The Pattern of Her Heart (37 page)

“I hope I’ve na made a mistake this evenin’,” he muttered.

March 1858

F
EELING SOMEWHAT
uncomfortable, Elinor rapped on the front door of the parsonage. Somehow it seemed improper to be calling on the pastor. Yet when she’d mentioned the need to discuss issues regarding the benevolence fund as she exited church earlier in the day, Pastor Chamberlain had suggested she stop by the parsonage so they could discuss the matter in private. Of course, Reggie would be present, yet if any of the church ladies discovered Elinor was making a personal call upon the pastor, there was little doubt she’d be the topic of discussion for weeks to come—or at least until some other matter captured their interest.

“Mrs. Brighton! Come in, please,” Reggie said with an infectious smile.

“Thank you, Reggie. And may I say that your manners are quite lovely today.”

She giggled. “Father didn’t tell me you were coming to visit.”

“Perhaps he wanted to surprise you.”

“Exactly!” Justin said as he entered the hallway. “Good to see you, Elinor. Why don’t we go into the parlor. I do hope it wasn’t an inconvenience asking you to come here. I had several matters that needed my attention,” he added as he led her into the sitting room.

“Of course not. I enjoy a change of scenery, and it’s always nice to spend time with Reggie.”

Reggie plopped down beside their guest and scooted close.

“Reggie, I need to speak privately with Mrs. Brighton. Could you leave us for a short time?” her father asked.

The girl frowned momentarily, then brightened. “I’ll fix us tea. Would that be good?”

“That would be wonderful,” her father replied. “By the time you serve tea, we should be through with our discussion.”

Elinor stared after Reggie as the girl hurried off to the kitchen. “She’s turning into quite the little lady, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely, and I have you to thank for the dramatic changes in her. I truly don’t know how you’ve worked such wonders. I knew Reggie needed a woman’s influence in her life, yet I was perplexed as to how to find someone willing to take on the challenge. The moment you entered her life and began tutoring her in proper manners and etiquette, she was receptive. Tell me, how have you done it?”

“I’ve not attempted to change Reggie. I’ve merely included her in my life. The transformation that has taken place is of Reggie’s own doing. Change usually occurs when a person is truly desirous of doing so, not when one is forced by others. Don’t you think?”

Justin nodded. “The old adage of leading a horse to water?”

“I believe so. In any event, Reggie seems receptive to having a woman in her life, and I’m confident she will accept your new wife with enthusiasm. At least I’ve encouraged her to do so. I might add that I’m looking forward to meeting your fiancée as well.”

“As am I,” Justin said with a startled look on his face. “Wherever did you get the notion that I plan to wed?”

Elinor hesitated. She didn’t want to say anything that would cause Reggie a problem, yet she needed to reply. “Well, I-I . . .”

“No need to say any more. The church ladies must have been gossiping again,” he concluded. “You can disregard anything you’ve heard. I have not made any plans to marry. I’m truly astonished at some of the stories that have circulated since our arrival.”

“No doubt,” she said as a surprising sense of pleasure flooded over her. She was actually
delighted
to hear Justin Chamberlain had no wedding plans. Yet the thought frightened her. Never again did she want to have feelings of love for another man. Long ago she had vowed she would not go through the pain of losing one more husband. Yet her heart had quickened at his words, and she enjoyed his company far too much. Was she becoming like some of those church ladies who were secretly hoping to find themselves a husband? At the thought, she felt the heat rush to her cheeks.

“Is it overly warm in here? You suddenly appear flushed—I do hope you’re not becoming ill. I shouldn’t have requested that you walk over here in this cold weather,” he said.

“No, I’m fine, thank you. Don’t concern yourself. Now then, I believe we were going to discuss the benevolence fund.”

“Ah, yes. You mentioned you’ve had additional applicants.”

“Indeed. I have three girls who have come to me—two from other boardinghouses and one from my own. I believe their requests are valid. They’ve all shown me their separation papers from the mill. I had hoped to refrain from using the benevolence fund until it had grown larger; in fact, I had been using my own savings to help some of the girls. However, I fear I used the last of my funds this week.”

“By all means, we’ll see that they receive assistance. If you’ll give me the information, I’ll withdraw the funds. But it would likely be less embarrassing for the girls if
you
delivered the money.”

“I’d be happy to do so,” Elinor replied. “I also received word this week that my boardinghouse may close. Since I’ve used all of my resources, I’ll likely be required to leave Lowell.”

“Leave Lowell? Where would you go?”

“My brother Taylor and his family are in Maine. They would welcome me,” she said. “I surely find that God sometimes has a strange sense of humor. I had hoped to help others not lose their homes, yet in the process it appears as if I’ll lose my own.”

“We must put this matter to prayer,” Justin said. “I can’t believe that you are meant to leave Lowell.”

“Leave?”
Reggie screeched. “Where are you going?” she asked, dropping the tea tray onto the table.

Elinor quickly leaned forward and placed a hand on the teetering china. “It’s not definite yet, Reggie. That’s why I hadn’t told you. I received word this week that my boardinghouse may be closed—I don’t know when it may occur. I’m praying it won’t happen at all.”

“Absolutely. We must all pray for intervention,” Justin stated.

Reggie ignored her father’s remark. “Would you go to Maine and live with your brother?”

“Yes, if the boardinghouse closes. But I don’t—”

“You said you didn’t want to go there,” Reggie said without waiting for Elinor’s full reply.

“That’s true; I don’t. But if the boardinghouse—”

“You could come and live with us. Couldn’t she, Father?” Her eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

“I couldn’t possibly do that, Reggie,” Elinor said. “My family would expect me to come to Maine.”

“It doesn’t matter
what
they expect. You should be able to stay here if you want. Shouldn’t she, Father?”

“Well, yes,” Justin replied. “And we are going to pray about the situation, Reggie,” he promised.

“I’m sorry to upset you, Reggie. I hadn’t planned for you to hear me. There’s no need to upset yourself, for it’s still uncertain whether I’ll have to move. Why don’t we have our tea? Did you bake those fine-looking cookies all by yourself?”

Reggie nodded, but there was no smile. “It’s your recipe for lemon cookies.”

“Then I must have one.” Elinor took a bite of the cookie, chewing slowly and nodding approvingly while Reggie watched. “I believe they’re even better than the ones I bake.”

“Truly?” Reggie asked with a grin.

“Truly! They are excellent. You should be most proud of yourself, young lady.”

When they had finished their tea, Elinor patted Reggie’s hand. “I would be quite pleased if you’d walk me home and stay for supper.”

“May I, Father?”

“Yes, of course. Though I must say I’m a bit envious.”

Elinor tilted her head and gave him a thoughtful look, unsure what his remark truly meant. “Would you like to join us for supper? I know you mentioned you have several matters needing your attention. Perhaps you could attend to them and then join us at seven o’clock,” she suggested.

Justin gave a hearty laugh. “Well, since you insist.”

“Absolutely! Reggie and I will expect you at seven,” she said as they stood to retrieve their coats.

“I promise to be on time,” he said. “Behave yourself, Reggie,” he reminded as they walked onto the porch.

“I
know,
” she said, giving her father a look of exasperation.

Reggie reached for Elinor’s hand and grasped it tightly as they set off down the street.

“Your father tells me he has no plans to marry and was shocked that I had any such idea,” Elinor casually remarked.

Reggie’s face turned ashen and her shoulders slumped. “You told him I said he was to be married?”

“No, not exactly.”

“What did you tell him?” she asked, her eyes glistening with fear.

“I told him I thought you would be most accepting of his new wife. He said he was not planning to wed and then asked how I had conceived such a notion.”

“Did you tell him it was me?”

“Before I could answer, he assumed I’d heard some of the church ladies gossiping. I didn’t agree with or deny his assumption.”

“Thank you!”
Reggie sighed and straightened her shoulders. A wide smile curved her lips as though she believed the entire incident now totally resolved.

“Why
did
you lie to me, Reggie?”

A startled look returned to the child’s face. “I didn’t lie. I said my father met a woman and I
thought
he wanted to marry her. I guess he doesn’t.”

“Reggie Chamberlain! I do not for one minute believe what you’re telling me. Now out with the truth!”

“It was a test.”

“A test? What on earth are you talking about?”

Reggie gave her a sheepish look. “I wanted to see if you were truly my friend or if you were like all the others—just being nice to me so my father would like you.”

“Is that truly what you believed all the time we were together?”

“No, but I had to be positive. Don’t you understand that I had to know for sure that somebody liked me just for me and not because they wanted to marry my father?”

“I suppose I do understand, Reggie, but I can’t say I’m not disappointed.”

“Because I lied?”

“Because you lied and because you didn’t realize my feelings had everything to do with you and nothing to do with your father.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Will you forgive me?”

“On one condition. In the future if you have concerns, I want you to talk to me truthfully. I promise I will give you honest answers in return.”

Reggie grinned and squeezed Elinor’s hand. “I promise.”

The parade had proceeded on schedule. Although there were those who said the previous parades had been larger, Mary Margaret was impressed with the entries and those who had lined the streets cheering them on. Two marchers carrying enormous green banners had set off the procession. One of the banners was inscribed with an Irish harp and the words
Erin go Bragh,
and the other sported an American eagle. The members of the Irish Benevolent Society had followed the banners, each member adorned with a long green silk scarf surrounded by a rosette of green and white.

Even the weather had cooperated, the day dawning sunny and warm. The remainder of the afternoon was spent listening to the numerous speeches that both attacked Britain and argued for the repeal of the union or spoke of gratitude for the blessings and advantages enjoyed in this adopted country. And, of course, there were the goodly number of men who happily downed quarts of ale as they cheered their agreement or shouted their disapproval to the speechmakers.

The day had been exhilarating, especially since Paddy had come to sit with Mary Margaret during the speechmaking. Afterward, he had even walked her home with a promise to return at seven o’clock and escort her to the dance.

“Did you have a nice afternoon?” Mrs. Brighton asked as she walked into the house.

“Aye. ’Tis a surprise that the Irish were given the day off from work in order ta celebrate. I wish that all the girls had been able to enjoy the parade.” She followed Mrs. Brighton into the kitchen. “Were you able to attend?”

“No, I had the noonday meal to prepare, but I’m pleased you had a good time.”

“I’m feeling a bit guilty going off to a dance when things seem so bleak for some of the girls.”