Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Book #1) (21 page)

Lilly smiled and nodded. “Indeed, I was going to comment that you looked quite trim.” No sense bursting the woman’s bubble of enthusiasm.

“Oh, thank you for helping me with this dress. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Nor I without you,” Lilly commented, gently lifting the edge of her silk skirt for emphasis.

“That burgundy really is your color,” Addie replied. “And you’ve made it over in such a delightful manner. The way you’ve cut the neckline is modest yet completely youthful. And your waist, why, it’s so very tiny, and that black cording only emphasizes it.”

Lilly felt her cheeks grow hot. She hadn’t worn anything this lovely in a very long time. Memories rushed in of a time when her mother had waived the rules and allowed her to accompany her parents to a party at the Cheevers. Lilly had worn a very grown-up gown of pale pink. Her mother had even helped her to arrange her hair, pinning part of it up and leaving the rest to hang in ringlets around her face and shoulders. Lilly had felt very special that night, and Matthew’s reaction to her had left her feeling weak in the knees.

As if reading her mind, Addie whispered, “I’ll bet Mr. Cheever won’t be able to even look at another woman tonight. You’ll simply take his breath away.”

Glancing up, Lilly caught sight of Mintie peering out the front window. The moment the group began to walk across the street, the door flew open, and she marched out the door to meet them. “It’s obvious you’ve been absent from polite society much too long,” Mintie greeted. “We are going to be late! Apparently you’ve forgotten that
proper
ladies do not enjoy making a spectacle of themselves. You are supposed to be setting a proper example for your young charges, Adelaide. Tsk, tsk,” she chastised through pursed lips while casting a look of disdain in Addie’s direction.

“And your gown is once again inappropriate. The style is much too youthful. You’re a woman of forty and five and should dress in accordance.”

“Speaking of gowns, I thought you had discarded that dress several years ago, sister. Isn’t that the frock the Judge described as frumpy?” Addie inquired.

The girls giggled and Mintie gasped, smoothing down the dull brown gown. “For a woman of my years, this dress is most assuredly better than that which you’ve chosen for yourself.”

Lilly could see that Addie hadn’t meant to make her sister feel bad. Unfortunately, Miss Mintie just seemed to bring out the worst in people.

“I’m sorry, Mintie. That was a most insensitive remark,” Addie said. Mintie failed to accept or reject the apology. Neither did she offer an apology for her own biting remark only minutes earlier.

If Addie noticed, she gave no evidence. Instead, she joined in with Prudence and Marmi’s infectious laughter, forgetting the caustic beginning to their evening. Even Mintie began adding to the animated conversation as they approached the Old Stone House on Pawtucket Street.

“The balls are not nearly as grand as what we held in Boston, but they do their best to charm the Lowell society,” Mintie stated rather casually.

Lilly found it amusing that Mintie would actually allow herself to be momentarily caught up in the revelry. Lilly had never seen her this way. It made Mintie more accessible—more human.

“I’ve never gone to a ball in Boston,” Marmi commented, “but I simply adore the parties we have. I shall dance all night.”

“No doubt you’ll need a hefty supply of salts for soaking tired feet,” Mintie told Addie. “If you need extra, I might have some to share.”

Lilly found Mintie’s generosity out of character. Perhaps the party spirit had found its way into the old woman’s heart after all.

“Right this way, ladies,” Phineas Whiting welcomed as their small group entered the slate stone edifice. He appeared to enjoy nothing more than having his establishment filled with patrons determined to have a good time. He tugged at his graying beard and smiled at the near-capacity crowd. “There’s punch if you’ve a thirst and food if you’ve a hunger, courtesy of the Associates, of course,” he announced, waving his arm in a welcoming gesture, “and music for your entertainment.”

“Indeed there is.” Someone pressed his hand into the small of Lilly’s back. “After searching the room and not seeing you, I was afraid you hadn’t taken me at my word,” Thaddeus Arnold whispered in her ear. “I believe this is my dance.” His fusty warm breath caused her to shiver. His hand clenched around her waist. “Don’t refuse me,” he hissed from between his yellowed teeth.

Mr. Arnold’s fingers dug deeply into the flesh around her waist. “I wouldn’t want to deny your wife the privilege of being your partner,” Lilly replied, searching the crowd, hoping to see his wife’s familiar face. Yet she could not escape his grip. Even worse, John Farnsworth was escorting Miss Addie toward the dance floor, leaving Lilly alone to fend off Arnold’s advances. There was no escape as he pulled her forward onto the dance floor and pushed firmly against her. Lilly wished the orchestra was playing anything but a waltz.

Bracing her hand against his left shoulder, Lilly pushed until there was a small space between them. “You need not hold me so tightly. I’m sure your superiors would find such behavior unseemly, especially for a married man.”

“You’ll learn to enjoy having me close to you,” he replied, his eyes now alight with wickedness.

Lilly glared in return. “I don’t know how any women could bear to have you close at hand, but hear me well, Mr. Arnold. I will
never
permit you to take advantage of me.”

He tightened his grasp and twirled her around. “You may change your mind. There are certain advantages to be gained when you’re nice to me, Miss Armbruster.” The words slid from his mouth with practiced ease. “You should talk to Mary Caruff. She can tell you the privileges that flow to those who enjoy spending a little extra time in my company.”

He had Lilly’s attention. She had assumed all of his advances toward the girls were unwelcome. Was she to believe there were girls who were willing to permit his advances in exchange for favors? That concept was even more disturbing than the thought that he would take unfair advantage of an employee.

“Talk to Mary Caruff and Rachel Filmore,” he said, apparently observing the confusion etched upon her face. “They’ll tell you how, shall we say,
profitable
, their extra time with me has been.”

Lilly was incredulous. “Am I to understand that you actually pay Mary and Rachel for their company?”

“I didn’t say that I pay them,” he said, tugging her closer. His mouth was against her ear. “They grant me certain privileges, and I do the same thing for them. Understand?”

Pulling her head away, she looked into his beady eyes. “You give them special favors at work, is that what you mean?”

He looked at her as though she didn’t have sense enough to come in out of the rain. “Of
course
that’s what I mean—for those who willingly cooperate. I overlook the fact that they come in late on occasion, and I make sure they have the best machinery. It’s good that you are beautiful. If you were required to depend upon your intelligence or wit to figure things out, you’d die a certain death.”

Lilly didn’t acknowledge his comment. “What about the girls who don’t cooperate? What do you do for
them?
”

His eyes glistened and his fingers moved up her back. “If you must know, they have a great deal of difficulty accomplishing their work to meet specifications, and within a few weeks they find themselves out of work. And without their good conduct discharge, they are unable to work in any other mill. Most are required to return home. I’m told one of them was so distraught that she jumped from Pawtucket Falls to her death, although I assured Mr. Boott it was most likely an accident, that the girl surely wouldn’t have taken her life over losing her job. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“I find it difficult to believe such a vile man as you is able to sleep at night. Do you ever wonder what the elders of the church would think of your behavior? I seem to recall that you are among the leadership at St. Anne’s.”

His look of surprise was worth every ounce of fear in her heart. It was obvious Thaddeus Arnold was not accustomed to being confronted. Their conversation lapsed at the same time as the music.

“There you are,” a voice boomed from behind them. Both Lilly and Thaddeus turned to see John Farnsworth striding toward them. “I’ve come to claim a dance,” he said. “I’m sure you won’t object.” The Englishman dwarfed Thaddeus, who was visibly irritated by the intrusion. He finally acquiesced, releasing Lilly’s hand and walking toward the door.

Lilly breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that she had seen the last of Thaddeus Arnold for the evening. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but Miss Addie said she thought you would enjoy a new partner,” Farnsworth said as they began to circle the floor.

“Miss Addie is a very perceptive lady. I am extremely pleased to have you as my partner, Mr. Farnsworth. Have the two of you been enjoying yourselves?”

“Yes, indeed. Miss Addie is excellent company.”

Lilly considered the morsels of information she had been fed by Miss Mintie concerning Farnsworth. Surely they weren’t enough to consider him a man set upon treason. He was kind and generous, a true gentleman who would be a fine match for Miss Addie. Yet seeing him secreted in the shadows with those men the other night gave her concern. She wanted to encourage him to call upon Miss Addie, yet if there was a question of character . . .

“I’ve been giving thought to asking Miss Addie if I could call on her. Do you think she would accept an invitation?” John asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“Yes, well—I imagine she would consider such an invitation,” Lilly stammered.

John gave a hearty laugh. “You don’t sound overly convincing. Perhaps I should rethink my plan.”

“No, don’t do that—I’m sure she would be very pleased to have you call on her,” Lilly quickly replied. She wasn’t going to stand in the way of a possible suitor for Miss Addie.

“I thought I saw you with some other men last Sunday night when I was returning from Belvedere,” Lilly continued as Mr. Farnsworth twirled her about the floor in a surprisingly agile manner.

Farnsworth gave no sign of recognition. His brows furrowed, as if he were thinking where he might have been that night. “What time?” he asked.

“It was getting dark, around seven-fifteen, perhaps. Our carriage came down Jackson Street. When we approached the corner, I saw three men having a loud discussion. Two of them ran off. I didn’t recognize either of them, but the third bore a striking resemblance to you, Mr. Farnsworth.”

He appeared to be sifting through her words. “It may have been me. I believe I was out with several other gentlemen on Sunday evening. I can’t say that I recall them running off when we parted company, however. Was there some reason you were concerned about my whereabouts?”

Lilly felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “No, not at all. I was merely surprised to see you. I didn’t realize you had already developed friendships here in Lowell.”

He smiled down at her. “With the number of Englishmen working at the Merrimack, I’ve had little difficulty becoming acquainted. Thank you for the dance,” he replied as the music came to a halt. “I’ll trust your advice in regard to Miss Addie and hope she doesn’t disappoint me when I seek permission to call.”

Lilly quickly surveyed the room, hoping she could slip out the side door without being noticed. There hadn’t been any stipulation as to how long she was to remain at the party, merely that she attend. Weaving her way through the crowd, she passed the punch table and was only steps from the door when someone boldly grabbed her by the waist.

“Not planning to run away, are you? We weren’t finished with our little talk.” Mr. Arnold had pushed her against the stone wall, the cold slate cutting into her shoulders as she backed away from him. “I believe you were commenting that the arrangement shared between several of the girls and me might be of interest to others. I would strongly suggest that you refrain from such remarks.” His face was taut, his jaws clenched as he continued to block her movement.

Trembling, Lilly tried to bolster her courage. She twisted her hands together, hoping he wouldn’t see how badly they were shaking.

“Is this some new dance where you block your partner’s movement, Mr. Arnold?” Matthew asked as he neared where they stood.

Thaddeus quickly dropped his hold and stepped away. “No. We were merely having a discussion about the excellent working conditions in the spinning room. Miss Armbruster is learning how to adapt to her new surroundings.”

“I’m sure you don’t mind if I interrupt your conversation. Miss Armbruster owes me a dance,” Matthew replied, never taking his gaze off of Lilly.

Acting the proper gentleman, Mr. Arnold bowed from the waist and uttered his consent. Lilly avoided looking in his direction, but she could feel his gaze upon her even after Matthew led her onto the dance floor.

“Charming fellow. I didn’t realize you cared for his type. And isn’t he married?”

“You’re not amusing.”

“Ah, dear Lilly, you used to think I was quite amusing,” he replied, pulling her a bit closer as the orchestra began a waltz. “Remember this song?” he whispered. “Remember how some of the matrons thought us mad to allow waltzing in our gatherings?”

The music, the dance, and his arms all blended together, transporting her back to a time when she was safe and when life made sense. Without thinking of how it might look, she rested her head on his shoulder, desperately wishing her life could return to those happier days. Her fear of Arnold had left her feeling quite weak, and Matthew’s supportive embrace renewed her strength.

“It pleases me that you’re finally able to show you still have feelings for me, Lilly,” Matthew said as he gently pressed her fingers to his lips.

“What? Because I agreed to one waltz you think I’m still in love with you?”

“No, not just the dance—your head on my shoulder, the look in your eyes. I’d have to be blind not to see your devotion, and it pleases me very much.”

Mortified, Lilly couldn’t believe what he was saying. How dare he assume such utter nonsense? Had she not been cornered by that lecherous Thaddeus Arnold, she wouldn’t have even considered dancing with Matthew. “You’re completely wrong, Matthew. In fact, you would be astounded if you knew just how loathsome I consider you and the life you’ve chosen.”