, there’s not much in the way of artistic design in what the business produces. I know Adaira hoped to bring some new ideas and designs into the business, but you can set thos
e ideas aside. If you keep a good set of books and are careful about your costs, you’ll succeed.” Rose glanced over her shoulder. “Ewan truly understands your position, but with the recent expansion of the pottery, he needs to be here to oversee the growth. The tile works is so much smaller that it would make no sense for him to move to Weston.”

  Ainslee didn’t disagree with her sister’s assessment, but she wondered if Rose would be so pragmatic if she had to leave suddenly and live out someone else’s dream.

  As they exited the building, the sun slanted through the thick trees that dotted the hillside. Unfurled leaves would soon spring to life and fill the stark branches in the coming weeks. A surge of sadness washed over her as a bird twittered overhead, searching for the perfect branch to build a new home. Soon she’d be just like that bird—looking for a new place to call home.

  “I understand Ewan can’t move to Weston, but I am pleased he’s willing to come along and help me get settled. Having him there for the first few weeks will be a relief. While I don’t doubt my ability to complete the accounting portion of the business, I’ll need his oversight until I learn the entire process.”

  “You might ask Ewan about the previous owner’s wife. Adaira told me Mrs. Ploughman worked in the office with her husband. She may be able to give you some guidance, if you ask.” Rose leaned forward and placed a fleeting kiss on Ainslee’s cheek. “I’m really proud of you and I’m confident you’re going to succeed. Rylan and I will do our best to come and visit for at least a day or two when we finish our special spring orders.”

  Receiving her older sister’s encouragement eased Ainslee’s fears a modicum, but she still didn’t possess the confidence the manager should exude. What if the employees or customers attempted to take advantage of her vulnerable position? Could she summon the courage to put them in their place? Dealing with an occasional troublemaker at the school was one thing, but handling complaints from workers or customers would be another. The troublesome thoughts caused her insecurities to resurface as she trudged up the path toward the school.

  Today she would bid her students good-bye. Ainslee had never relished the idea of giving up her teaching position. Knowing she would now depart Grafton without her sister was going to make her farewell far more difficult. She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and stepped inside the classroom.

  Chapter 3

  Weston, West Virginia

  Ainslee remained inside the Weston depot while Ewan departed to hire a wagon and driver. In a futile attempt to remain calm, she paced the short length of the station, her unchecked thoughts tumbling about like stormy waves crashing on jagged rocks. A fleeting picture of Adaira sitting in a fancy parlor drinking tea skittered through Ainslee’s mind, but she forced it aside. She missed her sister so badly that her heart ached, but thinking about Adaira or dwelling on what could have been wasn’t helpful. She’d agreed to do her best, and the time had come to keep her promise.

  A short time later Ewan returned, and a young man loaded their belongings into the bed of his small wagon. He walked around the side of the wagon, patted his horse on the rump, and hoisted himself onto the narrow bench.

  He leaned forward to gain a better look at Ewan. “Where to?”

  “First to the Weston Hotel. It won’t take long for me to register. You can unload my cases, and then we’ll go to Mrs. Brighton’s boardinghouse, where you can unload my sister’s trunks.”

  “Mrs. Brighton’s? You might want to make sure she has a room before I unload those trunks. She runs the best boardinghouses in town and they’re usually full up.”

  Ewan nodded. “I made arrangements the last time I was in town.”

  Ainslee leaned close to Ewan. “Didn’t you say earlier that Mrs. Brighton reserved two rooms? You may be charged for Adaira’s room as well as mine.”

  Ewan offered a faint smile. “I considered sending a telegram about the change of circumstances, but since we were arriving so soon, I doubted it would make much difference.”

  The wagon had rumbled along a rutted dirt road for only a short distance when Ainslee clutched her brother’s arm. Mouth gaping, she nodded toward a towering sandstone building that rose up in front of them like a craggy mountain.

  Her breath caught. “What is that?”

  Ewan shifted to face her. “That is the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. It was constructed for folks with mental disorders. Quite a place, isn’t it.”

  “Aye.” Nowadays she seldom used any form of the family’s Scots-Irish tongue, but the scene bore an eerie similarity to the brooding castles scattered throughout the rolling hills of Ireland and Scotland. The towering edifice loomed like a beacon surrounded only by rolling hills and a lazy river. “Adaira told me about it. She said it was large, but I didn’t expect anything so . . .”

  “Foreboding?”

  “Yes, yet it’s beautiful, as well. There’s a serenity to it, what with the hills and that river.” She forced a smile. “Though not so beautiful that I’d ever want to be inside the walls. I’m sure it dwarfs every building in the town.”

  Ewan chuckled. “Aye, but it would overshadow buildings even in larger cities like Wheeling and Pittsburgh.”

  Unable to tear her gaze from the sight, Ainslee twisted around to keep it in view until the wagon once again made a sharp turn.

  Ewan leaned toward her. “If it makes you feel better, I’m told it is nice and tidy inside. Mrs. Brighton said there are flower and vegetable gardens where the patients can work if they desire, and when the weather permits, the patients spend a great deal of time outdoors. There’s apparently a belief that the sunshine helps alter the mood.”

  Ainslee turned toward her brother, her eyes focused upon a few wildflowers that had managed to poke through the cold earth. “I have never thought of such a thing, but I do feel much better when the sun is shining. How is it that Mrs. Brighton is so familiar with the practices in the asylum? Does she have a family member who’s a patient?”

  “If she does, she didn’t share that information with me.” Ewan smiled at his sister. “Several of the ladies who live in her boardinghouse work at the asylum, and most of the men in the other boardinghouse are employed there, as well.”

  The wagon made a final turn onto Main Avenue, one of the few streets paved with macadam. Ewan directed Ainslee’s attention to several of the larger mercantiles that lined the street. “You’ll have no trouble finding most anything you need in one of these stores. Adaira and I visited most of them on our last visit. Your sister particularly liked Darlington & Wood, although I thought Bailey & Tunstill better stocked—at least with items that interested me.”

  Ainslee wasn’t interested in what the local stores had to offer. Truth be told, she planned on filling her time developing the tile works, not shopping. Ewan was pointing out and detailing every storefront as though he hoped to convince her Weston would prove a comfortable, long-term home for her. She cared little about the location of blacksmith shops, cobblers, tinsmiths, or the woolen mill. Her need for the services or products of any of the businesses in Weston would be trifling. After all, how many needs could she have in the few months she planned to be here?

  When her brother gestured to another mercantile, she gave him a sidelong glance. “I doubt I’ll have much time for shopping. By the time I’m done with the tile works, buyers will be fighting over it.” She graced him with a smile. “And I hope you’re going to uphold your agreement to find an interested purchaser.”

  “I said I’d do my best.” He dismissed further mention of her remark and nodded toward a brick building on the other side of the street. “That’s the Bailey House, one of several hotels here in Weston.”

  His jaw twitched, a sure sign she’d annoyed him.

  For the time being, she would curtail further comments regarding the sale of the business. Irritating him wasn’t going to produce the results she hoped to achieve in the future. As they continued down Main Avenue she offered only positive comments, although she was somewhat
disappointed in the town. Her sister had painted a picture of a much more refined community.

  The driver urged the horses onward. “You moving to Weston or just staying for a short time?”

  Ewan leaned forward and raised his voice enough to be heard over the rumbling wagon. “A bit of both. I’m staying only until my sister is settled into her new position at the tile works.”

  “Tile works, eh? Most folks coming here go to work at the asylum.” The driver shivered. “I wouldn’t want to spend my days in there, but that’s where my brother works. He says it’s not so bad, and the pay is lots better than what I make driving a hack. And he says it’s lots safer in the asylum than being down in the coal mines where he used to work.”

  He pulled back and brought the wagon to a halt in front of the Weston Hotel. Jumping down, he hurried to the back of the wagon. “I’ll take your bags inside, and then I’ll wait out here. Take all the time ya need.”

  “I believe I’ll go in with you.” Ainslee glanced at her brother. “I’m eager to see if the hotel is as nice as the ones in Pittsburgh.”

  Ewan tipped his head and laughed. “I can tell you they don’t compare, but I stayed here on my last trip, and it is a fine establishment.”

  Her brother’s assessment of the hotel had been correct. The Weston Hotel could more accurately be compared to a hotel in Bartlett rather than one in a large city such as Pittsburgh.

  Ewan quickly checked in and made arrangements for his bags to be brought to his room, and when they returned outside, the driver was leaning against the wagon. He snapped to attention and hurried to assist Ainslee. Ewan gave a slight shake of his head. “I’ll help her up. I’m guessing you know the location of Mrs. Brighton’s boardinghouses?”

  “There’s not a hack driver in the city that don’t know the location of every hotel and boardinghouse.” He straightened his shoulders as if to emphasize the import of his knowledge. “Good thing you reserved your room. Word spreads fast about who serves the best food and keeps the cleanest rooms. I’m told she most always has a waiting list, but maybe that’s just for the men. Not as many women have need of boardinghouses.”