“Well, ever since you and Papa arrived, you’ve done nothing but mother me. You’ve even talked to me like Mama. I’m sure you must feel the need to step into her shoes, and while that might be acceptable regarding cooking for Papa and the boys on the ship, it’s not for me. I’m perfectly capable of seeing to myself.”
“Including your back buttons?”
Caroline sighed. “Very well. Etta!” she called, not seeming to notice whether Elise continued with the buttons.
The uniformed maid appeared. “Ma’am.” She gave a curtsy.
“Bring my new traveling suit and help me dress.” Caroline glanced over her shoulder as Elise finished with the last of the buttons. “Please.”
Elise smiled and watched the maid hurry away. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Caroline rolled her eyes. She worked at undoing the buttons on her sleeves. “Etta can help me now. Why don’t you go downstairs and wait with the others? I know they plan to throw rice.”
Elise waited as Caroline finished with her buttons. Stepping close, she surprised Caroline with an embrace. “I just want you to know that I love you. I hope you have a wonderful trip ... and marriage.”
Caroline hesitated, then finally returned Elise’s hug. “I’m certain I will, so you can stop fretting.” She stiffened and gave a little push. “Now, let me get back to this.”
“We were close once.” Elise hadn’t meant to whisper the words aloud.
“We were children,” Caroline countered. “And we had no choice. There was no other person to confide in or play with. We had only each other.”
In that moment, Elise saw her sister not as a wealthy bride but as a little girl. “I liked it that way. We knew we could always count on each other to be there. Now you have other obligations. I will continue to miss you.”
“Oh, bother. Where is that girl?” Caroline went to the open door that led to her bathing room. “Etta?”
“Coming, ma’am.” Etta returned carrying a forest-green traveling suit. She placed the outfit carefully at the end of the bed, then went immediately to Caroline and helped rid her of the ivory gown.
Elise slipped from the room, knowing that neither woman needed her nor cared for her company. Her sister’s attitude only stirred her anger. How could she be so cold? Didn’t Caroline have any feelings of love toward her family? Maybe money and prestige were all she loved now.
An hour later, Elise waited in her uncle’s borrowed carriage outside of Joseph Brett’s apartment. Her father’s first mate lived in a modest part of town. Elise knew that despite Joe being a better-paid seaman who didn’t drink or gamble, he was still hard-pressed to keep his family fed and clothed, so the tiny duplex came as no surprise.
Joe had a family of five children and a wife who had once been quite pretty. Since Mrs. Brett had been on her way out thedoor when they’d pulled up to the curb, Elise had decided to wait outside and let her father and Joe visit privately. The two women had exchanged hellos, but then Joe’s wife had to be on her way to retrieve her children from her sister’s house.
Mrs. Brett had at least shared the news that Joe was doing better. The doctor had given him medication for his wound and strict orders for tending it. She was certain he’d be back on his feet soon.
It was good to hear. Joe had been her father’s first mate for as long as Elise could remember. Papa relied on him heavily. It was hard enough to be without Mama on board, but losing Joe would be sheer misery. Her father would be relieved to hear the good news.
While she waited in the carriage, Elise fidgeted with the bodice of her gown. At least it wasn’t as fancy as her wedding clothes, but it was just as snug. Probably much smaller than she usually wore, thanks to the tightly tied corset beneath it. She could scarcely draw breath, and given the day’s heat and humidity, she worried she might faint dead away. How ridiculous! Why did women put themselves through such torment? A well-fitted corset tied in a reasonable manner was a useful thing, but the practice of securing them as tightly as possible was absurd.
There was some sort of commotion going on down the street, and Elise looked up just in time to see a freight wagon veering out of control. The horses pulling the wagon were driverless and headed straight for her. All she could do was brace herself for impact as her uncle’s driver struggled to get the carriage out of the way.
“Miss. Miss, are you all right?”
Elise slowly opened her eyes and gazed straight up into the worried expression of a very handsome man. His face was freshly shaved, and the cologne he’d used had a pleasant aroma.
“What ... what happened?” She was lying on her back, and her vision seemed blurred.
The man smiled. “Your carriage was hit by a freighter. It threw you to the street. You have a few scrapes on your chin. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“I don’t know.” Elise put her gloved hand to her chin.
“Are you able to sit?”
She tried with his help, but pain cut through her back. “Oh, I don’t think so.” She was grateful when he lowered her back to the ground.
“My father .. . he’s in number twelve-twenty-three.” How had she remembered the address? “He’s visiting Joseph Brett.”
“I know Joe,” another man said. “I’ll fetch her father.”
