A Lady of High Regard (13 page)

“Of course.”

“Well, Mrs. Hale, the lady editor, is concerned with the plight of the women who have married seafarers. It is a common problem for them to be pressed into service and beyond for the repayment of debt. It is especially hard on the children, and we wish to see some type of legal protection for these families.”

Mrs. Williamson seemed to consider her statement for several moments. “I think Nancy would want to help if she could. She comes to see me on Friday afternoons. If you can arrange to be here, I will speak to her.”

Mia squeezed the older woman’s arm. “Thank you so much. I know it will help. I’ll talk to Prudence and make arrangements to be here. What time would be good?”

“Let’s say three. That will allow for Mrs. Brighton to be away, as she has her regular afternoon outings at that time.”

Mia appreciated Mrs. Williamson thinking of such a thing. “Again, thank you. I will make the arrangements to call on Prudence at that time.” The sound of glass shattering in the kitchen drew their attention back to the present.

Mrs. Williamson frowned. “I’m needed.”

Mia made her way back to the party and spoke with several of her friends while mingling among the crowd. The early evening had turned quite pleasant and even the bugs were staying away—a rarity indeed.

“There you are. I thought perhaps you had deserted the party,” Garrett said, taking hold of her arm. “Or at least deserted me.”

“Now, why would I do that? I’ve simply been speaking to my friends.”

“Well, I’m a friend, so you can speak with me.”

“Where is Miss Monroe? Did you enjoy your time with her?”

Garrett looked at her in disbelief. “She’s a child, Mia. She’s immature and has no idea of what a man my age is about. You must cease with this silly matchmaking. I’m entirely content to find my own wife.”

Mia recognized the gravity of his tone. “Very well, Mr. Wilson. For now.”

“Mia.”

“All right, stop fretting. I am glad to have found you. I am going home early because my father wasn’t feeling well. I want to check on him.”

“Will you leave before the supper?”

“Yes. I’ve already explained it to Prudence. I’ll just slip away quietly and never be missed.”

He laughed. “I hardly think that’s possible.”

She looked at him oddly. “What? That I can slip away quietly or that I won’t be missed?”

“Both.” He surveyed the gathering. “Let me tell my father, and I’ll escort you home. Since I’d sent the carriage back for them, there’s only one conveyance to worry about anyway.”

“Are you certain you want to leave and miss out on the marvelous delights of their cook? Mrs. Williamson is quite skilled in the kitchen.”

“I think I must bear it. I have something I wish to discuss with you.”

Mia waited patiently until Garrett returned. He seemed very preoccupied, almost hesitant to speak again until they were alone. That could only mean he intended to talk about her late-night excursion to the church.

Once they were settled in the carriage, Garrett began speaking to her in earnest. “Mia, about the other night. I am begging you to put off this foolishness or I will be forced to speak to your father. I care too much about your well-being to see you out there risking your life for a cause.”

“Fear not, Brother Garrett. You will be happy to know I have resigned my position at
Godey’s.
My father insisted, and now the deed is done.” She looked at the passing scenery and sighed.

Garrett’s tone softened. “I am sorry, as I know the job meant a great deal to you. But I do believe it is for the best.”

Mia nodded. “Everyone apparently knows better for me than I do.”

Garrett frowned and shifted, as if uncomfortable. “Sometimes it’s easier for others to see the problems we cannot see for ourselves.”

“That’s very true, but apparently when it comes in the example of my seeing the plight of those women on the docks, it no longer applies.”

“I know your concerns, and I want you to know that the problem isn’t unknown to others. Someone else will pick up the banner and see that the wrongs are made right.”

“I’d like to believe that,” Mia replied. And truly she would. She longed to know in her heart of hearts that good, honest men would come forward and put an end to the tragedy and nightmares those women were living.

“You are a good and caring woman, Mia. I admire you greatly and I’m blessed to know you.”

“Well, now I shall sit at home and embroider napkins and be in bed by eight-thirty. If the rules change, I shall trust you to let me know.” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice.

“Now, don’t be that way, Mia. Say, why don’t you do me the honor of accompanying me to a play tomorrow night? We’ll have a great time. It’s a comedy, and it should do wonders to lift our spirits.”

She considered it for a moment. “I suppose I could. I should think, however, that you would prefer to take a companion who might benefit you matrimonially.”

“Who’s to say I’m not?” Garrett teased. “After all, you are my matchmaker.”

She laughed. “That’s very true, but I seem to do the job poorly where you are concerned. I shall have to double my efforts to know you better and then to choose a proper companion from among my acquaintances. After all, I’ll have nothing else of purpose to do with my time.”

Garrett shook his head and chuckled. “Oh, Mia. You truly are a gem among women. And you do not snort when you laugh. That would be a most annoying habit to get used to.”

CHAPTER 10

“
W
e have decided to depart for England the day after the Wilsons’ party,” Mia’s father announced just after family devotions.

“But that’s only two days away. This is so sudden—how will you book passage? Besides, surely you do not want to leave before the Independence Day celebrations,” Mia protested.

“Your mother has heard rumors of smallpox and unknown fevers along the riverfront. She is worried that disease will soon be upon the city.” He looked to his wife and smiled. “I, on the other hand, find it more advantageous financially to make the trip sooner, rather than later.”

“Father, please hear me out. I beg you to let me remain here in Philadelphia,” Mia said. “I have done what you asked in putting aside my position with
Godey’s.
I have tried to be an obedient daughter. Please grant me this one favor.”

“You cannot remain here unchaperoned,” her mother declared. “It is not fitting. And besides, if sickness comes, you would be at risk.”

“There could be sickness in England as well,” Mia countered. “I’m old enough to run a household. Surely you must be able to see that for yourselves. I’m no child.”

“Indeed you are not, which makes the situation more delicate,” her father said thoughtfully. “I would be willing to consider the matter, but there would need to be some sort of arrangement to see to your protection and security.”

“Lyman!”

“Now, Aldora, you mustn’t fret.”

Mia smiled. “I’m certain that I can think of something. We have many friends. I am sure we can find help among their numbers.”

“I do not like the idea of this,” her mother said, shaking her head. “I would worry incessantly about Mia while we were gone. Why, we don’t even plan to be back before late September. How could we impose upon anyone for that length of time?”

“Your mother has a good point. We will commit the topic to prayer and see where it takes us.”

“But we have only two days.” Mia felt the glimmer of hope begin to fade.

“Yes, and God made the entire world in seven. Surely He needs less than two to show us the answer for our situation.”

Garrett had never looked forward to one of his family parties in the same way he’d looked forward to this one. After his evening at the theater with Mia, he had come to realize something that he’d suspected for months: He was falling in love with his best friend. The thought had startled him at first, for he’d known Mia all of her life and he’d never thought of her in this way. But now she was all he could think about.

He glanced across the yard to see Mia holding his new baby sister. She looked natural and very appealing as she cuddled the baby. Her face seemed to glow in the pleasure of the moment as she conversed with Mercy and some other ladies.

Garrett struggled with his newfound feelings, remembering what Mia had said at the Brighton party about how silly it was for her maid to think of him proposing. Apparently Mia didn’t feel the same way about him that he’d come to feel about her.

“But of course she doesn’t! She’s only been trying to pair me with every available woman in Philadelphia.”

“Did you say something, son?”

Garrett looked up to find his father walking toward him. His slow awkward steps and the cane in his left hand betrayed his weakness. “Nothing of worth,” Garrett said. “How are you feeling?”

“To be honest, I’ve grown very weak. I suppose it’s useless to say it’s nothing to worry about.”

“Unless that’s the advice offered by the doctor.”

His father shook his head. “Of course you know better. I have kept nothing from you. The doctor is as baffled as anyone, just as I presumed he would be. Doctors simply are not able to know all that they should.”

“Medicine is a difficult field, Father. There are too many variables,” Garrett suggested.

“I suppose so. Still, I cannot hope to still your stepmother’s fears when I cannot assuage my own.” He drew a deep breath. “Well, I must go find Mercy. She’ll worry after me if I do not show up at her side.”

“She’s right over there with . . .” Garrett’s voice tapered as he realized Mia was gone. Mercy was now conversing with someone else.

“I see her. Thank you.” His father hobbled off, his gait making him appear years older than he should.

Garrett quickly scanned the crowd for some sign of Mia. Though he longed to go to her and declare his love, he knew for now he needed simply to better understand it himself.

Garrett walked among his friends and associates. Here and there he would converse for a moment or two, but always he watched for Mia among the growing collection of people.

Just when he thought he might give up, Garrett spied movement coming from the Stanley gardens. A quick flash of blond hair and Garrett knew it was Mia. Apparently she had slipped through the adjoining gate for a moment of solitude.

“Mia?” he asked when he reached her sitting at the far end of the yard, surrounded by blossoming shrubs and flowers. “What are you doing over here?”

She looked up and smiled. He loved the delicate shape of her face and the deep blue of her eyes. Why had it taken so long to realize how he felt about this woman?

“I’m sorry. I’m not good company tonight.”

“But why? Is something wrong?”

She nodded. “My father and mother have plans to leave tomorrow for England. They are forcing me to go.”

“But it will do you good to go abroad.” Garrett knew he’d miss her company, but he felt the distance would keep her from trouble with the seamen’s wives. It might also give him time to further his own investigation of the situation.

“You truly have no idea of my parents’ plans for this trip, do you?”

He looked at her oddly. He longed to sit beside her on the bench, but only lovers would steal away to a quiet garden for such a rendezvous. “What do you mean?”

Mia got up and began to pace the grassy path in front of him. “They mean to see me married to an Englishman. My aunt has someone in mind who would benefit the family coffers.”

“No!” Garrett replied passionately, then realized his mistake. “I mean . . . well . . . you shouldn’t be forced to marry anyone.”

“My view exactly, but they worry that I have already waited too long for anyone to find me of matrimonial interest. Apparently this Englishman has no aversion to old maids.”

Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were full and pouting. How he longed to take her in his arms and kiss her. “You are hardly that.”

“Father actually agreed to consider letting me stay here in Philadelphia, if a proper arrangement could be found. I do not believe he wants to see me forced into a marriage that would keep me so far from home. Unfortunately, no arrangement could be found, and they are determined to depart tomorrow.”