Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart 145sounds like it’s full. Sometimes the maid gets busy andforgets to fill it.”“I imagine keeping up with Mrs. Worthington’s standardsis a very demanding task.”“She has overwhelmed more than one maid. Itbecame such a situation that Henrietta couldn’t find asingle girl to work for her in the whole county.”He whisked the tin from Noelle’s hand. “Did shehave to advertise outside the territory?”“She wasn’t taking any chances of being withouthired help again, so she brought Sadie from back East.She can’t go anywhere until she’s paid off the cost ofher trip out here.”“That’s one way to solve the problem.” He lit thematch and set it to the crumpled paper and dry cedarkindling already in the grate. At Noelle’s smile, thetundra of his emotions thawed some. “A fancy houselike this should have one of those heaters, what are theycalled? Furnaces.”“Henrietta doesn’t approve of them. She won’t allowa single coal heater anywhere in the house.” She smiled,looking not as guarded as she spoke of her aunt.Probably not because she was starting to like himagain.“It’s an ongoing discussion of ours.” She shruggedas if it was more amusing than anything else. “Shebelieves it’s not natural for a house to be so warm. Shethinks newfangled inventions make life too easy for us.She is a firm believer that hardship builds character.”“It doesn’t hurt it, that’s for sure.” He watched thepaper melt before the flames and the fire lick up throughthe kindling to snap and pop greedily. He opened thedamper. “Is there anything else you need me to do?”