Page 36 of The Salamander

THE LAUGHTER THAT followed carried into the kitchen, where Martha set the dough to kneading with Mrs. Haraden. She had known the Gloucester Haradens since the early days of the captain’s marriage to Hannah Deadman and always enjoyed their company.

“You keep a fine kitchen,” Lydia said, working the dough with a sure, rhythmic push as she gazed around at the neat cupboards and pots and pans.

“I keep it movin’,” Martha said, though pride warmed her tone. “And with eight girls under one roof, I’ll keep it marchin’. ’Twas good I baked pies this mornin’.”

Lydia chuckled. “The girls love pies.”

For a time they worked in companionable noise, the thud of kneading, the hiss from the kettle, the two young Pollys babbling in the next room as Mrs. Mason warned them away from the fireplace tools. Lydia glanced toward the parlor where Eunice’s voice rose gentle and sure, organizing all into order, as she offered to read the girls a story.

“She has a way,” Lydia said softly. “Mrs. Mason. The children look to her and grow calmer. A pretty woman, too, handsome in the best sense.”

Martha’s mouth twitched. “Aye. Pretty won’t count if there’s no backbone behind it. But our Mrs. Mason has both.”

“I do not mean to play the matchmaker,” Lydia went on, eyes on the dough she was kneading, “Jonathan’s path is mostly at sea now, and the girls are young. But a house can’t stand long without a mistress who loves it. Might Providence have such a thing in mind, do you think?”

Martha dusted the loaf with flour and set it to rise. Looking off into the distance, she said, “If Providence means to knit such things, He’ll do it in His time. Till then, the captain and the governess seem ignorant of how well suited they are. The captain’s girls have all they need: a governess with sense, a father who is doing his part for the cause, a kitchen that feeds them, a church to worship in, and kin close by.”

Lydia smiled. “Then we shall be content with that.”

“Content, and busy,” Martha said, reaching for a pie tin. “Hand me those apples, Lydia. With a dozen to feed, I’d best make another pie.”