She moved even closer until her breasts were pressed against his bare chest. She could feel his hair against her nipples, and she shuddered with pleasure. Reaching out she pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him as he'd taught her. Her hands roamed over his bare back. He wanted to marry her, even knowing she'd never give up her career. She was going to be so happy with him!
Jonas kissed her back for a brief moment, before putting his hands to her shoulders and setting her away from him. "No. Not until we're married. You need to get dressed and go back to your room."
She sighed. "Edna will make it look like I slept in my bed. You need to quit worrying." Why was everyone always so worried about her reputation?
He shook his head. "I'm not worried about how people will see it. I'm worried that it will bother you that we did something we shouldn't have before we married." He sighed. "As much as I hate saying it, you need to go."
"But I want to at least stay here with you. Even if we don't do anything, I want to be able to lay here and touch you." He wouldn't deny her that, would he?
"You don't understand. If you stay here, we will do something I don't think we should do. I really need you to go back to your room, sweetheart. We'll talk more tomorrow, but for now, I need you to go."
She sighed, rolling to her back. "You need to turn away from me then. I don't want you to see me."
He'd already felt her pressed up against him, so he didn't see the harm in seeing her, but he obediently turned to his side facing the wall, so she could dress.
As soon as he was turned away, the door slammed open. "What do you think you're doing?" Edna stood in her nightgown like an avenging angel. Her white hair stood up at angles atop her head. "Good gravy, child! You didn't think I was serious did you? You're much too young to be doing this without marriage. Get out of that bed, put your drawers back on, and get in your own bed where you belong. I've lost my cough tonic, and I need you to help me find it anyway!"
"I was just leaving, and no we didn't do anything." Violet hung her head. She hated that she'd been caught naked in his bed. She jumped up and dressed quickly.
As she was about to leave, Jonas's voice stopped her. "I'll be taking you for that walk in the morning, Violet."
Violet nodded once, and hurried from the room and around the corner. She'd never felt quite so embarrassed...or so happy in her life. Who knew both emotions could exist at the same time?
When she reached her room, Edna followed her inside. "What was right for me at thirty-five isn't right for you at twenty, girl. I need you to realize that I think kissing and hugging is just fine, but you don't want to be messing up your whole life by anticipating your marriage vows. What would you say to your future husband if you went to him a non-virgin?"
Violet shrugged. "I don't know. I just know that I have very strong feelings for Jonas, and I want to be his wife. Is that a crime?"
"Of course it's not a crime. It's also not smart at this point. You need to do what's right. What if he's only acting interested in you to get into your drawers?"
Violet sat on the edge of her bed and looked at Edna. Her hair was still sticking up all over her head as if she'd just woken up. Is that what had happened? She'd woken up and gone in to check on her and realized she wasn't in her room?
"He asked me to leave. He told me he wants me, but he doesn't want to do anything before we marry. He's taking me for a walk in the morning to ask me to be his wife."
"He told you he's going to propose?" Edna sank onto the bed beside Violet. "That's strange."
"I don't think he meant to tell me. He was trying to explain to me why I shouldn't be in his bed, and the words just kind of came out."
"Huh. Well, maybe he's not just trying to get into your drawers after all. Of course, he did take you to his bed and take your clothes off."
Violet looked down at her hands with a blush. "No, he didn't." She wasn't sure she could admit what had really happened, but she couldn't let Edna blame Jonas for something he didn't do.
"What do you mean he didn't? Have you lost your mind, girl?"
"Well, I listened to everything you said, and I thought you wanted me to make love with him. So when he told me to go to bed, I went to his bed instead. I stripped and fell asleep waiting for him. He didn't even know I was in his bed until he got into it himself." Violet peeked up at Edna to see what her reaction was.
For a moment, it looked as if Edna was going to yell at her, and suddenly the old woman started laughing. "You sure did take my advice to heart, didn't you?" She leaned forward and hugged Violet tightly. "Get into your nightgown and go to sleep."
Violet watched the older woman walk across her room, wondering exactly what had happened to make her a more conscientious chaperone. Had she really done that kind of about face? Or had she been joking all along? "What about your cough tonic?"
"Oh, I had it with me all along. You don't really think I'd lose my cough tonic, do you?" Edna grinned as she left.
Chapter Eight
Violet woke with a smile on her face and a spring in her step the next morning. Jonas would be asking her to marry him, and she couldn't wait. She knew she should immediately message her mother that a wedding was pending, but she was certain she'd rather just telegraph her once they were married so she couldn't try to stop them from marrying quickly. She was certain Jonas wasn't willing to wait another day longer than they had to, and with as much as she enjoyed kissing him, she wasn't willing to wait either.
At breakfast, she couldn't quit grinning. She knew she should be embarrassed by being found in Jonas's bed with him, but she just wasn't.
Jonas came down just as she finished her meal and his eyes went to hers immediately. "Are you ready for our walk?" he asked. He hadn't planned on asking her so early in the day, but he had to. He had to get it out of the way, so they could find a preacher and get the wedding over with. He hadn't thought he'd be nervous when the time came for him to actually marry, but he was. What if he wasn't what she needed?
Violet nodded and bounded out of her chair. She walked to his side, wishing he'd kiss her good morning, but in the light of day with the servants all around them, she didn't think he'd do it.
Jonas looked down into her upturned face glowing with happiness, and he knew he was doing the right thing. For both them and Nathan. Nathan would be so pleased that he'd have a new woman to act as mama in his life. He took her hand and started for the front door, ready to get on with it.
"Wait! You can't leave the house together with no chaperone! What are you thinking?" Edna came barreling down the stairs toward them.
"You let us last night," Violet protested. "What's the difference?" She couldn't believe Edna was choosing today to start acting like a real chaperone.
"The difference was last night you were with a coachman in a busy part of town. Today, you'll be walking alone in the park. Yes, Central Park is a busy place, but there are plenty of places in the trees to hide." Edna walked up to Violet and looked into her eyes. "And last night I caught you naked in his bed. I don't trust you anymore."
Violet made a face. "I guess you're coming with us then. Maybe we should bring Hillary and Nathan, so everyone can chaperone us. Is one chaperone even enough?" she asked sarcastically. She wanted to be alone with Jonas. Why did they need a chaperone?
"I think that's a great idea. That's why I asked Hillary to get Nathan ready for a walk in the park before I came down. You didn't really think we were going to let you slip away and get engaged without us, did you?"
Jonas sighed. "You told her we were getting engaged today?"
Violet shrugged. "I had to explain my behavior somehow."
Jonas raised an eyebrow. "Fine. We'll take everyone. What do I care?" He dropped his voice to a whisper, his lips almost touching Violet's ear. "As long as they're not in the bedroom with us on our wedding night, I don't care at all."
Violet blushed at his words. "That would not be good."
"I heard that!" Edna said loudly. "No more whispering,
you two. I may be old, but I can still hear." She walked to the bottom of the stairs and bellowed up, "Hurry up, Hillary! They're ready to go!"
Hillary rushed from the nursery pulling Nathan along by his hand. They hurried down the stairs. Once they reached the bottom, Nathan tore away from his nurse and rushed over to his uncle. "Unca Jonas! I missed you!"
Jonas dropped to one knee and hugged the boy tightly. He looked up at Violet for a moment before he said, "I need to talk to you about something for a minute before we go. Man to man."
Nathan pulled himself up to his full height and nodded. Jonas stood and led the boy into his study where he sat behind the desk. After Nathan crawled into the chair in front of the desk, he said, "I know you've been wanting me to marry so you can have someone to be like a mother to you. How would you feel if I married Violet?"
Nathan looked at him with a blank face for a moment, and then he suddenly smiled. "Yes! Marry her, Unca Jonas!"
Jonas smiled. "I think I'm going to ask her in the park today. Do you want to help me?" He had an idea, and he knew Nathan would enjoy having a part in it.
Nathan nodded. "Yes, please!"
Jonas whispered his plan and together they walked back into the foyer to join the others. He took Violet's hand. "Are we all ready for our walk?"
Violet looked at him questioningly, but when he didn't respond, she shrugged. If he wanted to tell her, he would.
It was a short walk to Central Park from the house. Nathan held one of Violet's hands, and Jonas held the other. When they reached the park, Nathan led them to a spot where they'd picnicked on their first full day in New York City. It had been his favorite spot to go and eat with his mother before she'd died, and he'd wanted to share it with Violet.
When they reached the top of the small hill, Nathan said, "You need to sit down in the grass." He was all but jumping up and down with excitement over something.
Violet looked at Jonas before obeying. "What are you two up to?" she asked, a smile touching her lips.
Nathan and Jonas looked at each other before they each dropped to one knee. "Will you..." Jonas began.
"Marry us?" they finished together.
Violet laughed. "I have to think about this. So let's see. I would really be marrying Jonas, but I'd be getting Nathan when I married him, right?" She pretended she hadn't known the proposal was coming for the boy's sake, knowing it would make him feel special.
Nathan nodded happily. "Yes, you would get me. I'd be your little boy, and I would call you Aunt Violet." The grin on his face told her that including him was just the right thing to do. Jonas had been smart to talk to him about it.
"Well, I don't know about marrying your uncle," she said to Nathan, "but I sure like the idea of you being my little boy. Hmm. Yes, I suppose if that's the only way I can get you, I need to do it. I will marry him, and get you. Does that work, Nathan?"
Nathan scrambled to his feet and threw himself into her lap, hugging her tight. He planted a sweet kiss on her lips. "Does that mean I get to eat supper with the grownups every night?"
Violet smiled. "Most nights. I can't promise every night, but most nights you'll be with us." She held him close, resting her cheek on his head. "I sure do love you, Nathan. Even enough to put up with that crazy uncle of yours."
Nathan grinned. "I'm so glad we get to keep you." He looked over his shoulder at Edna. "Can we keep her, too?"
Violet followed his gaze and saw Edna watching them with tears streaming down her face. As they watched, Edna reached into her sleeve and pulled out four handkerchiefs, passing them around. "Wipe your tears, people. Nothing to see here."
Everyone politely accepted a handkerchief, but Edna was the only one crying. Violet's eyes met Jonas's. "When?" She knew it would have to be soon. The look he was giving her as she sat with his nephew on her lap in the middle of Central Park was enough to tell her that.
"Now." He walked to her and took Nathan off her lap, before taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. "But first..." He dipped his head, kissing her quickly. "I wouldn't have felt engaged without that." He wished they were in private and the kiss could be deeper, but he made the best of the situation he was in.
"Now? By now, you mean?" Did he mean tomorrow? Next week?
"I mean now. My former pastor is always in the church at this time of day. Let's go get him to just do it." He wanted the actual ceremony over with so he could spend the rest of his life with this woman.
Violet frowned. "Well, that sounds good to me, but my mother is going to kill me." She looked over at Edna. "We'll have to let her give us a big reception when we get back to Seattle. Then she'll feel better, right?"
Edna shrugged. "I think you're mother is going to be unhappy with the speed of the wedding no matter what you do!"
Violet sighed. "Well, I'm not waiting six months."
Jonas's eyes widened. "No, we're not waiting. We're going now." There was no way he could leave her a virgin until their wedding night if they waited six months. He wasn't certain he could even wait another week.
Hillary took Nathan's hand. "I'll take him back to the house. There's no reason for a little boy to attend a wedding."
Nathan's face fell, all of the excitement leaving him. "Yes, ma'am."
Violet looked at Jonas, hoping he felt as she did about it. "I think he should be there. He needs to be part of the ceremony that makes us a family." She didn't want him to feel left out.
Hillary frowned. "It wouldn't be proper."
Jonas sighed. "I don't care if it's proper or not. Violet's right. He needs to be there with us." His eyes met Edna's. "You'll be the maid of honor, of course." He felt a pang as he realized he was keeping her from having her sisters with her on her wedding day. Would she be upset?
Edna nodded, clapping her hands excitedly. "Oh yes! And I need a petunia for my hair."
Jonas closed his eyes, not wanting to even ask, but for some reason feeling compelled to do so. "Why a petunia?"
"Well, I love Violet so much, I feel like she should be my sister, which makes me her sister. All of her sisters have flower names, but none of them were named Petunia, so I will claim that name now. Henceforth, you may call me Edna Petunia Blue."
Jonas didn't even blink at her explanation. It was so...so Edna that he knew there was no point in arguing. "Of course."
Violet smiled. "I'll need a violet as well. Family tradition says we all have to have our namesake in our hair when we marry."
Jonas nodded. "I know where a small florist is." He looked at Hillary. "Which flower do you need for your hair?" He might as well just ask and get it over with.
Hillary clapped her hands together excitedly. "Do you have a sister named 'Pansy?'"
Violet shook her head. "I don't! I don't have a Poppy or a Lilac or a Heather either."
Hillary thought for a moment. "I think I'll be Lilac then if you don't mind. I've always been partial to lilacs."
Jonas turned to Nathan. "You're not getting a flower for your hair, but you can be my best man if you'd like."
"I'd love that!" Nathan walked away from Hillary and took Violet's hand. "Thanks for not making me wear a flower in my hair."
Violet giggled. "I never will. I promise."
*****
It was a happy group who walked back to the house a few hours later. They'd had a wedding lunch at a small restaurant, and the women still had their flowers in their hair. Violet didn't really feel married, but she didn't know what married felt like.
They'd taken the time to send her mother a telegram before returning to the house, and she knew there would be a response within a day or two. She just didn't know how angry her mother would be.
Everyone went their separate ways when they returned to the house. Violet went to her room to pack up her things to move them to Jonas's room. Edna Petunia helped her pack. Every time she'd called the older woman 'Edna' since she'd announced her new name, she'd been corrected. The fact that 'Edna Petunia' was a mouthful didn't seem to faze the old
er woman at all. She liked the new name, and it was all she was willing to answer to.
"Why don't you go paint, and I'll pack this for you?" Edna asked. "You don't need a companion anymore, now that you're married, and I need to earn my keep somehow."
Violet smiled. "Why would my new sister need to earn her keep?"
Edna dropped the pile of dresses in her arms and rushed across the room to hug Violet. "I'm seventy years old, and you are the best friend I've ever had. I don't know what that says about me, but it's true. I'm so happy to have found you."
Violet laughed. "What does it say about me that I'm twenty and my best friend is seventy? I think we make a good pair. And I do still need you. Who else would give me good advice about love?"
Edna wiped away a tear with her sleeve. "Do you need a handkerchief?" she asked Violet.
"No, I'm fine, Edna. Thank you." She loved that the older woman cried at the drop of a hat and tried to act like everyone around her was crying as well.
"Edna Petunia," Edna corrected her.
"I'm sorry. Edna Petunia." They continued to work together in silence as they finished packing up the room.
"Do you need me to talk to you about the wedding night?" Edna asked excitedly. She obviously liked the idea.
Violet was tempted to have the older woman talk to her about it, just to hear what she'd say, but she decided to save herself the embarrassment. "No, thank you. My sister had a talk with me before I left Seattle 'just in case.'" She was glad Hyacinth had the foresight to do so now.
"Well, even though you know what will happen, I have to add my own little opinion to it. You need to be certain to relax and let yourself enjoy it. Don't worry about what you should or shouldn't do. Or what you should or shouldn't feel. You're married now, and you can do it if it feels good."
Violet nodded, blushing a bit. It all felt good with Jonas. Did that mean that nothing was wrong or forbidden?
Jonas stopped outside the door and listened to Edna's words. He knew then they'd made the right choice with her for companion. She was a good woman, and she was determined to make Violet's life better. He knocked on the open door. "Are you ladies almost finished in here?"
Violet (Suitors of Seattle Book 7) Page 9