The Convenient Bride Collection: 9 Romances Grow from Marriage Partnerships Formed Out of Necessity

by Erica Vetsch, Amanda Barratt, Andrea Boeshaar, Mona Hodgson, Melissa Jagears, Maureen Lang, Gabrielle Meyer, Jennifer Uhlarik, Renee Yancy

  John nodded, telling him about a Mr. O’Shea who came with good references. Although he and John chatted about details concerning the reconstruction of not only Virginia’s building but also John’s, Paul was never more aware of Virginia as she looked on with what he could only guess was a mix of frustration and—it had to be—relief.

  And that brought more satisfaction to him than he would have imagined possible. Perhaps not all people outside the family were as much of a bother as he’d always believed the general population to be. But then, smiling inwardly, he reminded himself she wasn’t outside the family, after all.

  Dinner was served soon, an affair that nearly obliterated whatever feelings of peace, even good cheer, Paul had harbored since realizing his visit to the city had done some good, for John and especially for Virginia. Confronted by a table filled with young women all asking a lot of questions, he was ready before dessert to fetch his carriage and go home.

  But there was cake, and so he stayed.

  “Are you married, Mr. Turnbridge?”

  The question came during a lull in conversation, from the same girl who had answered the door earlier.

  With a glance at Virginia, who sat directly across from him, on John’s other side at the head of the table, Paul nodded. But he left it at that. He’d barely said a word during the entire meal, so Mossie took his response for what it was: an answer but not compliance with conversation.

  It was after dark by the time the dining room emptied, and it occurred to him if he had intended to return home tonight he ought to have started out before dinner. Country roads in the dark were dangerous for both man and beast. But, eyeing those who filed back into the parlor, he realized that was preferable to staying here.

  “I’ll be going then, John,” he said as his brother paused in the hallway, as if uncertain where to lead his variety of guests. Evidently he wasn’t the only one not looking to take a place among the girls in the parlor.

  “Going? So late in the day? It’ll be midnight before you’re home.”

  “Yes, well, it can’t really be helped, can it?”

  From the corner of his eye he saw Virginia watching him, and he wondered if she might be concerned. If for nothing else, since he conceded they were still strangers after all, she might worry about losing her financier. That was something, anyway, and he was glad yet again to have made the offer. It was satisfying, this feeling of helping her. So much more personal than just handing over a check to the church to help nameless and faceless unfortunates as the church saw fit to bless.

  “But you haven’t even seen the baby yet!” John protested.

  “Ah, yes, I have,” Paul said. “Did you hear me say I’m happy for you? My little brother, a father.”

  “Listen, Paul,” John said, his voice lowered, “I’d like you to stay. You can sleep in my office. It’s about the only place left that isn’t occupied if you don’t count the kitchen. The settee isn’t any good for sleeping, but if you put the two leather chairs together it’s bearable.”

  Paul sent him a teasing smirk. “Sarah sends you to the office to sleep on occasion, does she?”

  “Not yet, but if Elijah continues to be our bunkmate I may resort to such a thing. It’s just this. There is something I wanted to propose, and it can’t be decided quickly.”

  “I thought we had it all settled? I’ll take care of Virginia’s building, and you’ve already arranged your own funds, between your investments and that of the others who shared your building.”

  “Yes, yes,” John said, keeping his voice lower than Paul’s. He glanced first at Virginia, then at the parlor behind them, then back at Virginia. “It’s something else.”

  “Well, what is it?” Paul wasn’t keen on mystery, and the way his brother acted had all the flavor of one. “I’ll be honest, John. That chair arrangement doesn’t hold much more appeal than a bumpy ride on dark roads, considering my own bed is at the end of the journey.”

  “All right. At least come back to the office for a word, will you?”

  Paul stepped in line behind his brother, but Virginia started in the other direction. Paul stopped. He didn’t want to miss saying good-bye to her, and it looked as if she might retire for the evening.

  But John, seeing neither of them was following him, stopped as well. “Virginia, this concerns you, too. Actually, perhaps especially you.”

  “Oh? Is it anything to be worried about?”

  “No, but it’s a matter Sarah and I have discussed in some detail. I would include her in this, but I’m not sure she’d forgive me for holding family business in our bedroom, and her in her nightclothes and the baby to disturb.”

  Now Paul exchanged a curious glance with Virginia. What more family business was there? They’d settled everything that mattered.

  They went to the office, where John went behind his desk but didn’t take a seat. Perhaps this wouldn’t take long.

  “Sit,” he said, motioning to the chairs and settee.

  Paul let Virginia choose where to sit, and when she took the settee, he decided to occupy the place right next to her. Just in case more tears were on the way. Who knew, the way John was acting?

  Stirring a vague sense of alarm in Paul, his brother did not sit after them. In fact, his face looked every bit as somber as it had when delivering the news about the bankrupt insurer. Then, instead of addressing whatever problem he’d asked them in to discuss, John leaned over his desk, bent his head, and appeared to be … praying!

  It shouldn’t have come as quite a shock to Paul that his brother would do such a thing. At least privately, Paul himself often sent up more than just greetings to the Creator who’d given them so many gifts in nature. But this prayer business being shared between others, or in front of others, well, that was another matter altogether.

  He was about to demand John get to the point when at last his brother straightened, looked at Virginia then directly at Paul, where his gaze lingered a moment longer.

  “Sarah and I have been praying over something that seems to have come to the forefront of both our minds since the fire. Somehow it’s highlighted our part in your nuptials.”

  Paul nearly breathed a sigh of relief. “Whatever pang of conscience you’re suffering, John, you can put it aside. It’s all done, and in fact it hasn’t inconvenienced me in the least, and I don’t think Virginia will complain about how it’s worked out, either.”

  “Not at all!” she said. “I’m the one who has benefited, and if anyone deserves the blame for manipulating holy matrimony, it’s me.”

  John’s brows rose, and he wagged a finger like a teacher whose pupil had just shown a dawn of learning. “That’s just it! That’s exactly how I’ve felt, though I kept it to myself until all this fire business changed everyone’s life. You do see it, then, Virginia? The wrong we’ve all done?”

  If she had a response, Paul didn’t intend to let her utter it. He didn’t want some obscure reason for guilt to change a situation he was happy to let continue. “What’s wrong with it? It served a purpose, and no harm was done.”

  “No, not exactly,” said John. “Not monetarily. But spiritually?”

  Paul shook his head, standing in the hope of ending this ridiculous conversation. “As I said, no one has been inconvenienced or harmed, therefore there is no reason to end such an arrangement.”

  Virginia popped to her feet. “End?”

  “Who is suggesting an end?” John asked. “No, brother, what I’m suggesting is just the opposite.”

  Chapter 10

  Nearly overcome with confusion, Virginia almost fell back to her seat. Sheer will not to be seen as any weaker than she’d already displayed earlier kept her standing. She had no idea what sort of proposal John was prepared to make, but she knew one thing: she would not see this marriage ended. Even if it hadn’t nor ever would be consummated, the dissolution of marriage must be just as great a sin as starting one for the wrong purpose. She would have no part of that.

  John rounded hi
s desk to stand in front of both of them. “What I’m thinking is so obvious I cannot believe God impressed this upon only me. Even Sarah agrees, wholeheartedly. Don’t either of you see what must happen?”

  Virginia looked at Paul to see if he was more enlightened than she, but he appeared every bit as confused as she felt.

  “Virginia, you must go to the farm with Paul. You’re his wife, you no longer have a home here in the city, and you owe it to the sacrament of marriage to see this as an opportunity to at least investigate the possibility of honoring the vows you both took.”

  “We are honoring them!” Paul said, taking the words right out of Virginia’s mouth. “At least in the sense of support. And have you forgotten that once her home is rebuilt here she will want to return to the life she was happy with?”

  “Yes, John,” Virginia added. “I agree the terms of this union are unusual, but as your brother has already said, he hasn’t been inconvenienced. I don’t see anything but inconvenience for him were I to invade his life as you suggest.”

  John’s face went rigid. “I must insist on this, I’m afraid. In fact, tonight’s dinner reminded me of how many people’s lives have been inconvenienced by this fire. Inconvenience is common. I’m already working on finding other employment, at least temporary, for the girls we took in. Soon enough they’ll be out of here, too, living lives of their choosing. They don’t want to be boarders any more than I want my house over-occupied, especially now that we have Elijah to consider.”

  Virginia wrung her hands. Perhaps Paul hadn’t found their marriage an inconvenience—yet—but John, and perhaps Sarah as well, did find so many houseguests an inconvenience. “I thought … I could be of some help with the baby,” she whispered.

  “Virginia,” John said softly, “I’m sure I bungled how I’ve said all of this, because we do consider you family. It’s just that both Sarah and I have wondered if this fire didn’t provide an opportunity for you and Paul to see if this marriage was ordained by God not just for financial security but something more.”

  She turned away, refusing to fight another battle with tears. It was obvious from Paul’s reaction that he didn’t want her to come to the farm, and yet it seemed just as obvious she couldn’t stay here for as long as it would take to rebuild the shop. Where could she go? She had a little money in the bank but not enough to live on for very long.

  Still, she would manage. She must.

  “I’ll go, John. I hadn’t considered how hard this must be for you and Sarah, with your new little family needing peace and quiet.” She stole a glance Paul’s way, not surprised to see outright shock on his face. Surely he was dismayed at the thought she was actually considering going to the farm, intruding on the reclusive life he was used to. She hurried to put him out of his misery. “But not to the farm. I’m too grateful for the help you’ve been to me, Paul, to make myself a burden to your home life.”

  His brows drew together. “I have no intention of forcing a decision from you one way or the other, Virginia. But where could you possibly go? I assume if you had a choice you’d already have gone elsewhere, with this place so crowded.”

  She squared her shoulders. “I can get a little room, I don’t need much. And I can work, can’t I? I thank God every day I wasn’t at home when that fire broke out, or I might have died in it. As it is, I’m fully capable of making the same bonnets—popular bonnets, if I do say so myself—and selling them door-to-door if I must. My regular clients have always been loyal, and the only way I see that loyalty endangered is if anyone knew I’d married for so selfish a reason. They’d likely see me as a fortune hunter willing to misuse one of society’s most respected unions, marriage. All sympathy would be in your corner.” She had to add, “As it should rightly be.”

  He frowned. “You’re certainly no fortune hunter, and just so you are fully informed, the funds for the rebuilding will come from a mortgage on my land, not some inexhaustible bank account that some might mistake as a fortune if they had an inkling of this situation, misinformed or not.”

  “A—A mortgage! Oh, Paul, I cannot make you go into debt for me.”

  “It isn’t debt, it’s an investment. I happen to have seen your bonnets, at least the ones Sarah has no doubt worn, and I’m convinced your business is sound.”

  Something lifted from Virginia’s shoulders then, with his statement of confidence in her. She could do this. And she would.

  “But if we each have a vote,” Paul went on, his voice barely above a whisper, “then I have no objection to your coming to the farm while you wait for your shop and home to be rebuilt. You won’t have much of a market for your bonnets there, I’m afraid, but you’ll have plenty of room to produce them.”

  Until the words were out, Paul wasn’t sure he’d have had the courage to issue that invitation. It was obvious Virginia floundered after John’s ill-chosen words. It was as if his little brother had kicked her out! And valiant as she might be to try supporting herself, Paul had no intention of letting her think that was her only choice.

  The possibility of her refusing his offer was what he feared. She already knew just how far his farm was from the city, or from any town. She had no idea how long the winters were out there, and that interminable season was right around the corner.

  “Paul,” she said, her eyes downcast so he couldn’t read whatever he might find if she’d looked at him. He drew in a breath, prepared for her refusal. Isn’t that what people did who were about to disappoint someone? Hide their eyes? “When you agreed to the terms of this marriage, it was with the understanding that your life wouldn’t change. I cannot impose myself upon you without feeling I’m the worst burden. I won’t have you paying so dearly for all of my troubles.”

  She hadn’t outright refused; in fact, her response convinced him she was persuadable. Just why he was so intent on offering that persuasion, he wouldn’t ponder. But it was the right thing to do, even if John was being a bit too high-minded about the whole situation.

  “If I promise to lock you in one room, far, far from my own, and have Mrs. Higgins deliver a crust of bread to you now and then just to keep you alive for your bonnets and my investment, will you then agree? I’ll hardly know you’re there.”

  Thankfully, she already knew him well enough to burst into laughter.

  Chapter 11

  Virginia was quiet when they set out for the farm the following afternoon. She’d spoken at length with Sarah, who was evidently furious enough with John over his handling of the situation to make Virginia wonder if he’d be taking Paul’s place on the office chairs tonight. Sarah didn’t want Virginia to leave, though she did admit in the end that she understood John’s guilt over having participated in the whole fake marriage to begin with. But she didn’t hide a mischievous smile at the prospect of Virginia spending time with her lawfully wedded husband, revealing she still held little or no doubt regarding her own instincts about their marriage being right no matter the foundation.

  It was that very notion that had Virginia so quiet now. The farm was indeed far from everything she knew. And setting out alone with Paul reminded her how little she really knew about him. He didn’t even go to church! He’d professed faith at their wedding, but how could she know his faith was real if he didn’t act on it?

  Besides that, she was still mourning the loss of her work. She was grateful that Paul had waited the entire morning while she hurriedly visited the material and supply shops she dealt with so she could take an entire trunk load of bonnet goods with her. Perhaps he was kidding when he’d said he wanted her to work while she was at his farm, but with that she was happy to comply. She had every intention of staying out of his way, no matter how lonely that farm became.

  The prospect of a three-hour journey was the first challenge. How could she make it clear to him she wouldn’t be a bother? She’d seen last night at the dinner table how he’d resisted all attempts to make light conversation, and she was determined not to prod him into offering companionship he pre
ferred not to give.

  For nearly an hour, neither said a word. The awkwardness was like a veil between them, an impenetrable barrier that prevented any idea of how to make herself pleasant yet undemanding company. How did one provide company if the other person preferred being alone?

  So she waited for him to speak.

  But he didn’t.

  Paul slowed the horses for the plank bridge ahead. It was a rickety thing over this particular gully, but it saved a good deal of time going the long way around to a smoother crossing. He ought to have one of his farmhands come out here and fix it, since no one else seemed interested in maintaining it.

  But they were still another hour and a half from his farm, and on a public road, so he was neither responsible nor obligated for such repair. Until today, it had never bothered him. The idea that he might be going back and forth between the city more than once every three years, however, made him wonder how one went about having such a thing improved if he didn’t oversee it himself.

  He might have voiced his thoughts, now that he had the unprecedented company of someone else in his buggy, but wasn’t at all sure she wanted to hear such mundane musings. He couldn’t figure out why Virginia was so quiet. Perhaps leaving the city behind was harder than she expected. She’d cried when Sarah, who had come downstairs fully dressed and looking more like her old self than he’d expected, saw them off. They’d clung to each other as if they’d never see each other again.

  Perhaps that was how Virginia really felt, this drastic change to her life.

  “So you’re facing yet another loss,” he said aloud, before he could catch the words back.

  “Pardon?”

  He couldn’t very well ignore the fact that he’d spoken, so he might as well repeat himself. At least he wasn’t about to broach such a dull topic as road conditions.

  “You. Another loss. The loss of the city around you, at least for a while, and all of its conveniences. I’m sorry my solution to the crisis of your homelessness is so remote.”