A Rumored Engagement

Chapter Five

“We were just about to have tea,” Nan informed him as Becky handed him another curtain panel. “Won’t you stay and join us?”

This time Susannah did shoot a quelling glance at her sister, but Nan turned and busied herself with clearing off the table.

“I’d love to.” Daniel snapped the rod in place and moved to the next window. Becky darted over and began fluffing the curtains with an expert hand. “In fact, I was wondering if you got the gift I sent you.”

“It was lovely!” Nan exclaimed, and the sisters began chattering in tandem about the vast repast he’d sent over and how delicious everything had been. Watching them together, a cold feeling of loneliness settled in Susannah’s stomach. She could not be lighthearted about his gift. Indeed, it was difficult to feel gratitude. All she felt was the same undying sense of betrayal—that she had reached out to him when she needed someone desperately and yet he hadn’t come back for her. She had to turn off these thoughts. She could not allow him to see how much she was hurt. After all, it meant nothing to him. Why allow him to see how deeply she had been affected by his absence? She grasped the broom and walked out to the back porch. She propped the broom next to the doorway and sank onto the rough brick, tucking her skirts around her.

She was tired. And hungry. Perhaps she could just rest for a moment, savoring the quiet. She untied her apron and cast it onto the long, swaying grass. The wind ruffled her hair, and she turned her face up toward the sun. Methodically, she removed the handful of hairpins she’d used to hold her hair, and relished the feeling of release as its heavy weight tumbled down her back. Just a few moments of peace, and then she’d put her hair up, tie her apron back on and go pretend to be a hostess to the man who had betrayed her.

The grass looked awfully tempting. She could spread her apron out on it and take a tiny nap, the late-afternoon sun warming her and making her eyelids droop...

“Susy. I brought you some tea.”

Susannah snapped back to reality with a gasp. She’d almost fallen asleep where she sat, and Daniel stood over her, a steaming mug in one hand and a look of tender concern on his face. She shook her head to rid herself of the dreamy haze that enveloped her and her hair rippled around her shoulders, a reminder that she was dirty, unkempt and had been caught half-asleep by Daniel Hale.

Her cheeks burning with embarrassment, Susannah accepted the cup from Daniel. “Thank you.” She let the use of her nickname pass. For the moment.

He knelt beside her and plucked a blade of grass, toying with it. “You’ve been working too hard.”

She took a careful sip. The tea was strong and wonderfully hot, just the thing she needed to feel revived. “No indeed. I need to work a good deal harder.”

“I worry about you.”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but he kept his face turned down. He must be teasing her, just as he always did. “Oh, don’t worry about me, Mr. Hale. I am tireless as a windmill.” She made her voice light and airy, the perfect rejoinder.

“I’m not teasing you. I have grave concerns about the amount of work you are taking on.” He cast the blade of grass aside and faced her squarely. “I want to help. If I keep sending food down from Goodwin, would you accept it? I want to make sure you and your sisters have enough to eat until your shop becomes a success.”

“We will not accept any charity.” She kept the same light tone of voice, but her hands began to tremble. “But I thank you for your concern.”

“It’s not charity.” With a sudden, swift gesture he took the cup from her and set it aside, then grasped her hands in his. “Won’t you let me help?”

She cast a quick darting glance at him, scanning his face for sincerity. Deep shadows ringed the eyes that usually held a mischievous light, and the stubble of a beard darkened his cheeks and chin. Daniel looked older—more worn—than he had in some time. Age might have changed him. He might be sincere. But then—Daniel was always sincere at the moment. The sincerity just didn’t stand the test of time.

She tried to tug her hands away and attempted a flighty, false laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t see why you feel you need to watch out for me.”

Daniel pulled her closer, so close that she caught his scent of leather and green grass. “I’m sorry for what I did. Can you ever forgive me?”

She forced herself to look up at him. She hadn’t been this close to him since they were sixteen years old, and for some reason, his proximity was playing havoc with her sensibilities. “I am trying,” she admitted in a whisper. “But it’s difficult. You have no idea...” She trailed off, unable to tell him anything over the painful lump rising in her throat.

“I wish I’d done things differently. I know I have a lot to make up for. Can we...” He paused and swallowed. “Can we at least be friends? I can work on atonement much more effectively if you don’t openly despise me every time I stop by.”

Friendship. Friendship was neutral and didn’t use up as much of her feelings as hatred did. Besides, she was supposed to forgive him if she was to live out her faith. He wasn’t asking too much. Not really.

Could she relinquish her anger enough to be friends?

She tugged her hands from his grip and sat back on her heels, putting some much-needed distance between them. “Very well,” she admitted. “I will be your friend, and you can be mine, but we must have some conditions for this arrangement.”

A half smile quirked the corner of his mouth and the light of challenge shone in his green eyes. “Name them.”

“First, you do not call me Susy. Second, you do not send extravagant gifts to my family.”

“I don’t like the terms, but I will reluctantly agree to them if it means I earn your friendship.” He drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. “Anything else?”

“Let’s just keep everything...pleasant.” She could not give voice to her tumultuous feelings, but somehow the word summed up how desperately she wanted to brush over the past. “I’m starting anew here in Tansley, and I don’t want to spend the first few weeks in dread of meeting you, or in dread of reliving the past. Do you understand?”

“I think so.” He kept his face turned downward, studying his boots. “I know only too well what you mean about reliving the past. ’Tis an awful practice.”

He must be referring to their engagement. He must feel badly that he ever agreed to marry her. Finding out this way was like tripping over a rut in a road you thought was smooth. She regretted the engagement, too, but she would never describe it as awful. Rather, she regretted that she ever depended on anyone else for her happiness. At least now she knew that independence was the only way to be fully happy.

Susannah stifled a sigh. But then, Daniel had always hated being confined to duties and responsibilities. One Easter Sunday he’d run off and spent the day climbing the moors rather than attend services with his father. He’d been nothing but a lad then. She found him later—dirty and unkempt—when she’d taken her sisters out for a walk. And they’d shared a jam sandwich and strolled with him back to the gates of Goodwin Park.

He would never change. He’d always be the boy smeared with dirt, running away to avoid his duties.

Friendship, and never reliance, was the only way to be happy with Daniel.

“Rest assured, I never spoke of our engagement to anyone but my sisters, and, of course, my aunt and uncle. My aunt and uncle have passed away, and my sisters will never breathe a word of it to anyone. So you see—we can pretend it never happened.”

She rose and picked up the teacup. “Thank you for your assistance today, Daniel. And for the food, too. It was delicious and much needed. I had better finish up, though. There’s still a lot to get done and a few hours of daylight left.”

He glanced up at her, his eyebrows slightly raised, as though he was surprised by her words. “Very well. I hope to see you again soon.” He stood, brushing the stray blades of grass from his breeches. Then, with a slight bow, he strolled off in the direction of Goodwin Hall, his jacket tossed carelessly over one shoulder.

“Is he gone?” Nan chirped, peeking around the door frame.

Susannah jumped, startled at the sisterly intrusion. “Yes.” She placed her hand over her pounding heart. “Nan, you gave me such a scare.”

“What were you two talking about for such a long time out here? Did he propose again?” Becky popped her head around the door frame, pushing her cheek next to Nan’s. “He looks so dashing without a cravat. More men should follow his example.”

Susannah suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. “Rubbish. No, he did not propose. Why would he? Our engagement was a childish mistake. We’ve agreed to become friends, that is all. And I thanked him for the hamper of food from Goodwin Hall.” She shooed her sisters inside with a flick of her wrist. “Scoot. Both of you. We need to work on our displays.”

Nan and Becky groaned and trudged back inside.

“I always thought Daniel was handsome,” Nan muttered.

Becky sighed. “So debonair.”

Susannah propped herself against the door frame, pausing for a moment to gather her wits. One must be very, very cautious with overly romantic sisters. In her case, it was always the two of them against her. ’Twas easy indeed to become outnumbered and overwhelmed. Why, they could lead you to think that a fellow cared, or that a handsome face made up for a lack of character.

She must never forget, even if she did forgive.

* * *

“Have another drink, my good fellow.” Paul splashed more scotch into Daniel’s glass, droplets of the precious amber liquid flicking across Daniel’s sleeve. “After all, you lose me to London in a day or so. Off to have a good long debauch before settling down for the winter.”

Daniel sipped slowly. The day had started late and brought him into too much contact with too many stark reminders of his own deficiencies. Maybe if he drank enough, he could drown the memory of Susannah sitting on the porch, the late-afternoon sun bronzing the gorgeous waterfall of her auburn hair...

Or the look in her eyes as she assured him their engagement was a childish indiscretion.

“By Jove, man, I might as well be talking to a statue. Why so quiet this evening?” Paul sank onto the settee and grinned. “Will you miss my company that much?”

“Don’t be daft.” Daniel tried to catch the spirit of camaraderie but failed. He was tired of pretense. “I feel the walls pressing in on me. Responsibility and duty and all that.” He took another mouthful of scotch, allowing it to burn like acid down his throat.

“So? Chuck it all. Join me in London and leave it all to your estate manager.” Paul sat forward eagerly. “I shall meld daylight slumbers with evenings spent crawling through the worst places imaginable, until my bachelor appetite is quite satisfied.”

Ugh. What a disgusting way to waste a trip to Town. Daniel raised his eyebrows in surprise at his gut reaction. Just weeks ago, he would have found Paul’s plan enticing. Why the change to anathema?

“No, thank you. I must be getting old. I’d rather drink at home and fall asleep in my own bed.” He swirled the scotch in his glass with a meditative air. “You’ll have to accomplish enough degradation for two, I am afraid.”

“You do sound old.” Paul laughed, a sly look creeping across his features. “Ready to settle down, are you? Perhaps take up where you left off with Susannah Siddons?”

“Stubble it.” Daniel willed his temper to subside. “We’ve agreed to remain friends.”

“Easy, easy.” Paul held his palm up in a placatory gesture and settled back on the settee. “I take it you saw her today?”

“Yes.” Perhaps if he spoke of the work Susannah was doing, Paul would leave their failed engagement alone. “You should see the place, Paul. That tumbledown building has been completely transformed. Those three girls work harder than any laborer here on the farm. I’m quite astonished by all they’ve accomplished.”

“Did she appreciate the gift?” Paul winked.

“Yes, she did.” Daniel cast his glass aside and scrubbed his brow with a weary hand. “I can’t give her extravagant gifts again, Paul. Not even when I am in my cups. She’s too proud, and she works so diligently. I don’t want to make life harder for her than it should be. I know you think it’s all a grand joke, but I cannot find it amusing. Not when I have so much and she has so little.” He faced his friend squarely. “I must ask you to respect our pact. I’m a hopeless drunkard and a shirker, but we need to have deference for all Susannah has done to keep her little family together. Do I have your word?”

Paul pursed his lips, a sheepish look in his eyes. “Of course. Never meant to cause trouble. You know me. Everything—even love—is fodder for comedy. But I will respect your privacy. And raise enough trouble in Town for the two of us.”

Daniel nodded, a smile quirking his lips. “That’s the best I can hope for.”

Chapter Six

In the dim morning light, Susannah peered around her new home. More than a home. This was their hope for the future.

There was nothing more to do, at least when it came to scrubbing and cleaning the place. Even their living quarters upstairs had been scoured—the wood floors sanded, cobwebs swept away, the iron bedsteads freshly painted white. The cheerful quilts that all three girls had pieced on rainy afternoons now graced the beds, and Becky had whipped up a pair of pink calico curtains for their dormer window. Downstairs, in the shop area, the girls had created an attractive window display, framed by Becky’s gossamer muslin curtains.

Nan had really outdone herself this time. A collection of their finest hats was arranged in artful pageantry, all on hat stands of varying height. Nan had woven ribbons above the display in a bright, colorful web. From outside the store, one was drawn in by the promise of beauty.

Now, if only the customers would come.

Susannah had painted a sign herself, in graceful script, proclaiming Siddons Sisters Millinery. The sign was simply too heavy for her to hang, so it leaned against the front wall, beneath the window. Perhaps she could hire a couple of lads in the village, sturdy boys who could scramble up on the roof and hang the sign properly. Until then, this would have to do.

She opened the door, letting the fresh air in. “Girls!” she called. “Do hurry, I’m opening the store.”

“There won’t be a mad rush.” Nan yawned, traipsing down the stairs. “It’s bound to be slow at first.”

“Even so, we must appear professional. No dawdling.” She surveyed Nan and Becky as they presented themselves for review. The sisters had agreed to wearing matching dresses in dark blue, with starched white aprons. Susannah and Becky had wound their hair up into chignons, while Nan’s dark locks flowed in ringlets down her back.

“I think we look quite nice,” Susannah offered cautiously. “Now, do we all have tasks to perform for today? We don’t want to fall idle and daydream the morning away if we don’t have customers.”

“I shall be embroidering a white grosgrain ribbon with cherry blossoms. And Nan is going to work on tatting lace. If we work ahead on trimmings, then we shall have them ready when a new order comes in.” Becky smoothed her apron and smiled.

“Very good. And I shall work on making a new poke bonnet in nice autumnal shades. I think we have our best opportunity of attracting new customers by opening as we are, on Saturday. If I recall correctly, this is the busiest day of the week in the village.” Her memories of Tansley had faded. After all, she left the village when she was still a lass of fifteen. But Mama and Papa walked into the village every Saturday to do the little bit of marketing they needed. And it was always cause for a great occasion.

She settled onto a low stool by the rough wooden table, wrapping brown taffeta over the bonnet frame. Her hands trembled. She must not expect to see any customers today. Building a successful store would take time. And she mustn’t let her sisters see how very nervous she was. Since Mama died, it was her duty to make sure the girls remained sheltered and protected. Even under the direst of circumstances, she could not contribute in any way to making them feel uncertain or afraid.

The taffeta slid easily through the bonnet frame, soothing her ruffled spirit. Having an occupation was a good thing. It kept her mind from wandering too far. If she allowed those thoughts of possible failure to flow through her, she would accomplish nothing. Willing her fingers to cease their trembling, she threaded a needle and started the arduous task of placing tiny, even stitches under the brim to hold the taffeta in place.

She would be a rock for Becky and Nan, just as she’d always been.

But all the same, ʼtwould be nice to have someone she could talk to, and to share her fears with.

A light footstep sounded on the threshold. “Look at this!” a cultured, sweet voice remarked. “A proper millinery here, in Tansley.”

Susannah glanced up, her heart beating fast. A slight, pretty young lady stood in the doorway, a delighted expression on her face. Behind her, two other ladies peered in through the shop window. Well-dressed ladies, ladies who—judging by appearances only, of course—might be gentlewomen.

Susannah rose, her knees quaking so badly she hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. Gracious, one couldn’t very well fall flat on the floor before her very first customers. She must compose herself. Susannah offered a slight smile—the best she could under such trying circumstances.

“Yes, ma’am. We’ve just opened. Won’t you come in.” Her voice sounded as wobbly as an old cart-wheel, and she cleared her throat.

“I should say so. Annabella! Evangeline! Do come in!” The lady turned to her companions. “It’s the loveliest little shop I’ve seen—thought at first I had imagined it.”

Her companions scurried in, giggling. “Oh, Eliza! Isn’t it marvelous?” One of the ladies—Evangeline? Or Annabella? At any rate, the blonde one wearing her hair in stylish ringlets—clapped her gloved hands in rapture. “Now we don’t have to wait to go to Town for new bonnets.”

“I’ll take the blue satin one in the window,” Eliza’s other companion, a regal brunette, stated flatly. “Do you have more ready-made than is in your display?”

Susannah paused. They had crafted very few bonnets—she’d wanted to earn more money before whipping up a dozen or so to have ready for purchase in the shop. The supplies were expensive, after all. But stating that to these fine ladies might make her shop seem small and cheap indeed.

“I beg your pardon, ma’am, but you see our bonnets are made to specification. We work to make sure that each one is suited to the wearer and is a perfect match not just for her clothing but for her features, as well. So, you see, we do not have much stock ready-made.”

Nan and Becky looked up from their work, their dark eyes reflecting merriment and respect as Susannah made her bold pronouncement. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? Because the thought of a bespoke milliner in a sleepy village was patently absurd. But that was before her first customers proved to be gentlewomen.

’Twas a daring move, to be certain. She clutched the half-finished bonnet to her bosom. Surely those fine gentlewomen could hear her heart pounding like a big bass drum.

“Delightful! So we could order anything we want, and to match our gowns.” Eliza waved a hand airily about the room. “I am working on my winter wardrobe with my seamstress, Anne. I should like to have you come up to the house and see what she has planned in the way of gowns, and then you can plan bonnets and hats to match.”

“And me, as well.” The blonde withdrew her card from her card-case and held it toward Susannah with a regal gesture. “Coombe Hall is my home. Perhaps you could come on Thursday next?”

“Yes, of course.” Susannah grasped the scrap of paper and scanned it quickly. The Honorable Evangeline Snowden. Gracious above, the gentry. Just as she’d suspected. “I shall be there with one of my two assistants whenever you wish.” She indicated her sisters with a slight lift of her shoulder and placed the unfinished bonnet on the rough wooden table beside her.

“You shan’t have her before me,” Eliza scolded playfully, tapping Evangeline lightly on the arm. “Miss Siddons is my discovery. I was the one who insisted on coming into the village today, and I saw her shop first.” She turned to Susannah, her smile causing her dimples to leap. “Can you be at my home on Monday? After noon, I should think. It’s Kelwedge Hall, and I shall send my carriage for you.” Eliza held out her calling card, as well, and Susannah accepted it with a curtsy.

“Of course, ma—” Susannah stopped abruptly and read the card. The Honorable Elizabeth Glaspell. Oh, dear. How was one to address an Honorable Miss? She cast her mind around desperately. If she was going to play the toffy milliner, she’d have to learn how to address lords and ladies properly.

Eliza chuckled at Susannah’s confusion. “Never mind. Just call me Miss Glaspell. Shall I send the carriage for you on Monday, then?”