Rose: Book One in Suitors of Seattle Read online

  Shawn stood for a moment unsure of what to do. There weren’t an even number of males and females. Finally, he offered one arm to Rose and the other to Lily. Lily giggled softly. “I think I like you.”

  Shawn smiled down at her. She’d be fun to have as a sister. “I’m glad.” He took both of the young ladies into dinner, noting the differences between them. Lily walked like she wanted to get somewhere. Her strides were long and purposeful. Rose took short tiny steps. He could see that under her pretty silk gown, Lily was wearing boots that looked like she’d been tromping around in the woods with them, while Rose wore slippers that weren’t meant for much more than dancing.

  When they reached the dining room the sisters sat beside one another, and he sat across from Rose. After the quiet prayer Max said for them, Lily fixed her plate quickly and ate with a relish. Rose took tiny bites and spoke softly during the meal, helping her aunt keep the conversation going.

  Shawn knew that he’d pick Lily for a friend any day, but he was oddly attracted to Rose. She would certainly do. He wondered if they could skip the courting process and just get married, but then mentally shook his head. That wouldn’t be fair to her.

  *****

  Rose knew from the minute he offered Lily his arm to take her to the table as well that she’d made the right decision. There was no need to let anyone else court her, because she was in love. This time it wasn’t infatuation or just a crush. She knew that Dr. Shawn was the only man for her and she had to have him or no one.

  After dinner, he took her out back and talked to her for a few minutes. “Are you finished with school?”

  She nodded. “I finished last month.” She was so glad to be done with it. Being finished wish school meant she could spend all her time preparing for the wedding. She’d finished the guest list but had decided to wait for a bit before showing it to her father.

  “Do you want children?”

  She blushed prettily. “Yes, I’d like to have several children.” She just hoped they wouldn’t affect her appearance as much as they had her mother’s. Her mother was quite portly now that she’d had eight daughters. “Do you?”

  He nodded. “I think every man wants children. What’s the point in working hard all your life if you’re not going to have children to leave everything to?”

  She nodded sweetly. “That makes so much sense. I’ve always loved the idea of being a mother.” But not as much as she loved the idea of being a bride. To Rose, being a bride meant being a princess for an entire day. Having people run around and help her dress, having her sisters beside her and her mother hovering over her, and all her friends watching enviously as she married the most handsome man in the territory.

  She looked at him in the moonlight. He certainly was the most handsome man in the territory. “What does your father do?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “He’s a banker.” She’d never really thought much about how her father made a living. She didn’t think much about what anyone did when they were away from her.

  He nodded. “Is your parents’ carriage still out front to take you home, or could I see you home?”

  “It’s still out front. I need to go home with Lily, but I wouldn’t mind if you called on me.” She’d never been so forward with a man in her life, because quite honestly, she’d never needed to be. Men fell at her feet. Why would she go out of her way to invite them to court her?

  “I may do that.” He took her hand in his and kissed it again. “I need to go because I have to work early tomorrow. I’ll see you soon.” He walked away leaving her where she stood, smiling off into space.

  Harriett stepped outside a moment later. “Max is seeing him out.” She studied Rose carefully. “Now that you’ve gotten to know him a little better, are you still interested in letting him court you?”

  Rose nodded, brushing her fingers where he’d kissed them against her lips, imagining it was his lips against hers. “Oh yes! I can think of nothing I’d like more!”

  Harriett shrugged. He seemed nice enough, if a little self-centered to her. Well, if that’s what Rose wanted, that’s what she’d get.

  *****

  .

  That evening Shawn sat in his office and thought about Rose. Was she the girl he wanted? He categorized what he knew about her. She was pretty. She was very polite. She had etiquette down to a science. She’d be the perfect hostess for him when he chose to entertain. She wanted children. He didn’t know what her interests were, but she could pursue them while he worked, so it didn’t matter much to him. She was well-connected. He shrugged. She’d do.

  He pulled a piece of paper and pen and ink to him. Quickly he scrawled a note to her aunt letting her know he’d decided to court Rose. He folded it to give to one of the servants in the morning to run over to Mrs. Farmer. That was easy. He’d thought he’d have a hard time finding a wife in Seattle. She’d just fallen right into his lap. He sat back satisfied.

  *****

  Rose lay quietly in bed that night listening to the soft sounds of Lily’s breathing. She wanted to ask her sister again if Dr. Shawn wasn’t perfect, but she knew Lily would not be pleased to be woken up to answer the same question she’d already answered fifteen times. She couldn’t wait to hear from her aunt. She knew, without a doubt, that she was soon going to be Mrs. Dr. Shawn Henry. What more in life did she need than that?

  When she finally fell asleep, she had a smile on her face, happy to know who she would marry.

  *****

  When Harriett awoke Tuesday morning, it was to discover she already had a note from Dr. Henry. “Dear Mrs. Farmer, I think your niece and I would suit very well. If you will be so kind as to give me the address for her father’s bank, I will ask him for permission to court her this afternoon. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Dr. Shawn Henry.”

  Harriett read the words again and shrugged. He wasn’t a bad man. Just not necessarily the kind of loving man she wanted for Rose. Finding a loving man hadn’t been part of her job, though, and if he was what Rose wanted, she didn’t know that she could stop her. She sighed as she picked up pen and paper to respond to the note and send another off to Fred to let him know she’d approved Dr. Henry.

  She carefully added that she wasn’t certain Dr. Henry was in love with Rose, but that he was a suitable man for her to marry. She didn’t know how Fred would react, but hopefully he’d talk to Rose.

  *****

  Rose was sitting in the parlor that afternoon talking to Amaryllis. Amaryllis was doing her best to ignore her older sister and had her book up covering her entire face. “Did I mention how tingles went up my spine when he kissed my fingers?” Rose asked. When Amaryllis didn’t respond, she simply went on. “He has the most wonderful eyes I’ve ever seen. And teeth? His teeth are so white they practically glow!”

  A maid cleared her throat at the doorway to the parlor. Rose looked up to see her holding a vase full of beautiful red roses. “Was there a card?” Rose was excited, and wanted to squeal over the flowers, but she knew better. If she wanted Dr. Shawn to think of her as an adult, she needed to act like one at all times. The maid set the vase on a table and pulled the card from a pocket in her apron, handing it to Rose.

  “My dear Rose, I wanted you to have the only flower that could begin to compare to your beauty. I will see you soon. Affectionately, Dr. Shawn Henry.”

  Rose’s eyes skimmed the card again, and she clutched it to her chest, burying her face in the flowers. Rose had decided that she would never accept a flower that wasn’t a rose when she was Amaryllis’s age, and was thrilled that Dr. Shawn had somehow known it had to be roses or nothing. She sighed. He was going to make a wonderful husband.

  *****

  When Fred got home that evening, he went straight into the parlor to talk to Rose. “Amaryllis? Would you mind taking your book upstairs?”

  Amaryllis nodded, looking relieved that she wo
uldn’t have to hear anything else about how beautiful the roses Dr. Shawn sent were. She really hoped that Rose married him, because she was ready for her sister to get out of the house and stop talking all the time. How could a girl read?

  Fred sat beside Rose on the sofa. “Dr. Henry came by the bank to talk to me today.” He had a look of concern on his face as he said the words.

  “And?” Rose was so excited. This was it. Dr. Shawn had asked for her hand in marriage. She could run right upstairs and get the wedding guest list she’d written out. Would her father think it strange that she didn’t have to work on it after the proposal? Should she maybe wait a day or two?

  “He asked if he could court you.”

  Rose was disappointed, but she realized that people would talk if they married without ever courting first. “What did you say?”

  Fred shrugged. “I’d already gotten a note from Harriett saying that she’d checked him out and there was nothing to worry about, but that she wasn’t sure he had feelings for you. I thought the same thing when I met him.” He was obviously struggling to find the right words. “I think he’s a good man, Rose, but I don’t think he feels the same way for you as you do for him.”

  Rose frowned. “Of course he does, Papa. All the men love me. Did you say he may court me?” She held her breath while she waited for his answer. She didn’t want to have to defy her father, but for Dr. Shawn she would.

  “Yes, I agreed.” He studied her carefully, hoping to see signs that she was actually listening to him and not off in a dream world where she was walking down the aisle toward Dr. Shawn. “But I don’t think he’s the right man for you, Rose. I think you need to find a man who is just as interested in marrying you as you are in marrying him.”

  Rose stood up. “Thank you for your permission, Papa.” She rushed from the room, excited. She had to tell Lily and Amaryllis. They’d be so happy for her. If only to get her to quit talking about the man!

  *****

  When Shawn got home from his office that evening, he sat in his lonely study, thinking about Rose. He really wasn’t sure she was the woman he wanted to spend his life with, but he did need a wife. There was no one else he wanted to spend his life with, but he felt vaguely uneasy about Rose. She was so young and sweet. Would being married to a man who had no feelings for her break her heart? Should he pretend to have feelings for her? He didn’t feel like he should lie to her about anything, and that included love. He wouldn’t tell her he loved her until he did love her, and if it never happened, then she would never hear the words.

  He pulled a piece of paper and pen toward him and wrote a quick letter to his parents. “I’ve started courting a young girl here in Seattle and expect to be married within a month or two. There probably won’t be time for you to make arrangements to make the trip, but please know you’ll be in my thoughts. Sincerely, Dr. Shawn.”

  He pulled a book down off of the shelf in his office and read for a while, bored. He was tired of being alone all the time. Marrying really was the answer. He’d call on her Wednesday evening. Her father had agreed to allow him to court her, but he’d seen reservations in the man’s face. He was unsure why, but he didn’t really care. As long as he had permission to court her, everything would be fine.

  *****

  After all the girls were in bed, Fred sat with Mary in the parlor. “I’m worried about this man who is going to be courting Rose.”

  “Dr. Shawn? Why? Did Harriett find something?” Mary looked at Fred in alarm. “Why did you agree to let him court her if you’re worried something bad will happen?”

  Fred shook his head. “It’s not that. I just don’t think he’s interested in her. I think he agreed to court her because he wants a wife and Rose is suitable. I’m worried her marriage will be nothing but heartache.” He loved his daughters and knew how desperately Rose wanted to marry. He hoped she wasn’t making a big mistake.

  Mary sighed. “We have to let her make her own mistakes. I hope you’re wrong, though. Rose has had every man in the area follow her around like a lost puppy. How could the only one she really wants be the one who doesn’t want her? Life is so cruel sometimes.”

  “It is.” But did they have to let life be cruel to their sweet children?

  “Did you tell her your fears?”

  “Of course I did. She just wandered off with her eyes all dreamy. Sometimes she looks just like Hyacinth.” Hyacinth never seemed to have her feet firmly on the ground. She was always too busy floating in the clouds.

  Mary shrugged. “You’ve done what you can then. I hope that you’re wrong, but if not, she’ll have to decide if she wants to marry him or not. It will have to be her choice. We promised not to interfere once she chose the one she wanted.”

  “I know. I hope we’re not making a mistake letting her make such big decisions for herself, though.”

  “I didn’t make a mistake when I chose you, but my parents were certainly hoping I’d marry Billy Martin, because his property adjoined ours.” She rested her head on his shoulder. After nineteen years of marriage and eight children, she was still happy with her decision to marry him. She wanted the best for each of her daughters, but maybe there was something to Dr. Shawn they didn’t see. Love was something you couldn’t see looking in from the outside.

  “I hope you’re right. I don’t want our girls to be unhappy.”

  “She won’t be. Once her children start coming, she’ll be content whether he loves her or not.”

  Fred pressed a kiss to Mary’s forehead. “I hope so. I really do.”

  Mary sighed contentedly. All women should be as lucky as she was to marry the man who made them feel like a princess.

  Chapter Three

  Rose hurried through her preparations, needing to be ready when Dr. Shawn got there. She’d never minded making other men wait, but with Dr. Shawn everything was different. She wanted to be able to spend every minute possible with him, and she couldn’t do that if she made him wait too long. He was a busy man after all. There were so many teeth in Seattle, and he was the only dentist!

  She had brushed her teeth for a full twenty minutes before fixing her hair and donning her favorite dress. It was a pale pink that showed off her skin tone to perfection. Her hair was twisted into a complicated knot at the nape of her neck, and her skin glowed from the washing she’d given it. She pinched her cheeks carefully to bring out their color before giving herself one last glance in the mirror. Yes, she was just perfect.

  She hurried down the stairs at exactly seven, the time he’d said in his note he would arrive, but he wasn’t there yet. She was surprised. She was right on time, but he was late? That was certainly the opposite of how things usually were for her.

  She went to the parlor to wait for him, noting that only Amaryllis was there again. “Do I look okay, Rilly?” She smoothed her skirt as she asked.

  “Beautiful,” Amaryllis answered without even looking up from her book. “Just wonderful.”

  “Rilly!” What did Amaryllis enjoy so much about books anyway? And wasn’t that book one she’d read just a few weeks before?

  Amaryllis tore her eyes from her book, blinking behind her spectacles. “What?”

  “Do I really look okay? This is my first time to go anywhere alone with Dr. Shawn.” She’d gone for walks in the park many times with other boys, but Dr. Shawn was different. She couldn’t put her finger on how he was different, but he was special.

  “You look fine.” Her eyes went back to her book.

  “Rilly, I’m nervous.” She knew her voice sounded like a wail, but she needed her sister to actually listen to her.

  Amaryllis carefully put a bookmark in her book and stared at Rose with wide eyes. “What did you just say?”

  “I’m nervous! I’ve never been this nervous. My stomach is doing flip flops, and I worry that I won’t know the right thing to say to him. What if he doesn’t like me?
”

  Amaryllis just stared for a moment, obviously not believing her sister was talking this way. “You really like him, don’t you, Rose?”

  Rose nodded emphatically. “That’s what I’ve been saying!”

  Amaryllis waved her hand as if to say she hadn’t believed her. “You’ve said that about so many men over the years that it’s easy to see why I didn’t believe you.” Her eyes searched Rose’s. “This time it’s real?”

  “Very real.” Rose clutched her hands together to keep from wringing them.

  “What are you doing this evening?”

  Rose shrugged. “I have no idea. I’m happy to do anything as long as I’m with Dr. Shawn.” She’d never thought she’d say that. She’d probably even put on a pair of Lily’s britches and climb trees with him if that’s what he wanted her to do.

  Amaryllis raised an eyebrow. “When are you going to call him by his first name and drop the whole doctor thing?”

  “I like thinking of him as Dr. Shawn. I feel like he deserves the respect that comes with his title.” She smiled. Even after they were married, she’d call him Dr. Shawn. It was a term of endearment in her mind. She imagined them old, with white hair, their grandchildren playing around them. She’d still be calling him Dr. Shawn. Would the grandkids call him Dr. Grandpa?

  “That’s a little strange. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Probably.” She looked fully at Amaryllis. “Do I really look okay? How’s my hair?” She’d had one of the maids put her hair up in a new style that evening. She thought it made her look more sophisticated, and she hoped Dr. Shawn agreed with that.

  “Your hair is fine.” Amaryllis squeezed Rose’s hand. “You look beautiful. He won’t be able to help but fall in love with you.”

  Rose breathed a sigh of relief. All her life she’d been surrounded by boys. Dr. Shawn was the first real man in her life. She needed to make a good impression.