“I’ve just heard what a fool my sister has made of herself,” Eleanor said, breathless. “She was just so overwhelmed at the generosity of your offer that she was giddy.”
Alex glanced down at his book. “Eleanor, I have no idea what you mean. I merely happened to rescue Mistress Jessica from one of her suitors. I remember we talked of marriage in general, but nothing specific.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Jess said, turning away, but Eleanor was leaning against the door.
“Alexander, I know she was rude but then she often is. Still, she’ll make a fine wife. She’s strong and sometimes she’s intelligent, a little proud, I admit, and sometimes she opens her mouth when it should be kept closed, but she’s a hard worker and she’ll help put food on the table and—”
“I am not a mule! Eleanor, I’m going.”
Alex leaned back in his chair as Eleanor threw her body across the door. Jess was pulling on the latch.
“I’ve seen her start work before sunup and not stop till she dropped and—”
Alex put his book aside, his index fingers together and contemplated Jessica. “I could buy a team of ox
en for what you’re talking about, and an ox doesn’t talk back. What else do I get out of this besides a fieldworker?”
Jess glared from one to the other and tried harder to push Eleanor out of the way.
“She comes with six free little workers. Think what you could do with all those eager little bodies to help you. You could expand and—”
“I could go bankrupt trying to feed them. Any other enticements? How about a dowry?”
“Dowry?” Jess gasped. “If you think—”
Eleanor poked her in the ribs. “On your marriage will come one-half interest in a beautiful little cove that’s alive with oysters and sundry other sea creatures.”
“Hmmm.” Alex slowly got up, walked toward Jess, then looked her up and down.
Aghast, Jess let go of the door and scowled at him.
He took her chin and lifted her face. “She isn’t unpleasant to look at.”
“The prettiest girl in town, in the whole area, and you know it. Some of the sailors have said she’s prettier than any of the girls they’ve seen all over the world.”
He dropped her chin, and stepped back. “I don’t know what came over me when I asked her to marry me, purely sympathy I assure you. I felt sorry for her after seeing that fat old man pawing her.” He adjusted the lace at his sleeve.
“Yes, of course, Alexander, but you did ask her to marry you and we wouldn’t want the words ‘breach of promise’ whispered in connection with the illustrious Montgomery name, would we?”
“I wouldn’t marry you—”
Eleanor clamped her hand over Jess’s mouth.
Alex turned away, stifling a yawn. “One woman is as good as any, I guess. And it would be more convenient to have a wife than these bond servants moving in and out. By the time you get one trained, she leaves. I imagine you’ll be marrying soon and leaving us, Eleanor. What will we do then? Shall we set the wedding for three days hence?” He sat down and lifted his book. “You can move in tonight. Put the boys in Adam’s room and you and the girls in Kit’s room. And feed everybody.”
Jess pushed away from Eleanor. “We Taggerts don’t take charity.”
“But it won’t be charity, my dear, it will be all in the family.”
Eleanor was pulling Jess from the room. “Thank you, Alexander. God will seat you at his right hand for this act of generosity.”
“And, Eleanor, clothes for everyone. I don’t want children in my care dressed in rags.”
“Yes, Alexander. Bless you, Alexander.” Eleanor closed the door behind them.
Chapter Fourteen
JESSICA sat on the floor of the Taggert house, facing the fireplace, roasting a fish stuck on a long stick over the little fire. The house seemed oddly silent with the children gone. No one was laughing or crying; no child was jumping on her back or begging her to give him a ride. She should have been enjoying the quiet but, instead, she missed the children—she even missed Eleanor. Or at least the old Eleanor who wasn’t always shouting at her.