Page 14 of Taming Lady Temperance

Chapter

7

“Oh, Noreen, I’m so sorry.” Jane leaned forward on the chair in her parlor and clasped Noreen’s hand, her eyes gleaming with heartache on her friend’s behalf after hearing the recounting of Sunday’s unfortunate episode.

Noreen had waited to fill her friends in on what had transpired until they met for their weekly Tuesday afternoon tea. Thankfully, the sharp sting of hurt had dimmed to a dull ache after two days. Unexpected flares of anger occasionally burst upon her, but Noreen had been doing her best not to succumb to bitterness. Prayer had been helping, but additional motivation had arisen from a surprising source. A smiling, good-natured deputy who was quick with a laugh and even quicker with a kind word. Somehow in the last few days, his opinion had started to matter to her, and the thought of disappointing him bothered her more than her stepfather’s callous treatment.

Martha’s teacup clinked as she set it on its saucer. “Has your mother reached out since then?”

Noreen nodded as she squeezed Jane’s hand. “She stopped by the hotel kitchen this morning during my breakfast shift to apologize. She didn’t stay long and wore a scarf draped over her head as if trying to hide within its folds. It wouldn’t surprise me if Arthur has forbidden her from associating with me in any capacity.”

“Her poor heart must be breaking,” Jane said. “I can’t imagine being separated from one’s own child.”

“That’s because you’d never willingly allow such a travesty to happen.” Martha set her cup and saucer on the small table in front of her chair and aimed an indignant look at Jane, who perched on the sofa next to Noreen on Martha’s right. “Even as mild mannered as you are, you’d fight to your last breath for your child. Any of us would. It’s our duty and our God-given privilege to love and protect the children in our care.”

Noreen laid a hand on Martha’s arm. How her heart swelled in her chest to have the support of two such loyal friends. “I appreciate your outrage on my behalf. I have to admit that I felt quite the same in the moment. The little girl inside me longed for Mama to speak in my defense, to defy her husband and declare that I am welcome in her house whenever I wish to visit. But once the feeling of betrayal faded, I remembered that I wasn’t that little girl anymore. Unlike your pupils, Martha, I’m a grown woman. I don’t need my mother to fight for me. I can do that myself.”

“And you have us.” Jane’s fierce look reminded Noreen of a kitten imitating a mountain lion. It was utterly adorable and completely genuine at the same time.

“That’s right,” Martha agreed with a teacher tone that brooked no argument, “and we’ll never abandon you.”

“Thank you both. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Lord willing, you’ll never have to find out.” Martha pushed to her feet and began pacing the room, her face a study in concentration. “I’ve never been terribly fond of manipulative men who use their power to get their way. But it makes me wonder why your mother capitulated so easily.” She paused her pacing and turned a concerned glance Noreen’s way. “You don’t think he will harm her, do you?”

“Not physically, no. That is one thing my mother will not tolerate. She told him before they married that if he ever laid a hand on either of us she’d leave him. But there is more than one way to assert an unhealthy dominance, especially over a woman who believes it is her Christian duty to bend to her husband’s will in everything.”

Jane’s brow furrowed. “But isn’t that true? Ephesians 5:24 says that ‘as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.’”

“Yes, but have you noticed that sermons preached on that topic fail to go on to the next verses? The ones that stipulate that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, giving himself up for her. Sacrificing himself for her good. Not subjugating her opinions and will in order to promote his own. Verse twenty-nine states he is to nourish and cherish his wife as the Lord does the church.”

Martha chuckled softly. “I see you’ve given this some thought, Noreen.”

She shrugged. “Yes, well, my mother and I have had a few debates on the topic over the years. Especially when she decides to nag me about marrying. I’ve told her that as soon as I find a man who loves me as Christ loves the church, I’ll be subject to him in marriage. Until then, I’ll hang on to my freedom.”

Jane shifted on the sofa. “Do such men exist? Christ was perfect, and his love is perfect. That seems like an impossible standard to achieve. Not even my papa, a man of the cloth, can claim perfection.”

Noreen offered a cheeky grin. “Hence why I’m still single.”

“You’re terrible.” Martha jostled Noreen’s shoulder, amusement thickening her voice. “But not exactly wrong.”

Noreen joined Martha’s laughter, and even Jane smiled, but at the back of Noreen’s mind a thought stirred. Could there be a man out there who might come to love her in such a nourishing, cherishing way? One who would put her needs above his own as Christ did for the church? She’d never credited the existence of such men, but Deputy Paxton was starting to challenge her assumptions. Oh, he’d never love her that way. She annoyed him far too much, and the secrets she harbored would destroy any goodwill she managed to build. Yet the fact that he existed meant that others might as well. A radical paradigm shift for a staunch spinster to consider.

Martha circled around to her chair and reclaimed her seat. “Have you ladies made your decision about joining the society?” Her gaze darted from Noreen to Jane and back again as if she were actually nervous about their answers.

“Of course we’re joining. Right, Jane?” Noreen looked to her friend for confirmation.

Jane nodded, though her slow chin bob lacked Noreen’s adamancy.

Martha’s perfect posture sagged a bit in relief. “Oh, good. I’ve been on pins and needles since the meeting last Thursday. Hortense and I have such hopes of encouraging a sisterhood among ladies in similar circumstances. In fact, the reason she sought out my partnership was because she recognized the close friendship that exists between the three of us. She claimed we inspired her.”

Noreen sat a little straighter. Who would have guessed that someone as respected as Hortense Lockwood would find inspiration in something in which Noreen was involved? What a novel experience.

“I should probably warn you that I promised Luella she could be a junior spinster. When she told me that she’d helped you gather research for the reports on impactful single women in history, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to offer a little more comradery. She’s so young, but she’s in desperate need of a community she can count on. She doesn’t get that at home, and she was so excited by the prospect.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Martha said. “She’s such a bright student, but she has trouble making friends her own age. And with no siblings at home, she’s a bit adrift. She wouldn’t be allowed to attend the meetings, of course, but maybe we can look for other ways to involve her. I might even be able to save her a handkerchief.”

Jane reached for the teapot and refilled her cup. “What’s this about a handkerchief?”