Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Mrs. Eugenia Slidell was in high dungeon. She’d called Emily Loring to the library and Emily knew no one was called to the library except to have their employment terminated.
“Take your things and get your fat bottom out of my house.”
The woman’s chest heaved as she pointed at the door.
“Get out of this house and don’t expect a letter from me other than to warn anyone, that you are a hussy and not fit to be around their children.”
Emily listened with hand at her throat. How could this be? She was the one who’d been maligned.
She moved toward the angry woman to try to get her to see reason.
“Mrs. Slidell, I did nothing wrong. Your husband attacked me.”
Eugenia stamped her foot and pointed again at the door.
“Don’t be ridiculous you sleazy little whore. You were trying to entice him away.”
“Never! He disgusts me.”
Emily knew immediately she’d made a serious error. The woman was obviously in love with her scumbag husband and thought every other woman was as well.
“He didn’t seem to disgust you a few minutes ago when I saw you with your hands all over him. I won’t discuss this any further. Leave the premises immediately.”
“I did not have my hands all over him. I was doing everything in my power to push him away from me.”
Emily straightened her spine. She would not be treated like this.
“Very well, I’ll leave as soon as you pay me for this month’s work.”
“After your behavior, you expect to be paid?”
“Yes, I do, or I’ll tell every governess I know about your husband, and you’ll never find another one.”
The woman blanched at the suggestion that anyone would malign her husband or herself.
“Very well. Pack your things and stop by the library before you leave.”
“I want my wages in cash. A bank draft won’t do me much good if you decide to have your bank decline to cash it.”
Mrs. Slidell nodded.
Emily left the room, with her head high and walked to the third floor bedroom.
She didn’t have much to pack. A couple of dresses, both gray, as was the one she was wearing, two corsets, three pairs of bloomers, three chemises, socks, nightgown and robe.
She wore the only shoes she owned. Sturdy boots that would last her a long time.
She also had a new black wool coat, her last purchase with her wages. With the money she was getting today, she’d have fifty dollars total. Not much, when her prospects for employment were now virtually non-existent.
Emily would go to her best friend, Sally Wyatt, and see if she could stay with her and her husband, Mark.
She had nowhere else to go. If Sally couldn’t take her in, she’d have to try and find a cheap room somewhere which meant going to the slums of Five Points.
Emily shuddered at the thought, but what other choice would she have?
Emily opened the bright blue door of 221 Baker Street. The sign painted across the picture window read Matchmaker & Co. the place where Sally worked.
Sally was on a ladder filing folders into a tall bookshelf.
“Be right with you.”
“No hurry, Sally, it’s just me.”
“Emily? Be right down.”
Sally set the folders she held on the shelf, climbed down the ladder and hurried over.
She immediately wrapped Emily in her arms and hugged her tight.
“Tell me what has happened. Why are you carrying your valises?”
“I’ve been fired.”
Emily was ashamed at the tears that flowed but was helpless to stop them as she told Sally everything.
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“I was hoping I could stay with you and Mark until I find a new position? If I can find a new position. I don’t have a reference from Mrs. Slidell so a gap of a year will exist in my work history.”
Emily collapsed onto the sofa.
Sally sat with her.
Emily took her handkerchief from her reticule, dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose.
“Who’ll want to hire me now? Soon my termination will be all over town. What am I to do? I have fifty dollars to my name.”
“You’ll stay with us for as long as you need to. Better yet, Mrs. Black’s apartment just above the office here is vacant. You can stay there.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You’re so kind to me. You’re a good friend.”
The knots in Emily’s stomach relaxed.
Sally waved off the compliment.
“You would do the same for me.”
Emily sat forward, hope springing to life.
“Maybe you could hire me. I can do your filing.”
Sally snapped her fingers and grinned.
“I won’t hire you, but I’ll find you a husband.”
Emily shook her head.
“Husband? No gentleman will want to marry me now.”
Leaning forward, Sally put her hand on Emily’s knee.
“Become a mail-order bride.”
Going to the desk, Sally snatched up a piece of paper, then returned and sat next to Emily on the sofa.
“I got this from Maggie yesterday. It’s about a rancher in Golden, Colorado Territory where Maggie lives.
She sent me a wire with the requirements he’s looking for last week, so I’ve been working on it and then I got this letter yesterday.
I haven’t thought anyone we have on file was perfect for him, until you. ”
She read the letter out loud.
Dear Sally,
I have a rancher here in Golden who needs a bride.
His name is Ben Logan and he’s a very handsome man but does have a large fault.
His mother, Doris Logan, lives with him and is a harridan.
Ben is very patient with her and needs a wife who would be the same.
He wants someone who will treat her with kindness even when she doesn’t deserve it. The woman is after all his mother.
In addition he wants someone who can cook. His mother does the cooking now but is not the best and resents doing it, letting Ben know with every meal.
I honestly don’t know how he puts up with Doris.
The candidate needs to be aware that Ben was left at the altar by a woman who is not unlike his mother.
I feel he got very lucky when Melissa jilted him.
But he thought himself in love with her so some anger and hurt still exists.
Winning his heart will be a difficult thing but, for the right woman, most definitely worth the effort.
He’s also looking for someone who doesn’t mind living in the country and knows some about farming or ranching.
Send me a wire when you have someone so I can let Ben know.
Tell Mark hi for me.
Take care,
Maggie
“So what do you think? You’re the most patient and kind person I know and the arrangement sounds like you’ll need all your attributes in those areas.”
“Me? Married?”
“Yes. You. Married. I think you would be perfect, and I’m not wrong very often. Maggie and I have a great record of finding the right bride for the right husband. Do you mind the prospect of living in the country?”
“No. I kind of like the idea of not having lots of people around.”
“Do you know anything about farming or ranching?”
“Well, actually I do, from growing up in the orphanage. There it was my job to milk the cows and gather the eggs. The orphanage had four cows and three dozen laying hens. It was a good thing, too. There were days when milk, bread and scrambled eggs was all there was to eat.”
Emily stood and paced the area in front of the sofa.
I never thought I’d be married. Always thought I’d be alone, though I would love to be married and have children of my own. My own family, my own children to raise, not someone else’s. Do I want to try to find another job raising another woman’s children?
“I have always wanted a husband and children. I just never thought it was my destiny to do anything except raise other people’s children.”
She stopped in front of Sally.
“All right. Yes. I’d like to marry Mr. Ben Logan. Did she by chance send a picture?”
“Yes, she did. He’s quite good-looking. According to the back of the picture, he’s six feet tall, with blue eyes and brown hair.”
Emily picked up the photograph. The man staring out at her was indeed attractive. Very handsome as a matter-of-fact. She handed the picture back to Sally.
“What would a man who looks like that see in me?”
Sally cocked her head.
“You are beautiful.”
“I’m overweight and frumpy.”
“If you’d wear something besides those hideous gray dresses, which I understand you wear so you look horrible to the men you work for, everyone else would see your beauty as well.
Luckily, Maggie’s seamstress has readymade clothes.
Mr. Logan sent money to cover clothing and listed the clothes that you will need.
I’m sure he made the list with help from Maggie. ”
“Well, what is on the list? I haven’t been able to really go shopping for…well, ever.”
“Four dresses, two in light weight material for summer and two in wool for winter. At least one of the dresses should be acceptable for Sunday’s and dances. A heavy winter coat.”
Sally looked over at Emily’s wrap draped over the end of the sofa.
“Which you already have.”
She checked that off the list.
“Sturdy work boots, which you also have if I’m not mistaken.”
She touched the toe of her shoe to Emily’s boot and checked that off the list, too.
“Three skirts,”
Sally looked up from the list.
“Bombazine works well. I’d suggest one each, black, brown and dark blue.
The material is very sturdy. Three shirtwaists to go with the skirts and undergarments appropriate for the wardrobe.
After hearing that list you can see why I think he got it from…
I would guess Maggie or a sister, since his mother is… difficult.”
Emily laughed. “Difficult is it? Oh well, I have corsets, chemises and bloomers that are still quite functional. As to the rest, where are we to find that on such short notice? I’m not exactly the perfect size for ready-to-wear clothes.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Not by a long shot are you the largest woman we have placed or that Madame Maxine has outfitted on short notice.”
Emily grinned.
“Really? Well, let’s get started. What do I do first?”
“First, I put a closed sign on the door and then we go to see Madame Maxine.