Read Online Come Be My Love by Patricia Watters - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Watters
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girls."
"Oh, they know nothing about their mother's misadventures," Esther said. "They were shielded from the gossip and Jon spirited us away to Victoria on the next ship. But still, it has been difficult for the girls, especially Louella. As you might have noticed your room is a bit of a shrine to her mother's memory. Louella keeps it that way. But Jon never goes in there, and he's adamant that Caroline's portrait and all her belongings remain behind the closed door."
Sarah caught the glimmer of satisfaction in Esther's eyes, and for the first time, understood her overtures: her insistence that she be a guest in their home, her chatter on the ship about her handsome widowed brother, and now her allegation that his marriage had not been good. Everything had been quietly and cleverly calculated. Esther was a matchmaker!
What a poor, droll, drab mouse Esther was, trying to find love vicariously through her brother. But she was wasting her time if she thought she'd found a match for Jon here, if she believed love even existed. Love. What paltry, futile humbug. Everyone she’d loved had betrayed her, or rejected her, or discarded her. The thought of love made her feel bereft, and she refused to dwell on it.
Thirty minutes later, and after receiving less than enthusiastic responses from several merchants to whom she'd proffered the document, Sarah realized the task of acquiring signatures was becoming a formidable one. But there were still several merchants to approach. Esther directed her toward a book bindery, informing her that the binder was an amiable Englishman with a retiring manner, whom she should have no trouble winning over. If any merchant in Victoria would sign her document, it would be James Farr. But after receiving a cold shoulder from Mr. Farr, Sarah realized the man knew exactly who she was, and her purpose.
Obviously, Jon and his men had been as quick in spreading the word of her mission among the merchants as they'd been in concocting the bogus documents for obtaining her business license. The awareness relieved her of any remorse over the upcoming editorial attack by Amor De Cosmos. However, it did not discount the fact that remaining in the Cromwell home would be awkward. As they left the book bindery, she said to Esther, "Mandi and I really must find other lodging at once."
Esther sighed. "Yes, I suppose it's best. Josephine will be very disappointed though."
"But not Louella," Sarah stated. Shortly after they'd arrived at the house, Louella had become aloof, which was in marked contrast to her demeanor on the ship during their journey from San Francisco. Aboard ship, Louella had been conversant and friendly.
Esther sighed again. "She's upset with me for settling you among her mother's things. I'm sorry to have placed you in such an uncomfortable position, but it's time the room was put to other use." Taking Sarah's arm, Esther urged her toward a store with the name K. GAMBITZ displayed across the top of its high brick facade. "If you're certain you want to seek other lodging, we can begin by asking here about rooms to let. Kady Gambitz keeps track of everything going on in Victoria. He should know who's moving away. Then we can stop by Bartholomew Derham's bakery. What Mr. Gambitz doesn't know, Mr. Derham does."
When Esther introduced Sarah to Kady Gambitz , Sarah sensed that he, too, knew who she was, which Mr. Gambitz verified by refusing to sign the document. Deciding that she would get nowhere by advocating her cause, Sarah asked immediately about property to lease.
At which time Mr. Gambitz looked directly at her, and said, "It would be best, young lady, if you returned to your family in America where you belong. Victoria is no place for a woman alone."
"I see that Governor Cromwell or one of his agents has paid you a visit," Sarah said brusquely, not even trying to hide her irritation.
Mr. Gambitz raised his brows in mock surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
Esther tugged her toward the door.
"Oh, they know nothing about their mother's misadventures," Esther said. "They were shielded from the gossip and Jon spirited us away to Victoria on the next ship. But still, it has been difficult for the girls, especially Louella. As you might have noticed your room is a bit of a shrine to her mother's memory. Louella keeps it that way. But Jon never goes in there, and he's adamant that Caroline's portrait and all her belongings remain behind the closed door."
Sarah caught the glimmer of satisfaction in Esther's eyes, and for the first time, understood her overtures: her insistence that she be a guest in their home, her chatter on the ship about her handsome widowed brother, and now her allegation that his marriage had not been good. Everything had been quietly and cleverly calculated. Esther was a matchmaker!
What a poor, droll, drab mouse Esther was, trying to find love vicariously through her brother. But she was wasting her time if she thought she'd found a match for Jon here, if she believed love even existed. Love. What paltry, futile humbug. Everyone she’d loved had betrayed her, or rejected her, or discarded her. The thought of love made her feel bereft, and she refused to dwell on it.
Thirty minutes later, and after receiving less than enthusiastic responses from several merchants to whom she'd proffered the document, Sarah realized the task of acquiring signatures was becoming a formidable one. But there were still several merchants to approach. Esther directed her toward a book bindery, informing her that the binder was an amiable Englishman with a retiring manner, whom she should have no trouble winning over. If any merchant in Victoria would sign her document, it would be James Farr. But after receiving a cold shoulder from Mr. Farr, Sarah realized the man knew exactly who she was, and her purpose.
Obviously, Jon and his men had been as quick in spreading the word of her mission among the merchants as they'd been in concocting the bogus documents for obtaining her business license. The awareness relieved her of any remorse over the upcoming editorial attack by Amor De Cosmos. However, it did not discount the fact that remaining in the Cromwell home would be awkward. As they left the book bindery, she said to Esther, "Mandi and I really must find other lodging at once."
Esther sighed. "Yes, I suppose it's best. Josephine will be very disappointed though."
"But not Louella," Sarah stated. Shortly after they'd arrived at the house, Louella had become aloof, which was in marked contrast to her demeanor on the ship during their journey from San Francisco. Aboard ship, Louella had been conversant and friendly.
Esther sighed again. "She's upset with me for settling you among her mother's things. I'm sorry to have placed you in such an uncomfortable position, but it's time the room was put to other use." Taking Sarah's arm, Esther urged her toward a store with the name K. GAMBITZ displayed across the top of its high brick facade. "If you're certain you want to seek other lodging, we can begin by asking here about rooms to let. Kady Gambitz keeps track of everything going on in Victoria. He should know who's moving away. Then we can stop by Bartholomew Derham's bakery. What Mr. Gambitz doesn't know, Mr. Derham does."
When Esther introduced Sarah to Kady Gambitz , Sarah sensed that he, too, knew who she was, which Mr. Gambitz verified by refusing to sign the document. Deciding that she would get nowhere by advocating her cause, Sarah asked immediately about property to lease.
At which time Mr. Gambitz looked directly at her, and said, "It would be best, young lady, if you returned to your family in America where you belong. Victoria is no place for a woman alone."
"I see that Governor Cromwell or one of his agents has paid you a visit," Sarah said brusquely, not even trying to hide her irritation.
Mr. Gambitz raised his brows in mock surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
Esther tugged her toward the door.
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