Somewhere to Call Home (Love Inspired Historical) Read Online Free Page B

certainly an interesting one, too. I’ve many stories to tell.”
    “I look forward to hearing them.” Violet took some potatoes and passed them down.
    “The gentleman next to her is Benjamin Roth, who is a teacher,” Mrs. Heaton continued with the introductions. “And across from you is Lila Miller, who works at Butterick.”
    Benjamin had blond hair and blue eyes. “Good to have you with us, Miss Burton.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Roth.” Violet then smiled at Lila. “Butterick! Oh, wonderful! Their patterns certainly have made it easier for the home seamstress to make garments that fit,” Violet said.
    Lila gave a half smile and slight nod while Mrs. Heaton continued, “On your right is Luke Patterson. Luke writes dime novels.”
    “Dime novels?” Violet asked. She’d never met a real writer before. “How interesting.”
    Luke’s blue eyes seemed to twinkle as he brushed his brown hair off his brow and smiled. “I think so.”
    Mrs. Heaton continued, “And next to him is Elizabeth Anderson, who works for The Delineator . She’s also the young woman you’ll be sharing a bathroom with.”
    “We met at the landing, Mrs. Heaton,” Elizabeth said with a smile. She had blond hair and hazel eyes.
    “And Elizabeth was kind enough to accompany me down to the parlor,” Violet added. “I love The Delineator . Mother subscribed to it and we pored over it, looking at all the newest styles.” She looked from Elizabeth to Lila and back again. “Isn’t The Delineator owned by Butterick? Do you two work together?”
    Lila gave a brief shake of her head, but Elizabeth explained. “Butterick does own the magazine. And we joke about being coworkers, but The Delineator has its own offices at Butterick Publishing Company on Thirteenth Street.”
    “I see.” Violet liked Elizabeth. She was quite friendly and helpful. She wished she could say the same about Lila, who only seemed to smile for Michael’s benefit.
    Mrs. Heaton continued with her introductions. “Of course you’ve met Gretchen and Maida. We have another boarder, but he’s out for the evening. You’ll meet him tomorrow.”
    “It’s probably better this way. The whole bunch of us at one time might intimidate Miss Burton,” Luke Patterson said.
    “I’m sure she can handle being around us all, Luke.” Julia took a roll from the basket Mrs. Heaton passed her and handed it to Benjamin. “She’s got to be a brave woman to move to New York City on her own.”
    Violet almost laughed out loud. If Julia could have seen her at the train station today, she might not think she was so brave.
    “Violet will be able to handle this household with ease. I’m certain of it.” Mrs. Heaton smiled at Violet and then looked around the table. “What we need to do for her now, though, is try to come up with places that she can apply for employment. Do any of you know of any openings?”
    “What is it you are trained to do, Miss Burton?” Julia asked from down the table.
    “Well, I can’t say I’m trained to do anything. I can cook and clean. And I can sew, but I’m not sure I could call myself a seamstress. I’ve only sewn for my mother or myself.” Suddenly, Violet realized she wasn’t really trained for any kind of employment. She’d been groomed to be a wife, but that wasn’t anything she wanted any part of at the moment—if ever. “I really don’t know what kind of work I’d be best suited for....”
    “Don’t worry,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle. “I most certainly wasn’t trained to work for a magazine. Most of us have positions where we’ve been trained to do the job. I don’t think The Delineator has any openings at present, but I’ll check. I’m sure you’ll find something, though.”
    “Lila, didn’t you say recently that Butterick was needing help?” Michael asked.
    Lila glanced over at Violet and chewed her bottom lip for a moment before looking back at Michael. Her smile brightened as she fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I