Free Johanna: Bride of Michigan (American Mail-Order Bride 26) by Clara Kincaid

cleavage than Johanna thought would be acceptable, even back in Lawrence.
    “Is this the wife, Paul?”
    “Yes. Johanna, this is Natasha, the best seamstress in Michigan.”
    Natasha took hold of Johanna’s arm, pulling her into the back. Johanna looked over at Paul for help, but he merely laughed. “Let me get you out of this dress so I can get your measurements.” Before Johanna could say anything, her dress was tugged off and carefully placed over a chair. The measuring tape was then placed around first Johanna’s hips, waist and then bosom, the numbers jotted down.
    “So, do you know what you’d like?”
    “I’m not really sure,” Johanna said.
    “I’ll have to get you dressed then and we’ll consult Paul, but I expected his wife would ask for many dresses.”
    “I’m not exactly used to going to a seamstress.”
    “Oh? And where are you from?”
    “Lawrence, Massachusetts.”
    “How do women get dresses made there?”
    ‘They have seamstresses. I just make my own most of the time.”
    Natasha helped Johanna put her dress back on and asked, “Did you make this one?”
    “Yes. Well, I did the best I could. I only wanted Paul to buy me fabric, but he insisted you make me some dresses.”
    “I’ll have to thank him for that. You did a great job with this dress,” she commented.
    “Thank you.”
    They walked back into the other room and Johanna felt like she was walking on air. She had never been treated so kindly in her life.
    “There she is,” Mabel announced. “Mr. Worthington here thought you might have escaped out the back.” She put up a hand against one cheek, whispering as if Paul couldn’t hear her. “He thinks you wouldn’t want a seamstress making your clothes since you’re already skilled at making dresses.”
    “I’m not sure about skilled.”
    “If you weren’t the wife of a lumber baron, I would offer you employment.” Natasha chuckled.
    Johanna laughed nervously. “You all are very good liars. I made my dresses because I—”
    “She enjoys making her own dresses,” Paul cut in.
    Johanna’s brow shot up. “I do? Well, of course I do, but I’d love to find out what Natasha could come up with.”
    “Your wife seems to be confused about how many dresses she’d need made,” Natasha stated.
    “I think she could use two of cotton, silk, linen, and muslin each.”
    “Silk?” Johanna blurted out. “Will I really need any silk dresses?”
    “Yes. I’m occasionally invited to dinner at the homes of other lumber barons, and we have a playhouse that was just built.”
    “Okay. Whatever you think.”
    “You’ll have to decide what colors you might like.”
    “I can show her a few samples, if you’d like,” Natasha offered.
    Johanna walked over and glanced at a fabric book. She picked out a pink, green, and brown one. “Do you have any print fabrics?”
    “Of course. Here’s a cream-colored one with yellow roses, and a blue striped one,” she pointed out. “I think lavender would look great on you with your complexion.”
    “Whatever you think. I’m sure you know best.”
    “I’ll have to make you a few corsets, and then there are chemises, nightclothes and dressing gowns, too.” She paused. “I might have to bring in a few extra girls to help with this order.”
    “Do you have anything around that might fit her until then?” Paul asked.
    “Yes, I do.” She disappeared into the back and Johanna followed her, expecting she’d want her to try them on.
    Natasha helped her put on a blue, high neck muslin dress with lace that was sewn over the top. “This is lovely,” Johanna exclaimed.
    “It looks that way on you.” Off that dress came and next up was a cream one with brown cuffs and collar, a brown sash crisscrossing in the back.
    “I love both of these.”
    “You can wear that one out, if you’d like.”
    “Actually, I think I’d prefer to put the one back on that I came with, if you don’t mind.”
    “Whatever you’d like, Mrs.