Chapter 3

     “I had forgotten how uncomfortable all this fabric is.” Jamie tugged and pulled, shifted and loosened the pale blue gown with its dark blue petticoat and bustle. The bodice was pulled taught over her small breasts, and although she wore a corset, there was no need, as her waist was small and her curves nearly non-existent from her work at the mines.

     “But you look beautiful, if a bit thin. And I really do want to go to the dance tonight. Your father hasn’t wanted to socialize since Edmund…”

     “It’s okay, Mother. I don’t mind going with you. And it will give the old women something to talk about tomorrow.”

     “Thank you, love. Shall we?”

     Together, they strolled through the streets, Jane’s pale rose gown rustling against her daughters blue one. At the village green they both smiled in delight at the brightly colored streamers hung in the trees, the small stage set up for the band, and the children in their gay clothes laughing and dancing around the maypole. Arm in arm they walked to the punch table, dodging children dressed in their Sunday best running through the crowd with sweets clasped in their hands.

     “Hello, Mrs. Crabtree. How are you this evening?”

     “I don’t—fine. Thank you. And you, Mrs. Suthhurst?”

     Jamie grinned slightly at the blatant lack of greeting.

     “Hello, Mrs. Crabtree. Good to see you, as always.” 

     “Jamie. Good to see you properly dressed, although I see that your hair hasn’t grown out yet.”

     “Well,” began Jane, her cheeks pink and her shoulders rigid.

     “Oh Mother, look, there’s Willie and his family. Shall we go say hello? I’m sure Mrs. Crabtree has other people to discuss.”

     Grasping her mother’s elbow she gently guided her in another direction, grinning once again at the sputtering of the old woman behind them.

     “Can you believe her? The absolute gall! How dare she comment on anyone’s appearance, the old shrew.”

     Laughing, Jamie said, “Mother, don’t let her bother you. Just think what she would have said if I had come in my work clothes.”

     An unladylike snort escaped her mother and she quickly placed a hand over her mouth, her eyes betraying her laughter.

     “Hello, Willie. How are you, tonight?”

     “Good, Jamie. How are you, Mrs. Suthurst? I don’t suppose I could request a dance with you later?”

     “Why Willie, I would love to. But surely your dance card is full?”

     “No, Ma’am. I’ve saved it for yourself and Jamie.”

     Jamie laughed out loud, and said, “Right. My mother, maybe. But I fully intend to watch, not participate.”

     A young woman stepped smartly up to Willie’s side, and he said, “Jamie, Mrs. Suthurst, have you met my sister Sarah?”

     “Nice to meet you both. Willie has told us so much about you,” the young woman said.

     Shaking their hands, Sarah ran an appraising eye over Jamie, whom had been a topic of discussion in her household on more than one occasion. Upon reaching her face, she met the palest blue eyes she had ever seen holding an expression of bemused patience. Her stomach did a slight roll, and stammering, she said, “You’re wearing a lovely gown, Ms. Suthurst. Your’s as well, Mrs. Suthurst. What a lovely color.”

     “Thank you, Sarah. We brought them with us from London, and I’m so glad we finally have a chance to wear them. Is your mother here this evening?”

     “No, ma’am. She doesn’t really approve of this kind of thing, but she allows us to come out for a little while without her, as long as Willie is our chaperone.”

     “Ah, I see. Well, please send her our regards, and tell her if she would like to have tea one day, she’s welcome to stop by.”

     Sarah’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly and then shut again.

     “We’ll tell her, Mrs. Suthurst, thank you,” said Willie, gently taking his sister’s hand in his and giving it a squeeze.

     “Yes, of course. Uh, Willie, I’m going to go see if Mary Ellen is okay.”

     With a nod to the women, she lifted her dark grey skirt and walked quickly away, her head held erect and her shoulders stiff.

     Turning back to Willie, Jamie and Jane talked to him about his plans at the mill, about the goings on at the mine, and the possibility of a train really coming through the town.

     “My husband is quite excited about the possibility of train travel in this area, Willie. It would make transporting the gypsum from the mine so much easier and faster. And of course, it would allow us to get to London on occasion without such wear and tear on the horses.”

     Willie listened, but his eyes followed the pretty, plump brunette talking in a group of other girls across the dance floor. “I agree, Mrs. Suthurst, but my mother feels differently. She is adamant that the train would cause everyone to leave and the children to forsake their parents in search of adventure.”

     Jamie laughed, made some innocuous reply, and then said, “Willie, I believe the dancing is starting. Perhaps you have someone to ask to dance?” She tilted her head in the direction of his gaze, and, swallowing hard, he said, “Yes. Mrs. Suthurst, will you do me the honor?”

     “Willie! I meant Mary.”

     “I know what you meant. Maybe if she sees I’m a good dancer, she’ll  be more likely to say yes.”

     Jane grasped his hand, and with a big smile said, “Ah, Willie. Using me to make another woman want you. It’s been forever since I could play that game. Indeed, let us dance!”

     With that, Jamie watched as her mother and brother high stepped to the music, smoothly dancing around and with one another. When they came back, breathless and laughing, she said, “Willie, I had no idea you could dance so well! Mary is sure to want a turn. Why don’t you go do it now, while she’s still watching you?”

     Willie’s head snapped around to see if it was true, and then gave a silly grin when he realized Jamie was teasing him. Taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders, he strode briskly across the dance floor, and as Jane and Jamie watched, he gently touched Mary’s elbow, and bowing, requested the dance. She placed her hand in his, and soon they were enjoying one another’s company on the dance floor. Neither of them had another dance partner for the rest of the night.

     Jane was asked to dance by several young men who worked for her father at the mine, and although one or two made a half-hearted request for Jamie as well, she politely let them off the hook. These were men she laughed with and worked beside in a filthy mine. They wanted as much to do with her outside that life as she did them. She moved softly into the shadows and continued to watch as her mother and her best friend enjoyed themselves, and then caught site of Willie’s sisters, tapping their feet but sticking close to one another on the edge of the festivities. Young John Walker approached them and held out a hand, but found himself none too gently rebuffed. Jane narrowed her eyes and watched him return to his friends, who slapped him on the back and obviously gave him guff for failing.

     Sarah’s feet tapped, and she swayed, desperately wishing she could dance, but knowing that her mother would hear of it and punish them. She had had to fight for them to come at all, and if her mother heard anything she could use against them, they wouldn’t be allowed to go to another festival.

     Glancing around, she found herself trapped by coral blue eyes. They stared at each other for a long, intense and unexplainable moment, and then she turned away abruptly and said, “Time to go, or mother will be cross.” Her sisters grumbled, but gathered their skirts and followed their eldest sister out of the village square. Sarah placed a hand hard against her stomach, trying to push away the confusing rolling caused by the blue eyed woman who wore men’s clothes and had short hair.

     Jane watched thoughtfully as the girls walked away, wondering what had just passed between Willie’s sister and herself. She found herself admiring the way Sarah’s hips swayed under her skirts, and the way she held herself so erect, with her shoulders pulled back. She probably doesn’t know that it pushes her breasts forward. Jamie shook her head, wondering where in the world the thoughts came from. It must be from spending so much time with the men at the mines, she decided. She turned her attention back to the dance floor, but couldn’t quite shake a feeling of unease.

Go to Chapter 4

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