Through all this, Annie sat happily on her aunt’s lap, gurgling and giggling with each new visitor. Tonight would be their last night in the home she’d enjoyed for some years, and the bed she’d come to find comfort in.
She set out warm clothes for Annie for the trip, along with a knitted cap for her little head. With a little over a month until Christmas, the weather was turning. She had no idea what it would be like on the train, but wasn’t willing to take the risk.
As she climbed into bed that night, she prayed for the souls of her sister and brother-in-law. She also prayed that Mr Jacob Carruthers was an understanding man.
At precisely 10 am, Jacob put down his pencil and donned his thick woolen coat. He put his hat on his head and pulled on his gloves. “Abigail,” he said as he left his office. “I am off to collect Miss Magdalena Roth from the station. I will be gone about an hour.”
She nodded. He’d confided to Abigail about his change of mind, but it was far too late for regrets. He’d been brought up to understand if you made a decision, you stuck with it.
Unfortunately, this decision was life-changing. Reneging would not be a good look. But more than that, Miss Roth would be put in a precarious situation.
“A promise is a promise,” he muttered under his breath as he approached the Great Falls station. It was a small station here, nowhere near as big as Dayton Falls, the next stop along. That town had been established some time before Great Falls, and had grown substantially. It was also a major station and attracted many more visitors.
Great Falls had also grown since the railway came along, and he could imagine the growth ten years down the track. It could only be good for business.
He waited impatiently on the platform for what seemed ages. Several men alighted the train, and a few couples, but no women traveling alone. She must have missed her train.
He was about to turn away and return to the bank, when a woman with a baby in a carriage stood in the middle of the platform and called his name.
“Mr Carruthers. Mr Jacob Carruthers?” she called aloud.
He gasped. This surely couldn’t be Miss Roth? There was no mention of a child in her letters. He would have rejected her immediately had she mentioned it.
He pulled his coat tighter around himself and straightened his tie. “That is I,” he said formally. “And you are?”
He held his breath, hoping it wasn’t his intended bride.
“Miss Magdalena Roth,” she answered quietly.
He stared into the carriage at the sleeping child. “You didn’t mention you had a child,” he said angrily.
She swallowed, and took a step back, pulling the contraption along with her. “There was an accident,” she said, her voice barely audible.
“An accident?”
“I, I…” she began to explain, but he stopped her when she looked like she was about to bawl. He couldn’t cope with crying women, never had been able to. That would be especially so with one he’d just met.
What on earth had he got himself into?
He would put her and the child up at the hotel for a few nights, then send them on their way. He opened his mouth to tell her as much, then thought of his sister, Jennifer. He could imagine what she would have to say.
“I’ll take you to my house where we can talk privately,” he said, looking about.
He wondered if Jennifer was in town today. She most likely would be, since she knew Miss Roth was arriving today and would force herself upon the unfortunate young woman.
But she knew how to handle a crisis. With five children, she had to.
“This way,” he said, guiding her toward the cab he’d arrived in. He helped her up onto the cab, holding her by the waist. His anger in check now, he appreciated her curves.
He passed the baby up, then wrestled with the carriage. “Can you tie this thing down with the trunk,” he asked the driver. The man did as requested.
He sat quietly next to her, studying the distraught expression on her face. He dearly wanted to ask what accident had occurred but had no intention to do so in front of the driver.
They soon arrived at his home, and went through the ritual in reverse. “This is my home,” he said flippantly, helping her down with the baby in her arms.
She stared at it. “It’s huge,” she said quietly. “Surely you don’t live here alone?”
“I most certainly do,” he said sternly. Who did she think lived with him?
She placed the baby back in the carriage. It was then he realized he didn’t know if it was a girl or boy.
He turned away. Was he even interested? He paid the driver, and pulling his keys from his pocket, unlocked the door and led them inside.
He watched as she glanced about, taking in the size of the place. To this day, he had no idea why he’d built such a mansion. He’d never intended to have children. Ever.
Between his sister and his mother, he’d given in to the pressure of building such a large house. At least it was an investment in his future should the bank ever fail.
“Sit yourself down,” he said, indicating the sitting room. “I’ll get your trunk. We don’t want some vagabond stealing it. I’m sure you’ll want to take it with you when you go.”
He smiled tentatively, but Miss Roth turned deathly white at his offhand comment.
“Go?” she said softly. She spoke so quietly that she was barely audible.
He stared at her. She couldn’t stay – surely she could see that? She was an unmarried woman with a child. He’d agreed to marry a spinster, he didn’t agree to…this.
Besides, he had a reputation to uphold.
There was a knock at the door. “Ah, that will be my sister, Jennifer,” he said, then went to answer the door. And not before time – she would know how to handle this situation.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” he said quietly. “We have a…problem.”
Jennifer pushed her way through the door. “I’m Jennifer, Jacob’s sister,” she began, then stopped in her tracks when she saw the baby.
“Oh. You have a baby?” She moved closer and stared at the sleeping baby. Her face softened. “What’s her name?”
Miss Roth shifted in her seat. “Annie. I tried to tell Mr Carruthers there’d been an accident, but he wouldn’t let me.”
His sister rounded on him. “Honestly, Jacob. What is wrong with you? Make yourself useful and put on the kettle.” She turned back to Magdalena Roth. “Now my dear, tell me what happened.”
Magdalena stared over the top of her cup at Jacob.
She’d poured out her heart to Jennifer, while her brother hid himself in the kitchen on the pretense of organising drinks for them all.
In the middle of all this, Annie had decided she needed a bottle and screamed at the top of her lungs. Jennifer had been an agent of calm in the midst of chaos.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” Jennifer announced after gulping down the last of her coffee. “Jacob, you go to the church and organise the preacher for two o’clock. I’ll help Magdalena get ready for the wedding.”
He stared at her. “Are you mad? I didn’t sign up for a child.”
“And neither did Magdalena. But here we are. Besides, when you get married, a baby usually results.” She grinned at him. “This might be a little different, but it has the same result.”
“I can’t do this,” he muttered, but turned away when Jennifer glared at him.
“I have my sister’s wedding gown,” Magdalena said quietly. Not that she wanted to wear it now. She wasn’t sure why she salvaged it from those she gave away. It seemed a good idea at the time, but now the thought of it made her feel even more emotional.
Jennifer stood. “You go, Jacob,” she said, shooing her brother out of the house. “We’ll meet you at the church at two.” He frowned at her but did as he was told.
“He doesn’t want to marry me,” Magdalena whispered. She wrapped Annie up, and tucked her into the carriage. “Do you know what time the next train leaves?” S
he would go to the next town up the line. She’d heard Dayton Falls was bigger than here. Perhaps she’d be more welcome there. Even if she was now unmarried spinster with a child.
“You are not leaving,” Jennifer said between ground teeth. “I am quite angry with my brother right now. Always thinking only of himself.” She stood and headed toward the trunk. “I assume it’s in here?”
Magdalena opened the trunk, and pulled out the wedding gown, which she’d carefully laid on the top.
Jennifer looked it over and sighed. “It’s beautiful,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “You will look stunning in this. Jacob will change his mind when he sets eyes on you.”
“As opposed to me looking like a street urchin after three days on the train?”
Jennifer grinned. “You are a bit of a mess, I must admit.”
Magdalena wiped at her face, as if that would wipe all trace of soot from her.
Carrying the gown into a bedroom, she indicated the bride-to-be to follow her. Annie was sound asleep.
Jennifer laid the gown across the bed. Was this his room? Jacob’s? It appeared to be the master bedroom, and that worried Magdalena.
“The bathroom is through here. Follow me.” She took some towels out of a hall cupboard on her way through, and went into a large bathroom. It was bigger than the bedrooms back home.
Magdalena stared at the facilities in the room. “This is amazing,” she said.
“I told Jacob he was going overboard when he built this place. But Father insisted he had to live up to his reputation.”
“Reputation?”
Jennifer stared at her blankly. “You do know he’s the banker surely?”
Magdalena shook her head. “He didn’t tell me.”
“Well he is. And he has standing in the community. That’s why he’s been behaving like an idiot.”
Magdalena smiled at that. “He has been, hasn’t he?”
Jennifer wholeheartedly agreed. “Right, let’s get you into this nice hot bath. Take your time, and I’ll look after the baby. I have five of my own, you know.”
That told her a lot. She’d calmed Annie in a heartbeat, and organised her bottle without effort. “That might be you one day,” she said, then grinned.
“I’m an old spinster of twenty-eight,” Magdalena said. “I doubt that will happen.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a beautiful woman. Once Jacob sees beyond his irritation, he will see that too.”
Magdalena stared at the hot bath. It looked so enticing. This could be her last chance at self-indulgence before her marriage.
She had not long put on the wedding gown when she heard a gentle tap on the door.
“It’s me, Jennifer.”
She opened the door tentatively. “I need help with the buttons at the back, if you don’t mind?”
“Oh, this is so exciting,” Jennifer told her, fully animated. “I’m about to have a sister. I’ve gone all through life with an annoying brother, and now I have you!”
She spun Magdalena around and fastened the tiny buttons at the back of the dress. “I brought some flowers from the garden. Some for your bouquet, and some smaller ones for your hair.”
Magdalena swallowed back a sob. It was the sort of thing her sister would have done for her. “Thank you,” she said, emotion evident in her voice.
“Don’t you dare cry!” Jennifer hugged her tight. “You can’t get married with puffy red eyes.” She pushed her new sister away. “It’s almost time to leave. Hopefully my dear brother has organized a cab for us.”
They walked slowly toward the sitting room. She could see Annie was still sound asleep.
“I’ll carry her. That way we can leave the baby carriage here. Oh, you’re going to need a crib.” Jennifer waved her hands in the air. “That’s the least of your problems right now.”
The driver helped her up into the cab when it arrived, then Jennifer passed Annie up, then climbed up herself. She reminded Magdalena of her own sister a lot, but was much more assertive. Bossy even. The thought made her smile.
They soon arrived at the church. It wasn’t as big as the one back home, but Great Falls was no where as big as her home town.
The cab driver helped the women down, and was soon on his way. Magdalena moved tentatively toward the church doors. If the situations were reversed, would she agree to the marriage?
She wasn’t sure.
She worried her bottom lip. Would she even find Mr Jacob Carruthers, Banker, Pillar of Society, waiting inside? Her heart skipped a beat. If he wasn’t there, she would go back to his house and collect her belongings, then catch the next train out of town.
As Jennifer opened the big ornate doors for her, she swallowed. “I feel ill,” she whispered. “And a little light-headed.”
“Everything will be alright,” Jennifer whispered back, reaching out to support her.
Magdalena nodded, but she wasn’t convinced. “I’m scared he might not be here,” she said softly.
Jennifer craned her neck and stared toward the front of the church. “Oh he’s here alright. He wouldn’t dare not to be.”
Magdalena froze, then took her first steps toward being a married woman.
Chapter Three
Jacob’s heart beat rapidly. Was he really doing this? Would he really marry a woman with a child he was unaware of?
Evidently, yes.
He looked to the preacher for support. He’d attended this church for his entire life, and Preacher Jones knew him well.
They talked quietly as they waited for the two women to arrive. Jacob checked his pocket-watch. One fifty-five. They should be here any moment. He hoped Magdalena was punctual. He insisted on punctuality.
“Your parents would be so proud,” the preacher said. “They are here in spirit, if not in body,” he added.
“Thank you, Preacher,” Jacob said softly. He wished they were here. His father especially had helped him get to where he was today. “I miss them dearly.”
Preacher Jones reached out and held his hand, then patted it. “Unfortunately, accidents happen,” he said, then his head shot up. “Ah, here is your lovely bride now.”
Jacob turned to see his bride walking down the aisle. Was this really the same woman? She looked beautiful. At least she’d cleaned up. She was the epitome of a grubby gypsy earlier.
He slapped himself mentally. That wasn’t really fair. She’d literally just stepped off the train, and was splattered in soot. The damned stuff was on her clothes, and smudged across her face.
But now?
He stared. He couldn’t help himself. This was the face of an angel. A beautiful angel.
He knew he shouldn’t have such thoughts in church, and dragged his eyes away from her. His sister came behind her carrying the child.
He hadn’t told the preacher about her, and wondered what he would say.
“Is the child yours, Jacob?” he asked, a frown on his face.
“What? No,” he said, shocked. “It’s her niece. The parents were killed in a tragic accident earlier this week.”
The preacher looked at him thoughtfully. “That is so kind of you to take on someone else’s child.”
He stared at the preacher. He had no intention of telling him it was under duress from his constantly annoying sister.
Was he kind? He wasn’t sure. The way he’d behaved when he first saw her certainly didn’t prove kindness. More aggravation than anything.
Magdalena came to stand by his side. She looked even more beautiful up close. She had flowers in her hair, no doubt his sister’s idea.
He leaned in and whispered. “You look beautiful,” then wondered why he’d done so.
She stared into his eyes. Hers were the deepest brown he’d ever seen. They were the color of rich chocolate, and he could easily get lost in them.
“Ahem.” Preacher Jones cleared his throat. “Are we ready to begin?”
Magdalena nodded.
“I think we are, Preacher Jones.” Jacob
automatically reached out and held her hand. He hadn’t intended to do it, but he felt compelled to do so.
He felt the heat of his sister’s eyes on his back. It was all he could do to not turn around and glare at her.
The vibration of his bride’s shaking hand as he held it gutted him. He squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her.
What was wrong with him? Nothing was going to plan. He was meant to be back at work two hours ago, not standing here in the damned church preparing to marry.
When he realized he’d cussed in church, even if it was in his mind, he closed his eyes and prayed for forgiveness.
“Do you Jacob Carruthers, take this woman, Magdalena Roth for your wife?”
His eyes flashed open, and he turned to look at her. Her eyes pleaded with him and he knew it was too late to back out. “I do.”
“And do you Magdalena Roth take this man, Jacob Carruthers for your husband?”
“I do.”
When the preacher said the part about kissing his bride, his heart skipped. She was so beautiful, this wife of his, and he was sure she’d be very kissable too.
He cupped his hands on either side of her face, and leaned in to kiss her. Their lips met, oh so gently, and she pulled back slightly as though she hadn’t expected it.
He leaned in again, and kissed her more fully this time. When he eventually pulled back his lips were tingling.
He stared down at her. At this petite woman who stood next to him, who was now his legally wedded wife.
She put her fingers to her lips.
Jennifer moved forward with the baby. “Congratulations!” she said, kissing and hugging them both. “Let’s go back to your place, Jacob, then we can organize a celebration dinner.”
He inwardly groaned. Would this never end?
Jacob helped the women down from the cab.
As he held his bride around the waist, their eyes met. There was something about her eyes – they got to him each and every time.
He quickly pulled his gaze away and placed her gently on the ground. He turned to the cab driver and shoved some notes into his hand. The convenience of having the man hang around for the duration was worth the extra money.
A Family For Christmas (Spinster Mail-Order Brides Book 5) Page 2