Even his son no longer smiled when he entered the nursery, a fact that stabbed at Thomas’ heart and made him even more aloof. The boy would do better without his presence, he reassured himself whenever he felt guilty about the growing divide between them. Robbie would have Rosaline to comfort him now.
He thought of his wife and the day they had gotten married. It had been the beginning of spring. Bellflowers had been in bloom and she had chosen them as part of her bouquet. It had been one of the happiest days of his life, knowing that he was standing beside the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.
The thought made his heart harden against God even more.
What had he done wrong to lose the love of his life?he wondered for the thousandth time since the funeral.
Mary had worn a simple yellow dress with a netted veil over her golden hair. The smile on her face had ensured him that she had been just as happy as he was at the prospect of a life spent together.
The second time he had seen her wedding dress was on the day of her funeral. Buena had come and dressed her, before she was laid gently in her casket. The pain was gone and her features were at peace, something that Thomas couldn't bring himself to feel.
He was shaken back to the present as the reverend addressed him directly.
“Do you, Thomas, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?
He looked at Rosaline and the hopeful look in her eyes. “I do,” he said after a brief pause, hoping he was doing the right thing.
“And do you, Rosaline, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health? To love and to cherish, forsaking all others?”
“I do.” She smiled and glanced at Thomas through the corner of the veil.
“ I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Thomas had made up his mind that they would not be sealing their union with a kiss, and he was about to say this when he noticed the look of expectation on Rosaline’s face. Her eyes were closed and her head was tilted slightly up.
Arthur cleared his throat in the pew just behind Thomas and the Reverend gave him a nod of encouragement when he hesitated. His conscience told him that he couldn’t embarrass Rosaline in front of the others by refusing her.
A gentle kiss would not be out of place, he reasoned with himself.
He gently lifted her veil and placed it over her hair. Her breathing had increased slightly as he took a moment to compose himself and look at her.
Rosaline’s lashes lay against her flushed cheeks. He noticed for the first time that her lips were full and rosy.
Thomas leaned in and gently brushed his lips against hers.
Lingering for a moment as he felt the softness of her breath and the tenderness in her response. She kissed him back with a gentle quiver.He was probably the first man she had ever kissed,he thought to himself as he drew back and noticed how long it took her to open her eyes.
She was blushing a deep red that highlighted the gentle curve of her cheekbones. Thomas couldn’t deny that he had felt something more than he had expected, a sudden jolt of electricity that left him confused.
Chapter Ten
Rosaline hoisted the laundry basket onto her hip. It had been a few days since the wedding, and she was trying her best to settle into her new life.
She followed Buena out of the back door to a shed that was situated beside the house. The wooden structure housed two giant tubs for the laundry and all the tools needed to accomplish the task.
Having more than one maid to help at the Voss’, Rosaline was not yet accustomed to washing laundry. She had been a kitchen maid by day and singer by night. Washing clothes was not yet part of her limited skills.
“Shall we jump right in?” Buena asked after she set a large copper kettle beside the tubs. She had boiled the kettle in the kitchen and lugged it out to what Rosaline now knew was the laundry room. “One of the farm hands will fill the tubs with water from the creek early on Monday mornings.” She gestured to the two tubs. “They are pretty reliable with that.”
Buena hoisted the giant copper kettle up with both hands and poured the steaming water into the first tub. “You only need to add the boiling water...” she panted while balancing the heavy kettle. “I find that one kettle per tub does the trick, you don’t want the water so hot that you scald your hands.”
Rosaline hung on Buena’s every word, not wanting to get anything wrong.
“Now, you can begin scrubbing while I fetch the second kettle for the other tub.” She pointed to the shelf behind Rosaline. “There is your lye soap and grater. You want to get a few tablespoons of the lye in the water before you begin.
Rosaline turned to see a grater next to a thick bar of yellowish soap. She retrieved them and proceeded to grate a fair amount into the water. “Is that enough?” She looked to Buena for advice.
She nodded. “That should just about do it. Now soak the clothes in the water with the laundry stick and I'll be back in a jiffy.” Buena paused before leaving as Rosaline gave her a quizzical look. “The wooden stick hanging behind your head, dear,” she pointed out. “The water will still be too hot to use your hands. You use that to stir in the clothes.”
