Claire was surprise that Mrs. Brown and her team of seamstresses had a hunter blue skirt, a plain white long sleeved shirt, and a hunter blue hat ready for her that evening so she could wear that outfit the next day.

"I‟ll have two more outfits ready tomorrow, and the rest of your wardrobe will be ready on Tuesday," she told Claire when she dropped the clothes off.

"Thank you, Mrs. Brown ," Claire replied. "I am sorry for the way I talked to you at the wedding this morning. I was upset because I assumed Austin was trying to mandate what type of clothing I wear. I have been a spinster for so long that I have become set in my ways."

Mrs. Brown ‟s face relaxed and she smiled. "I appreciate the apology. Now that I know what you like, it will be easier to design your clothes. Are you sure you want three pairs of slacks, three plaid shirts and two working boots?"

"Sometimes I help my family at their farm. It‟s not easy to do those chores in a skirt or a dress."

She nodded. "I see your point. Very well."

"Do I need to pay you?"

"No. Mr. Hansworth already took care of that."

Apparently, Austin moved fast, Claire noted. She was happy with her new clothes. They would be perfect for the play at the library the next evening. In fact, she was so excited about the skirt and shirt, she had trouble sleeping in the large comfortable bed.

She was used to sleeping on a thin, small mattress, so she felt like she was floating on a cloud on her new bed. She finally fell asleep in the early morning hours and woke up in time for church. After she got dressed, she was ready to pull her hair back into a bun when she caught sight of her reflection with her hair down. She decided to keep it down that day. Her soft golden curls framed

her face, making her appear softer and younger. She had forgotten what if felt like to actually appear feminine.

Turning from the mirror over the dresser, she slipped on her black shoes and went to the kitchen where Mary was cooking

breakfast.

“Do you need any help?” Claire asked.

“No. I manage fine in the kitchen by myself. John and Mr. Hansworth are easy to please.”

“I promise I will be too. I hope I didn‟t scare you yesterday.”

She grinned. “john and I thought it was funny once our shock wore off. We never saw Mr. Hansworth look like he didn‟t

have control over a situation before. You‟ll probably be good for him. He needs to enjoy life more. He‟s so serious all the time.”

“A couple of days around my family will most likely change all that. They live their lives based on how much fun they can have, though they have their serious moments.”

“We heard about the fiasco at the wedding. Did your family plan that?”

“No. It just happened. I‟m relieved Tristan said it was an act. I think it would have been a disaster if he hadn‟t.”

“Yes, you and your family will be good for Mr hansworth.”

Claire watched as Mary poured the pancake batter into the skillet. “I have a play to direct tonight at the auditorium, so I will have dinner with Mrs. Peterson.

Since Mrs. Peterson owns the library, she likes to thank me for putting on a play for the parents to enjoy.”

“I heard about those annual Christmas plays. The parents do like to see their children having fun on stage.”

“What‟s wonderful about children is that even when they mess up their lines, they‟re still cute. So it‟s hard to destroy a play

that they are in. Anyway, for the past five years, my brother Tristan has been writing the Christmas plays. Usually, he comes

into town to watch them but he won‟t be able to attend tonight.

He has to help make up for the chores he didn‟t get to do yesterday.“What is this play about?”

“It‟s called The birth of Jesus and true meaning of Christmas. The path leads to the manger where Jesus was born.”

“How lovely. I would like to see it. What time is it?”

“Five. It only lasts for thirty minutes but we‟ll have refreshments afterwards, so usually it is a full hour event.”

“I‟m going to push dinner back then. I don‟t want to miss it.”

“Tristan‟s thrilled whenever people tell him they enjoy his plays. Personally, I think this is his best one.”

Mary flipped the pancakes over. “Breakfast is almost ready. Mr. Hansworth likes to eat in the dining room. Will you be joining him?”

“I suppose I should.” It felt strange to eat with someone.

She was used to eating her bland foods by herself. “If you need any help, please let me know.”

“I will.”

Claire left the kitchen and walked into the dining room where Austin sat, dressed in one of his immaculate dark suits, reading the newspaper. “You‟re a very odd person,” she

commented.

He looked up from the paper. “Excuse me?”

“You never entertain guests, yet you have an oak table that seats twenty people. Why didn‟t you just purchase a small table?”

He grinned. “I like the impression it gives.”

“You want to make people think you entertain guests?

“It‟s nice to have the option though I don‟t wish to exercise it. ”She shook her head and sat by him. He sat at the head of the table. When she noticed that he hadn‟t returned to his paper, she asked, “Should I sit somewhere else?”

“No. It‟s just nice to look at you.”

She blushed.

He cleared his throat and picked up the paper. “Our wedding made the paper. Usually, these announcements are

boring but I have to admit that Jasper was right when he said „The Wedding Folly‟ was a memorable event.”

“I must warn you that my family acts like that on a regular basis.”

“So I‟ll get to see more of this for a week?”

She blinked. “You‟re planning to go to the farm for Christmas?”

“Of course. I believe hosea gave me a personal invitation.”

“But they aren‟t your kind of people.”

“They‟re my family now. Besides, it‟s not all pleasure. I‟m going to teach your family how to adequately manage money. Tomorrow they will be debt free. I don‟t wish to see them get back into trouble.”

“That makes sense.” She couldn‟t imagine him going out to the farm to enjoy himself.

She chuckled.

“What‟s so funny?”

“You don‟t know what you‟re getting yourself into.

They‟ll listen to you give your lesson on money, but I think mary is right. They‟re going to give you a lesson in how to have fun.”

“I have fun.”

“That‟s hard to imagine.”

He set his paper down and folded his arms on the table.

“You don‟t strike me as someone who has fun either.”

“I have lots of fun.”

“And so do I. We just define fun differently, that‟s all.”

“Perhaps.”Mary came in with two plates full of pancakes, ham and sausage. She set down two glasses of apple juice and two glasses

of water by the plates. She set out a jar of honey and a jar of strawberry jam. “Would you care for anything else?”

“You expect me to eat all of this in one sitting?” Claire asked. Her breakfast usually consisted of a bowl of oatmeal.

“Mr. Hansworth eats all of it. I am not sure how much you‟ll eat until I see what you do. I‟ll adjust the portions as I notice a pattern.”

“Are you going to church?” Claire asked as Mary left the room. She took a bite of the ham. Mary was a much better cook than she was.

“Yes. Aren‟t you?” He poured honey on his pancakes.

She nodded. “I did go to the church on Hinton Street, but I suppose since we are married, I will go with you. Which church do you attend?”

“The one on Washington Avenue.”

“Is the preacher there good?”

“I wouldn‟t go if he wasn‟t. He sticks to the Bible.”

She liked to hear that.

They spent most of the meal in silence.

When mary came in to announce William‟s arrival, she added, “And I look forward to the play tonight,” before she cleared the table.

“What play?” Austin asked.

“Oh, it‟s nothing major. Every year the library puts on a play that the children act in. Tristan wrote this one.”

“I didn‟t know you liked plays.”

“I love them. When I read Shakespeare, I pretend I‟m in the theater watching the actors on stage. I know the children‟s

play doesn‟t compare to an actual theater, but it‟s as close as I‟ll ever get to seeing an on stage production. I do have fun directing

the play.” She stood up. “Where is my coat?”

He led her to the front door where john was waiting with their coats, hats and gloves.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her long black coat. At least she wouldn‟t have to ask Mrs. Brown and her team

to make another one. John helped her with her coat. As she put on her hat and gloves, she noticed that Austin‟s coat was similar to

hers, though with a masculine trim. “Are we supposed to match?”

“I figured we should look good together when we go out.”

“I know. People are watching.” She marveled that he could be so concerned about what others thought of him. His whole world was about impressing people he didn‟t care much for. And he was afraid a wife would control him when strangers already control most of what he does.

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At last a chapter ✨

Much love

V.A 💙

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