A Mail Order Bride for the Fur Trader: Joy & Henry (Love by Mail #3)
Christina Ward
Chapter 1
Redemption Town, Michigan, June 1872
Joy hastily dabbed her lips with a perfumed handkerchief. She hoped no one noticed the few stray crumbs tumble down her chin and onto her fancy Sunday dress. She always wore her best when meeting her friends.
“Your mama’s apple pie’s the best in Redemption, Joy.” Margaret Leigh reached for another slice and turned her heart-shaped face to her seatmate, Ginny. “Right?”
Virginia Patton shrugged, flicked her long blonde hair and fanned herself.
“Is your house always this hot?” She picked at her clean prairie skirt.
Joy eyed it. She could almost smell the fresh laundry scent all the way across the coffee table. The Pattons sure could afford a laundry woman.
“Oh, it’s just the summer.” Ma’s voice made them all turn their heads towards the door. Joy’s mother smiled at them, her dimples showing, and entered the room balancing a plateful of cookies on a tray. “We’ve all been praying for some rain.”
She set the plate down on the table and adjusted the pin keeping her hair in a bun.
Virginia sighed. “This heat is making me dizzy.”
“I’ll fetch you a drink, lass, don’t worry.” Joy’s Ma shuffled back to the kitchen.
“I told Matthew,” Virginia said as she fanned herself slowly. “I’d like to see England this time of the year.”
“England?” Joy’s ears perked up. “You’re going to England?”
Virginia twirled the fork in her fingers and played with the half-eaten slice of pie still on her plate. “Yes. He found work with a hospital there. We’re leaving immediately after the wedding.”
“Oh, I’m so envious.” Margaret sighed. “I wish Liam had taken that job, you know, the one I told you about, in Spain.”
“He turned it down?” Virginia gasped.
Margaret nodded. “He says he’d rather train his horses.” She pouted and grasped Joy’s hand.
“Don’t ever choose a man who has no ambition, Joy! Look at me, I’ll be stuck in this town forever.”
“Oh, I’m sure it won’t be that bad,” Joy said. “Would you like some more pie?”
Joy tried to think of a way to steer the conversation back onto fashion or some other exciting event. But as always her friends drifted back to marriage. Who’s to be marrying who was their favorite kind of gossip. No wonder, though, she thought, they’re all rich and courted only by the cream of the crop – foreign gentlemen, rich merchants or high ranking officials.
“What about you, Joy?” Virginia gave her a small smile. “Any suitors?”
Joy laughed. “Oh yes, quite a number, but...” But none of them as rich as your husband, she wanted to add but bit her tongue. In fact, none of them could afford Virginia Patton’s furs or dresses, let alone match her fortune!
“Oh?” Margaret leaned forward, a grin on her face. “Who is it? Any wealthy businessmen?”
“A lawyer?” Virginia pressed. “My cousin Victoria’s marrying one later this year. If there’s a doctor among them, you should definitely tell him to work abroad.”
“Or an officer, maybe? They’re so handsome in their uniforms and with all the medals.”
Margret was getting all dreamy eyed again when Joy’s mother arrived with a glass of cool water for Virginia. Joy blushed.
“No doctor, but they’re all fine young men - hard-working, generous, God-fearing...”
“Hard-working?” Virginia’s mouth curled into a sneer.
Joy gulped and glanced at her mother, who in turn gave her a pointed look and said, “There is one very determined young man.”
Joy raised a brow at her mother, who flashed her a wide smile.
Margaret giggled. “Who is it, Mrs. Fletcher?”
“It’s a secret,” Joy’s Ma said, “but I can tell you he’s got a dozen of shops to his name!”
“Well!” Virginia’s eyes widened. “That’s interesting. When’s the date?”
“Soon,” Mrs. Fletcher said with a giggle.
A dozen shops? Her parents hadn’t said anything, but if the man could provide her with dresses as beautiful as the one Virginia Patton was wearing, then who was Joy to complain?
“Well, I think that’s enough cake for the day,” Virginia said. “I still have to pick my wedding dress. Everyone will be there, including some young noble from England.”
“Fabulous!” Margaret followed after Virginia, both ready to leave.
“Good day Mrs. Fletcher,” they said in unison and waved to Joy. “See you tomorrow, darling.”
Joy waved back and smiled, but as soon as they were out the door, she turned to her mother. “You haven’t told me I had a new suitor.”
“It was a surprise!” the older woman laughed a bit too nervously for Joy’s taste. What was her mother up to?
She grabbed her daughter’s hand and said, “He’s young, successful, very kind, and very rich!”
“Oh?” Joy liked the sound of that.
Her mother nodded. “In fact, he sent a present for you.”