The Bachelor's Bride

Chapter 1-Etta

I walked down the street on the arm of my husband. We were in the bustling streets of New York, admiring the views of the shops setting up their Christmas decorations. Christmas had always been my most favorite time of the year. I loved the smell of gingerbread and cinnamon and the evergreen trees. Not that I got to see evergreen trees very often, living here in the city. But I still remembered the ones out in the country where my father lived. I would be visiting there very soon before Christmas. My husband, Jack, wasn't able to come with me.  Being the head of his business, he needed to be here during the busiest season of the year.  No matter. I made the trip out to Virginia on my own each year for Christmas. Being a newlywed wouldn't change that tradition. I broke from my thoughts when Jack leaned down towards me and pointed at one of the jewelry shops.

"Does anything catch your eye?" he asked with a lopsided smile.

"I don't fancy jewelry much." I said with a shrug.

"I will figure out what you like. I plan on buying you a Christmas present," he announced, placing his gloved hand over my own.

That was another thing. I hardly knew my husband.  It was a marriage for business and convenience only.  We hardly ever got along. He was hard-headed and I was stubborn. We weren't the best pair. I bobbed away his words with the nod of my head and turned my focus to the carolers standing on the busy sidewalks. I smiled and dropped a coin into their cup. One of the little boys smiled at me, "Thank you ma'am! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas." I said back.

Jack pulled me along towards our street where our house was. It was a decent sized house with a white picket fence. Our butler opened the door and moved aside for us to enter. He took our coats and hats from us. I patted down my hair and nodded to him, "Thank you Mr. Livingston."

"Tea will be in the sitting room at three." Mr. Livingston announced before walking away.

I fixed my skirt awkwardly, "I guess I should start packing. I leave tomorrow."

"So soon?" Jack looked genuinely disappointed, but I'm sure it was only an act.  He made a move towards the staircase. "I'll help you pack."

"Alright." I agreed, even though I would have much rather done it myself.

Once I was up the stairs, I opened the door to my room and threw open the heavy curtains to let in some light. Jack lit up the gas lamp on the dresser near the bed. I pulled out my suitcase and began to pack some of the simpler dresses I owned. Jack handed me my extra pair of boots, gloves, scarf, and hat. His hand brushed mine slightly when he did so, but I ignored it.

"Etta?" I heard Jack asked behind me.

"Yes?" I shoved another skirt into the suitcase before clasping it shut.

When he didn't answer, I turned around. Jack stepped towards me, looking down at me with those bright blue eyes. A piece of his dark, brown hair fell over his forehead. I swallowed and leaned back, placing my hand on the suitcase to steady myself. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words died on his lips.

"Stay safe during your trip." He said, stepping away.

I watched him retreat down the stairs, leaving me alone in the bedroom.  I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I saw a young girl with blonde curls and brown eyes. My cheeks and nose were slightly flushed from the cold. I looked confused. I was confused. What had that all been about?  I turned back to my suitcase and rested my hand on it. Something was troubling Jack. What had he been about to say? I guess I would never know. Perhaps it wasn't important. Except I couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.