Free Trinity: Bride of West Virginia (Amercan Mail-Order Bride 35) by Carré White

Therefore, I must ask that we do not write one another again.
    Yours, Trinity
    I folded the paper carefully, scrawling his address. Ending our secret communication did not bring me joy or relief in the least. I felt just as miserable now as I had before, but what else was I to do? I could not continue to tease myself with his letters, finding them far too diverting. Or could I?
    Handing the letter over to Mrs. Dexter to mail, doubt prickled at me. An hour later, I sought her out, finding her folding napkins in the dining room. “Mrs. Dexter.”
    “Yes?” She smiled slightly.
    “Has the post gone out yet?”
    “It has.”
    “Drat.” I turned on my heel, striding from the room. I regretted giving her the letter now, but I hardly knew what to do with myself.
     
    ***
     
    During the next week, morning callers offered a distraction, Mrs. Hanover arriving without her children. We sat and talked in the parlor, the light streaming in through the lace curtains.
    “Mrs. Watson wants to resume the knitting club. We rotate houses. It’s quite diverting. I’ve gotten some marvelous decoration ideas from seeing other parlors. You can join us, if you wish.”
    I sipped tea, nodding. “That sounds nice.” Elise and I had spoken several times a week since first meeting, but we had never delved into anything remotely personal.
    “Might I ask you something?”
    “Of course.”
    “How do you feel about … your marriage?”
    “My marriage?”
    “The age difference.”
    I placed the cup in a dainty saucer. “Yes, that. I wasn’t expecting it to be so extreme, to tell you the truth.”
    “A mutual friend arranged for the wedding.”
    “Yes.” I did not know if I could trust her in the least, my first reaction was always to be cautious around people. I had been burned far too many times in the past. “Sort of an arranged marriage.”
    “That’s what I was thinking.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Trinity, I do hope we can be friends. I won’t betray your confidence, if that’s what you’re worried about. I won’t run around all over town spreading gossip either. I swear.”
    “I would hope not.”
    “I’ve ascertained a few things since meeting you.”
    “You have?”
    “Yes. You’re all alone in the world. You’re reticent to speak of personal things, truly personal things. You’re quite guarded. I have to ask why, but I’m not certain you’ll tell me.”
    “Everyone has something they wish to keep to themselves. I’m no different.”
    “Well, maybe one day you’ll share more with me. I don’t mean to pry. I tend to be too open about things. I told you about my crush on Nathanial. I told you about that first kiss.” She smiled wistfully. “What fond memories. I hear he’s engaged.”
    I blinked. “He, what?” That particular piece of information had escaped me, my heart twisting painfully.
    “Doctor Watson was just in Boston for a conference. He said he saw it posted in the paper.” She eyed me carefully.
    I stared at my nails. “He mentioned he might do it.”
    “Have you met Victoria?”
    “No.”
    “Nor have I. He must be smitten.”
    My last letter had pushed him to finally offer for her, which had been my intention. But, why did I feel like someone had just taken a blunt knife and carved my heart out?”
    “Are you unwell?”
    “A … I’m a little queasy.” I patted my belly. “The baby.”
    “I was terribly sick early in my pregnancy. I couldn’t keep anything down for a while.”
    “I’m not that bad, thankfully.”
    “Have you made up the nursery yet?”
    “It’s still so early on. I’m worried … I want to wait until I’m further along. There’s a chance I might lose the baby in the first three months.”
    “I prayed non-stop when I was pregnant. I didn’t want to miscarry.”
    “I don’t want to either.”
    She grasped my hand gently. “You’ll be fine. Try not to tax yourself. Don’t drink too much brandy, despite what the doctor says. Spicy foods gave