Mail Order Match Maker (20 page)

Amaryllis smiled happily as Rose ran from the room. She loved her sister, but hearing about all of the men in her life got awfully tiring.

*****

Harriett sat across from Higgins listening to his report.  “Even Dr. Henry’s servants, who moved here from Maryland with him, have only nice things to say about him.  He’s been very studious his entire life, going from a private preparatory school to Dental college in Baltimore.  He’s never had a real relationship with a lady and has never done anything objectionable with any of his servants.  I couldn’t get one of them to say a single bad word about him.”

Harriett nodded, concentrating.  “What about since he’s been here?  How long has he lived in Seattle?  Have you spoken with any of his patients?  It sounds like he comes from money, is that right?”  It didn’t really matter to anyone if he came from money, but they did want to protect Rose from a man who married her only for her parents’ money.

Higgins smiled at Harriett over the top of the paper he was holding.  He enjoyed doing the investigations into the young men Rose was interested in, because it reminded him of the times when he and Harriett had done the same for her mail order bride business.  He liked knowing there were seven more nieces to go.

“He’s been in Seattle only three months, and no one here has anything negative to say.  I’ve spoken with six of his patients, and they all loved him.  Say he’s very gentle.  I sent a telegram to his college in Baltimore, and they had glowing reviews of him.  He finished at the top of his class, and was very well liked
by both faculty and peers.”  He laid the paper down.  “I think he’d be a fine choice for Rose.”

Harriett thought over what he’d said and finally nodded.  “The problem is, I don’t know if he’s really interested in Rose.  She said all men are interested in her, so she’s not worried about that.  I think we should invite him over here and see if he even wants to contemplate a relationship with Rose.” 

Higgins laughed.  “Miss Rose is definitely sure of herself, isn’t she?”

Harriett shook her head with a slight grin.  “A little too sure of herself at times!”  She had less time than she used to with Higgins, so she changed the subject so they could catch up on each other’s news.  “So, how’s Mildred doing?”

Higgins eyes danced at the question.  “Wonderful as always.  Alex is doing such a good job with the women in need. We’re going to miss him when he leaves for college.  I’m amazed at how both of them are blossoming as they help others.”

“Good.  Are you still enjoying your job at the battered women’s house?” she asked.

Higgins nodded.  “I feel like I’m making a difference.  I miss working with you and doing our little investigative jobs, but looking into potential suitors for Rose has really helped.  Alex is helping in more ways than I’d imagined he would. He’s going to make a fine attorney.”  He looked at Harriett, studying her carefully.  “How is everything here?”  He still worried that something would go wrong with her marriage to Max.

Harriett smiled.  “It’s wonderful.  I told Max last night that we’re expecting our second child.”  She knew she was overly happy about another child, but she loved children and being a mother was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

“That makes me happy!  I hope you have a dozen healthy children.”

Harriett laughed.  “A dozen may be one or two too many for me, but I’m certainly happy to be carrying another one.”  She made a face. “Max is determined to outdo Fred in sheer number of children.  They had eight.”  She couldn’t imagine having to give birth nine times just so Max could do better than his brother-in-law.

Higgins just laughed.  “So nine at the least?”

“That’s what Max would like!”  She stood up and walked to her desk.  “I’m going to write a note to Dr. Shawn Henry.  Would you mind delivering it for me?”  She asked if he’d mind absently, knowing he would do it in a heartbeat.  He enjoyed her nieces, but he had done so many errands for her over the years, it was no problem for him to do one more.  Besides, she paid him well for the jobs he did for her.

“Not at all.  I’ve heard so many good things about the man, I need to see for myself whether or not he walks on water.”  Higgins laughed as he talked about the perfection of Rose’s current crush. 

Harriett’s eyes were twinkling as she sat down and wrote a quick note inviting the town’s newest dentist over for tea the following afternoon.  It was Friday, so surely he would close his practice on a Saturday. She folded the note and handed it to Higgins.  “Thank you.”

Higgins nodded, getting to his feet.  “You’re very welcome, Mrs. Farmer.  Would you like me to be here for your initial meeting with him?”  Although they’d been like father and daughter for over twelve years, Higgins still couldn’t bring himself to call Harriett by her first name.

Harriett thought about it for a moment.  She still hated to be alone with men if she didn’t know them.  It was easier than it used to be, but she didn’t trust anyone automatically after all she’d been through.  “That would be nice.  I’ve invited him for tea tomorrow afternoon.”

“At two?”

Harriett nodded, pleased that Higgins remembered her schedule so well.  “I’ll make sure to have the cook bake the lemon cookies you favor.”

Higgins smiled at her before turning to leave her parlor.  “I’ll be here.”

Harriett watched him go wistfully.  She missed the years they’d worked together matching up mail order brides with husbands in the West.  Higgins had been such an integral part of her life for so long that it still felt odd when he wasn’t there, even though it had been two years.

She was so busy with her son and helping at the shelter for women that she couldn’t run a business, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t miss her old life.

*****

Shawn stared down at the invitation on his desk.  He’d put in a long day at the office.  Seattle had not had a dentist before he came, and he was seeing all the people who were angry with the barber.  It was overwhelming at times.  He hoped to get to the point where he could do some preventative care instead of just pulling teeth, but for now he’d take what he could get.

He read the invitation again slowly.  “Dr. Shawn Henry, Please join me for tea at two in the afternoon at my house tomorrow.  I have something I would like to discuss with you.  Sincerely, Harriett Farmer.”  She added her address to the bottom of the page.

He’d heard of Mrs. Farmer, but her name was always mentioned in conjunction with a home for battered women.  She didn’t think he was hurting anyone, did she?  What could the invitation be about?

It was late, and there was no time to send a messenger with a reply that night, so he wrote a quick reply and decided he’d send it over with a servant in the morning.  “Mrs. Farmer, I would be pleased to accept your kind invitation.  I will see you promptly at two.  Sincerely, Dr. Shawn Henry.”  He’d only had his license to practice dentistry for two months, and he loved writing doctor in conjunction with his name.  Maybe he was a little vain, but he didn’t care. He’d worked hard to be able to write it, and he was going to do it at every opportunity.

He turned down the kerosene lamp and headed up the stairs for bed, thinking again he needed to see about finding himself a wife.  He had a good business.  He had a huge house with servants.  He needed a woman by his side to help him entertain and children to care for.  Hopefully he’d meet someone soon.  There were too many men in Seattle, and he was sure he’d have to settle for a woman beneath his class, but he didn’t care at that point.  Just so he wasn’t always alone anymore.

Before he’d come to Seattle, he’d had his school friends and had gone home at least once a month to see his family.  Loneliness had never been a factor.  He found that being alone in a city where he knew no one was wearing on him.  He had his servants, who had all been with his family since he was a child, but that didn’t help.  He was homesick plain and simple.

*****

At precisely two the following afternoon, Shawn stood on the doorstep of a large white home.  He knocked once, and the door was answered immediately by a maid.  “I’m here to see Mrs. Farmer,” he told the young woman and then followed her to a small parlor down the hallway.

He’d heard quite a lot about Harriett Farmer and was surprised to see just how young she was.  She couldn’t have been more than two or three years older than he was, and he was just twenty-four.  She slowly got to her feet and walked across the room to shake his hand with a pronounced limp.  She was not at all what he’d expected from a benefactress, but she had a sweet pretty smile.  “I’m Harriett Farmer.  Welcome.”

Shawn nodded.  “I’m Dr. Shawn Henry.”  He stood awkwardly, wondering why she’d asked him there.

“Won’t you please sit down?”  She indicated a small couch and sat in a chair opposite it
. 
There was a man, who looked to be in his fifties already sitting on the couch.  The man looked very familiar to Shawn.  He couldn’t quite place where he knew him from, but he’d definitely seen him around in the past week. 

He sat beside the man and smiled.  “I’m Shawn Henry.” This man looked too old to be her husband.  Her father perhaps?

“John Higgins.” Higgins held his hand out for the other man to shake.  “People just call me Higgins.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Higgins.”  Shawn waited while Harriett took her seat, before turning to her.  “Thank you for inviting me.”  He wanted to come right out and ask why she had, but hopefully she’d take his not-so-subtle hint and tell him. 

Harriett smiled.  “I’m sure you’re wondering why I have asked you to come.  I can see your mind racing from here.”  She leaned back in her chair.  “I’m the proud aunt of eight nieces.  They’re all very sweet girls and the oldest, Rose, is of an age where her parents feel as if she’s old enough to begin a courtship with the right man.”  She watched his face carefully to see if he had any clue what she was talking about.

“Really?” he asked.  What did this have to do with him?

“I spent some time as a marriage broker for mail order brides before I came to Seattle two years ago, so her parents have enlisted my help to make certain the man Rose chooses is suitable.  She brought me a list a month ago, and Higgins and I have quietly investigated every man on her list.  I was about to narrow the list down to the top three potential suitors when Rose came in and told me to add your name to the list.”

Shawn was surprised.  Where had he met someone named Rose?  He had no patients by that name that he could recall.  “What does she look like?” he asked.

Harriett and Higgins exchanged a look.  “She’s of average height.  She has brown hair and grey eyes.  She’s always immaculately dressed.”  Mrs. Farmer watched his face carefully for signs of recognition.

Shawn thought for a moment, and finally it clicked.  “I think I may have met her in the park one day as I was returning to my office after lunch.”  He thought of the young lady who had barred his path in the park.  Yes, she would have been someone who would have someone match them up together.  She was just that bold.

“And?”

How could he answer that?  Was he interested in her?  She hadn’t left much of an impression, but there were just too many men here to be picky.  “She seemed nice, but we honestly only met for a moment.”  He wasn’t about to commit to anything until he’d seen her again and talked to her.  He was lonely, but he wasn’t one to jump with both feet into anything without investigating all his options.

Harriett nodded, seeming to size him up.  “Would you like to be formally introduced to see if you think you’d suit?  I’d be happy to arrange dinner here with both of you so you could get to know her a bit better.”

Shawn frowned.  “Is this how courtships are usually carried out here?”  He’d never had someone come right out and try to force him to get to know a young lady before, and the whole situation seemed extremely odd to him.

Harriett laughed.  “Not at all.  Rose is just a special young lady, and I’m overly cautious.” 

His mind raced as he tried to figure out what he thought of her.  “I think dinner would be a good idea.  I can’t answer whether I think we’d suit, because honestly, I barely remember her.  I am interested in marrying soon, though, so I’d be happy to get to know her.”  Why not?  It would certainly solve his loneliness problem if they suited well.

Harriett nodded.  She seemed surprised by his words, but she said nothing about it.  “Would Monday night suit you?”  She knew Rose would drop whatever she was doing if it gave her the chance to get to know Dr. Shawn better.  Rose was set on marrying the man, and even Rose knew she had to have the man’s approval before it could happen.

“That would be fine.  What time?”

“Seven?”

“That would be perfect.”  Forgetting about the tea that had yet to be served, Shawn got to his feet.  “I look forward to seeing you then.”  He nodded politely as he walked toward the door.

Harriett got to hers.  “Thank you for meeting with us.”

As Harriett watched Shawn see himself out, she sat back down thoughtfully.  “Do you think he had any inkling who Rose is?”  Harriett’s eyes met Higgins’ with a worried frown.

Higgins shook his head.  “I’m really not certain.  He didn’t know who she was at first.  That much is certain.”