Authors: Ellen Gable
“Would we have
your permission to take you to your uncle’s house, unchaperoned?”
“I suppose so.”
In all honesty, Caroline wanted nothing more than to get back on the train and
return to Boston.
As the group
approached the carriage, David smiled. ”We'll be taking Miss Martin to the
Martin house, Kip,” he said to the driver, a mixed race man who was probably about
ten years older than herself. He was dressed in a brown overcoat and beige
breeches. The man tipped his hat as Caroline approached.
The brothers
attempted to lift the trunk. As they struggled, she could hear David
whispering. “What in the world has she got in here, bricks?”
Ignoring his
brother, Liam said, “Kip, would you come down and help us hoist this onto the
back of the carriage?”
“Yes, ‘course,
Mr. Liam,” he said in a deep, low-toned voice.
The three men now
easily lifted the trunk onto the back of the buggy. However, as they were
laying it down, David released it too soon and the edge of it scratched the
back section of the carriage.
“Now you’ve
scuffed the surface.”
“It’s a three-inch
mark, Lee. No one will be able to see it.”
Liam shook his
head, then assisted Caroline into the carriage, with David following close
behind. Smiling, he sat beside Caroline. She moved away from him on the seat.
Liam frowned. “David.”
“What, dear
brother?” he said, feigning concern.
“Over here.” Liam
pointed to the opposite seat in the carriage.
“Perhaps another
time,” he said, then he gave her a wink. Caroline let out as deep a breath as
she could in her corset. Liam slipped in beside David, then called out the
window, “We’re ready, Kip.” The driver flicked a whip and the carriage began
moving.
Liam whispered
something into his brother’s ear. Caroline couldn’t hear what he said, but
when David turned and again smiled at her, she was certain that the comment had
been about her.
She studied the
O’Donovan brothers as they spoke comfortably with one another. David poked the
side of Liam’s arm.
“Did you remember
to bring the Mulligan contract this time?”
“Yes, yes. You
won’t allow me to live that down, will you, David?”
“No,” he laughed.
“You never make a mistake, right? So what about the contract for the Grahams?
Did you get them to sign?”
“Of course. You
are the one more likely to forget. Remember the time you. . .” Liam stopped,
then glanced at Caroline. “We’ll be arriving at your uncle’s house in about ten
minutes, Miss Martin.”
Caroline nodded,
then peered out the carriage window.
A short while
later, they were driving up a lane with a mansion in the distance. Young maples
lined the road leading to her uncle’s house and the lawn was green and lush.
“This is a pretty
time of year in Philadelphia, Miss Martin.”
As they rode
closer to the residence, Caroline observed the beautifully kept lawn and garden
with several older maples to the right front and a group of blue spruces lined
up like sentinels along the left side of the house. The grass extended 50 feet
on either side of the mansion, but thick forests framed the house on both
sides.
Caroline stared
wide-eyed at the majestic building itself, a gray stone mansion with two white
marble pillars plastered against the middle of the house. The style reminded
her of the Greek temples she had studied in school. Dark green shutters swung
open on the many windows. Wrought iron railings and ten or so stone steps led
up to a polished white covered porch leading to the more-than-adequate front
entranceway of the house. A small gable extended the roof and the trimmed bushes
and spring flowers in front gave the house a domestic atmosphere.
The driver halted
the carriage and within seconds, Liam jumped down, then held his hand out to
assist Caroline onto the stepping block in front. She took his hand, then
heard, “My dear niece!” Caroline’s attention was drawn to the booming voice of
her uncle approaching the carriage. He was a broad-shouldered man, his white
hair and beard framing his face. As she stepped down, his rotund body embraced
her and he practically lifted her up off the ground. “You’re as light as a
feather, my dear. Patsie’s cooking will fatten you up in no time.”
Uncle Edward faced
the O’Donovan brothers. “Thank you, Liam, David, for bringing my niece home
from the train station.”
“It was our
pleasure, Mr. Martin,” said Liam.
“My dear, I do
apologize most sincerely for not being at the station when you. . .where is
Mrs. Shepherd?” Uncle Edward inquired, glancing past her.
“I’m afraid we
have some sad news about Mrs. Shepherd, sir,” Liam offered.
“She passed away
during the train trip, Uncle. I feel dreadful.”
“That must have
been frightful for you,” he said as he stood beside her and rubbed her
shoulder.
“I want to
contact her family as I should like to go to her funeral. She was very kind to
me, Uncle.”
He glanced at
Liam. “How did she die, Liam?”
“I’m not sure,
sir. It appears as if she passed away in her sleep.”
“I see.”
David stepped
forward. “Why didn’t you tell me how pretty your niece was? I would’ve gone to
Boston to pick her up myself,” he said.
Liam rolled his
eyes.
“I think you know
why,” Uncle Edward responded.
He leaned down
and whispered, “There will be no courting my niece, David.”
“I am
crestfallen,” David replied, in mock disappointment, putting the back of his
hand to his mouth.
“It’s getting
late, David. We need to return home.” Liam turned toward Caroline. “It was a
pleasure meeting you, Miss Martin.”
“Mr. O’Donovan?”
Both brothers turned around.
“I mean that Mr.
O’Donovan.” She pointed at Liam.
“Yes, Miss
Martin?”
“Thank you
especially for your kindness today.”
“As I said, it
was my pleasure. Good day,” he said, tipping his hat again.
Chapter 2
In the carriage,
David slapped his brother’s shoulder. “So?”
“So what?”
“When will you
ask Mr. Martin if you can court his niece?”
“She’s in
mourning. Could you not see how upset she was?”
“Waiting for the
right time?”
“I am certainly
not in the habit of asking to court a girl on the first day we meet. Do you
not have any manners?”
“No, I don’t.
Lee, you’re not in the habit of courting any girl.”
“I am waiting for
the right girl.”
“You could have
any girl you want. Besides, I saw the way you were looking at Miss Martin.
You like her. Admit it.”
“Of course I like
her. She’s a very attractive young lady.”
“Personally, I
got the feeling she wanted to shoo me away, like an annoying mosquito.”
“Well, you were
speaking in an inappropriate manner.”
“I don’t think my
charm impressed her at all.”
“Her father just
passed away a few months ago and her chaperone died on the trip. Why must you
conduct yourself in such a fashion?”
“What are you talking
about?”
“The way you
behave around women. It’s downright crass and ungentlemanly. I’ve told you
that before.”
“Now, when have I
ever wanted to be ‘gentlemanly,’ Lee?”
“Probably never.”
“Besides, I treat
women well, that is, those who. . .”
“Yes, yes, I know
what you mean. Really, David. Sometimes you’re just like Father.”
David scowled.
“I’m nothing like him.”
Liam O’Donovan
fell silent and sat back against the carriage seat. Deliberately, his thoughts
turned to Miss Martin. David could obviously tell that he was attracted to
her.
Liam was relieved
that he had made it to the train on time. His last business meeting of the day
had stretched on for an hour longer than he had anticipated. Although he had
considered staying the extra night in Boston, that would have meant an extra
expenditure of three dollars. He despised being late and would rather be two
hours early than one minute late for any event, most especially for the train,
which was unforgiving with regard to punctuality.
When Liam first
noticed Miss Martin, his initial impression was how pretty she was. The color
of her hair was unusual, like honey mixed with copper. He found the sprinkling
of freckles on her nose and cheeks particularly appealing. And her eyes were
the most alluring shade of green he had ever seen, like the color of Christmas
holly.
Thankfully, she
didn’t wear face paint like most upper class women and her hands had piano
fingers, long and thin within her black gloves.
A few weeks ago,
Mr. Martin had told Liam that it had been five months since his brother had
died, and that his niece would be coming to live with him. Five months meant
that there would likely be at least one more month of official mourning and he
would be free to ask Mr. Martin’s permission to court her. Until then, it was
his hope to see her as much as possible and to get to know her in a cordial and
polite way.
“David, did you
remember to bring Mr. Martin’s box of china from home?”
“No, I didn't. I
just woke up a few hours ago. I overslept because I stayed up most of the
night at Paddy’s Pub. I took part in a poker game and won nearly $300.”
“You
misunderstood. I told you I would only take part in poker games once a week.
“I suppose that is
an improvement.”
“I guess it will
be necessary to make an extra trip tomorrow to drop that off. ”
Liam nodded. In
actuality, he was glad that David hadn't brought the box. An excuse to visit
the Martin house was just what he needed.
* * *
Before the
carriage reached the end of the driveway, Caroline heard a squeal, then saw a
young woman run towards her on the Martin veranda. The girl enveloped Caroline
in a tight hug.
“You’re so small,
so skinny, Carrie!”
Caroline groaned
inwardly. The only person who ever called her Carrie was her father and she felt
ill at ease to hear anyone else call her that. She never really cared for the
name Carrie, and yet it seemed natural when her father used it as a term of
endearment.
“My dear, this is
your cousin, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth
remained close to Caroline, their shoulders touching. Caroline
studied her cousin, who was a year younger, big-boned like Uncle Edward with a
pretty round face and green eyes. Her long blonde hair was pulled up
fashionably behind her head.
“I’m so happy you
are finally here, Carrie. I have never had a sister and you shall be my
sister.”
Caroline responded
politely. “Elizabeth, I would be very pleased to be your sister.”
“Then it’s
settled. No longer my cousin, but my dear sister. We shall share secrets and
all sorts of sisterly activities. And sisters need to have special names so do
call me Lizzie. Carrie and Lizzie. Those will be our special names for one
another.”
Before Caroline
could respond, Uncle Edward spoke up. “Elizabeth, give your cousin. . .”
“Sister, Papa,
sister.”
“Very well, your
sister. . .some breathing room.”
Elizabeth
stepped back and looked into the distance.
“I missed the
O’Donovans?”
“Yes, you did.”
“Are they not the
most handsome men you’ve ever laid your eyes on, Carrie?”
“Well. . .”
Elizabeth
continued. “That David is. . .well, he’s quite the ‘Casanova.’”
She was raising her eyebrows and smiling.
“Casanova?”
Caroline asked. “He seemed rather capricious.”
“Most certainly.
Do you know that he. . .”
“Elizabeth, that’s
quite enough,” Uncle Edward interrupted.
“Anyway,” Elizabeth said, “Liam O’Donovan is one of the nicest people you shall ever meet. I’ve
been told that he was a sickly child, but now he is as robust and healthy as
anyone.”
“My dear, you
must be tired after your trip from Boston. And having to endure Mrs.
Shepherd’s passing must have upset you greatly.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Your chaperone
passed away on the train ride, dear Sister?”
“It was most
distressing.”
“Of course it
was.” Elizabeth reached out and tenderly touched her shoulder.
“Escort Caroline
up to her new room.”
“Yes, Papa.” Elizabeth whispered to Caroline, “I hope you will enjoy your bedroom. It’s been freshly
papered and painted, just for your arrival.”