She stopped her pacing and turned toward him. “I suppose I can understand your motive, son. I just wished you had taken a different approach, but I also understand how persuasive Prudence is when she has her mind made up. It takes a determined will unafraid of retribution from the woman to win an argument with her.
Hiram smiled at his mother. “So you understand my situation?”
“Yes, I understand. And although I’m not happy about being involved, I do understand your concern about Aggie in the midst of this den of wolves. Even a strong woman, such as myself, can fall prey to this pack of back-biting, spiteful females. A gentle soul like Aggie needs every advantage she can get.”
“So, are you saying you’ll do it, Mother? You’ll send the invitation to Prudence for a tea party here, on Tuesday?”
“Yes, Hiram. I’ll do it, but only because it is so important to you and especially Aggie, though she doesn’t know it yet. And only if the doctor gives her a clean bill of health. I’ll not subject her to Prudence and her pack of backbiters if she’s not in a good way. She and that baby are what is most important. Prudence can go sit on a sack of feed if she doesn’t like it,” his mother declared with all her German fortitude.
He grinned and reached out to hug her ample waist. “Thank you, Mother. I knew I could count on you. Now, we’ll wait and pray the doctor brings us good news.”
Chapter 5
Aggie’s worry sent her heart rate soaring. She watched as the doctor laid out his medical instruments in preparation to examine her. She held her breath while he listened to her heart, the baby’s heart, and whatever else he was listening for as he moved the stethoscope around and around her abdomen. She was about to demand what was wrong when he frowned. It unnerved her enough that she kept silent. Then he pulled out a tape measure and measured from the top of her swollen belly to the juncture of her thighs. He scratched notes into his leather notebook. She tried desperately to read what he wrote, but his handwriting was atrocious.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the doctor returned his stethoscope to his bag and turned to her.
“Mrs. Hanover, you and your baby are in perfect health. Your baby is a good size considering your confinement date, and I find nothing wrong with either of you. Although, I will say you are a little thin for an expectant mother. I would suggest you try to eat more,” he admonished.
She tried not to take offense. It wasn’t as if she chose not to eat. She simply didn’t have much of an appetite, and when she did try things didn’t often go too well. “I’ll certainly try, doctor. I just can’t seem to get food down. And often times when I force it, it comes back up almost immediately. But I promise to do whatever it takes if it will help my baby grow,” she offered.
“Yes, it will help both of you get the nourishments you need. Try puddings and vegetables. If you have an aversion to meats, then simply don’t eat them. Replace them with spinach or perhaps more green vegetables. Or beans, citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts. There are so many foods this time of year. Experiment, but I want you to promise to eat something for every meal.” He sent her a look under his bushy eyebrows.
“Yes, of course. I will eat. I promise.” She had been eating. It wasn’t that she ate nothing. She just didn’t eat in great quantities. “Doctor, will my baby be on time?”
“Based upon what you’ve told me,” he said. “I predict your baby will be here by the second week in July. Also, a woman’s first child is often unpredictable. I would guess yours will be no different. It will come when it decides to come and not a minute sooner.”
He gave her a pat on the shoulder as encouragement.
“But, Dr. Davenport, what is causing me to feel so tired? Some days I barely have the strength to get dressed. I feel like such a burden to my husband and his entire household,” Aggie lamented.
“I can’t say for certain. There isn’t anything in your exam that would indicate a problem. While it is true some women are able to work right up to the birth, there are others whose constitution isn’t quite as hearty and they must rest more often. You, Mrs. Hanover, may be the later. In that case, just be grateful you don’t have to work for a living.”
“Yes, doctor. I’m a very fortunate woman indeed. My husband sees to it that I want for nothing. I owe a great deal of gratitude to both him and his family.”
Aggie didn’t want the doctor to think she was simply a spoiled woman who was complaining all the time.
“I want to ensure that my lack of energy is normal in my case, doctor. I just want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to bring this baby into the world, healthy and happy. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to—” Aggie couldn’t finish her thought aloud. It was too frightening to think about this precious baby in trouble. “That’s all.”
He smiled at her as he bent over and packed his medical equipment into his black leather case. “You are doing everything you are supposed to do, Mrs. Hanover. Your baby’s heartbeat is steady. There’s movement, and most importantly, the measurements of your baby’s growth is right on track.” He straightened and closed his case. “So, don’t you worry one bit. You just need to eat. Now, I’ll see myself out and you get some rest.”
Relief flooded through Aggie’s underweight, over-pregnant body. “Thank you, doctor. I’ll do exactly as you say.” Aggie smoothed a gentle hand across her belly.
He nodded and let himself out leaving Aggie to thank the good Lord for all of her blessings, including this healthy baby. She really should get downstairs and at least make an appearance for the day. Gertrude had been so worried. Now, Aggie could give her the best of news.
Aggie got out of bed and called for her maid to help her dress. Isabella brushed her hair and fashioned it into a loose chignon at the nape of her neck. A pat or two and she was ready to go. She couldn’t wait until Hiram got home tonight so she could also ease his mind about the baby’s health. And hers as well. She knew he always worried about her too.
A quick look in her vanity mirror, she pulled her shawl from the back of the chair and wrapped it around her shoulders. It felt so good to know everything was going to be alright. She need not have worried so much, and in the future, she would remind herself of that fact.
Aggie closed her bedroom door behind her and walked to the stair landing at the end of the hallway. She reached for the ornate polished wooden banister and glided her way down the carpeted stairs.
Midway, she heard voices coming from the library. It sounded like her husband, but that wasn’t possible, that is unless something had happened. She hurried the rest of the way down the winding stairs, careful to hang on to the banister to keep her slippered feet from sliding on the carpeted stairs. She called out as she reached the main floor, “Hiram? Is that you? Why are you home from work so soon? What’s wrong? What has happened?”
She rushed into the library where Dr. Davenport, her husband, and her mother-in-law were standing together. At the sound of her voice, they all turned in unison. If she were a betting woman—which she certainly was not—she would say they all had a guilty look on their faces.
“What has happened?” she asked again.
She saw the doctor give her husband a look. “Good day, Mr. Hanover. Then, he turned to Gertrude. “Good day, Mrs. Hanover.” Then he nodded to her on his way out the library door. “Good day to you too, Mrs. Hanover.” The door opened behind her and then the good doctor was gone.
She turned to her husband and his mother. “Well, what on earth was that all about? Has something happened?” She asked again of the room’s remaining occupants.
Her mother-in-law followed the doctor’s example. “The doctor said you and the baby are healthy. That is good news. Now I must rush to assist with the evening menu.” Her mother-in-law left the library in much the same way as the doctor except she refused to make eye contact with Aggie. What on earth is going on?
Aggie rounded on her husband. “Hiram Hanover, I insist you tell me what is going on this minute. Why are
you home so early? Has something happened?” She waited for him to answer. He stood and looked at her as if he would rather face down a raging bull than to have to answer her question.
“Hiram. I must insist. Please tell me what has happened that has everyone so upset.” She was starting to get quite worried. She rushed to Hiram’s side. “Please, tell me, Hiram. Is it your father? Has something happened to your father? Is Klaus alright?”
She watched her husband take a deep breath and then he pulled her hands into his. “What is it, Hiram? Please, just tell me.”
He squeezed her hands in reassurance, but the next words out of his mouth gave Aggie anything but reassurance.
“Prudence Pendergast has happened.”
Hiram knew the Barracuda of Boston had already made an impression on his wife. He could tell by the trepidation in her eyes at just the mere mention of the woman’s name. And just when things were improving between him and Aggie, he had to go and mess it up.
“I’m sorry, dear wife. I truly am. She came into my office the first of this week and made some pretty troubling threats—”
“Threats? The woman threatened you?” Aggie gasped.
Hiram chastised himself for his choice of words. “Promises. Aggie. She made some pretty serious promises if she didn’t get what she wanted. I felt under the circumstances, I had no choice. She had me cornered. What was I supposed to do?” Hiram pleaded for his wife’s understanding.
Aggie took a deep breath. “Perhaps we should sit down and talk about this calmly.”
“I agree. Although I will need to get back to the office soon. I have a client early this afternoon.” Hiram wished he had thought to cancel the appointment, but he had been so flustered, he hadn’t had the foresight to do it before he left the office.
Aggie led him by the hand to the settee. Once they were seated, she turned to him. “Okay, now tell me what has happened. It was obvious by Dr. Davenport and your mother’s quick departure, that they both are aware of the situation?”
“Yes, I was in the process of telling Mother when the doctor came downstairs and heard most of my confession. He told me you and the baby are doing fine. I’m so glad to hear that, my darling. He said you needed to eat more so I will have the kitchen staff scour the markets for the freshest and most scrumptious morsels to be found in Boston. Simply tell me what it is you desire, and it will be yours.” He looked directly into Aggie’s beautiful blue eyes and made his pledge. “Nothing is unattainable where you and the baby are concerned, my sweet.”
He saw the tears collect in her eyes. “Thank you, Hiram. You have given me everything I could possibly desire. I’m a very lucky woman, indeed.” Aggie squeezed his hand.
“But stop stalling and tell me what Prudence Pendergast has done to upset you so.” Aggie’s words pushed him into action. He rose and paced the library carpet.
“Yes. Yes, of course. As I said, I was in my office at the beginning of the week when Prudence paid me an early morning visit. She wanted to know why you had rejected her numerous invitations.” Hiram saw the look of shock on his wife’s face. “Now, before you say anything, please, let me finish.”
Aggie closed her mouth and clamped her jaws shut, but he could tell there was a lot his wife wanted to say.
He hurried on with his story. “I explained to her that you had been ill for some time. I tried to divert the woman from the fact that you are pregnant, but I swear, the woman is like a a dog with a bone when she has her mind set on something. She is also hard to fool, and quickly deduced the situation. Then she launched into her usual matchmaking tirade about my choice of wife.” Hiram realized too late he could have phrased that a bit better if the squint in Aggie’s eyes was any indication. “But I assured the woman my choice for a wife suited me perfectly and I had no intention whatsoever in changing my choice.”
“So, this Prudence woman is unhappy with your choice of wife? And just why would that be? Is she pushing a daughter on you? A niece? A close friend?” Aggie’s questions pelted him. She seemed quite put out. Could it be his Aggie was jealous? Though he knew it couldn’t be the reason, he couldn’t keep his hopes from soaring.
“Prudence has often considered herself a skilled matchmaker. And I will admit she has made some prudent introductions over the years, but I have no desire to succumb to Prudence’s machinations of marriage.” Hiram did his best to assure his wife there was no chance he was going anywhere.
“Very well. Please continue,” she pushed him to continue on with his story.
“Prudence doesn’t like her wisdom called into question so that’s when she insisted that if you were too ill to come to accept one of her invitations, then my mother should extend an invitation to allow her to come for a visit here, in our home. She gave me until today to secure the required invitation for her and a few close friends. I assured her that I would see to it and then…I sort of swept the problem to the back of my mind hoping against hope that the dreadful woman would just go away. Quietly.” He stopped to take a breath and tossed a look toward Aggie to gauge how she was taking the news.
“Quietly? Hiram, I’ve only been in Boston a short while, and most of that time behind the protection of the massive front door on this house, but even I am aware that Prudence Pendergast would never go anywhere quietly.” Aggie huffed.
Hiram grinned as he watched renewed fire flare in his wife’s eyes. The woman he fell in love with, who skimmed across the dance floor as if she floated. The woman whose beauty and courage stood head and shoulders above any other woman he had ever met, especially in the face of all she had lost. Could it be that the fire in his southern belle had returned? Oh, how, he hoped it had for that meant she was coming back to him from the dark place she had been residing since they left Savannah. And if that were the case, Mrs. Prudence Pendergast had met her match.
“You are quite right, my dear wife. But you and my mother working together? I fear the Barracuda of Boston will not fare well. Will not fare well at all.” He knew he was grinning from ear-to-ear, but he couldn’t seem to help himself.
The clock on the library wall struck half past twelve reminding him of his early afternoon appointment. “I fear I must hurry back to the office. My mother will send Bennie with Prudence’s invitation for tea this afternoon. And perhaps after next Tuesday’s tea party, the woman will be satisfied the Hanovers are not gathering behind her back to usurp her position within the Boston social set, and we can all get on with our lives.”
Hiram leaned in to kiss Aggie on the cheek. She surprised him with a kiss on his mouth. He was so startled he didn’t close his eyes during the kiss, but that oversight let him see that his wife had. Aggie had closed her eyes during their kiss…on his lips. When they pulled apart, Aggie’s face was a lovely shade of pink. It seems his bride was still able to blush.
He grinned at her until she grinned back.
“I will see you this evening,” he promised. “And I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it,” he gushed like a schoolboy experiencing his first crush. Considering how far he and Aggie had come in the last few months, he didn’t give one whit whether he acted like a lovesick fool or not.
Aggie’s cheeks pinked even further.
“Now, I must go, or I’ll be late for my client.” Hiram stood and Aggie stood with him.
“I suppose I should ask your mother to borrow one of her dresses. For the tea party on Tuesday, I mean.”
“If you need new clothes, Aggie. All you need to do is ask,” Hiram reminded her.
“I know, but it is a waste of money to commission new dresses when I can only wear them for a few months. Weeks really. I think it would be more prudent for this one day’s festivities to simply borrow one from your mother,” she informed him.
“And your own dresses are no longer suitable?” he asked the question knowing that widow’s weeds was the last thing she needed to wear for a late spring garden tea party with Prudence Pendergast. But it had not yet been a year since James’ deat
h, so he would never assume.
“I think we both know if I showed up mourning my first husband at a tea party hosted by my second husband’s mother…well, it would just stir the pot of snide remarks. Wouldn’t you agree?” She cocked her head in that cute way he loved when she found something interesting.
When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “Anyway, I’ll ask your mother for something to wear. Now, you get going or you’ll be late.” Aggie looped her arm in his and walked him to the library door. “Now, out with you. Your mother and I have things to do.”
Hiram grinned all the way back to his office. His wife had kissed him.
Chapter 6
Aggie sat at the table next to the solarium window gazing at the budding garden. Thoughts of her conversation with Hiram turned over and over in her mind, along with the unexpected kiss. She had intended to kiss Hiram on the cheek, but she had turned her head as he had moved to kiss her, and somehow, their lips touched. It was only the second time she had kissed Hiram on the lips. The first was at their private wedding with just his parents and the minister in attendance. But somehow, today’s kiss felt…different.
She drew in a heavy sigh and her thoughts continued to wander until she was pulled from her brooding by a booming voice from down the hall.
Already in full voice, Gertrude entered the room and immediately headed toward Aggie in her seat by window. “I’ve already sent Bennie to the Pendergast’s house, with Prudence’s extorted invitation for Tuesday’s tea party in hand. Now, all we have to do to get ready for the party is, well,…just about everything.” She chuckled and sat at the table opposite Aggie.
“I will be happy to help in any way I can. Especially since this tea party is because of my refusal to attend the woman’s parties.”
Aggie Page 6