Beauty So Rare, A (A Belmont Mansion Novel Book #2) by Alexander Tamera

Author:Alexander, Tamera [Alexander, Tamera]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: FIC027050, Orphans—Tennessee—History—19th century—Fiction, FIC042030, Architects—Tennessee—History—19th century—Fiction, Women and war—History—Civil War (1861–1865)—Fiction, Upper class—Tennessee—Fiction, Southern States—History—1865–1877—Fiction, FIC042040
ISBN: 9781441263490
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

A fountain pen?

Lawrence Hockley had sent her a fountain pen? Seated in the small study later that evening, enjoying a cup of Cordina’s spiced tea, Eleanor opened the enclosed note.

Dear Eleanor,

In keeping with the custom of lavishing gifts upon one’s future intended, please accept the enclosed token of my gratitude for your kind attention and consideration of my offer.

Eleanor shook her head. “. . . kind attention and consideration of my offer.” It sounded as though she was considering their becoming business partners instead of husband and wife. Merely thinking of making that commitment with him made her shiver. And not in a good way.

She continued reading. . . .

I sincerely beg your pardon but I must cancel our scheduled dinner for this Wednesday evening. Business in New York demands it. I return late Sunday and would appreciate your company for dinner on Monday evening, along with your decision.

Most cordially,

Lawrence D. Hockley

P.S. Lest you infer that I have taken leave of my strongly voiced opinion that we dispense with customary traditions associated with matrimony, please know that my opinion remains unchanged. I merely noted during our last dinner that when you searched your reticule for a pen to make note of a book I recommended, you did not have one in your possession. Now you do.

Eleanor had to smile. Pragmatic though he may be, Lawrence Hockley was apparently not without thoughtfulness. She picked up the pen and turned it in her hand. Then laughed aloud when she saw Bank of Nashville engraved on the side. He’d sent her a pen from the bank?

Even as she laughed, something deep inside rose to Lawrence’s defense. It was a very nice fountain pen, after all. And it demonstrated that the man was observant, at least to some extent. She sighed.

What would it be like to be married to Lawrence Hockley? Predictable. Dependable. Safe. And think of the good she could do in the community. Mr. Hockley was a wealthy man, and from all accounts, he was generous and kindhearted. As she had learned firsthand, taking care of people’s needs took money. And she would have money if she married him. Yet things wouldn’t be the same.

To think that she could continue cooking for and serving the widows and children of Nashville would be naive. But perhaps if she spoke with Lawrence about it, if she presented the opportunity in the right light, and had time to explain it to him, much like she would do with her aunt, he might be more open to it than she expected. He was, after all, a logical man.

But what would their life together be like? As husband and wife? What would—she shifted a little on the settee—sharing an intimate relationship with him be like? If they married, they would likely have children, Lord willing, and that yearning to be a mother that she’d struggled—without success—to fully surrender, would finally be fulfilled. Yet it was the actual . . . coming to be with child—Lawrence Hockley’s child—that made her cringe a little.

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