“I did, miss.” The woman’s cheeks flushed, and her expression lightened. “My mother used to work in a great house before she married. She taught me.”
“Do you have children?”
“Two of them are mine.” Mary nodded toward the group of children surrounding Jem.
He stood at their center, his eyes wide to exaggerate whatever he was telling them, his arms waving. Ellen sat on a log stump, laughing along with the children, but her expression was even more adoring. He’d always had that effect on people, kids and adults. They just liked Jem. And why not? He was a great guy with an almost uncanny ability to sense when someone he was with was distressed.
It had made Reese jealous sometimes. She loved to help people too, but he always connected with them on a deep and personal level that eluded Reese. Maybe it was her more forthright manner.
Back in high school, when his family had volunteered at the local hospital on Christmas Eve and invited her to come with them, it had been Jem who had put the children at ease and gotten them to talk. Reese had tried, but the kids had been drawn to him. Volunteering every summer at the local library might have helped. He had read to the kids and helped with the puppet program.
He now sat on one of the logs, careless of his fancy clothes. Two of the smaller children perched on his lap, and all of them were laughing. Reese’s heart gave a little twist.
Seeing him like this again showed her too plainly that she was still in love with him. She reminded herself what she had come to understand about him a few years ago. It had been during his senior year at college, and he’d had the lead role in a play. She, Kaitlyn, and Cyrus had gone to see it, and they’d waited outside for him afterward. Reese had overheard one of the cast members talking about Jem and saying he was “always on.”
It was then she’d realized how much that reminded her of the way her loser father had acted. Jem had hung out with any group he wanted to in high school because he could act the part they expected. He made himself fit in with them. Had she ever seenjustJem? When she had made that observation to her cynical mother, she had said with a bitter tone, “Will therealJem Taylor please stand up?”
“Begging your pardon, miss, I hope you don’t mind me saying,” Mary said, pulling Reese from her memories about Jem, “but I believe your cousin will make a good father someday.”
“I don’t mind at all. Hecouldbe a good father.” Unless he decided his career was more important than his family. Reese pulled her attention away from him and glanced again at the beautiful embroidery work on the woman’s collar. “Do you take on work, Mary? I’d like to commission you to do some embroidery work for me. Nothing big, maybe a handkerchief.”
“Me, miss?”
“Yes. You do lovely work.” Reese scanned the trim little village. “Since my cousin has decided to entertain the children, would you mind giving me a tour?”
“I beg pardon, miss.” Mary knit her brows.
“I’m sorry.” Reese patted her arm. “We Americans say things differently than you’re used to. I wondered if you might show me around and explain what your day is like.”
“Oh, aye, miss.” Mary curtsied. “T’would be an honor.”
They strolled down the street while the seamstress gave an animated and detailed explanation of each cottage and its occupants. Reese appreciated some of the rather astute observations the woman made about the people. In a different time, Mary would have made a fine mayor or village elder.
A part of Reese’s mind still tuned into what Jem was doing with the children. Every time he made them laugh, she smiled. Walter stayed a few paces behind Reese, close enough to hear and perhaps shut her down if she said the wrong thing. Evidently, Jem could be trusted on his own, but she could not.
“Do you have many servants, miss?” Mary asked when they reached the last of the homes.
“We’re fortunate to have good help.” Reese felt like a liar, but she had no idea how to explain that machines did most of the work.
“Cousin,” Jem called, “are you ready to return to Aunt Nellie’s?”
“Yes,” Reese called and then said to Mary, “Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to show me around. Are you willing to do the needlework for me? How much do you charge?”
“Oh, miss, I would be happy to do it foryou, no cost.”
“I won’t ask you to take time away from your family without compensating you.” Reese shot Walter a look, hoping he would step in. He did.
“Just set the same fee as for your fancy work, Mary,” he said.
“Do you need anything from me in advance?” Reese asked.
“Oh, no, miss.” She curtsied. “Thank you.”
Jem, with Ellen on his arm, joined them. He held out his other arm to Reese. She took it, trying not to think too much about how happy Ellen looked to be there. Reese waved to the children who followed them to the horses.
“I never got a chance to talk to the kids,” she said once they were riding away again.
“I’m sure you will,” Jem said. “We can come back another time.”
