Free Marriage by Mail (Grace Church Book 1) by Jan Holly Page A

tarried over dinner, then had tea in the parlor, reading from the Bible. Charles had urged her to recite poetry, and she had done so, choosing another poem by Tennyson, and one by Cowper.
    Bowing her head, she gave thanks. “Heavenly Father, I thank thee for thy blessings. Bless and keep my husband as he works. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
    After she had eaten, washed and dried her dishes and tidied the kitchen, she went back to her bedroom to make her bed and straighten her belongings. Instead of feeling exhausted, she noticed that she felt full of energy. She knew she was nowhere near being as strong as she was before her illness, but she felt a return of vitality that gratified her. Feeling curious, she went to Charles’ door. It was closed. She had caught glimpses of his room but he tended to keep the door closed. “Well, I am his wife,” she said out loud, as she opened the door. She peeked inside, feeling daring. Her husband’s room, she thought. No wonder he kept the door closed. She stepped inside, smiling. His bed was unmade, his dressing gown was on the floor, the doors to his wardrobe were open, and she could see his shaving things all any which way on his washstand. Should she? She nodded. She should. She would. Striding to the windows, she opened the curtains, and lifted the windowsills. She wiped his washstand and arranged his things just so. I’m married , she said to herself, wide-eyed. I’m tidying up after my husband . She hung up his dressing gown and then turned to the bed. Suddenly shy, she felt her cheeks burning as she straightened and smoothed the soft muslin sheets, wool blanket, and quilt, then arranged the pillows neatly. The quilt looked newly made. The colors were bright, and the fabric looked fresh. She wondered if it had been a gift for his upcoming wedding from the congregation of Grace church. She walked quickly away from the bed and out of his room, leaving the door open, her heart beating quickly.
    She planned to sit in the parlor with her remaining old dress, and make some handkerchiefs and tea towels. Wondering when the next train would arrive, she hoped her trunk would be on it. She couldn’t wait to have her beloved books to keep her company. Of course, she soon would be quite busy, after she recovered all of her strength, with more household tasks. When she had everything she needed around her, she sang softly as she cut and sewed. Before she knew it, the sun was high overhead and she had made two tea towels and two handkerchiefs. When she heard buggy wheels approaching, she hastily bundled her sewing things onto a side table and took off her apron, folding it and setting it aside.
    That day, Mrs. Ellie Chang visited, bringing luncheon and fresh vegetables from her garden. She gathered up laundry and took it back with her into town where her family had a laundering business. A few hours later, an older woman named Mrs. Caroline Wentworth stopped by with a veritable feast for dinner, including a risen loaf of dough. Caroline put it in the oven and started it baking.
    “I’ll bet Mr. Smith will smell that fresh bread baking from a mile down the road,” Caroline said, her eyes twinkling. “You don’t have to tell him I baked it!”
    Rose laughed. “I won’t take the credit for your hard work, but I thank you kindly for your generosity, ma’am.” She felt that she had made two new friends today, though both women had arrived and departed so speedily.
    She kept thinking she heard Rascal’s hoof beats as the afternoon’s shadows lengthened. Taking off her apron again, she splashed some water on her face, fluffed at her hair, and pinched her cheeks. Would he notice she was wearing her new dress? Quickly, she took the new length of ribbon and tried to tie it in her hair. First, she attempted to wind it around her head and fix the bow at the side. She shook her head impatiently. Next, she tried tying just a small section of her hair. Impossible. Her hair was simply