“Very determined to leave.” Mrs. Carter’s voice was loud, but her Jamaica rhythm was uneven, maybe a little flustered. “Be careful, indulging your friends. You already had onelate husband. Marks, for one, looks too healthy to meet the same fake fate.”
More snickers.
Even Clancy chortled.
“Stop, Mrs. Carter,” Mama said. “Let things be. He who is without sin gets to cast stones.”
The laughs stopped, but the ladies would continue to convict me.
Always the butt of jokes, I was sick of it, but this was the push I needed. Nothing would stop me from getting my proof. Nothing.
The other half of the marriage registry would show that I was married, in a ceremony filled with promises of forever.
No one believed me, not without undeniable proof. That’s what it took for the world to believe a woman, whether she be damaged or whole.
I balled up my yarn and jabbed my bone needles into the pile. “Ladies, it’s always a special time to sit with you. Pity this will end when I marry.”
Wool bundles in my hand, I turned and walked the ten paces to the door. With my head held high, I left the room but pushed the door a little too hard. It slammed.
Mrs. Carter’s laugh filtered past the threshold.
I sank against the wall and wrapped my arms about my yarn and the poking needles.
One step closer to proof, Ruthy. I could do this. One step at a time all the way to Blaren House. I wouldn’t stop until I had both halves of the registry in my hand.
Chapter Five
The Widow’s Sister
Waiting for Clancy to announce my carriage, I paced outside Mama’s parlor and tugged my long sleeves, as if showing my wrists were scandalous. This was my nerves wanting me to hide. Leaving the house was always so hard.
My sister, Ester, came out of Papa’s study and stood close to me in the small hall.
She held her baby son, Josiah, in her arms. “I see you made it out of the dragons’ den.”
“You can join me in the dragons’ den any Tuesday.”
“No thanks.” My sister’s voice sounded soothing, even sympathetic. “I don’t knit well enough, and I don’t know how you survived Mama’s friends all these years.”
“Part of my punishment. Until I’m married, in a ceremony in front of God and the gossips, I have to pay. Part of my testing. How will I be made gold without a few trials?”
My words sounded cheery, but my fingers rattled my bone needles. I peeked at my baby nephew and cooed at the innocent boy, so like Chris. Golden-colored skin. Good grips with his tiny palms.
“Having you here, you and Christopher, feels right.” Ester stepped close, close enough for me to see clearly her olive face. It beamed bright but her lip twitched.
Oh no. The girl wanted something.
I moved my watch chain away from the boy’s fingers. “Out with it, sister.”
“Nineteen Fournier is so big. Must you and the barrister leave when you are married? Do you have to live somewhere else?”
“Yes! As soon as possible,” I said the words without hesitation.
Ester’s head dipped as if she’d been struck. The perfect daughter would never understand.
Josiah’s mouth felt wet, so I wiped spittle from his puckered lips. “He hasn’t proposed. And when I do marry, I’ll still be in town, not far away. You can come to me on Tuesdays to escape Mama’s knitters.”
“I don’t want to lose you again.”
