Maddy made her way to the postal office every day. She had not wanted her family to know her business, and now with Caro constantly filling her with horror stories of what could go wrong she wished she had maintained her silence. But, every day there was no reply and she felt just a little bit more desperate. She simply couldn’t stay here in Boston any longer. She would buy herself a train ticket, to the first place she could, if there was no word from him. She would build a life alone if she had to.
“Miss Crane, good morning,” the postmaster said brightly. “I believe there is a letter for you this day.”
“That is wonderful news,” she said as she signed for it. The handwriting on the envelope was scruffy, each line drifted downwards and the letters hard to make out. But strangely it did not put her off. In fact it made her smile, that her Gentleman had been in such a rush to respond, that he hadn’t worried about something so irrelevant as ensuring his script was immaculate.
She strolled across the street and entered the park. She could see the usual people, wandering hand in hand, a few gentlemen on horseback, ladies in carriages – all hoping to see and be seen. She snuck away from the paths, and into the carefully manicured woodland. It was peaceful and quiet in here. Nobody would disturb her, and she found an old tree stump to sit on and settled down to try and decipher his words.
“Dear Miss Crane
I cannot tell you what pleasure I felt as I read your letter. Something in it spoke to me, and I was quite unable to dismiss you from my thoughts.
I am sorry to upset your fantasy, but I am not a rancher or a farmer. I am a small town doctor, and though I believe my opinion is respected, I do not fit the romantic ideal I know modern novels portray! I have a thriving practice, and I hope one day to build a hospital here, that will serve the entire local region.
As you can imagine, knowledge that you already assist a doctor in his rounds, and often in such trying circumstances, filled my heart with happiness. A doctor’s wife is as important as any medicine I believe. Their commitment to their husband is almost secondary to their ability to put others ahead of themselves. This is why I required someone with a loving heart. My work often has me out late, and up early. My wife will need to understand this, to not be jealous of the time I am forced to spend away from her. So your having pastimes that you enjoy is a blessing, I will at least know that you can entertain yourself when I am busy!
I do not know what else to say, I feel oddly tongue-tied as I write this. What do you ask of a woman who so freely offered up such knowledge of herself? I cannot imagine there is anything much more to say and so, as I am finding this so difficult I think it best we meet, and soon. I am much better at talking in person, and am sure we would find out quickly enough if we will suit. So, I have enclosed a train ticket to Chicago. I have arranged accommodation there, in separate hotels, for us both. I will book tickets to the theatre, and maybe we could go somewhere for supper? I am happy to arrange a chaperone should you require one. Please write to me quickly to let me know you are coming?
Yours in abject hope
Dr William Butler
Maddy almost jumped for joy. She would be able to escape Boston, and so soon. The ticket was for Friday! She had barely any time to let him know that she was on her way. She tucked the letter away in her reticule carefully and then hurried back to the postal office. “Do you have paper and an envelope?” she asked the Postmaster. He smiled at her indulgently.
“Your sweetheart?” he enquired. “No, don’t tell me. Here, take these.” He handed her paper, an envelope and pen and ink. “If you hurry I can send it on its way today.”
She didn’t think about what she should write, she just scribbled five little words, shoved the paper into the envelope, addressed it hurriedly and then handed it and the pennies required to send it to the kindly Postmaster. “Thank you,” she said as she tried to control her breathing. Her chest was heaving, and she felt quite overwrought. “I think I need some air.”
Once outside she tried to control herself. This did not mean that he wished to marry her. It was only a meeting, but that he had given her the means to leave Boston, and that it was so soon, meant more to her than she had ever realized it would. Her trunk had been packed now for weeks, she simply needed the encouragement his short letter had offered. She did not care one jot if she did not love him on sight. She only cared that he know that she was everything he had ever wanted when they met. She had to make him marry her and take her home to Sun River. She had never been the most accomplished of flirts, and so she knew she needed help.
Rather than heading home, as she usually did to avoid public scrutiny, she made her way to her sister’s imposing mansion. Helden, their butler, opened the door when she knocked. “Miss, what a surprise! Mrs Cavendish was not expecting visitors today I do not think.”
“No, she wasn’t, and especially not me Helden. But I am sure she won’t mind if you show me in, whatever condition she may be in. I am her sister after all.” He smiled awkwardly.
“Indeed,” he agreed. “She is in her chamber I believe.”
“At this time of day?” Maddy looked up at the grand clock above the stairs, it was showing midday. Carolynn was an early riser, was never in bed past nine. It was a standing joke that her servants hated her for it, as it meant they never got a moments peace.
“The last few days she has been feeling a little weary I believe, Miss Madelaine.”
“Well, she does not have long before her confinement I suppose. I should think she is entitled to feel a little weary. I shall show myself up.”
She ran up the stairs, not caring if anybody thought her a hoyden. Boston’s opinion mattered not a jot any more. She would only be here for just a few more days after all. “Caro, darling Caro, he answered!” she cried as she rushed into her sister’s rooms. Caro was propped up in bed, cushions all around her. She looked pale, but her face lit up with pleasure as Maddy threw herself into her arms.
“Who wrote? Which one?” she teased.
“The Gentleman of Montana,” Maddy cried, over the moon. “He is a doctor, and wishes to meet me. He has sent me a ticket to Chicago, to see if we suit.” Caro’s face fell just a little. Most people would never have spotted it, but Maddy knew her sister too well.
“When do you leave?”
“Friday.” They sat in silence, just holding each other’s hands.
“Oh Maddy, I am pleased for you – I am,” Caro said eventually. “But, I shall miss you terribly.”
“I know, and I am so very sorry that I shall not be here to see this one into the world,” she caressed her sister’s protruding belly. “Are you sure you are quite well? You are never so late abed.”
“The doctors are a little concerned, that is all. I am to spend every day in bed until the little one arrives.”
“I shall stay if you ask me,” Maddy said, feeling terribly guilty. Her sister needed her and she was thinking only of her own needs.
“I shall never ask that of you. I know how hard it is for you, I agree that it is unlikely things will ever change. You have to go. I have to know that you have found your place, your happiness once more.”
“Thank you. I shall stay here, help with Mina and Hattie until I leave if you would like?”
“I would like that. I know they are running poor Helden ragged with their tearing around the house like demons!” Maddie patted her sister on the hand.
“I shall go and teach them how it is done properly then,” she joked.
“I am sure you will,” Caro grinned. “But, if you could at least teach them to do it quietly for the next few days it would be much appreciated.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Maddy left her sister to rest and made her way to the nursery. Her nieces were terrible tearaways, but she adored them. They both reminded her of herself, though they had Caro’s beauty. “Aunt Maddy!” they cried as they rushed to hug her. “Where have you been? It has been forever since we saw you last!”
“I know, and I am sorry for that. I have been like poor old Catpuss over there, curled up by the fire, licking my wounds.”
“Catpuss was in a fight, were you in a fight?” they asked curiously.
“Of a sort – but not quite like Catpuss. Mine did not involve scratches and bites, at least not physically.”
“But you won didn’t you? Catpuss always wins,” they said proudly. “He is feared by all the other cats.”
“As he should be,” Maddy said. “I did win,” she said. It was true enough, though it didn’t feel that way most of the time. “Now, I shall be staying with you for a couple of days, to help your Mama out.”
“How wonderful,” Hattie said. “Will you play with us?”
“I will.” Maddy was determined to spend as much time as she could with her beloved nieces. She wanted to embed herself in their little memories, so they never forgot her – as she knew she would never forget them. She would miss them terribly, but life was not contained within the walls of this well-appointed nursery, and she could not continue to live only half a life hiding from the world. She had to do this, for herself.
She picked up a story book and began to read to the two girls, who curled up beside her. She looked down into their rapt faces, and wondered what it might be like if she had her own children to read with and play with. She had rarely been envious of Carolynn, but as she thought of the happiness her sister had found with Blake, and that she was mother to these two bright and beautiful girls she couldn’t help but feel she was missing out on so much that should be hers. She had never intended to be unmarried, yet for some reason Papa had not once approved of any of the young men who had come calling for her, and she hadn’t been much impressed by them either.
As the little girls began to nod off she wondered if she would ever find love. She was more than happy to settle for companionship and was sure that she would find it with Doctor William Butler. They appeared to have much in common, a desire to help others less fortunate than themselves for one. She stroked Hattie’s hair and carefully moved Mina’s head from her lap and stood up. Whatever it took, she would make this gentleman like her. She was not prepared to wait any longer to have a home and a family, and she couldn’t wait to be away from the gossips and the cruelty of the people she had once called her friends. But, more importantly she looked forward to being a doctor’s wife. She was sure that together she and William could make a difference to many people’s lives, and that together they could build that hospital, and ensure that everyone received the care they needed.