Constance: Bride of Florida (American Mail-Order Bride 27) (11 page)

“I’ve got some things to do. I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’ll have your money ready for you as a wedding present. I do hope the best for you, Drake.”

Surprised his father had used his name; Drake gave him an awkward hug. Probably the first time since he’d become a man. But somehow, he felt his Father needed it. Perhaps, he himself needed it also.

With his mind in a turmoil, he left the store and strode to the docks. He hoped McGregor had
The Sea Wind
at anchor, but he didn’t see her. Excitement shot through him as he thought about finally owning the ship.

Then thoughts about Constance turned it into a hollow excitement. He couldn’t get the picture of her on the beach out of his mind. Those green eyes of hers searching his. Looking for what he didn’t have to give.

Love?

His brothers talked about it. He saw it in the way his parents looked at one another. Even saw glimpses in Kimberly’s eyes before he told her there was no hope of them being together. But Constance. Had he seen love in her eyes?

As a mail-order bride, she couldn’t or shouldn’t think love would be part of the bargain. Not after a few wires and a letter. No, she was thankful to know she’d be provided for. Nothing more.

He could give her security, maybe even a few children, but asking him to love her and stay at home was more than he could promise. She’d have to understand that. He wasn’t like his father. Maybe he did have business sense, but that’s where it ended.

He could never love Constance or any woman the way his father loved Mother.

Chapter 15

Constance ran to her room. Then to Tess’s and knocked on her door. “Tess?”

“Come in.”

Constance barreled into her room, breathless, excited, and petrified. “I’m getting married.”

Tess, who’d been napping, jumped off her bed. “What? Married. To who? Not Drake?”

“Yes. We will be sisters-in-law. I’m so excited and scared. I don’t even know where to begin. He’s stopping by to take me to his parents’ house for dinner. To meet the family. What if they don’t like me?”

Tess rushed to her and hugged her. “Oh, Constance. Who wouldn’t love you? You’re pretty. Kind. Just what any parent would want for their son.”

“I hope so.”

Pausing, Tess stared at her. “And Drake? I have to say, I didn’t think he was the marrying type. A real loner he is.”

“Yes, he told me he’d go off to sea and come home when it pleased him. But that he’d take care of me. Buy me a house.”

“Is that going to be enough for you? Don’t you want someone to love you? I didn’t mean to say he doesn’t love you, but if he doesn’t plan on staying around, what kind of marriage will it be?”

Constance walked to the window. “I don’t know. But someone told me once to listen to my heart. I did. And I clearly heard it tell me to marry him and love him.”

Tess grinned. “Well, that would be my aunt. She tells me that all the time. She’s a God-fearing woman. I confess, I don’t pray as often as I should, but knowing that you heard something gives me hope. I do think I heard my heart sing when I told Edgar I’d agree to be engaged. I do love him.”

“Then you do know. It doesn’t make any sense at all. But somehow, I know that what Drake needs is love. I intend to give him that. Maybe he’ll never love me. But I believe we have a good chance together.”

Tess shook her head. “Well, you have faith that is for sure. Let’s see. Are you going to wear that dress? It is beautiful and looks so nice on you. I can loan you some earrings and a necklace.”

“Oh, would you? Thank you, Tess. I never really had close friends. There were a few at the factory where I worked, but I was so shy that I stayed away from them. Fear kept me a prisoner.” After she said those words, her mind jumped to Drake. That’s how she saw him. He was a prisoner to his dreams and fears of letting others inside his heart.

She fluffed at her hair, gazed at the clock, and excitedly shrugged her shoulders. “I think I might take a nap. I am too excited to sleep, but I don’t want to get my dress dirty. And it’s way too early to sit downstairs in the parlor for hours.”

Constance let herself out and went to her room. She took off her dress and lay on the clean sheets. Breathing in the fresh smell, she wondered what her life as a married woman would be like. Thoughts about the first night scared her yet filled her with wonder and the mystery of it all.

She’d not had a mother to tell her about such things, and Father had shied from any woman talk. So she’d had bits and pieces she’d heard from the girls at work. Well, she’d not think about that right now.

He said he’d get her a house. Her very own house. She’d fix it up. If she ran short on money, she could always sew. She’d make it a home for Drake. He would return to her. She’d be the best wife for him. Give him all that he needed.

She thought about him. How he looked and how different he was from his brothers. Drake had dark hair and blue eyes. His brothers had brown hair, and their eyes were brown not blue.

Of course, that didn’t even account for temperament. Drake was moody, strong, and powerful. Seemingly needing no one. But she’d seen through that. He needed to belong. To be loved. She wondered if his parents shunned him. Were they unkind to him?

His brothers seemed happy enough. But not Drake. He seemed as if he were looking for someone or something.

“Well, Drake Ferris. I’m that someone. You’ll see. I have faith for the both of us.”

She counted sheep, clouds, and imaginary numbers but sleep evaded her. She was going to meet the family that she would become a part of. To belong to a family. The very idea thrilled her.

Soon there was a knock on her door.

Constance bolted out of her bed and ran to see Tess. “Come in.”

“I thought I’d come early and help you do your hair. I thought it would look pretty put up. I can fix it if you don’t mind?”

“Mind? It will be a great gift to me. Mother died when I was young and Father, well he didn’t have a clue how to raise a little girl. Please do it for me and I will forever be in your debt.”

Tess set about brushing, pinning, and brushing some more. Finally, she handed a mirror to her. “There, you’re beautiful. I’ll help you with some face cream. It’s the latest. Mother doesn’t know I’ve bought any, but we’ll put on just a dab. And some color for your cheeks.”

At Tess’s mercy, Constance prayed she wasn’t being made to look like a painted lady, but remembering how lovely Tess always looked, Constance relaxed as much as she possibly could. For all she knew, Drake might tell her to forget the whole deal. Then she’d be on her own. Abandoned.

Tess took her to the mirror. “Look. Drake won’t know what hit him when he sees you. You’ll take his breath away and I better hang onto Edgar or you’ll take his too.”

Constance couldn’t stop smiling. “I have never felt pretty before. Thank you, Tess.”

She grinned as she walked out the door. “I have my own beauty treatment to put on for Edgar. I’ll meet you downstairs, and we’ll wait for our men.”

Constance dressed and put a hand on her chest. Her heart thumped wildly. She’d soon know what Drake and his family would think. She sent a silent prayer for help and mercy that she’d have the love to break through the hard barrier Drake put up around his heart.

###

Drake was early. He knew it, but after walking the docks and around town, he didn’t know what else to do with himself. He wondered, even hoped, Edgar would come by to get Tess. He wasn’t sure about being alone with Constance.

Ever since he’d asked her to marry him, he’d had doubts. She’d said yes so easily, almost without a thought. He still wasn’t sure, but it seemed it was now out of his hands. Perhaps she wouldn’t like his family.

Although he knew that was highly unlikely. He was the only one people had a hard time relating to. Or the truth was, he had a hard time relating to them. Standoffish. He’d heard himself described that way since a boy.

Well, Constance Penny, I hope you are prepared to be married to a hard, moody man. Then he wondered about her. He really didn’t know her at all. She seemed nice. What if she was crazy? What if she’d been married before?

No, she couldn’t have been. Said she’d been timid, but he hadn’t seen much sign of that. Not with her practically taking him down the altar. He knew that wasn’t fair. Not at all. He was just making excuses to not like her.

His family would. They liked everyone. No, he’d continue to be the odd one out. Of course, what did he care if he was away at sea?

Then he was there. He knocked on the door.

Alice opened it and smiled as if it was his birthday and he was ten. “Come in, Drake. We were just waiting for you.”

He saw past her into the parlor. Constance was pretty. Beautiful even. Why hadn’t anyone snatched her up in marriage before now? His thoughts roved to Finn and seeing them in the hotel dining room.

“Constance. You’re beautiful.” He walked in and sat opposite her. He noticed Tess enter the room with a tray of drinks. “Tess, you’re pretty, too.”

He took a drink. Lemonade. Alice’s favorite and standard drink. He nodded and took a swallow.

Finished, he set the cup down. “Where’s Edgar?”

Tess blushed. “He said he’d be right over after work. I’m surprised you didn’t leave together.”

He coughed. “I left early. Had some thinking to do.”

He cringed. Those had been the wrong words as he saw Constance wince. To keep her from thinking he’d changed his mind he went on. “A man has a lot on his mind when he’s about to be married.”

Constance seemed to relax as her lips turned up in a mild smile.

Alice came in with a pitcher. “More lemonade?”

“No, I’m sure the family has a wonderful dinner ready for us. I don’t need to fill up on your lemonade like I am wont to do.”

Alice patted his knee. “You and Constance can leave, and I’ll stay and keep Tess company until Edgar arrives. I’m sure it won’t be long.”

Constance nodded ever so slightly.

Drake stood. “Let’s go. Let me help you with your wrap. It may be quite cold, later.”

With a look of worry, she stood and walked to the hall closet.

He followed and helped her into a coat. He’d not noticed her having it before. She must have bought it special for him.

She looked at him and smiled, but the worry in her eyes lingered. “I think it would be good for us to walk alone and perhaps learn something about one another before we meet your parents.”

“They’ll love you. Who wouldn’t?”

“Most of my life it’s been, who would.”

He stopped and looked at her. “I find that hard to believe.”

She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Most of my life, I have been alone and afraid. A mouse in a world of lions.”

“Well, you certainly strike me as a lioness right now.” He had to admit, he was curious about her.

She faced him, her eyes searching his. “It’s because of you, I am no longer a mouse. Although, I admit the fear tries to creep back in. But when I was on the ship to come here, I came alive. I found the courage to face my fears. I thank you for that.”

Guilt stabbed him. He took her elbow and walked her down the steps. “I’m glad for that. I should have sent you by train.”

Head up, she walked beside him. “I am grateful to you that you didn’t.”

“Good.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say. So she had courage. Had found it on the ship that he’d booked her passage on. Suddenly, he felt as if he were being toyed with. Set up even. By who, though? God?

“What are we going to tell your parents. Do you want them to know I was a mail-order bride?”

Her question startled him. She was giving him a way out. He’d meet her bravery. “I don’t think there is any shame in it. My father already knows I am marrying you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not ashamed. I wasn’t sure what you wanted. I don’t want to be a problem for you.”

He wanted to laugh. He could feel a squall of problems headed his way. But he’d chosen the path and was intent on going down it. “I think the truth is best.”

“They will want to know if we love one another.”

Now, she was getting bothersome. He remained silent. He didn’t love her. He’d never promised to love her.

She stopped. “Drake, look at me?”

He turned to face her.

“I know you can’t say you love me. Or me you. But for some reason, I feel in my heart that this will work out. I want you to know that. I hope it helps you answer some of the questions I am sure we are going to face. I just want you to know that I am for you. Whatever you say, we’ll do.”

He was speechless. He, the one who was never left without a word to win a debate, struggled to reply to her boldness. “You’re a different woman, Constance. A true lioness. Thank you for telling me that. We’ll just stick to the truth. No promises from either of us other than to marry. Other than I do promise to provide for you.”

She grinned. “That’s enough for now. I can live with that.”

He urged her on toward his house. She was making him nervous. As if she expected that they’d fall in love like the storybook romances children read about. Was she that naïve? Poor woman.

They walked in silence. He was grateful for that. He had a lot to think about and was sure she was wondering what she was getting into as well.

He guided her up the sidewalk and to the door.

His heart hammered. Soon, his family would know. He would be bound to Constance. And his future set in motion.