Hyacinth (Suitors of Seattle)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  *****

  As the week wore on, Lawrence realized he'd made a mistake in giving her the typewriter. She couldn't use the machine in the library, so instead she spent all her time at home tapping away at the keys. He had less and less time to spend with her. Finally on Friday morning, he knocked on her door.

  Mary opened the door with a smile. "Missing Hyacinth?" she asked. Her face held a knowing look as she invited him inside.

  He sighed. "The typewriter's too noisy for the library so I never see her anymore." He wished he could take the gift back at the same time that he was glad it was helping her so much. He needed to be able to spend time with her if he was ever going to convince her to marry him.

  "I thought that might be the case." She stopped one of the passing maids. "Go upstairs and fetch Hyacinth. Tell her that Lawrence is here, and she's going to lunch with him."

  Lawrence smiled, looking down at the short, rotund woman. She was rapidly becoming one of his favorite people with her constant approval of his relationship with Hyacinth. It was a few minutes before Hyacinth descended the stairs. She was wearing long white gloves, which were normal in the East, but he'd never seen Hyacinth wear them. She wasn't one to worry about being at the height of fashion.

  He frowned at her. "Why are you wearing gloves?" They didn't bother him, of course, but he was curious.

  Hyacinth blushed, but didn't answer, instead getting him her coat from the closet so he could help her with it. "I'll be back soon, Mama."

  "You just have a good time. You're in good hands with Lawrence." Mary had just received her report from Harriett that morning that they could find no one with bad things to say about Lawrence, but there were plenty of people who said good things.

  Hyacinth followed him to the buggy, and he helped her up. "Let's just go to the diner," he suggested. His eyes were on her hands, though. "Why are you wearing the gloves?" Her avoidance of his question the first time had only made him more curious.

  She sighed. "I've spent so much time using my new typewriter that I've managed to cover my hands in ink. If I'd had warning you were coming, I'd have had time to scrub them clean, but I didn't know. So I just put gloves on and hoped you wouldn't ask about them." She shrugged. "You asked."

  He laughed. "You don't ever have to hide something like that from me, Hyacinth. It's not your hands that make me care for you."

  She smiled, taking a hold of his arm while he drove, feeling the muscles rippling under his jacket. For a man who spent most of his time writing, he seemed very strong to her. She was glad he hadn't started talking about her breasts again, as if they were the only thing that attracted him. She shook her head as she thought about his Tuesday spells. Thankfully, it was Friday, so she was safe.

  "Mama got word back from Higgins. My aunt officially approves of you as a suitor."

  He smiled, patting the hand that held his arm. "I'm glad to hear that. It gives me hope that we can take our relationship further if we wish." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, watching her reaction. "Do you want to take it further?" He knew he did. If he'd thought she'd say 'yes,' he'd propose then and there.

  Hyacinth bit her lip. "I suppose that depends on what you mean by taking it further." She wasn't certain she was ready for more than their casual courtship at this point, but she did have strong feelings for him. She just had to make certain he could remain sane.

  He frowned. "I suppose I mean that I'm thinking it would be nice to maybe shop for an engagement ring and talk to your father about the possibility of us marrying."

  "Let's give it another week or two," she suggested. She just wanted to make sure that his Tuesday strangeness didn't return. He was an odd man, and while she cared for him a great deal, she wasn't sure if she could deal with his 'affliction' very well. Of course, if he asked, she wasn't certain she could say 'no.'

  "I can wait." He knew she was very young. He was ready for marriage, but that didn't mean she would be. "We'll talk about it again in a few weeks." She was being sensible, he realized, whether he wanted her to be or not. Her father would most certainly approve, even if Lawrence didn't.

  Hyacinth's favorite part about spending time with Lawrence was that she genuinely enjoyed his company. They had lunch at the diner, and then they walked through the main part of town, doing a bit of window shopping. She clung tightly to his arm as they walked, and people that she recognized seemed to do double takes when they saw her. It was as if they were surprised to see her happy with a gentleman beside her.

  "I got a letter from my mother yesterday," he told her. He hadn't talked to her much about his mother, but he'd talked to his mother a lot about her...through letters, course.

  "Oh, really? What did she have to say?" Hyacinth was almost afraid to know. She couldn't imagine how she would feel if she had a son who was courting a young lady she'd never met. She'd definitely not want him to marry before she had a chance to meet the woman in question.

  "She wants to meet you. I wrote her and told her I'd found a young lady who enjoyed writing as much as I do and who came from a good family who I am hoping to spend the rest of my life with. She said to give you her love, and to tell you that you need to make the trip to New York to meet her as soon as you get the chance." He watched her, wondering how she'd react to the idea of going off to New York.

  Hyacinth frowned. "I can't just take off and go to New York. My mother would be mortified." He must not know her mother well at all if he thought that would be acceptable.

  "Well, Daisy just took off to be a mail order bride, didn't she? What's the difference, other than you wouldn't expect to marry as soon as you got off the train." He wasn't certain why one was all right and the other wasn't. Surely if one daughter was allowed to take a train trip alone, then they all would be.

  She grinned. "The main difference is that Mama went with Daisy when she went to be a mail order bride." She had to stifle the giggle that sprang to her lips at the look on his face when she said the words.

  "You mean...she actually had to go to meet her future husband with her mother right there beside her?" He was stunned that Mrs. Sullivan had taken things that far. Surely she had to know that mail order brides were not supposed to show up with their mothers in tow.

  "Yes! Jasmine told the whole story to us younger girls when she got back. She said that Eli didn't know she'd brought her mother and sister along, so when he saw her at the station, he grabbed her and just started kissing her right there in the middle of town in front of God and who knows who else...and our mother. Mama insisted he let her go, and he did, but he wouldn't put off the marriage even for a day. Jasmine said you could almost see the steam coming out of Mama's ears she was so angry with him." She let out a giggle as she pictured the scene. She was going to use that in a book someday. She knew she was. Someone had to!

  Lawrence laughed, the sound music to Hyacinth's ears. He didn't laugh nearly enough in her opinion. She was certain it was due to his loneliness.

  "I can't believe your mother didn't box his ears right there and then. She doesn't seem like the type that would put up with public displays of affection where her daughters are concerned." He shook his head, musing over the possibility. "Especially her unmarried daughters."

  "Oh, she's not! There wasn't a whole lot she could do about it, though. Daisy was there to marry him, and he didn't know she was coming to begin with. I'm sure he'd have been a great deal more circumspect if he'd known she was coming." She grinned. "Or maybe not. Eli is not a man to let a woman run all over him. That's for certain."

  Lawrence shook his head. "Oh, I'm certain he would have. No man wants to kiss his future wife for the first time with his soon to be mother-in-law watching!" He wasn't sure it would stop him, though. He looked at Hyacinth and imagined what it would be like to see her for the first time, knowing they'd be married in only a few hours. Would he really be able to keep his hands to himself?

  "I'm sure that's true." She sighed. "I don't think I can travel out East to meet your mama,
though. If she could come here, I'd be thrilled to meet her." She hated telling his mother 'no' about anything, knowing she could very well be her future mother-in-law, but she also knew she had no choice in the matter.

  He frowned. "I'll write her and invite her to come here. Of course, if I had a wedding to invite her to, she'd be more excited to make the journey."

  Hyacinth shook her head. "Not yet. I need to be sure first." She didn't know how else to put it. Yes, she loved him. Yes, she wanted to be his wife. Would she feel the same way when Tuesday came around, though?

  "Be sure of what?"

  She simply shook her head again. What woman wanted to tell the man they loved that she thought he went through temporary insanity every seventh day? She certainly didn't. She'd have to talk to him about it someday, but today was not the day. She wondered idly if it was possible to have a man committed one day per week and released on the other six? Was there an asylum that would work with her that way?

  Chapter Seven

  If all else fails, give her a puppy. Women love to play with puppies, and it gives them good practice for motherhood down the road. You will find that any woman, no matter how unhappy with you she seems, will immediately love you if there's a sweet puppy involved. Do your best to make certain he's housetrained before you take him to her, of course. No woman wants to be cleaning up dog mess all the time. William Livingston, Advice Column to Lonely Men published in The Seattle Times, January twelfth, 1897.

  Lawrence read the words again, thinking about everything his mentor was suggesting in the article. He didn't know whether or not Hyacinth liked dogs, but it seemed like a good idea. It would have to be an older puppy to already be trained when he got him, but he'd find something.

  He wandered over to the mercantile to see if there were any notices of people looking to find new homes for puppies. Surely someone needed to find a new home for a litter of pups. He would pick out a tiny furry puppy. He could already see Hyacinth cradling it against her, loving it with all her heart.

  While he read the board, a small boy came in with tears streaming down his face. Lawrence looked down at him, frowning. "What's wrong?" He hadn't had much to do with children in his life, but he hated seeing anyone cry.

  "My mom says I have to get rid of my puppy because he's a nuisance." He rubbed his hand over his eyes, streaking tears and dirt everywhere.

  "Really? Is your puppy housetrained?" If he was housetrained, he didn't see a reason why he wouldn't be the perfect puppy for Hyacinth. A dog was a dog, right?

  "He does his business outside," the boy said.

  "Well, I might be interested in buying your puppy then. You see, there's this lady I love, and I think if I give her a puppy, she'll love me more. What do you think?" Lawrence didn't really expect to get good advice on love from a young boy, but it was always nice to feel like your opinion was valued.

  The boy shrugged. "I don't know nothin' 'bout no girls."

  "That's something we have in common." Lawrence hated to agree to take the puppy sight unseen, but if the dog was housetrained, what did he have to lose? "Why don't I come over and get your puppy?" Surely it would work out. He needed a puppy, and the boy had one. It was providence.

  The boy eyed Lawrence, obviously sizing him up. "He's a good dog. He costs five cents."

  Lawrence laughed. "All right. I can pay five cents for the puppy." He handed the boy a nickel and didn't call him a little swindler, no matter if he wanted to or not.

  After the boy looked at it for a moment, his whole face lit up. "Follow me, mister! I'll take you to him!"

  He began weaving in and out of the crowded boardwalk, and Lawrence followed as closely as he could. When they reached the outskirts of town, the boy took Lawrence to a small shack where a dog was tied to a tree outside.

  "That doesn't look like a puppy," Lawrence said skeptically. The dog was huge. He'd been picturing a tiny little dog Hyacinth could hold in her arms and cuddle. This dog looked like he could double for a carriage horse. "What kind of puppy is he?" Would Hyacinth enjoy a mutt as much as she enjoyed a pure bred dog?

  The boy shrugged. "A big' un, I reckon."

  Well, that answer was certainly helpful. Lawrence circled the dog for a moment, before walking close and stroking his head. The dog seemed to be thrilled for the company, so Lawrence untied him from the tree. His nose twitched at the foul odor emanating from the animal. He'd need to bathe him before giving him to Hyacinth. He smelled truly disgusting. He once again questioned if he was making the right decision, but he didn't want to disappoint the little boy.

  "Thank you for the puppy," Lawrence told him, leading the dog away by the rope around his neck. He knew little about dogs, and even less about puppies, but this one seemed well-behaved. He took him straight home and to the stable. "Would you bathe this mutt?"

  His gardener, who also happened to take care of his animals, wrinkled his nose, but nodded immediately. "I've never seen a dog who needs a bath more than that one."

  "Neither have I," Lawrence admitted. "I think I'm in need of one myself to be quite honest with you." His own odor was beginning to offend him, and he didn't want Hyacinth to have the same reaction.

  The gardener nodded again. "You may have spent a little bit too much time with the dog," the man told him.

  Lawrence headed to the house and climbed the stairs, taking a bath. He used a great deal of soap, not wanting to smell anything like the dog when he saw Hyacinth later. He couldn't wait to see her face when he gave her the puppy.

  *****

  The puppy was clean and nice-smelling when he got to Hyacinth's house. He knocked on the door and walked the dog to the edge of the yard so it could relieve itself, while he waited for someone to let him in.

  Hyacinth poked her head out the door, looking around. "Oh, there you are, Lawrence. Did you get a dog?" Why would he bring his new dog to her house? Surely someone had told him how her mother felt about pets.

  He walked back to her, letting the animal prance at his side along the way. "I got you a puppy." He handed her the rope he'd led the dog into town on. The smile on his face made it clear he thought she'd be thrilled with the gift.

  "A puppy?" Hyacinth took the rope automatically as she frowned at the huge animal. "This can't be a puppy. He's huge!" She looked at Lawrence, her eyes wide. What was he thinking?

  "He's a puppy. The boy I got him from assured me he was." He looked at the dog, smiling. "Do you like him?" How could anyone help but love the dog's sweet face?

  Hyacinth nodded slowly. Where would she keep him? Her mother wasn't fond of dogs, and she hated how destructive they were. Would she be able to find a good place for him? "Yes, he seems very sweet." The dog took that opportunity to stick his head under her skirt, raising it up to show Lawrence an indecent amount of bare leg. She struggled to push her skirt down, noting that Lawrence didn't even pretend to look away.

  When she finally got her skirt pushed back down to her ankles where it belonged, she glared at Lawrence. "You could have helped me, you know." She shook her head. Sometimes it seemed that Lawrence had no manners at all, and sometimes he seemed to understand how he should behave in every situation. She knew it was Tuesday, not by the calendar, but by how he was acting.

  He grinned. "I would have missed out on one of the prettiest legs I've ever seen if I'd done that!" He wasn't even going to pretend not to like her body. He planned to marry her, and he didn't think it was bad for him to look whenever he was given the opportunity.

  She shook her head at him, hoping he wasn't going to start telling her what a beautiful body she had again. That had been strange. She had to wonder what his mother was like if he thought it was all right to speak to a lady that way. "I'm not sure my mother will let me keep him. She's not terribly fond of dogs." She frowned as she looked down at the puppy. She'd always wanted a dog, though not necessarily a big one.

  He frowned. "I didn't think of that." What was he going to do with it then? "Can we ask her? If she agrees, great, but if
she doesn't we can keep him at my house." He hated the idea of her not getting to live with her puppy, though.

  "Will you hold him out here, while I run in and ask Mama if I may have him?" She offered him the rope, and he took it.

  He nodded, disappointed that she may not be able to keep the dog with her after all. He waited as she opened the door, but the dog suddenly jerked, pulling from his grasp. He ran into the house, bounding from room to room with both Hyacinth and Lawrence running after him.

  He ran into the kitchen, and Lawrence arrived just in time to see him jump up with his front paws on the counter and pull down the roast for the family's dinner, knocking it on the floor. He grabbed it in his mouth and ran toward Lawrence and through the door, into the parlor, where they could hear Mary shriek.

  "Where did this thing come from? Someone come get this beast off me!" Her voice was filled with panic.

  Hyacinth ran into the parlor and grabbed the rope dangling from around the dog's neck, pulling him off her mother. He'd abandoned his pot roast in the middle of the parlor floor, on her mother's favorite rug, and had his paws firmly planted on either side of her on the sofa, licking her squarely on the mouth.

  "Oh, Mama, I'm so sorry! Lawrence got him for me. He's just a puppy!" She didn't want her mother to be upset about the dog, but she didn't want to upset Lawrence or the dog either.

  Mary stared at the beast, who was happily gulping down her dinner. "That's a puppy?" She looked at Lawrence and shook her head. "It must be Tuesday."

  Lawrence blushed profusely. "He is a puppy. I got him for Hyacinth. Do you like him?" He said a quick prayer that she would agree to let Hyacinth have him.

  Mary shook her head. "I'm not a dog lover, I'm afraid. I find them rude, messy, and intrusive." She looked at Hyacinth. "You're not going to be able to keep him."

  Hyacinth nodded sadly. She was starting to like the overgrown beast. "Could we keep him in the back garden? Please, Mama? I like him." She patted his head as she spoke.