Ella Grace just nodded. Her mind desperately tried to take in all that Michael said as he sat there calmly eating. She knew she already loved him but truly never thought beyond marrying a man to help save the Inn when she placed the ad. Suddenly, Michael’s excitement grabbed hold of her, and her mind raced with the idea of being a mother, taking care of her own home, cooking meals for her family. Her eyes sparkled when she answered, “I think four bedrooms sounds wonderful.”
Michael reached for her hand and kissed her fingertips just as Mrs. Donlinson returned. “It appears you enjoyed lunch,” she said with a smile spreading across her face.
Ella Grace jumped in her chair. “Yes, we did, but I have to get back to the front desk.”
Michael watched her rush out and smiled. “I think I should help her.”
Mrs. Donlinson just smiled at the two young people remembering what it was like when Mr. Donlinson courted her.
Ella Grace was doing her best to slow her heart and cool her face when Michael walked up behind her. He whispered, “She caught us.”
Ella Grace spun, and her face reddened again. “She did, and I think it made her happy. She’s worried about me since Mr. Bastion died. Now, she probably thinks you’ll take care of the Inn and me.”
Michael wanted to draw her close and kiss her to let her know he would always take care of her, but they were in the middle of the Inn, and he chose words instead. “She’s right. I plan to always take care of you, and we’ll work together at the Inn as soon as Dexter sells to me. I hope he does. If not, we’ll still be together.”
“I’m sure he will,” she answered and saw the desire in his eyes. She took a small step backward to keep from throwing herself into his arms and just smiled.
Michael cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I should know on Monday. Since we’re going on our picnic tomorrow, would you like to take the morning off, so you can cook and dazzle me with an amazing lunch?”
Ella Grace let out a little giggle. “Yes, thank you. Are you sure you can handle things on your own?”
Michael shrugged. “If anything goes wrong, Riley and Mr. Donlinson will be here.”
Shuffling through some papers without reading a word, she knew he could handle any problem that arose, but she enjoyed teasing him just a bit. “As long as you’re sure. I could come in and make my dazzling meal in the kitchen here in case you run into difficulty.”
Oh, how he wanted to kiss her. She was sweet, beautiful and full of fun. He hoped he’d get the chance at the picnic tomorrow.
Katie arrived for her shift in the dining room and hurried to the desk before entering the dining room. She looked at Ella Grace and winked. “Miss Ethel and Miss Edie received a shipment from Portland today. They wouldn’t allow anyone to open the crate until you come home this evening. They told me to tell you not to dawdle.”
“What on earth could it be that needs my presence before it’s opened?”
Katie twisted her lip and shook her head. “I’m not sure, but the label came from that fancy dress shop in Portland that Miss Edie always talks about. I think it said Abigail’s Gowns and Finery or something. Miss Edie told me not to peek.”
“Why would they receive a crate from that shop? I know that they all traveled here together on the wagon train and Mrs. Abigail knew my mother. She opened her shop after her husband died. What could Miss Edie and Miss Ethel order from her? They’re mourning and only wear their black dresses.”
“Maybe it’s for your wedding,” Katie suggested.
“How could it be? They wouldn’t have had time to order something and have it delivered since Michael just arrived. It’s most likely a surprise for all of us that they ordered before we lost Mr. Edward. Maybe new Sunday dresses. Miss Edie said she was tired of sewing for the younger girls.”
“Maybe, but remember, don’t dawdle. We have to hurry home as soon as we can,” Katie giggled again before heading toward the dining room.
“What was all that about?” Michael asked.
“I’m not sure. A delivery arrived at the house earlier, and of course, all the girls are excited any time we receive one. I suppose I’ll find out this evening after work.” She returned to her paperwork and Michael spent an extra moment watching her.
Chapter Fourteen
Katie pulled on Ella Grace’s arm to hurry her on the walk home. “Come on, aren’t you excited to see what’s in the crate? It must be something special. It didn’t say dresses, it said gowns. Abigail’s Gowns and Finery. What do you suppose Finery is? I think it might be fancy hats or shawls or gloves.”
“Or,” Ella Grace said stopping Katie’s excited musings. “It might be a shipment of more parasols. Worse yet, it might be full of silk flowers and ribbons. Remember, Miss Edie said she wanted to try her hand at hat making. I can see us all on Sunday wearing Miss Edie’s home-made hats with huge wildly colored flowers.”
Katie stared back at Ella Grace. “Oh, I hope not. I don’t think I’d look very good in a huge hat full of flowers.”
“In the last magazine that arrived at the Inn, it showed that the styles are changing, and hats are smaller yet still full of flowers and lace,” Ella Grace explained.
Katie groaned. “Maybe we shouldn’t have hurried.”
Ella Grace shrugged one shoulder. “Might as well see and get it over with. It might not be too terribly bad.”
“Don’t you remember three years ago when Miss Edie sent for heavy flannel to make warm petticoats for the winter and ordered a sale fabric. We ended up with bright red plaid petticoats. I still have mine hidden away at the bottom of my chest. I’m happy it no longer fits.” Katie grimaced at the memory.
Ella Grace nodded, the memory of the bright red petticoats fresh in her mind. “I have mine hidden, too. Maybe someday I’ll use it to make a shirt for my husband or son or just use it to make a rag rug.”
The sisters laughed and continued their walk home. They were met by five expectant girls sitting quietly in the parlor. Katie whispered to Ella Grace, “I think they’re as excited as we are.”
“Are you sure we’re excited or worried?” Ella Grace whispered back.
“You are home, finally” Miss Edie exclaimed clapping her hands. “I can’t wait to share our surprise. Sit down, I’ll find Ethel and Maude.
Before Ella Grace and Katie could settle on the settee, Miss Ethel stormed into the parlor holding a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other. After managing to pry the lid off the crate with just three hammer blows, Miss Ethel removed the top and exposed a crate full of royal blue boxes inscribed with ‘Abigail’s Gowns and Finery’ in gold filigree.
“Oooh, those are pretty boxes,” Ivy and Rosie said in unison.
Miss Edie pulled the first two small boxes out and said, “Here, girls, look inside. These first two boxes are for you.”
Ivy and Rosie carefully opened the boxes and removed identical pale pink dresses with dark rose trim around the neck and sleeves. Their eyes were round as saucers as they held the new dresses close to their chests.
Miss Edie passed out four more boxes to equally excited girls. She pulled a larger box out and handed it to Katie. “We knew Ella Grace would ask you to stand with her and we had this dress made especially for you to fit the occasion.”
Katie lifted the lid of the box and removed a light blue satin gown with lace trimmings. “This is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. Thank you so much.”
All the girls hugged Miss Edie and Miss Ethel while Ella Grace watched and wondered what might be in the crate for her. Miss Edie grinned and pulled out the largest box and handed it to Ella Grace.
Her hands shook slightly as she removed the box lid and moved the paper aside. Inside was the loveliest ivory satin gown she could have ever imagined. She lifted it from the box lovingly and held it in front of her.
Miss Ethel offered, “It is not the newest style because they have a lot of ruffles and flounces and lace. We knew you would want simple yet elegant. We asked Abbie to be sur
e it was fit for a fine lady. She remembers your mother from the wagon trail and was thrilled to hear of your wedding. She stitched your gown herself.”
Ella Grace felt tears slip down her cheeks but was afraid to wipe them in case she mussed the beautiful gown she was holding. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem enough. I need to write to Mrs. Abigail, too. This is beyond any dream I’ve had. Thank you, Miss Edie and Miss Ethel.”
“We have this piece of ivory lace we’d like you to wear. It’s part of our mother’s wedding veil. It was damaged on the trip here, and we only have part of it. I’m not sure what we’d do with it, but we always thought one of our daughters would wear it. You, my dear Ella Grace, are our daughter and we want you to wear it. Maybe in your hair? I’m just not sure,” Miss Ethel said.
“I have an idea,” Katie said. “If we take the lace and cut out small hearts, you could give some to each of us, and we’d have them on our wedding day. Three small lace hearts would look beautiful on the neckline of Ella Grace’s dress.”
Miss Edie clapped her hands and nearly jumped in place. “What a wonderful idea. Katie, you oversee cutting the hearts. You have an eye for fashion and perfection. We’ll use three for Ella Grace and put the rest away for the next bride. It is so very exciting,” she gushed.
Ella Grace placed the gown back in the box and rushed to hug her guardians. “Thank you. I may have started this life with a disaster, but if I had to lose my parents, God blessed me with two of the best women in the world to raise me. I wish Mr. Edward could see me now and walk me down the aisle.”
They returned her hug and agreed with Ella Grace’s sentiments. It was still difficult for both ladies to speak of their brother.
Miss Edie whispered, “There’s one more box in the crate, but I’m going to send the little ones off to bed first.”
Ella Grace watched her younger sisters scurry off to bed and then removed the last box. She opened it to find a beautiful ivory nightdress made of satin, but not the heavy satin like her wedding gown. This was lighter and sheerer. She blushed and said, “I can’t wear this.”
Miss Edie took her hand and said, “Sit, we need to talk.”
An hour later, Ella Grace and Katie were in the bedroom they shared, and Ella Grace shared what Miss Edie had told her. Both girls learned years earlier about men, women, and babies in case a boy ever tried to seduce them, but what Miss Edie shared made Ella Grace blush just remembering.
Katie burst into a fit of giggles. “Really? That sounds more exciting than that romance novel we borrowed from Betsy.”
“I’m not so sure, Katie. Michael hasn’t officially asked me although he’s talked about being married and having children. I am falling in love with him, but I’m nervous.”
Katie bounced up onto her knees and looked at Ella Grace, “Don’t be nervous. He’ll be nice to you I’m sure. He’ll look into your eyes and tell you that he feels as if he’s drowning in a cup of coffee each time he looks at you.”
“I don’t think that will help because if he says anything like that, I’m sure I’ll be speechless.”
“I hope I find someone that will say romantic things to me.”
Ella Grace smiled at her best friend. “I’m sure you will, and he will tell you he feels as if he’s drowning in your stormy blue sea eyes.”
Katie dropped back on her bed. “When I move to Portland, I hope to get to the ocean and see what stormy blue seas look like.”
“You really do want to move, don’t you?”
“I don’t see a future here. Remember Mrs. Corley?”
“How could I forget her?”
“She gave me her card with her address,” Katie explained. “She said when I’ m ready to move I could stay with her. They have a large home and know a lot of people. She said as pretty as I am I’m wasting my time here without any men in town. She’d help me find a job and a husband.”
“I agree, you’re beautiful, but you could stay here and send for a husband, too.”
“Maybe,” Katie mused. “I don’t think I’d be as lucky as the rest of you. I’m afraid my man would show up with a huge wart on his nose, bald, short, and fat.”
Ella Grace laughed. “You don’t have to marry him. Just think about it before you leave. I’d miss you dreadfully.”
Both young women lay quietly lost in their thoughts and Katie fell asleep. Ella Grace lay there long into the night wondering about what Miss Edie told her, whether Michael would propose, how she would say yes without sounding eager, and the beautiful gown hanging in her wardrobe.
Chapter Fifteen
Michael knocked at the door of Howard House shortly before noon. He did his best not to be late or too early. Nervous about what Ella Grace’s guardians would say if he weren’t punctual, he checked his pocket watch. Just as he was about to knock again, the door was opened, and he stared into two identical faces that he remembered answered to the names of Rosie and Ivy. He knew he’d never be able to tell them apart.
“Hello, little ladies. Is Ella Grace home? I’m here to take her on a picnic.”
The identical faces smiled, and he heard giggles as they turned and called out simultaneously, “Ella Grace, he’s here.”
Michael stood just outside the open doorway wondering if he should enter or wait. One of the twins returned and said, “You can come in.”
“Thank you. Which one are you, Rosie or Ivy?”
“Guess,” she giggled and ran back toward the kitchen. Michael closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Getting used to Ella Grace’s family would take some time.
He saw Ella Grace walking toward him down the hallway and smiled. She smiled back and waved him inside. “Didn’t Ivy tell you to wait inside?”
“No, but it’s all right. How do you know it was Ivy? They look exactly alike to me.”
“They do, but Ivy has a very slight limp. They came to us when they were six months old. We’re not sure why she has the limp, but she isn’t in pain, and the doc said she’d either grow out of it or learn to live with it. She does fine.”
Michael furrowed his eyebrows wondering if that would be enough for him to tell them apart. What if they were sitting down? He just wouldn’t call them by name.
Ella Grace pulled him from his musings. “Our lunch is ready. I have the basket packed. It’s in the kitchen, and we can leave when you’re ready.”
Michael followed her to the kitchen where the two identical faces smiled as they ate a cookie at the table. He picked up the basket and followed Ella Grace to the door calling over his shoulder, “Bye, Rosie and Ivy.” Pleased that he didn’t have to try and tell them apart, he pulled the door closed to the sound of their giggles.
Michael stepped down the stairs into an immaculately kept backyard and garden. He could see dozens of plants and flowers growing along the white picket fence and the largest vegetable garden he’d ever seen.
Ella Grace noticed him staring at the garden. “We have a lot of mouths to feed. There are ten of us and having the vegetables in the garden to make soups and stew helps with the cost of running the orphanage although none of us call it that. We all call it home.”
“It’s a wonderful thing your guardians are doing. I have heard some sad stories of the larger orphanages that have more children than they can handle.”
“Yes, we were very blessed. Miss Edie and Miss Ethel have made the very best out of bad situations for each of us. There’s a grove of trees at the back of the property where we can picnic. It’s shady and quiet,” Ella Grace answered and opened the side gate.
Michael stepped through the gate and then stopped. Just beyond the pristine garden lay an area of untended ground surrounded by a dilapidated fence. A few small mounds of dirt were scattered around, and a few dried wildflowers were strewn around the ground.
“What is this?”
“It’s a pet cemetery.”
“A what?”
Ella Grace sighed. “I’ll explain as we walk. Shortly after this house was
built, a stray cat began appearing at the back door. Miss Edie fed it. One day it didn’t come for its feeding, and Miss Edie began to worry. She found it lying in the side yard. It appeared it had been in a fight of some sort and she decided to bury it just beyond the edge of the new fence that Mr. Edward was building. Word traveled around town as it will in a small town, and soon children began to bring pets, small farm animals, or any animal they found near their home, and the pet cemetery grew. One day two small boys were burying their dog while Mr. Edward was finishing the fence. They asked if he had any board they could use to build a fence. Mr. Edward loved children and gave the boys enough boards to build their fence. As you can see, it’s a bit in disrepair, but the local children and Miss Edie decided never to paint it. Miss Edie says the fence reflects the sadness of the area it surrounds.”
Michael just nodded wondering if Miss Edie was a sweet, gentle soul or a bit loony. Whichever, he was grateful she helped raise Ella Grace into the angel he saw before him.
“That’s an interesting story,” Michael said setting the basket down on the blanket that Ella Grace spread near the grove of trees.
“Miss Edie is the sweetest person I’ve ever known. She has a heart of gold. Miss Ethel does too, but she can be a bit gruff.”
Michael thought about that as he sat down on the blanket. Maybe the ladies were all right after all. He glanced at the house in the distance and squinted. “Is there someone sitting on the back balcony watching us?”
“Yes, that’s Miss Ethel. She likes to sit up there and watch the scenery.”
“I think she’s watching us and it looks as if she’s holding a rifle.”
Ella Grace smiled, “That could be. She likes to protect us.”
“Will she shoot me if I lean over and kiss you?”
“I hope not,” Ella Grace said blushing.
“What?”
“Sorry, I’m teasing you. I think she’s there just to let you know she’s close by if I need her. I think she’ll go inside soon.”
Ella Grace was correct, and after five minutes, Miss Ethel walked inside the house. Michael breathed a sigh of relief. He watched Ella Grace remove food from the basket. She was a beauty in her blue dress and that silly hat. Her long auburn hair was loose and tumbled down her back. When she was at work, it was pulled back in a soft style that Michael’s sister loved and once told him the style, but it eluded him now. He had wanted to remove the pins from her hair and run his fingers through what was surely silky strands, but now it hung loose, and he fought the urge to reach for her and do just that.
Wanted: Innkeeper: Silverpines Series (Book 6) Page 7