Heidi Vanlandingham - Lucie: Bride of Tennessee (American Mail-Order Bride 16) Read online

  Sebastian sat at a table close to the bar and hadn’t noticed her arrival. From her vantage point across the room, she studied his profile. The man was so handsome.

  She liked the way he combed his wavy brown hair back from his face, and no matter how many times he brushed it back, one small strand always fell back to his forehead. He had a nice nose, not too big or too small, and his mustache was neatly trimmed but still long, like upside down handlebars on a bicycle.

  She took several deep breaths and walked toward him, unable to force her gaze from his face. He’d said their nuptials would be simple, and the marriage bed could wait until she was ready. The closer she got, the more nervous she became and couldn’t figure out why. This was what she’d traveled to Chattanooga for—stability, a home, security for Alex and herself. She walked up to the table and linked her fingers together in front of her. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, Lucie. I hope you slept well.” Sebastian motioned toward the chair to his left. “Sit, join me for breakfast. I took the liberty of ordering doughnuts for you with your coffee. Cook tries to make them a couple of times a month as a special treat, which brings in more people. We need more people.”

  “Then I should be working, not sitting here eating the profits.” Lucie placed her hands on the table to push herself up, but stopped when one of Sebastian’s large hands covered hers, the scent of fresh pine filling her nostrils. She breathed him in again. He smelled wonderful.

  “I think the staff is fine without you. The morning waitress is back, so we aren’t one person short anymore,” he said.

  She stared at his tanned fingers covering her small pale ones. “Oh…well then.”

  “Besides, we have some things to talk about, don’t we?”

  She met his gaze and noticed how the gold flecks made his eyes seem to glitter, even in the room’s dim light. She licked her lips. “Yes.” Her low voice cracked on the word.

  A slight crease formed in the skin between his brows. “Excuse me?”

  She cleared her throat and tried again. “Yes. My answer to your proposal is yes.”

  Lucie stared at their hands, Sebastian’s long fingers now enveloping hers. Surprised, she met his gaze with a tremulous smile.

  “Thank you, Lucie.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze then pulled his away. “I promise you won’t regret it.” He wiped his mouth with the crisp white napkin lying beside his plate and stood. “I need to leave for a meeting and have several things to do this afternoon, but I would like for you and Alex to have dinner here with me and my daughter this evening. We can be married as early as tomorrow, leaving you and my mother today to get everything ready. I know she’s looking forward to it.”

  “I don’t have anything. Mr. Crenshaw said he would buy my dress and take care of everything—we wouldn’t have to do anything but show up.”

  “Don’t worry. I know my mother, and she knows every store in this town…and will take you to them all. As soon as you are ready, my mother is waiting for you upstairs.” He hesitated then turned on one heel and walked behind the check-in desk and through the door leading to his office. She stared at the two round doughnuts on her plate then picked one up. Taking a small bite, her eyes widened. The pastry was delicious.

  As soon as she finished eating both of the small confections and sipped her coffee, splurging with a bit of cream, she made her way back upstairs.

  After her knock, Martha answered the door with a frown. “Are you ever going to just come in without knocking first?”

  Lucie smiled. “Probably not. I’m sorry.”

  “Well?” Martha asked. “What was your answer?”

  “I said yes, of course. I would be stupid not to.”

  Her future mother-in-law let out an excited squeal and threw her arms around Lucie in a strong hug. “You won’t regret it. Sebastian is a good man, but I hope you have patience.”

  Lucie laughed, her nervousness disappearing. In truth, she didn’t want to look too closely as to why she was nervous about marrying Sebastian. She liked him very much, but knew that if she let herself fall in love with him, it would be a huge mistake. “Are you trying to get me to back out of my promise?”

  Martha shook her head, not a single strand of her blonde hair out of place. “No, but—”

  “Don’t worry. I was scared at first, but then I remembered why I came to Chattanooga—to get married. The groom may have changed…” She frowned as another thought popped into her head. “Are you trying to warn me about something?”

  “Oh, my dear, no. He’s not the most gentle, nor the most loving person, but he has a big heart. I just want to make sure this is what you really want. Marriage, even one of convenience, is hard, and you’re so young.”

  “At what age were you married?”

  Martha thought a moment then sighed with a quick shake of her head. “Why, I was about your age.”

  “I’ll be fine and so will my brother and Stella. Taking care of them is something I know I can do well. Unfortunately, I can’t cook very well, but I’m willing to learn if someone teaches me.” She laid her hand on Martha’s thin arm. “Will you help me? Please?”

  Martha let go of her cup handle and covered her hand. “Of course I will. In any way I can. The first thing to do is find you a nice dress for your wedding tomorrow.”

  * * *

  Lucie stared at her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t even recognize herself. Her dark brown hair had been swept up into a makeshift bun. The rich white satin of the dress didn’t make her skin look sallow and washed out as she’d feared. Instead, she glowed.

  With a simple cut, her gown resembled a current-styled day dress with a small detachable train along the back. The décolletage was modest and covered with a gauzy material that was sewn down the front then wrapped around the waist and tied in the back. The satin sleeves were pleated and the shoulders were poufed with the same gauze attached to each shoulder with beautiful gold embroidery. The bodice was also edged with the same gold design, making it look like she also wore a small bolero jacket.

  The dress was exquisite. She met Martha’s gaze in the mirror, tears filling her eyes. “This is so beautiful.” Turning around, she nervously smoothed the soft skirt material. “It’s prettier than my mother’s…but, it’s too much. I don’t need something as grand or as expensive as this. A simple dress that I can wear again would be fine.” She turned back to her reflection with a wistful look. “As much as I love it, I can’t accept this.”

  “Oh, pshaw. This is the perfect dress for you, and I will not have you marrying my son in something common. Every woman deserves to look beautiful on their wedding day.” Martha placed her hands on Lucie’s shoulders. “Look at yourself, my dear, and tell me this isn’t what your own mother would have wanted for you on such a special occasion?”

  Lucie sighed. “She would have loved it. On her wedding day, she wore her mother’s gown and saved it for me. It burned with my father and stepmother.”

  “That’s it then, the dress is yours.”

  Martha bustled her to the changing room. She slipped back into her only blouse and skirt and waited while Martha paid for everything then gave instructions for it to be delivered to the hotel first thing tomorrow morning.

  “Well, that took a bit longer than I’d planned,” Martha said. “We have just enough time to find you some shoes then we need to get you back to the hotel for dinner.”

  * * *

  Lucie pushed the green beans and chicken around the plate with her fork. Not that it wasn’t delicious, but her stomach was in knots. Since she and her brother had sat down, only a few words had been uttered: ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ This wasn’t a very good start, but she didn’t know what to do. She’d tried asking Stella questions about school and friends, but the little girl only glared back.

  “So, Alex, how was your day?” Sebastian asked.

  “It was okay. I learned about the War Between the States and how it wasn’t about slavery like everyone say
s. It was really about the states being able to choose whether they would allow the citizens to have slaves or not. There was something else, I think, about the Federal government in there somewhere, but I forget what it was.”

  Sebastian cut a bite of steak. “Was it possibly that the states wanted to be able to make laws separate from the federal government?” He slowly chewed the meat and cut another. He picked up his daughter’s untouched fork and stabbed a green bean, holding it to her mouth. “Eat, little girl, or no dessert.”

  Grudgingly, she took the fork and ate the vegetable then stuffed six or seven more into her mouth. She looked like a squirrel storing up nuts, her eyes never leaving Lucie’s face as if daring her to say something.

  “What are you going to do if you choke, Stella?” Lucie asked and cut her chicken breast, Running the meat through the delicious peppered gravy, she stuck it in her mouth, not really expecting the little girl to answer.

  Sebastian looked down at his daughter. “Eat right, Stella. I’m not going to put up with your stunts tonight, so whatever you’ve planned, forget it. No matter what you do or say, Miss Croft and I will be married tomorrow.”

  She glared at her father and swallowed then turned her gaze back to Lucie. “I don’t care what you say, you will never be my mama! My papa and I don’t need either one of you!” She shoved away from the table and darted through the tables and ran upstairs.

  Lucie picked her napkin up from her lap and placed it beside her plate. “Do you still think this is a good idea?”

  Sebastian looked at Alex then her. “I do. I’ve tried to be a good father, but it’s been a bit…harder than I’d anticipated. That, and trying to keep my hotel going. The liquor sales I don’t have a problem with. The hotel, on the other hand, has a bit more competition. The Read House is a grand place, and I can’t compete at that level.”

  She accepted the hot tea the waitress brought her, blew on the steaming liquid then took a small sip. “Delicious, and a perfect way to end the meal.” She cradled the warm cup in her hands. “Do you advertise?”

  “Never needed to, and wouldn’t know the first thing about it other than placing an ad in the newspaper.”

  “It isn’t difficult. As for competing with the other hotels close by, you don’t have to. There are only two within walking distance from Union Station. I agree that the Read is magnificent, but how many regular people can afford to stay there? Take us, for instance. When we got here, we didn’t have enough money for a grand hotel. You should be trying to get more people like us—poor or even middle class—to come here. Place advertisements in a few of the surrounding towns and at the station.”

  Sebastian stared at her for a moment. “That’s a brilliant idea. How do you know about drumming up business?”

  She shrugged. “My father worked at the Daily Eagle back in Lawrence. He used to come home and discuss current events. Anything business related, he loved to talk about. I was a good listener.” She felt a slight tug on her sleeve and glanced at Alex.

  “Sissy, may I be excused?”

  She frowned. “What about dessert?”

  “That’s okay. I’m kinda full. Besides, I have homework I need to get done before bed.”

  “All right then. I’ll finish my tea then be up to tuck you in.” She watched him walk through the tables, wondering what he was up to.

  “Is there a problem?” Sebastian asked, his gaze following hers to where Alex had disappeared up the stairs. He turned back to her.

  “I’m not sure. If there’s one thing I know about my little brother, he never turns down dessert. And I’m almost positive he told me earlier that he’d finished his homework after school.”

  “Likely, it’s nothing. Maybe he was just bored?”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “How about we have dessert? I’m not too full from dinner.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  She laughed, liking this carefree side of him.

  * * *

  Alex hesitated on the other side of the closed door, listening to Stella’s quiet tears. He took a reassuring breath then softly knocked. “Stella, can I come in? Just for a minute.”

  He heard a couple of sniffs then a few more seconds of silence.

  “Fine,” she answered, the usual ill-humored tone back in her voice.

  Reluctantly, Alex turned the knob and walked into the bedroom. He knew he had to do this for Lucie, but he wasn’t prepared to see Stella sitting on the edge of her bed with swollen eyes and blotchy cheeks. Her shoulders were drooping forward, and her hands hung between her knees as if she’d lost her best friend.

  “What do you want?” she muttered, loudly sniffing.

  “Look, I know you don’t know us and probably think we’re butting in on your family—”

  “You got that right.”

  “This could be good for you too. If you let it.” He took a few steps forward but stopped when she glared. “Lucie is a great person. She stayed and took care of me after our parents died.”

  Stella frowned, her brown eyes losing some of their sadness. “Your mama and your papa died?”

  He nodded. “Our house burned down. Lucie had taken me to the library. Mama read to me every night, and that morning, she’d asked Lucie to take me. I never saw them again.” He walked to the bed and sat down, noticing she’d forgotten to glare at him this time.

  “All I wanted to tell you was that Lucie is really, really nice. She lets me do fun things. She’s the best big sister I could ever have.” He took a quick breath and blurted out, “I’d like to share her with you—if you’d like.”

  “Why would you do that? She’s only going to take my papa away from me.”

  His head jerked sideways and he narrowed his eyes at her. “No she isn’t. She hardly knows your papa. Besides, he’s only marrying her because you’re mean and don’t act like a girl.”

  She punched him in the shoulder and yelled, “I do too!’

  He rubbed his arm and scowled at her. “You do not! Girls aren’t supposed to hit people!”

  Her lips trembled and her wide eyes filled with tears. “I’m a bad person, aren’t I?”

  He let out a disgusted sigh. “No, you’re not bad, just mean. You’re fighting something inside of you and don’t know how to get it out, aren’t you?”

  She stared at the floor. “I don’t like being mean. Alex, will you help me?”

  “I felt the same way after my parents died. If it weren’t for Lucie…well, she understood how I felt and helped me. She can help you too, if you let her.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  He patted her hand. “She’s patient. I can try to help you too, but you have to promise to listen to me, even when you’re crazy mad.”

  She smiled at him, and for the first time, he knew she meant it.

  Chapter Nine

  Martha fussed with Lucie’s hair, placing another pin in the already heavy coiffure. She’d be picking pins out for hours. Her hair may have been thick and long, but it was silky and tended to fall out of anything other than the braid she usually wore down her back or wrapped in a knot on the back of her head. Martha wouldn’t have it, however, and insisted on fixing it herself.

  Lucie felt nauseated. Now that she was dressed, just enough color pinched into her cheeks, and hair done, she wanted to run down the stairs and out the door…to anywhere but the church. She still hadn’t a clue as to why she’d agreed to a church wedding; no one would be there but them. It would have been easier to go before the minister in his office—even the judge for that matter. There wasn’t anything she could do about it now.

  Martha stepped back and gave her an appraising look and made one last adjustment to the gauzy bow at the small of Lucie’s back. “You are a beautiful bride.” Rising onto the balls of her feet, Martha kissed her on the cheek. “One more thing…” Something cold touched Lucie’s collarbone. “There. Now, you’re perfect.”

  Lucie stared at her reflection in the mirror, the small diamond glittering i
n its thin bed of gold against her collarbone. “Martha, I can’t accept this.”

  “Oh, pshaw. I will never have a daughter. It will make me happy to see you wearing it.” She touched the locket with the tip of her finger. “My mother gave me this necklace on my wedding.” She met Lucie’s gaze. “You can give it to Stella—your daughter—on her wedding day.”

  Lucie couldn’t look her in the eye. Overcome, she wrapped her arms around the older woman’s neck. Becoming a mail-order bride may have been why she’d traveled to Tennessee, but actually going through with a marriage was something else altogether. She was terrified. She didn’t know the first thing about being a wife, even if it was in name only.

  She dropped her arms and glanced back at her reflection, fidgeting with her lace cuff. A heavy pressure covered her chest and breathing hurt. She was going to be Stella’s mother. A mother to an angry little girl who hated and despised her. There was a slight tug on her arm, and she met Martha’s concerned gaze.

  “Are you all right? All the color just drained from your face.” Martha’s brows drew together as she stared up into Lucie’s eyes. “You aren’t going to faint are you? I may be stronger than I look, but you’d squash me like a fly if you were to swoon.”

  A nervous giggle escaped through her pinched lips. “I’ll be okay. Thankfully, I never swoon, so you should be all right too.” She held the older woman’s hand against her trembling arm. “Thank you, Martha. For being here with me—for everything. I’m just a little scared.”

  “You’re welcome, my dear. That’s what mother’s do.”

  * * *

  Sebastian growled at the small bowtie as the two strands fell limply against his chest. He stared at the hair lying on his forehead. Not even his hair wanted to cooperate with him today. No matter how many times he combed it back or added a bit of wax to it, the stubborn hair refused to stay slicked back.

  He caught a glimpse of John’s amused grin in the mirror and turned around. “Am I doing the right thing, John? After Maggie left, I vowed never to marry again. I couldn’t relive that pain…yet here I am, about to take another wife.”