With that delightful possibility in mind, she turned back to her work. “I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me now. I really do have a lot to finish before the shop opens.”
❧
Midway through the afternoon, a young boy entered the shop, his arms filled with beautiful, long-stemmed red roses. “For Miss Porter,” he said, and handed them to Margaret.
Margaret’s heart leaped with joy. She took the roses and went in search of a container for them. She laid aside the card nestled in their leaves; it could wait until she had the flowers in water. She could easily guess who they were from. Mikal had no doubt repented of his ridiculous behavior this morning and chose this lovely way to apologize. He really was sweet, but she was not going to forgive him too quickly. She was having too much fun holding the upper hand for a change.
She emptied a metal container of thread, transferring it to an empty cardboard box. Then she used her water pitcher to fill the container before arranging her flowers in it. The scent of them filled her shop. Their beautiful petals looked like crimson velvet. She had not received flowers from a gentleman since she had left Savannah.
Smiling, she picked up the card and read, “These roses will look like weeds when placed next to your beautiful face. I am counting the hours until seven. Yours, Harry.”
Harry? They were not from Mikal at all! Mikal Lee had probably not given her so much as a thought since he left the shop this morning. Well, if he didn’t have time to spend with her, then she knew someone who did!
She would wear her prettiest gown tonight. She would coil her hair in one of the latest fashions she had seen in the new magazines, and she would crush some of the rose petals and rub their fragrance behind her ears. She didn’t need the attention of Mikal Lee to make her feel wanted. Not when there was a man like Harry Robards to escort her about town!
❧
Sitting next to Harry in the cozy booth of the Silver Saddle’s dining room, Margaret took in all of her elegant surroundings. She could hear raucous laughter coming from an adjoining hall and wondered just what kind of establishment Harry had chosen for their evening meal.
He continued to wear that maddening half smile that left her wondering what he had on his mind. “What would you like to drink?” he asked her.
“I’m a tea drinker myself. I know that coffee is more popular in this area, but old habits are hard to break.”
“Tea it is then.” He gave the order to the scantily clad waitress and ordered something for himself—something that Margaret did not recognize by name.
He leaned very close to her when he spoke, and Margaret felt a bit uneasy in his presence. She had never been out with such a worldly gentleman before, and she had never been in an establishment that was anything like the Silver Saddle.
Harry Robards was a mystery to her, but there was no denying that he did know how to make her feel like a lady. “You said that you had some important business to discuss,” she said.
“I do. But I make it a point never to discuss business while I’m eating.”
Margaret blushed. She had been raised on strict southern etiquette, and she should not have needed Harry Robards to remind her of it. “Of course. Neither do I.” She picked up her oyster fork and began on her appetizer.
Although the food was of gourmet quality, complemented by the elaborate ambience of the dining room, Margaret found it hard to swallow. How could she eat when Harry never took his eyes from her? At last, after she managed to eat enough to satisfy her good manners, she crushed her napkin and laid her utensils in a straight line across her plate.
Harry took much longer to finish his meal, savoring big bites cut from a thick, rare steak. When he, too, had finished, he suggested that they retire to an adjoining room.
He ushered her into a small private room, and Margaret began to be wary of his intentions. “Harry, I really think we should go outside. I enjoy the evening air. . .”
“Margaret!” He spoke her name almost like a caress. “Don’t be nervous with me. I have no devious plans to try to seduce a lovely lady such as you. I brought you here so that we could have a private discussion about something that has been on my mind ever since I first set eyes on you.”
“A new business venture?”
“Well, I suppose some might consider it that. But before I tell you about it, I want you to promise not to toss my idea aside without giving it some serious thought. I don’t want your answer tonight. Will you promise to think about it during the coming week?”
Now Margaret’s curiosity hit a new peak. What kind of idea was Harry going to unfold for her? She was perfectly happy in her present millinery business, but of course, she would agree to think about anything he told her. She certainly would not refuse to at least think about his ideas. “Yes, I’ll promise. Now, tell me before I die of curiosity.”
Harry slipped to the floor on his knees in front of her chair so that their eyes were parallel. “Margaret, I want you to marry me.”
Margaret’s eyes popped wide, and she gasped, “Harry! You can’t be serious! Why, you don’t even know me! Is this your idea of a joke?”
“Hardly. I’ve given the matter a great deal of thought. You see, Margaret, I need a wife.”
“In other words, you want me to come keep house for you and cook and bear a bunch of children for you, is that it?” She was furious at his proposal, and she rose to leave.
“Wait, Margaret. It’s not like that at all. Remember you pro-mised to think about my idea, and you haven’t really heard it all yet.”
Margaret slid back into her chair. It was true, she had pro-mised. “Go ahead, but I can already tell you that the answer is no.”
“I want an attractive wife to appear by my side in public, to accompany me on my travels, and to share the good life that I lead. As to the cooking and cleaning, I already have people hired to do those things. You would not have to lift one of your pretty fingers. And you would never have to make another bonnet in your entire life, unless you wanted to. You can spend your days shopping in the finest salons in New Orleans or anywhere your heart desires. Money would not be a problem. As for the children, I am not particularly fond of them, but I suppose if you wanted. . .”
“Harry Robards, you don’t want a wife; you want a business partner. All this talk about appearing in public and living the good life, you have not said one word about love. Don’t you think love is important in a marriage?”
Harry threw back his head and laughed. “Indeed I do! So it’s romance you want. Well, I will see that you’re not disappointed there, either!”
Margaret understood his implications and felt the blood rush to her face. “Please, Harry. Will you take me home now?”
“Your wish is my command, my dear. Now, and for as long as you like. Just remember your promise, and I’ll ask for your answer one week from tonight.”
Margaret’s head was spinning. Harry held her elbow and led her out the door and into the waiting carriage. He gave an order to the driver and jumped in beside her.
“Margaret, when you’ve had time to consider the benefits of my proposal, I think you’ll realize that you have a rare opportunity for a rich, full life. I’m not an abusive person; I’d do my best to make you happy.”
She could not form the words to answer him. This had truly been the most remarkable evening of her entire life, and one she would never forget.
When they drew up to her door, he helped her from the carriage. “Give me your key and I’ll unlock for you.” He took her key and gave it a turn in the lock, but his hand remained on the knob, barring her entrance. He placed his free arm around her waist and bent to kiss her.
“No, Harry.” She twisted out of his grasp and pushed open her door. “Thank you for a–a very interesting evening.”
seventeen
Margaret had little difficulty living up to her promise to “think about” Harry’s proposal. Not that she wanted to think of it, but how could she not when the idea had been so preposterous?
And to make sure that she did not forget, Harry continued to send her roses, fresh ones every day, so that by the middle of the week both upstairs and down reeked of the their odor!
Although Margaret was flattered by all this attention, she considered the flowers a wild extravagance. What would life be like married to a man like Harry? Was there no limit to his wealth? She wondered how he ever came to have so much money. That was just one of the questions she planned to ask him next time they met.
She had not seen Mikal all week. She had sold at least a dozen of his books. Besides bringing in additional income, the books also brought in a whole new line of customers. Now there were almost as many men as women walking through her door.
One day she looked up from her work to see a small, plainly dressed woman standing at the counter. She did not look at all like Margaret’s usual stylish clientele, but she wore a pleasant smile on her face.
“How may I help you?” Margaret asked, moving to the counter. “Were you looking for a bonnet or a book?”
“Oh, neither, ma’am. I–I just wanted to stop in to meet you. You see, I’m Alex’s mother, and he speaks so highly of you. I wanted to thank you for being so kind to him.”
“I’m very glad to meet you, Mrs.—?”
“McCutcheon. America McCutcheon, but my friends just call me Amy.”
“Then I shall call you Amy, too, and you must call me Mar-garet. Alex is such a help to me. I don’t know how I could have managed without him.”
“He’s a good boy,” Amy agreed. “I–I don’t suppose you’d be needing any more help, would you? I mean, with your bonnets and all. I’m very good with a needle, and you wouldn’t have to pay me much.” Her eyes took on a pleading look, and Margaret could read unspoken pain in her words.
“Actually, I could use some help, but the truth is, Amy, I really couldn’t afford to pay you much of anything. You see, most of the money I make here belongs to the two men who own this building, to pay for the rent, you know, and by the time I pay my own living expenses, there’s not a lot left over. Still, I’d like to talk to you. Why don’t you take off your coat and we’ll have a cup of tea together?”
While Amy removed her coat, Margaret started back to the woodstove in the corner to put on a kettle of water, but before she took two steps, her door opened and in walked two of her best customers. “I’m sorry, Amy. I’m afraid I’ll have to take care of business first.”
Margaret began to talk to her customers, showing them some new designs from the latest magazines. “These are very popular in New York now, I hear.”
The ladies bent their heads over the magazine, and from the corner of her eye, Margaret saw that Amy had gone to the back of the store and put the kettle of water on the stove.
While the ladies were debating about the bonnets, a gentleman came in and was eyeing the books, but Margaret could not ignore her customers to wait on him.
Without so much as a blink of the eye, Amy stepped up to the gentleman and asked, “Could I show you something in books, sir?”
“Well, I do want something for my library. Do you have a recommendation?”
Amy’s eyes traveled over the books, and as though she had done so a dozen times before, she pulled a volume from the shelf. “John James Audubon’s Birds of America is very popular now. We have three volumes here, and I understand he’s planning to publish a fourth soon.”
Margaret could not hide her surprise. I hope she knows what she’s talking about! If she does, she knows something that I don’t!
The gentleman purchased all three volumes and asked to have the fourth reserved for him if it should come in. Amy found pencil and paper on one of the tables and recorded his name and address. She wrapped his purchases and took his money. “Thank you, sir. Do come back in again.”
“I will,” he said as he walked to the door. “You can count on it.”
Margaret’s customers decided to wait to place their orders after picking up some swatches from their dressmaker. “We want to make sure our hats go well with our new gowns,” one of them explained. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”
When they were alone again, Amy gave Margaret the money she had collected for the sale of the books. “Where did you learn so much about books?” Margaret asked her over a cup of freshly brewed tea.
“I’ve always loved to read. We have that nice new library across town, and I go there whenever I can. I especially like the nature books.”
“Amy, I can see that you would be a great help to me. Mind you, I couldn’t pay much, but I’ll do the best I can, and if we can bring in more money by having two of us here, then in time I could probably do a little better for you.”
“Oh, thank you, Margaret. Could I begin right away?”
Margaret laughed. “Amy, I think you already have.”
❧
John Gorrie folded his plans and put them in his desk drawer. “Mikal, I think with the work we’ve done these last four days, we have the beginning of a great project. I shall have construction of Trinity Church started in New York at once, and if you think you could bring the whole structure down in four trips on the Windsong, then it’s my guess that we’ll be worshipping in a beautiful new sanctuary by the end of 1838.”
Mikal sat across the desk with his head propped on his hand, weary but proud. “This will be the most magnificent piece of architecture in the south when we’re done. People will come from all over just to see it. You’re to be congratulated, John.”
“Don’t congratulate me until it’s done. By the way, how’s that little lady doing with her millinery shop? Last time I looked in, I was amazed at the way her business is building up.”
“Yes, Margaret is an amazing woman,” Mikal agreed. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about her.”
“Do I detect a hint of romance in the air?” John said with a smile. He had not failed to notice the way Mikal’s eyes glistened every time he spoke her name.
“John, you know I can’t even think of romance. I’ll admit my feelings for Margaret have grown far stronger than I ever intended, but it wouldn’t be fair to encourage her to care for me when I know that I can never marry.”
“Never marry? Why, that’s preposterous! You’re young and healthy, and I can’t think of one good reason why you would not consider marriage to the right woman. Of course, who’s to say if she’s the right one for you? That’s something between you and God, and of course, the lady herself.”
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple. You know what a sailor’s life is like, John. What kind of husband and father would I make? No, I wouldn’t take on the responsibilities of a family unless I could give them the kind of home they would have a right to expect.”
“I agree that you might have to make compromises, but if a man and woman love each other, they will find a way to work things out together. And if Margaret is the woman God has chosen to be your wife, He will show you the way.”
Mikal gave his friend a sidelong grin. “For a bachelor, you seem to have a lot of advice on love and marriage.”
“Don’t laugh; I may have some news to share myself before too much longer. I’ve been seeing a very charming young widow, and I have some of the same concerns as you about prioritizing my time. But I can tell you right now that I don’t plan to live alone for the rest of my life. If Caroline will have me, I plan to propose to her before the year is out.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. She must be quite a lady to catch the eye of a confirmed old bachelor like you!”
“Indeed she is quite a lady!”
❧
Mikal walked aimlessly through the dark streets toward the docks, his hands in his pockets. He was tired, but he did not feel ready to go back to the boardinghouse where he kept a room. He needed time to think, and he found it easier to think with a clearer head when he could breathe in the fresh, salty air from the bay. He did not know what to do. He had forced himself to stay away from Margaret, although he longed to see her, touch her, breathe the fragrance
of her beauty. Knowing that she was less than a mile away only made things more difficult for him.
Margaret deserved a man who could shower her with love and attention, a man who would be there for her when she needed him. He just hoped she was smart enough not to be taken in by the dubious charms of a man like Harry Robards.
The very thought of Harry with his arms around his Mar-garet made Mikal’s blood boil. Wait a minute! She’s not my Margaret at all. And she let me know in no uncertain terms that I had no claim on her life. Oh, please, God. Don’t let Margaret fall in love with Harry Robards! If I can’t have her for my own, then please find her the kind of man who will treat her kindly and make her happy.
Mikal had reached the shoreline, and he reached down to pick up a broken shell. He gave it a mighty fling and watched in the moonlight as it skipped across the water. Tonight he had finally admitted to himself what he had known for a very long time. He was hopelessly in love with Margaret Porter.
eighteen
With Amy helping in the millinery shop, Margaret was able to commit herself to almost twice as many bonnet orders as she could have hoped to finish alone. Although Margaret herself still did the designing and the intricate finishing details, Amy was careful and quick with cutting and basic construction, and her knowledge of books was a real plus.
Amy had even found time to cut out a new calico work dress for Margaret and promised that when it was finished she would try her hand at copying one of the Godey designs from a magazine. Margaret, who had not had a new dress since she arrived in Apalachicola, found this exciting.
Tomorrow night she was dining again with Harry Robards, and she knew that he was expecting to receive her answer to his proposal. Margaret remembered the girl she used to be a year ago, a young and foolish debutante who might have been swayed by Harry’s wealth and charm. Even now, she had to admit that the prospect of choosing such a life of luxury presented a temptation. She did not love Harry, and she knew that he did not really love her, but would it be so terribly wrong to marry a man who was willing to take care of her for the rest of her life? Certainly, this was better than being a mail-order bride like Lucy White. At least, she knew what Harry looked like, and he did treat her with respect and dignity. Lucy had told her that if she sincerely put her heart into a marriage, love would grow as time went by. But how could she expect to ever grow to love Harry when deep in her heart she knew that she loved another?
Margaret's Quest Page 12