“And there’ll be a picnic outside the church and all manner of games to celebrate!” Fannie pinned on her chapeau, twirling in the mottled looking glass, Sophia’s parasol in hand. “I can hardly believe my half day off fell on the night of the church social, giving me a full day!”
“Oh, why don’t you just rub it in a little more,” Dolly mumbled as the girls groaned with jealously.
“While it is a holiday, it’s not for the Harvey House. There are trains to be fed. But you’ll all have a holiday this evening at the dance as we are closing the dining room,” Miss Trent informed the group and, for once, Dolly seemed to be in disagreement with the housemother as she sighed with the rest of the girls.
“Enjoy your day off, Fannie,” Sophia called as the gong sounded. “Just be sure to tell us all that happens.”
“You’re one to talk,” Nora snipped. “You got to sleep a bit and didn’t join us until lunch.”
Sophia tilted her head. “Are you well? You aren’t normally so, um . . .”
“Irritable?” Nora placed a hand on her abdomen and sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry for my sharp tongue. I feel wretched. I think I caught something from one of the passengers. There was a small boy I served two days ago who sneezed on my face when I bent down to pour his milk.”
Sophia’s jaw dropped in disgust. “No. What did you do?”
Nora grimaced. “Only what Mr. Harvey would have approved. I wiped my face with my apron and pretended nothing happened.”
Sophia suppressed a shiver. “I would’ve had to excuse myself to bathe my face, but if you aren’t feeling well, I’m sure Harriet will understand.” Sophia placed a comforting hand on Nora’s arm.
“She would understand all right but would insist that if I wasn’t fit to serve during the day, I wouldn’t be fit to dance tonight!” She pressed her lips into a tight line. “And I must dance with the sheriff tonight.”
“Oh?”
Nora ran her handkerchief over her forehead that was beading in sweat. “How else am I to get him to at last propose marriage?”
“So, you’ve decided for certain he is the gentleman you want?”
Nora straightened her shoulders. “I am more than certain, as well he should be, after his string of empty promises.”
“What—?”
She shook her head at Sophia’s forthcoming question as the gong sounded again. “We’d best hurry.”
The girls’ black skirts swished as they rushed to their stations. Harriet planted a warm smile on her face, but her eyes betrayed not ire at their tardiness, rather disappointment in Miss Trent’s decision.
“I can clear the tables alone after the guests leave if you want to catch the end of the day festivities,” Sophia whispered.
“No, Miss Trent was right. I have to see to it that the dining room is decorated for tonight, so I can’t possibly leave.” Harriet sighed, her expression softening for a moment. “But thank you for the kind offer.”
The ladies danced their way through dinner, and after the last guest had been well wished on the rest of their journey, the girls began the transformation of the dining room into a ballroom as the Harvey House men cleared away the middle tables to make room for dancing, keeping the small tables for refreshments at the corners, and lining the walls with the chairs.
The girls took pink, white, and blue ribbons and decorated the columns and hung the flowers over the doorframe while wildflowers of complementing colors were placed in vases and sprinkled throughout the room to add to the festive air.
“Time to dress!” Harriet called out after the floors were swept and everything was in its place, ushering them out of the Castañeda. “We’ve only an hour before the guests will begin to arrive, and we must make ourselves as pretty as we may. Remember,” she added as the girls bustled toward their rooms, giggling and laughing, “we are part of the decorations, so try to incorporate any of the colors into your garb.”
Nora hurried into the room before Sophia, gasping at the spray of tiny cream roses on the nightstand with Sophia’s name on the card. “What a darling little nosegay!” She buried her nose into the blooms. “Whoever sent it to you? Or do you already know the blooms are from that handsome Mr. Ashton I’ve heard so much about from the others?”
Ever since Carver’s arrival, Nora, though kind as ever, was subject to such drastic changes in mood that Sophia was never certain where she stood each day. But, for the moment, Nora seemed genuinely pleased for Sophia. She reached for the nosegay, smiling. “You think he is smitten with me, Nora?”
“I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. The pair of you are besotted!” Nora giggled, twirling back to the small looking glass hanging by their door to arrange her shining ebony locks. “Do read the card to me.” Adding under her breath, “As it seems I will not be receiving one of my own.”
Sophia kept silent on Nora’s comment and opened the card. “‘For the brightest star in . . .’” she paused, disappointment clawing up her throat.
“Is it so romantic that you cannot even read it to me?” Nora giggled, and with her hair caught in one hand with her hairbrush still gripped in it, swiped the card out of Sophia’s hand. “‘For the brightest star in Charleston. Las Vegas is all the brighter by your presence. M.K.’” She lowered the card, frowning. “Who is M.K?”
Sophia gritted her teeth, awaiting Nora’s tears and certain anger.
“Marion Kane. The flowers are from Sheriff Kane.” Nora’s brush clattered on the floor, her hair tumbling to her waist. “Clumsy me,” Nora murmured, bending to retrieve her brush. “He is quite handsome a suitor as well, but my vote is for Mr. Ashton, but if you won’t have him, maybe I will join Jenny in line for his hand.”
“You know my affections do not rest with the sheriff, yes?”
“Of course.” She smiled weakly as she wound her hair again, affixing a blue ribbon to it. “I’m going to fetch the hot tong from the fireplace downstairs.”
With a sigh, Sophia slipped out of her uniform and wrapped herself in her lilac silk dressing robe. She reached for her silver brush, running it through her locks before braiding it loosely and arranging it into a delicate bun on the base of her neck with a few loose strands about her face.
Nora closed the door, hot tong in hand, setting to curling the hair framing her face, but her hands were shaking so badly that Sophia gently removed the tong from her and dressed Nora’s hair, finishing it with her own ivory comb atop the coiffure, along with a cluster of the cream roses.
“An ivory comb?” Nora’s fingers traced the floral etching. “It’s stunning.”
Sophia smiled at the effect of the comb and flowers in Nora’s high coiffure. “It suits you. Your dark locks will seem even darker with the ivory against it.”
Nora smiled at herself in the mirror, a bit of color returning to her pale cheeks. “Thank you.”
A knock sounded on the door, and it creaked open. “Miss Bird, aren’t you the popular young lady tonight? Another nosegay has arrived for you!” Miss Trent smiled, handing Sophia a sprig of bluebonnets.
“Oh, how lovely. I haven’t seen bluebonnets in years.” Sophia took the small bouquet and inhaled the delicate scent of the cobalt wildflowers. “No wonder these were my grandmother’s favorite.”
“Another nosegay?” Nora’s voice lifted. “Are they from Mr. Ashton?”
Miss Trent shrugged. “A gentleman left these with Dolly at the front of the dormitory and she said he didn’t leave a card, so I don’t know. I must finish getting ready, so you two will have to solve the mystery without me.”
Sophia placed the bluebonnets on the dresser next to the remainder of the sheriff’s nosegay and went to the closet and selected the one evening gown she managed to pack, a blush silk masterpiece. She grimaced as she reached for the rug beater. The gown had been so badly wrinkled in her journey to New Mexico that it had taken all her efforts to return it to its former glory. After a few good whacks to the gown, she slipped on her silk stockings and matching evening slippers before stepping into her gown, loving the silk caressing her skin as she moved the ruffled sleeves into place.
Without a word, Nora worked the silk buttons down Sophia’s back into place. Sophia sucked in as Nora pulled her corset strings tighter to button the middle row. The good food at the Harvey House had added a bit more padding to her hips while the hard work had given her strength that made her once delicate frame heartier. Would her father even recognize her with her sun kissed cheeks, and newfound strength?
“What gown are you wearing tonight, Nora?”
“I didn’t want to show anyone because I wanted to surprise the girls.” Nora fastened the final button before twirling over to her side of the closet and digging through the back, removing a crimson silk brocade gown with a gold lace trim. “Isn’t it elegant?”
Sophia gasped. “The workmanship on this gown must have cost a small fortune! Where on earth—”
“I made it,” she answered, beaming as she held it up against herself. “I spent the money I was saving on that um, well, the parasol and bought the materials for a new dress with this dance in mind. I’ve been staying up late every night for the past few weeks sewing.” She shrugged. “Which may be why I feel so under the weather.”
“How did I never see you sewing?” Sophia ran her fingers over the length of the sleeves, examining the perfect stitches.
Nora rolled her eyes. “You are an outlandishly heavy sleeper. I dropped my scissors on the ground, and it was loud enough to wake Miss Trent downstairs, but you slept right through it.”
“Well, it’s stunning. Why would you work as a waitress when you could make a significant living as a seamstress in one of the big cities? Like Charleston or New York?” Sophia lifted the hem, admiring the gold embroidery. “I know twenty girls who would love to own a dress like this, including my five sisters.”
“I don’t really feel like moving away from all I’ve ever known, and no one around here really has need for the latest fashions. They like the practical, standard dresses that are easy to alter with the changing styles, but I say that you can’t wear a practical dress every day.”
“How did you learn to do this?” Sophia helped Nora into her magnificent creation, moving behind to fasten it.
“I taught myself. I saw pictures in catalogs and newspapers, and I tried to copy them.”
“It is unbelievable the mastery that you have by only looking at pictures!” Sophia grasped Nora’s hands. “You are stunning. You’re going to have to bring a broom to keep all the young men away tonight, including the sheriff, whom I have no intentions toward, not now and not ever.”
Nora slowly nodded. “I know that, I really do, but I’m so terrified of losing him.”
“If he doesn’t wish to be caught, you know there are ten more men behind him more than willing to offer you their hearts and home.”
“I don’t want any others—not when Kane has promised me his heart.” Nora turned in the chifforobe mirror, admiring the contours of her body in the dress as she pulled on her elbow length gloves. “He only needs to be reminded how much he admires me and help him overcome this fear of marriage.”
“Then I have just the item to complete your ensemble.” Sophia dug through her trunk and pulled out an ostrich fan along with a painted silk fan. She flicked open the gold dyed fan and handed it to her. “This will tie in the gold trim, and you can send him secret messages by the art of the fan.” She doubted the sheriff had any idea there was a language of the fan movements, but a lady could prove most alluring behind one.
“Oh, Sophia.” Nora’s eyes filled. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Nonsense. It is only a fan!” Sophia tugged her white kid gloves securely over her elbows before selecting Carver’s locket to adorn her neck.
“To you, perhaps.” Nora fluttered the fan, cooling her heated cheeks. “Shall we?”
Music floated through the open window as the piano in the dining room began to play along with the two violinists the Harvey House had hired for the evening. Arm in arm, the girls hurried across the street where flickering torches lit the courtyard path to the hotel. They gathered in the dining room as Fannie dashed about putting the last finishing touches on anyone’s hair that appeared in need as Nora proudly displayed her dress to the group.
“So, how are things going with the Sheriff, Nora?” Jenny asked, fluffing the sleeves of her sapphire calico that, while modest and plain, showed off her full figure.
Nora’s eyes widened, her cheeks paling. “He, uh, called things off between us a few weeks ago, but I’m hoping to capture his attention again tonight.”
Sophia bit her lip at this news. Why ever did he call it off? He clearly was fond of her that first day we met in town together.
“I’m sorry to hear that, but every man in the room is certainly going to notice you in that stunning shade.” Jenny rested her hand on Nora’s arm.
Nora cleared her throat and fanned her face with the golden ostrich feather as Dolly waltzed into the hall, wearing the exact shade as Nora. The women stared at each other. Dolly’s gown was trimmed in a cream lace with a scoop neck, but Nora’s workmanship made her gown the superior.
“Nora, where did you get your material?”
“Obviously at the same general store as you, Dolly,” she replied, disappointment marring her lovely smile from moments before.
“Well, as the next in line to be head waitress, I believe I should wear my dress. You must change at once,” Dolly demanded, planting her hands on her hips. “Your neckline is positively scandalous.”
“No,” Sophia interjected. “Her dress looks nothing like your dress besides the obviousness that it is cut from the same fabric. Just because you’re second waitress doesn’t mean that you are the head. If you don’t want to wear the same color, then go change, but don’t expect Nora to change as well.”
Dolly glared at Sophia before turning on her heel and heading toward the dormitory.
“Oh, you are going to pay for standing up against her,” Harriet whispered as she joined them.
Nora gave her arm a squeeze. “But thank you nonetheless.”
Sophia grinned. “If a month’s worth of her cold shoulder is the cost of you capturing the Sheriff, it was worth it.”
* * *
“The last time I saw a man in a tailcoat was Charleston,” Sophia commented from behind.
“It was a risk, I admit, but I do remember how much you secretly admired me in one.” Carver turned and caught her hand, pressing a kiss atop. He glanced about the room and sucked a breath through his teeth. “I may be a tad overdressed.”
Sophia laughed. “It will do the men good to see the latest fashions.”
He grinned at the sight of his nosegay of bluebonnets pinned over her heart and a few sprinkling her coiffure where her ivory comb usually decorated. “I hoped you’d like them. I picked them myself.”
“They are prettier than any hothouse flower I’ve ever received.”
“Miss Bird, you look stunning.” Kane gave her a stiff bow in a navy suit that seemed almost too small for him, his badge catching the candlelight. He gestured to Sophia’s hair with one of the glasses of punch in his hands, offering her the other. “But I see you didn’t care for the nosegay I sent you?”
Carver fought to disguise his ire and reached for the glass from the sheriff, handing it to Sophia and slipped her free hand around his arm.
Sophia blushed as she took a sip. “The flowers are beautiful. Thank you for thinking of me, but as my—Mr. Ashton sent me a nosegay as well, I gave your flowers to Nora to wear as they were lovely with her new gown. Though, I have to say, I was surprised to find hothouse blooms were available this far west.”
“There’s a lot of things about the West that would surprise you, especially with the railroad practically at our door.” Kane looped his thumbs in his vest pockets. “We are incredibly civilized, or rather, we try to be. It keeps us feeling like we are not quite so far from home.”
“Such as?” Carver interjected.
“Take for example, Sunday church. Many would have given up the practice long ago if it didn’t give them some form of nostalgia and remind them of the comforts of home.” He tossed back his punch and set the glass on the windowsill.
“And of soul,” Sophia added. “Everyone needs to gather to worship.”
He shrugged. “If you’re into that sort of thing. I go because that’s what my mother wishes, but I see it as a crutch. Out here, you have to be your own man and not rely on the charity of others.”
“There’s so much more to church besides just attending because that’s the thing to do,” Sophia replied. “And it isn’t a crutch. It’s the foundation—”
“Interesting concept.” Kane cleared his throat. “But this is a party and as such, let us move away from such talk.”
Sensing the man was about to ask Sophia to dance, Carver turned to her before Kane could make his move. “Shall we?”
Sophia nodded to the sheriff and allowed Carver to sweep her onto the dance floor for a lively polka that left them laughing and gasping for air. The waltz played next, and he pulled her close, willing time to stand still.
“In all of the chaos of yesterday, I didn’t ask what I have been dying to find out,” she whispered, looking up at him.
The worry in her eyes made his heart falter, but he shook his head and sighed. “About my suit? It will never be the same again.”
“My parents.” She swallowed as if fighting back a wince. “How are they?”
“Your father is anxious, and your mother has made herself near ill with sorrow at your departure,” he replied, turning them in time with the music, the skirts of the other ladies creating a blurred kaleidoscope of color behind Sophia as he could not keep himself from staring into her beautiful eyes. He loved seeing the color in her cheeks and the confidence with which she now held herself. “Not to intrude on your privacy or your wishes, but perhaps you would allow me to telegraph them to say that I found you and you are doing well? The work and climate here seem to agree with you. Your parents would be pleased to see their daughter blossoming in New Mexico.”
“I’ll send them a telegram soon. I just needed enough time to pass to cool Father’s temper.”
He nodded. “I suppose I will have to be content and rest in the fact that I know you are well.”
“Thank you, Carver. How did you like your accommodations?”
“Very well. My only complaint is that the general manger keeps hitting that infernal gong every five minutes. Doesn’t it drive you mad hearing that all day every day?”
“I’ve grown used to the din, but now, it just makes my heart race at the thought of all the people I have to feed and keeping them on time. Speaking of which, what did you do yesterday after I left you with the sheriff?”
“I had an interesting conversation that led to Kane bringing his mother to meet me this morning.”
Sophia blinked. “Truly? How was she? He’s never brought her to dinner at the Harvey House.”
“She lives on a small horse ranch that she says is not too far from town, but one that is definitely not an easy ride for a meal—no matter how delicious.” He cleared his throat. “But as for her character, she told me straight away that she doesn’t blame my stepfather for her not seeing a penny of her inheritance.”
Sophia gasped and missed a step, stumbling into Carver’s chest. “She really said those things to you? There are few in our circle who could be so generous and forgiving.”
He nodded. “She said that her marriage to Mr. Kane was a gift from the Lord and their son was the greatest inheritance she could ever hope for in life. Her love for her late husband is truly inspiring.”
She lifted those wide eyes up to him and he could not wait a moment longer. He whirled her to the nearest door and led her outside on the veranda. There was only one other couple conversing in the left corner, so Carver led her toward the right, enjoying the moonlight splaying through the arches. She turned her back to the dirt road, leaning against a brick column, staring up at him.
Her lips called to him. Perhaps he could risk kissing her? Carver glanced over his shoulder to the dining room window and spied Sophia’s roommate taking the sheriff’s arm, looking quite stern as they whispered together, the sheriff’s frown deepening. Carver leaned his forehead toward hers, all thoughts of Kane and others fleeing in her presence.
“What did the sheriff have to say about his mother’s being disinherited?” Sophia questioned, interrupting his plan of kissing her.
“Kane was polite, but I felt such a burning resentment rolling off him like smoke from a fireplace with the flue shut.” He shook his head. “That man hates the Ashtons.”
The front door swung open, and Miss Matthews approached them with two glasses and a bright smile. “Mr. Ashton, have you tried our delightful raspberry lemonade? Mr. Harvey has fresh fruit sent to us on the trains. You should try it,” she handed it to him across Sophia, her hand bumping Sophia’s puffed sleeve.
Sophia gasped as the cool, dark pink liquid splashed her shoulders and seeped into the bodice, down her elbow length glove and trickled onto her dance card.
“Oh no! I am so, so sorry.” Miss Matthews whipped her handkerchief out from her bodice and dabbed Sophia’s collarbone.
“I’m certain you are, Dolly.” Sophia brushed her off. “Excuse me while I go change, Carver.”
Carver attempted not to glare at the offending Harvey Girl for interrupting their moment. “At least allow me to hold your dance card while you change.” He sent her an apologetic look over the mishap as he accepted the card, reached into his pocket, and withdrew his pencil, marking his name on every line as Miss Matthews attempted to draw him into conversation.
Miss Matthews laughed and snagged his arm. “How sly of you, Mr. Ashton, but as you seem to love to dance, there is no sense in missing out while you wait for dear Sophia to change. Shall we?”
* * *
“Wait!” Harriet called out to her, following her down the steps and into the courtyard. “I saw through the window what happened.” Spying the stain by moonlight, she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Perhaps if we soak it right away in the tub, we can save it.”
“Thank you,” Sophia trotted up the steps with Harriet behind her, hating the tears threatening the night over a spoilt gown.
“I can’t believe Dolly would stoop so low as to try and ruin your beautiful dress.” Harriet closed Sophia’s bedroom door and set to work unbuttoning the piece.
“I am not. Ever since Dolly discovered a rich gentleman was staying in the hotel, she has been throwing herself at Carver.” Sophia peeled off her soiled gloves and threw them onto her bed. “And besides, in her mind, it is fair that I change as I made her—a dress for a dress.”
“Sadly, I do not disagree when you put it like that, but I will see to it that she is severely reprimanded as we cannot rightly prove it wasn’t an accident.” Harriet slipped the gown off Sophia’s shoulders and allowed it to fall into a billowing heap on the floor. “However, I’ve seen the way she treats him while he is such the perfect gentleman that he wouldn’t say anything other than what is polite so as not to hurt your position here. But I cannot blame Dolly for trying.”
Sophia dipped a hand towel into the water basin and patted down her sticky shoulders. “First you call him a perfect gentleman and now handsome? Do I need to be wary of you now too? You’ll have to get in line behind Jenny and Nora.”
Harriet gathered the dress in her arms, leaning against the doorframe as she winked at Sophia. “Undoubtedly. He is just my sort of gentleman. Besides the fact that he traveled across the country to find his love, he dances like a dream.”
“He does, doesn’t he?” Sophia giggled as she dried her shoulders off with a clean hand towel and retrieved an ivory blouse with lace at the throat and trimming the three-quarter length puffed sleeves along with a pink skirt. Not as lovely as her ballgown, but it would do.
“The gown is in the tub and as it is already a blush color, I think it can be saved.” Harriet looped her arm through Sophia’s, assuring her that she looked quite the picture.
As she stepped into the dining room, Carver at once found her. He grasped her elbow and pulled her closer. “You are breathtaking.” He returned her dance card with a bow. “And I believe the other gentlemen have noticed.”
Sophia flipped open the card, laughing. “Judging by the dance card, I don’t think there are many dances left, but the good thing is that I see the rest are yours.”
He swept her onto the floor as the music began anew. “You are all mine for the rest of the night.”
For the rest of the night. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so happy. In Charleston, she had been so careful to conceal her affection for Carver, but here, it felt right to be in his arms—to have him stare adoringly in her eyes as they danced song after song, sometimes conversing and sometimes simply enjoying being together without anyone attempting to keep them apart. How had she made it this long without seeing him?
Mr. Carlton stood on the musicians’ makeshift platform in the corner of the dining room and lifted his hands, announcing, “And now, gentlemen, please take your partners for our final song of the evening, ‘After the Ball is Over.’”
“You are happy here, aren’t you?”
“Very,” she answered as Carver whirled them off the dance floor, out onto the veranda and down the steps to the courtyard under the branches of the massive oak tree. “I love this place. I feel as if I have finally found myself here.”
“I can tell. You are positively glowing.” He threaded her arm through his as they strolled in the moonlight down the boardwalk. “You seem surer of yourself, more confident in your decisions.”
“I am. I enjoy my independence. I don’t think I could ever go back to just being Miss Fairfield of the Ernest Fairfields again.” She looked off into the horizon where the outline of low-lying cedars ended, and the dark sky began. She bent down and picked a wildflower and slowly threaded it through a buttonhole on his vest, her hand resting against his chest, her desire mirrored in his gaze.
“And I would never want you to.” He rested his hand atop hers, keeping it over his heart. “It is so easy being with you, and I haven’t felt right since we parted. But I must ask you something. Has my stepfather spoiled our chances at being happy together, Sophia?”
“I-I hope not.” She pressed a kiss to his hand holding hers, sending her heart to pounding at her boldness. “You could have anyone you want in Charleston, Carver—anyone in the country really.” She motioned back toward the Harvey House. “Why, there are nine women in there who would marry you at the drop of a pin. Ladies who don’t have complicated pasts with your stepfather.”
“I don’t want another lady. I want you—complicated past and all.” Carver smiled down at her, his love shining through. “You know me better than anyone else and know that I cannot lie to save my life.”
She reached up and brushed a lock of his dark hair back. “I guess I do kind of know you well.”
“And that’s what surprises me!” Carver laughed, flashing his darling set of dimples. “You like me even though I am not as successful as my stepfather. You don’t care about Prescott’s money. You don’t care about how old the Ashton name is in society. You care about me, and you respect me for my character and not how much I can bring to your father’s business. To borrow a line from Keats, ‘I love you the more in that I believe you have liked me for my own sake and for nothing else.’”
Sophia shifted closer to him, lifting her head to him. “And in your own words?
He wrapped his arms around her. “Sophia, you have my heart and always will. I love you more than I knew was possible.”
He pulled her to him and gently kissed her, sending a thrill through her body and her arms to wrapping about his neck, deepening the kiss until they were both breathless.
“And I love you,” she whispered, leaning her head against his chest, the rapid beating of his heart matching her own.
He sighed. “You don’t know how I’ve longed to hear you say those words.” He slowly laced his fingers through hers and kissed her hand. “You know, if we were to marry . . . we don’t have to go back to Charleston if you don’t want to.”
“What?” She pushed back from him to see if he was jesting.
He met her startled eyes and smiled. “I know you are concerned about how our marriage would make it uncomfortable for your family and mine because we work so closely together, but I can start my new business elsewhere.”
“You would do that for us?” She clutched his arm, her heart soaring with hope at his mention of marriage.
“I know the shipping business in and out and know Prescott’s competitors. I have grown up hearing about little else, and I know I could do well with a department store in New Orleans,” Carver answered, excitement in his voice. “I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure you were happy to see me, but I have already resigned my position with my stepfather.”
“I know you only spoke of possibly setting up shop elsewhere, but I didn’t allow myself to hope—” She laughed, shaking her head. “And if I was happy to see you? I was ecstatic. But you resigned? Does that mean you are ready to begin?”
“Well, long story short, I have purchased a store from an old friend who is retiring. It’s small, but it’s a start, and I plan to build it into the finest department store in New Orleans.”
Sophia clutched her hands to her lace jabot. “If we lived in New Orleans, there wouldn’t be anything holding us back from marrying—not prior engagements, not society, and certainly not my family.”
“Nothing. I can support you, Sophia, not near as well as your father had hoped right away, but I can give your father the satisfaction of having the Ashton name tied to his family, even if the money is delayed while I make it. If you’d just say the word, I will surrender all for you and start anew.”
She cupped his face in her hands, aching to kiss him senseless. “Wherever you go, all I ask is that you allow me to be by your side to love you and support you all of your days. And I don’t care if we live in a mansion on St. Charles Avenue or in a flat, as long as we are together.”
“Thank you, Lord, for this woman,” he whispered, lifting his face to the sky. He captured her hands in his, and reaching in his pocket, he withdrew a ring with a large solitaire diamond on a thin gold band.
Sophia’s breath caught. “Oh, Carver.”
“Let me share forever with you, my dearest.” He knelt on the parched grass. “Sophia, this was my mother’s ring from my father. I have been hoping that one day I would find a woman she would have approved of, and I know from the bottom of my heart, she would have adored you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making me the happiest man alive?”
Sophia took his face in her hands once more, bent, and kissed him. “Yes.” She kissed him again, deeper this time. “Yes. With all of my heart, yes.”
With a cheer, he shot to his feet, sweeping her into his arms. “I can’t believe it. You are going to be my wife.”
She laughed as he twirled her around, her skirts swirling. “We are going to get married!”
His eyes danced as he set her down. “And now that we are, I find I cannot delay our preparations for a future together a moment longer. I will leave in two days for New Orleans and prepare a home for my bride, and the very minute the house is ready for you I will come back and carry you away.” He picked her up again and swung her around, laughing. “My sweet, darling bride.”