"Nora, please tell me you are at least dressed and washed up." My father, face as weary as ever, walked into my room, as I brushed out a stubborn curl.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I gave a half smile, jitters in my stomach for who knew why. Mr. Samuelson was to be here any minute, and perhaps just the thought of an intimate evening with such an interesting man got me a little excited.
"Well, glad you at least can get yourself ready. It seems Minevera and Hettie are having a little trouble. Can't find a thing to wear, or something to that effect. And don't even get me started on Nelly. The little darling wont clean her dirty hands for nothing." My father sighed. "Now if your mother were here, she would have everyone ready to go thirty minutes before any guest was expected."
I moved closer to him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder, and giving him a gentle squeeze. "You do your best, and Mother would be proud, I'm sure." I stated quietly. Truth was, I missed her most, and trying to fill her shoes was never an easy thing to do, especially when I still had lots of growing up to do myself.
Suddenly Peggy knocked on my door, breaking up our tender moment, and I smoothed my skirts out, hoping to look somewhat presentable.
"Ah, Sir, there's a gentlemen at the door for ye. I showed him in into the parlor." She curtisied and left, leaving my father and I to wonder what was the next step to make.
"Nora, do you mind entertaining him while I get the rest of the girls finished getting ready?" My father patted my hand, and nodded, already knowing I would.
I nodded, the jitters in my stomach increasing just as I tried to push them down. I increased my pace down the stairs, while still trying to look as if I were in no hurry at all.
I pushed open the parlor door, trying to open it without sound, I stepped into the room, looking around for Mr. Samuelson.
"Miss Ainsworth." An automatic smile appeared on my face as he said my name.He set down the picture of my mother that he had just before held in his hand, and gave a small bow. I curtisied in return.
"Mr. Samuelson. My father will be in shortly, he's just attending to my sisters, for the minute."
"Ah, no hurries. Besides, I get to spend a few minutes alone with a very beautiful girl, and by far, there are worse ways to spend my time." He gave a huge smirk, and I knew he was teasing.
"Careful what you say around here Mr. Samuelson, my sisters can pick out a flirt from a mile away." I stated, feigning to be completely serious. "They'll take advantage of that, without a doubt."
"Oh, we wouldn't want them on to our little secret, now would we?" He winked, and I blushed despite myself, which sent Mr. Samuelson into a roar of laughter.
I turned away, a smile on my own face; only I didn't want Mr. Samuelson to see I was enjoying his company.
"Well, seems Nora did a fine job of keeping you busy, Mr. Samuelson." My father picked that moment to walk into the room, Hettie, Minevera, and Nelly following close behind.
"She did a fine job indeed." Mr. Samuelson grinned, which put a very thoughtful look on my father, something, that I doubted was a good thing for me.
"Mr. Samuelson!!" Nelly giggled, running to her hero, and jumping into his arms. Mr. Samuelson had just enough good sense to catch her at the last second, which made Nelly grin broadly.
"Nelly! Mr. Samuelson doesn't want you crawling all over him!" Minevera whispered harshly. "Mr. Samuelson has more important women to greet, don't you Mr. Samuelson?" Minevera pulled out her fan, fanning it really fast, despite my father being right next to her.
I frowned. This dinner party wasn't going good at all. Not even two minutes in, and we already had my sisters all over him.
"Really, I don't mind Nelly." Mr. Samuelson stated, making Nelly giggle as she was set on the ground. Fortunately for Minevera, Mr. Samuelson completely ignored her fan gesture, instead coming to my father to give him a handshake.
"Come Mr. Samuelson, let's get dinner underway, shall we?"
"Why not?" Mr. Samuelson stated. Nelly insisted he take hold of her hand as they walked toward the dinning hall.
Before we even made it there, Peggy came running to my father, whispering something into his ear, before taking off again.
My father looked surprised, but no worse for wear. "Seems we have another visitor. I wasn't expecting anyone else, but, I'll go and see who it is. Forgive me Mr. Samuelson, I'm just afraid it is important bank business that I cannot let go."
"Feel free to answer the caller. It is your house after all." Mr. Samuelson nodded understandingly. "Besides, I have these four lovely ladies to see me to the table."
Hettie gave a girlish giggle, and batted her eyelashes, not wanting to give up her chance at flirting with the all too eligible bachelour.
We finally made it to the table, luckily unscathed, and Mr. Samuelson didn't seemed to offended by all the attention from my sisters, infact, he seemed to enjoy it. I felt almost sick at their behavior, but he seemed as if he got it all the time.
"Family, Mr. Samuelson, I hope you don't mind that another guest is to join us for dinner. Mr. Scotts was in town, and decided to drop by." My father stood in the doorway, blocking Mr. Scotts from view.
"Well, if it's a bother, I can leave. You did invite me to dinner, and I assumed I could take you up on the offer anytime." My father moved and Mr. Scotts entered the room.
I glanced over to Mr. Samuelson, who sat right next to me, just to see what he felt about having another guest. His mouth flew open, and something I couldn't place- anger? shock? hurt? registered on his face for all of three seconds, before he seemed to remember to compose himself and put on a blank face.
"No bother at all Mr. Scotts, in fact I'm sure my daughters would enjoy your company." My father jestured for Mr. Scotts to take a seat, and Mr. Scotts finally got a good look at our other guest, Mr. Samuelson.
He seemed to freeze up, unsure what to do. But sensing my father was waiting on him, he moved, a little nervously, to the other end of the table, to sit next to Hettie and Minevera, who giggled and twirled their hair, hoping to get Mr. Scott's attention.
"Something wrong?" I whispered, hoping I could figure out the strangeness that now fell over the room in a cloud, yet nobody seemed to sense it but myself, Mr. Samuelson, and Mr. Scotts.
"Nothing. Everything should be fine." Mr. Samuelson tried to give another smirk, but it fell flat.
Nelly tugged on his sleeve, dragging his attention away from me. "Mr. Samuelson, Mary wants you to tell us a story!" She shoved her doll into Mr. Samuelson's face.
That seemed to do the trick, and just like that, the tension in the room left, as Mr. Samuelson began a fable, and Mr. Scott was preoccupied with questions from Hettie and Minevera. I sat back and watched the two, wondering what could have gone on between them.
One thing was for sure, this night would not go past without something interesting happening.
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