Carver’s hands shook as he accepted the keys from Mr. Mason. He had done it. He had actually finalized the purchase of a department store at the end of St. Charles Avenue at the price he wished. At the man’s departure, Carver allowed himself to bask in the moment, studying every room in the store, admiring the merchandise, taking a moment to rearrange whatever he wished. The fourth floor was a storage of sorts full of old bits and bobs, but with a good cleaning, reorganizing, and slight remodeling, he would have the new men’s haberdashery up and running within a few weeks.
Taking the stairs down to the first floor, as the liftman had gone home for the evening, Carver found the perfect place for Sophia’s tearoom bookshop, grinning with anticipation over her reaction to their store. His bride would love this place as much as he did. It would take a few months or so to get it just as he wished, but until then, he had enough merchandise in stock, and on the way, to make a profit even in his first month.
He withdrew the photo of Sophia, running his finger over her lovely face. “I wish you were here with me now, but soon, my love, I’ll show you the kingdom we will build together.”
“Mr. Ashton?”
Carver jumped as he shoved the picture back into his inside coat pocket, his neck heating. “Mr. Bennett. You’re here early.” He released a nervous laugh at being caught speaking to a photograph.
Mr. Bennett opened his pocket watch, frowning. “I’m right on time. Now, are you ready to see those two houses on St. Charles Avenue? They won’t last long on the market.”
“The sooner I purchase a home, the better.” Carver motioned Mr. Bennett out the front door, a thrill running through him as he locked up his new store. The future was bright indeed.
* * *
Sophia didn’t sleep well for the next month. With Carver’s departure, she felt a hollowness inside that drifted into her dreams, which led to sleepless nights as the terror of Prescott finding her and claiming her as his own before Carver returned became all too real. To distract herself from how tired she was each morning, Sophia threw herself into her work. When customers were agitated, she did everything in her power to calm them and when they were hostile, she was friendly, and when they were too friendly, she made certain to flash her diamond ring and mention her fiancé, thankful Miss Trent made an exception to the strict no jewelry rule for her engagement ring.
Two more months until my contract is up. She reassured herself as she grabbed a rag to clean up after a child who had knocked over his mother’s coffee for the second time that afternoon. It may not be as grand or glorious as my brothers’ jobs, but there’s value in earning your own keep, she reminded herself as she mopped up the table linen, knowing she would, of course, change it again when the guests departed.
After the rush of guests had subsided, Harriet tossed her rag atop the counter, mopping her forehead. “Can someone please tell me where Nora is? I haven’t seen her all morning. She missed the first train and will miss the second if she doesn’t get here in a hurry. It’s inexcusable to run off when the train must be fed!”
“She received a letter early this morning and then dashed out without saying a word. I only hope everything is okay.” Sophia stacked her table’s plates, knowing all too well that Nora had been tossing her accounts this morning. Hopefully, the sickness will soon abate. Judging from what she knew from her sisters’ pregnancies, it should be lessening now that Nora was nearing the end of her third month. “I had thought she’d be back before breakfast, but I’m starting to get worried.”
“Well, she better have a good reason for at least not leaving word of where she was headed.” Harriet mumbled about blatant disregard for others and the rules that were established by Fred Harvey himself.
Sophia had just finished placing the last of the settings on the table when the gong announced the arrival of the next train. Smoothing her hair back, she stood next to Harriet at her station and folded her hands in front of her apron. Her eyes widened as guest after guest crossed through the doors. Where is Nora?
“It’s a full house. I am going to have words with Nora Ray,” Harriet growled through her gritted smile. She turned to Jenny. “Go to the dormitories and fetch the night shift girls. We need all the help we can get.”
Every seat in the dining room and counter was filled with hungry guests from the train and some regulars from the town and it was all Sophia could manage to match Harriet’s flowing pace, smiling and taking orders and revising orders as quickly as the head waitress. She did her best to see the drinks were kept filled to the brim and to whisk away a plate as soon as the guest was finished with it. Within half an hour, every guest left satisfied and full and the staff near drained.
Sophia collapsed into a vacant chair at her station after the last guest departed and felt, for the first time in years, her lungs struggling to keep up with the rush.
“I feel the same way.” Harriet sank onto a chair across from her. “You really proved yourself today. While I admit that your training got off to a slow start, you are quickly becoming one of the best girls we have, and we will be sorry to see you go.”
“I have learned a great deal under you, and I will miss you all greatly.”
“Except, perhaps, Dolly, eh?” Harriet winked and pushed herself to her feet with a groan. “Come on, we have an hour until the next train comes.”
Nora burst through the dining room doors, beaming. “Did you miss me, ladies?”
“Where have you been?” Harriet plunked her hands on her slim hips, her lips pursing so hard a thin white ring formed about her mouth as the girls gathered to Nora, asking where she had disappeared.
Nora stuck her left hand into the group, displaying a gold band on her ring finger. “I was getting married!”
Sophia squealed with the rest of the girls who swarmed to embrace her as Harriet’s jaw dropped before splitting into a smile. Sophia felt as flabbergasted as Harriet looked. She had gotten the sheriff to sign the contract for the one thousand and the jewels, but he had refused to marry Nora until Sophia came into her inheritance. What made him change his mind?
“I didn’t know you and the sheriff got back together! It is the sheriff, yes?” Dolly gawked at the simple gold band that meant so much.
Nora blushed. “The sheriff and I had been talking about getting married for a long time.” Her gaze shifted to Sophia for a half a second, acknowledging her half-truth. “We decided only this morning during his breakfasting at the lunch counter that we shouldn’t wait a second longer to share our lives together!”
“And you just dropped everything and ran to the preacher with him?” Fannie clasped her hands to her chest. “How utterly romantical. I wish that would happen to me!”
“It was a quiet, yet beautiful ceremony. I’m elated.” Nora squeezed Sophia’s hand as the girls sighed in delight.
“Yes indeed, why wait?” Dolly replied, her frown softening. “I’m happy for you, Nora, but unfortunately, you will have to forfeit a month of wages and your rail pass for breaking contract.”
“Don’t talk contracts when she just got married,” Harriet gently elbowed Dolly. “We will sort that bit out later.”
“I’m glad at least you decided to inform us you are quitting before you left in your haste to the altar,” Miss Trent interjected, joining the group. At Nora’s shocked expression, she laughed. “I’m only teasing. Congratulations, my dear. Not every girl has the privilege of marrying for love. You should consider yourself blessed.”
Nora’s blush deepened. “Thank you, Miss Trent. I would’ve told you, but it was quite spontaneous.” She giggled, staring at her ring. “I feel like this is a dream, but every time I pinch myself, I find the ring is still on my finger.”
Harriet clapped her hands. “All right ladies, while we’re all excited to see our own dear Nora married, we must prepare the dining hall. The train must be fed.”
Nora gave Sophia a quick embrace and whispered, “Thank you.”
“For what?” Sophia replied, hoping Kane hadn’t told her as per the contract, but the train’s arrival gong sounded before Nora could reply.
“Hurry ladies,” Harriet chided and swept the linens off of Sophia’s table.
Dolly rushed to set it with a fresh linen. “Nora, congratulations, but we’ll have to celebrate with you another time. Sophia, grab the tableware!”