pure happiness. “Merry Christmas, my dear. I hope this day will be a happy one for both of us.”
Marianne walked quickly to the house next to the general store, rapping once on the door and waiting as she heard footsteps approaching, the sound vibrating on the porch. Janet opened the door wide and welcomed her inside.
“Merry Christmas, Marianne. I wondered what had happened to you last night. I left the store unlocked in case you wanted to sleep there, but I noticed this morning when I went over to put wood in the stove that you hadn’t been there.”
“I slept at the parsonage,” Marianne admitted quietly. “David felt it would be better for Joshua to be in a warm house where there was everything available to tend to him. He’s sleeping now in the spare bedroom. And that was where I spent the night, Janet. I hope you don’t think there was anything out of order going on last night. David gave me a place to stay and I got up and made his breakfast.”
She slid her cloak from her shoulders and sat in the chair Janet offered, nodding her head as she offered Marianne a cup of tea, a gift received with a grin.
“Thank you. David prefers coffee apparently, and I didn’t ask if he had any tea. My mama used to always have a cup for breakfast or in the middle of the morning. I miss sitting at the table with her and talking of what we would do during the day and what work needed to be done.”
“What have you and Mr. McDermott spoken of, Marianne? I think from the look on your face that you have something to talk over with me. Am I wrong?” Janet sat across the table, lifted her teacup and sipped at the warm brew, waiting till Marianne should decide to speak.
“He wants to marry me,” she said softly. “He asked if I would live there and keep house for him and cook and do the laundry and all that is entailed in being a wife.”
“All?” Janet asked quietly, her brow rising as she posed the query.
“All but the sleeping in his bedroom part,” Marianne said, feeling awkward as she explained the circumstances David had suggested. “He said he would not expect that of me, for we barely know each other, having met but yesterday. I think he’s willing to give me as much time as I need to become accustomed to his company before he makes a change in our relationship.”
“And how do you feel about it?” Janet asked, as if she were feeling her way, trying to negotiate a rocky path. “Would you be comfortable living in the parsonage and answering to the ladies in town, for surely you know they will watch you like a hawk.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Marianne told her. “I suppose they feel somewhat protective of David, given the circumstances of his wife’s death and the loss of his child.”
“It could well be the best thing that could happen for both of you,” Janet said slowly, as if her mind must catch up to her words. “I assume you’ve had a good upbringing, Marianne, and your parents were no doubt strict with you. Have you had a gentleman friend in your life before this?”
“A young man in our neighborhood wanted to court me a couple of years ago and my father told him he could come calling so long as he didn’t see me alone, without a chaperone. He talked about marriage for the past few months, and I had just about agreed to the idea, for he was a good man, with good prospects.”
Janet eyed her, obviously noting the tears that threatened to fall as she spoke. “What happened? Did you change your mind?”
“No. He came down with the fever and died just before my parents became ill. A lot of the folks in our part of the county fell ill and many of them didn’t make it. There are a lot of homes without mothers, some without a breadwinner, and the winter looks to be a sad one for several families who are grieving for loved ones.”
“Is that why you left home with Joshua?”
“My neighbor said her sister lived here in town and I might be able to stay with her while I found work. You know how that turned out, once her husband got wind of the idea. I don’t think my old neighbor is aware of the situation in her sister’s home.”
“Well, you didn’t need that sort of problem anyway,” Janet said bluntly. “What you’ve been offered is far and away the better choice for you.”
“David said he’s going to speak with the mayor today, even though it’s Christmas. He’s anxious to get someone else’s approval of his proposal.”
“The mayor is head of the church board, and if he gives his okay, David has clear sailing,” Janet said with a grin.
“I’ll bet he’s anxious to get things in motion. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re not a married lady by tomorrow.”
Marianne almost choked on her tea. “So soon? Do you really think he’ll want to do things that quickly?”
“He can’t keep you in his house without marrying you, Marianne. You’re old enough to know folks will talk if such a thing were to be going on. It’s better for you and David both if you speak your vows right away.”
Marianne stood, gathering her cloak up from the chair and tossing it over her shoulders. “I think maybe I’d better get back to the parsonage and let David do his business with the mayor, hadn’t I?”
Janet smiled, her eyes beaming with anticipation. “I can’t wait till tomorrow. Every lady in town will be in the store before the day is over, wondering what is going on. You’ll have their eyes glued on you, I’ll guarantee it.”
Marianne felt a flush creep up her cheeks. “I don’t know if I’m looking forward to that. I’d thought maybe we could keep it very quiet if we decided to do this, sort of just make it a private thing.”
“Not a chance,” Janet said with a hoot of laughter.
“Everyone in town will be wanting to give you a pounding.”
“A pounding?” Marianne’s eyes widened as she considered the word, wondering at its meaning.
“A pounding is where each family brings a pound of this or that to the happy couple’s home. A pound of coffee, or flour or maybe sugar or butter. Quite often it’s more than just a pound, for folks think highly of Mr. McDermott and they’ll want to welcome you into the parsonage as his wife in fine style.”
David left the house as soon as Marianne returned, heading for the mayor’s home, leaving Marianne with a smile, and his expression speaking of his pleasure at the circumstances. He obviously was pleased at the idea of gaining a wife so readily, Marianne decided. It was likely that he was weary of taking care of himself, although the parsonage did not show neglect in any way. He apparently had taken good care of his home, keeping it clean and caring for his belongings.
She spent an hour preparing dinner, first finding a piece of smoked pork in the pantry, then placing it in a baking pan, sliding it into the oven and deciding on a kettle of green beans and potatoes to go with it. Most men enjoyed their big meal of the day at noontime—at least her father had, and her mother had said it was the usual circumstance to have a large meal at noon, then just soup or some such thing for supper later on in the day.
She heard Joshua’s cry as he awakened and she made haste to wash her hands and set a pan of warm water on the table for his bath, then gathered him up from the bed and stripped him of his clothing so that she could give him a fresh start. He was a pleasure to tend, contented to allow
