The Pattern of Her Heart (44 page)

“I admire the sacrifice you are making by selling the plantation at a reduced price, McKinley, and I
want
to help you. Remember that the Bible tells us we are to bear one another’s burdens. You don’t want to defy
any
of God’s directives, do you?” she asked.

He leaned back in his chair and laughed. “You have always been good to me, Jasmine.”

“We have been good to each other—that’s why God created families: to love and support one another in the good times as well as the bad.”

“And I’m very thankful for you,” he said.

Elinor took one last look in the mirror. The pale peach cashmere dress was truly lovely, and she was genuinely pleased Reggie had suggested it.

She turned toward the door leading to the hallway and clasped a hand to her chest. “Helen! You startled me. I didn’t hear you come down the stairs.”

“I’m sorry. I truly didn’t mean to alarm you.”

“It’s all right, Helen. Are you finished packing?”

The girl gave a sad nod. “Your dress is lovely, Mrs. Brighton. I came down to see if you needed any assistance preparing for the wedding.”

There was such expectancy in her face that Elinor motioned Helen into the small sitting room. “If you could fasten this around my neck, I’d be most appreciative.” Elinor handed her a wide velvet ribbon she’d embroidered with peach and green flowers to match the dress. Helen carefully fastened the ribbon with a small gold brooch that had belonged to Elinor’s grandmother.

“Will your brother and his wife be attending the wedding?” Helen inquired.

“No, though I know they wish they could be here. I sent a telegram advising them of my plans. I received their regrets—their children are in school and there was insufficient time to make proper plans. However, they invited us to come visit at our earliest opportunity. I believe we’ll wait until school is out next summer,” Elinor explained. “I think Reggie would enjoy meeting all of my nieces and nephews.”

“That will be nice. I wanted to tell you that I appreciate your kindness since I’ve been in your house, and I’m sorry to leave here. However, I’m very happy for you. I do hope Reggie knows how fortunate she is to gain you as a mother.”

“Why, thank you, Helen. I’ve enjoyed having you as a part of my boardinghouse family. You
are
planning to attend the reception, aren’t you?”

The girl’s face glowed. “Oh yes! I wouldn’t miss it. Mary Margaret said Paddy is coming to fetch all of your former boarders who live here in town and want to attend.” At the sound of an approaching buggy, Helen hurried to the window in Elinor’s room. “It’s Pastor Chamberlain,” she announced excitedly.

“Thank you, Helen. I’ll look forward to seeing you at the reception later this evening,” Elinor said as she lightly kissed Helen’s cheek. The young woman scampered toward the stairs as Elinor checked her appearance once more before going to the front door.

She opened the door to Justin, who was holding his tall silk hat in one hand and a nosegay in the other. “Reggie insisted that you have flowers,” he said, handing her the cluster of ivory mums mixed with an assortment of greenery.

Elinor was mesmerized as he stood before her in his black double-breasted wool morning suit. The points of his heavily starched white collar perfectly accented the wide gray-and-blue striped cravat he had chosen to wear.

“May I come in?” he finally asked.

“Yes, yes, of course,” she said, regaining her voice.

“You look lovely, Elinor. That color becomes you.”

She felt a blush rise to her cheeks. “Thank you. And may I say you look most handsome yourself.”

He grinned at the compliment. “Reggie says we must hurry or we’ll not arrive in Billerica by seven o’clock. I couldn’t even convince her to come in—she said there was no time.”

Elinor picked up her cape and reticule. “Then we had best be on our way. We ought not keep the preacher waiting—or Reggie.”

“Absolutely not!”

Glancing over her shoulder, Elinor caught sight of Helen standing on the stairway. “We’ll see you after the wedding, Helen.”

The young woman brightened and waved as they walked toward the carriage.

Reggie giggled as Elinor settled beside her in the buggy. “In only a short time I can call you Mama instead of Mrs. Brighton, can’t I?”

“If that’s what you’d like to call me, I would be honored.” Elinor was thrilled by the child’s desire to immediately use the endearing term.

Reggie glanced up at her father. “The dress is very pretty, don’t you think?”

Justin nodded his agreement. “The dress is lovely, but not nearly so lovely as the lady wearing it.”

Reggie covered her mouth and giggled, and Elinor pulled the child close, almost afraid to believe the goodness God had showered upon her. She would have not only a wonderful husband with whom to share her life, but also this delightful child whom she had already grown to love and cherish. She released Reggie and leaned back into the cushion, offering a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving that God had sent them both into her life.

The wedding ceremony was simple, but much to Elinor’s liking. And to her great delight, after Justin vowed to take her as his wife, Reggie also stated her desire to have Elinor as her mother.

When Reverend Foster asked if she would take Justin as her husband, Elinor promptly replied, “I do, and I take Reggie for my daughter as well.”

A short time later they arrived at the Houston farm, where buggies lined the driveway. Two servants stood waiting to greet them. “Go tell Miss Jasmine they’ve arrived,” the man ordered as the other servant immediately raced into the house.

The trio followed the servant up the steps and into the foyer, where a maid quickly took their wraps. “Please follow me,” the woman said, motioning them forward.

They moved to the doorway of the large sitting room, where the guests awaited their arrival. “Reverend and Mrs. Justin Chamberlain and daughter, Reggie Chamberlain,” he announced in a resounding voice.

The applause was deafening as they stepped into the room. “Thank you all for attending,” Justin called out loudly as he motioned the crowd to stop clapping.

Nolan signaled for the music to begin and then he and his wife turned their attention to the new family. “Can we assume all went well with the marriage ceremony?” Nolan asked Justin.

“Absolutely. Reverend Foster did a fine job, though his part in all of this was much less difficult than the lovely party you have arranged,” he said, taking in the elaborate decorations about the room. “You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”

“It was our pleasure,” Jasmine replied. “We would have it no other way. Spencer and Moses are upstairs if you care to join them, Reggie. In fact, you may tell them they can come downstairs with you if they promise to be on their best behavior.”

“I’ll tell them,” she said before hurrying out of the room.

“You’ll be pleased to see many of your church members as well as girls from the boardinghouse among the crowd,” Jasmine told them. “Now, do come fix a plate of food so that the others can begin to eat.”

Elinor and Justin followed her to the dining table. Alice Ann was holding a stack of perfectly folded white linen napkins while three maids hovered nearby, prepared to refill the trays with an array of wondrous treats.

“It’s abundantly obvious you have outdone yourself,” Justin commented as he began to fill his plate with several sweet delicacies. “It’s going to be difficult making my choices.”

“Then you must come back until you’ve tried some of everything,” Jasmine suggested before turning her attention to the bride. “Do have one of my raspberry tarts, Elinor. I prepared them especially for you. As I was planning what to serve, I suddenly remembered they’re one of your favorites.”

Elinor placed two of the small tarts on her plate. “Seems the church ladies have gathered for a private conclave,” she whispered to Justin.

He winked at her and when he had filled his plate, he strode to the cluster of women. “We’re pleased to see so many of our church members in attendance. Do help yourselves to some of this fine food, ladies. There are many selections to please your palate.”

Reggie, Spencer, and Moses positioned themselves in a small nook where the heavy parlor drapes hid them from view yet provided them with an excellent vantage point. They had come down the stairs and circled through the dining room in order to secure the perfect spot. It wasn’t until the church ladies gathered in front of the draperies that their view of the guests became somewhat obscured.

“I wish they would move. Now I can’t see my mama.” Reggie said the last word tentatively, as though she were trying it on to see how it fit.

Martha Emory poked Nancy Sanders in the arm. “Just look at her smiling like the cat that caught the canary. I told you from the beginning that she was out to snag him.
Didn’t
I, Caroline?” she asked, now looking at her daughter.

“Yes, Mama,” Caroline answered meekly.

“And didn’t I tell you that if you’d just assert yourself, you’d have yourself a husband?”

Caroline bobbed her head up and down. “Yes, Mama.”

“I believe he was interested in my Sarah until Elinor set her cap for him,” Nancy told Martha. “Of course, my Sarah is too much of a lady to throw herself at a man. Unlike Elinor, she could never behave in an unladylike fashion in order to gain a man’s attention. Surely you all remember how Elinor marched into that parsonage and took charge— ordering everyone around, just like she owned the place.”

Cecile Turnvall was focusing on Jasmine Houston. “For the life of me, I cannot understand why this reception is being hosted by the Houstons. It’s as though they didn’t think the ladies of the Congregational church could provide them with a reception that would meet their standards. The Houstons are
Episcopalians
!”

“Episcopalian or not, any reception we would have hosted would pale in comparison to this,” Winifred Mason remarked. “I imagine it’s Elinor who wanted this fancy party—Pastor Chamberlain isn’t one to put on airs.” She leaned closer to the other women. “Of course, unlike the rest of us, the Houstons appear to lead a charmed life. Even the economic problems don’t seem to have affected them.”

“I think it’s a wonderful party,” Caroline offered. “The food is excellent, and I particularly like the music.”

A slap of her mother’s fan caused Caroline to flinch. “You see! That’s exactly why you’re going to spend your life as a spinster! Instead of evaluating why you aren’t on the arm of Pastor Chamberlain, you’re enjoying his wedding reception.”

“Sorry, Mama,” Caroline said, casting her eyes downward.

“See what they’re like?” Reggie whispered to Spencer and Moses. “I told you, but you didn’t believe me.”

“I feel sorry for dat Caroline lady,” Moses whispered. “Her mama is mean.”

The young trio sat listening for a short time longer before Reggie decided to take matters into her own hands. She poked Martha Emory lightly in the back and waited until the older woman turned before stepping from behind the burgundy-fringed draperies.

“Good evening, Mrs. Emory, Mrs. Sanders, ladies,” she said as though she were a politician preparing to address a group of prospective voters. The women were visibly startled. “The three of us have been sitting here listening to your very cruel remarks. I’m going to kindly request that you immediately cease your disparaging remarks regarding my mother, or I’ll be forced to tell my parents everything you’ve said here tonight,” she said in a firm but gentle voice. “I truly don’t think you’d want me to do such a thing.”

“No, no, of course not,” Nancy Sanders sputtered. “We’re very pleased for both you and your father.”

“That’s nice to know, because if you are pleased for me and for my father, I know you’ll also be pleased for my mother. After all, she is the one who has brought joy to us.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Mrs. Emory stammered as she grabbed Caroline by the arm. “Come along, ladies, we must try some of that punch. It looks delightful.”

Giggles emanated from behind the draperies as the women hurried across the room toward the punch bowl.