She sighed heavily. Alex’s words worked as a balm to her nerves and she turned to follow her mother into the boarding house. She shut the door and continued forward to see her mother’s skirts vanishing into the dining room. Wordlessly she followed and took her place at the dining table. Her mother dropped a set of silverware beside her before taking a seat across the table, but even with a fork and knife at hand Mary knew better than to eat. Not until her mother gave her word that she was free to do so.
“What is your plan, mother?” she asked.
“To make Mr. Rutherford fall in love with me of course. I want the man besotted and proposing within the week. If I plan carefully, I think I can manage it.”
“The week? Why so soon?”
“On account of your little situation.” Her mother gave her abdomen a pointed look. “We have no clue how long until you begin to show that you are expecting, now do we? The sooner that I am able to secure an offer of marriage the better. It will also make getting a man interested in you all the easier if there is an influential man attached to us.”
Mary nodded, eyes on her plate. “Of course, mama.” Her mind already turning over the puzzle of how she would persuade her mother to attend the town festivities.
“...But of course, the gentleman has already asked for me to accompany him to the fair this evening and--Mary are you listening to me at all?”
“Pardon?” Mary blinked in surprise.
“Do stop daydreaming and pay attention to me, and for heaven’s sake eat your food.” She waved a hand at Mary, and despite the disapproving look on her face, Mary had never heard a sweeter word from her mother.
“Yes, mama.” She snatched up her silverware and set to work eating her lunch with fervor. It was good to eat and have something in her belly to chase away the memory of sickness. It was only when she was halfway through her roast beef that she remembered she was supposed to be listening to her mother’s thoughts on the ‘gentleman of means’.
“He expects me to attend the fair like a common woman.”
“Aren’t you?” Mary asked in confusion but at the dark look on her mother’s face she quickly added. “I mean to say that it would be good for Mr. Rutherford to see you as a salt of the earth woman. No doubt he has had his fair share of, ah, women in search of wealth. If you give him the impression that he has found a woman unconcerned with appearances and the like, then he may find you more desirable.”
Mary hated that she knew the exact words to say to manipulate her mother into attending the fair, but it was necessary. She did not wish for it, but she was desperate. It was a means to an end and hopefully she would not have to do it again once she knew what Alex had to tell her.
“Too true, too true.” Sarah James nodded in agreement. “Then you are of the opinion that I should attend the fair this evening?”
“Yes, of course. If your aim is to secure a proposal then as much time spent in his company is best, but do not, ah, do not go alone,” she continued on, remembering that she must get herself to the fair as well.
“What do you mean?” Sarah James gave her a shrewd look that Mary knew well from having it trained on her more times than she could count.
“I mean that I should come with you, to the fair. If you were to go alone then it would present an odd picture to the gentleman.”
“He thinks you are sick. There is no reason for you to attend, and we do not have the spare money to provide you with any refreshments,” Sarah James countered.
A shiver of panic rose up in Mary at her mother’s words. She had to go to the fair. She simply must and if she meant to sneak out there, she knew her luck would not hold. There was no way her mother would not spot her Titian hair in the crowd that night.
“I do not need refreshments. This meal is plenty to tide me over until breakfast. I swear it.” Mary gestured to the plate in front of her.
“Why do you wish to go to the fair so badly tonight? I think there is something you are not telling me, dear.” Her mother leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “What is it you want so badly?”
“Nothing!” Mary blurted out and winced at the desperate tone in her voice. “I mean, nothing, mama. Nothing. I only wish for you to have the best opportunity with the gentleman. I can help provide that. It is my, ah, future on the line as well. We both know you are far better suited to securing a match than I.” She set her fork down and smiled as sincerely as she could. “I only wish to help, mama. I swear it.”
Sarah James steepled her fingers and considered her. “I suppose a family image would go a long way when enticing a man to see me in a kinder, gentler manner.”
“It would. You would show Mr. Rutherford that you are able to offer him more than simply a pretty smile, but a partner capable of making a home for him. That is the true dream for any man of business.”
Sarah James dropped her hands and smiled at her daughter. It was nothing more than a show of teeth, but it was far more than Mary was accustomed to seeing.
“And all this time I thought you woefully inept at understanding the finer points of society and relationships. I underestimated you, Mary. I am impressed by your keen thinking.”
“Thank you, mama. I learned from you.”
“Good to know that you are paying some attention.” Her mother practically beamed at her and then tapped the table as if settling the matter entirely. “Now then, you will come with me to the fair. We leave at seven sharp. A lady never keeps a man waiting and we shall be escorted to the event by Mr. Rutherford and his associates. Is that understood?”
Mary nodded forcing a cheery smile to her face. “Yes, I will be ready and eager to make his acquaintance.”
Sarah James nodded and rose from the table. “Finish your meal and do wear the green dress. It suits your complexion and eyes perfectly. That is all.” Her mother took her leave and Mary sighed in relief the second she rounded the corner and turned down the hallway.
