“It did!” Evangeline exclaimed.
“A letter from whom, Evangeline?” Mrs. Montrose asked. “For you do seem quite delighted.”
“And I am!” Evangeline confirmed with enthusiasm. “My dear friend Jennie and I have been corresponding more often of late, ever since she and her husband moved out west several months ago. Jennie has had some anxieties over the move, which is to be understood, our lovely west being so vastly different from Boston, and I have been trying to be very prompt in answering each of her letters. And so I do try to check in with Mr. Perry at the general store very often when I’m expecting a letter from Jennie.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if all of us had as good and loyal a friend as you, Evangeline?” Mrs. Ackerman noted sincerely.
Calliope smiled as her older sister blushed, for she knew how truly uncomfortable Evangeline became whenever praise was offered to her.
“What did I miss?” Evangeline said, taking a seat next to Calliope on Mrs. Montrose’s sofa.
“Only that Callie and Pauline have a very handsome and eligible bachelor for an elder brother,” Winnie offered.
“Do tell,” Evangeline giggled.
“How do you know our brother is handsome?” Pauline teased Winnie.
“I can answer that,” Calliope interjected, “for you and Callie are the image of your mother. And being that you are all so lovely, it only stands to reason that your brother is attractive as well. Isn’t that what you’re thinking, Winnie?”
All the ladies in the room smiled, and Winnie’s smile was broadest. “Exactly!” Winnie confessed without pause. “You know me too well, Calliope Ipswich.”
“Well, our brother is a handsome young man,” Pauline confirmed. “Yet Callie and I have decided that your own brother is quite the good-looking fellow himself.”
Everyone looked to Calliope—she knew they did—though she kept her attention on the stitching she was working on in her lap. Still, the heat of her own blush caused her to feel as if her head might explode at any moment when she heard Winnie say, “Oh, Fox has almost always been the most handsome man in town. But he’s sweet as sugar on Calliope, and I know there won’t be any turnin’ his head.”
There was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments, but Calliope thanked the heavens for her elder sister when Evangeline said, “My good friend Jennie told me in her letter I received today that…well, that she is expecting a baby. I’m quite overwhelmed with excitement for her!”
“As well you should be,” Mrs. Chesterfield exclaimed.
Thankful that Evangeline had guided the attention of the ladies in the room from the subject of Fox Montrose and his being sweet on Calliope, she was likewise surprised that it was Mrs. Chesterfield who had been the first to respond to Evangeline’s announcement about her friend. Therefore, she glanced up and was somewhat astonished to see that Mrs. Chesterfield’s worried brow was relaxed—that she was smiling, her eyes atwinkle, as if she’d never before heard the wonderful news of a baby to be born.
“Any baby is such a blessing, such a joy,” Josephine said, smiling. “I cannot wait until my own children are married and begin having families of their own. I miss babies so very much.”
“I do too,” Mrs. Ackerman announced.
“As do I,” Mrs. Montrose added. She looked up to Calliope and winked. “I hope I won’t have to wait too very much longer to see Fox and Winnie with spouses and babies.”
Again Calliope blushed, looking to Evangeline for saving.
“Yes,” Evangeline said, staring at her sister with understanding. “It’s one reason we’re all so glad to have Shay with us now. Though she’s not a baby, she is so wonderful—so young and fresh and, more often than not, wildly entertaining.”
“Winnie did mention that she saw Shay walking her cat, of all things, through town just yesterday,” Blanche added.
Evangeline laughed, her ebony hair flouncing in its coif, her dark green eyes sparkling with remembered amusement. “Why, just this morning at breakfast, Shay said…Shay said…” But giggles had overtaken the usually composed eldest Ipswich daughter.
Calliope began to giggle as well at the memory but managed to finish for her sister. “Yes, just this morning at breakfast, Evangeline had agreed to read a book to Shay, and Shay picked a Christmas book. And Evangeline…” She paused to giggle to herself a moment and then continued, “And Evangeline read, ‘And they found the baby, lying in a manger.’ And Shay jumped up from her chair, looked more closely at the illustration in the book, and said, ‘But I don’t see a baby lion in the manger!’”
As Calliope erupted into laughter at the memory of confusion on Shay’s pretty little face, each and every other woman, young or older, did too. There were several long minutes of ladies’ laughter echoing through the room before at long last tears of mirth had been dabbed from every eye and moist handkerchiefs returned to apron pockets.
“Oh, you Ipswich girls are so good for my heart!” Mrs. Ackerman sighed as one last giggle escaped her before she returned to her stitching.
“Mine too,” Winnie Montrose agreed. “Shay was certainly cut from the same cloth as Calliope, wasn’t she, Evangeline?”
Evangeline smiled lovingly at Calliope and confirmed, “That’s what Daddy has been saying for months now too.”
Calliope smiled. After all, it was a gift to be able to bring mirth and joy to people the way she and Shay seemed to do—albeit accidentally more often than not. Calliope knew she had misunderstood a thing or two herself of recent and caused just as many chuckles at her own home. But long ago Calliope had discovered that she liked to make people smile and feel happy, and she’d accepted that it was worth a few dents in her pride.
And so she smiled as she sat stitching on the special little dress she was making for Shay, glad that the ladies’ hearts had been lightened—that Mrs. Chesterfield’s brows had not been puckered for quite a few minutes now. Smiling was so preferable to scowling, after all. At least in Calliope’s opinion.
*
“I thought spring would never come, Calliope,” Evangeline admitted as she and Calliope meandered home from Mrs. Montrose’s house late that afternoon. “And yet here it is, in all its hopeful glory! I don’t even mind the rain, for Kizzy says the lilacs will bloom soon, and you know how I adore lilacs.”
“I do too, Evie,” Calliope agreed. “Though I do miss the daffodils and hyacinths. The earliest flowers of spring are some of my very favorites, you know.”
“Mine too,” Evangeline sighed. “But, oh, doesn’t the warmth of the sun on your face feel divine?”
Calliope stopped walking when her sister did. Glancing to see Evangeline’s eyes closed, her face tipped upward toward the warm sun of late afternoon and early evening, Calliope followed suit. Closing her eyes, she lifted her face to the sky and imagined that her cheeks were soaking up the yellow warmth of spring’s sunshine. In those moments, she was aware of other things—sensations other than the warmth of spring’s sky. In those moments there was the sweet scent of new, wild grasses, of burning applewood in someone’s cookstove. There was also the feel of the gentle breeze playing with her hair and caressing her cheeks and the lovely arias of returning birds who whistled sweet and lulling melodies.
“It’s true, Evie,” Calliope admitted. “I feel as if I’ve just woken from a slumber that lasted weeks on end—weeks of wind and snow and cloudy skies. And now I’m—”
“Good evenin’, ladies.”
Calliope and Evangeline both gasped as the sound of a male voice nearby interrupted their tranquility.
“Oh, hello, gentlemen,” Evangeline greeted, having recovered her senses more quickly than Calliope.
It seemed the men from the gristmill had finished earlier than usual and were finding their way home. Calliope smiled as she saw Fox Montrose, Dex Longfellow, Rowdy Gates, and a young man she had never seen before standing before her and her sister.
“Have you ladies met Tate Chesterfield?” Dex Longfellow inquired, his att
ention darting from Calliope to Evangeline and back.
“Why no, Dex. We haven’t yet had the pleasure,” Evangeline answered.
Calliope smiled at Fox Montrose when he grinned and winked at her. Dex nodded to her in greeting, though she knew Fox had warned Dex long ago not to be too hopeful where she was concerned—being that Fox had had eyes for her the moment he’d met her last fall. Rowdy Gates reached up, giving the brim of his hat a quick bend in greeting, and Calliope smiled at the group of hard-laboring men, for they all looked quite done in.
“Well, let us introduce you to him then,” Dex offered then. “These here lovely ladies are the Ipswich girls, Tate. Well, two of the Ipswich girls, at least.”
“My pleasure,” Tate Chesterfield greeted with a proper nod and a slight bow.
Calliope smiled, for he was a handsome young man, and he did resemble his sisters and mother. Tate Chesterfield was tall and broad-shouldered, with raven hair and deep blue eyes. Calliope thought that perhaps all the young ladies in Meadowlark Lake might be well tempted to swap their infatuations with the handsome Fox Montrose in favor of new fascinations with the handsome Tate Chesterfield. She felt sorry for Fox a moment, for she knew how much attention he was used to.
“I’m Evangeline Ipswich, Mr. Chesterfield,” Evangeline said, offering her hand to Tate.
Tate Chesterfield accepted her handshake and then turned expectantly to Calliope.
“And I’m Calliope Ipswich,” Calliope said, taking Tate’s hand as he offered it to her. “Welcome to Meadowlark Lake.”
“Again, it’s my pleasure to meet you both,” Tate said as his smile broadened. “I’ve heard a lot about you young ladies.”
“Tate here is gonna start workin’ at the mill with us tomorrow,” Fox interjected. “It took some doin’, but Dex and me talked ol’ Rowdy here into givin’ Tate a chance. We’ve been shorthanded since losin’ Brake and Sam last fall.”
“Well, that’s wonderful, Mr. Chesterfield,” Calliope congratulated. “The mill is settled in such a perfect venue. The trees and shrubs and wildflowers that grow around it are magnificent, especially when they’re greening up as they are now. A body couldn’t ask for a more lovely scene to work amidst.”
“Yes…a lovely scene,” Fox playfully teased. “And I’m sure that’s what Tate was thinkin’ when he asked about hirin’ on at the mill.”
Calliope good-humoredly sneered at Fox. She smiled just after, however, and said, “Well, you gentlemen have a nice evening. Evangeline and I are off to help Kizzy with supper.” She looked to the handsome Tate Chesterfield and said, “It was very nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Chesterfield.”
“Oh, do call me Tate, Miss Calliope,” Tate said. “And you too, Miss Evangeline.”
“Of course,” Evangeline said. “Good evening then, gentlemen.”
“Good evenin’,” the men chimed in unison.
Calliope and Evangeline nodded to each man in turn as they walked on toward their home. And once they were out of earshot of the men, Calliope exhaled the nervous breath she’d been holding.
“Oh, Evie! I thought I might faint dead away when he looked at me!” Calliope confided before she thought better of it.
“He’s not that handsome, Calliope,” Evangeline giggled.
“Who?” Calliope asked.
“Tate Chesterfield,” Evangeline answered, her beautiful dark brows puckering with curiosity. “That’s who you’re referring to, aren’t you?”
“Oh, I…I…” Calliope stammered.
“Oh, you mean Fox took your breath away?” Evangeline asked, somewhat perplexed. “Hmmm. That’s funny…being that I didn’t think you were as sweet on him as he is you.”
“Oh, it’s no matter. They all looked quite handsome returning from their day’s labors,” Calliope tried to redirect. “Father’s right. Men who work hard and are willing to work hard…I do find them more attractive than most of those tight-collared sorts we knew in the city.”
“I do too,” Evangeline admitted, “though I do fear that you’ve got every eligible bachelor in this town so tightly wrapped around your finger that I’m bound to be an old spinster.”
“Oh, nonsense!” Calliope argued. “You’re just the kind of beauty that intimidates men, Evie. When the right man comes for you, you’ll know it, because he won’t be afraid to pursue you.”
Evangeline laughed for a moment. “Oh, poppycock, Calliope! You are so full of flattery it’s ridiculous sometimes.” She laughed a moment more and then looked to Calliope as her smile faded. “And what about Fox, Calliope? What will you do if he comes to Daddy, asking for permission to formally court you? Do you want him to? Do you like him enough?”
Calliope’s smile faded. She inhaled a long breath and exhaled a heavy sigh. “I don’t like him the way Amoretta likes Brake or the way Kizzy likes Daddy, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Evangeline sighed then as well. “In truth, I don’t know if any woman likes any man the way Amoretta likes Brake and Kizzy likes Daddy. Maybe you and I will never find that kind of love. Maybe you and I will just have to settle for…for rather lackluster love.”
“Well, that’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard you say, Evangeline Ipswich!” Calliope scolded. “No. No. You and I are meant to have great lovers, to love and be loved just like Amoretta and Kizzy love and are loved. I won’t believe we are meant for anything less. After all, we are Ipswiches, are we not?”
Evangeline’s countenance brightened. She smiled and strongly affirmed, “Yes! We are Ipswiches.”
Calliope and Evangeline linked arms then, straightened their postures, and walked more quickly toward home.
A thought struck Calliope then, and she began to giggle.
“What is it? What’s so amusing to you?” Evangeline inquired.
Still giggling, Calliope answered, “A baby lion in a manger! Ha ha ha ha!”
Evangeline burst into laughter then as well, and they were still laughing when their little sister, Shay, scurried down the front porch steps to meet them both with such loving hugs and kisses that their laughter continued—long after they had reached their destination of home.
CHAPTER TWO
When Calliope awoke the next morning, she didn’t feel quite as rested and refreshed as she usually did, even for the gentle coos of the mourning doves outside her bedroom window and the cool morning breeze wafting in through it. She’d slept fitfully all through the night, for the sake of something Evangeline had mentioned the evening before. What if Fox Montrose actually did approach Calliope’s father and ask permission to officially court her?
The truth was that any of the eligible young women in town would simply swoon with euphoria at the mere prospect of the handsome, charming Fox Montrose calling upon her father to ask permission to court her. Fox was, after all, a wonderful young man—polite, kind, hard working, and ambitious. His family was certainly wonderful, as well. His sister, Winnie, was one of Calliope’s dear friends. His mother, Dora Montrose, was pleasant company, always kind and making certain that everyone felt important. And his father, Dennison Montrose, was sheriff of Meadowlark Lake, very often working with Calliope’s own father, Judge Lawson Ipswich, in matters of the law.
Hence, there really wasn’t any commonsensical reason why Calliope herself shouldn’t have been elated at the fact that Fox seemed, for all outward appearances, to have settled his interest and affections on her. And it was well accepted through town that of all the lovely young ladies of Meadowlark Lake, Fox Montrose obviously favored Calliope Ipswich—well accepted by everyone save Calliope herself. Lucky as all her friends thought her to be, Calliope was greatly unsettled. Oh, she liked Fox well enough—enjoyed his company, but only in moderation—and Evangeline’s question of what Calliope would feel if Fox did decide to ask their father for permission to officially court her had caused a great anxiety to begin stirring in her.
Therefore, as she sat at the kitchen table with her family enjoying a comforting breakfas
t of warm biscuits and soft butter, bacon, and poached eggs, she decided to broach the subject of Fox Montrose’s possible intentions with her father before her fretfulness swelled any further.
“Daddy,” Calliope began.
“Mm hmm,” Lawson Ipswich mumbled as he broke open a steaming biscuit and slathered butter on it.
“You know Fox Montrose?” Calliope ventured.
Immediately Lawson looked up from his biscuit, glancing to Calliope and then to his beautiful young wife, Kizzy. “Mm hmmm,” he answered.
“Well, I was just wondering…I was wondering that if…well, if Fox ever came round asking to court me—you know, officially, and of course this is only if he ever came round asking to court me, which he probably never will—but if he ever did…” Calliope stammered awkwardly.
“Mmm hmmm,” Lawson urged, grinning with amusement at his daughter’s discomfort.
“Well, would you please refuse your permission for him to court me, Daddy?” Calliope blurted.
Lawson’s eyes widened with astonishment, though Kizzy smiled with a woman’s understanding.
“What?” Lawson asked. “You…you’re telling me you don’t want Fox to come courting you?”
Calliope sighed. “No, Daddy. I don’t.”
“Calliope don’t like Fox Montrose in that romantical way, Daddy,” Shay interjected.
“Calliope doesn’t like Fox Montrose that way, Shay darling,” Kizzy corrected her little girl.
Shay frowned. “That’s what I said, Mama. Calliope don’t like Fox Montrose enough for him to come courtin’ her.”
Evangeline and Lawson giggled as Kizzy sighed with amused exasperation.
“I mean to say that Fox Montrose is handsome and all, Daddy,” Shay continued as she took a bite of soft breakfast bacon. “All the girls in town think so, but Calliope just…well, she just doesn’t want him courtin’ her, that’s all. Do you understand, Daddy?” Shay reached over, tenderly patting the back of her father’s hand in a soothing gesture.
Calliope smiled at her little sister. Never was there a more loyal soul than little Shay. Calliope glanced up to Kizzy a moment, noting how much Shay looked like her beautiful young mother, both dark-haired beauties. Calliope quietly offered a prayer of thanks to God in his heaven for bringing Kizzy and Shay into her father’s life to love—into all of their lives.
The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich Page 2