Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel Read online

  2

  Edward hugged Anna tightly to his chest, and though the fabric of his suit and her wedding gown separated them, the contact from this mere slip of a young woman ignited a flash of fire that coursed through his arms straight to his heart. He drew in a deep breath, savoring the lavender scent of her hair, and noticed that her bottom lip trembled, her hands holding the now-wilted bouquet of yellow mums shook, and her blue eyes were wide. She’s scared! Of all that’s holy, I will never harm her or treat her harshly.

  In that moment, Edward decided to set her fears to rest. He swung open the door, but before he set her down, he leaned down and lightly pressed his lips to her quivering ones and said, “Welcome home, my lovely bride.”

  He marveled at her pale skin with its delicate flush of pink, then watched as she turned to survey what was to be her new home. From behind her, he noticed the many buttons that traveled down the bodice and skirt of her wedding gown. How had she ever gotten into it? Would she be asking for his assistance when she changed? Her slender neck tilted back to gaze up the cherry staircase leading to the second floor, then her eyes swept across the living room and hallway. He was proud of his home. A few of the finer pieces of his furniture he’d acquired from his friend Daniel, whose craftsmanship exceeded anyone’s in Colorado. Everything was in place for her arrival, down to fresh flowers on the piano.

  “Are you pleased?” he asked.

  “Ja! You have a beautiful home, Edward.” She walked toward the deep burgundy settee placed beneath the front windows, which were ensconced in the same heavy material that blocked out the sunlight. “I’m almost afraid to touch anything, it’s so . . . so immaculate,” she said, running her fingers through the fringe of a tapestry pillow. “Do you think you could show me to our room? I’d like to change out of my gown.” She gave him a frank gaze with those enormous blue eyes.

  “It can wait a moment or two. There’s something I want to give you,” he said, removing his suit coat and draping it neatly across the back of a chair.

  ———

  Anna’s heart began to thump against her tight corset. “I can’t wait. What is it?” Oh, he is so romantic. I love surprises.

  He gestured for her to have a seat in the chair. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He walked quickly down the hallway to his adjoining shop. She listened until his footfalls became distant. Perhaps he’d made a special piece of jewelry for her as a wedding gift. She twisted the gold band on her left finger. Simplicity was just fine with her. Now, with her sister Greta . . . well, that would be a different story, she thought with a smile. Anna leaned back against the chair and waited for her surprise, enjoying the light scent of beeswax and lemon that hung in the air from a recent cleaning.

  He hurried back with a brown envelope and took a seat opposite her. Just like a man not to take time to wrap his gift, she thought, nearly giggling. She sat with her hands in her lap and waited patiently, though she wanted to snatch the envelope from his hands. Patience was not a particular virtue of hers. She flashed him her sweetest smile, and his lips lifted at the corners, finally showing his nice, even teeth, though his steel-gray eyes looked concerned. He was probably afraid that she wouldn’t like his wedding gift, but she had few wants when it came to material things. It was the fact that he thought of something for her that tickled her.

  Edward gave a nervous cough before he opened the envelope now balancing across his knees.

  “Well, what is it, Edward?”

  “First, I want you to know that I’d like our marriage to start off in the best possible way. We’ve only exchanged a few letters, and there will be much for both of us to learn. So I’ve devised a system that will outline exactly what’s to be expected of each of us.” He slipped out a sheet of paper and handed it to her, then kept a second one for himself.

  Anna stared down at a list neatly typed on the paper. As the heat rose up her neck, she wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. She felt foolish for thinking he’d had some special gift for her. The list read:

  Your Wifely Duties

  You will serve breakfast at 7:00 a.m. sharp.

  We will have lunch at 1:00 p.m. when I break from my work.

  Supper will be at 7:00 p.m.

  Monday—Do the marketing and plan the meals.

  Tuesday—Do the wash. If there is free time in the afternoon, you may rest before supper.

  Wednesday—Dust and clean the floors and make sure the rugs are beaten.

  Thursday—Do household expenses and other correspondence.

  Friday—Do mending or ironing. This is when I have my literary society meeting, so you will have those evenings free.

  Saturday—Go shopping, take free time for yourself, or volunteer at church.

  Sunday—Attend church at 11:00 and have lunch with Ella.

  You’ll need to keep the lamps clean and windows washed and weed the garden.

  In cold weather, keep the fire going in the hearth and gather the ashes.

  Fresh flowers, when available from the garden, should be placed throughout the house.

  The consummation of our marriage will take place after ten days to give you time to adjust.

  Anna waved the piece of paper in the air. “Ack! You must be joking, Edward! This is an impossible list! I could never accomplish all of this on my own!” Her wedding gown was becoming sticky, and her corset was threatening to cut off her air supply. This was not what she thought being a bride was all about. Not at all. “What do you mean about . . . consummation after ten days?” Anna felt her chest expand and did her best to control her indignation. He’d made all the decisions down to the last detail, and they’d only been married a few hours! She started to rise, but he pressed her gently back down into her chair.

  “Anna, please calm down.” He reached a hand out to touch hers, then quickly withdrew it. “I have my own list here, if you would like to see it. And I can help you when time allows.” He shifted in his seat. “I know you’ll need time to adjust to me and to being away from your family, as well as to get to know me better. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

  Confused, Anna stared down at the sheet of paper. “I see.” She didn’t want to convey disappointment or sound too eager for them to consummate their marriage vows, or he’d think she was a bit loose. “I don’t want to see your list. As for mine . . .” She sighed with resignation. “I can try, but I’m afraid my skills will be sorely lacking.”

  He shifted in his seat, then stuffed his sheet back into the brown envelope and leaned forward with a serious gaze, his hands on his knees. “Can you cook, Anna?”

  She suddenly noticed how his dark hair curled into his collar and tried to rein in her thoughts. His frank question was only fair. She had answered his ad for a mail-order bride. One would easily assume she was ready to take on the duties of a wife.

  She chewed the inside of her lip. “Only a little. My sister Catharine did most of the cooking on the farm.”

  He laughed. “Well, at least we won’t starve. I’ll take you upstairs and show you our bedroom, and you can change. I hope the light supper Ella left for us will be adequate for tonight.” He reached for her hand and pulled her in the direction of the gleaming staircase.

  Anna stood in the center of the bedroom. Edward had left quickly—too quickly—giving her time to freshen up. Their room was decorated nicely with choice pieces of cherry furniture—a sleigh bed and a finely carved armoire. Pink roses with lighter shades of red patterned the drapes that adorned the large window facing the main street. Directly beneath the window, a luxurious rose velvet chaise looked enticing after her long day. The room had such a pleasing and relaxing effect that she decided she wouldn’t change one thing about it. Edward had very good taste and had even seen to a dressing table for her. And earlier he’d retrieved her luggage from the hotel while she was dressing for the ceremony.

  He was very thoughtful, if a bit particular, so she tried to put the list out of her mind for the moment. She did not want to ruin her we
dding night or show her disappointment with the surprise list of chores.

  Anna selected a dress from the trunk and began the task of unbuttoning the lacy sleeves of Clara’s wedding gown. She twisted to reach behind her back, her fingers feeling their way to unhook the buttons, but she instantly knew her attempts were futile. The best she could do was release the pearls from their loops at the top and bottom of the dress, but not the ones at the center. Struggling somewhat, she was able to remove her petticoats and toss them aside, leaving only the thin chemise beneath the silky gown.

  Turning her back to the cheval mirror, she craned her neck around to see if she could locate the buttons but couldn’t quite manage the task. So instead, she gathered the heavy dress up to her waist, intending to slide it around to the front of her body, but it was more than she could handle and way too tight. In her frustration between the tugging and yanking, her fashionable high heels became tangled in the volumes of material, and she lost her balance and fell sideways against the mirror. It crashed against the porcelain lamp on the dressing table next to it. In spite of her best efforts to save the beautiful lamp, it shattered on the hardwood floor, sending pieces of glass flying across the room, and she landed hard on her back.

  ———

  A thundering crash from above sent Edward clambering up the stairs two at a time to find Anna with her wedding gown billowed up about her neck like a mushroom. She was lying on her backside, fully exposing her cream-colored heels, silk stockings, and pantaloons. The neck of her dress had slipped off her shoulders, exposing her collarbone. Silky blonde hair, uncoiled from one braid, hung limply against her throat. Struggling up on her elbows, she lifted her head and giggled, but he didn’t see anything amusing once he saw his grandmother’s broken lamp and a large scratch on the dressing table, made by the mirror’s fall.

  Edward wasn’t sure which to do first—move the mirror or help Anna to her feet. She was a funny sight to behold, and he felt his lips twitch in amusement. He’d never been so close to feminine underwear or ladies’ legs and was a little uncomfortable, but at the same time, he couldn’t help staring. The outline of her slender form beneath the stockings gave him pause, but he quickly knelt on one knee to assist her amid all the silken fabric. “What in the world . . . ?”

  “I couldn’t unbutton the center of my dress, and the heel of my shoe caught in my skirts. I’m sorry I made a mess of things.”

  She took his hand, and with one solid move he brought her to her feet, forcing her to topple directly into his chest. A fit of laughter bubbled from her throat as she steadied herself against him. Edward’s hand reached out for her delicate skin where the gown had slipped. She laughed again, and he joined her. Playful little thing, isn’t she? He suddenly had a premonition of things to come, and he felt like he was losing control. How could a woman with simmering blue eyes and curves cause him to forget who he was?

  “Why don’t you turn around and let me finish with your gown?” he said after a moment. Slowly she twisted her back to him, and he sucked in his breath. Her white shoulder blades jutted out from her back as his fingers grazed her velvety skin, working to free the buttons from the frogs. As he reached the last button, the front of the gown fell forward. Desire flashed in him, and it was natural to draw her against his pounding chest until the back of her head nestled beneath his chin. He breathed deeply of the smell of her hair and skin, then encircled her with his arms, feeling the flimsy material of her chemise and her warm body beneath.

  Anna trembled with a soft sigh, then shifted slightly. Edward stifled the urge to keep holding her and dropped his arms. The next ten days were going to be very long. In two strides he was out the door as if the devil himself were after him.

  3

  Now where had she put the list? Frantically, Anna, still clad in her robe, dug through the bureau drawer, then looked in the closet, but it was nowhere to be found. Worse yet, she’d overslept because she’d stared at the ceiling half the night listening to the even breathing of her husband lying inches from her. Edward must be downstairs. She’d already been in bed last night when he slipped beneath the sheets in his long handles, but she hoped he might pull her to him despite his “adjustment period” of ten days. She’d enjoyed the feel of his strong arms about her waist for those brief few moments last night when he’d assisted her with her gown.

  This searching was useless! Catharine always said she wouldn’t be able to find her head if it wasn’t already attached. Perhaps she’d left the list on the settee last night. Best to hurry down to the kitchen and see if she couldn’t get breakfast started. She could dress later.

  Unfortunately, when she swung open the door to the kitchen, the look on Edward’s face told her everything she needed to know. A folded newspaper in one hand and an empty coffee cup in the other, he stood staring at her, his eyes flicking over her entire body from top to bottom. Would it always be this way?

  “Edward, I’m sorry I over—”

  “Well, well, well, good morning. I see you finally finished your beauty rest. I didn’t want to wake you. Breakfast was at seven, but I’ve kept some sausage and eggs warm for you on the back of the stove.” He moved to the stove and laid his cup on the counter next to it.

  Anna felt terrible. “I am sorry, Edward.” She accepted the plate he offered and sat down at the table. “I guess I was more tired than I thought.”

  He set a cup of coffee in front of her, then took a seat across from her. “You’ll do better tomorrow, I’m sure,” he said with a droll smile.

  “I seem to have misplaced the list you gave me. I forgot when you said you wanted breakfast.”

  The smile became a small scowl. “That can be easily remedied. I’ll just type it over again. Not to worry.”

  Anna breathed deeply. Was a list really necessary between husband and wife? The scrambled eggs felt thick in her throat, but she forced herself to swallow them. She sipped the hot coffee to wash them down and found his eyes on her when she glanced up. She knew she looked frightful—her hair not braided but loose about her shoulders, circles under her eyes—and she pulled the robe tighter. He, on the other hand, was already dressed for his workday in tan wool trousers, suspenders, white shirt, and bowtie. Was he ever rumpled? She doubted it.

  “Well,” he said, rising from the table, “I should be getting to the shop—” He was interrupted by the door chime. “It’s mighty early for visitors. Are you expecting someone?”

  “No, not someone, but . . . er . . . maybe something,” she muttered under her breath as he strode quickly into the hallway to answer the door. She heard voices, and then Edward’s voice grew louder with agitation. Anna pushed back her chair, knowing exactly what the cause of all the commotion was. But no sooner had she done so than Edward thundered through the doorway, followed by a young lad from the rail depot carrying a wooden crate. Anna wiped her damp palms on her robe and then folded her arms across her chest for the battle she knew was coming.

  “Anna! What is the meaning of this? This lad said he was to deliver a dog to you.” Edward’s jaw clenched, and he smashed the newspaper between his hands. “I believe an explanation would be prudent right now.”

  The yellow-haired, gangly young man grinned and set down the crate. “Yes, sir, this was shipped all the way from Cheyenne. Never been there before, but I plan on it someday. You from Cheyenne?” he asked Anna. “Maybe you can tell me all about it. Is there really a Cheyenne Social Club?” He rattled on as the dog began whining to be let out of the crate.

  Anna licked her lips nervously and smiled at the young man while Edward tried to catch her eye. “Yes, the club does exist, but I’m hardly the one to ask about it,” she answered as she made her way over to the crate. Baby, her dog, started yapping as soon as she was near. “Shh . . . Baby, it’s Anna.” She bent down near the crate to reassure Baby in a soft voice.

  “This here is the freight charge. If you’ll just sign here that you received the dog and pay the bill . . .” The young man pushed his cap
back on his head and rocked back and forth on his heels, his hands in his pockets, while Edward looked over the freight charges.

  “Edward, this is my dog, Baby. I had my sister send her to me. I’ve had her ever since she was a few weeks old.” Anna turned to the lad. “Do you think you could pry the crate open for me?”

  “Be glad to, ma’am.” He fumbled deep into his pocket for a screwdriver, then worked on the nails that held the crate together. By now, Baby was scratching at the wood slats and barking so loudly that it was hard to hear anything Edward was trying to say.

  “Why, I never!” Edward sputtered, causing the lad to take a step backward. “I don’t know where you intend to keep that dog, but it won’t be in this house!”

  The nails were off and Baby bounded into Anna’s arms, licking her face and hands. She stood, struggling to hold the dog, and lifted her chin defiantly to her new husband. “Baby has to stay with me. I can’t turn her out.”

  “Humph! The dog smells. Why would you think I’d ever consider allowing a smelly creature inside my home?”

  “Because I’m your wife and we are to share this house.” Anna could feel tears sting her eyes. Why was he so against having a pet?

  “Excuse me . . .” The lad shifted in his scruffy boots, looking uncomfortable. “I need to get on back to the depot. If you’ll just pay for the charges, I’ll be on my way.”

  “I’ll be glad to pay you for the freight charges, Edward,” Anna said.

  ———

  Edward stood stiffly, considering what she’d just said. Of course it was to be her home too. Didn’t he agree to that when he took a wife? But then, he’d never considered Anna wouldn’t want to live exactly as he did. He fished in his pocket, took out some bills, and handed the money to the lad, who made a quick exit, slamming the front door on his way out. When Edward turned back around, the dog she called Baby jumped from Anna’s arms and hopped around, then stood on her hind legs against Edward’s pant leg, her tongue wagging and her friendly dark brown eyes shining. He didn’t know exactly what to do as the little dog danced on her hind legs.