Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Book #1) (11 page)

“Nonsense, I’ve only just found you. You must tell me what is happening in your life. Where are you living? Am I amiss in my information regarding your brother living in New Hampshire?”

Lilly didn’t want to tell the woman that she had no idea where her brother had taken himself. “I’m not sure about Lewis. I’m living on Jackson Street.”

“Are you staying with friends?”

Lilly stiffened. “I really have to go. I have a great deal to do. I’m sorry.” She made every attempt to hurry back to her secret hiding place at the boardinghouse. Of course, now it wasn’t quite so secret.

“You’ll not escape so easily, Lilly. I insist you come for supper this evening. And I’ll not take anything but yes for an answer!” Julia insisted.

Fearing Matthew’s participation in the meal, Lilly was loath to agree. “That could be rather uncomfortable for Matthew,” she finally said.

Julia shook her head. “He won’t be there. He’s out of town on business.”

Lilly made other protests. “I’m in mourning. It wouldn’t do to have me partaking in dinner parties.”

“Nonsense,” Julia retorted. “We’re practically family, and this would hardly be a party.”

Lilly felt awash in defeat. Each of her arguments was met by Julia’s counterattack. No escape could be had, so she finally smiled as sweetly as possible. “Just tell me what time and I’ll be there.”

“Very good.” Julia gave her the information, then added with a hint of amusement in her voice, “If you don’t make your appearance, I’ll send Mr. Cheever to fetch you.”

Now, as Lilly watched Julia depart, she wished she had stood her ground and refused the invitation. Mrs. Cheever, the picture of refined elegance, glided down Merrimack Street, her skirt swaying like a bell. No doubt it was of the latest fashion and fabric. The Cheevers hadn’t frittered their fortune away. Lilly swallowed hard. A dinner party at the Cheever home would bring nothing but discomfort and humiliation.

The older woman’s parting words still echoed in Lilly’s ears as she watched Julia disappear into one of the shops.
“If you don’t make your appearance, I’ll send Mr. Cheever to fetch you.”
It sounded every bit a threat.

Lilly turned and hurried toward Jackson Street with unwelcome memories of the past invading her thoughts. It had been at Matthew’s urging that the Cheevers sold their adjoining acreage some five years earlier and built a home in Lowell. Although Lewis had visited the Cheevers’ new residence when he had made his occasional visits home, Lilly had never so much as seen their new house. Of course, Julia had invited her on many occasions when she’d come to the Armbruster farm for a visit, but Lilly had resisted. In fact, she’d gone out of her way to avoid even a glimpse of the new mansion. Seeing the Cheevers in another home would solidify their absence and force her to admit they were never coming back to tend their orchards or their flocks of woolly sheep.

“Of course, Father’s death has assured that fact for me, so it truly doesn’t matter anymore,” Lilly told herself. She only wished it wouldn’t hurt so very much.

****

Miss Addie was seated in the kitchen peeling potatoes and scraping vegetables for the potpies, her foot propped on a wooden stool. “You’re back in no time at all. Did you run all the way?”

“No, of course not,” Lilly replied, forcing herself to return the woman’s jovial smile.

“I forget those young legs can carry you much more quickly than these worn-out old stubs. Did Mr. Lacy have everything we needed?”

Lilly nodded as she continued unpacking the basket, her back to the older woman. She continued searching her mind for some way she could avoid supper at the Cheever residence. A cheery Miss Addie tapping on her arm interrupted Lilly’s solitary thoughts.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you again, Lilly, was the Matthew Cheever Mintie spoke of your long-lost beau? You went scampering out of the room like a mouse after cheese when I inquired about him earlier.”

This time there was no escaping Miss Addie’s question. “Yes. My, it appears you’ve made excellent progress on the potpies,” she stated, hoping the change of subject would put an end to the investigation.

Her strategy, however, failed to work with Miss Addie. “And now he’s Kirk Boott’s protégé? It would appear you let a good thing get away from you, Lilly. If that young man has captured Mr. Boott’s attention, he’s sure to go far with the Corporation. Whatever caused the two of you to go your separate directions?”

“His affiliation with Mr. Boott and the Boston Associates.”

“Why, that makes no sense, child. A man who loves you is establishing himself in the business world, and you find fault with him?”

“Perhaps it makes no sense to you, Miss Addie, but it’s reason enough for me,” Lilly replied as she crimped the dough she’d placed atop one of the chicken potpies that now lined the worktable.

“Well, are you going to explain it to me?” Addie inquired while scooting forward on her chair.

“It’s a long story.”

Addie gave her a broad smile. “I’ve got nothing but time to listen while we’re fixing dinner, and I love to hear a good story.”

Lilly shook her head. There was no escaping this time. “It’s not such a good story. Matthew and I were friends throughout our growing-up years. You may recall I mentioned he once saved me from drowning in the Merrimack River the day Lewis held me over Pawtucket Falls.”

“That’s right! I do remember,” Addie agreed, her blue eyes sparkling at the realization.

“It wasn’t until the year before Matthew went off to Harvard that we pledged our love. Matthew talked of the day when he would be in charge of his family’s farm. Jonas, his older brother, had no interest in the land, but Matthew was like me—he had a desire to maintain his family’s acreage. I cherished the idea of marrying a man who would work the land and keep me close to family.

“Anyway, it was his final year at Harvard when he began to change. He had been involved in discussions regarding the industrialization of our country in his classes at Harvard, and he began talking about proper utilization of the land and how it could serve more people—things that were completely foreign to his earlier beliefs.

“Then on one of his visits home, he told me he was no longer interested in farming, that he had convinced his parents to sell their acreage and hoped our family would do the same and that it would be best for us to do so. He said my father’s health would soon prevent him from farming, and with Lewis’s obvious lack of interest in the property, it only made sense to sell.” Lilly looked away and tried to shake off the strangling sorrow that welled up in her heart.

“He had become a stranger to me. When my father resisted, someone wrote to Lewis telling him there was a good price to be had for our land. Needless to say, my brother returned home, and the land was sold. That was five years ago, in 1823.”

Confusion imprinted Addie’s plump face. “Five years ago? Where have you been since then?”

“On the farm, tending the orchards and caring for my father. The Associates knew they wouldn’t need our land until the mills began to expand, so the contract contained a clause that we could continue to cultivate and live on the land for five years. As the day for our departure grew nearer, my father’s health worsened. I believe he died of a broken heart. He had already lost my mother, and he couldn’t face the possibility of beginning a new life away from everything he held dear. He died a week before we were to vacate our homestead.

“Lewis arrived the day after my father was buried—he was detained in a game of cards with some gentlemen in Nashua, New Hampshire. It seems he was on a winning streak and couldn’t force himself away from the gaming table. Of course, he lost all of those winnings before he arrived back in East Chelmsford. Upon his appearance, he laid claim to the remaining gold pieces my father hadn’t already given him. He then proceeded to sell everything of value that remained in the house before he rode away. In all likelihood, he gambled away his remaining inheritance before the week had ended.”

Addie shook her head. “It appears that Lewis needs to be introduced to the Lord. Perhaps then he would change his ill-advised ways.”

Lilly shrugged her shoulders. “The only way that will happen is if there’s a revival in one of the taverns or brothels he frequents.”

The color heightened in Miss Addie’s cheeks as she shook her head again. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, Lilly. Don’t sell Him short.”

The corners of Lilly’s mouth turned upward and formed a soft smile. “I would never do that, but I believe Lewis has already committed his soul. Unfortunately, not to God.”

“I’ve seen some hardhearted characters change their ways. Perhaps we should pick a special time each day and pray for him,” Addie offered with a sense of excitement filling her voice.

Lilly’s smile faded as she finished preparing the last of the potpies and set them to bake. Wiping her floured hands on the white cotton apron, she turned toward Adelaide. “You are a truly kind woman, and I appreciate your offer, but I don’t believe I could pray for Lewis—I’m not at all sure I care what happens to him.”

Addie took hold of Lilly’s hand. “Well, then, I’ll just set aside some time each day and I’ll be praying for the
both
of you. We’ll see if God has something to say in the matter of Lewis and his evil ways.”

“And
me
, Miss Addie? What are you looking for God to do with me?”

Addie gave her a wink and smiled. “Just a bit of softening on that heart of yours—I’m afraid it’s beginning to harden at much too early an age. You’re a good girl, and I just thank the Lord you’ve come into my life. I wish there was something more I could do for you, aside from your bed and board.”

“There is one favor you could do for me.”

“Anything. You just tell me what it is.”

“I’m invited to a supper this evening—not until half past seven,” she quickly added. “Would you give permission for me to attend?”

“Why, of course, Lilly. You don’t need my permission to go out. The girls go out shopping and visiting every evening. However, it would be nice to know where you’re going,” Addie replied, giving her a grin. “Or am I being too meddlesome?”

Lilly couldn’t help but laugh. Addie’s deep blue eyes were alight with curiosity. “Julia Cheever, Matthew’s mother, spotted me on Merrimack Street when I was shopping today. She insisted I come to supper this evening. I attempted to refuse her invitation, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She threatened to send Mr. Cheever if I’m absent.”

“It would be more interesting if she sent Matthew,” Addie replied with a mischievous grin.

Lilly met Addie’s lopsided grin with a stern frown. “Matthew won’t be in attendance. Rest assured that I would never have accepted the invitation under any other circumstance. I’m certain Mrs. Cheever would never intentionally cause such an embarrassing situation for either of us.”

“It is amazing what a mother will do for the well-being of her child,” Addie whispered as she lifted her foot from the stool.

Chapter 7

Matthew smiled at his reflection in the large oval mirror that hung over the ornately carved mantel in his parents’ parlor. He adjusted his cravat ever so slightly, then glanced out the front window. Pulling a gold watch from the pocket of his double-breasted waistcoat, he decided he could wait only five minutes longer. If his mother hadn’t returned by then, he would ask Mary to deliver a message. But moments later, she entered the front door, a basket containing the morning’s purchases hanging from her arm.

“Matthew, what a pleasant surprise,” she greeted as he met her in the hallway. “I’ll be with you as soon as I unpack these things. They had such fine produce at the market this morning, it was difficult to decide what to buy. Sit down,” she urged.

“I can’t stay, Mother. In fact, I’m already late.”

“But since you’re already here, I was hoping you’d stay for supper. I’m having guests.”

“I couldn’t possibly do that,” Matthew replied.

“But, Matthew, this is the third time in recent weeks that we’ve invited you to join in our dinner party. I’ve already invited other guests and I am short one male escort. What is so important that you must create this last-minute disorder for me?”

Matthew squared his shoulders, his chest swelling as he spoke. “Mr. Boott wants me to accompany him to Boston for a meeting with Bishop Fenwick.”

A startled look crossed Julia’s face. “You’ve come at the last minute to tell me you are not attending my dinner party in order to go with Kirk Boott and meet with some Catholic priest? What’s gotten into you, Matthew, that you think fraternizing with some papist is more important than attending my party?”

“Mother, I’m sorry if I’ve caused you inconvenience. However, this meeting is important to my future with the Boston Associates. Perhaps you could ask Jonas to bring along one of his acquaintances.”

An exasperated sigh escaped Julia’s lips. “Boston Associates,” she remarked with a hint of disdain. “You have a Harvard education, Matthew. There are any number of businesses that would be pleased to employ you. Without, I might add, requiring you to travel so often that you can’t partake in a supper engagement at your parents’ home.”

“At the moment, I don’t have time to argue the benefits of working with Mr. Boott, but suffice it to say that I’m willing to make any necessary sacrifice in order to become a valued employee of the Associates.”

“
Any
sacrifice, Matthew?” Julia pulled a lace handkerchief from her sleeve and began dabbing at her face. “I pray that remark isn’t true.”

“Please, Mother, you need not attempt to convince me you’re going to faint over an offhand remark. I promise I won’t sell my soul to the devil, but I am going to Boston with Mr. Boott.”

“Well, do as you see fit. I’m sorry you’ll miss my special guest. You’d better be on your way. I wouldn’t want to detain you further,” she replied as she began walking out of the parlor.

His mother’s game playing was exasperating. She knew he wouldn’t leave until the unnamed guest was revealed. When he had been a little boy, she could always entice him with a secret—she still could. Julia enjoyed the game and he knew it. Yet, his curiosity forbade departing without knowing the name of her mysterious guest.