“Have you heard anything about Alice?” Nelle asked Mathew, but she included his mother in the conversation.
Mrs. Janson pursed her lips and gave a little shake of her head. It was the first time that they’d spoken of Alice since their reunion.
“We can ask your aunt about her,” Mathew said.
“I suppose we must,” Nelle said, although the thought of bringing up Alice set her teeth on edge. Nelle leaned her head against Mathew’s strong and sturdy shoulder. There had been several moments in the past two days, when she wasn’t quite sure she could believe her good fortune. But then, all she had to do was touch Mathew to assure herself of his realness.
“Would you like to go home first?” Mathew asked.
Nelle liked the way he had said home, as if it included her too. And, in a few days, his home really would legally be hers as well. “No,” she said softly. “I don’t want to put off speaking with my aunt any longer.”
Mathew nodded.
After they had dropped off his mother and Mr. Bradley, Mathew drove the carriage back to Nelle’s aunt’s home. As the three-story house came into view, conflicting emotions collided within Nelle. During her last week staying with Aunt Corinne, Nelle hadn’t been on her best manners. She’d let her doubts about her mental health cripple her. Later, when she had sent the funds to reimburse her aunt, Nelle hadn’t acknowledged the thank-you note her aunt had later sent to her.
Nelle had felt so used and mistreated before. But now, looking back, she realized her aunt had had her own challenges and had since faced difficult things with Alice’s elopement. For Nelle knew her aunt well enough to know that Aunt Corinne would consider Alice’s actions a disgrace.
The windows were dark, although twilight had descended. Perhaps her aunt wasn’t at home, but that would be unusual for such a cold night, for most people here in the country didn’t travel after dark in the winter.
When Mathew stopped the carriage, he climbed off and handed Nelle down. Standing before the dark house brought back a rush of memories—most specifically her aunt’s spitefulness toward her and the tension Nelle always felt when she was around her. Nelle took a deep breath and grasped Mathew’s arm as they walked together to the front door, the air puffing out visibly before them in the cold.
Mathew knocked on the door; no one answered.
“Where could she be?” Nelle mused. “Perhaps she went to visit Alice.” A movement at the parlor window caught her eye, for the lace curtains had shifted then fallen back into place.
Mathew had seen it too. “Someone’s here,” he said, knocking again before Nelle could advise him to just let her be.
Moments later, footsteps sounded, unmistakably growing closer. The knob turned, and the door slowly opened. The woman who stared out at them was not the woman Nelle remembered. Aunt Corinne had changed much over the past couple of months—her hair fell in wisps about her face, and her eyes were dark hollows. Nelle noticed that Aunt Corinne’s dress hung loose from her thinning frame and her lips were dry and cracked, as if she’d been worrying at them constantly.
“Aunt Corinne?” Nelle said, her voice a whisper.
“Nelle? Mathew Janson?” her aunt asked.
“Hello Mrs. Ashton,” Mathew said, extending his hand.
For a moment, Nelle didn’t think her aunt was going to welcome them. But then she extended her hand and grasped Mathew’s. “Come in,” she said, her voice wavering.
Mathew motioned for Nelle to follow her aunt inside, and they stepped into a dim and cold foyer.
“I haven’t had a chance to lay the fire yet,” her aunt said, her voice sounding a bit stronger now.
So they walked with her into the parlor, and Nelle saw the fire hadn’t been laid in quite some time, possibly weeks. Did her aunt spend her time in another part of the house? Nelle wondered as her aunt walked over to the fireplace and pulled bits of kindling from the metal basket.
“Here, let me help you,” Mathew said, taking the kindling from Aunt Corinne’s hands.
Nelle could only stare. She’d never seen her aunt answer the door or try to lay the fire. Where were the servants? Was today their day off? She was about to ask, when her aunt sat in the chair nearest to the hearth.
As the flames leapt to life under Mathew’s ministrations, Aunt Corinne leaned forward, holding her hands toward the warmth as a visible shiver ran along her body. Nelle realized something was terribly wrong. There was no heat in the home, no servants in sight, and her aunt looked as if she hadn’t eaten properly in some time.
When Mathew stepped back from the hearth, her aunt smiled up at him. “Thank you so much,” she said. “I’m sorry for the coldness of the room.” She turned a smile upon Nelle, surprising Nelle even further. “How have you been?” Aunt Corrine asked. “Mrs. Janson told me that you’d returned to the city.”
It was plain her aunt didn’t know of Nelle’s mental breakdown. Unless she was avoiding that topic. “I did return for a short time,” Nelle said, then stopped, not sure of what to say or of what not to say. She was confused by her aunt’s kindness. Was she acting like this because Mathew was with her?
“Mrs. Ashton,” Mathew began, filling the awkward silence. “Nelle and I are engaged to be married.”
“Oh,” her aunt said. “I—congratulations.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face in her hands.
“Aunt Corinne?” Nelle said gently. “Are you all right?”
Her aunt nodded, then she shook her head, her hands still covering her face.
No matter what reservations Nelle once had toward her aunt, she knew this was a woman who was suffering. Nelle hurried to her side and stroked her back, asking, “What is it? What can we help you with?”
“I’ve—I’ve lost so much,” Aunt Corinne said, raising her head and wiping at her eyes. “First, my husband; then, my sister.” Her voice broke. “And now…Alice.”
Nelle continued to stroke her back, wanting to give her some comfort. She’d never seen her aunt like this, for the woman had always been so stoic and formidable.
“When Alice wrote to me of her elopement,” Aunt Corinne continued, “everything seemed to fall apart around me. That same day, I received a notice from the solicitor, saying my husband’s investments had failed and I no longer had an income.”
Mathew pulled a chair up and sat on Aunt Corinne’s other side.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Aunt Corinne whispered. “So, I dismissed the servants, and I spent days going over the accounts.” She released a bitter laugh and glanced at Nelle with obvious remorse. “I’d always been careful, as you so painfully know.”
Nelle thought about how her aunt had once made Nelle account for every expense. Now, instead of thinking of her aunt as cruel, Nelle realized her aunt had been frugal.
“You received my payment,” Nelle said. “I should have been more generous, instead of sending the exact amount from the ledgers.”
“No,” Aunt Corinne said, grasping Nelle’s hand in a rare gesture of affection. “I should have been more generous. If there’s anything I’ve learned, or should have learned, in my years of attending church services, it is that God helps those who helps others.” She sniffled. “This last summer, I did not know how destitute I was about to become, and my heart should have been more open to helping my niece.” Her voice broke again and she started to cry.
“How could you have known?” Nelle said. “None of us knew. We were all doing what we thought was best.”
Aunt Corinne wiped at her eyes again, and Mathew handed her a handkerchief from his pocket. She gave him a brief smile. “If only my Alice had been grateful for the good man right in front of her…” Aunt Corinne said. She held up her hand before Nelle could respond. “The next best scenario was that you marry my niece.”
Nelle was astonished. Aunt Corinne was not the same woman Nelle remembered. Life had dealt her some tremendous blows, and she’d become a humble and changed woman.
Aunt Corinne grasped Ne
lle’s hands again. “Nelle, I am so proud of you,” she said. “Your parents would be so pleased.”
Nelle felt her own eyes starting to water.
“I’m afraid you caught the brunt of a decades-long sibling rivalry,” Aunt Corinne continued. “Your mother always had everything—at least, everything that I wanted. She even married a man who took her to the city—a place I’d always wanted to live.” She gave a slight smile, as if remembering. “Your parents had a true romance, and your father treated your mother like gold.” She squeezed Nelle’s hands. “My husband was a good man too, but he refused to move to the city. He preferred the quiet life in the country. At times, I thought I might go crazy with too much quiet.”
“You made the best of it,” Nelle said. “You have a wonderful home and many friends.”
“Friends who haven’t spoken to me since my daughter eloped,” Aunt Corinne said, her voice cracking again.
Nelle wrapped an arm about her aunt’s trembling shoulders.
“Do you ever hear from Alice?” Mathew asked.
Aunt Corinne nodded. “She writes often,” she said. “They’re living in a tiny apartment in the city, right downtown, amid all the artist types and other poets, she says.” She released a heavy sigh. “I can’t be upset though, even after the shock of her elopement, for Alice is following her dream.”
A dream that Aunt Corinne had also had, Nelle realized.
“Mrs. Ashton,” Mathew said in a careful voice. “I can help you get your finances in order. I’m sure you can afford to hire back some of your help, and you certainly don’t need to forego heat in the winter.”
A new set of tears sprung to her eyes, and she nodded. “Thank you for the offer,” she said. “All those columns of numbers make my head ache.”
“How about some tea?” Nelle asked. “I’ll prepare it and bring it in.”
“That would be lovely,” Aunt Corinne said.
Nelle left the room and crossed the dark hallway. Night had fallen outside, and the only room in the house with light and warmth was the parlor. She found an oil lamp to light on the hall table and made her way to the kitchen.
Nothing had been updated in the house in years, but the place retained its charm. Nelle saw the house with new eyes. She’d once judged her aunt’s house as being antiquated, but now she understood that her aunt must have been under great financial distress and hadn’t let anyone know about it.
Nelle found the tea things and set the water to boil on the wood stove. She stoked the faint embers and added more kindling to the stove. While she waited, she gazed out the window, across the snowy landscape, considering her aunt’s life from a new viewpoint. Aunt Corinne had envied her sister for many years, had become a widow, had been a mother to a very willful child, and then had faced financial hardship. The sharp words and judgmental treatment she had given to Nelle made more sense to Nelle now. Nelle was a product of the city and the product of two parents who were very much in love.
And now she was engaged to the man whom Aunt Corinne had hoped her daughter would marry.
The teapot whistled, and Nelle set about putting together the tray. Then she carried the tray out of the kitchen, across the main hall, and into the parlor. Nelle slowed when she saw Mathew and Aunt Corinne, sitting together at her credenza, looking through her account books.
They both looked up as Nelle entered, and she noticed her aunt already looked better than before. Color had returned to her cheeks, and there was a new brightness to her eyes. Nelle carried the tea to the table and began to prepare everyone’s cup. She’d wanted to bring some cookies or biscuits, but her aunt’s cupboards had been painfully bare.
When Mathew turned, Nelle caught his eye, hoping to convey her wishes with a single look. She didn’t want to say anything that might embarrass her aunt, especially after she’d shown them her vulnerability.
It took only a moment for Mathew to understand. “Mrs. Ashton,” he said, closing the ledger he’d been reviewing. “Nelle and I and my mother would love for you to spend the holiday with us. We’ve all had a challenging year, and we can enjoy the comfort of each other’s company,” he said. “It would also give you and me more time to review your finances and make plans.”
Aunt Corinne blinked in apparent disbelief.
“We have plenty of room,” Mathew pressed.
With a slow nod, Aunt Corinne said in soft voice, “I believe I would like that.”
“Wonderful.” Nelle smiled over at Mathew, her heart expanding with even more love for this man, who understood what she needed and what her aunt needed too. “I’ll help you gather your things, and we can get you settled at the Jansons’.”
“Tonight?” Aunt Corinne asked, glancing over at the window at the growing darkness of the approaching night.
“My mother is serving supper soon,” Mathew said. “And she’ll be happy for the extra company.”
Aunt Corinne lifted a brow, reminding Nelle of her aunt’s former sternness. This time, she said, “All right, then. I’ll get my things together.”
It was on this note that Nelle accompanied her aunt to her bedroom, a room that Nelle had only seen from the corridor and had never stepped into. What Nelle had thought were lovely furnishings were actually quite worn upon closer inspection.
By the glow of the lamplight, they made short work of gathering Aunt Corinne’s items for her stay. Nelle carried the suitcase to the landing, where Mathew waited to carry it down the stairs. With relief, they left the cold and lonely house and climbed into the carriage to ride the short distance to Mathew’s home.
Nelle settled in across from her aunt. As the carriage began to move, her aunt said in a very small voice, “Thank you, Nelle.”
Nelle could only nod, afraid if she tried to speak, her tears would come.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Snow fell in lazy circles outside the windows as Mrs. Janson hovered over Nelle’s wedding dress, making a final adjustment. Christmas was in a few days, but neither Nelle nor Mathew wanted to wait any longer to marry.
“Beautiful!” Aunt Corinne said, coming into the room.
“I’m glad it’s you,” Mrs. Janson said. “Mathew is not to be up here at all.”
Aunt Corinne laughed. “Don’t worry, I gave him very strict instructions.”
Nelle smiled to herself as the two women bantered. How different things were this summer. Now, with the season of winter in full force, she was marrying Mathew, she was friends with Aunt Corinne, and Mrs. Janson had become like a mother to her.
“I wanted to let you know that Pearl has arrived,” Aunt Corinne continued.
“Oh, do bring her upstairs,” Mrs. Janson requested. “Maybe she can do something with this veil.”
Nelle peered at her own reflection in the long mirror. She’d spent the past two days working on the veil, but it still didn’t hang right, and they were running out of time since the ceremony would begin in two hours. Aunt Corinne had taken over decorating the parlor for the wedding, and Mrs. Janson had sent out all the invitations—all five of them.
Nelle didn’t mind that her wedding would be a small country affair, much different than what her mother had ever spoken about. But she would miss Dottie, and she could only hope her parents would be watching from heaven.
Moments later, as Pearl entered the room, all of Nelle’s worries fled. Nelle embraced the small woman. Then she stood back so Pearl could survey her dress.
“You look beautiful,” Pearl said with a smile. “Your aunt tells me you need help with the veil.”
“Yes,” Nelle said, holding it out to her.
Pearl took the veil and inspected it. “I know just the thing.” She looked over at Aunt Corinne. “Come with me,” Pearl said, “and you can help.”
When the two women left, Nelle turned back to the mirror. Her hair had been swept up on top of her head, and small curls cascaded around her face. Her dress had full sleeves that tapered below the elbow and a V-shaped neckline that was edged in lacey ruffle
s. The waist of the dress cinched into a point. The skirt flowed to the ground with a three foot train trailing behind it. The dress was, perhaps, a bit too fancy for a parlor wedding ceremony, but it had been her mother’s wedding dress, altered for Nelle.
It couldn’t be more perfect.
“The alterations turned out wonderful,” Mrs. Janson said, coming to stand by Nelle.
Nelle gave her a tremulous smile. “Do you think Mathew will like it?”
Mrs. Janson laughed. “He’ll love it. And the dress won’t matter as much to him as having the right woman wearing it.”
“What do you think?” Pearl said, entering the room again. She held up the long veil, now affixed with small white rosebuds at the crown and throughout the veil itself. “I used up one of the floral arrangements. Hopefully, it won’t be missed.”
“The roses look better on the veil than in a vase,” Mrs. Janson said, clapping her hands together. She helped Pearl arrange it on Nelle’s head.
“Lovely,” Aunt Corinne pronounced. “Now we need to hope the guests will arrive all right in this snow.”
As if the weather had heard her somehow, the room lightened as the sun broke out from behind the clouds. Light flakes of snow were still falling, but blue sky had made itself known.
Mrs. Greenwood, her two daughters, and Mathew’s manager, Mr. Bradley, and his wife were all coming. Mathew’s sister and her husband and children had arrived the night before. The gathering would be small, but Nelle didn’t mind.
A rapping sounded on the front door, loud enough that Nelle and the others could hear it.
“Is the reverend early?” Mrs. Janson asked.
“I’ll go see who it is,” Aunt Corinne said, even though the butler, Phillip, would be letting in the guests. Aunt Corinne stepped into the hallway and let out a cry.
“What’s happened?” Mrs. Janson asked, hurrying after her.
Nelle followed also and peered down the stairs toward the front hallway. There, standing below her, were Alice and Lucien. As Aunt Corinne let out another cry and hurried down the stairs to embrace them, Nelle laughed at the sight, feeling every bit of the emotions that her aunt must be feeling.
Love is Come (Power of the Matchmaker) Page 20