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THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF the early morning sun filtered through the window above Virginia’s writing desk, casting the shadow of her hand over the blank white page of her journal. She normally found solace in her morning journaling, but today the words refused to come.
The pain and disappointment from the events of last night plagued her mind. She needed to put them to paper to free herself of their hold. She placed the tip of her quill to the paper, and again, it froze, unable to find the words to express all the emotions swirling in her heart.
With a growl, Virginia shoved the quill back in its inkwell and slammed the journal shut. She scrubbed her palms over her face, then cradled her head in her hands.
How could life deal her such a hand, and how could she be free of it? A light knock on her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts.
“Enter,” Virginia called out, not standing from her writing desk.
The door slowly creaked open. It stood ajar for a moment before her father stuck his graying head around it. His eyes briefly met Virginia’s before fluttering away. A slight pink blush covered his neck and ears. Virginia wanted desperately to believe—but dared not hope—that what she saw on her father’s face was remorse.
It would be too much to bear if she were to hope he had changed his mind about the marriage and be wrong. Her father shuffled farther into the room until he stood about an arm’s length away from Virginia. He was physically close enough to touch, yet emotionally, an ocean of unsaid words stood between them. His eyes darted around the room, landing on the four-poster bed, her porcelain doll, and anything but Virginia’s gaze.
The silence stretched between them until it was painful, but Virginia refused to speak first. She gave him her undivided attention, waiting patiently.
He cleared his throat, which led to a slight cough. When it subsided, he said, “Virginia, I do love you. I know that you are of the opinion that my main goal in life is to make you miserable or be rid of you, but it’s not. I want you to be happy and well taken care of. I will not live forever, and I want to die knowing that you are secure with a husband. You can learn to love any decent man, if that is what you seek. I will make sure that you have financial security, which is a blessing many want and do not have. But, who will you have to talk to about life in your old age? I beg you: please put your heart aside for a moment and think with your head.”
The urge to open her mouth and argue with her father clawed its way through every fiber of her being, demanding release. Mr. Mumford did not strike her as the kind of man who would wish to engage in idle chatter with her either now or in old age. Virginia clamped her mouth shut, gritting her teeth. No matter if she wanted to listen to her father or not, she would be foolish to dismiss his words without thought.
“Thank you for loving me, Father. I will consider your words.”
“Good, good,” her father said with a relieved sigh. “If your mother could learn to love me, I know any somewhat decent man can win a woman’s affections.”
A soft smile played across her father’s face as his mind slipped into a memory of her mother. It was a rare sight for Virginia, to see him show even this bit of emotion.
“You’re not so bad when you try,” Virginia replied with a teasing grin.
Her father snorted in return—his way of accepting a compliment. “Mr. Mumford will return in a week. I will not force you to marry him, but please think long and hard about your answer. Also, I plan to place the money he gives me in an account in your name, which you will have immediate access to upon your marriage. I will ask him to sign an antenuptial contract so that all I leave to you upon my death will be yours to control. And even if your future husband is not Mr. Mumford, I will set several thousand dollars of my own money aside for you once you are married so that you can still be your own woman financially.”
Virginia’s eyebrows rose at that statement. She placed a hand over her rapidly beating heart. So much meaning lay between those words. He was giving her the freedom of choice. Even in marriage, she would have the ability to take care of herself and any resulting children. Her husband would never be able to fully control her. It was the greatest gift her father could give her.
“Thank you.” Virginia rose from her chair and wrapped her arms around her father’s neck. “I love you. That truly means the world to me.”
“Yes, yes,” her father replied, patting Virginia’s back with stiff, mechanical motions. He allowed the embrace to continue for a few seconds before pulling back and reestablishing the distance between them. The flush on his neck and ears had deepened to a cherry red. “I hope that sentiment lasts after my next announcement.”
The smile slipped from Virginia’s face, her body going still as she waited for her father to make his announcement.
His eyes again bounced around the room, not meeting hers. “Although I will allow you the choice of marrying Mr. Mumford or not, I do believe you are in need of a companion. Someone to watch out for you and possibly help to soften your...less ladylike edges. I fear I have done a poor job in that respect.”
Virginia ran her palms down her skirt, dispelling the rising panic threatening to overtake her. He was giving her a warden, someone to report her every movement back to him. “Someone to make sure I don’t run off and join a group of abolitionists before you can sell me to the highest bidder?” she scoffed.
“It is either the companion, or never leaving the house without me.”
“And who might this companion be?” Virginia questioned, caution lacing her every word.
“Anna, please come in,” her father called out.
Virginia’s eyes darted to the bedroom door that still stood ajar. It widened a little more to admit a short cherub of a woman. She bore perfectly pinned, strawberry-blonde curls, pink cheeks that looked as if they’d been dusted with rose petals and stardust, a cute button nose, and a classically stunning, round face. She was so cute Virginia almost forgot she was supposed to be offended by her presence.
“Greetings. You must be Virginia,” she chirped before dipping into a low curtsey. “My name is Anna, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Your father has told me many wonderful things about you. I am happy to be at your service. This job is a blessing; I was down to my last few coins before I contacted your father.”
Virginia cursed under her breath. She couldn’t turn the woman away after hearing that. Did her father tell Anna to say that? Would it matter if he did? Anna was so adorable Virginia was already having crazy notions about being friends and sharing secrets over tea. Even her voice sounded like the soothing tinkle of delicate bells.
“Pleasure to meet you as well,” Virginia replied, holding out her hand.
Anna looked down at the offered hand, then between Virginia and her father, uncertainty shining in her gaze. Women did not shake hands, a fact that Virginia knew but chose to ignore. This wasn’t a test necessarily, but it would help shape Virginia’s opinion of the other woman.
Virginia’s father stood in silence, watching the interaction. No doubt he hoped this situation would end with Virginia accepting her new companion with little to no fuss. Whatever it took to make that a reality, he would allow.
Squaring her shoulders and stiffening her spine, Anna reached out and accepted the offered hand with a smile. The grip was firm; Anna had courage. Virginia liked that. She didn’t return the smile, but her eyes softened on the woman before her.
“Well, then, what does a companion do, exactly?” Virginia asked.
Virginia’s father deflated, nearly melting into the floor as the worry left his body. The flush left his cheeks, his skin resuming its normal coloring. Maybe he had been less confident about how the meeting would unfold than Virginia had thought. Was she really that stubborn?
“Right, then. I will leave you two ladies to get acquainted.” He scuttled out the door before anyone could say another word.
A slight giggle escaped Anna’s lips. “He seems relieved. Maybe he thought you were going to eat me alive.”
“Possibly. Luckily for you both, I had a filling breakfast,” Virginia replied with a deviant smirk. She had to suppress a laugh when the smile slipped from Anna’s lips. Good—a healthy amount of fear from the other woman could come in handy. “Well, it looks as if we are stuck together now. I was in the middle of journaling, but I fear my ability to convert my thoughts into the written word has escaped me. I already have plans for the day, though, you may join me if you wish.”
Virginia turned and walked out the door, not waiting for a reply. She had accepted that she wouldn’t be able to get rid of Anna, but that didn’t mean they had to be friends.