A Mail-Order Illusion

by Janelle Daniels

But before he said as much, he paused, one boot half on his foot. Although he might not be planning to move away from Promise Creek, hadn’t he just been considering going into business with people in the east? He wasn’t backward by any means, but he knew the upper crusts of society had their own etiquette and rules, unknown to those outside their sphere. If he wanted to successfully go into business with those people, then he would have to learn how to interact with them.

  “What is it?” she asked, as if sensing his thoughts.

  He shoved the rest of his boot on, then straightened and studied her a moment. “You know...” He mulled over his words a moment. “There actually is something you could help me with.”

  Her hands fell to her sides. “What is it?”

  “Well”—he rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how much he should say—“I’m thinking of traveling for business, and it occurs to me that, if I want to be successful, I might need to learn particular social etiquette.”

  She looked intrigued. “What are you trying to do?”

  He hadn’t wanted to talk about his plans yet, especially since he wasn’t sure how he wanted to go about it, or even if he wanted to do it, but she’d need to know if she were going to teach him. “You know my claim has paid out, and I don’t have any other business here, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “Aria mentioned it when you were courting her. She said you wouldn’t mind picking up and moving wherever she chose.”

  “That’s right.” He coughed, uncomfortable talking about his relationship with Aria. Although they’d only been friends, and he’d hoped love would grow once they’d married, it was awkward discussing it with Violet. “Honestly, I’m bored. I’ve been thinking of trying my hand at something else, something that will challenge me, and I thought I would head east and see if I could partner with someone to build railroads or invest in a company that already does it. I haven’t done any research on which would be the best route yet.”

  She perked up. “So you’ll need to learn how to interact so businessmen will want to take a chance on you?”

  “Something like that.” Maybe this was a bad idea.

  “I can do that!” She lit up. “I know exactly what to teach you, exactly what you’ll need to know to make them think you’re one of them.” She almost sounded giddy at the idea. Maybe she’d needed a challenge herself, and from the way she was eyeing him, she’d just found it.

  “You wouldn’t need to teach me much, just the basics—”

  Her laughter filled the air, but it was a bright, happy sound. “Oh, Jimmy. You’re wrong about that. This is the society I left behind. If you use the wrong fork at a meal, you’ll be laughed at and talked about for weeks. Those people have nothing better to do than gossip and tear others down. They’re vultures.”

  He wondered if she’d been the unfortunate person to use the wrong fork. “And did you make that mistake?”

  “Hm?”

  “Did you use the wrong fork and get tormented?”

  Her expression faded until she was looking at the ground. “No. My mother and father made sure I never made such an error. Unfortunately, I was the person gossiping and tormenting others.”

  They were both quiet a moment. She didn’t look up at him, but kept her eyes downcast, as if waiting for him to judge her, to berate her for her cruelty. And while her actions had been unkind, the person he saw in front of him, this Violet Morgan, would never do that. Right now, she looked ashamed and miserable. “It’s in the past. That’s not who you are now.”

  She let out a gush of air, as if she’d been holding it, bracing herself for whatever verbal blow he lashed her with. “You’re right. I’m not that person anymore. I’ll never be her again. But I did it, I hurt people, and it’s still being done to each other. I know that hasn’t changed.”

  But she had. He saw that. He’d met her, had heard much about her in the last year since she’d arrived. The sheriff had even called her Banshee in the beginning, because she screeched and gave orders without a second thought. But the woman before him wasn’t that person any longer. “Hey.” He waited for her to look at him. “You’re no longer there.” He nodded, hoping she knew what he was getting at. She didn’t need to live in the past anymore. She didn’t need to hold onto the guilt and let it ruin her life. She could be anything she wanted.

  “You’re right.” She smiled weakly. “I’m not that person anymore… no matter where I might be.”

  He wasn’t sure what she meant by that, but before he could ask, she shook off the conversation and gave him a forced, bright smile. “Now that I have something I can help you with, we should get started soon. There’s a lot to learn.”

  He wasn’t worried about that. There was no deadline for him heading East. “Name the time and place.”

  “Tomorrow. Your house.” Her smile turned wicked. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

  Chapter 4

  Violet didn’t know what she’d expected as she drove to the charming two-story home just outside town. The wood was whitewashed and the wrap around porch appeared homey. Jimmy, or someone hired by him, had planted colorful flowers in front of the property. The plot wasn’t large, but it was enough to have a few animals, and it was close to town, which was the only reason he’d survived without a cook. Sally would stay employed forever with men like Jimmy in town.

  Violet shook her head in amusement as she tethered her horse on the side of the house where no one would see it. When he was settled, she walked back around to the front.

  Jimmy met her at the door, opening it wide. “I hope you found it all right.”

  “Easily.”

  “Good.” He nodded his head down the hall. “Come in. We should get you off the porch so no one sees you.” Jokingly, he darted his head around to see if anyone watched them.

  She snorted and walked in, not humoring him in the slightest. First, she knew there was no one there, she’d been careful when approaching the house. Second, it didn’t really matter if someone saw her, but she’d much rather avoid gossip. The townspeople and the other brides would make much more of their arrangement than was accurate.

  He closed the door behind her, then led her into the kitchen, a smile on his face. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want to start with, but I thought eating might be important. I wouldn’t want to make a fork faux-pas and lose all respect.” He looked at her slyly.

  Violet rolled her eyes, then looked over the set table and elaborate meal, and arched a brow at him. “Sally’s cooking?”

  “Of course.” He waved his hand through the air with flourish. “Only the best for mademoiselle.”

  She clucked her tongue. “A bit over the top.”

  “What? Men don’t speak like that?” he teased.

  “I think the men you’ll be dealing with think much too highly of themselves to care about a mademoiselle. Unless, of course, they want something and know that’s the way to get it.” She could hear the bitterness in her tone and scolded herself. She needed to leave those feelings in the past.

  Jimmy gave her a thoughtful look. “You haven’t mentioned it, but I heard you were engaged before you came here. Is that what your fiancé was like?”

  “Yes.” She didn’t want to elaborate.

  He nodded solemnly. “I see. Well, I’ll never be like him, or any of the others you knew back there. I don’t want to change, I only want to know how to wear a mask just long enough they’ll trust me.”

  “I understand.” It was exactly what he needed to do in order to conduct business with the wealthy. Violet looked up at him as the sun shone through the windows, silhouetting him perfectly. He was casually dressed, a loose shirt half tucked into breeches, as if he’d rolled out of bed that way. Back home, he would be considered indecent and arrested in certain places. She wished she could see everyone’s reaction to Jimmy appearing like this. Ladies would swoon, but Violet knew they’d peek through their lashes at him and react offended if anyone else were around. Muscles bulged beneath the linen shirt, ones
she wanted to touch, to test. Men back home didn’t look like this. At least, not in the circle she was raised in. Physical labor was beneath them.

  She’d never known any different, so she’d found those slim, pale men attractive, but after seeing all the impressive male physiques in Montana, it would be hard going back. But if that was what she eventually chose to do, she knew she would adjust. There’d be no other choice. Besides, there were men back home who enjoyed sports and kept physically fit. She’d just never been attracted to them, but she’d pay more attention if it came to that.

  Gah! Was she really thinking about this right now? “Well, let’s get on with our first lesson.”

  Jimmy walked over to her chair and held it out, his body loose and at ease as he smiled at her in invitation.

  She gave him a small smile of her own but shook her head and tsked. “Servants will hold out a lady’s chair.”

  He paused. “Men don’t do that?”

  “Not unless there is no one else around, but with the people you’ll be dealing with, that never happens. There are always servants. In their homes, at restaurants, shops...any place you go, servants will be there.”

  His lip curled. “You can’t be serious. What about married men? Don’t they want to see to this sort of thing? As a way to show they care for their wives?”

  Violet shook her head in sad amusement. “They don’t. In fact, I doubt they even think of it.”

  “That’s pathetic.”

  After being here a year and seeing how men fawned over women, how they took care of them, cherished them, Violet had to agree. “Don’t get me wrong, they still do some things. Like if a lady leaves the table, or arrives, men stand up. Although, I never felt like they did it out of respect, but only because manners dictated it. Some even seem annoyed by it.” She pursed her lips. “It only made it so much more fun to leave and come back as much as possible during meals.”

  Jimmy snickered. “If I were in that situation, I’d be tempted to do the same. It’s ridiculous. Well”—he pulled the seat out a little farther—“there are no servants here, so this is appropriate etiquette to see to it myself.”

  She stepped to him and sat, allowing him to slide her into place. His hand accidentally brushed against her arm as he moved away, leaving goosepimples in its wake. She shivered and forcefully cleared her throat to try to throw off the sensation.

  His eyebrow raised as he rounded the table to his seat. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. But you shouldn’t ask about any bodily sounds.”

  He laughed. “You coughed.”

  She shrugged. “It might seem small, but don’t comment on it. That also goes for body parts. Don’t mention any. Ever. To anyone. Your own or others.”

  He snorted. “Hmm. I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of ridiculous rules.”

  “You’re correct.”

  “And you’re going to be more than happy to point them out.”

  “Only because you asked me to,” she said a little too sweetly, and he laughed.

  She liked the sound of it. Rich and full. He didn’t hold anything back. That was something she liked about Jimmy. He didn’t put on a façade. He was who he appeared to be. She’d never met anyone like that in New York. She’d always had to be on her guard, always had to protect herself. But here, with him, she felt she could relax, could be herself.

  “So, what next? I’m assuming I can’t just start eating.” He winked.

  A small laugh escaped her lips. “No. And sometimes, it can be excruciating to wait. Once everyone is seated, look relaxed and calm. Even if you’re hungry, don’t appear to be. The first cue will be when the hostess takes her napkin. It is a sign that everyone else should follow suit. Do not reach for your napkin before that moment. Also, never tuck it into your shirt. You’ll want to fold the napkin in half like so,” she instructed as she demonstrated, “and place it gently in your lap. Once the meal is completed, place it gently again to the left of your plate. Not in a crumpled ball.” She demonstrated where and how it should be placed. He was quiet for a moment and she glanced across the table at him. “Is there a problem?”

  “I feel sorry for the person with the fork faux-pas now.”

  “You’ll be fine. By the time I’m done with you, you’ll look like you were born to it.” It would take a lot of work, but she was confident they’d be able to do it. What else was there to do?

  “What next?” he asked.

  “Well, now that we have our napkins, we—”

  A knock came from the front of the house, and both Violet and Jimmy froze. She leaned forward, hoping she’d imagined the sound.

  The knock came again, and she bounded out of her chair. “I thought we were going to keep this a secret!” she hissed, ducking behind a wall.

  “We are.” He rose from his chair calmly.

  “Then why is someone here?”

  He gave her a wry smile. “People stop by on occasion.”

  She glared at him. Was this truly just a coincidence? “I didn’t know you were so popular.”

  “I’m not usually,” he said softly, just before another knock sounded. “Coming!”

  “You can’t answer the door!” She looked around for a hiding spot. The furniture was too small to hide behind, and any other place she looked, she knew she’d quickly be discovered.

  His lips twitched as if he knew what she was thinking. “I don’t think they’re going to go away.”

  “They’ll see me!” She needed to find some place to hide. If anyone saw her, the whole town would gossip. Everyone would speculate. Plus, she was here alone with him. What would people think? She could run upstairs into one of the bedrooms, but anyone at the door would see her through the window. “Is there a back staircase?”

  He shook his head, and she whimpered. What a mess!

  “Stay here. I’ll go talk to whoever it is and send them away. They won’t even come back this way.”

  She chewed her bottom lip, mulling over his words. He was right. There was no reason someone would need to come back into the kitchen area. “Be quick about it.”

  He grinned and touched the brim of his hat. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She rolled her eyes as he walked away, then crept to the side of the room just to make sure she was out of eyesight when Jimmy opened the—

  “May I come in?”

  Violet’s eyes flew open when she heard Aria’s voice. What was she doing here? Violet strained to hear Jimmy’s response.

  He cleared his throat. “Now might not be the best time.”

  “I’ll only be a moment.”

  Violet heard shuffling and took a step away from the frame.

  Aria’s voice carried down the hall. “Would you mind if we sat in the kitchen? I don’t want someone to see me through the window. I hope you understand?”

  “Oh. Well, you see…”

  Footsteps echoed down the hall and Violet panicked. Aria would find her here, and then Violet would have to explain what she was doing, and more importantly, why she’d kept it a secret. She did not want to do that.

  With only a few seconds to spare, she darted behind the thick hanging curtains, holding her breath as she pressed her back into the wall. If there was a way to push herself into the wood, she would have. She just prayed her toes weren’t sticking out.

  “So, I can explain…” Jimmy began as they walked in the room, then trailed off when he discovered Violet was missing.

  “Explain what?” Aria asked, clearly confused.

  “Oh, um...I’m expecting someone in a few minutes for an early supper.”

  Violet wanted to snort but held her amusement on a tight leash. It was more like lunch, but with the way the table was set, it might be confusing. Awkward.

  Steps sounded by the table. “I see. Well, it must be someone important. Business, I assume?”

  “Something like that.”

  Well, he hadn’t lied exactly. This was sort of like a business arrangement, and she was teachin
g him manners for when he was in business situations.

  “I’ll make it brief then.” Violet heard Aria take a deep breath, and she imagined the beautiful Irish woman working up the courage to say what she’d come to say. “I wanted to apologize.”

  Violet frowned. That was unexpected.

  “You have nothing to apologize for.”

  “I do. I know it was months and months ago, but I’m sorry for what happened between us. It’s been on my mind lately.”

  “You never played me false. You were completely open about your feelings,” he said softly, and a surge of jealousy flooded Violet from out of nowhere. Does Jimmy still care for Aria? And even if he did, what does it matter to her? Besides having a mutually beneficial relationship, there was absolutely nothing between Violet and Jimmy.

  Still unaware of her presence, Aria continued, “I know you knew I had feelings for Cam. But I still feel I was unfair to you, and I’m sorry for that. If I hurt you in any way, I’m truly sorry.”

  Violet’s jealousy stung and completely bewildered her. Where had these feelings come from? She wanted to lash out, to toss aside the curtain and tell Aria that Jimmy was over her. But how could she do that, when she wasn’t even sure it was the truth herself? And why would she even want to? She wished she could peek around the fabric and see where they stood, if they were touching each other.

  “I was disappointed, to be sure, but not surprised, and I couldn’t blame Cam. He’s lucky to have you. Anyone would be. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”

  “You’re too kind.”

  Violet could hear the smile in her words, the relief. Jimmy was letting her off easily. Especially if he’d cared for her.

  “Not at all. Had I known you’ve been feeling this way, I would have set you straight a long time ago. You’re meant to be with Cam.”

  “And what about you? Are you meant to be with someone?”

  It was quiet for a moment, and Violet held her breath, waiting for his response.

  “I don’t know who I’m supposed to be with, or even if I’m meant to be with anyone.”

  “I think you are. You deserve love, Jimmy.”