Robert smirked. “And you went along with the good pastor because?”
Felicity swallowed. She shouldn’t have come into the parsonage with Gabriel. As soon as the gossips heard, they’d whisper scandalous things about the minister and Ms. Kensington. All Anna Simmons had to do was tell Eloise Grattan or Sally Neidecker, and the tongues would wag. People seized any chance to disparage the Kensington name.
“I, uh…” She couldn’t think of a single excuse.
Gabriel stepped in. “Ms. Kensington removed some glass from Slinky’s paw.”
“Glass? What glass?” Mariah looked around, confused.
“He fell into a hole,” Gabriel explained. “In the woods.”
“A hole in the woods. I thought you were chasing him because he took my knapsack.” Robert crossed his arms. “Just where is this hole?”
How Felicity wished she’d never come up with that foolish plan to marry Robert. Every minute that passed made her despise the man more.
Gabriel’s jaw tensed. “It’s part of an old foundation, near the parsonage land. Perhaps you know the spot?”
Robert laughed unkindly. “How could I when I’m new to town, Reverend?” He took great delight in stressing Gabriel’s title.
“So am I, Mr. Blevins, but I can’t help wondering why we didn’t see you. If you were searching the woods like my sister said, you should have found us.”
“I must have been searching in another part of the woods.”
Felicity had had enough. “Stop it, both of you. No one cares where Slinky got hurt. The fact is he did, we found him and he’s safe now.”
“Amen,” murmured Mariah.
Gabriel picked up the bloody towels. “Ms. Kensington is as skilled as any veterinarian.”
Warmth spread all the way to her toes. He believed in her, Felicity Kensington, a woman without a single talent or skill. She shot him a smile of gratitude, which he reflected back.
Mariah cleared her throat. “Thank God all ended well.”
As if on cue, Slinky raised his head and barked.
“We need to keep his paw clean until the wound heals,” Felicity mumbled, still watching Gabriel. “I don’t suppose he’ll tolerate a bandage, though.”
“I’ll keep him inside as much as possible,” Gabriel promised.
Gabriel didn’t mock or question her advice. He treated her like a trained professional.
“That’s good,” she breathed.
“Sorry to break up this little medical conference,” Robert said, moving into her line of sight, “but it’s getting late and we still have to attend supper with your parents and go to the dance.”
The room came abruptly into focus. The dance. She wanted to avoid it, but how could she when her parents expected her?
Robert opened the door. “Shall we, chickadee?”
The pet name grated on her nerves. “I—I’m not sure I’m done.” She looked around for an excuse to stay.
Anna Simmons, clutching her lunch basket, lifted her eyes to Gabriel. “We didn’t eat dessert yet.” Her quavering voice drew him to her side.
“Thank you, Felicity,” Mariah said dismissively.
“Yes, thank you,” Gabriel echoed with the briefest of glances.
Why didn’t he look at her? Moments before, he’d gathered her in his arms. His gentle embrace spoke of compassion and maybe even a little more. His smile promised the feelings ran deeper, but now he only had eyes for Anna Simmons. Had she been wrong? Had the hug been nothing more than a minister encouraging a member of his congregation? Jealousy fevered her thoughts. What a fool Felicity had been to think he cared for her.
“Come along, darling,” said Robert, holding out his hand, “your parents are waiting.”
Felicity stared at Robert’s outstretched hand. Never had a man so repulsed her. Gabriel opened Anna’s basket and took out the cake while Anna placed napkins on the thick oak table. That was supposed to be her. It should have been her.
But it wasn’t.
With a sigh of resignation, she left with Robert.
Gabriel skipped the dance. He couldn’t bear to see Felicity in Blevins’s arms. Chickadee. The man had nerve calling her that, but then he had taken liberties before. At least this time they’d be under her parents’ supervision.
“You should go,” Mariah urged from the doorway of the study. “The Grange Hall is a short walk from here or you can ride with me.”
“I need to review my sermon,” he said blackly as he buried his nose in his notes. But he couldn’t concentrate on the words.
Why had he asked Felicity to be on the Selection Committee? Compassion alone wouldn’t give her the strength to make life-changing decisions. If today was any indication, she’d do whatever her parents or even Robert Blevins wanted.
He scrubbed his face, irritated with himself. With only three people on the Selection Committee, every voice counted. To balance her inexperience and his relative lack of knowledge about Pearlman, he needed a strong Christian community leader like Dermott Shea as the third member. Gabriel had seen enough of the man to trust his opinion. Yes, Mr. Shea would provide good balance. He would ask him after the service on Sunday.
Unfortunately, Branford Kensington had other ideas. While Gabriel greeted the members of his congregation and waited for Mr. Shea to leave the sanctuary, Kensington pulled him aside.
“Fine sermon, Reverend, though you might want to make it a little lighter for the ladies.” Kensington elbowed him in the ribs with a wink. “Speaking of ladies, my Felicity is a bit inexperienced for your orphan committee. Don’t get me wrong. She’s a fine young lady, but she’s never spent a single hour with a baby.”
Gabriel watched Dermott Shea leave the church with growing irritation. If he hurried, he might catch the man outside. “These aren’t infants, sir. They’re older children. Excuse me, please. I should greet the rest of the congregation.”
Kensington blocked his retreat. “My point exactly. She hasn’t got a bit of experience with children. Besides, she’s a woman. You know how emotional they are. Let a woman near an orphan and she’ll get all weepy on you.”
Any thought of replacing Felicity vanished. This committee would give her a chance to stand on her own, to make decisions and act on behalf of others.
“Felicity is an intelligent young lady who will do a splendid job,” Gabriel insisted as he watched her chat with the Hunters and the Simmonses, two families with whom she didn’t generally converse.
“Exactly, but aren’t these committees usually comprised of the finest and most upstanding members of the community?”
Gabriel flinched. “I consider Ms. Kensington to be a fine, upstanding member of the community.”
Kensington did not relent. “I mean professionals, son. Doctors and businessmen. Those are the usual members of one of those orphan committees, aren’t they?”
Gabriel gritted his teeth. Kensington was right, but that didn’t mean past practice was always the best choice. “I’d like a woman on the committee.”
Eugenia Kensington had spotted them and was steaming their way, fire in her stride.
Kensington noted his wife’s approach and dropped the jovial attitude. “Let me put this plainly, son. I want to be on that committee. No one is better qualified—certainly not my daughter.”
Before Gabriel could think of a polite yet firm way to refuse, Eugenia interrupted.
“Reverend Meeks. The Ladies’ Aid Society would like your opinion on the new window. The artist sent five sketches. Do you have a moment?”
Gabriel’s sympathy for Felicity increased tenfold. “I thought your daughter was chairing that committee.”
Eugenia waved her smartly gloved hand. “She’s too busy, so I’m helping her out.”
“Too busy? Doing what?”
Eugenia stiffened, and Gabriel realized he would get nowhere protesting her plan. It was better to soften her heart and lead her gently to the right conclusion. “Very well, I’ll look at your drawings, but first
I could use the Ladies’ Aid Society’s help on a new project.”
“What new project? I haven’t heard anything.”
Gabriel plunged in. “Mr. Isaacs of the Orphaned Children’s Society would like to place five children with foster families in Pearlman.”
Her face went stark white and her stained red lips trembled slightly. For a moment, he thought she was going to faint and held out an arm to brace her, but she regained her composure. “What, pray tell, does that have to do with us?”
“I hoped the Ladies’ Aid Society would consider helping the children and save the window project for later.”
“Help them? How? Don’t the foster families take on that expense?” Her jaw had tightened so much that a crowbar couldn’t open it.
“Yes, but the initial expense can be overwhelming for some families. The children arrive with only one change of clothing.”
“Well, if they can’t afford to take on a child, they shouldn’t be given one.”
Gabriel’s stomach rolled. Had this woman no heart? He was amazed Felicity possessed any tenderness at all, given her parents. He tried again. “I feel the society’s mission would be better served helping these children than putting in a window we don’t need.”
Her face turned an ugly shade of red. “May I remind you, Pastor, the Ladies’ Aid Society decides how to spend its funds, not you.”
Felicity, who must have overheard the exchange, hurried near. “As chairwoman of the committee, I agree with Reverend Meeks.”
Eugenia Kensington looked like she would explode, but Gabriel saw only Felicity. She’d supported him over her mother. That took fortitude, the kind needed on the Selection Committee.
“Felicity,” Eugenia hissed, “this is already decided.” She grabbed her daughter’s hand, and Felicity’s confidence began to crumble.
Gabriel had to save her. “Your daughter is on the Selection Committee.”
Eugenia Kensington went dead white.
“No,” she gasped. “Branford.” Her knees wobbled, and her husband rushed to support her.
“Don’t worry, dear,” Kensington blustered as he held his wife. “The pastor here has named me to the committee, too.”
“That’s not—” Gabriel began, but Kensington was already leading this wife away.
“How could you?” Felicity cried, fists balled. “Put Daddy on the committee? I thought you had better sense.”
“But I didn’t put him on it,” he said to no one, for Felicity had stormed out of the church before he could get the words out.
In five short minutes, the Kensingtons had steamrolled him yet again.
Chapter Eleven
By the time June faded into July, Felicity’s plan had acquired so many holes that she needed to rethink the situation. Art school was Mother’s dream, not hers. Felicity would never break free of her there. Marriage wasn’t the answer, but Robert appeared beyond reform, and she did not want to wait until marriage to discover he would not change. Eliminating him as a suitor left her with no prospects.
Gabriel had turned out to be just as fickle. How could he ask Daddy to be on the Selection Committee? He must know that would destroy any chance of spending time with her. Then again, perhaps that was his plan. Perhaps he was seeing someone, someone like Anna Simmons. At seventeen, Anna was awfully young, but Gabriel might like younger women. He had leaped to buy her picnic basket.
Felicity worried about it when she went to bed and resumed fretting when she awoke. Could it be? She considered every possible candidate in town and was able to dismiss most but not all. She listened to the gossips at the post office and in the mercantile, but no one said a word about Gabriel. Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore and went directly to the source.
“Is your brother seeing anyone?” she asked Mariah one afternoon while helping her make strawberry jam.
Mariah laughed. “Gabe? He doesn’t know a good prospect when it bites him on the nose.” She handed the filled lightning jar to Felicity, who cleaned the rim and clamped down the glass lid.
The kitchen was steamy hot, and Felicity had to constantly wipe her face on her apron to keep the perspiration from running into her eyes.
“What about Anna Simmons?” she whispered.
Mariah moved the bubbling preserves off the hottest part of the stove. “What about her?”
“They seemed to get along on Founder’s Day.”
“She’s a bit young, don’t you think?” Mariah filled another jar.
Perhaps Felicity was being overly concerned. Anna was a good seven or eight years younger than Gabriel. She wiped off the jar’s rim.
“In my estimation, Anna’s more like a little sister,” Mariah said. “The woman who sets her eye on my brother will have to work hard to catch him. He spends too much time thinking and not enough time noticing what’s around him, if you know what I mean.”
Her coy little smile told Felicity all she needed to know. To attract Gabriel, Felicity must engage his intellect on a topic that dearly interested him. She could think of just one.
The rest of that week, Felicity lived at the library, reading everything she could about orphanages and adoption. She learned about Charles Loring Brace’s Children’s Aid Society, which sent orphans west by train. Some praised the system, but others scorned it. Was this criticism what Gabriel’s friend faced? Is that what darkened Gabriel’s expression?
By the morning of the first Selection Committee meeting, Felicity was ready with questions. She bit her lip as she checked her ivory linen suit in the mirror. Navy piping accented the short jacket and fostered the illusion of crisp freshness.
Alas, the moment she stepped outside, perspiration beaded on her forehead, and the linen wilted. Not one leaf stirred in the stifling air. She fanned herself to no avail.
Smithson stood at the car holding the passenger door open, but Daddy was nowhere to be seen. “Mr. Kensington has an urgent meeting this morning and will not be able to attend.”
“Are you certain?” It wasn’t like Daddy to miss an obligation.
Smithson raised an eyebrow as he closed the door. “Yes, Ms. Kensington.”
What could be so urgent that Daddy would miss this important meeting? She gnawed her lower lip as Smithson nudged the car down the street. Daddy and Gabriel didn’t like each other, but they were civil. Besides, Daddy didn’t let squabbles stand in the way of business. There must be something wrong.
The town looked normal. People hurried from shop to shop on their daily errands. Motor trucks made their usual deliveries. No one looked anxious or upset, only hot.
The car glided to a stop before the church, and Felicity went inside. The church interior felt gloriously cool. Morning sun filtered through the oaks and maples before streaming through the plate glass window to dapple the floors and walls. She’d miss those rays of sunlight dancing with dust motes. As a child, she’d believed they were God’s fingers. The stained glass would cut them off.
She held her hand in the light. Give me strength, Lord, to make the right decisions.
Reassured, she turned to the church office. A warm light flooded from the open door. She paused outside, nerves heightened. A low murmur of masculine voices came from inside.
She took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come in,” Gabriel said.
Felicity pushed open the door and saw Gabriel with a Puritanical elder sporting a closely trimmed white beard. The man’s saintly face crinkled into a smile the minute he saw her.
“I’m Mr. Isaacs. You must be Ms. Kensington.” His warm greeting belied the somber attire. “Your pastor has told me all about you.”
Her pastor. She glanced at Gabriel. “I hope it was favorable.”
“Nothing but good,” Mr. Isaacs said. “You’re just as lovely as he said you were.”
Heat crept up her cheeks to match Gabriel’s color. He pretended to examine papers, but she’d seen the expression on his face when she entered. He was glad to see her.
Gabriel cleared
his throat. “Where is your father, Ms. Kensington?”
She straightened her skirt and tugged off her gloves. “He left word that he has an urgent meeting this morning and can’t attend.”
Gabriel scowled and rubbed his temple. “This is the most important meeting of the project. He knew that. I don’t see what could be more urgent than finding good homes for orphaned children.”
“It’s all right, Gabriel,” said Mr. Isaacs with a calm, soothing voice. “I’m sure Ms. Kensington can pass along the instructions to her father.”
Though the scowl didn’t leave Gabriel’s face, he bowed to Mr. Isaacs’s wishes. The next two hours involved going over the rules for approving and disqualifying applicants. Felicity struggled to concentrate on what Mr. Isaacs said, but it was so difficult with Gabriel sitting beside her. She marveled at his strong, steady script as he took notes. Most men scribbled. His words flowed, beautifully readable. Ink stained the tip of his index finger and the first joint of his middle finger, but his nails were clean and trimmed. Attention to the right details mattered in a man.
“A strong Christian household is most important,” said Mr. Isaacs, “but we do want to take into account their family life. We prefer to place the children with families that have two parents and children around the same age. Education is important, of course. The child must attend school, Sunday school and Sunday worship.”
Felicity nodded when Isaacs looked at her for confirmation, but she barely heard what he said—something about Christian education.
“The children are to share the same food as the family and work the same chores as the family’s own children.”
“Must a foster family already have children,” Felicity asked, “or do we consider childless couples?”
“That is the committee’s decision. If you feel the couple meets all other qualifications, then you may approve their application.”
A child. Felicity had never thought about children, but as she sat next to Gabriel, she couldn’t help wondering what that would be like. Any child of hers would not endure the long, lonely days she’d spent. She’d have many children, like Gabriel’s family, bustling with activity. For the tiniest moment, she imagined being married to Gabriel with a houseful of children. Mariah would visit, of course, and they’d go on grand picnics and adventures.
The Matrimony Plan Page 13