Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Book #1) Read Online Free

creditors came calling, and there was no stopping them until we’d sold our home and almost all of our belongings. Suddenly Mintie and I found ourselves not only penniless but friendless. People of class want nothing to do with you once you’ve lost everything. We had to find some way to support ourselves, and we read in the newspaper that they needed boardinghouse keepers, as the mills were expanding. Of course, the Judge had once been against the mills. He figured them to be full of spies. In fact, he wouldn’t have anything to do with them.”
    “Would that more men were like him,” Lilly muttered.
    Addie didn’t seem to hear the remark and continued with her explanation. “Mintie sent a letter of inquiry to Tracy Jackson, one of the Boston Associates. He and the Judge had been friends, and I think he took pity on us. In any event, after receiving Mr. Jackson’s reply, Mintie decided it was a magnificent opportunity for us to take employment here. She said it would be a job of great virtue for two spinsters. She’s very practical, you know.” Then with a twinkle in her eye, the older woman added in a hushed, almost ominous tone, “She also thought it a good way to keep an eye out for British spies.”
    Lilly couldn’t help but giggle. The very thought of anyone harboring such ideas was amusing. The war had been over for a very long time, and England was now considered an ally. How strange that Addie’s sister should still be worried over such a thing.
    “During our years at home, Mintie was always in the kitchen helping cook and run the Judge’s household. Like I said, she’s very practical. She’s tried to help me with my cooking, but she has twenty men to cook, clean, and wash for in her own boardinghouse. So she’s busy all day and most of the evening,” Addie confided. “Sometimes that’s a relief and other times it leaves me quite lonely.”
    A mixture of sorrow and pain lingered on Adelaide’s face. Lilly wondered if her memories of the past, mixed with her present failures at the boardinghouse, caused Miss Addie undo grief. “You don’t need to explain further, Miss Addie,” Lilly whispered, giving the older woman a reassuring smile. “I find myself in much the same predicament.”
    Addie nodded and wiped away a stray tear that had managed to escape and roll down her plump cheek. “You’ll not have long to suffer, I’m sure. With your beauty, I don’t know how you’ve managed to remain single this long. You’ll no doubt be married before you’re even here a year. You’re such a pretty little thing, so young and full of life. Why, you’ve just begun to live. Now, Miss Mintie and I, that’s a different story. At our age, we don’t have men lining up at the door anxious to pledge their devotion.”
    “Neither of you ever married?” Lilly blurted, immediately wishing she could take back the words as a look of sorrow once again returned to Addie’s face.
    “I was betrothed years ago, but father insisted that I wait to marry until Mintie found a proper suitor. He argued that the eldest should marry first. Unfortunately, a proper suitor didn’t come along, and my young beau tired of waiting. Not that I blame him. He was quite a handsome man, my Charles, even if I do say so myself. We were well suited. Both of us enjoyed laughter and wanted lots of children. Last I heard, he and his wife had seven children and a multitude of grandchildren.” She hesitated for a moment and sighed. “Now, why don’t you tell me about all the beaux who must have come knocking on your door, Lilly. I’ll wager we don’t have enough hours remaining in the day for the telling of those tales.”
    “Quite the contrary, Miss Addie. In fact, I’ve had only one beau; and much like your courtship with Charles, my relationship with Matthew Cheever was destined for failure.” She paused, transfixed for the briefest of moments. “But no matter,” she continued. “We’ve chosen our separate paths.”