Tangled Betrayals (9 page)

With a quivering voice she
finally got out, “How lovely, now I must attend to some other work that is pressing, Miss Minnie or Alice can make the necessary alterations for your other dress choices and they can tally your total purchases and send the bills according to your wishes. I hope you enjoy your stay while in London. I’m sure your wedding will be lovely.” Mary turned and opened the door for them to leave and said a quick prayer they would say nothing further to her, ever again. She closed the door as the tears ran down her cheeks.

She knew
in her heart she’d done the right thing. She knew she was never going to wear the dress. But that didn’t ease her pain, she hurt deeply. Her hours of hard and dedicated work were going to be worn on another. They were staying at the Fairchild Hotel which was one of the finest hotels in London, and she had never even been inside such a magnificent place, for it was far too costly. Mary would never know the life of luxury she could have had if only James had trusted her.

Mary was envious, and she knew it. Even Thomas was staying in a place that at one time would have been nothing but wishful thinking for either of them. She wondered what he thought of his new found wealth and if he would feel sorry for her
, knowing she would never know what it would be like to have such wealth.

Mary
knew she had lost the man of her dreams and the chance at a life filled with opportunities far beyond what she had ever imagined. Now she would remain a seamstress struggling to make ends meet.

But
Mary decided the only right thing to do was to allow her dress to be a wedding gift to Thomas and Anna. How could she come up with a price to cover the cost of the hours and dreams she had put into her gown.

She would write a note on the bill
explaining her gift. Thomas would know she would try to forgive him, someday. But at the moment, Mary knew she would have hate in her heart for many months, if not years, to come, for her father and that bastard James.

E
ven though she hated Thomas at this moment, giving Anna the gown only made sense. Mary knew her heart would soften someday and she would forgive Thomas, someday in the far and distant future.

Now, she needed to
make the alterations for Anna. How cruel was this knowledge that she would be linked to James forever through the fiancé Thomas chose. Mary knew Minnie and Alice would see to the other alterations needed. There was a small alcove they used when the back room was busy. Mary was grateful she would not be disturbed until Susannah Parker and Anna Webb left the shop, for Minnie would never allow them to return to the back room. Minnie would protect her from any further pain if she could.

Chapter
Sixteen

“Mary, what
were you thinking? Why rush giving away your beautiful dress?”

“I have no need for the dress
, and she was simply beautiful in it. Thomas will be pleased.” Mary was hoping Minnie wouldn’t press her on her decision, but it wasn’t to be.

“
No one would have looked better than you, Mary. Don’t you think you made a rash decision? Someday, down the road, you’ll find someone else and you may wish you hadn’t sold your gown on impulse.”

“I told you yesterday, I
’ll never marry! Besides, even if what you say is true, I would never marry someone in that dress, not the dress I’d made to be married to James. I just couldn’t wear the dress for anyone else.

Mary began to cry. She hadn’t wanted to. But talking about the dress brought back the hurt and pain
that again seemed unbearable. She sobbed uncontrollably while Minnie held her close and tried in vain to comfort her.

“I
’ve lost everything, Minnie.” Mary said barely audible.

After several minutes passed, Minnie softly
spoke, “I’m sorry, Mary. I guess you’re doing the right thing by allowing Anna to wear the gown, it’ll mean a lot to Thomas once he finds out.”

Mary
shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll send him a note to offer my congratulations. She’s very lovely. I think I’d like her if I’d have had the chance to get to know her. I wish I could say I hated her sister, but she, too, seemed nice. I could see how James could have fallen in love with her. She’s probably a far better match for James than I could have been anyway, since she’s from America and would know all about life there. She’s everything I’m not. She’s short, petite, and has beautiful blue eyes and that gorgeous blond hair. She’s absolutely stunning. I could tell they came from a family who had money just by the way they handled themselves. And they both seem very happy with their lives.

“
I’m so envious of Susannah Parker and everything she has, all the things I ever wanted. I know that it’s wrong to be spiteful, but I wish now I’d never met James Parker. The thought of her having him, his children, and cherishing his love makes me feel a jealousy that I never thought I was capable of.

“
When father returns, he’ll get my full wrath. He’ll be sorry for the day he interfered with my life. I hate him, Minnie. I do. May God forgive me? It’s entirely his fault my dreams have been shattered. Well, I suppose not entirely his fault; James and Thomas must take some blame. Men, how quick they judge others before finding out where the truth lies.

“
I believe a woman would have wanted to hear all the details before they decided what was true. Don’t you think so, Minnie? At least I would have.”

              Mary continued before Minnie could reply. “I, too, shall leave for America the first chance I get. I realize that may take a couple of years. I think it will take at least that long for me to save enough money for my passage and to have enough left over to get a loan to open a dress shop of my own. I know it won’t be anything like your shop, Minnie, but I could survive with at least half the number of your clients.

“
Until then, I want to make the most of each day. I realize I need to focus on the present. I shall have a difficult time leaving you and England, Minnie. Maybe you might consider coming to America?”

“Nay, Mary.
I don’t think I could ever leave London. But it would do you good to start a new life in a new place. As much as I hate the thought of you leaving, I understand your need to start over. There would be no place in England for you to live without your father finding you. Let’s enjoy each day as it comes and not dwell on the past. It’ll be much better that way.

“
Your mother would be proud of you, Mary, and she would understand your need to start a life in America. I shall be glad to help you out with your expenses when the time comes. I’m sure we can find another ship besides those owned by Parker Shipping, for you to make your voyage. Tomorrow will begin your new journey in life.”

Mary nodded. She was lost in her
thoughts of starting her shop and life in America. She knew she would remain single for the remainder of her life, as Minnie had when she found herself in a similar situation. She also knew the cost of love and betrayal.

Minnie had shared with Mary that she
had once planned to marry. Sadly, he had hidden the fact he was already married. Minnie had given him everything and he had ruined her. Once the truth had unfolded, he wanted to keep her for his mistress, but Minnie would have nothing to do with him after his lies and manipulations. Mary knew Minnie had a difficult time getting over her hurt and humiliation and that had happened almost thirty years ago.

Mary was
saddened to think she would never bear children or experience the love of a man. She had wanted to become a wife and mother so badly. Once again, her mind drifted back to James and what she had lost. She felt the tears sliding down her cheeks. When would she ever stop crying each and every time she thought of James? How many tears did she have left to shed for that bastard?”

Chapter S
eventeen

Before Minnie arrived to work the next day, she visited the cemetery where Jane Ball lay. On different occasions she visited Jane’s grave to tell her the wonderful things happening in the lives of Thomas and Mary. This morning, however, was more difficult. This time she had to share both Thomas and Mary were in a terrible mess. Thomas happy, but guilt-ridden, as he should be, and Mary, devastated with a broken heart.

Minnie
was seated on the worn stone bench at the foot of Jane’s grave. “Jane, sometimes it seems like yesterday when we would laugh and talk about things we were dreaming about in the early portion of our lives. We had so many plans. You had your dreams of living in America and seeing Thomas and Mary grown and married. You had spoke often of getting old and spoiling your grandchildren.

“
I’d hoped to be wed to Emil with similar dreams. Neither of us got our wish. Fair or not, life had other plans for us. I don’t want Mary to end up like me, a woman past her prime who has no one to share her life with, all because she fell in love with a rake.

Minnie then related
in great detail what had happened in the last few days with Mary, James and Thomas.

“I can hardly bear the thought of her leaving England. She is like my own and she reminds me of you at that age, it will be hard for me to let her go, very hard. I’ve done my best to guide her. I hope you hear her prayers and can somehow comfort her. She’s all alone except for you and me. I don’t know how I’ll manage once she leaves. I, too, will be left alone. Yet, I don’t dare let Mary know how much her leaving will grieve me. With her soft heart she might stay in England only because she would feel guilty for my circumstances. She needs to start over. I think only then will she begin to heal.

“
I wish I knew more about your relationship with Henry. He’s an evil man, Jane. I’ve never understood how you ended up with the likes of him.”

Minnie looked around to see if anyone
was visiting the cemetery. To her relief, she saw no one. She would have been very embarrassed if she’d been caught talking to Jane’s stone. When she left the cemetery, she felt no better than when she arrived.

Minnie was glad Jane never lived long enough to see the heartbreak Mary
was enduring or the sadness Thomas brought upon Mary and himself. It was the only bright spot in this entire situation.

Chapter
Eighteen

London

When Thomas went down to the lobby Thursday morning, he noticed the clerk was waving him to his desk.

“
You’ve some messages from the shops your betrothed visited. I believe your fiancé has made exceptional use of her time,” the clerk said mischievously with a smile.

Almost e
veryone at the hotel knew of the Americans and the wedding taking place on Friday aboard
The Emerald
. Anna and Susannah talked openly about the upcoming event to everyone on staff they encountered and to some of the other patrons of the hotel.

Thomas
nodded at the clerk grinning, “I believe I now need to pay the piper. Thank goodness I’ve already taken care of the hotel bill and our passage back to America. Otherwise, I might be toiling in the ship’s galley working off my debt!”

The clerk laughed and went about his business.

*****

Thomas walked over to the wi
ndow to open his bills in private. The first one he opened was for a ball gown from the Curtis Dress Shop. Why did Anna need so many gowns? Once they were married he would have to curb her appetite for having so many different outfits. After all, he thought, they lived on a horse farm.

The next bill was from a shop called Baxter
’s. He smiled when he saw yet another ball gown purchased. Women! The last bill he held in his hand took him by surprise and his heart sank as he saw it was from Miss Minnie’s Dress Emporium. Anna and Susannah had been so secretive about where they’d shopped he had no idea they had found the one shop he had prayed they wouldn’t enter.

He recognized the hand writing
was Mary’s. Thomas could only imagine how difficult their visit must have been. Since neither Anna nor Susannah had mentioned meeting her, he knew Mary had remained unknown to them.

Thomas
began to tear up as he saw it was not a bill, but a note.

Thomas, to my surprise, I met Anna. I found her quite charming and extremely beautiful. I doubt that you could have found anyone better to spend your life with. I’m truly happy for you.

She came
into the shop looking for a wedding gown. I knew I had the perfect one. You’ll find her looking like an angel this Friday. As I’m sure you’ve already surmised the gown was to have been worn by another. Since that‘s no longer possible, I’m giving you this wedding dress as my gift. If circumstances were different, I would have loved to have attended your wedding, but we both know that’s not possible.

I shall arrive in America
someday in the future. At a point when I’m ready, I’ll contact you. In the mean time, I wish you happiness. I truly love you; I just need time to forgive you, Mary.

“Thomas, I see you’ve received the bills for my purchases. Are you so upset you cannot even answer me? Maybe Susannah and I shouldn’t have stopped back to Baxter’s or The Curtis Dress Shop. But once I found my wedding dress, I wanted to pick up a couple other ball gowns. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Thomas
wondered how long Anna had been standing by him. “No, of course not, Anna, why would you ask such a foolish question?” Thomas said smiling and quickly placed the bills in his pocket hoping she’d not seen the note from Mary.

“
You hadn’t heard me speaking to you and I had to repeat myself, and from the look on your face, I feared what you thought of my spending. I have to be honest; I never asked what the cost was for the wedding dress. I’m sure the dress was far more than you’d expected. I’m sorry. I fell in love with the dress and it hadn’t occurred to me how expensive it might be.”

“The price was perfect and I can’t wait to see you
wearing it tomorrow. I’m sure the dress will meet all my expectations and more,” Thomas said as he kissed her on the nose.

“I hope so, Thomas,
I think the dress is the most beautiful wedding gown ever made.”

Thomas
knew he needed to smile and appear relaxed. He, too, was sure of the quality of the dress. He knew how much effort and love Mary would have put into making her wedding gown. He only prayed when seeing the dress on Anna, he would be seeing her face.

His wedding day was going to be
very difficult. How could he handle being so happy and sad at the same time? Thomas knew for each moment of the day on Friday he would be elated in making Anna his bride and celebrating his marriage, he knew his sister would be left broken hearted and in misery. Mary’s sadness would continue for a very long time, maybe years.

Life
was unfair. Thomas knew he had to claim his part of the blame for Mary’s unhappiness. He could have suggested to James to seek further information before convicting Mary of such a hideous deed. But no, he was duped by the letter, also. He blamed her immediately without giving any thought to her character. When would this guilt go away?

“Thomas,
once again you seem to be somewhere else, somewhere distant. Something’s troubling you. I feel it, Thomas. Are you having second thoughts?” Anna hesitantly asked after she again found him unresponsive to her questions.

Thomas reached over and placed his hand on
Anna’s cheek. “No, love, there are no second thoughts. I’ve had a lot on my mind. Please forgive me for not giving you the attention you so richly deserve. I’ve been remiss not telling you how beautiful you look this morning. I’ll try harder to keep things in perspective in the future, I promise.”

*****

Friday morning came and Thomas and James got up early so they could arrive at the ship before daylight. They needed to tend to the last minute details. Thomas had managed to have the top deck filled with several baskets of the most colorful flowers available. He’d gotten a special bouquet of flowers for Anna.

James had taken care of having the deck hands in the
ir finest attire and completely scrubbed and shaved, much to their disliking. But once everyone saw how lovely the setting on the ship had turned out, and the excitement shown by Thomas and James, the mood became contagious.

Besides, the
crew knew once they set sail, their supper would be special this night. The captain had promised extra ale and James had ordered a wedding cake large enough to feed everyone, as a surprise for Anna and Thomas.

Thomas had a wide grin on his face when he saw
the carriage coming to the ship loaded down with their trunks from the hotel and all the purchases made by Anna and Susannah.

“
I’m glad we left extra space in the cargo hold, James, for I think we may need it. I hope I calculated the area correctly.”

James laughed.
“I’m sure you’ve left enough room for their purchases. Hopefully, they don’t plan on wearing their ball gowns on the ship as we travel home!”

Thomas
chuckled and couldn’t help but agree. Anything was possible with those two women.