Mail Order Celeste

on behalf of the President. They couldn’t recall a conversation or event; they had just absorbed the knowledge as they made themselves invisible when guests came by at all hours.
The girls had long known that Henry worked with her father in more than a butler's capacity. Their mother had made them aware of the importance of their maintaining the appearance of a normal household. Enjoying visits and teas and the social season was an important key to their father’s continued success in whatever he was doing.
“If attending a ball with Ralph helps Father, then we are both winners,” quipped Celeste. “I know father thinks I could do better, but he doesn’t know Ralph as I do. He is thoughtful and generous and caring and loving; he works hard and is already rising in his firm. People think of him as honest and trustworthy because that is exactly what he is. And he truly loves me as I am.” Her face took on a dreamy expression. “When we dance I feel enchanted and when he takes my hand it steals my breath away.”
When Ralph had approached their father for Celeste’s hand in marriage, Miranda had overheard her parents discussing the match. Apologizing that she’d overheard them, she shared her earlier conversation with her sister, saying, “I think she truly loves him as much as he does her.” Father had nodded and dropped his objections.
~~~
Despite his frequent travels, when his wife fell ill and his daughter Celeste began making frequent trips across the city on her own, William took her aside and offered to give her lessons in protection.
“Oh Father, how wonderful of you to offer. It would be really useful to be able to practice some of the moves we learned from Henry when we were children. And I'm sure you know other means of protection. Miranda and I would both very much like to work with you!”
William laughed.
“Of course Henry taught you! I had quite forgotten although we discussed it when he first discovered you’d learned to shoot. Have you kept up that practice as well?”
“I fear it has been awhile since we enjoyed a farm outing with the Flanagans, where we could shoot without fear of the militia descending upon us. But we both keep our pistols handy and on our persons when we are abroad.”
While their mother slept, the girls enjoyed time with their father, improving their skills to the point that many of the moves became second nature. If someone tried to grab you here, you stepped to the side, ideally stomping hard on his toes as you crossed over and evaded his grasp. And if someone were rushing toward you, his own momentum could cause him to fall when helped by a kick on the ankle and a push from behind.
~~~
It had been a while since Celeste and Miranda had had an opportunity to be this close with their father, who was so seldom home and so often looked gray with worry and exhaustion. And he spent as much time as he could with his dying wife, begging leave to be excused from his duties to the country to attend to his family’s need.
Tragically, there was nothing they could do to restore their mother to health. But they kept her as comfortable as possible and were all with her when she slipped away, peacefully, a mere shadow of herself physically but still beautiful to each of them.
Ralph had been there as often as he could, supporting his wife and helping with their daughter. He, too, had been in attendance, a sleeping Samantha in his arms. As they said their final goodbyes he gathered his weeping wife into a family embrace and wept his own honest tears. He’d come to love his mother-in-law as much as his own late mother, and now both were gone from his life.

The Stepmother
They were still in deep mourning when their father had appeared with a new bride. Miranda and Celeste had been enjoying afternoon tea when he’d entered with a severe-looking woman, rather overdressed, and with a few too many bows and furbelows for good taste.
“This is your new step-mama, Harriet,” he announced. “My daughters Miranda and Celeste,” introducing them with a nod of his head.
In shock, the ladies stood and curtsied, receiving the barest of head nods in return.
Mr. Belden strode over to the table and rang the bell, then turned toward the door in expectation as the sounds of feet came down the hall toward them. The housekeeper entered the room with a teapot, looking at the girls.
“Are you ready for more hot water and . . .?” she stopped abruptly when she saw the others in the room.
Scrambling to set down the pot, she dropped a curtsey.
“Mr. Belden, sir, you startled me! I never heard you come in! Madam,” she added as she nodded her head toward the stranger. “How may I be of service?”
“Mrs. Flowers, this is your new mistress. Mrs. Belden will need to discuss with you arrangements for her room. But,” he surveyed the shocked features of his housekeeper and managed a smile, “perhaps first we might partake of the fine tea you have provided my daughters.”
Flustered, Mrs. Flowers bobbed down and up again and swiftly departed for the kitchen to get more china and cutlery and assemble additional dishes to serve. The ladies had been happy with a lighter fare than Mr. Belden would expect. And was that really a new Mrs. Belden, and her mistress not yet cold in her grave? She glanced over to the carriage in the corner of the kitchen. Fortunately, young Miss Samantha remained asleep and peaceful. Mrs. Flowers crossed herself, remembering the cold look in her new mistress’ eyes.


Making Plans
Miranda dropped into her chair to think. She would probably have slumped but her stays kept her erect—the thought distracted her and made