Sophia: The Brides of San Francisco, #4

By Cynthia Woolf

Working long hours in a New York City bakery is not at all what Sophia Hayes had planned for her life. When her fiancé breaks their engagement her to marry her thinner, blonder, more beautiful sister, Sophia knows it is time to do something drastic, something completely unexpected. All she's ever wanted is to have a husband and family of her own. Agreeing to be a mail-order bride seems the perfect answer.

 

Robert Langley has been a sailor his entire life. As Captain of the Sapphire of India, his last cargo made him a very wealthy man, but his time at sea cost him much. His wife was killed in an accident while running away with another man leaving him a widower with four young children who barely recognize their own father. A mail-order bride seems to be the ideal solution. He simply needs a willing woman to warm his bed and a compassionate woman to raise his children. Love is not an option.

 

Sophia's sister is not content to leave well enough alone. When her husband dies unexpectedly, she makes her way to San Francisco to do what she has always done...take what she wants. And the moment she sets eyes on her sister's new family, what she wants is Robert Langley.

 

Sophia has always believed her stunning, talented sister deserved the best in life. But this time Sophia is in love, and she's not going to surrender without a fight

• Language: English
• Publisher: Firehouse Publishing
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781938887796

Cynthia Woolf

Cynthia Woolf is the award winning and best-selling author of twelve historical western romance books and two short stories with more books on the way. She was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends. Their closest neighbor was about one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother was her playmate and her best friend. That fierce friendship lasted until his death in 2006. Cynthia was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A romance about a little boy she liked at the time. Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia’s father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy not a bounty hunter and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now) not the ranch owner.   Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she's made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.   TITLES AVAILABLE   NELLIE – The Brides of San Francisco 1 ANNIE – The Brides of San Francisco 2 CORA – The Brides of San Francisco 3 JAKE (Book 1, Destiny in Deadwood series) LIAM (Book 2, Destiny in Deadwood series) ZACH (Book 3, Destiny in Deadwood series)     CAPITAL BRIDE (Book 1, Matchmaker & Co. series) HEIRESS BRIDE (Book 2, Matchmaker & Co. series) FIERY BRIDE (Book 3, Matchmaker & Co. series) TAME A WILD HEART (Book 1, Tame series) TAME A WILD WIND (Book 2, Tame series) TAME A WILD BRIDE (Book 3, Tame series) TAME A SUMMER HEART (short story, Tame series)     WEBSITE – www.cynthiawoolf.com   NEWSLETTER - http://bit.ly/1qBWhFQ    

Book preview

Sophia

CHAPTER 1

May 20, 1870

Sophia Hayes was twenty-six, unmarried and now with no prospects of marriage. She’d been engaged to Martin Fullwood for a year and he’d finally convinced her to give herself to him in anticipation of their wedding. Afterwards Sophia really didn’t know what all the fuss was about. She’d found the experience not to her liking at all.

Sophia was headed to the kitchen to bake a cake, passing the library as she walked. She heard Martin’s voice and came to a stop. Opening the door, she saw Martin on the sofa with her sister, Angelina, wrapped in his arms. They were kissing, if you could call sucking each other’s faces kissing.

Gasping, Sophia’s hand flew to her mouth, anger and hurt caused tears blurred her vision

They looked up, smiled and then kissed again.

He’d never kissed Sophia like that, for which she was thankful.

She ran up the stairs to her room and threw herself onto the bed, tears streaming from her eyes.

Sophia was used to losing out to Angelina. Her deceitful fraternal twin sister was always one up on her. But now, Sophia didn’t know how she’d marry and be blessed with the children she wanted to love and bake for.

That had been six months ago. She thought living in New York City, she would have found another man who wanted to court her, but she hadn’t. Of course being a baker didn’t allow much opportunity to meet eligible men. As was her habit, she read the newspaper her father brought home from the bank every day. Her father provided them a nice living and encouraged her to keep abreast of the happenings in the world. On this night she found an ad for Matchmaker & Co.

Looking for women to become brides to men in San Francisco. These are men in all professions who are looking for a wife. Someone to marry, have children and grow old with. The men are fully vetted by Matchmaker & Co. to be upstanding citizens.

Sophia read and reread the ad many times and decided to do it. She’d become a mail-order bride.

So here she was the next day, standing in front of the bright blue door to the offices of Matchmaker & Co, at 221 Baker Street, wearing her best purple wool dress and matching coat with black trim, debating, as she had all night, whether she should become a mail-order bride. She reached up and patted her black hair, making sure all of it was still in the bun at the back of her neck and under her black hat.

She reached for the knob on the lovely blue door, her decision made.

A bell sounded at she entered.

A beautiful red-haired woman, wearing a vibrant green dress, looked up from where she sat behind a light wood desk and smiled.

Welcome. Come in.

She stood and walked around the desk to greet Sophia.

The room seemed overly large, as it was sparsely furnished. In addition to the wooden desk and the leather chair behind it, a straight back chair in front of the desk, and two tables with boxes of files upon them were all that filled the space. A pot-bellied stove in the corner provided the wonderful warmth that had greeted her upon entering. Across from the stove was another door.

The woman held out her hand.

I’m Margaret Selby. I own Matchmaker & Co. Come sit and we’ll talk.

Thank you. I’m Sophia Hayes. I’m looking for a husband and haven’t found one here in New York.

As Mrs. Selby sat behind the desk, Sophia took a seat on the chair in front of it.

So you’d like to become a mail-order bride?

Yes. Do you think you can find a husband for someone like me? Sophia looked down at her lap. She wrapped and unwrapped the strings of her reticule around her fingers.

Mrs. Selby cocked her head and furrowed her eyebrows. Like you?

Someone who likes her own cooking, perhaps a little too much. Sophia tugged at her skirt.

Mrs. Selby chuckled.

Miss Hayes, you are lovely and if anyone has told you otherwise, I believe they must need glasses.

Thank you, Mrs. Selby. That’s nice to hear, but my former fiancé taught me what men want.

Your former fiancé was an idiot and you need to stop paying attention to him. He was the one with the problem, not you. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get down to business. What are you looking for in a husband?

I want to have my own home and family. I’m twenty-six and an old maid. If I don’t marry soon, I might never have the children I want.

Would you be opposed to a man who already has children?

No. Not at all. I come from a large family. I have six younger brothers and sisters, along with my twin sister. She and I are the oldest.

Where are you looking for a husband?

Well, I want to go as far away from Angelina and Martin as possible. The advertisement I read was for San Francisco.

Good. I have someone in mind who happens to be in San Francisco. He’s a ship’s captain and a widower. He has four children.

Her pulse leap at the thought of four children to love. Is this man looking for a wife or just a mother for his children? I know some men would not want another wife after losing someone they loved.

I’ll let you read his letter.

Mrs. Selby stood and went to the tables with the files. She dug around in one of the boxes until she found the folder she was looking for, and then returned to her desk.

Opening the folder she pulled out a single sheet of paper and handed it to Sophia.

Here you go.

April 8, 1870

Matchmaker & Co

Attention: Mrs. Margaret Selby

221 Baker St

New York City, New York

Dear Mrs. Selby:

I have been referred to you by my employer, Mrs. Annie Cartwright, formerly Annie Markum, who I believe was a client of yours.

My name is Robert Langley. I am thirty-six years of age, six feet tall and with all my own teeth. I am looking for a wife and mother for my children. I have four children. Robert Jr. is aged ten, Rachel age eight, Sara, age four and my youngest, Harry, age two.

I am a ship’s captain, although I do not anticipate going to sea again, as I made my fortune on my last ship.

I need a woman who can take charge of my children and teach them how to be responsible men and women.

I will provide handsomely for the woman who agrees to be my wife. I do have a cook and housekeeper, so her main responsibility would be the children.

Included with this letter is a photograph.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Robert Langley

This is the photo that came with the letter.

Mrs. Selby handed Sophia a photograph of a man in uniform. He had light hair and eyes. He was terribly good looking. Too handsome, for someone like her.

I don’t think he’d want me. What if I get there and he decides he doesn’t want to marry me?

First, that won’t happen. It has not happened to me yet. Second, if by chance he does change his mind, he must still pay for your room and board at the hotel for at least two months. Long enough for you to find another potential husband or to decide to come back to New York. He would also pay your return passage. So, you see, you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Mrs. Selby—

Please, call me Margaret.

Margaret. I still can’t believe he won’t take a look at me and change his mind.

Margaret sighed.

Your ex-fiancé hurt you badly and blamed it on you, didn’t he.

Sophia bit her lower lip and refused to cry. She nodded her head.

I was engaged to be married when my fiancé suddenly changed his mind and married someone else. My twin sister. She’s my fraternal twin and looks nothing like me. She’s blonde, blue-eyed and thin.

And I would bet you’ve always lost out to your sister.

Yes.

Margaret sighed. He left you for sex, not because of your appearance.

But he said it was because of the way I look. She fidgeted with the strings on her reticule.

I’ve told you. You’re lovely. She waved a hand up and down in front of Sophia. You have curves, which most of us have to wear corsets and other contraptions to mimic. You have them naturally. That’s a good thing not a bad one.

Sophia perked up. Could Margaret be right?

Now that you mention it, he never minded before he met her. Before Angelina got her claws into him.

Exactly. But he couldn’t very well admit he was marrying for sex. No man wants to admit that, so he blames you.

Sophia smiled and felt a huge sense of relief.

And when you smile like that, there is no way Robert Langley will be able to resist you.

You have convinced me. She looked back at the picture. I do want children more than anything and therefore, I would love to marry Mr. Langley.

When you go, you’ll have plenty of time while staying at the Golden State Hotel to make up your mind and get to know each other, if you want it. Being in the hotel might be a good way to get to meet the children before committing to be their mother.

I will go to the hotel and meet Mr. Langley there. Sophia felt positive about something for the first time in months. But I can tell you right now, unless the man sprouts two heads, I will be marrying him.

Mrs. Selby broke into laughter.

That does present a mental picture. She continued to chuckle.

Sophia giggled, too.

Very well. I’ll get your train tickets. It will take you seven or eight days to get there. The train makes the trip like a streak of lightning.

Sophia swallowed hard. Seven days! Will I be ready to meet Mr. Langley by then?

Margaret smiled.

Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. When you arrive in San Francisco, you’ll have to get a cab for yourself and the other bride I have leaving tomorrow. Her name is Amelia James. I’m sure you’ll get along famously and it will be nice already having a friend in San Francisco.

Yes, that will definitely be wonderful. If I’m so nervous now what will I be like by the time I get to San Francisco?

"Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine. I’m also giving you the addresses of my previous brides to San Francisco—Nellie Malone, Cora Woods and Annie Cartwright, whom you’ll probably meet anyway. Annie is the owner of the last ship Robert Langley captained, the Sapphire of India, and should he decide to go back to sea, she would probably be his employer again."

Sophia’s stomach turned over.

You think he would go away and leave me alone with his children? Surely not.

Margaret placed her elbows on the desk and leaned forward.

That scenario is a possibility. Not when you first get there, but after the children are familiar with you, yes, he might decide to return to captaining a ship. A life apart is something you will be prepared for by the time he decides to do that, if he does.

Sophia took a deep breath. Of course, and I will be.

Her stomach was alive with butterflies and she was glad she wasn’t meeting her intended today. The excitement might be too much. She’d likely lose her breakfast all over his shoes.

Sophia. Sophia!

Margaret clapped her hands.

Sophia blinked and remembered where she was.

Yes. I’m sorry. I’m letting my imagination get the better of me.

You’re worrying too much.

Her tone was not scathing but rather gentle.

Sophia took a deep breath and then sighed.

Margaret smiled. Let’s get this contract signed before we go any further.

Certainly.

Margaret placed the single sheet of paper on the desk in front of Sophia and handed her the pen and ink.

Sophia signed the document, blew on her signature and gave it back to Margaret.

Good. Now, Mr. Langley sent money for your passage and to purchase any clothing you need in order to be properly dressed as the wife of a successful ship’s captain. Do you need to purchase more clothing? Let me see your dress.

Sophia stood, removed her coat, and showed Margaret her dress. It was a simple design, in vibrant, purple bombazine with black buttons down the front and black velvet stand-up collar and cuffs. Sophia found that stiffer material like bombazine, held its shape much better than cotton or silk. But this was the only dress she had in this material, though she did have a black and a