MAIL ORDER MOUNTIES

Bride for Aaron

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CHAPTER 1

 

“You could try smiling a bit, Elizabeth. The way you’re scowling at everyone who walks by, it’s no wonder the men aren’t lining up to ask you to dance.”

 

Elizabeth fought the urge to roll her eyes dramatically at her sister. “Molly, shouldn’t you be keeping your dear husband company right now instead of worrying about whether or not I have someone to dance with?”

 

“Girls, keep your voices down. We don’t need the entire community of Ottawa seeing how you two behave around each other.” Their mother’s voice interrupted them, just as Molly’s husband Charles walked over. He leaned down to place a kiss on his wife’s cheek, and Elizabeth did roll her eyes this time as Molly smirked in her direction.

 

All around them people floated by on the dance floor, the sound of the violins and piano filling the air amid the laughter of the crowd at the Duval’s spring dance. Her family was one of the wealthiest in Ottawa, and when they put on an event, it seemed the entire city wanted to be seen at it. 

 

Their home was situated outside the city on a sprawling estate that showed off their wealth, complete with stone columns lining the end of the long lane that lead up to the massive house.

 

Elizabeth had always thought it was completely unnecessary and was even embarrassed at the showiness her parents seemed to place so much importance on. It had never reflected her own feelings and in fact, seemed to almost mock her as she struggled to find where she fitted in.

 

Her cousin, Camille, smiled at her with a twinkle in her eye. She leaned closer to Elizabeth and whispered in her ear, “Heavens, no! We wouldn’t want to cause a scene!” 

 

Elizabeth tried to keep herself from laughing out loud, but as usual, a loud snort gave her away. She may have been born to wealth and finery, but Elizabeth had never learned how to laugh quietly behind her hand like a lady. She’d caused her share of scenes with Camille over the years, and even now her mother sent them a look that showed her displeasure, much the way she’d been doing it since they were children.

 

The two younger women linked arms and moved away from the others, making their way outside. The evening was warm, and as Elizabeth lifted her eyes to the sky, she took note of the endless twinkling glow from the stars. A breeze kissed her cheek and blew strands of her red hair into her eyes. Reaching up to brush it away, she sighed loudly.

 

“Camille, don’t you ever wonder what will become of us? We aren’t like most women in our circle and as my sister likes to remind me every time she can, it’s not like we’re getting any younger. Men are still knocking on your door offering courtship, so at least you have a chance for something more.” 

 

Elizabeth looked out past the stables outlined in the moonlight. Her heart did the familiar tumble when she thought about the boy she’d loved once. They’d spent their time together riding the horses he was in charge of looking after. A simple stable hand, and yet she’d loved him with all her heart. 

 

At least, she thought she had. Until the day he’d left her without so much as a word.

 

Camille just shrugged. “If the right man came knocking, I might be interested. But the only ones calling around aren’t men who make my heart skip a beat when I look at them. I won’t marry for anything less than love.”

 

Elizabeth laughed quietly. “Love. I’m still not sure there’s such a thing.” Moving to the bench on the edge of the tree-lined pathway, she sat down, tugging Camille alongside her.

 

“Elizabeth, are you ever going to stop being so angry about what happened? You were both so young, and you still don’t even know why he left. He could have had a good reason for it. You can’t swear off falling in love ever again just because of something that happened when you were only eighteen. It’s been five years now, and I can’t believe you’re still so bitter.”

 

“I have to agree with Camille, dear. It’s time to give love a second chance.”

 

Elizabeth gasped and whipped her head around to see Hazel Hughes standing on the other side of the bench. She hadn’t even heard the older woman walking up to them.

 

“Miss Hazel, you startled me. I didn’t realize you’d taken up spying along with your matchmaking work.” She grinned up at the woman she’d known since she was a little girl. 

 

Hazel was a distant cousin to her father and attended many of the same events over the years as her family. Elizabeth had lost count how many times she’d been found by Miss Hazel whenever she’d try to hide away from the festivities. They’d spent a great deal of time talking during those moments, and Elizabeth was sure there wasn’t anything the older woman didn’t know about her life.

 

Miss Hazel had been a beacon of light in her life whenever Elizabeth had felt like she was alone. She’d given her the love she’d never received from her own mother.

 

“Shoo…move over and let an old woman sit down beside you.” Miss Hazel motioned with her hands for them to move over, while Elizabeth and Camille both laughed out loud. 

 

“I’d hardly say a woman like you could ever be considered old, Miss Hazel.”

 

“Say what you want, but these legs of mine tire much quicker than they used to. Besides, I’ve only just returned a few weeks ago from my last trip to Manitoba, and I’m still trying to catch my breath before I’m off again.”

 

“And where are you going this time? You know, with all of this matchmaking and traveling you’re doing, people around here are almost starting to talk about you more than they do about me,” Elizabeth half-joked with the woman, ignoring the stab of pain in her chest as she thought about the truth of her words.

 

She’d been the laughingstock of Ottawa’s elite since the day it had been leaked that the rich, pampered society girl had been rejected and tossed aside by a stable boy.

 

Miss Hazel’s eyes found hers, and there wasn’t even a hint of a smile on her face. “Elizabeth Duval, anyone who is still gossiping about you isn’t worth any more than a bug squished under your boot, and don’t you forget that. Do you think I give two hoots what people are saying about me?” The woman gave a dramatic shake of her head. “No sir, I don’t care a wit. I learned a long time ago that the only person whose opinion matters to me is the good Lord himself. And I sleep well at night knowing how many people I’ve helped and that I’m a good woman.” She clapped her hands together for emphasis before leaning closer and grinning at Elizabeth.

 

“And I hate to tell you this, dear, but I’ve heard more than once that you act more like me than you do your own mother, so you better learn to deal with the gossip. I have a feeling you’ll never be the type of woman who will just fit in to avoid the stares of people with nothing better to do with their time.”

 

Elizabeth sat staring at Hazel with her mouth hanging open. Camille was completely quiet on the other side of her, and Elizabeth could only imagine the look on her face. Miss Hazel was now looking up at the stars, completely calm and relaxed with her arms crossed in front of her on her lap.

 

Everything Miss Hazel had said was true, but Elizabeth still couldn’t believe the woman had just thrown it out like that. Even though she’d been faced with people whispering behind their hands as they stared at her in pity for the past five years, Elizabeth had carried her head high.

 

It bothered her, but she knew it bothered her parents more. No men had called on her since word got out about what had happened, believing her to be damaged goods. None of the families in society wanted their sons around her. 

 

When the dust had settled, and Charles had agreed to marry Molly, instead of Elizabeth as the case had always been assumed between the families, their mother had almost fainted from relief. Charles had the money and prestige her parents were desperate to be connected to, and when he’d found out about Elizabeth’s “indiscretion,” they’d been livid that she’d destroyed the chance for their families to be joined. Of course, the fact that there hadn’t been any indiscretion in the first place didn’t seem to matter to anyone.

 

Molly had jumped in right away, selflessly offering to marry him instead. Elizabeth rolled her eyes to herself as she thought back, knowing full well that Molly had always had her eye on Charles. And no matter how many times Elizabeth had told her parents she didn’t want to marry him, and to let Molly marry him instead, they’d always insisted it be her.

 

But in the end, Molly had gotten her way and was now the wife of Charles Harcourt. And her parents were happy, except for the fact their oldest daughter had caused them shame and was now considered to be well past her prime for finding a suitable match.

 

“Now, back to what we were talking about before you changed the subject.” Miss Hazel reached over and patted her hand. 

 

Elizabeth smiled and shook her head slowly. “I didn’t change the subject, Miss Hazel. You’re the one who got all fired up this time.”

 

The older woman stared at her for a moment, then shrugged. “Well, whatever the case, we have some things to discuss. You have decided that love isn’t real, and I’m here to tell you that I’ve witnessed more than my share of people falling in love over these past few months. So, are you going to say what I’ve seen with my own two eyes isn’t real?”

 

“I never meant that love isn’t real, and you know that. I’m sure it is, for some people. But in my experience, men aren’t to be trusted. And before you can argue and tell me that what happened to me was just bad luck, I’ve seen it many other times since then. Look at what happened with Charles. He’d always sworn to anyone who would listen that he loved me beyond reason, but it was clear he never meant anything he said. He was pretty quick to agree to marry my sister instead.” 

 

Elizabeth winced slightly as she thought about how hard Charles had tried to win her over ever since they were children. She’d never liked him, and had always thought him to be a pompous bore. When she’d finally told him her heart belonged to someone else, Charles hadn’t listened. He’d been furious to find out she was refusing him for a simple stable boy. When he’d ended up marrying her sister, society had the story of the decade to gossip about. If they’d only known the truth—that Elizabeth had been relieved to never have to marry the man—she was sure most of the old biddies discussing her situation would have fainted dead away on the spot.

 

“And as if that wasn’t enough, over the years I’ve seen so many men who won’t risk hurting their reputations by associating with me.” Elizabeth crossed her arms and leaned back, raising an eyebrow in defiance as she stared back at Miss Hazel. “No, I’m sorry, but I don’t believe love can happen for everyone. And I’m more than fine with that. I’ve got plenty I can do on my own, and I don’t need a man to disrupt my life.”

 

The three women sat quietly on the bench, the sound of the music coming from the open windows mingling with the sounds of the crickets in the distance. Elizabeth kept her eyes focused on a bush in the distance, not wanting to make eye contact with either of the women with her.

 

“Are you saying you’re content with your life here? That you don’t ever want to fall in love again, or have a family of your own?”

 

Miss Hazel’s voice was quiet, unlike her usual boisterous self. She almost sounded sad, making Elizabeth slowly turn and look at her. 

 

“Elizabeth dear, I’ve loved you like you were my own daughter, and I know your heart. You have so much love to give someone who is worthy of receiving it. And if you’ll let me help, I think I know the man who will be the one your heart truly belongs with.”