Daughters of Harwood House Trilogy : Three Romances Tell the Saga of Sisters Sold into Indentured Service (9781630586140)

by Crawford, Dianna; Laity, Sally

  He caught her hand and tucked it back into place. “I do believe you’re always gonna be a handful, my love.”

  “Only because you insist on being difficult over my slightest suggestions.” She veered them to one side of the mushy spot on the lawn. “You’ve been saving me over and over since the moment we met.”

  “Ah, yes, that was quite the moment—you standing up there all gorgeous in royal blue. I’m amazed I didn’t have to bid a whole lot more than I did.” He tipped his head and softened his voice. “Mmm, you smell good. Let’s go back to the gazebo. I want to kiss that beautiful face some more.”

  “Certainly not.” Mariah dodged as he tried to nuzzle her neck. “I’m sure half the plantation saw us as it is. Likely the only thing keeping your mother from taking a leisurely stroll out to the gazebo is the fact she’s too busy keeping Tuck’s hands off Victoria to wonder what you and I are up to.”

  He gave her waist a squeeze. “Well, she’ll only wonder for two more days.”

  “Mmm. I can hardly believe we’re actually going to be husband and wife.”

  “Aye. Then no one can say anything when I want to kiss you.” He lowered his head to capture her mouth.

  “Colin.” She leaned away. He was getting much too eager. Time to change the subject. “It was sweet of Tori to allow us to share her day. The Lord has truly been with us, having you come to the auction at just the right moment, then bringing us together again at the right moment. His timing is perfect. I thank God every day that your mother and my sister never stopped praying for us.”

  He nodded in thought. “I’m really glad Rose and Nate are coming to our wedding. I’d like to get to know them both better.”

  They passed the arbor with its leafy branches already wound into a lovely arch where the double ceremony would take place. Mariah drew a tremulous breath. “I am so looking forward to seeing Rose. I hope the trip downriver isn’t too strenuous for her, being with child. And I hope Mr. Scott reached Lily in time for her to come also. You did say it wouldn’t take more than two weeks if he rode straight through. Of course, there would’ve been the matter of persuading her employer to let Mr. Scott buy back her papers.”

  “Leave your worries with the Lord. If possible, she’ll get here on time.”

  “But we’ve only two more days—”

  “I know, love.” He stopped and took her face in his hands. “Two days, and I can finally have you all to myself.”

  “Me and your other girl, Duchess,” she teased.

  “I probably won’t be needin’ her for a while. She can spend more time with Amy.”

  Mariah turned. “Speaking of your sister, she’s riding here fast, with the dog chasing after her. Oh, dear. She just galloped up on the lawn. Your mother will be furious.”

  Amy brought Snowflake to a turf-kicking halt. “Guess what!”

  “You’re in trouble again?” Colin grinned toward her voice. “You’d best get that horse off the lawn. You know every blade must be perfectly in order for the wedding.”

  The girl grimaced at him from her perch in the saddle. “In a minute. Guess what! Mariah’s sister and husband and little one are walking up from the landing this very minute! And Rose is lookin’ kinda fat. You know what that means.”

  Rose is here! Forgetting decorum, Mariah rose to tiptoe, wrapped her arms about Colin’s neck, and kissed him right on the mouth while Amy gushed on.

  “And Poppy took the carriage into town to meet the coastal packet. People are all startin’ to come. Even Aunt Hester, all the way from Boston.”

  Laughing, Colin tightened his hold, keeping Mariah close. “Aye, squirt, they are. Now take that horse back to the stable. Quick!”

  “And put on something pretty,” Mariah added. “Maybe that’ll make up for the trampled grass.”

  “Oh, all right.” Pouting, Amy nudged the Thoroughbred into motion, and off she went.

  Colin gave a playful tug to one of Mariah’s curls. “Shall we go meet your family?”

  Colin wished he could actually view the joyous reunion as Mariah left his side to administer hugs one by one. But the laughter in their voices spoke volumes as greetings were batted back and forth. He was especially glad Nate was here.

  “And of course you all remember Colin,” Mariah said brightly. “Except for this little angel.” She caught Colin’s arm and stepped close again. “Darling, I’d like you to meet Jenny Ann.”

  Plump, damp fingers reached from Mariah’s embrace and touched his face. He caught the tiny hand and nuzzled the little one’s palm. She giggled.

  “Jenny has the blondest hair you ever did see,” Mariah supplied for him, “and huge blue eyes, clear as the sky. Isn’t she the friendliest little thing?”

  Detecting an undeniable odor wafting up to his nose, Colin smirked. “I believe little Jenny has brought an extra present with her—that might need attending.”

  “Quite right.” Mariah stepped back from him. “Rose, why don’t you and I take her and go freshen up a bit while the men get reacquainted?”

  “Sounds wonderful.” Rose’s voice drifted back to Colin as the women started away. “I’d like to put my feet up for a while, too, if you don’t mind.”

  “Nate, why don’t we go sit on the veranda?” Colin turned in the direction of the women’s departing footsteps. “Would you like tea or something stronger?”

  “Tea’ll do fine.” Nate came alongside. “First, though, where should I put our luggage? Womenfolk sure do need a passel of stuff with ’em.”

  Colin laughed. “They certainly do. Just set the bags down by the front door, and I’ll have Benjamin tote ’em up to your room.”

  “I must say, you sure look a sight better’n when I last saw you.”

  Colin’s cane tapped the first step. “Quite. But then we were all a dirty, smelly bunch.” His foot found the riser, and he started up. “By the way, how’s that leg of yours comin’ along?”

  “It weren’t much to holler about. The ball went clean through, an’ I’ve got most of the strength back. I figger another month or so….”

  Someone hurried out the door and came toward them. “I heard you got here, Kinyon,” Tuck said. “How’ve you been?”

  “Good. Great to see you again.”

  “Tuck,” Colin interrupted, “give Pansy a holler, would you? Have her bring us out a tea tray.”

  Once the men took seats around the table, Colin spoke. “So, Nate. Did you get all your crops harvested? You were plannin’ to paint your house, too, as I recall. I don’t remember the color.”

  “Yellow. And once Rose saw the color of your front door, she wanted ours the same. I had to do a whole lot of mixin’ before I got it just the right shade of dark blue, too.” He sniffed. “Women always make a lot of work for a man. You two positive you wanna get hitched?”

  Colin and Tuck both laughed. Then Colin cocked his head. “Considerin’ my infirmity, I believe I’ll get out of most of it. But Tuck, here, is already jumpin’ through hoops. He’s got men buildin’ a honeymoon cottage as we speak. Ain’t that right?”

  “It was my idea,” Tuck said in a defensive tone.

  “Right.” Colin smirked. “And what colors is she havin’ you paint every room and every door?”

  Nate guffawed. “Yeah. What shade of pink does she want in the bedroom?”

  “Carry on, you two,” Tuck said. “It doesn’t matter what color the walls are after the lamps are snuffed. Speakin’ of that, Colin, have you and Mariah decided whether or not you’re goin’ with us to Philadelphia for the honeymoon? We could have a lot of fun together.”

  Colin nodded. “We’ll come on one condition. I want plenty—and I do mean plenty—of time alone with my wife.”

  “Trust me, old man,” Tuck snickered. “That won’t be a problem.”

  At that, they all burst out laughing.

  The door opened, and footsteps approached. “I brung the tea, Mastah Colin. I be pourin’ it fo’ y’all.” Pansy set the tray on the table and ser
ved the men before returning to the house.

  His mind still lingering on enticing thoughts of the honeymoon ahead, Colin took a drink of the fragrant tea.

  “Either of you heard anything new about them Frenchies takin’ over the Ohio Valley?” Nate asked. “We’re so far upriver, we’re always the last to get any news.”

  “I drove into Alexandria for some bricks yesterday.” Tuck’s enthusiastic reply turned Colin’s head toward him. “That’s all anyone at the brickyard was talkin’ about. They can’t wait for next spring to take up arms and run those blighters clear back to France.”

  “What about England?” Nate probed. “Dinwiddie heard from the king yet?”

  Colin chimed in. “No. But if nothin’ else lights a fire under the British, the fact that the fur companies won’t have any new pelts to ship next spring sure will. Added to last year’s huge loss, that’s a tidy amount of profit they won’t be countin’.”

  “There was mention of somethin’ else,” Tuck said. “The governor of New York has called for a meeting with the Mohawks and any other Iroquois tribes that’ll come.”

  Nate scoffed. “I doubt many chiefs’ll show up. Most of ’em have gone over to the French. They’re loyal to whoever brings in the trade goods.” He crunched into a cookie and talked around it. “The Iroquois in the Mohawk Valley only listen to one white man—a large landowner up that way by the name of William Johnson. He learned their language an’ knows what pleases ’em an’ what sets ’em off. Even got hisself an Indian wife an’ made a pile of money off tradin’ with ’em. Problem is, the governor thought Johnson was gettin’ too big for his britches an’ fired him from the job of Indian agent. The Indians have refused to parlay ever since.”

  “This is not a time for personal squabbles,” Colin mused. “Or pretty soon the French will have bought the loyalty of every Indian on both sides of the Appalachians.”

  Nate broke in again. “From what Tuck just said, I’m sure that New York governor’s had enough pressure brought to bear that he’s rehired Johnson. That must’ve stuck in his craw. But right now he needs to be concerned about the folks livin’ out on the fringes. Folks like Rose’s sister Lily.”

  “I’m quite sure we’ll have Lily here with us very soon,” Colin informed him. “I sent my horse trainer—you met him when he delivered those horses—”

  “Aye. Fine fella, that Scott. And thank you again. What with the fur trade gone, those mares’ foals will bring in a nice bit of extra jingle—enough to keep the women happy, at least. But what were you sayin’ about Lily?”

  “Six weeks ago, Geoffrey Scott left here for her place up off the Susquehanna. He took enough money with him to free her and get her back here. We’re hopin’ they make it in time for the weddings.”

  “Right.” Tuck clamped a hand on Colin’s shoulder. “Our weddings. Two more days, old man. Two more days.”

  Chapter 37

  Returning from her own little haven, curling iron in hand, Mariah paused at the door to the older girls’ chamber she and Amy now shared because of all the overnight guests. It was almost noon, and the room overflowed with life and laughter and females still in their dressing gowns. The upstairs maid, Lizzie, was assisting the Barclays and Rose in beautifying heads of hair for this afternoon’s weddings.

  “Tori, stop elbowing me!” Heather, sharing the bench in front of the looking glass with her sister, held up a palm full of hairpins for their mother.

  “Then move over,” Tori demanded. “I’m the one getting married today, you know. Ouch! Lizzie, you’re pulling my hair.”

  “Den be still, missy, or you’s gonna get burnt wi’ dis hot iron.”

  Taking her curler to the brazier to heat it, Mariah smiled as she watched Rose attempting to catch all of wiggly Amy’s hair up with a ribbon. How many times in past years had she watched Rose fixing Lily’s hair in that same style. Now here she was, fussing over this restless imp with that same limitless patience. It was as if the Harwood sisters had never left home. Almost. If only Lily had arrived in time for the wedding…

  “There, Heather. All finished.” Mistress Barclay’s own coif reflected the latest fashion as she turned to Mariah. “Come, dear, it’s your turn.”

  Warmth for her new mother-in-law filled Mariah. Smiling at the older woman, she made her way to the dressing table. Mere months ago she couldn’t have imagined Colin’s mother approving of her, much less insisting on styling her hair for her wedding.

  Mother Barclay gently brushed out the length. “Don’t you find it interesting that you look more like me than any of my own daughters? Both of us with dark hair and identical complexions. Now when someone asks if you’re mine, I can say, ‘Yes, she’s my oldest.’ ” Still holding the brush, she wrapped her arms around Mariah and gave her a hug. “Thank you for giving Colin back his smile. He had me quite concerned.”

  A sheen of moisture filled Mariah’s eyes as she glanced at the older woman’s reflection. “And I should like to thank you for being you. You kept me safe even when I wasn’t certain I wanted you to.”

  Tears gathered in Mother Barclay’s eyes, also.

  “Oh, now, none of that,” Rose cajoled from across the room as she tied a pink bow in Amy’s tresses. “Red eyes will surely detract from all this finery.”

  Mariah and Colin’s mother both dabbed at their eyes and joined the others in laughter.

  A quick knock sounded at the door, and Pansy brought in a tray of food. “Eloise figgered y’all wouldn’t be comin’ down to eat, so we’s bringin’ it to y’all.”

  A person bearing a second tray came behind the maid, and as Pansy moved to the side, there with the widest grin stood Lily!

  “Oh, Lily! You came!” Mariah leaped up and flew to her. Mother Barclay quickly whisked the tray out of the way as Mariah and Rose smothered their baby sister in kisses and hugs.

  Mariah finally tore herself away enough to introduce the girl to the others in the room.

  “I feel as if I already know all of you.” Lily’s face beamed. “Mr. Scott told me all about you on the trip here.”

  “We’ve heard much about you, too,” Mother Barclay said. “However, I did expect you to be somewhat younger.”

  “You do look older,” Mariah agreed, assessing the golden waves pinned high atop her sister’s head. Loose tendrils framed her heart-shaped face. “Didn’t the Waldons treat you well?”

  “Of course they did.” Lily gave her another hug. “They’re fine, Christian people. I couldn’t have asked for a kinder family.”

  Mariah touched Lily’s shoulder. “Lily, why don’t you come with Rose and me to my room for a few minutes so we can catch up while the others continue getting ready. We’ve a couple of hours before the ceremony.”

  “Indeed.” Lily’s gray eyes widened. “I had to thread my way through hordes of people down on the lawn. There must be at least a hundred guests milling about.”

  “Two hundred would be more like it,” Victoria corrected as Lizzie put the finishing touches to her cluster of silky curls. “Isn’t it exciting?”

  “It surely is, and I’m so happy to be one of them,” Lily answered over her shoulder as her sisters escorted her out the door.

  Once the three young women were in Mariah’s room across the hall, Mariah flipped her mass of loose black curls out of her eyes and pulled Lily down on the bed with her. “We’ve missed you so.”

  “I know just what you mean,” she said. “I didn’t know how I longed for you until I actually saw you. And you, too, Rose. You positively glow. Marriage and motherhood certainly agree with you.”

  Rose eased herself down onto the coverlet with a smile. “I must say, Mistress Barclay is correct. You’ve grown up a lot this past year.”

  Lily gave a light laugh. “I had to if I was going to emulate you. I had three young children and a baby to care for, not to mention a household to run.”

  Mariah shot her a questioning look. “So Mistress Waldon’s health has not improved overmuch?”
>
  “Some days she’s better, but alas, those good days are getting farther and farther apart.”

  Rose gave an empathetic nod. “I don’t understand why Mr. Waldon moved so far away from family and learned physicians.”

  “Actually, it was his wife, Susan, who insisted on the move,” Lily told her. “They had already purchased the land, and John had spent weeks at a time away from the family building the house and barn and getting their first crop planted. Susan refused to let her capricious illness interfere with their plans. They’d already waited until the baby’s birth, then months of useless doctor visits. She didn’t want to wait any longer. She’s quite the courageous lady.”

  “Still,” Rose said with a shrug, “their going seems foolhardy. How long has she been ill?”

  “Her joints began swelling a few weeks after the birth of baby David. And the fevers and rashes come and go. The physicians in Baltimore didn’t know what to make of it. Mostly they wanted to apply leeches.” Lily grimaced. “Susan didn’t feel she had enough blood as it is, without those slimy creatures draining any more.”

  “I see.” Rose caught Lily’s hand and patted it. “Small wonder you appear so much older. You’ve had three children under eight, a baby, and a sick woman to look after. Thank heaven that’s behind you now that you’ve come to us. Mariah and I both want you, so now your toughest decision will be whether to remain in this beautiful mansion with Mariah, or come to my more humble but very loving home and live with Nate and me.”

  Lily gently drew her hand from Rose’s and stood, facing both sisters. “Those are both lovely, tempting offers, but—” She reached into the drawstring purse dangling from her waistband. “Mariah, please return these funds to Colin for me.” She handed over a wad of banknotes.

  “But—I don’t understand.” Mariah stared at the money, then gazed up at Lily.

  “That’s the money Colin sent to buy my papers. I refused to let Mr. Scott approach the Waldons about it. My place is there, with them.”

  “But, dearest,” Rose protested. “With that amount of money, surely Mr. Waldon could easily hire someone else. Someone older, more experienced…”