When she drew back, she saw emotion filling his eyes. She reached her hand up and caressed his face. “I’m sorry I can’t say everything you want me to say, Hiram, but I will not lie to you. I will never taint our friendship by being dishonest with you. I’m just so afraid to embrace the future. And my heart refuses to let go of James. But I promise I will try.”
Sadness replaced the joy she had seen earlier on her husband’s face, but as always, he was gentle, kind, and selfless. “Please don’t trouble yourself about any of this, Aggie. It’s too soon to move on from the deep connection and loving relationship you had with James. But time will pass, and our friendship will grow stronger until we can call it something else. I’m certain of it. And until that time comes, I will be patient.”
“Thank you, Hiram. And I make this promise to you here and now. I promise I will keep trying to move toward the future. Perhaps someday I will be able to leave the past where it belongs…in the past.”
Aggie offered Hiram a smile to seal her pledge, but her guilty conscience mocked her. Could she rise above her love for James and all that she had lost to find happiness with Hiram? She hoped so. Truly she did.
Chapter 4
Aggie awoke from another night of fitful sleep. She could tell it was late morning by the angle of the sun beaming through her bedroom window. What day was it? Friday? “Oh my. I’ve overslept again. This week has flown by.”
She lay back against the sumptuous linens and reminisced about this past week. She was pleased with how happy she had made Hiram by speaking to him about the baby’s future; especially about him being the baby’s father. And she was glad that Gertrude and Klaus had approved of their choices in baby names. That was at least some progress made towards the future.
She had spent most of this week roaming the garden with Gertrude, knitting things for the baby, and embroidering kitchen towels for the staff. Anything to pass the time of day. She wished she felt like accepting her mother-in-law’s invitations to go shopping. It would be a far better way to pass the time before the baby comes than sitting around the house, but her body had no energy for such these things.
Aggie sighed and moved to get up, but she was just so tired. She hadn’t stayed up late so why was she so exhausted again this morning? She supposed it was hard work to create a tiny human being so perhaps her body was just having to work very hard to get the job done. Whatever the reason, she seemed to be more and more tired these days. She barely had the energy to get dressed and go downstairs for meals.
A knock at the door pulled her from her worry. “Come in.” She rose from her bed and reached for her wrapper to cover her night clothing.
Gertrude entered the room with a tray full of food. “I thought you could use this since you hadn’t come down for breakfast. Are you feeling alright, dear?”
Her mother-in-law’s worried frown made Aggie feel like a burden. “I’m sorry to put you to so much trouble. I was planning to come down for breakfast, I just couldn’t seem to wake up and when I did, I felt so weak. Though I was getting up when you knocked.” Her words sounded more like excuses than an explanation.
“There’s no need to explain, Aggie. You can stay in bed all day if you like. I’m just worried about you, that’s all. You are so pale, and you’re thin as a rail.” She set the tray of food on the table next to Aggie’s bed. She reached out and touched Aggie’s forehead with the back of her hand. “Well you don’t have a fever, but still you do look very pale.”
“I know. To be honest, I’m a little worried myself. This being my first child and all, I have nothing to compare it to and all of my relatives are—” Aggie stopped short. All of her relatives were dead, as were most of her friends, at least the ones who’d had children.
Gertrude pulled her hand away. “I understand. And since Hiram is my only child, I can’t really be of much help although I was never skinny like you are. My appetite grew as my baby did, so again, I’m not much help. Let’s get you back into bed and I’ll call the doctor. It can’t hurt just to be on the safe side.” Gertrude helped Aggie out of her wrapper and pulled the covers back, fluffed up the pillows against the headboard, and turned to help her into bed. Aggie didn’t have the strength to argue.
When she settled between the sheets, Gertrude tucked the sheets snug around her. They were a bit too snug, and Aggie discretely pulled her arms out from their prison and rested them on top of the covers. She was extremely tired. Maybe it would be a good idea to have the doctor take a look. What could it hurt?
“I think it might be wise to call the doctor, just to put everyone’s mind at ease.” She offered Gertrude a weak smile of encouragement. “But let’s not say anything to Hiram just yet. I don’t want to disturb his day, especially while he’s at work. There will be plenty of time to give him good news when he gets home this evening, don’t you agree?”
“A very good idea, Aggie. I’ll see to it immediately. Now, let me set your breakfast tray across your lap. You must eat to keep up your strength you know.”
Before Aggie could protest, Gertrude placed a tray of food across Aggie’s legs filled with eggs, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, and juice. “I could never eat all this food,” Aggie assured the woman as she fussed with the napkin and silverware.
“Just start eating. Eat what you can. I’ll send Gladys up later to get the tray and I’m going downstairs right now to send Bennie to get Dr. Davenport. It won’t hurt anything at all for him to just stop by for a quick visit.”
“Thank you, Gertrude. I think I would rest easier if I knew the baby was okay.” Aggie picked at the food on her plate and attempted to fork some eggs into her mouth while her mother-in-law was still in the room. But the minute she left; Aggie spit them out. She was nauseous and the smell of the food made her want to visit the water closet.
She set the silverware on the tray and pushed the tray off her lap and onto the bed. Without any notion how long it would take the doctor to come, she slipped deeper into the bed covers and drifted off to sleep.
A knock at the door woke her from her nap. “Come in.”
The door swung open and Gertrude, followed by Dr. Davenport, swept into the room. Aggie started to rise greet them, but the doctor motioned for her to stay in bed. “Stay put, Mrs. Hanover. I’ll examine you where you are.”
“Hello, doctor. It’s so nice of you to come on such short notice. I hope our summons of you hasn’t inconvenienced you.” She smiled and offered him a nod of greeting.
“Nonsense,” Gertrude interjected. “He’s paid very well to attend to you my dear. No offense to you, of course, doctor.” Gertrude’s face pinked in embarrassment.
Aggie watched the doctor cut a glance to the lady of the house, but the smile on his wrinkled face said he hadn’t taken offense. “I am paid well, thank you, Mrs. Hanover. But, if I didn’t have a passion for this business, I would hardly stay up all hours of the night waiting for a uncooperative baby to be born, now would I?”
He didn’t wait for Gertrude to answer. Instead, he turned to Aggie. “Would you mind if I set my bag here in this chair next to the bed?”
“Of course not.” Aggie watched while he opened the large black leather bag and rummaged for what he was looking for.
Gertrude peeked over his shoulder. “Can I do anything, doctor? Hot water? Clean rags? Sheets?” Aggie could see the doctor was amused by her mother-in-law’s curiosity.
“No, Mrs. Hanover. Those items will be needed when this Mrs. Hanover goes into labor. But right now, I just want to examine her. Would you mind stepping out of the room and giving us some privacy?”
“Yes. Of course, doctor.” Gertrude sent Aggie a look of encouragement. “Everything is going to be just fine. You wait and see.” Then, Gertrude left the room closing the door behind her.
“Shall we begin?” Dr. Davenport faced her, his stethoscope in his hand.
“Yes. I’m ready.” Aggie took a deep breath and prayed the doctor would give her good news.
Hiram had spent mos
t of the morning talking with new clients. He had taken copious notes recording his client’s comments, but he had to admit he had doodled other notes on the paper too.
He flipped over a couple of pages to where he had written the girl and boy names they had chosen. Elsa Rose and James Hiram. Elsa and James. He couldn’t have been more proud of those names. He realized he was grinning like a lunatic again, but he couldn’t care less. Aggie had finally turned a corner by letting him help name her baby. Their baby.
He wondered at her change of heart. Perhaps it was his visit to her room yesterday morning. Or his invitation to share an evening with him in the library. Honestly, whatever it was that caused the change in his wife’s demeanor, he didn’t care. He was deliriously happy that she was finally coming around.
“Sir, there’s someone here to see you,” his secretary said from his office door.
“The last time you said that I had an unexpected visitor, it turned out to be Prudence Pendergast,” he joked.
Jason grinned. “No, sir. It’s a young man this time.”
“Well, send him in. Let’s see what the young man wants.” Hiram sat back in his chair and waited. A young man of about seventeen entered his office with his hat in his hand. “Come in, young man. Come in. What can I do for you today?”
“Hello, sir. I’m here to deliver this letter.” He walked across the room and extended his hand. A letter dangled from his fingers.
“A letter? And who is the letter from?” Hiram took the missive from the boy.
“It’s from Mrs. Pendergast, sir. She sent me with the letter and insisted that I wait for your answer.”
Hiram knew without opening the envelope what the letter held. Prudence was wanting to know where her invitation was. It was Friday and she would not be put off any longer.
He had meant to speak with his mother and Aggie all week about Prudence’s visit to his office demanding an invitation from his mother. But then there was the night he and Aggie picked names for the baby, and why would he want to ruin that incredible time with a mention of the Barracuda of Boston’s extortion. After that, it was one thing after another to deal with all week, and the subject simply slipped his mind. Now it was Friday and he was out of time.
“Very well, young man. Give me a moment and I’ll have my response ready. Wait outside in the front office please,” Hiram instructed the boy.
“Jason, can you come in here, please? I have a letter for you to take down.” Hiram waited in his office.
“Yes, sir?” Jason entered his office and sat down in the chair in front of him. His pen and paper at the ready.
“Take this down. Dear Prudence, I’ve spoken to both Mrs. Hanovers, my wife and my mother, and they are delighted to extend an invitation to you, and any guests you choose, for an afternoon tea next Tuesday at our home. My mother is in the process now of issuing you a formal invitation. Our manservant should come around sometime this afternoon with invitation in hand.
Thank you for your understanding with regards to my wife’s situation. They are looking forward to next Tuesday’s delightful event, as we hope you are. All my best to you and Henry. Sincerely, Hiram Hanover, Esq.”
He looked at Jason and added. “Put my seal on the envelope and give it to the boy waiting in your office. And, give him a coin for his trouble.”
“Very well, Mr. Hanover.” Jason left his office leaving Hiram to ponder how on earth he was going to explain to his mother and his wife that he had just invited Prudence Pendergast for tea next Tuesday. His mother would have a conniption fit. There wouldn’t be enough time for a thorough cleaning or preparation of the silver or any of the other things she fusses over when she invites visitors into her home.
His mother would want everything to be just right even though the staff already did an amazing job of keeping the entire house spit shined to perfection. But, if Prudence Pendergast was able to find fault with someone, she made certain everyone in Boston would know about it. He knew his mother didn’t give one hoot whether Prudence approved or disapproved of anything she did, but he feared Prudence would focus on Aggie should anything be amiss. And that was something he, nor his mother, would allow to happen if it could be avoided.
He grabbed his hat and coat and rushed out of his office. “Jason, have you finished that letter to Mrs. Pendergast?”
“Almost done, sir,” Jason assured him.
“Good. I’ve just remembered an urgent errand I must take care of. I’ll be back in an hour or so. My first appointment is not until two o’clock, so I’ll be back in plenty of time.”
“Very good, sir.” Jason sat at his desk finishing up the letter.
Hiram then spoke to the boy waiting. “Young man, I have to leave, but my secretary here will be finished with that letter to Mrs. Pendergast shortly.”
The boy nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
Hiram left the office quickly, turned toward his home and hurried down the street. He knew he had a lot of persuading to do before next Tuesday and he was fairly sure he would need every ounce of his persuasive abilities when his mother and wife learned about what he had just done.
He walked as fast as he could to the corner to hail a paid carriage. Even then, it took him twenty minutes at a fast clip to cover the city streets between his office and home. He hesitated for a minute at the front door gathering his courage to face his mother’s irritation with him. He wished his father would come home from his business trip to Philadelphia soon. He could use the support of another male in the household.
Hiram let himself into the house and listened for clues as to where the occupants were while he hung up his hat and coat.
As if on cue, his mother glided down the staircase. “Hiram, darling. What are you doing home? I thought you had court this morning?” A confused frown stretched across her smooth skin. She reached the landing and waited for him to explain.
“Good morning, Mother. Yes, I do have court, but I had another more urgent situation I needed to discuss with the two most important women in my life. Where’s Aggie? I hope she’s feeling okay?”
“That is yet to be determined. Dr. Davenport is upstairs, and—”
Hiram’s heart plunged. “What happened? Is my wife alright? What about the baby?” He turned to rush up the stairs when his mother’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“Hiram, you can’t go up there now. I told you, the doctor is with her. And no, Aggie was just feeling off and we thought it would be prudent to call in the doctor. So, there’s no need to worry. At least, not yet. Now, join me in the library and tell me what it is that is so important you had to come all the way home. What was so important that it couldn’t wait until this evening?”
His mother turned toward the library door leaving him no choice but to follow. He swallowed hard and inhaled a deep breath for courage.
On his mother’s heels, he followed her into the library where she took her usual seat on the settee and fluffed out her voluminous dress. She wasted no time in getting to the point. “Now, Hiram. Tell me what has brought you home in the middle of the day.” She watched him with a mother’s keen eye that missed nothing.
“Well, there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about all week and because of one thing or another, I forgot to mention it.”
“Mention what?”
“A funny thing happened earlier this week. You see, Prudence Pendergast came to see me on Monday and insisted that Aggie attend one of her social gatherings.”
“Why that pompous biddy. Just because she owns half of Boston doesn’t mean she can order everyone around. We will attend one of her presumptuous parties if we feel like it and lately Aggie hasn’t felt like it.” His mother’s huffed response told him this wasn’t going to go smoothly which is exactly what he had feared.
“Well, I did want her to give Aggie’s condition some consideration so when she insisted that you invite her over to meet Aggie for tea, I admit I allowed her tactics to get the better of my good sense, and…” Hiram stam
mered as he laid the truth out for his mother’s examination.
“Hiram, are you telling me you allowed that overbearing female jackalope to bully you into inviting her here? And without my knowledge?” His mother’s indignation was rising.
“Yes. No. I mean…” Hiram continued to stutter. It’s a good thing he spoke more smoothly in court or he wouldn’t be much of a lawyer.
“Either you did, or you didn’t, son. Which is it?” His mother glared at him. Her silver-blond eyebrows furrowed in anger.
He never could lie to his mother. There was something about the woman that always picked apart his elaborate attempts to fib.
“I did. I admit it, Mother. She was so persuasive, and I did want Aggie to be able to put her best foot forward in Boston’s society. You know how difficult Prudence can make things for people who—”
“For people who don’t follow her whims? Yes, Hiram. But I thought we were above that nonsense, son,” his mother admonished him.
Guilt weighed on his conscience. “I know, and I’m sorry I let her get the better of me. But, the fact remains, I did. I agreed, and I’m afraid I put you on the spot. She is waiting for a personal invitation from you to attend a tea next Tuesday.” There it was. All out on the table for his mother to see.
“Next Tuesday! Hiram, you can’t be serious. That isn’t nearly enough time to prepare for that judgmental old battle-ax. She will pick apart my staff, my home, my silver, my food, my…everything. Tuesday isn’t nearly enough time, Hiram. What were you thinking?” His mother stood and paced the library floor.
“I know, mother and I’m sorry. Truly I am. I just wanted so much for Aggie to be accepted. She already has so much against her in those superficial social climber’s eyes, and I didn’t want Prudence to make any trouble for her now or in the future. Can you understand? Please say you do.” Hiram pleaded with his mother knowing there wasn’t much she would deny her only child.
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