Christmas Mail-Order Brides: Four-in-One Collection, page 23
“So you wouldn’t object to my making a liaison with a lady if she were truly a lady? Or would you be angry with me no matter how genteel she was?”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you don’t want to see another woman in your mother’s place.”
There. It was out in the open.
Helen’s dark eyes snapped, and her lips twitched. “I’m hurt that you would say such a thing.”
He leaned toward her. “Helen, my dear, you know I loved your mother to distraction, and she’ll always be precious in my heart. I’m not looking to replace her. But I’ll tell you something. There are days when I think I’ll go crazy in that house by myself.”
“But—”
“I know. I have you and Daniel and Samuel, and I love you all. But you have your own lives. I have Anna and Richard, who take very good care of me and my home, and I have friends and business associates. But sometimes I’d just like to have someone congenial to talk to. To do things with. To work in the flower beds beside, or to dote on my grandson with. Mrs. Mayberry is only staying here a few more days. But I’m not ashamed to tell you that if I could find a woman half as amiable as she is here in Sacramento, I’d be calling on her regularly.”
Helen blinked at him and swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Papa. I didn’t mean to imply that you shouldn’t have companionship. I just don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“Apology accepted. Now, would you and Daniel consider dining out with us before you go to the theater?”
The baby stirred and let out a minuscule wail. Helen rocked him and patted his back again. “I’ll do better than that, Papa. Bring Mrs. Mayberry here for dinner at six o’clock tomorrow. I’m sure Daniel can get another ticket for the performance.”
“You mean, you would allow me to invite her to attend with the three of us?”
“Yes, if you’d like that.”
He stood and walked over to her chair. Stooping, he kissed the top of her head, then the baby’s. “Thank you, my dear. And I promise … Mrs. Mayberry will give you no cause for embarrassment.”
Lennox smiled more during Friday’s dinner than he could remember doing for a long time. Helen had learned to be a gracious hostess, even if she wasn’t sure she entirely approved of the guest. Amelia seemed genuinely delighted to be reunited with his daughter and meet her family. Helen’s husband, Daniel, spoke attentively to Amelia from behind his precisely groomed mustache, and she asked all the questions he loved to answer about his law practice. But the infant Samuel effortlessly won Amelia’s heart.
Helen brought the baby out before they ate, and Amelia declared him to be the stoutest little fellow she had ever seen. Lennox proudly took the baby in his arms and coddled him while they chatted, and Amelia made faces of delight at the child and tried to get him to return her smiles.
After about ten minutes of this, Lennox asked if she would like to hold Samuel. Instead of reaching out for the baby, Amelia turned and asked Helen if she minded. Lennox beamed at his guest. Her fine manners earned Helen’s grudging approval.
When they went in to dinner, Helen had the maid take Samuel away to his bed. Daniel questioned Amelia politely about her home in Kansas City. Lennox held his breath. What if Daniel or Helen inquired into Mrs. Mayberry’s business?
He asked Helen what their plans were for Christmas Eve, and the turn of the subject succeeded in drawing attention away from Amelia. After Helen had explained that they planned to spend Christmas Eve with Lennox and Christmas Day with the Frye family, Amelia inquired about Helen’s lovely china pattern. That set his daughter off for a good ten minutes telling how she’d hunted for just the right design and finally found it in an import warehouse.
Before the meal was properly finished—Lennox hadn’t gotten his second cup of coffee—Daniel declared it was time to leave for the theater. They left the baby in the care of the housekeeper and drove together in Lennox’s carriage.
Amelia and Helen both fell into the holiday spirit as they entered the abundantly decorated theater. While the men discussed the fine Rococo architecture, the two ladies chattered about the greenery swags and brass lanterns strewn throughout the auditorium. Things went so well that during the program Lennox found himself humming along with some of the carols.
After a string quartet played several numbers, a group of local amateur actors performed a sentimental one-act play. Lennox was surprised when he looked over during Mama’s Christmas Gift and saw Amelia dash away a tear. She smiled and shrugged a little as though she knew the melodramatic piece was rather silly, but women were entitled to cry a little at such nonsense. Lennox quite liked that in her—she didn’t try to hide her emotions.
Not until the intermission did his pleasant evening threaten to crumble.
The gentlemen excused themselves during the intermission and promised to bring the ladies a glass of punch. Amelia noticed that Helen fidgeted in her chair.
“Thinking about the little fellow?” she asked.
“Yes. I rarely leave Samuel in the evening. Of course, he usually sleeps through until early morning now, but I should hate for him to wake up and cry because I wasn’t there.”
“I’m sure he’s fast asleep.”
Helen let out a little sigh. “You’re probably right. Forgive me if this is too personal, Mrs. Mayberry, but were you blessed with children? I don’t recall any little ones when we visited you at your home, but I was so young then myself that I might have forgotten.”
“No. Micah and I hoped for a family, but it didn’t come about. We were wed twelve years, but the Lord didn’t see fit to give us children.”
“I’m sorry.” Helen leaned toward her and spoke earnestly. “Papa told me that you are in business, and that since Mr. Mayberry died, you’ve earned your own living. What is it that you do?”
Amelia chuckled. “He didn’t tell you? I’m surprised at him. I stumbled into a very rewarding career.”
Helen’s dark eyes sparked with interest. Amelia noted how well her mulberry-colored dress, with ecru lace trim, suited her. She had inherited her mother’s somewhat exotic beauty. “Now I’m intrigued,” Helen said. “Tell me more.”
“Why, my dear, I bring happiness to those who are lonely. At least … most of the time. Your father was the one client I couldn’t help. It’s grieved me for the last two years.”
“Papa? Your … client?” Helen stared at her, and her eyes looked larger than ever in her finely chiseled face.
Amelia hesitated. Helen was serious. Lennox hadn’t told his daughter about her attempt to find him a bride. “Oh, dear. I fear I’ve said too much.”
“No, no. Tell me.” Helen laid an eager hand on her sleeve. “What business did you undertake for Papa?”
Amelia’s mouth went dry. How could she betray his trust? “I’m sorry. I thought your father had told you at the time. My dear, if I’d had any idea how Mrs. Enderly would—”
“Mrs. Enderly?” Helen’s jaw dropped.
“I … well, yes. I assure you that I corresponded with her and with all her references. She seemed the ideal answer to your father’s needs. I don’t doubt her faith, but still … it never occurred to me that things would run so badly amok when the two met each other. And I never did learn—”
By this time, Helen had recovered her ability to speak, and she did so, quite loudly. “You sent her here!”
All around them, theater patrons quit talking and stared at them.
Helen leaped to her feet.
Amelia stood, too, unsure of how to proceed. “I never intended—”
“How could you?”
Amelia’s heart sank. Her chest constricted as she stared at Helen’s blotchy face. She grabbed the back of the chair in the next row to steady herself.
Behind her, Lennox’s voice came sharply, as it had when he barked at the new recruits of Fort Laramie. “Helen! What is the problem here?”
Chapter 4
Lennox glared at his daughter, wishing he wasn’t holding two dainty punch cups.
Helen scowled back. “I just learned that Mrs. Mayberry was responsible for that woman coming here.” Helen’s rigid stance dared either of them to deny it.
Amelia murmured, “Oh dear,” and shot him a sorrowful glance.
Daniel stopped in the aisle next to Lennox and looked from him to Helen and back again. “What seems to be the matter, sir?”
“I’ll tell you,” Helen replied, ignoring her father. “Mrs. Mayberry sent that despicable—”
“Helen.” Lennox kept his voice low but put his years of practiced authority into it. “Darling, I submit to you that this is not the best place to discuss the matter.”
Daniel looked to his wife again, but Helen still smoldered, her lashes lowered.
“Yes. Helen, let’s sit down. We brought you ladies some punch. The program will begin again soon, but you can tell me all about this later. I’m sure it’s nothing serious.” His troubled eyes shot a question at Lennox.
“That’s right, Daniel. I believe I know what Helen is referring to, and we can put it all to rest after the program. Let’s stay calm and enjoy the rest of the evening.” Lennox took his seat beside Amelia and held out her cup of punch. “Here you go.”
“I … thank you.” Amelia took it and sipped the sweet liquid, saying no more. When an usher walked by, they handed over their empty cups.
To Lennox’s consternation, Helen had a whispered conversation with her husband, the result of which was that she changed seats with Daniel, so that she no longer sat beside Amelia. Instead, she sat on the aisle, with Amelia between the two men.
Lennox leaned forward and glared daggers at his daughter, but Helen refused to let him catch her eye, so his histrionics were wasted. When he realized Amelia eyed him cautiously, he sat back, giving himself a mental kick. If he wanted Helen to behave like an adult, he’d better set the example. “I did enjoy the string music earlier,” he said.
Amelia nodded. “Oh, yes. Very nice.”
His stomach hurt. He ought to have told Helen about Amelia’s connection to Renata Enderly, but he hadn’t thought it necessary, and he hadn’t wanted Helen to have bad thoughts about Amelia. He’d never foreseen this happening—that Amelia would actually come to Sacramento. He should have confessed all to Helen as soon as he learned of her impending visit. Ah, hindsight.
“Are you all right?” Amelia whispered over the strains of “Silent Night.”
He realized he must have let out a heavy sigh. “Yes, I’ll be fine. I just wish Helen was still young enough for me to paddle her.”
Amelia did not seem amused, and he decided to keep quiet.
The second half of the program dragged on. Amelia shivered as the singers slid the tiniest bit off-key. The youngsters who gave recitations forgot their lines, and the pianist dropped her music. At last the blessed finish arrived, and the foursome shuffled to the cloakroom with the rest of the crowd.
As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Lennox took Amelia’s arm and steered her toward where his carriage awaited them, with Richard sitting on the box.
Amelia leaned close and murmured, “Lennox, I never …”
“I know, my dear. I know. Don’t worry about this. I shall set Helen straight on the matter.”
Richard opened the carriage door, and Lennox helped her climb up. He stood back and let Daniel assist Helen, and then the two men entered the carriage.
As Lennox settled on the seat next to Amelia, he said, “Helen, I shall be around tomorrow morning before I go to the plant, and we shall discuss this matter in full. But right now, I shall get you home to your little son, and then I shall take Mrs. Mayberry to her hotel.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Amelia’s throat felt as tight as a new corset. An uneasy quiet accompanied them as they rode along.
Finally Daniel cleared his throat. “Have you been shipping lots of fruit this month, Mr. Bailey?”
“Yes, the farmers got a good crop. We’ve shipped a record amount of citrus.”
They fell silent again. Amelia cast about for something to say, but Helen’s stillness disheartened her. She should have stayed home. If her visit caused a rift in the Bailey family, she would count it a worse blot than her failure to find a wife for Lennox.
They turned in at the Fryes’ gravel driveway, and Richard guided the horses to the front entrance. Daniel hopped out and reached to help Helen down.
“Thank you for a pleasant evening, sir,” he said to Lennox. “Mrs. Mayberry, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Amelia almost cringed at the seeming insincerity of his words. Daniel, as a proper young husband, must be livid at her for his wife’s sake. She managed a squeaky, “Thank you, and thank you again for your hospitality.”
“Good night,” Helen said and turned away.
Daniel shut the door.
Lennox grunted. “I’ve never seen her so rude in my life. I feel like calling her back here and—”
“Please don’t,” Amelia said. “Lennox, I’m so sorry. She inquired about my line of business. I never intended to make things uncomfortable for you. Or for Helen, when it comes down to it.”
“Of course you didn’t.” He lapsed into silence. The horses’ hooves clopped on the packed gravel street.
Richard turned the carriage toward the Royal Hotel once more. Amelia hated to end the evening on this bleak note, but Lennox seemed inclined to avoid the subject.
As they turned onto the cobbled street that led to the hotel, she gathered her courage. “Lennox, I fear I shan’t sleep unless we talk this over a bit more. Is there any way I can turn things around with Helen?”
He reached for her hand. The warmth of his touch, even through her gloves, heartened her. “I believe there are withdrawing areas in the lobby at the Royal,” he said. “Perhaps we can find a quiet spot to talk for a few minutes.”
She squeezed his fingers lightly and allowed him to keep hold of her hand until they reached the hotel.
When the carriage drew up, he got out and helped her down. “Richard, I shall be perhaps twenty minutes,” he said to the driver.
Richard touched his hand to his cap to signal he understood and would wait while Lennox escorted her inside.
As they entered the lobby, he removed his hat and pointed toward an archway that led into a quiet lounge. “Over there, I think.”
Amelia let him lead her into the room, where comfortable chairs and settees were arranged in small groupings. Only two other people were present, engaged in quiet conversation near a fireplace. Lennox guided her to the opposite end of the room, where a velvet-covered Empire sofa waited.
She took her seat and looked up at him. Why had she never noticed how attractive his blue eyes were? So different from Helen’s deep brown ones. The unmistakable flurry in her chest told her that she was beginning to care deeply about Lennox.
“I know it’s late,” she said, “but I simply can’t go on wondering what happened between you and Renata Enderly. I shall stay awake all night fretting about it if I don’t know.”
“I suppose you have a right to know, though there’s no excuse for Helen’s rudeness.”
“Perhaps she had some cause,” Amelia suggested.
He sighed and set his hat on the cushion beside him. “When Mrs. Enderly and I corresponded, I thought you were right—you’d found me a woman of like spirit and mind. I was eager to meet her. I offered to travel east to visit her, but she said she would come to California if my mind was made up. And it was, or so I thought.”
“Did you tell Helen?”
“Yes. I informed her that I had exchanged several letters with a lady and that I was prepared to marry her on her arrival in Sacramento. Helen didn’t like it, but she told me I knew my own mind. When I assured her that this woman’s references had been checked and that she was an upstanding member of her community, Helen kept her peace.”
Amelia eyed him, waiting for more, but he sat frowning down at his interlaced fingers. After a minute, she prompted gently, “Until …”
He sighed. “I suppose I might as well tell you all.”
“If it’s not too painful for you.”
“I hope it won’t be too painful for you to hear, dear friend …”
Amelia’s heart tripped, and she inhaled deeply. “I’m flattered that you consider me such, especially after I caused what seems to have been a tragic event in your life.”
The other couple rose and headed for the door to the lounge, chatting amiably. When they had left the room, Lennox nodded. “I shall tell you, since you are so curious, and since I wouldn’t like to know you’d lost sleep over it. You remember my wife, Susie.”
“Of course. I considered her a close friend, though I only saw her a few times face to face.”
“Yes. She thought highly of you as well. I assume you remember her heritage.”
“You mean …”
“That’s right,” he said. “She was of the Sioux tribe. I met her during my days at Laramie and lost my heart to her. We were married back in ‘56—while Micah was still at Fort Laramie.”
Amelia nodded. “He told me about the wedding many times.”
“Yes. I thank God for Susie. We were very happy together.”
“I know you were, and it was never my intention to make light of that.”
He raised one hand in protest. “I never thought you did. I admit that after I learned you were in the matchmaking business, I pondered the situation long and hard. Yes, and I prayed about it, too. I never once considered during our transaction that you implied I should forget about Susie. I thought this might be a way for me to end my loneliness and to help you at the same time.”
“I considered it a high compliment that you trusted me to find someone for you. That was why I felt so disappointed when I learned that Renata Enderly had turned you down. I’d spent months seeking just the right woman.” She’d tried twice afterward to get him to accept a refund of her fee, but Lennox had refused outright. Amelia shook her head. “I gave her all the information you passed on to me, and I told her my personal high opinion of you.”
