Five Sisters (33 page)

"About the house?
Because I assure you you'll like it very much and if you shouldn't . . ."

Mary interrupted him, "Gail made a new acquaintance aboard the ship, Ethan, a Mr. Nathaniel West. He was ill, very ill indeed, and our Gail kept him company. But he took a turn for the worse just last week and the ship had to make an emergency stop to let him off in St. Francis County for some emergency care."

"Oh," breathed Ethan, "I'm sorry, Gail. I wasn't aware . . . But I do hope the best for your friend Mr. West. I'm sorry about his condition but the doctors in St. Francis are very capable, I assure you."

Gail smiled weakly, "I'm glad to hear it."

"Perhaps we will be able to find his address," suggested Ethan, "And then you could write to him, find out how he's doing."

"He was supposed to be sent to Wickensville, he said, for some sort of treatment."

"I see. I'll do my best to find his whereabouts for you, Gail. Some of my colleagues are heading to the hospital in St. Francis for experience and perhaps they'll be able to find out how he's faring."

"Oh thank you. I should like nothing more than to know how he is."

"Consider it done then."

The rest of the trip was spent discussing the wedding and the new home Ethan's parents were building for him and Mary. Mary informed Ethan about all the decisions she'd made during the voyage regarding their matrimony. She wanted the dress to be white and elegant and the veil to be long and lacy. The church must be quaint and simple, but with enough room to hold their many guests. The invitations, bearing the date of the sixth of March, should be sent in a timely manner, as soon as the guest list was decided, and Ethan must wear his best black suit. All the details,
brimming
her head with delight, were revealed with joy and Ethan nodded in assent to every one, assuring his fiancée that the day would be as joyous as she'd hoped.

While they spoke, the other sisters gazed listlessly out the windows at the broad countryside and pleasant hills of Brighton, each with a different thought on their minds.

Sara and Nora thought of their sailors, who were heading out to sea at this very moment. Usually the ship stayed in port a bit longer, so the men could enjoy themselves in town, but Charlie insisted that they leave as quickly as possible. He didn't want to lag behind and stay so near to the Lindsey's home for fear he should weaken and change his mind on the matter that he'd so firmly decided upon. The further the distance, the easier she would be to forget.
If that was even possible.

Emy thought of her artist, studying in Clarendon. She wondered if he would be joining them very soon, to welcome them to Brighton, or if he would continue his studies without
so
much as a letter of greeting. Her restless mind begged her to ask Ethan of Brook's plans, but when he was so enraptured with Mary and her talk of marriage, she wouldn't dare interrupt.

And last of all, Gail thought of her invalid, lying in a hospital bed in St. Francis County. His condition weighed on her mind all hours of the day. Perhaps he was dead at this very and she didn't even know it. After all, the last time she'd seen him he'd been standing on the edge of death. It wouldn't be remarkable if he were buried beneath his grave at this very moment. But if all went well, Ethan's colleagues would be able to find out for her. And then she would finally be able to set her restless heart to sleep.

While each of the younger girls dwelled on their unruly thoughts and Mary and Ethan continued to make up for three months of lost conversation, the carriage slowly neared its destination. And before any of its occupants realized it, it was rolling down the thin, dirt road that led to the Lindsey's home.

As soon as Emy spotted it, her eyes brightened and she gave a shout of happiness, causing all of her sisters to crowd at the windows for a better look.

It was located in the center of the countryside, surrounded by lush green grass, rolling hills, and, a little ways off, the beginnings of what would come to be Ethan and Mary's home. It stood two stories high, with twelve windows, twelve pairs of black shutters, and two large columns to hold up a small balcony located on the second floor. The wood siding was painted a light, whimsy yellow, while the roof shingles were a rough gray. A large, wraparound porch, floored in white wood panels and fit with several pleasant wicker chairs, completed the structure and brought a smile to Emy's face. She'd always wanted a spacious porch to spend the lazy summer days upon.

Several large oak and beech trees were located around the house, their leaves gathering around the lawn in colors of copper, scarlet, and straw. And just below the porch, surrounding it with shiny leaves and plump
berries,
were large, but neatly trimmed, holly bushes.

Just gazing upon the house brought a warm feeling to the hearts of all five girls. Their last home, in Laraford, had been small and cramped. So to see such a lovely structure, surrounded by the charming hills of Brighton, and to know that they should be living here in the coming years, was oddly unreal for them. It was such a great shock that, for the tiniest moment, none of the sisters thought of their sailors or their artists of their invalids. For that moment, everything was perfect. Everything was, in a sense, as it should be.

And as they stepped out of the carriage, their amazement continued, only to be heightened as they actually entered the house.

John and Betsy Lindsey, Ethan's parents, met them in the parlor with wide smiles and warm greetings. John, the owner of a successful lumberyard, was a man of about Ethan's stature with snow white hair; rosy cheeks, accentuated by the winkles around his mouth and eyes; and a soft voice. He spoke little, but by his expression one could not deny his delight at meeting these five awed young girls. But Betsy, a bubbly old woman with soft silvery hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a comforting demeanor, spoke enough for the two of them.

"Oh hello!
Hello!" she'd exclaimed upon their first meeting, rushing up to the girls with a smile, "I can't believe you're already here! I feel as though it was just yesterday my Ethan wrote to me of the betrothal! Which one of you is Mary? Dear me! Why should I even ask such a question? It's quite obvious, my dear, that you are the Miss Meredith my son spoke so fondly of. He told me all about your lovely black curls and blue eyes, speaking of you as though you were an angel. But such a beauty! You may be too charming for my son, I daresay," she chuckled, "But of course.
But of course.
John and I are so honored that you're going to enter the family. Did you see the house way out yonder? John and Ethan have been working at it nearly everyday, making sure everything is just so. I've told John it's not good for his back to do any hard labor, but he just won't listen. Stubborn as an ox, I tell you! Stubborn as an ox! And we're so glad you brought your dear sisters with you! This house is plenty big enough for five young girls and
its
been in need of some good, youthful spirit, I sense. Ethan's told me so much about all of you that I feel as though I know you already! Why, you must be Sara! With your hair pulled back in a simple ponytail and those dark eyes, I know it must be you! John'll have to show you his library this evening. It's his pride and joy, it is. So many books you'll probably faint in delight! And your, my dear, must be Nora!
Such a pretty, pretty name.
If Ethan had been a girl I might've named him Leonora.
Or if he'd had a sister.
And this, surely, is Emy.
With that sweet smile and such admirable sapphire eyes.
We'll get along just fine, I'm sure.
And finally, Gail.
How could I not distinguish you from the rest, love, with this vibrant red hair? You'll love the country, I'll bet, for there are plenty of lakes and hills to roam about, if you should like to. But before you do any exploring, I insist that we show you to your rooms first. And then, while you're getting settled in, I'll have Milly stir up some lemonade and scones. You must be hungry after that carriage ride."

The girls nodded in affirmation and thanked Betsy for her letting them stay in her home, the first words they were able to get in after her ongoing speech. She gave them all kisses, greeted them as her new daughters, and led the way upstairs with John and Ethan trailing behind with lackadaisical grins.

The top floor of the house contained six bedrooms, all furnished with beautiful oak furniture and decorated with Betsy's keen eye.

"And can you believe it?" Betsy exclaimed, "Nearly all of these rooms have been completely empty for years, save for a few visitors every so often. They're lovely rooms. It's a shame they were wasted away for so long. But now we've got so many guests they're all going to be filled! But of course, you girls aren't guests. You're family!"

After pointing out the two rooms occupied by her, John, and Ethan, she headed across the hall to show the girls where they would be staying. Sara and Emy would be sharing a room, as well as Nora and Gail, but Mary would have a room all to herself. Of course, once Ethan and Mary moved out after the wedding, all of the sisters would have a room all their own.

All of the rooms were vaguely reminiscent of one another, with oak, four-poster beds, a trunk for their belongings, a dresser for all their gowns, and a window overlooking the countryside. Elegant toiles covered the beds, simple braided rugs lay upon the floors, and noble portraits and silhouettes adorned the walls. They were spacious and comfortable and charming, everything the St. James sisters had dreamed of.

The servants brought up their luggage and just as they'd begun unpacking Milly, one of the maids, arrived with the lemonade and warm scones.

Not once during the past hour had they thought of Charlie or Sawyer or Brook or Nathaniel. Such an enchanting home prevented their worries from arising and seemed to mend their broken hearts, if only for moments.

Once they were all settled in, each of the sisters decided to search for a bit of amusement, finding it oddly freeing not to be constricted by a wild ocean or a rather small ship. Ethan and Mary sat in the parlor, still talking and talking and sharing the events of the past three months. Emy, offering to help Betsy cook supper, stood in the kitchen kneading bread dough and listening to the old woman talk on and on about how excited she was to have girls in the house after living with two men for so long. Nora and Sara sat on the porch, with either a needle and thread or a book to keep
themselves
occupied. And Gail, returning to her old ways, was walking about the countryside with a spring in her step, admiring the tall trees and bird nests and grassy hills and placid lake; it seemed that everything she saw amazed her.

Before long, Betsy was calling the girls in to eat and they joined together around the long dining table with John at the head. They said their blessings and feasted on a lovely meal of roasted hen and crisp vegetables and the warm bread that Emy had baked herself. All was merry and well, and then, there came a sudden knock upon the door. Betsy jumped up from her seat with a laugh.

The girls listened as Betsy greeted their guest and, evidently, hugged him and kissed his cheeks until he was laughing as well.

Then, with a broad grin, she led him into the room and Emy was so surprised she nearly fell out of her chair.

It was Brook, who'd ridden straight to Brighton after receiving John's letter that morning. He was a bit windswept, his hair rather unkempt and his jacket wrinkled, after riding such a long way on horseback, but he looked the same as ever to the girls. His limbs were still long and thin, attached to his tall frame, and his skin was still pale and milky. Misty, hazel eyes brightened in delight at the sight of the girls and he quickly reached up a hand to try to tidy his shock of black hair. Over his white collared shirt and brown trousers he wore a long, sand-colored riding jacket and he held his hat,
a rusty
tweed, in his hand.

"Oh it's wonderful to see all of you again!" he exclaimed, looking at the sisters, "It feels as though it's been years since we left Laraford. Did you have a good trip?"

And as he spoke, the girls stood up from their chairs politely, and he walked around the table to greet each one with a handshake and a kiss. Emy nearly fainted when he came to her, placing his lips swiftly upon her cheek and squeezing her hand.

As Brook greeted the girls, John went to the other room to find an extra chair for his nephew. And where should he place it but directly beside Emy! The poor girl felt her heart begin to beat rapidly as he sat down beside her, his scent of paints and charcoal smelling heavenly to her slanted taste.