She thought of Braxton and her heart pinched. It meant she wouldn’t see him anymore, and part of her wasn’t sure she was prepared to do that. He was kind, calm, and always knew what to do. Steady was a good word to describe him. Like a big, solid tree in a storm. He didn’t waver, was unmovable in his decisions, and knew what he wanted.
Too bad what he was looking for in a wife wasn’t her. She could fall for a man like him. Hard too, if she let her heart have free rein. But she didn’t dare, and the more she thought about it, the more she knew she was going to have to stop helping Augusta, Margaret, and Josie.
When Phoebe reached The Sister’s Mail-Order Bride Company, she wondered if Braxton had returned to help. Neither spoke about it last night when he walked her home. What little conversation they had involved the day’s work, and of course George. Braxton had taken to walking him a few times throughout the day, and Phoebe didn’t wonder if he’d ask the sisters if he could have the dog.
She went inside and entered the office. Augusta sat behind her desk, smoothing the edges of some tired looking applications Phoebe had sorted last night. Phoebe looked at the lamp on Augusta’s desk and was reminded of the lantern-lit moments she’d shared with Braxton. For a moment, she thought she saw attraction in his eyes, or maybe admiration. But it had been nothing. The result of a long day and a trick of the light.
Augusta looked up and smiled. “Miss Hale. I’m so glad you’re here.” She stacked the applications neatly and reached for a fresh sheet of paper.
“Augusta, that is, Miss Merriweather…”
“Please, call me Augusta. For heaven’s sake, you’ve earned the right. You’ve been helping us for days now.”
“That’s just it. I won’t be able to help anymore. I need to find a job if the process of finding me a decent groom is going to take a while.”
Augusta’s face fell. “Oh, dear me… well, we can’t have that.” She glanced at the door on the other side of the room. “Margaret and Josie are making tea. Why don’t we discuss it over a cup?”
Phoebe sucked in a tiny breath of surprise. “Really? You mean you’ll consider it?”
“Of course, dear. Goodness, you’ve been a life saver. Paying you something is the least we can do.” She left her chair and headed for the door leading to the back.
The office door opened and Braxton sauntered in. As soon as he saw Phoebe, his eyes locked on hers. “Good morning.”
She gave him a nod as her cheeks heated. She was going to have to say something to him about her rent. How else did it get paid? And how was she to pay him back?
Margaret and Josie swept into the room. They were dressed, but barely. Their hair had been hastily pinned, their shawls askew. And both had ink smudges on their sleeves. Neither wore her usual morning smile.
Phoebe straightened in alarm. “Is something wrong?”
Braxton joined them, his brow creased beneath the brim of his hat.
Augusta wrung her hands. “Ah yes. Um, Phoebe, dear… Mr. Jones… would you both sit down, please?”
That was never a good sentence. Phoebe tried not to gulp and sat in the nearest chair.
Braxton pulled a second chair beside hers. As soon as he sat, George shuffled over and flopped his enormous body across both their feet. Braxton didn’t attempt to move him, just settled deeper in his seat.
Phoebe folded her hands. “What happened?”
Augusta inhaled shakily. “We owe you both an apology.”
Phoebe’s stomach tightened. “For what?”
Augusta began. “We may have… slightly… mislaid some information.”
Margaret added, “As you know, some brides have been sent to… incorrect destinations.”
Josie burst out, “And we may have matched some people with the wrong people but only for a moment!”
Braxton blinked. “Ma’am, you want to start that over?”
Augusta shut her eyes and exhaled. “We’ve made a terrible mess.” She opened her eyes and glared at George. “But it wasn’t entirely our fault.”
Phoebe stared in disbelief. “A… mess?”
Margaret laid the files on the desk. “Phoebe, dear… the original groom we promised you, Percy Trevor, we don’t know where all his paperwork is. We think some of it is mixed with another groom’s. Then again, most of it may have been chewed up by George.”
Everyone looked at the dog. George panted a few times then barked.
