The first days being married felt like a blur of weird quiet and quick looks in the big house, mornings had servant noise and far mill whistles, showing town life went on, not caring about her mess.
Her new room, with thick curtains and big bed, felt borrowed, nice, but not hers. She got up early like always, putting on a plain dress, even though Mrs Whitaker sent fancy ones that stayed in the closet.
In the breakfast room, sun came through big windows, lighting the shiny wood table with eggs, bread, and fruit. Theo was there, reading paper, glasses on nose. He looked up when she came in, nodding nice. "Morning, Eleanor."
"Morning," she said, sitting across, a maid gave her coffee, strong smell—better than weak stuff with Mom, "Mill news?", she asked.
He folded paper, surprised. "Worker fights in Pittsburgh, dad thinks it might come here, but we're okay, thanks to Langford talks."
Ellie nodded, putting butter on bread, she heard Mr Whitaker last night, walking in study, talking low about money and deals. "And proof Mr. Langford wants?"
Theo puts down cup and replies, "Show we're steady,act together, mom says we have dinner soon and ask Langfords, prove we're good."
The word "good" felt heavy, they hardly knew each other, but in these times, Ellie saw more to Theo, he wasn't just stuck-up rich; he thought deep.
After breakfast , Theo left for mills, leaving Ellie to find her spot, Mrs Whitaker gave her easy jobs, she was told to check the cloths,m in the house, using her sewing. "Be useful," she said cold.
Ellie spent the morning fixing a table cover tear, it was old work, helping her feel normal in fancy place.
She heard a knock on the door, Clara came in, her apron dirty from kitchen flour, "Ellie, how you doing?"
Ellie hugged tight. "Weird,Like in a book, but not my choice."
"Give time, Mr Theodore's okay, I saw him help a mill kid once, and carried him home afterwards ."
Before Ellie answered , Mrs Whitaker came in, dressed gaudy. "Clara, work. Eleanor, talk."
Clara bowed and went, Mrs Whitaker looked sharp, "Hope you're fitting in?,But know your place. This is for family, not dream."
Ellie stood tall, "I know. But respect both ways, Mrs Whitaker."
Mrs Whitaker in awe said, "Brave for Mill Row girl Vivian comes afternoon,Be nice."
Vivians Name made Ellie sick, sure enough, midday, Vivian came dressed in lace and smell of roses , in a fancy carriage. She walked into the sitting room where Ellie waited with Mrs Whitaker, who hugged her like family.
"Vivie, dear! You look great." Mrs Whitaker kissed the air,
With a fake smile and eyes on Ellie she acted surprise. "Eleanor! Nice to see you getting used to Mrs Whitaker?"
"As good as," Ellie said calm, pouring tea.
Vivian talked most, with a laugh like glass. "Theo and I danced at those, remember, Mrs Whitaker? He stepped on toes, but fun!"
Mrs. Whitaker laughed, "Yes. Good match."
Ellie held her cup tight, feeling out.
Vivian spilled tea on Ellie's dress,"oops, I'm so sorry, my hands slipped " Vivian said with a smile , Ellie saw bad in her eyes. "Clumsy! Help."
"No," Ellie said, wiping her dress .
Theo came back early, with mill dirt on shoes. He joined, with a tight face .
"Ladies," he said, kisses Mrs Whitaker on the cheek, and nods to Vivian and Ellie.
Vivian stood, arm in his. "Theo, garden walk? Like old.", he paused, looks at Ellie. "No, I must talk to my wife."
Vivian's smile faded. "Sure. Later."
After she left, Theo turned to Ellie. "Your dress?"
"A mistake," she said casually, but his eyes were full of concern.
That night, as rain pattered against the windows, Ellie found Theo in the library, sketching by the soft glow of a lamp, the shelves towered high with ancient books she'd always dreamed of exploring,
"Can I join you?" she asked.
He glanced up and closed his sketchbook, "Of course."
She browsed the shelves, pulling out an old copy of Jane Eyre, "I love this one, she's so strong."
Theo gave a small smile, "Me too, It's about finding freedom in tough times."
They talked, awkwardly at first, about books, the town, and the mills, Theo shared his worries: modernizing the factories, his father's strict ways.
Ellie opened up about her dad, how the accident had changed everything.
"You're not what I expected," he said softly.
"Neither are you," she replied, feeling a warmth inside.
But the peace shattered with a late-night knock, a messenger for Mr Whitaker, Ellie overheard from the hall, "Langford's demanding more… rumors of instability… could be a leak from inside."
Mr Whitaker bellowed. "Find out who! It could ruin us."
Later, in bed, Ellie wondered, was it Vivian? Or something worse?.
Across town, Vivian sat with her father in his study.
Mr Langford, plump with sharp eyes, unrolled a map of the town.
"Good work stirring up doubts, my girl, One more push, and the Whitakers crumble, the mill will be ours."
Vivian smirked, "And Theo will be mine."
Thunder rolled in, keeping Ellie awake, Theo's words echoing in her mind.
Duty bound them, but hearts could be fragile too.