Joy’s eyes widened. “I’m a simple girl. I don’t need more than five dresses!”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Oh, but you do! You’ll need five Sunday dresses alone.”
Joy shook her head in disbelief. “But I’ve never owned more than three dresses at once.”
“And from this day forward, you will need many more than that,” Elizabeth said simply. “And that cookie you just ate whole is the last one you will ever shove in your mouth that way. I know it’s all right to eat that way on the farm, but you’ll be living in Boston, and the expectations will be very different.”
Joy sighed. “I guess we’re making more dresses then. At least I get to pick my own fabric!”
“And you’ll want to be careful with the fabric you choose as well. No red. Red would surely single you out as a wanton woman. You’re going to want subdued colors as a banker’s wife.”
“I guess…”
Bernard grinned at Joy. “Listen to Elizabeth. She does know what she’s talking about Joy.”
“I guess.” Joy took another cookie, carefully taking small bites. “Better?” she asked.
“Yes, now if only you’ll wait until you’ve chewed your food before speaking…”
“But…”
“No buts. I know we were raised differently, but I’m going to do my best to teach you some manners before you get on that train to Boston.” Elizabeth’s gaze made it clear she wasn’t joking at all.
Joy spent the next week learning all she could about acting like a proper lady. The night before she left, she went out into Elizabeth’s back garden and sat quietly, praying that she was making the right choice. She knew her life would have to be led in a more stifled way, with how she presented herself to others being of the utmost importance.
One last time, she removed her shoes and walked through the plants, carefully pulling weeds. Elizabeth had a gardener, and the man did a wonderful job, so it was hard to find any weeds, but Joy managed. Soon, she’d be embarking on not just her first journey on a train, but she would be changing her entire life. Hopefully for the better, but whether it was better or not, it would be a huge change.
As much as she was ready to marry and have children, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to be tied down to a man who was a banker. Was she making a mistake? She hoped with everything inside her that she wasn’t.
