economically if Mia were to marry the man they have in mind. I think we should encourage her to at least meet him and see if love cannot be developed for both of them.”
“I’ll think on it, Aldora. Better yet, I’ll pray about the situation.”
She nodded. “I’ll pray on it as well.”
The day of Prudence Brighton’s engagement party arrived with blessedly clear skies and moderate temperatures. Mia was quite excited to attend the party. She had remembered in the dead of the night that the Brightons’ cook, Mrs. Williamson, had a sister who was married to a sailor and lived near the Delaware River. Perhaps Mrs. Williamson could arrange a meeting where her sister could share more insight about the woes of women in her situation.
Mia fingered the rose-colored silk of her gown. Trimmed in white lace and green cording, the creation seemed just right for a garden party and dinner. Prudence had raved for weeks about how beautiful their flowers were and about the hundreds of additional blossoms her father was bringing in. The number of people invited to the affair was limited due to the Brightons’ uneasiness about taking on a country doctor as son-in-law, but for Mia, all the important people would be there.
The mirror’s reflection brought a smile to her lips. Mia looked exactly as she’d hoped: small waist, modest neckline, blond hair done up in a fashionable sweep, and a complexion that needed neither powder nor paint. Not that her mother or their society would allow for either one. She twirled to see the lay of the skirt as it might appear while dancing. “Perfect!” she exclaimed.
“Miss Mia,” Ruth called as she knocked.
“Come in.” Mia halted her antics. “What is it?”
“Ah, you do look very fine. I’m sure you’ll have the gentlemen lining up to dance with you. I came to tell you that your father is feeling poorly and has decided to stay home. Your mother wants to stay with him. She hopes that you might go ahead to the party and give their regards.”
“What seems to be wrong with Father?” Mia asked with a frown.
“I couldn’t say, miss, but it seems nothing serious.”
Mia picked up her matching bag. “Very well. Why don’t you go tell Jason to have the carriage brought round?” She raised her brows and gave Ruth a smile.
“I’ll just go do that right away. We’re hoping that soon you’ll need us to go across town for you again.”
Mia laughed. “I’m glad to hear that it’s gotten serious.”
Twenty minutes later, Mia alighted the carriage to stand in front of the Brightons’ three-story brick home. Dozens of people wandered the yard, greeting each other and gathering to talk in small groups. The ladies’ gowns added a rich tapestry of color to the vivid green lawn. They almost looked like flowers themselves in their fashionable bell-shaped skirts. The men were their charming selves in customary black suits that gave them a regal appearance.
Mia looked quickly for any sign of Garrett before making her way to the garden proper. He had postponed his trip—of that she was certain. He would be here. It was just a matter of locating him and then convincing him to accept an introduction to Josephine Monroe.
The scent of the flowers assaulted her immediately as she entered the back garden. It was a glorious wealth of aromas, not to mention a stunning visual effect to behold. The Brightons had long been known for their prize-winning roses, and everywhere there was an abundance of flowering beds quartered off and trimmed with crushed white stone.
“Mia, you came. I’m so very glad,” Prudence said, pulling her aside. The bride-to-be looked very nervous.
“Are you all right?” Mia questioned. She could see that Prudence was shaking.
“Father is speaking to Noah at this moment. I do not know why he chose today of all days, but he’s trying to entice Noah to leave his practice and work for Brighton and Sons.”
“In the boot factory?”
Prudence nodded. “I’ve
“I’ll think on it, Aldora. Better yet, I’ll pray about the situation.”
She nodded. “I’ll pray on it as well.”
The day of Prudence Brighton’s engagement party arrived with blessedly clear skies and moderate temperatures. Mia was quite excited to attend the party. She had remembered in the dead of the night that the Brightons’ cook, Mrs. Williamson, had a sister who was married to a sailor and lived near the Delaware River. Perhaps Mrs. Williamson could arrange a meeting where her sister could share more insight about the woes of women in her situation.
Mia fingered the rose-colored silk of her gown. Trimmed in white lace and green cording, the creation seemed just right for a garden party and dinner. Prudence had raved for weeks about how beautiful their flowers were and about the hundreds of additional blossoms her father was bringing in. The number of people invited to the affair was limited due to the Brightons’ uneasiness about taking on a country doctor as son-in-law, but for Mia, all the important people would be there.
The mirror’s reflection brought a smile to her lips. Mia looked exactly as she’d hoped: small waist, modest neckline, blond hair done up in a fashionable sweep, and a complexion that needed neither powder nor paint. Not that her mother or their society would allow for either one. She twirled to see the lay of the skirt as it might appear while dancing. “Perfect!” she exclaimed.
“Miss Mia,” Ruth called as she knocked.
“Come in.” Mia halted her antics. “What is it?”
“Ah, you do look very fine. I’m sure you’ll have the gentlemen lining up to dance with you. I came to tell you that your father is feeling poorly and has decided to stay home. Your mother wants to stay with him. She hopes that you might go ahead to the party and give their regards.”
“What seems to be wrong with Father?” Mia asked with a frown.
“I couldn’t say, miss, but it seems nothing serious.”
Mia picked up her matching bag. “Very well. Why don’t you go tell Jason to have the carriage brought round?” She raised her brows and gave Ruth a smile.
“I’ll just go do that right away. We’re hoping that soon you’ll need us to go across town for you again.”
Mia laughed. “I’m glad to hear that it’s gotten serious.”
Twenty minutes later, Mia alighted the carriage to stand in front of the Brightons’ three-story brick home. Dozens of people wandered the yard, greeting each other and gathering to talk in small groups. The ladies’ gowns added a rich tapestry of color to the vivid green lawn. They almost looked like flowers themselves in their fashionable bell-shaped skirts. The men were their charming selves in customary black suits that gave them a regal appearance.
Mia looked quickly for any sign of Garrett before making her way to the garden proper. He had postponed his trip—of that she was certain. He would be here. It was just a matter of locating him and then convincing him to accept an introduction to Josephine Monroe.
The scent of the flowers assaulted her immediately as she entered the back garden. It was a glorious wealth of aromas, not to mention a stunning visual effect to behold. The Brightons had long been known for their prize-winning roses, and everywhere there was an abundance of flowering beds quartered off and trimmed with crushed white stone.
“Mia, you came. I’m so very glad,” Prudence said, pulling her aside. The bride-to-be looked very nervous.
“Are you all right?” Mia questioned. She could see that Prudence was shaking.
“Father is speaking to Noah at this moment. I do not know why he chose today of all days, but he’s trying to entice Noah to leave his practice and work for Brighton and Sons.”
“In the boot factory?”
Prudence nodded. “I’ve
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