Chapter Eleven
"A Change In Direction"
November, 1857
The autumn air was beginning to grow a winter chill that week before Thanksgiving. In the Thorvald kitchen, Harriet was reluctantly helping her Mother Catherine prepare dinner.
"I still don't know if we should have Thanksgiving here or at Patrick's," Catherin mused. "Your brother's house is so much grander, but we don't want Mrs. Harmon to think we are misrepresenting ourselves."
"Mother," said Harriet chopping a carrot, "You realize we take the Walters mansion every summer."
"Well yes," said Catherine flustered. "But we shouldn't have to do that too much longer. Once Victoria finds a husband, my work will be done."
When Harriet and Russell announced their engagement, it was met less than esthetically by the town elite. Those Thorvalds, it would seem, has finally managed to climb their way up the social ladder with Harriet's upcoming marriage to the Russell Harmon, heir to a railroad fortune. Sure, the son, Patrick Thorvald had done very well for himself, but he had at least worked for his money. Harriet would marry into money, due many felt, to her and her parents' sheer manipulations. That would elevate Catherine and William Thorvald to a status few thought they deserved.
Now, Harriet was to met Russell's Mother, Mrs. Imelda Harmon, for the first time. Mrs. Harmon would be staying with Russell and his uncle Gerald until after Christmas
To say Harriet was nervous, was to put it mildly.
"Mama, I'm scared," said Harriet. "What if she doesn't like me? What if she tells him to call off the wedding?"
Catherine shook her head. "She won't," she said. "Just be yourself."
"Myself is a bit persnickety," said Harriet sighing.
"Yourself, is what Russell fell in love with. She will love you."
"But our background," said Harriet.
"From everything Russell has told me, Mrs. Harmon knows people of quality when she meets them. Our house not be as big as some others, but I keep it very well if I do say so myself."
"So we'll have Thanksgiving here then?" Harriet asked.
"Yes," Catherine decided.
…
Two days later, Harriet, William, Catherine, Gerald, and Russell waited at the train station for the arrival of Imelda Harmon.
When she got off the train, she flew into her son's arms. "Russell, my boy, it's so good to see you!"
"Mother!" he cried softly as they embraced.
William, Catherine, and Harriet exchanged smiles and noted that Imelda had the same shade of sandy brown hair as her son.
Next, Gerald hugged Imelda. "Brother," she said, "you've taken such good care of Russell, as if he were your own son."
"Of course," he said.
Russell cleared his throat. "Mother, this is William and Catherine Thorvald."
They came forward and shook hands.
"Mrs. Harmon it is a honor," said Catherine.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame," said William solemnly.
Imelda smiled at them and Russell brought Harriet towards her. "And this, Mother, is Harriet."
Imelda smiled warmly. Harriet looked at this woman in fine clothes. Harriet had seen clothes that fine many times before, but Mrs. Harmon had an air of refinement and peace about her that Harriet felt so many other women lacked.
"Mrs. Harmon-" Harriet said breathlessly. "An honor," Harriet took Imelda's hand and curtsied. Harriet stood up quickly embarrassed by her own fawning.
Imelda waved a hand. "There, there, don't worry about it dear. I know you must be nervous."
Harriet breathed a sigh of relief. As did her mother and father.
…
Patrick, Olivia, Kate, and Victoria joined the party at Gerald's house for supper that night. After supper, they in sat the parlor talking.
"…and then we found Russell hiding under a pew!"
Everyone burst into laugher at Imelda's story.
Imelda smiled. "Russell did always feel a fondness for the church. It's no wonder he's going into church law."
"Yes," everyone agreed, although Harriet noticed a quick look pass over Russell's face.
She ignored it when Kate, who was being held by Olivia, cooed.
Harriet leaned over to look at her niece. "Oh widdle Katie!" she cried.
Kate looked at her Aunt and giggled.
"It looks like your niece has taken to you quite well, Harriet," said Imelda.
"Oh yes, Mrs. Harmon," said Harriet.
"Harriet is wonderful with children," said Catherine. William and Patrick gave her a look that warned her not to go too far.
"Oh really?" Imelda was saying. "Do you want a big family, Harriet?"
Harriet, remembering her Mother's words about having more than two children, chose her words carefully, "I welcome as many children as God will allow," she said.
Imelda smiled, satisfied with this answer.
"Well I should go to bed," said Russell. "I promised I would meet the preacher bright in early tomorrow to discuss…things related to church law…" he finished quickly. He stood up.
"Oh Russell!" Harriet cried standing up as well. She put her hand on his arm. "Your Mother came all this way to visit you. You'll stay right here!" She cried in her bossy tone.
She caught her parents' eyes then and looked guilty as Imelda. How would Mrs. Harmon feel about Harriet speaking so forcefully to her son?
But Imelda just smiled. "Harriet's right Russell, you don't need to go to bed quite yet."
…
A few days after Thanksgiving, Imelda came to the Thorvald residence. Harriet answered the door.
"Hello, Mrs. Harmon," she said pleasantly.
"Harriet, would you like to join me for a carriage ride?"
…
The two women drove along silently in the carriage, until they got away from the busiest part of the city. Harriet had offered to take the reins, but Imelda preferred to drive. "I so seldom drive myself anywhere," she explained.
"You are quite the young woman Harriet," Imelda said.
"Thank you," said Harriet, unsure where this conversation was leading.
"Harriet," Imelda began, "My Russell is a wonderful young man, but at times I feel he can be a bit…indecisive. I suppose it's because he lost his father."
"You must miss your husband very much," said Harriet.
"I do," Imelda said. "I hope Russell and you will be just as happy as we were."
"I love him very much," said Harriet.
"I know," said Imelda. "Several of the ladies in town have visited to tell me in detail about you and your family, Harriet"
Harriet blanched.
Imelda laughed. "Don't worry Harriet, I told them where they could take their nasty comments about you."
Harriet stared at the older woman. "You did?" she asked.
"Harriet, I know you are not perfect. You are not as…generous as others are. But you have a good heart, even if you don't let everyone see it." Harriet looked away. Imelda continued. "The point, Harriet, is that what others may perceive as your weakness, I perceive as your strengths. You and Russell will balance each other."
Harriet stared at the woman. Imelda has just accepted Harriet, faults and all, as Russell's future wife. "Thank you…Imelda," she said.
"Russell needs a strong woman to guide him, one that will always speak her mind. And in return I think he can bring out your kind heart. You are good for him, Harriet."
"Yes," said Harriet. "I will make him happy."
…
Harriet walked with Russell in the cool December air one Sunday afternoon. They would join Patrick and Olivia for super that evening. Harriet sensed that Russell had been tense all through church and even now.
"Russell, what is it?" she asked.
Russell sighed. "I've come to a decision, Harriet," he said. "I…no longer wish to study church law."
Harriet stopped in her tracks. "Then what do you want to do?"
"When I finish college, I want to go to seminary school. I wish to be a preacher."
"A…a preacher?" said Harriet. This seemed to out-of-nowhere, and yet….
"Yes," Russell continued. "As I get further and further in my studies, I realize more and more than being a lawyer for a church isn't enough. I want…to share the Word with everyone…not just a courtroom."
Harriet was stunned. "Well...what does this mean for us?" she said.
"Nothing changes," he said. "When I graduate college, I will get my inheritance. We'll still marry as planned. The money I inherit is more, far more, than we need to live on, to support a family. I can still go to seminary school after we marry."
"But…" said Harriet "the life of a preacher is very different from the life of a lawyer.."
"We will never want for anything Harriet," said Russell. "And we can still do the things we planed. We can still visit Europe."
"We can?" said Harriet, her eyes gleaming.
"Yes. I'd love to go to Ireland, to the village my grandfather came from. We could build a church there, a school… You could teach."
"Y…yes" said Harriet. A village in Ireland was not what Harriet had in mind when she dreamed of Europe, but she would be there with Russell. She decided that was enough.
"All right, Russell," she said. "All right," she smiled up at him and they kissed.
…
"Well," said Catherine quietly in Harriet's room that evening "It's not quite the lifestyle I imagined for you Harriet, but if you don't have wealth, you will have status as the wife of a preacher. No woman will be able to look down her nose at you without the fear of eternal damnation!"
"I love him, Mama," Harriet said firmly.
"I know," said Catherine. "I gave up things for the man I loved, and now you will, too."
…
William reaction was a bit different.
"Are you sure, Harriet, are you sure? I just don't see you as a preacher's wife."
"Why, Papa, because I'm persnickety?"
"No," said William. "I just don't think you'll be happy with that life."
"Papa, you sound just like you did two years ago when you asked me if Russell was what I wanted. Papa I do want him, I do love him."
"All right," said William smiling. After all, he had approved of Russell and Harriet's marriage the moment Russell asked for her hand. He kissed his daughter on top of her head.
"Good night, Harriet," he said.
"Good night, Papa," she said.
After William closed the door, Harriet grabbed her pillow with one hand and chewed a nail with another.
A preacher's wife had certain duties she had to perform.
A preacher's wife would have the respect of everyone.
A preacher's wife could not dress too fancifully, because such a show of wealth was frowned upon by God.
A preacher's wife would be welcomed even by the richest people.
Harriet loved Russell.
She could be happy with him.