In Name Only (7 page)

“I’m a Christian,
Mr. O’Donovan.”

“Your
naïveté
is endearing and I don’t want to
destroy your obvious innocence, but the servants freely do this.”

“Your behavior
makes me ill.”

“Ah, you are even
more beautiful when you’re angry.  Do you realize your freckles darken? It’s
very becoming.”

Caroline again
glared at him.

“Aren’t you going
to slap me again?  I was hoping you would.”

“You are. . .”

“What?  I’m
what?”  He stepped back and eyed her up and down. “Well, Miss Martin, I’ll tell
you what I am.  I am. . .shocked!” he said, a huge smirk on his face.

“Whatever do you
mean you are shocked?”

“Most certainly I
am, Miss Martin.”  He leaned in close to her and whispered. “You’re. . .not 
wearing a corset, are you?”  His eyebrows were raised and now he was smiling
broadly.

All of a sudden,
Caroline’s face became flushed, her eyes widened. Now she was embarrassed that
she had left her corset off.  David O’Donovan, of all people,
had
noticed.

“Miss Caroline?”
she heard Patsie call her again.

Caroline sighed
and hurried into the kitchen.

Chapter 5

Caroline brushed
her hair as she watched the softly falling rain outside her window. A timid
knock almost went unnoticed. She opened the door to discover Selly standing in
the hallway.  The young girl cleared her throat.  “Pardon me, Miss Caroline. 
Patsie told me to come and assist you with your dressing this morning.”

Yesterday, after
David O’Donovan had commented about her lack of proper lady’s attire, Caroline
had admitted to the older servant that it would be necessary for her to begin
wearing a corset.  Knowing that Caroline would need assistance, Patsie had sent
Selly, and for that, she was grateful as she felt more comfortable around the
younger girl.

“Thank you,
Selly.  Come in,” she replied, stepping back to allow Selly inside, then
closing the door.  “It would be fine for you to call for me anytime using the
ropes over there, Miss Caroline.”

“I feel as if I’m
calling a dog when I use those.  I’d much rather just go and search for you.” 
The young servant stood before her.

“May I begin,
Miss?”

“Yes, of course.”
Caroline went behind the dressing screen, which thankfully had arrived late
last week. “I can manage to remove my own nightgown.”

“Certainly.”

While Caroline
was putting on her slip, Selly spoke.  “I cannot tell you how grateful I am to
you, Miss Caroline, for assisting me.”

“I am happy to
help, Selly. Besides, you didn’t place yourself in that condition alone, did
you?”

Selly replied
quietly, “No.”

Caroline came
from around the screen, now dressed in her shift. “I am now prepared for that
wretched piece of clothing,” Caroline said as she motioned for the corset.

Caroline held the
garment in place as Selly began to tie the back and pull on the strings.

“It’s just,” the
servant whispered.

“What, Selly?”

“I’m frightened. 
I’ve never. . .given birth before.  I remember watching my mother when my
sister was born.”

“How old were
you?”

“About nine years
old.” Selly pulled hard on one of the strings and Caroline gasped. 

“I apologize,
Miss.  Is this too tight?”

“Yes, Selly,
although I suppose that it is necessary.  So you have a sister?”

She slowly shook
her head.  “She died a few weeks after birth.  My mother passed away shortly
after that.  It was just my father and me until. . .”

“Until what,
Selly?”

“Until he
passed.  I was 12.”

“How awful.”

“Then I came here
and met Mr. David.”

Caroline cringed.

“I thought he was
the most wonderful, charming, humorous man I had ever had the pleasure to
know.  And now I’m. . .” She remained silent for a moment.  “My mother screamed
when she was giving birth.  Do you suppose I shall do the same?”

“I don’t know,
Selly.  But I promise you this, I shall be there for you when you have the
baby.”

“You’ve already
done so much for me.”

“I want to be
there.”

“That would be so
kind of you.  Again, I am so grateful,” Selly said, as she tied the last string
on Caroline’s corset.

*  *  *

Liam O’Donovan
entered St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and couldn’t seem to stop his hands from
trembling.  He had just observed the Martins emerge from their carriage and
Miss Caroline Martin was not wearing black. He had been waiting for almost a
month now.

He walked down
the center aisle and passed the Martin family pew to his own seat across from
them.  He suddenly felt nervous and awkward.

He knelt to say a
few prayers, but again found himself distracted. Miss Martin was just behind
him and to the right.
Stop it, Liam.  This is an inappropriate place to be
infatuated with a girl.

He smiled
inwardly when he remembered asking the servant Ben which room Miss Martin would
be occupying.  He had hoped that she would be watching for him.  Despite her
mourning, seeing her at the bedroom window was a sign that she was interested. 
Liam had to be absolutely sure that she would say yes before he asked her uncle
for permission to court her.  The shame and the uncertainty of being refused
would be too much for him to bear.

*  *  *

Caroline sat
upright in the church pew, trying hard to breathe with the stiff corset
plastered to her body.  Since it had been over six months since her father had
died, she was now able to wear lighter colored dresses.  Today, she wore a gray
dress with a light gray blue fitted bodice and matching gloves.

A few moments
ago, Liam O’Donovan walked by and entered a pew on the left side of the
congregation. Her heart began to pound at the thought of speaking to him after
service.

The organist
began to play, the loud chords jolting Caroline into attentiveness. Elizabeth lifted up the hymnal. 

Rock of Ages,
cleft for me
,

Let me hide
myself in Thee,

Let the water
and the blood,

From Thy
wounded side which flowed

Be of sin the
double cure

Save from
wrath and make me pure

As they sang,
Liam’s voice was on key and pleasant sounding, and Caroline was happy that he
was singing so loudly.

When I draw
this fleeing breath,

When my
eye-strings break in death

When I soar to
worlds unknown

See thee on
Thy judgment throne

Rock of ages,
cleft for me

Let me hide
myself in Thee
.

At the end of
service Liam passed several groups of people milling about.  He approached and
walked alongside the Martins.  “Good morning, Mr. Martin, Miss Martin, Miss
Martin.”

Caroline offered
a warm smile.  She attempted to act as if she wasn’t nervous, but in reality,
her heart was pounding and her hands were shaking.

They reached the
outside courtyard and Liam stood beside Caroline.

“You are looking
lovely today, Miss Martin.”

Caroline felt a
warm flush coming to her face. “Thank you, Mr. O’Donovan.”

“Sir, I wonder if
I might have a word with you,” Liam said to Uncle.

“Certainly.”

Liam tipped his
hat to Caroline and Elizabeth and walked alongside Uncle Edward a short
distance away. Caroline watched as Liam shifted from one foot to the next.

“I wonder what
he’s talking to Father about, Carrie!  He is so handsome.”

“Yes, he is.  I
was a bit surprised at how beautifully he sings.”

“He most
certainly does.  Both O’Donovan brothers have wonderful voices, Carrie.  Of
course, you shall never hear David sing in a church.”  Keeping her gaze on her
father and on Liam in the distance, Elizabeth continued, “The way Liam looks at
you, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is asking Father to court you.  I’ll wager
that he was just waiting until you stopped wearing black.  And wouldn’t that be
the most wonderful event for you, Carrie, to have Liam O’Donovan courting you?”

Inwardly,
Caroline hoped that Elizabeth was correct.  Of course, she wondered whether she
ought to be considering courting a man as it had only been six months since her
father died.  And what would Liam think if he knew that she had come from such
humble beginnings? 

“I don’t know,
Lizzie.  After all, I slapped his brother.”

“Yes, well,
Carrie, you must learn that there are certain activities that a proper young
lady does not partake in.”

“Like slapping a
man who says vile and inappropriate, if not callous, comments?”

“Well, what did
he say?”

“I’d rather not
repeat it.  I know that I should have controlled my temper.  It usually only
surfaces when I see an injustice taking place.  Selly had no idea of the
consequences.  David is a very charming and handsome man, even I could see
that.  But Selly is only 15 years of age.”

“Yes, well, girls
her age are married.”

“Selly was most
definitely not married.”

“Anyway, I am so
pleased you started wearing your corset again.  I know it’s rigid and
uncomfortable, but it is essential.”

“Essential?” 
Vexatious.
That’s what it is
.

Liam and Uncle
Edward approached the girls.  Liam was smiling at Caroline.

“Caroline, Liam
has asked my permission to court you, if you would be agreeable?”

A soft flush came
to Caroline’s cheeks.  “I. . .”She glanced at Liam’s face.  His eyebrows were
raised in anticipation of her answer.  He then cleared his throat. “Miss Martin,
I would be honored if you would allow me to court you.”

Caroline remained
silent, her eyes sweeping from Liam’s expectant expression to Uncle’s grin to Elizabeth’s wide eyes.

“Perhaps my niece
needs more time to think about it.”

She then blurted
out, “No, no, it is not necessary to think about it, Uncle.  I should like it
very much if Mr. O’Donovan courted me.”

Liam stared at
Caroline with his mouth partly open.  He exhaled and said, “Miss Martin, you
have made me the happiest man in all of Philadelphia.”

His wide smile
and bright eyes softened her heart.  How could this man be any relation to
David?

“Now, Liam, I’m
sure that since you’ll be courting my niece, it would be appropriate to call
her Caroline.”

“Yes, that would
be fine, Mr. O’Donovan,” Caroline offered.

“Then I insist
that you call me Liam.” He tipped his hat, then proceeded to his carriage.

When he was out
of ear range, Elizabeth squealed. “Oh, dear, Carrie, that’s wonderful!  Liam
O’Donovan has asked to court you!”

“Yes, Lizzie.”

“Do you realize
how many young ladies would like Liam O’Donovan to court them?  He’s not
anything like his brother.  Won’t sleep with any of the servant girls.”

“Elizabeth!” Uncle Edward interrupted.

“Yes, Father?”

“That is
inappropriate talk, especially standing in front of church.”

“Yes, Father.”

“My dear,
Caroline,” Uncle began.  “You are a beautiful young lady.  I have noticed how
Liam looks at you, so I was not surprised at his request.”

Uncle continued.
“Perhaps you underestimate your own beauty, my dear.  ‘Tis a rare commodity to
be in the presence of such a beautiful woman with no pretentiousness.”

Caroline blushed.
Uncle Edward paused.

“I should perhaps
take some of that back, Caroline. I have been meaning to discuss with you the
manner in which you spoke to Liam’s brother.”  He hesitated and looked directly
at her.

“You cannot speak
to him in such a manner,” he hesitated, then whispered, “and slapping him on
the face. I recognize that he can be a very callous and self-centered young
man, but we do a lot of business with the O’Donovans and we need to keep our
relationship civil.”

“That may be
impossible, Uncle.  How can one be civil to someone like that?”

“You must give me
your promise, Caroline, that you shall never again show discourteousness to
David.”

“Very well.” 
Caroline glanced at the steeple of the church.  She was going to need God’s
help to keep that promise to her uncle.