An Unexpected Love (13 page)

Sophie very much enjoyed the time spent in London. She found the bustle and excitement of the city stimulated her senses in most every way. Of course, she was constantly overstepping the bounds of etiquette in some manner, but she didn’t let that bother her. It concerned her very little that she was to never walk alone in the company of a man without a chaperone. She certainly didn’t worry about the scandal caused when a lady danced more than three times with the same partner. So many of the rules were replicated in American society, and Sophie figured that if she didn’t pay them any mind at home, she was under no obligation to give them credence abroad.

Throughout their days in London, she’d taken pleasure in Wesley’s companionship. He’d regaled her with stories of English history, of kings and queens, grandeur and scandal.

“You’ll discover the history of the city quite fascinating,” he told her.

“I find the company even more so,” she said, smiling.

Fanny, walking ahead of Wesley and Sophie, seemed far less content. Daniel was once again at her side, although he walked with a slight limp. Fanny often glanced over her shoulder at Sophie or looked off to the horizon, as if trying to imagine herself removed from such tiresome company. Sophie felt sorry for her cousin, but not enough to leave Wesley’s side to intervene.

“I fear my cousin is less enamored with her own companion. I do wish Amanda hadn’t stayed behind to nurse her headache. If she were here, she’d be able to help Fanny.” Sophie risked a glance at Wesley. Just the sight of him caused her heart to beat faster and her thoughts to blur. She had found herself stammering and sputtering more than once when his smile or alluring expression sent her thoughts aflutter.

“I could suggest Mr. Irwin join me for a stop at one of the shops. You, in turn, could encourage Fanny to join you elsewhere— say that ladies’ shop across the way there.” He pointed and Sophie caught sight of a dressmaker.

“I would not wish to be separated from you.” She longed to cling to his arm but knew that Aunt Victoria would never allow such a public display.

“ ’Twould only be for a matter of minutes. It would give your cousin a brief respite and ease your guilty conscience.”

Sophie stopped and frowned. “Who said I had a guilty conscience?”

Wesley smiled. “It’s quite obvious to me that you are torn. Would you tell me otherwise?”

“No, I suppose not.” Sophie sighed and squared her shoulders. “Very well. Extend your invitation to Mr. Irwin.”

“First I shall secure your aunt’s permission.” He turned to find Victoria and Lady Illiff nearly upon them. “Ladies, I wonder if you would permit me to disengage from our party momentarily. I see a charming ladies’ shop across the street and wonder if it would be too much to anticipate your desire to spend a few moments there while Mr. Irwin and I head over there.” He pointed to a men’s haberdashery and added, “I have need of a new hat and thought perhaps Mr. Irwin might, also.”

“I believe that would be perfectly acceptable,” Lady Illiff said. “I happen to know they do great work there. The dressmaker is one I had hoped to visit. She carries many handmade pieces that are prepared ahead of time and adjusted for the wearer as she waits. It’s quite delightful.”

Victoria nodded, much to Sophie’s relief. Without waiting, she called out, “Fanny, Daniel, our plans are changing.”

Daniel seemed to pout at the announcement that the men were separating from the women, but he nevertheless followed after Wesley while Lady Illiff led the way to the dressmaker’s shop.

“I thought I’d never be rid of him,” Fanny said as she took Sophie’s arm. “What a bore. He cares nothing about anything of interest. I tried to converse with him about the vegetation, the birds, the history of London. He cares naught for any of it. He only wishes to speak of his adoration for me.”

Sophie giggled. “Perhaps if you wore some flowers or birds, he might be willing to listen.”

Fanny laughed. “I would just as soon keep myself out of the situation altogether. The man will not hear reason. He has hinted at marriage more times than I can count. I fear he will soon propose, and then I shall have to be firm with him.”

They followed their elders into the shop and pretended to be interested in an arrangement of shirtwaists while the owner offered the older women refreshments.

“Simply remind him you are already engaged,” Sophie replied. She fingered the delicate embroidery of a silky bodice.

“I’ve tried to speak about Michael more than once. He absolutely refuses to listen. He always changes the subject.”

“Then change it back,” Sophie asserted. “You mustn’t allow him to hold you hostage in a conversation.”

“I suppose you are right. I cannot expect you or Amanda to constantly rescue me.”

“Certainly not. Besides, if you continue to speak only of Michael, Daniel will surely grow bored and turn his attention elsewhere. Perhaps we should encourage him to give regard to Amanda.”

Fanny laughed. “I wouldn’t wish that upon our dear cousin for all the world.”

The men joined them some time later, and Lady Illiff suggested they stop for lunch. She knew of a wonderful establishment not far from where their carriage awaited them.

Sophie thought it a marvelous idea. She hoped to spend some quiet moments in conversation with Wesley. They wouldn’t be much longer in England, and she wanted very much to convince him to sail back with their entourage.

Lady Illiff arranged for them to have a private room where a warm fire blazed in the hearth. The room was obviously fashioned to appeal to the upper class. The oak furnishings were highly polished and decorated with a display of silver and crystal flower dishes, as well as elegant English china.

“What a charming room,” Aunt Victoria declared. “So cozy and warm.”

“The city is so damp and chilly this time of year,” Lady Illiff stated as her attendant came to her aid. The woman removed Lady Illiff’s fur-lined cloak then turned and offered to help Victoria, as well. Daniel quickly offered to assist Fanny, while Sophie was mesmerized by Wesley’s hands upon her shoulders.

“Allow me,” he whispered against her ear.

Sophie couldn’t help but shudder as he took the cloak from her. He allowed his hand to trail across her neck, causing Sophie’s heart to hammer. She tried to steady her breathing but knew Wesley would understand the effect he had on her. With shaky hands, she focused on removing her gloves but found the button impossible to work.

“Here.” Wesley reached for her hand and took it in his. Sophie’s gaze fixed on his face as he undressed her hands. “Perhaps you should stand by the fire for a few minutes. You are trembling.”

“I doubt the fire would help,” she said honestly, knowing he would catch her meaning.

He did and smiled. “Ah, Sophie. Such an innocent treasure.”

Victoria watched her niece with growing concern. It seemed Sophie cared little for social proprieties. With Mr. Hedrick in the room, she completely cast aside her upbringing and acted in a most wanton fashion. Still, Hedrick was a man of means and in good standing with the Illiffs. Perhaps this was true love for Sophie and Hedrick.

“What do you think of Mr. Hedrick and my niece?” Victoria asked Lady Illiff quietly.

They were seated near the fire while the younger people were still arranging themselves at the table.

“They make a fine couple.” Lady Illiff watched them for a moment then turned her attention to Victoria. “She could do much worse—as could he. I would have liked to have kept him here in England, but I believe you will soon find Mr. Hedrick following you to New York.”

Victoria nodded. “I suppose I will have to speak to him on behalf of the family. Extend invitations and such.”

“It does my heart good to see Wesley seeking love. He has been alone too long. I told him that I would find him another mate. How fortuitous it was that you should arrive with your nieces and daughter.”

They passed a pleasant time dining on roasted beef and Yorkshire pudding. Victoria remained ever mindful of her two nieces. Fanny seemed captivated by Daniel. She was deep in conversation with him, and Victoria felt this a very good sign of their growing closer. Wesley and Sophie were also conversing easily, but then they always did.

“We are seldom in London during this time of year,” her friend was saying. “Sometimes we return to the city on Boxing Day after gifting the servants at the manor house. We arrive in time to offer gifts to the servants here, as well. However, it does make it difficult to give them the day off if we are in transit, so we often wait and gift the servants here after the new year.”

Victoria smiled and nodded as the woman continued to ramble. “Lord Illiff is always so busy when we return to London. He finds himself caught up with the affairs of the government and such. I seldom see him for days on end. Of course we have a great deal of entertaining to attend to, also. I have a party already scheduled for the day before you depart for America. It’s expected, you know, and I couldn’t be happier to oblige. It’s a fine thing to show off such beautiful young ladies.”

“I’m sure we’ll enjoy the affair,” Victoria murmured. She would have enjoyed it much more had Jonas kept his word and joined them in England, but there was nothing to be done about that now.

Later, as they made their way to the carriage, Victoria happened to glimpse Fanny and Daniel as they walked. Fanny seemed to lean in to hear Daniel’s every word. It was a good sign, Victoria thought. She climbed into the carriage and turned in time to see that Daniel had taken a possessive hold of Fanny’s arm. She didn’t seem to mind in the least.

Oh, this would be quite pleasing to Jonas, to be sure.

“You can let me go now,” Fanny told Daniel. “I’ve quite recovered from my misstep.”

“I’d rather see you safely into the carriage,” Daniel said, refusing to yield his grip.

Fanny grimaced. “You might at least loosen your hold, or my arm will be black and blue tomorrow. Then I shall have to explain how I came by my bruises.”

They waited for Wesley to hand Sophie into the carriage, and Daniel couldn’t seem to resist the moment to declare his admiration for Fanny once again. It didn’t help that Sophie’s gown snagged on the carriage step and Wesley had to work with tedious care to free it.

“Fanny, you know how much I care for you. I cannot imagine my world without you in it every day.”

Goodness, but he always seemed to start out the same way. Fanny held up her hand. “Daniel, I must be a very poor communicator.”

“Not at all. You speak wonderfully. I enjoy our conversations very much.”

“Then why do you not understand that I love another man— that I am engaged to marry and am completely unavailable for your interest in me?”

He looked at her blankly. “You do not even know if your young man will return to you. Mr. Atwell is in the Yukon. Many people fail to return from adventures such as his. The winters in the north are vicious. I’ve read a great deal about the area.”

“As have I,” Fanny countered. “I also know that Michael is used to such weather, having lived on Broadmoor Island for many years. He knows how to survive the elements, and I’ve no doubt he will return to me.”

“I have no wish to cause you distress, Fanny dear, but there are circumstances in the north that Mr. Atwell will never have experienced. Wild animals, the desperation of greedy men seeking their own fortunes, not to mention the isolation. I read just the other day of a madness that often overtakes people in the great frozen north.”

Sophie was now inside the carriage, and Wesley was waiting for Fanny to move forward and step in. She turned briefly to face Daniel and shook her head. “Michael’s strength is in the Lord. I do not fear for his sanity or his safety.”

But her words were not as encouraging as Fanny would have liked. Taking her seat beside Sophie and Aunt Victoria, she wished she were back in Rochester. At least there she could receive Michael’s letters. Better still, she longed for Broadmoor Island, where Michael’s mother and father could offer her hope and she could enjoy the tranquillity of the place. Her grandfather had purchased the island years ago, and though it was smaller than many of the islands that dotted the St. Lawrence River, Fanny thought it perfect. Only two miles in length, the island boasted one of the grandest of the castlelike homes along the river. With its six stories, fifty rooms, and huge turret, the home had been copied by many but never equaled—at least not in Fanny’s estimation. However, it wasn’t the magnificent home so much as experiencing the beauty of God’s creation that Fanny loved. Fishing in the late afternoon with Michael or sitting on the jagged rocks listening to the birds and watching the lapping water—those were the things in which she took true delight.

That night in the quiet of her room, Fanny pulled out the only letter she’d received from Michael. She scanned the words once again, trying to pull additional news from the meager lines. Michael held such hope for their future. He was certain he could secure a fortune by next summer.
Summer.
That seemed an eternity away. She lovingly stroked the paper, knowing that Michael’s hands had also touched it. It helped her feel close to him.

I will soon be bound for Dawson, and doubt I will have an opportunity to write again until spring,
she read.
The mail is difficult to deliver during the winter and questionable at best. So please do not despair if you hear nothing from me until summer.

Summer.
There was that word again. So much could happen between now and then. As Daniel had said, so much could go wrong. All manner of trouble could befall her beloved, and Fanny had no choice but to wait.

“Oh, it is so hard to wait, my love,” she whispered, holding the letter close to her heart. “So hard to endure the months without you.”

8

Sunday, November 21, 1897

Sophie removed her gowns from the wardrobe and piled them atop the bed—her contribution to the packing efforts of Minnie and Veda, who had been diligently folding and arranging the Broadmoor ladies’ belongings since the day before. Their ship would sail in the morning, and Sophie would have the pleasure of enjoying Wesley’s company on the return voyage. She could barely believe her good fortune. Though Wesley had taken more convincing than she’d anticipated, he’d eventually agreed to abandon his earlier plans to return home in early December and instead sail with the Broadmoors. If her good fortune continued, Sophie might even convince him to accompany her home. Though he’d agreed to a Christmas visit, he’d not yet conceded to the idea of coming any earlier, and Sophie wasn’t certain if she should continue to beseech him or to simply accept his refusal. She would, after all, enjoy his company during their luxurious days and evenings aboard ship, and there would be a flurry of activity when they finally arrived home.