Mail Order Celeste

by Elissa Strati

  “So you still have an open case, searching for the mastermind behind the Gang?”

  John nodded. “Although I believe you should now be out of danger. It should be obvious by now that your father knows no more of the gold’s present whereabouts than do we.”

  “Thank you for sharing all this with us,” said Miranda. “I suspect this is not information you wish spread further?”

  John smiled. “You are quite right, although I am sure you’ll be mentioning it to your young men. But I’ve met them both and trust them to keep the secret in order to keep you both safe.”

  John agreed to stay for the wedding to support the Father of the Brides.

  The Hardwick Brothers

  Sylvester and Miranda found that working together was creating an issue for them.

  Not that they weren’t compatible in the office. Quite the contrary. He found her quick mind a tremendous asset. Between them they could resolve issues far faster than either alone, and she had a fine grasp of the law, rapidly learning Kansas’ quirks and using them to the client’s best advantage.

  But he kept wanting to touch her. Kiss her behind the ear when she turned her head just so. Nibble on those fingertips which could make the pen dash across the page in such a helter-skelter that, nonetheless, remained legible. He rather liked that quirk in the otherwise perfect-seeming miss. And he discovered it suited the surprisingly multi-faceted woman hiding beneath the cool and calm demeanor.

  Her letters had teased and tantalized him, but the woman herself enchanted him.

  Going out on picnics and attending church together was all well and fine, but he was ready to move on. He was, he realized, ready to be married.

  He still felt a bit uncomfortable about snatching his brother’s fiancée out from under him, although he certainly seemed entranced by Miranda’s sister. He was an attorney. He knew how to negotiate and make an argument stick. Time to talk with Chip.

  ~~~

  Chip had remained attentive to Celeste, flirting outrageously and enjoying her company, going on outings with just the two of them or with his brother and her sister as chaperones. He was giving her the space she needed to resolve her feelings for her late husband and make room in her heart for him.

  He was also watching the calendar. There was no hard and fast rule for the human heart. Mourning was personal and individual. But overall, he believed, society’s niceties reflected basic human needs, and the prescribed times set aside to honor lost loved ones were not so far off for most people.

  He hadn’t seen the shadows in her eyes for awhile, even when describing something they’d done together, she and her late husband. And the calendar agreed it was now time. He needed to talk with Sylvester. There was no question of his ever being interested in Miranda except as a sister-in law. As far as Chip was concerned, that boat had long sailed. But he wanted to do things right.

  ~~~

  Sylvia Hudson placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and grits in front of each of the gentlemen, filled their coffee cups, and left the pot on the table on a specially designed pad, as they preferred, then returned to the kitchen to clean up. She certainly hoped Miss Miranda would want to keep her on as housekeeper and cook. Not that she’d done much cooking for Mr. Sylvester of late.

  He and his brother were out nearly every night with their ladies. Of course they were always scrupulous about letting her know, although they didn’t always coordinate. They usually served themselves from whatever she had prepared for them, since she went back home in the evening to tend to her son and husband. But she just lived down the street so was able to be there when they had guests. And Mr. Sylvester was very generous.

  She didn’t know where she’d get a good a position if Miss Miranda decided to do her own housekeeping. Her husband had tried, but he just couldn’t keep a job. Tony Hudson had been in one of the prison camps and his lungs were weak. Too much exertion and he got a fever. No one could use a man who couldn’t be there half the time. But he was excellent with their son, and she enjoyed the work here.

  While she said a brief prayer that she’d be kept on when Mr. Sylvester finally got around to proposing, the brothers were marshalling their thoughts.

  “I want to propose to Miranda,” Sylvester blurted out, only to realize his brother had started speaking at the same time.

  “I think it is time I asked Celeste to marry me.”

  They both burst out laughing, although Sylvester said slyly, “How will she know you mean it this time?”

  “I’ve meant it every time. I knew when I asked at the train station when I first met her. She smiled and my heart caught fire and it has been burning for her ever since. But I mean to do it right, on my knee and with a ring.” And he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a magnificent ruby.

  “It’s the same color as the fire in her hair,” he sighed, contemplating the ring as he moved it around, watching it flash in the light.

  Then he looked at his brother. “You know their mourning period is over for both mother and husband. I went over to see her father last night and he gave me his blessing.”

  Sylvester laughed, reaching into his own vest pocket. The ring he pulled out was a diamond, as pure and beautiful as his intended bride.

  “I saw him on Sunday.”

  “No wonder he seemed to be laughing at me!”

  ~~~

  Miranda had appreciated Sylvester’s restraint, honoring the mourning ritual which she would have had to forswear if the original plans had been adhered to. But now she was getting anxious. She’d thought he might take the hint when she began to wear her more colorful dresses but other than complimenting her looks, he seemed rather distant of late. Perhaps, after all, he had lost interest in her, thought of her as too plain, perhaps. Although they did have such a good time together.

  Well, as long as he didn’t shift his interest to someone else, she would stay near him and enjoy his company for as long as she could. She opened up the brief she planned to work on this morning.

  A few minutes later, Sylvester strolled in, wishing her a good morning in a rather brisker fashion than usual. Her eyebrows rose slightly as she returned the greeting.

  “I’m sorry I’m a few minutes late. I was just arranging with Mrs. Hudson to stay on and serve dinner this evening. Will you join me?”

  “Just the two of us?”

  “Yes, I thought that might be rather nice for a change. I see quite enough of my brother, after all. And Mrs. Hudson will be there to chaperone.”

  “Then, yes, I would enjoy that. She is an excellent cook.”

  “Since we are eating in, I thought perhaps we could just go through to next door instead of you having to make the trip home and back. You look absolutely lovely in that dress.”

  Miranda blushed slightly. It wasn’t that he didn’t compliment her. He did, and often. But there had been a certain . . . intensity.

  She acquiesced, and he went into his office and to work. Actually, he got very little work done that day. He spent most of his time mooning out the window and daydreaming, crafting his speech to her, kissing her when she accepted.

  And then he stopped, in a panic. What if she said no? What would he do then?

  She couldn’t say no! She needed him?

  Well, no, it was her sister who’d been destitute, or so she’d thought. But at least the ploy had brought her to safety and to the attention of his brother who might otherwise, even now, have been married to his darling Miranda! He shuddered at the idea and offered up a heartfelt prayer of thanks.

  At last the workday was done and he went in to offer his arm to Miranda to escort her into the main house. She’d never actually entered by this door before. The few times she’d visited, she and Celeste had come in the front, generally escorted by Chip.

  She had seen this hall, but hadn’t realized the door was to the office. The main house was, after all, quite large.

  Mrs. Hudson came out of the kitchen beaming.

  “You’ll want to freshen
up, I’m sure. Let me show you to the ladies’ withdrawing room,” she said, leading the way.

  The room had been prepared to a nicety with fresh, hard-milled, scented soap and clean, fluffy towels. Mrs. Hudson pointed everything out and then indicated the bell.

  “Just ring if you need anything or when you’re done and I’ll escort you to the drawing room. Mr. Hardwick is primping a bit himself,” she grinned.

  They sat across from each other, playing with their food, not saying much, and casting occasional anxious glances, each at the other, tense and uneasy in a way they had never before been together. Finally they each looked up at the same time, and Sylvester swept his napkin from his lap, flinging it onto the table as he jumped up and walked over to her.

  “Oh, this is ridiculous!” he muttered. He reached out a hand, which she accepted and drew back her chair with the other. Her napkin fell to the floor unheeded as he walked her across the hall to the parlor and swept her into his arms, dropping kisses all over her face.

  “Please say you will marry me and put me out my misery!” he croaked out, continuing to pepper her with kisses.

  “Stop!” she cried out. He stepped back dropping his face into his hands.

  “Of course I’ll marry you! But you’ve been so distant lately I thought you wanted to end our relationship.”

  He raised his head, face suffused with joy, and studied her eyes. Then, grasping her left hand with his, he dropped to one knee and withdrew the ring from his vest, and remembered his carefully wrought speech.

  “Will you, Miss Miranda Estelle Belden, do me the honor of becoming my wife, my joy, my all, and my everything?”

  “It is my greatest desire, Mr. Sylvester Ryan Hardwick, Junior, to join my life with yours and be your bride.”

  Carefully sliding the ring over her finger he leaned over and kissed her hand, then obeyed her tug and stood. His hands curved around her cheeks and he kissed her on the mouth. Oh, nectar of the gods, the touch of her lips on his. His eyes closed, he rested his forehead on hers a moment while he took a deep breath. Miranda did the same and opened her eyes to see his staring into them.

  “I think my appetite has returned,” said he, and escorted her back into the dining room.

  Food had never tasted so good, she agreed.

  The only reason they didn’t linger even longer over dinner was that Mrs. Hudson needed to get home. She shouldn’t be walking on her own this late at night, Sylvester stated firmly.

  As he was assisting the ladies into the buggy Miranda caught the worried look in Mrs. Hudson’s eyes. Once seated she turned and caught up the other woman’s hands in hers.

  “Oh, Mrs. Hudson, please tell me you are not planning to leave? I am counting on you to keep house for us. I cannot cook a lick!”

  Relief flooded over the housekeeper’s face and she beamed at Miranda.

  “I feared quite the opposite!” she admitted, and the two women exchanged a brief hug.

  Sylvester looked blankly at the two of them.

  “Of course you’re staying! In fact, once we are married I was hoping you and your family would consider occupying the housekeeper’s suite here, as we’ll be eating at home most nights. There is plenty of room in the yard to make a play area for your son, and your husband’s help with the gardening would be most appreciated.”

  ~~~

  Chip’s work kept him away from Celeste most of the day, since one of the helpers at the hardware store usually ran over lumber orders, but he’d occasionally handle a delivery himself, with whatever help he’d need to unload, especially when it involved running by Hardwick Hardware for additional supplies to fill an order. Then he would pop his head around the edge of her office door and flirt for a few minutes before returning to the wagon.

  Today, after stopping by briefly on his way to the mill to make a date for dinner, he’d carefully avoided stopping by. Like his brother, he too had complimented her ensemble as being especially cheerful and suggested she not bother to go home after work, promising to send one of the boys out to the house to let Mrs. Oliver know not to expect her or her sister for dinner.

  Celeste was caught up in work and not thinking about the evening except with the pleasurable anticipation she always felt knowing she’d be with Chip. They’d had one or two impromptu dinners in the past, most often with both couples, but occasionally on their own. As they’d be in public the whole time, propriety was not a concern.

  They’d enjoyed a lovely meal. Their waitress had recommended the steak and it had been particularly tender and succulent. They’d sat and chatted a bit and then he’d walked with her to the stables and they’d picked up her buggy.

  “Sylvester’s bringing Miranda home and can drive me back to town. It’s getting dark and I’d be more comfortable escorting you home,” Chip stated.

  Always glad of his company, Celeste didn’t demure. And when he paused along the way back and pulled into a secluded grove to enjoy the evening air and look up at the full moon, she didn’t object. When he hopped down and walked around and, instead of taking her hand, had grasped her around the waist to swing her down, she had said nary a word, although the moonlight was bright enough for him to see the mischief in her eyes.

  They strolled over to a fallen log and he laid down a kerchief for her to sit upon, and, quietly, she’d sat. And then he sank to one knee and brought her left hand to his lips, sliding the ring onto her finger. She still remained silent with her head tilted.

  It didn’t occur to him until later that he’d never been with her for so long a period of silence. The air between them was usually filled with light-hearted banter.

  Finally he spoke. The words weren’t new nor even the depth of emotion. But he spoke them slowly, quietly, and with his heart in his eyes. And she nodded, again silent, and then leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, and said, “Yes, Charles Patrick Hardwick who prefers to be called Chip, I am now ready to become your wife and be one with you.” And they pledged their troth. He sat next to her on the log, his arm around her, content, enjoying the cool evening and the moonlit terrain.

  The sound of horse’s hooves interrupted their reveries.

  “That will be Sylvester and Miranda,” said Chip, helping her up and remembering to snatch up his bandana. They strolled back to the buggy and drove on to the house so the ladies could each exclaim over the other’s ring. Hers sparkled in the moonlight but it wasn’t until they were walking into the house that she saw it clearly and gasped.

  “Oh, Chip, it’s stunning!”

  “I knew it was meant for you when I saw it. I’ve been waiting since you first took over this house to give it to you.”

  She smiled beatifically and pressed her lips to his cheek.

  “I admire patience in a man,” she said.

  CHAPTER 10 – Wedding Plans

  Details

  The Belden sisters had wanted a double wedding, their fiancés unhesitatingly concurred, and the clergy agreed to perform it jointly. It was highly unusual, and both churches might well have disapproved had they been consulted, but this was to be a local affair, after all.

  The service would be at St. Mary’s on the Hill, with Father Flanagan offering a nuptial mass, but both he and Reverend Richardson would jointly be providing the wedding ceremony. Father Flanagan would be asking the girls to repeat their vows while Reverend Richardson would be handling the men’s declarations.

  ~~~

  Miranda had brought their mother’s gown but offered it to Celeste to wear.

  “Don’t be silly. I had the pleasure of donning it to marry Ralph.” Her eyes misted up.

  “I still love him very much. But when I said as much to Chip, he just smiled and told me, ‘Of course you do! Even I love the man, for he gave us our darling Samantha. It is only right you should love Ralph. But God gave us room in our hearts for more than one person. How else can parents love each of their children?’

  “And then he said, ‘I still remember mother explaining that to me
, that the heart was made to grow. My old dog Peanut had died and I felt my heart was broken. And then Charlie Barnett, who was one of the older boys at school, came by with a pup. He told me it was the runt of the litter and reminded him of Peanut, but he needed his own name. Then he handed him to me and this little white ball of fur with black speckles reached up and licked me on the chin and then curled up in my arms as if he belonged there. I didn’t have much imagination then. Probably still don’t.’ And then Chip grinned at me and added, ‘I named him Speckles. And I still missed Peanut and still love him to this day, although he’s been gone a few years now, too.’ And then he pulled me into his arms and told me again how much he loved me. Even more than the dogs!”

  A laugh was surprised out of Miranda and Celeste’s tears dried up as she laughed, too.

  Celeste ended up wearing a dress designed by Dorothy Schuyler of La Belle Mode, Green River’s dress shop. It turned out that Dorothy was the sister-in-law of Charlie Barnett, Chip’s puppy benefactor. The girls laughed about that, too. In fact they found they had a lot to laugh about these days.

  Miranda’s gown had been in the family for several generations, with the style being altered slightly to address current fashion and the size of the bride, but the antique ivoried lace was original to the garment. Charlotte Evans, who often provided hand-made lace trim for special gowns, had fallen in love with the pattern and made a matching trim for the veil plus the neckline and wrists of Celeste’s gown, which was to be of the palest pink to highlight her hair. The pale pink had been used in new ribbons for Miranda’s gown and a sheer lining for her veil, to protect the aging lace. Each was stunning and complemented the other. The dresses would be talked about for many a day after the ceremony!

  ~~~

  The Belden sisters were waiting with their father for everyone to be seated and the ceremony to begin. They had decided against having any attendants, since each would have wanted the other to stand up for her and they’d instead be standing up together. But they pressed their father into service to accept the bouquets once he’d walked them up the aisle.