The Convenient Bride Collection: 9 Romances Grow from Marriage Partnerships Formed Out of Necessity
Page 35
Alexandre stared at her. Was he crazy to even consider helping her? Surely there were other men who could better serve her purposes.
But then he recalled the men in the ballroom, and their coarse joking at her expense. What kind of a man could she possibly find who would treat her with the respect she deserved?
A knock sounded at the door, and the gruff woman stuck her head inside. “Your time is up. The next man is waiting to come in.”
“Couldn’t we have a few more minutes, Mrs. Foreman?” Miss LeBlanc pleaded.
The man with the dimpled chin strode into the room, his shameless stare settling on Miss LeBlanc. “I’m Amos Doolittle.”
Alexandre needed more time and information. “How will you secure your inheritance?” he asked Miss LeBlanc.
Her eyes flew from Amos to Alexandre. “I need to travel back to St. Louis and present my marriage certificate to the judge.”
“It’s as simple as that?” he asked.
Mr. Doolittle nudged him on the shoulder. “Time’s up, mister.”
Alexandre stood, and then Miss LeBlanc stood, her eyes locked on his. “As simple as that.”
Mr. Doolittle looked at Alexandre with steely eyes. “I said, time’s up.”
Alexandre needed more time to think. If they took the steamboat to St. Louis, presented the marriage certificate, and then traveled back by steamboat, they could be at Belle Prairie in about two and a half weeks. Surely the directors wouldn’t mind waiting a bit longer.
Miss LeBlanc’s face had become pale, her eyes pleading with Alexandre.
Why did he feel the sudden need to help her?
Lord, is this the right path to take?
“I need to ask you to leave,” Mrs. Foreman said. “There are seventy other men waiting—and some of them are getting a bit unruly.”
Miss LeBlanc’s chest rose and fell quickly, and he imagined her heart was pumping as fast as his. He moved to the door, and Mr. Doolittle took his place on the chair, without waiting for Miss LeBlanc to sit first.
She bit her bottom lip, her brown eyes desperate.
His pulse thrummed in his body, making his head pound. He couldn’t marry her—it would be ludicrous. Just a half hour ago he didn’t even know the lady.
Non.
He tipped his head in farewell. “It’s been a pleasure, Miss LeBlanc. Au revoir.”
She slowly sank onto the sofa next to her maid, her shoulders slumped. “Au revoir, Monsieur Dugas.”
Alexandre stepped out into the ballroom, regret making his legs feel like lead. The men had formed a line, with the redheaded man named Clayton at the front. Clayton turned to the man next to him. “The rest of us might as well go home. Amos will tell her whatever she wants to hear.”
Alexandre looked back at the closed door.
“Doesn’t he already have a wife?” asked the man behind Clayton.
Clayton shrugged. “What does it matter out here on the frontier?”
Mrs. Foreman stood in front of the door like a watchdog, her arms crossed and her eyes never resting.
Alexandre rubbed his sweaty palms against his pant legs. He couldn’t leave Miss LeBlanc to face these men—what would become of her?
She hadn’t been his concern half an hour ago, but during the course of their conversation, he’d begun to feel that God had brought him here to do something.
Before he talked himself out of it, he charged back to Mrs. Foreman. “I need to speak with Miss LeBlanc.”
“Your time is up.”
“But I need to ask her something.”
“You’ll have to wait in the back of the line to get another chance—”
“I need to ask her to marry me.”
Mrs. Foreman’s face lit with a smile. “Why didn’t you say so?” She opened the door and Alexandre stepped back into the sitting room.
Miss LeBlanc rose to her feet, her eyes enormous. “Mr. Dugas!”
“Will you marry me, Miss LeBlanc?”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Truly?”
He prayed this wasn’t the biggest mistake of his life. “Truly.”
Mrs. Foreman shouted into the ballroom. “Send in the justice of the peace!”
Chapter 7
Josette walked slowly with Mr. Dugas—Alexandre—by her side. One lone kerosene lantern flickered on the wall at the end of the upstairs hall, offering scant light for their path. Their arms brushed against each other in the narrow passage, but neither said a word.
The past two hours had been like a whirlwind. The justice of the peace had been called in with a special license Josie had requested earlier in the day, and the ceremony was over before she could catch her breath. She had stood next to Alexandre and pledged her life to his, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death parted them.
Her foot stumbled at the thought. Alexandre reached out and placed his large, steady hand under her elbow. Their gazes met, and her stomach filled with butterflies. She’d never been alone with a man before. It was both exhilarating and frightening—and to know this was her husband …
After the ceremony, Ruth had disappeared into their room, while Josie and Alexandre faced a ballroom of disgruntled men. Many left angry, but those that remained offered their reluctant well-wishes.
Now Josie stopped in front of her hotel door, realizing they hadn’t discussed their sleeping arrangements. She suddenly felt overly warm, yet she shivered. “H–here’s my room.”
Alexandre turned, half his handsome face shadowed by the light. He stood tall and powerful before her, and she couldn’t help but wonder why he had not been married before.
Another shiver ran up her spine. She didn’t know much about him at all.
He studied her face, and she felt a flush creep up her neck.
Muffled noise seeped up the stairway, but the hall remained empty.
“My room is two doors down.” His voice carried just above the noise.
She lowered her gaze to the tie at his throat. Would he ask her to go to his room? It was within his rights—but gooseflesh rose up on her arms at the thought. There hadn’t been enough time to discuss their expectations. She had intended this marriage to be in name only.… What did he intend?
“The stagecoach will take us to St. Paul the day after tomorrow.” Her voice caught, and she cleared her throat. “We will book passage on the first available steamboat back to St. Louis.”
“I plan to go to Belle Prairie in the morning to tell them about the change of plans.”
He stood so close, she could smell the fresh scent of soap on his clothes, and her thoughts became jumbled. “Of course. They must know.”
“Would you like to come with me?”
Her gaze traveled back to his face. She tried to focus on his question and not how close he stood. “I would.”
He looked pleased. “I’ll rent a buggy, and after we visit the mission, we can go for a ride—if you’d like—to get to know one another better.” His stilted words revealed his own discomfort, and Josie felt a measure of relief.
“I’d like that, very much.”
“Could you be ready by eight o’clock, Miss—” He paused, his thoughts imperceptible. “Mrs. Dugas.”
“Please, call me Josie.”
The flickering light revealed half his smile. “May I call you Josette?”
Only her father and mother had called her Josette. Her stepmother had been the one to call her Josie, telling her it was more American—and Papa had acquiesced—like he had with so many other things. “You may. And what shall I call you?”
“You’re my wife, non? You must call me Alexandre.”
She was his wife—yet she had imagined being a wife would be so … different. For now, she carried his name.… Would she ever carry his child? The thought made her heart race, and she reached behind and fumbled for the doorknob.
“Wait, Josette.” He placed his hand under her elbow, and a tingle of both pleasure and apprehension ran the length of her arm.
Josie’s breath caught in her throat. The ceremony had happened so quickly—she hadn’t even realized. But he was her husband, and he deserved at least one kiss on his wedding day—didn’t he? He had sacrificed his plans to help her manage her half of the inheritance. Surely he deserved more than a peck on the cheek. He deserved her heartfelt appreciation—for the rest of her life.
She let go of the doorknob and clasped her shaky hands. She lifted her gaze to his face and saw tenderness—and attraction—in his eyes. Heat coursed through her limbs.
Alexandre’s eyes caressed her face. “You’re a very beautiful woman, Josette. I’m proud to call you my wife.”
The warmth from her limbs flooded her face. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“May I kiss the bride now?”
Josie’s backside pressed up against the solid door. She was thankful for something steady and certain at the moment. “You may.” Her words were breathless, and she was afraid he hadn’t heard her. “You may,” she said a bit louder.
He grinned, and his eyes twinkled.
Clearly he’d heard her the first time. Oh, he must think her a silly, inexperienced young woman! She closed her eyes to hide her embarrassment—and wait for the kiss.
The door suddenly opened, and before Josie knew what had happened, she was on the floor of her bedroom, with Ruth standing above her.
Ruth gasped. “Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry, Miss Josie. I heard talking outside the door and I thought maybe you’d forgotten your key.” She scrambled to help Josie from the floor just as Alexandre stepped into the room and offered Josie his hand.
A lantern illuminated the room, and Josie was certain Alexandre could see her red cheeks. Her bottom stung, but nothing compared to the sting of humiliation.
She took his hand and stood to her feet. “Merci, Mr. Dug—”
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She forced herself to nod as she smoothed the front of her gown.
His eyes told her he didn’t believe her, but he backed out of the room. “I’ll return to collect you in the morning.”
Josie couldn’t wait for the door to close behind him.
Chapter 8
The next morning, Josie sat in a single-horse buggy next to Alexandre, her embarrassment from the night before still fresh in her mind. The buggy was new, just like Little Falls, with a springy seat and shiny black paint. The small space forced them to sit close together.
It was an entirely new and wonderful feeling to be married.
She looked about the landscape and feasted on the untouched woods and prairies they passed. A long, low-lying bluff jutted out of the prairie to their right, and the Mississippi meandered to their left. The trees along the riverbanks reached toward heaven, unfurling their beautiful leaves like an offering to their Creator. She’d always marveled at nature’s innate worship of God.
This place was a bit of heaven on earth.
“The country here is beautiful,” Alexandre said into the quiet morning air. “I’ve always imagined living in a house along the Mississippi.”
Josie couldn’t hide her surprise—or delight. “I’ve always wanted to live near the river as well.” When they returned to St. Louis, they could find a home on the Mississippi.
Alexandre smiled at her, and she returned the warm smile with one of her own.
“The Belle Prairie Mission isn’t far from here, about four miles.” Alexandre held the reins in his hands with ease, though his back remained rigid. Was he as nervous as she was? “I took the liberty of bringing a picnic lunch for us to eat before we go back to town.”
It would be nice to picnic with him. There were so many things they needed to discuss about LeBlanc Shipping. He appeared to be intelligent and upright, but she needed to know more about the man who would help run her father’s business.
Before long the mission buildings came within sight. To their left sat a large two-story house, with a wide front porch. To the north of the house was a New England–style barn, with pigs and chickens in the barnyard, and to their right was another building, which Josie assumed to be the school and church. Oat and wheat fields stretched out over the horizon, cultivated in the rich prairie soil.
Alexandre brought the buggy to a stop and didn’t move for many moments. Josie turned to him and was caught off guard by the look of wonder on his face.
“It’s taken me a year to travel here, but over twelve years to arrive at this moment.”
Josie remained silent, unsure how to respond.
“I left my parents’ home when I was eighteen to follow God’s calling into ministry.” He stopped for a moment, many emotions playing about his face. “But I allowed other things to get in the way—until now.” He looked at her, amazement in his gaze. “Have you ever felt as if God was smiling on you? That’s how I feel right now.”
A funny sensation prickled up Josie’s spine. What was he saying?
The front door of the mission house opened and an older man and woman stepped onto the porch. They lifted their hands in greeting, and Alexandre nudged the horse into motion.
“Hello,” called the man when they stopped the buggy in front of the house.
Alexandre stepped out of the buggy and offered Josie a hand down. He grinned at her, and she offered a tentative smile in return. What would these people think when they learned about their hasty marriage and change of plans?
“Reverend Dugas, we presume?” the lady asked.
“Yes. And you must be the Greenfields.”
“That’s us.” Mr. Greenfield’s blue eyes shined in his whiskered face. “And who is this young lady?”
Alexandre turned his gaze on Josie, unabashed pride in his brown eyes. “This is my wife, Mrs. Josette Dugas. We were married yesterday.”
“Congratulations,” Mr. Greenfield said. “We had no idea you would be married.”
“I didn’t, either.” Alexandre grinned once again. “Josette, this is Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield, the directors of the Belle Prairie Mission.”
Josie shook their hands. “How do you do?”
“Not as well as you on this fine morning,” Mr. Greenfield said with a chuckle.
“Stop that, Silas.” Mrs. Greenfield swatted at her husband good-naturedly. “Come in and make yourselves at home.”
Josie and Alexandre followed them into an airy parlor and took a seat on one of the sofas. Large windows looked out onto the prairie at one end of the comfortable parlor, and a shiny piano stood at the other end. Colorful rag rugs were scattered about the pine flooring, and fresh-cut wildflowers adorned tables and shelves, making everything feel homey.
“We’re so happy you’ve come to join our little mission family.” Mrs. Greenfield took a seat across from Alexandre and Josie, her eyes gentle. “We feel blessed to have another couple here to help. All of our teachers have married and left, save for one, Miss Smith.
With the influx of immigrants moving into the territory, our school and church have grown, but Mr. Greenfield is no longer able to preach, because of throat troubles.”
Josie looked at Alexandre, hoping he’d stop Mrs. Greenfield. Surely the longer he postponed telling them about the change of plans, the more uncomfortable they would all be. But Alexandre allowed her to continue, and he even smiled, as if encouraging her.
“For now,” Mrs. Greenfield said, “you’re welcome to live with us, until you have a home of your own. We don’t expect you to preach the first week, Reverend Dugas, but if you’re willing, we’re of a mind to hear you soon. It’s been too long since we’ve had a service at the church.”
“Actually, I have a bit of news to share,” Alexandre said. “My plans changed unexpectedly last night.”
Josie let out an inward sigh of relief—finally, he would tell them.
“Oh? What is that?” Mrs. Greenfield’s pleasant gaze didn’t waver as she looked at Alexandre.
He sat a
bit straighter and turned his gaze on Josie. “I met Mrs. Dugas last night and learned she was in need of a husband, so we were married.”
The Greenfields’ surprised eyes turned to her, and her cheeks filled with heat. What must they think of her, marrying a stranger?
“I felt God call me to marry her,” Alexandre continued. “But it will require a change in my plans, of which I’m very sorry.”
Mr. Greenfield was the first to speak. “You’ve only just met?”
“Yes. Less than twenty-four hours ago.”
“How interesting,” Mrs. Greenfield said. “Mr. Greenfield and I didn’t know each other before our wedding, either.”
Josie stared at the lady. She understood?
“We were both entering the mission field.” Mrs. Greenfield turned her loving gaze on her husband and took his hand. “We were required to have a spouse, so Mr. Greenfield and I were paired. We married the day we met.” She turned back to Josie and Alexandre. “What God has brought together, let no man put asunder.”
Alexandre and Josie were quiet for a moment, and then Alexandre spoke. “We must return to St. Louis and present our marriage certificate to the judge. We’ll leave on the stagecoach tomorrow morning.”
Josie held her breath to see the Greenfields’ reaction. There was disappointment on their faces, but they didn’t say a word, allowing Alexandre to continue.
“It might take us a week or two to get all of Mrs. Dugas’s affairs in order before we’re able to return to Minnesota Territory. I hope it’s not too much trouble.”
Josie’s eyes grew wide as she swiveled her head to look at Alexandre. What was he saying? She had no intention of returning! Hadn’t she made that clear last night?
“It’s not ideal,” Mr. Greenfield said. “But you must do what is necessary. We’ll look forward to hearing you preach when you return.”
Josie opened her mouth to protest, but the kind looks on Mr. and Mrs. Greenfield’s faces silenced her.
Chapter 9