Page 13 of Leather and Lace
The sooner she was able to return to her room, the sooner she could go to sleep and get to the next morning’s newspaper. The paper would contain Alex’s advert and the first step of their plan to getting her out from under her mother’s thumb. And so she smiled and nodded along as the couple told her of their night and asked of hers. She answered politely and calmly, playing the role of the dutiful and attentive daughter she knew was expected of her, and for once it did not feel forced, because finally there was an end in sight to it all.
That night Mary slept sounder than she had in months.
Chapter 6
Mary awoke the next morning before any in the boarding house did. There wasn’t a soul stirring as she dressed in the dark. She took care in choosing her outfit, a yellow day dress she hadn’t worn in quite some time but adored. It was plainer than her usual attire but was looser and easier on her body.
She sighed and put a hand to her stomach. If her mother had it her way her corset would be cinched impossibly tight and she never missed an opportunity to pull it as tight as she was able when she helped Mary dress. Waking before anyone else meant Mary would not have to suffer such attentions and her heart gladdened at that.
Today would be a wonderful day, she would begin her plan with Alex and manage to avoid having her breath stolen by her corset stays. The boning in her corset always left her skin tender, the stays digging painfully and making her gasp in a mixture of pain and relief once she was finally able to remove the garment.
When she was finished dressing Mary went to the window and glanced out to see the sky just beginning to turn pink with the dawn’s first light. She put a hand up and leaned against the window frame with a sigh. Her plan was to spot the newspaper delivery and make her move to intercept it before any in the boarding house were the wiser. She would have to keep a keen eye and a sharp ear out as the boarding house staff were known to be early risers and were quick to take in the morning news for their own enjoyment. There was still some time to go before the morning’s edition of the Gold Sky Gazette was printed and--
A figure appeared on the avenue and she leaned close to the window, pressing her nose to the glass trying to see who was out at this hour. Her eyes widened when she saw they had a satchel over their shoulder and were delivering newspapers to each business.
“Oh my stars,” she breathed. It appeared the news was early today, and she had no complaints at the pleasant surprise. They were only two doors away now and she turned, rushing to her door as quietly as she was able. She had to get to the front door before anyone else and making a racket would do her no favors. Mary took in a deep calming breath. She held it in for a moment before letting it out slowly.
“Stay calm, stay calm. It’s all going to happen. It will all work. You’ll see,” she whispered and took in another deep breath. Thank heavens she had the extra room in her dress to breathe comfortably. If her mother had done her up that morning she would have fainted by now. Slowly and carefully she unlocked her door and peered down the hallway. It was empty and quiet. The morning light showed her the faint outlines of the furniture and doorways and she crept into the silent hallway with another furtive glance.
Mary winced with every creak and groan the floorboards made beneath her feet but finally she was at the front door and not a moment too soon. She had just begun to peer through the curtained window when the silhouette of the newspaper delivery boy appeared at the bottom of the steps. He had hardly set a foot on the bottom step when Mary threw open the door and burst from the boarding house.
“Good morning!” she greeted and then clapped a hand over her mouth when she realized she had nearly shouted her hello. The newspaper boy yelped and fell onto his back in surprise.
“M-morning miss,” he managed, shoving himself up onto his knees.
“I’m so sorry,” Mary whispered, she glanced behind her, glad the house remained silent. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” she told him coming down the stairs and extending a hand. “Here, let me help you.”
“Thank you, miss.” He gave her a grateful if confused smile. “Eager for a bit of news, hmm?” he asked, rummaging through his satchel.
“Ah, yes, I am quite the voracious reader…” she clasped her hands and gave him a quick nod, her eyes on the paper he was fumbling for. Finally he handed it to her and Mary swore she had never held anything more precious.
This was her ticket out of her current folly. Her salvation and hopes for tomorrow. She cradled it close and laughed, the sound bubbling out of her before she could stop it. Not that she cared to.
“Well, have a good morning, miss.” She opened her eyes to see the delivery boy giving her a confused look, but that didn’t matter. He could think her as silly as he liked, because today everything changed. Mary waved happily at him and bid him goodbye before she turned and hurried back to her room. The journey back was significantly less fraught, and she was smiling ear-to-ear as she slipped back into her room and locked the door behind her.
“Let us see, let us see,” she murmured, placing the newspaper onto the small window side table she normally did her needlepoint at. Opening the paper she frowned when she didn’t immediately see the marriage adverts, but then here it was, right near the end and then bold as you please. Mary saw Alex’s advert immediately.
The script was not as small as the rest, this was larger and bolder taking up nearly a quarter of the page and she laughed at how large it was.
Her mother would notice that the advert was no doubt pricier to place than the rest. Sarah James would quite enjoy that, as she would the contents of the marriage advert. There was no way anyone interested in securing a profitable match would dislike it.
Wealthy Investor Seeks Bride
Wealthy farmer seeks well educated lady as a wife. Farmer in possession of 2000 acre homestead with steady income. Young lady must be agreeable, adept at organizing and entertaining affluent business partners, and eager to start a family immediately. Looking for a speedy introduction with nuptials to follow. Young lady will be added to all banking and store accounts upon marriage.
Contact immediately through Gold Sky Gazette.
--Alex Pierce
Mary whistled in appreciation. She could almost see her mother’s eager face when she presented her with the advert. Sarah James would practically demand she write her response immediately and hand deliver it to the newspaper office. There would be no ifs, ands, or buts, before the day was out Mary would have written to Alex and all with her mother’s encouragement.
She turned when she heard a door open in the hallway. The house was slowly coming to life and overhead more telltale steps were heard as the other boarders awoke and began their morning ministrations.
Mary folded the newspaper and began to pace the length of the room. The advert was good, very good in fact, there was no way her mother wouldn’t be interested in it but how would Mary broach the subject. Perhaps she would be able to convince her mother that the fair had ignited a need for her to be proactive in her search for a husband?
That could work. She had after all always tried to fulfill her role as a dutiful daughter for as long as she had been aware of the role. Sarah James might be suspicious of it but the fact that Alex’s advert was nearly perfect would cause her mother to overlook any misgivings. She would be beside herself with excitement and that was where Mary would find her way to freedom.
A rap at the door alerted her to her mother’s presence. Every morning the pair went to breakfast together. What her mother thought might happen to her between her room and the dining room Mary had no idea, but she opened the door with a sunny smile all the same.
