Love is in the Air Read online

  Louisa answered, “They will say that Jessamine and her guardian are lovely women. I see no need to advertise that you are both cooks here at Bethany House. It is of no consequence to, or business of, anyone.”

  “But I have nothing presentable to wear to London,” she said.

  “Remember when we had you fitted that day Jessie was out walking with Mr. Hurst because we knew you would be in need of something to wear to Jessie’s wedding?” Jane reminded her. “Well, we took the liberty of sending those measurements with Mr. Hurst when last he was here. He brought them to the dressmakers. There are three dresses waiting for you in your room.”

  Louisa added, “We will not take no for an answer.”

  “I do not know what to say,” Mrs. Wilson replied.

  “I will say it for us both. Thank you for everything.” Hugging Mrs. Wilson again Jessie added, “We would be delighted to accept.”

  Mrs. Wilson smiled and said, “Yes thank you both. It is a most unexpected kindness you are showing me.”

  “London had better watch out for you ladies!” said Charles.

  “Indeed!” said Mr. Hurst. “And Derbyshire had better watch out for us, gentlemen. We have never been alone with the children, Charles!”

  “We will have the best time, Uncle Hugh! I will help you with Gus and Ellie!” volunteered Harry.

  All the adults turned to look at the twins. Ellie was sleeping in her father’s arms, and Gus was sitting on the floor quietly playing with his toys.

  “Yes, it is the twins we need to worry about,” said Charles in a muffled voice, as he looked at the others with raised eyebrows, causing laughter from all.

  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  Matthew Hurst escorted the ladies to London. Their week of shopping went by in a whirlwind. They spent large parts of each day at the warehouse choosing fabrics and then at the dressmakers. They chose to use several reputable seamstresses’ because of the many items required. Louisa and Jane had helped Jessie make a list of things she would be requiring, and the list was a long one. Mr. Hurst joined them every evening. Sometimes they dined at Louisa’s London house while other nights the gentleman took them all to fancy restaurants.

  They managed to stop in to have tea with Mr. and Mrs. Gibb, one afternoon. Caroline could not join them shopping. Being in the family way caused her ankles to swell and her back to hurt. When they saw her, Louisa and Jane exchanged looks. Both women knew what the other was thinking.

  “Has the doctor said anything to indicate you might be having twins, Caroline?” asked Louisa.

  Ambrose spoke up saying, “Well, she is not that big for being due to deliver any day now.”

  “Due any day now?” repeated a confused Louisa. “No, that is not possible. You have only married about seven months ago.”

  “Well, you know these things sometimes happen, Louisa,” said Ambrose.

  Louisa’s face quickly turned very pale. She looked at Jane with her eyes wide and a look of panic on her face.

  “I believe Mr. Gibb is joking with us, Louisa,” said Jane.

  Louisa looked back at Caroline, who burst into laughter. “Oh, you are so bad, Ambrose! Did you see my sister’s face?” Caroline asked her husband.

  “Priceless,” replied Ambrose, with a huge grin on his face, still chuckling.

  Louisa was quite relieved but still shocked by this joke. “Oh, dear, you gave me a fright for a minute there, Mr. Gibb,” she said, reaching for her cup of tea to calm her flustered nerves. “So did the doctor say why you are so much bigger than is normal for one only five months along?”

  “Let me think,” answered Caroline. “Dr. Brown did say, ‘You may be having twins, Mrs. Gibb’. Does that count?”

  “Caroline! Why did you not tell us before?” asked Louisa.

  “He said I might be, it is not for sure yet. But we would both very much like to have twins if it happens,” answered Caroline as she and her husband exchanged smiles.

  After their pleasant visit with the Gibbs, the ladies continued their shopping day. Jane’s Aunt Gardiner joined them a few times that week. Mrs. Gardiner had brought them to the house of a friend of hers who worked for a well-known dress maker’s shop for many years. Now and then she would accept an order on the side after her work day was finished. Jessie had been very particular about finding just the fabrics, lace and trims that she wanted for her wedding dress. Jessie’s wedding dress was the only commission the woman was going to be working on for the next few months, and she had excellent suggestions being an expert in her trade.

  Matthew had told her to send all the bills to him, but she chose not to. Jessie was thankful to have the money from the sale of her parent’s house, to use to purchase what she wanted. It was as if her parents had given her a trousseau as a gift.

  One evening Mr. Hurst escorted the ladies to see a play. Jane wondered who was enjoying the experience more, Jessie or Mrs. Wilson. Both women were obviously having a wonderful time. The mothers of small children, Louisa, and Jane enjoyed the busy week also, but as the days passed they admitted to each other that they were lonesome for their husbands and children.

  After accomplishing their mission, Mr. Hurst played escort again, riding his horse beside their carriage from London to Derbyshire.

  Chapter Eight

  The next few months were busy ones. Matthew made the trips back and forth frequently, often bringing Jessamine her packages as pieces making up her trousseau were steadily being finished.

  Jane had kept on the two cooks she had hired to fill in for Mrs. Wilson and Jessie. It was most convenient during the coming months as the other two women were needed elsewhere at times. This was especially true of Jessie, who was to work only occasionally now, to make some special treat, but she spent much of her time now on other necessary tasks. Making Harry’s lemon pie was the first thing on her list when she returned from London.

  Jessie’s life was going to change drastically soon. She would be the wife of a gentleman and would live in his house in London. That Matthew Hurst had chosen to go into the law and be a working man did help the situation. But still, he had been born a gentleman and would always be regarded as one. She had always been in service, mostly keeping herself in the kitchen. She had a natural poise and good sense about her, but Jane and Louisa began to tutor her to help increase Jessie’s understanding of those small details that she would encounter in her new roles. She would not only be a gentleman’s wife but often she would act as hostess of her husband’s business associates. It proved to be a time of much fun for all involved and spending time in this lofty, and sometimes humorous, pursuit which drew the three women even closer together. The three months went by very fast.

  For convenience, Jessie had worn her hair in a single braid for most of her life. The ball at the Hurst had been the turning point for her, and afterward she often experimented with wearing it up. She found she was not very good at performing this task, so she would often just do the best she could. When she married, she would have a personal maid to help her with this. But leading up to the day of the wedding her friend Shirley had offered to come after their work day was done to help Jessie with her hair. Jessie had taken note of the London styles when she was there. She made a sketch of one she thought would be perfect for her wedding. After a few tries, Shirley was able to replicate the style, and the result was simply lovely.

  The final item delivered to Jessie was her wedding dress. Jessie had received compliments throughout her life on how well she looked when she wore any shade of blue. When she learned that blue happened to be Matthew’s favorite color, she instantly knew what would be the color of her dress. She could see it in her mind’s eye. But when it arrived, and she tried her dress on, it was even more than she had thought it would be. Her wedding dress was positively magnificent!

  The wedding was to be a small family affair. Jessi
e had asked Mr. Bingley to walk her down the aisle, Hugh and Louisa were to stand up with them, and Harry was to walk with Mrs. Wilson’s granddaughter, Clara. Mrs. Wilson’s children were to attend also. The ceremony was to be followed by a wedding breakfast at Orchids Brook Farm. The newlyweds would return to London immediately after. Jessie had never been outside of Derbyshire before the shopping trip to London. Matthew wanted to share all his favorite places in England with her on their wedding holiday. There was so much to see that he was always telling her about one place or another. Her excitement was building as the day got closer and closer.

  The day finally arrived at the beginning of June. It was not hot yet, but there was warmth in the air. This was Jessie’s favorite time of year. The gardens were in their prime, and all the flowers were in bloom, and a gentle but warm breeze was usually blowing. It always had the effect of invigorating her and filling her with hope.

  She woke up on her wedding morning and lingered in bed for a little while. She listened to the beautiful sounds of the birds chirping and gazed at the roses on her bedside table. Matthew had given them to her the night before. Their soft fragrance permeated the room. Enjoying her solitude, she reflected on what love she always had in her life and felt happy and thankful.

  A knock on her door broke the spell as Shirley entered along with Mrs. Wilson, who was following with a tray. “You need to have a little something in you before the wedding,” Mrs. Wilson said with a bright smile. “I brought you some cinnamon toast to go with your tea.”

  “Cinnamon toast?” said Jessie. “You remembered it was my favorite! I have not had any for a couple of years, I believe,” she said joyfully.

  “Of course I remembered!” replied Mrs. Wilson. “It will be just the thing to settle your nerves.”

  “And what reason for nerves does she have, marrying that handsome, rich gentleman?” Shirley teased her friend.

  Jessie laughed, “I admit to feeling somewhat nervous, but mostly I feel excited. I cannot wait to have my dress on and my hair done!”

  “Well then,” Mrs. Wilson said, “We better get some nourishment in you so we can get the process started.”

  “Right you are, Mrs. Wilson,” added Shirley picking up Jessie’s braid with one hand and letting it drop down again. “We have to turn this kitchen girl into a lady, we do,” she said in her best refined English accent.

  “Stop making me laugh Shirley!” giggled Jessie.

  The three women spent the next hour getting the bride ready. Once again, Harry volunteered to inform Jessie that it was time to leave. If he had been shocked at her appearance the night they went to the Hursts, he was rendered speechless. Well, almost. It was Harry after all. He and everyone else in attendance at the wedding were captivated when they saw the bride. She was a vision to behold.

  The silk dress was robin’s egg blue in color. All the ladies on the shopping trip had agreed it was the most flattering shade of blue when they compared the different fabrics against Jessie’s complexion. It had a sweetheart neckline trimmed in delicately detailed lace with a combination of seed pearls and sparkling beads accenting the delicate pattern. The short sleeves were a simple, slim fit with a two-inch border of the lace, again adorned with the ornate beading. A matching silk ribbon was around the waist with the bow tied in the front. A rounded second layer of the silk fabric attached at the waist and went a quarter of the way down the front of the dress, trimmed with the long ends of the ribbon cascading from the bow. The first layer of the silk skirt underneath fell simply and unadorned to the hem.

  Jessie wore a matching lace tiara with her hair piled loosely on top of her head, and several curled tendrils hung from the sides.

  Jessamine Gerry felt beautiful.

  Matthew was as affected at seeing her now as he was the first time they had met. Once his eyes met hers, he felt as if they were the only two in the room. He had such overwhelming feelings of love, admiration, thankfulness, and happiness, that he barely heard a word of the ceremony. These feelings were unlike anything he had ever experienced. He remained quieter than usual for much of the day. It was as if he was in a dream and expected to wake up at any moment disappointed that it was not real.

  After the wedding breakfast, where he ate very little, the couple said their goodbyes to their guests and left in their carriage for London.

  “You are quiet today Matthew,” Jessamine Hurst said to her husband with love in her eyes.

  “Am I?” was his reply. “I am sorry, I had not noticed,” he said as he put his arm around her. “I am still finding it hard to believe that this is indeed my life now, that you are in reality my wife. I find it most extraordinary that a simple man like me found someone of the like as wondrous as you, and that you could care for me in return. I feel undeserving and deeply humbled to have found such love and happiness in a world where many do not.”

  His wife was now having a hard time speaking herself. Her eyes filled with tears as her husband expressed her feelings exactly. “Yes,” was all she said but he understood they were of one mind. She stayed with her head lying against his shoulder, his arm around her, for several quiet minutes.

  Finally feeling the comfort of each other’s presence as their carriage drew nearer to their destination, Matthew said, “My Jessamine?”

  “Yes, Matthew?” she replied as she lifted her head off his shoulder and looked up, smiling at his handsome face.

  “I barely remember a word of the ceremony. But I want to assure you, I promise I will love you forever. You have owned my heart since the day I first saw you and you always will,” he said sincerely.

  Matthew had gently kissed his wife for the first time when pronounced husband and wife. She was close to him now with her beautiful eyes looking intently into his. “I know,” Jessamine said as she leaned in to kiss her husband and assure him in return that they were of the same mind and would always be. She pulled away from their embrace to ask him playfully, “Say my name again?”

  “Jess-a-mine,” he said before pulling her back into his arms.

  And that was the only way he ever pronounced his wife’s name for the next forty years.

  Chapter Nine

  Harry Bingley would rise at five every morning, ready to start his day. Miss Paige, Harry’s Governess always made sure he had done his school lessons before he was allowed out to play. But even then, if it was a beautiful day outside, she would open the French doors to the school room, and they would have their lessons on the balcony. The boy would live outdoors if he had his way. Outdoors wearing only his drawers would be perfect, he often thought. But he was always required to wear his play knee-breeches and shirt unless he was swimming. Then he would be allowed to take his top shirt off and run free. That was the life! But he resigned himself to the fact that he was born a gentleman and with that came certain responsibilities, such as wearing clothing.

  “If Harry has any imagination this will be some place to grow up in,” Charles Bingley had said when Mr. Darcy first showed him, Butterfly Orchard. That was about four years ago, thought Charles as he sat in the gazebo, watching his son play. Little had he known when he said those words just how much imagination his son would have, but had it he did in abundance. The Butterfly Orchard blossomed beautifully at this time of year. The days were getting a little cooler as they were now well into fall, and before the glorious beauty of winter was ushered in. With fall came the deep colors of the changing leaves, the birds migrating, and a light wind.

  Everyone entering Butterfly Orchard thought that it was a beautiful place but over the last few years it had become more than that. The oak tree was the biggest tree on the property and had grown winding upwards in a fashion where it would be easy to climb it. Vines hung down from the limbs making it easier to scale the ancient tree.

  The tree house had been rebuilt and expanded, making it a perfect clubhouse, fort, castle, mountain top, ship, giant’s back, or dragon. The list was endless. But father and son had seen the potential in the nooks and cranni
es that were hidden in the beautiful scenery that would make it even more perfect, if that were possible. They saw one nook as a great hideout when being chased and running for your life. Another area in between some of the wisteria trees was just right for spying on their enemies and listening as they plotted against you.

  Little did anyone know at the time how useful that one particular hiding space would be one day.

  Harry would give life to the two rag dolls he always kept as companions, Junior, and Jack. Whenever he played, he always kept them by his side and whenever he played he would have them play along. Sometimes Harry would go into the bushes and shrubbery he used as hiding spots during games or “secret missions” that he, Jack and Junior were often sent on. When his Aunt Caro had found out he was to have a sibling soon, she had asked Harry if he would like a little brother or sister? Harry’s response had been given with all sincerity, “Jack and Junior are my brothers.”

  Harry loved to go to Butterfly Orchard. He was the king of the beautiful kingdom with his castle set high up in the big old oak tree. From this perch, he could see all his subjects and they could see him. He was a very benevolent ruler, and as such would often make new friends with the animal life that he would encounter there. Junior and Jack were always there to advise him, and Miss Paige would be right there in the gazebo that was tucked away into the wisteria bushes. She would keep one eye on Harry and one on the latest book she had borrowed from the library at Bethany House. Sometimes she would play the princess who had been kidnaped by some villain or other. There was no end to new villains and subsequent acts of heroism in Butterfly Orchard. She was usually just required to sit in her dungeon gazebo and wait for the king to rescue her.

  Junior or Jack would take turns keeping watch, sometimes arguing over which would stay behind. The king was frequently heard telling them, “You must work this out with yourselves men.” When the two finally decided who would be keeping watch, the other was tied with string to the King’s back facing outward. The pair would cleverly maneuver around obstacles and barricades, or swing from vines over moats filled with piranha, serpents of extreme sizes or dragons. Finally, they would reach their destination and have to battle anywhere from twenty to a hundred thieves, kidnappers or robbers all armed with swords. The wounded king and his accomplice would usually come staggering in, needing attention. Miss Paige would have a picnic basket prepared for them all, and inside would be just the rare and exotic remedy to revive the king at the last moment. They had many good days together.