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Hannah for long on my own. Their empty-headed chatter drives me crazy. I’m sure I don’t know why the good Lord didn’t see fit to give them brains instead of looks… Oh, pardon me for running on like that.” Tempy turned to study Faith’s companion. “I’ll have you thinking I’m no smarter than the others. And that would be a shame. You must be Mr. Jordan. We got your telegram last night. Bert Winthrop made a special trip out after midnight just to deliver it. And it’s a good thing, too. I was beginning to worry about Faith being gone so long.”
“Aunt Tempy,” Faith interrupted, “you’re chattering.”
“Good Lord!” Tempy looked mortified at the idea. “Where are my manners? Do come in, Mr. Jordan.”
“Actually…” David began as Tempy took her niece by the elbow and ushered her toward the house.
“Aunt Tempy, this isn’t Mr. Jordan. This is Mr. David Alexander, Mr. Jordan’s attorney.” Faith stopped on the porch to perform the introductions. “Mr. David Alexander, meet my aunt, Temperance Hamilton.”
“You’re David Alexander? But we thought…” Tempy began.
“Mr. Jordan asked me to see Mrs. Collins home,” David explained. “He thought she might need some time to get ready for the journey, and since Christmas is just days away, he thought she would prefer to spend the holiday in the company of her family, rather than with strangers.” David opened the front door and allowed the women to precede him.
“Oh, Faith!” Tempy was practically jumping up and down with glee. “That means you got the job! How wonderful! You got the job!” Tempy stepped inside the house and turned toward the front parlor. “Virt! Hannah! Agnes! Joy! He hired her! Our Faith is going to work in Wyoming!”
The other women crowded into the hallway, each trying to hug Faith and to get a better look at the attractive gentleman escorting her.
Remembering her manners, Faith introduced David to the members of the household.
David studied the women crowded around him. He couldn’t believe his eyes. They were all considerably older than Faith, except the little girl who looked to be no older than five or six. David smiled to himself, enormously pleased to discover that Collins House, while big and full of women, was not some sordid Richmond bordello. David was certain Reese would be even more pleased and relieved. He couldn’t wait to tell him.
“Do have a seat, Mr. Alexander.” Hannah and Agnes led David to the horsehair sofa, then quickly seated themselves on either side of him. Faith noticed they spread their skirts as they sat down to hide the bayonet holes in the cushions. And, bless them, they had also made certain David sat in the most comfortable spot in the room.
“Would you care for some refreshment?” Tempy asked politely,
“Tea,” Hannah said. “We have some very nice tea. Tempy, you know where I keep it. Would you care for a hot cup of tea, Mr. Alexander?”
When she returned, a few minutes later, Tempy set the tray on the table in front of Hannah. “Will you pour, Hannah?”
“I’d be delighted.” Hannah smiled, pleased at the opportunity to preside over a tea table once again.
David Alexander shifted uncomfortably in his seat on sofa between Hannah Colson and Agnes Everett and accepted the cup of tea Mrs. Colson placed in his hands. He waited patiently while Mrs. Colson finished pouring tea for the ladies, then took a drink from his cup. He accepted a gingersnap from the plate Tempy offered.
“Oh, please, Mr. Alexander, take another. It’s been so long since we’ve had a gentleman in for tea.” Hannah smiled prettily.
“It’s time for Joy’s nap,” Tempy said. “I’ll just take her to bed.” She took Joy by the hand. “Say your goodbyes.”
Joy smiled shyly at the stranger, then hugged each of the older women around the waist. When she reached her sister, she threw her arms around Faith’s neck and squeezed her tightly. “I missed you, Faith.”
“I
“Aunt Tempy,” Faith interrupted, “you’re chattering.”
“Good Lord!” Tempy looked mortified at the idea. “Where are my manners? Do come in, Mr. Jordan.”
“Actually…” David began as Tempy took her niece by the elbow and ushered her toward the house.
“Aunt Tempy, this isn’t Mr. Jordan. This is Mr. David Alexander, Mr. Jordan’s attorney.” Faith stopped on the porch to perform the introductions. “Mr. David Alexander, meet my aunt, Temperance Hamilton.”
“You’re David Alexander? But we thought…” Tempy began.
“Mr. Jordan asked me to see Mrs. Collins home,” David explained. “He thought she might need some time to get ready for the journey, and since Christmas is just days away, he thought she would prefer to spend the holiday in the company of her family, rather than with strangers.” David opened the front door and allowed the women to precede him.
“Oh, Faith!” Tempy was practically jumping up and down with glee. “That means you got the job! How wonderful! You got the job!” Tempy stepped inside the house and turned toward the front parlor. “Virt! Hannah! Agnes! Joy! He hired her! Our Faith is going to work in Wyoming!”
The other women crowded into the hallway, each trying to hug Faith and to get a better look at the attractive gentleman escorting her.
Remembering her manners, Faith introduced David to the members of the household.
David studied the women crowded around him. He couldn’t believe his eyes. They were all considerably older than Faith, except the little girl who looked to be no older than five or six. David smiled to himself, enormously pleased to discover that Collins House, while big and full of women, was not some sordid Richmond bordello. David was certain Reese would be even more pleased and relieved. He couldn’t wait to tell him.
“Do have a seat, Mr. Alexander.” Hannah and Agnes led David to the horsehair sofa, then quickly seated themselves on either side of him. Faith noticed they spread their skirts as they sat down to hide the bayonet holes in the cushions. And, bless them, they had also made certain David sat in the most comfortable spot in the room.
“Would you care for some refreshment?” Tempy asked politely,
“Tea,” Hannah said. “We have some very nice tea. Tempy, you know where I keep it. Would you care for a hot cup of tea, Mr. Alexander?”
When she returned, a few minutes later, Tempy set the tray on the table in front of Hannah. “Will you pour, Hannah?”
“I’d be delighted.” Hannah smiled, pleased at the opportunity to preside over a tea table once again.
David Alexander shifted uncomfortably in his seat on sofa between Hannah Colson and Agnes Everett and accepted the cup of tea Mrs. Colson placed in his hands. He waited patiently while Mrs. Colson finished pouring tea for the ladies, then took a drink from his cup. He accepted a gingersnap from the plate Tempy offered.
“Oh, please, Mr. Alexander, take another. It’s been so long since we’ve had a gentleman in for tea.” Hannah smiled prettily.
“It’s time for Joy’s nap,” Tempy said. “I’ll just take her to bed.” She took Joy by the hand. “Say your goodbyes.”
Joy smiled shyly at the stranger, then hugged each of the older women around the waist. When she reached her sister, she threw her arms around Faith’s neck and squeezed her tightly. “I missed you, Faith.”
“I
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