Page 32 of Bride in Blue
“I guess we can get everything moved first,” Mrs. Brown replied. “And I’ll make a fresh pot of coffee.”
Cassie put the cake box on a sideboard and then took the other boxes from Mrs. Brown. “I’ll follow you to your office, Max.”
Max picked up the sewing machine and led Cassie to a room on the other side of the house. Her father was sitting on a settee examining a pair of pants.
“This fabric is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“It has more silk than other fabrics,” Max said.
“Really?”
Max nodded. “That is just a sample. My supplier in Boston sent it to me.”
“It really has such a regal feel to it.” He turned one of the legs inside out. “The sewing is impeccable. You can see that they bound the fabric before actually sewing it together.”
“Father, Max brought us a sewing machine.”
Her father looked up. He was wearing magnifying glasses and his eyes looked double their normal size as he blinked at her. “A sewing machine?” he repeated.
Cassie nodded. Max set the machine down on the desk. “Let me just gather up this correspondence and then the desk will be yours.”
Cassie placed the boxes down on the floor next to the desk and started gathering up the papers closest to her. As she was putting them in a pile, an envelope fell from the desk and drifted to the floor by her feet. It appeared unopened.
Cassie leaned down and the logo on the corner caught her attention. She blanched as she read the words underneath.Weston Fabrication, New York City, New York.Cassie gave little cry and dropped the envelope to the ground.Why would Max be receiving a letter from Mr. Weston?
“Are you alright,” Max asked, looking at her with concern.
Cassie composed herself and picked the letter back up, sliding it between the papers in her hand. “Just being clumsy I suppose.” She handed the papers to Max. “Here you go, I think we have enough room.”
“There is no need for me to bring up the past.”
“You need to tell him. He’ll find out at some point.”
Cassie glared at Mrs. Pennyworth. The woman was sitting at the table in the haberdashery admiring some new ribbons that just arrived. Cassie moved around the store, dusting the shelves, ignoring her guest. “Cassandra, he can help you if you just let him.”
“He has already helped me. He married me, and I will never have to worry about that horrible man again.”
“If you don’t talk to your husband, at least talk to your father.”
“That man threatened to send my father to prison! Or worse, the asylum.
“Perhaps there is something more?” Mrs. Pennyworth asked. She wandered over to the notions cabinet and started pulling out drawers.
“What are you looking for?” Cassie placed her hand on her hip. The duster giving her the appearance of a feathered tail.
“Here they are.” She took three pearl buttons and placed them on top of the cabinet. “My Henry had a shirt with these buttons.” She sighed. “I really do miss him so much.
“I am so sorry. How did he pass?”
Mrs. Pennyworth looked at her. “He hadangina pectoris. Or at least that is what they called it. Doctors said his heart gave out. Turns out mine did too. Right there at his funeral.”
“That explains the mourning clothes.”
“Yes. This is what I was wearing when I passed.”
“Oh, Mrs. Pennyworth, I am so sorry.”
“It simply means I couldn’t go on without him. So, I’m glad to have these little reminders. His buttons remind me that everything will work out for the best.” She fingered the buttons. Suddenly Mrs. Pennyworth stood straight and looked at Cassie. “But this doesn’t help you, Cassandra. I’m sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for why Maximillian had a letter from Mr. Weston.”
