by Regina Scott
She was still fuming when Lily brought her the paper with trembling fingers. Sure enough, the announcement featured prominently on the society page.
“And he’s even set the date for September twentieth and booked the Tacoma Hotel for the reception. The rat!” Cora lowered the paper to look at Lily. “Has my mother seen this?”
“No, miss,” Lily said warily, as if she expected Cora to burst into flames any moment. “Darcy was going to set out the paper for Mr. Winston at breakfast this morning, but I took it first. The mistress asked not to be disturbed this morning. Too much traipsing about.”
Cora pivoted. “Help me dress. I must speak to my father.”
She found him as he was finishing a breakfast of eggs, tea, and toast. Cora dropped the paper beside his plate.
“Good morning, dearest,” he said with a welcoming smile that faded as he took in her face. “What’s happened?”
“Mr. Kincaid announced our engagement while we were gone,” she told him. “He must have sent the information to the paper before he left.”
“What’s this?” He quickly scanned the page she’d left open, skin turning redder by the moment. “Oh, the affrontery! I have a mind to bring him up on charges.”
Cora dropped into the chair next to his. “On what? I doubt a judge would see this as slander. But nothing says I must honor that announcement.”
“Of course not,” he assured her. “But I will understand if you prefer to stay home from church today.”
Cora shook her head. “No. I have much to be thankful for, and I was looking forward to worshipping. I won’t let him push me into a corner.”
Unfortunately, Kincaid found a way to do just that.
Winston had gone to check on her mother and Cora was forcing herself to eat some breakfast when Darcy brought word she had visitors.
“Miss Carruthers and a Mr. Fenton from the Ledger,” their maid confided.
A reporter? Of course—Mimi would want Cora’s climb publicized as soon as possible. She must have been persuasive indeed to convince the reporter to call so early on a Sunday morning.
Cora rose. “I’ll see them.”
Darcy had put Mimi and Mr. Fenton in the formal parlor. The reporter was tall and slender, with a thatch of black hair as disheveled as his plaid coat and trousers. Had Mimi ousted the poor man from bed?
“Darling,” her friend heralded, coming forward in a swish of mint-colored taffeta to take Cora’s hands. “Congratulations! A veritable triumph. Mr. Fenton would like to hear all about it. I promised him an exclusive, for a few days at least.”
Mr. Fenton whipped a small notebook and stub of a pencil from his coat pocket. “Yes, Miss Baxter. I understand you climbed on the mountain.”
“I didn’t climb on the mountain,” Cora corrected him. “I reached the summit, where I left mementoes for Mrs. Sally Harris and Miss Susan Longmire. Like me, they are ardent supporters of equal rights for women.”
He frowned as he jotted in his notebook. “Equal rights to climb?”
“To climb, to work at a profession, to vote,” Cora explained. “Some men have the misguided notion that women must be protected like children and cannot be expected to take part in civil discourse. I just climbed a mountain. I am proof that those notions are wrong.”
“And how does your fiancé, Mr. Kincaid, feel about the matter?” he asked, gaze on his notebook. “I take it he helped you climb?”
“You are mistaken, sir,” Cora told him, hanging onto her fraying temper with difficulty. “Mr. Kincaid was not with me, and he is not—”
“Usually late for appointments,” Kincaid said from the parlor doorway, an apologetic-looking Darcy at his side. “I didn’t realize you intended to start the interview so early, Coraline.”
Her mother’s porcelain figurines had never been in such jeopardy, for Cora was highly tempted to hurl them at his head.
“Mr. Kincaid,” Mimi put in swiftly, “Cora was just telling Mr. Fenton about her success at the summit. I’m sure you’re more than happy to wait in the family parlor until we’ve finished.”
He inclined his head. “Of course. I expect the story will tell how my Cora reached the top and struck a blow for women everywhere.”
“Then you support women’s suffrage?” the reporter asked as Kincaid began to back from the door.
Kincaid met Cora’s gaze. “I support my Cora in everything she does.”
It was all Cora could do to focus on the reporter and answer the rest of his questions.
“Well done,” Mimi said as Mr. Fenton saw himself out. “Though I must say, I was surprised by your engagement. I thought you loathed the fellow.”
“I do,” Cora told her. “The announcement surprised me too. Come with me, and let’s find out what he’s up to.”
Mimi’s dark brows rose, but she followed Cora from the room. Even the sound of their skirts against the hardwood floor sounded militant. Cora marched into the family parlor, only to draw up short at the sight of two men who rose to their feet at her entrance.
“Sorry, miss,” Darcy said, face white and puckered. “I didn’t want to interrupt your interview. Mr. Hardee came to call.”
Nathan had to stop himself from begging an explanation. His stomach hadn’t unknotted since Amelia had told him about the engagement. He’d had to read the announcement twice before it had sunk in.
“No,” he’d said, shoving the paper back at a worried-looking Eugene. “Cora didn’t agree to this. She wouldn’t.”
Eugene and Amelia had regarded him sadly.
He’d come this morning to learn the truth, only to find a smug Kincaid ahead of him.
“Come to wish me happy?” the businessman had jibed.
Nathan had plunked himself down on the sofa, travel-dirty trousers and all. “Not until I hear it from Cora.”
Now she took another step into the room, her gaze meeting his. “Nathan, you must know I didn’t approve of the announcement.”
“But you agreed to have it printed,” Kincaid said, “for which I will be forever grateful.”
She rounded on him. “I did no such thing. I knew nothing about it until I saw it in the paper this morning. How could you be so underhanded?”
Nathan had to stifle a cheer as Kincaid’s insufferable smile melted into a frown. “What are you talking about? I never placed that announcement. When my butler showed it to me, I assumed it was your way of telling me you agreed to my suit.”
Cora glared at him. “Why should I believe you?”
“Because I have no wish to appear the fool,” he said, voice hardening in a way guaranteed to raise Nathan’s hackles. “My business associates and my friends will all have read that notice. How will it look if you refuse me now?”
“I don’t care,” she said, and Nathan wanted to kiss her for it. “I won’t marry you.”
Kincaid closed the distance between them, and Nathan moved to protect Cora. Kincaid narrowed his eyes at him before turning to her.
“Think, Coraline. You saw how that reporter reacted when he questioned me. My support could help further your cause.”
Miss Carruthers, who had been hovering in the doorway, took a step into the room, chin up. “No cause is worth marrying without love.”
To Nathan’s surprise, Cora bit her lip a moment before responding. “No cause is worth marrying without love,” she agreed, “but Mr. Kincaid has a point, Mimi. If I refute the announcement, it’s sure to drum up a scandal. I wasn’t worried about how it might affect me, but what of you? That could eclipse every bit of publicity about the climb.”
Though Nathan knew she was right, he wanted to argue. What, was he about to lose her because of social posturing? His hands fisted at his sides.
Miss Carruthers tossed her head. “I couldn’t care less. I will not have you trapped by this lout.”
“Perhaps this lout has a solution,” Kincaid put in smoothly. “Allow the announcement to stand for a week or two, enough time for your climb to win the acclaim you�
�d hoped. Who knows? I might be able to convince you to change your mind about marrying me.”
“You won’t,” Cora said, aligning herself closer to Nathan. “I’ll give you until Thursday. The story should be printed in the paper by then and sent for distribution on the Eastern circuits. It will be a few days more before a retraction can be printed here. Will that suffice, Mimi?”
“More than generous,” her friend said with a dark look to Kincaid. “Now, church services will be starting shortly. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be late, Mr. Kincaid.”
“Of course not,” he said with a smile that told Nathan he thought he’d won. “I was hoping you would accompany me, Cora.”
“That shouldn’t be necessary,” she said. “We’ve usually attended different churches. No one should remark on it if we do the same this week.”
His face tightened, but he stepped back. “Then I’ll call on you soon.” He strode from the room as if fearing one of them might argue with him.
Cora put a hand on Nathan’s arm, the touch soft. “I’m so sorry you had to see that announcement, Nathan. I’m sure it gave you pause.”
His muscles were thawing at last. “Scared me out of three years of growth, as Waldo would say. But I knew it couldn’t be true.”
“That sure of me, were you?” she said, mouth hinting of a smile.
“That sure of how you felt about Kincaid. I know you want to publicize this climb, but I don’t like that you have to pretend you’re engaged to him.”
She sighed. “Neither do I.”
Mimi glanced between the two of them. “Is there more to this story? I feel as if I’ve walked into the theatre on the second act.”
Cora blushed. “Nathan and I have agreed to a courtship.”
Just hearing her say it made him stand taller.
Mimi squealed, then clapped both hands to her mouth and glanced toward the parlor door. “Does your mother know?” she whispered around her fingers.
“Not exactly,” Cora admitted. “But Father is aware of the plan. He’s offered Nathan a position at the bank.”
“Well.” Mimi looked him up and down, and Nathan didn’t so much as flinch. She grinned. “This is going to be fun.”
26
Whispers blew like a driving wind through the church as Cora and her father walked to a pew that morning, and everyone seemed to be staring. Cora didn’t know whether it was because they’d heard she’d climbed a mountain or because they thought she was engaged. She was only sorry Nathan wasn’t beside her. Mimi had convinced him he shouldn’t be seen with Cora so soon after the announcement. He’d agreed, but Cora had seen the frustration simmering in his green eyes. She could only be grateful that, once more, he was putting his own wishes aside for her.
She kept her head high, her eyes forward, throughout the service. How much richer, fuller the hymns seemed now that she knew she could speak to her Creator whenever, wherever she felt led. The songs sprang from her lips as if leaping for joy. Her new fervor must have sounded in her voice, for her father kept glancing at her, wonder on his lined face.
He managed to extract her from the service without having to answer any of the questions she’d feared and return her home, where they found her mother had risen at last. Gowned in silk moire of a delicate shade of blue, she was seated in the formal parlor.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, dearest,” Winston said, going to lay a hand on her shoulder. “But are we expecting company?”
She smiled at him. “Certainly, even on a Sunday. Many will want to congratulate Cora on her engagement, however much it surprised everyone.”
She must have seen the announcement, after all. “I’m not engaged, Mother,” Cora told her. “Mr. Kincaid claims he didn’t send that announcement to the paper, but it’s clear he’s trying to trap me. I’ve agreed to go along with it until Thursday, so the publicity Mimi planned won’t be overshadowed. But I won’t be marrying him.”
Her mother paled. “Then you’ll expose us to scandal.”
“For a short time, dearest,” Cora’s father said, giving his wife’s shoulder a pat. “I’m sure we agree that’s better than Cora being forced to wed someone she abhors.”
Cora was spared her mother’s response by a knock at the front door. A gaggle of her mother’s friends flew into the parlor, cooing their delight. While her mother sent Darcy for tea and sandwiches, the ladies surrounded Cora and peppered her with questions.
Was she delighted to be marrying Mr. Kincaid?
What was she putting in her trousseau?
Where were they spending their honeymoon?
Had she really reached the summit?
She redirected most questions, but they only seemed to doubt her response on the last point. It didn’t matter how many times she assured them she’d climbed to the top. They still regarded her with puzzled frowns and pursed lips. She wished Nathan was there to confirm the fact.
Well, she just wished Nathan was there.
The last group of ladies pressed her mother about upcoming social engagements. Cora’s mind wandered with her gaze. Sunlight sparkled through the windowpanes. It was a lovely summer’s day. Why was she inside? Would the mountain be out? Or had Rainier veiled herself again now that Cora had left? It was rather gratifying to think the grand lady might miss her.
“Cora?”
She blinked and focused on one of her mother’s friends, whose head was cocked as if she waited for an answer to a question Cora hadn’t heard.
“I fear Coraline is still fatigued from her exertions,” her mother put in smoothly. “Mrs. Reynolds asked what you were going to wear tomorrow night.”
Cora glanced between them. “Tomorrow night?”
“To Mrs. Underland’s ball,” her mother’s friend clarified, hands pressed to her pink taffeta skirts.
“Oh, I probably won’t attend,” Cora said.
Mrs. Reynolds reared back. “What?”
“She simply miscalculated the days,” her mother said. “Far too common when traveling, I fear. We will be there, Martha. Mr. Kincaid is accompanying us.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Reynolds said, regarding Cora with a brow up as if concerned about her health. “How nice. I will see you there, then.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before her mother’s friends took their leave.
“You must attend this ball, Coraline,” her mother insisted as soon as the women had gone. “You agreed when the invitation came weeks ago, before all this nonsense about climbing Rainier. You cannot refuse now. You’ll leave Mrs. Underland at odd numbers.”
And wouldn’t that be a terrible shame. “If I attend, Mother, I’ll only have to pretend this engagement is real,” Cora pointed out.
“It isn’t only about this engagement,” her mother said. “You must think of your reputation. Some will notice that you have been gallivanting all over creation, associating with those of low repute.”
Cora raised her chin. “Mr. Hardee is highly respected.”
“Among those with whom he associates,” her mother said grudgingly. “Among those renowned in the city, perhaps not. You do not want a reputation for wildness, Coraline. Every eligible suitor will look elsewhere. And if you insist on working, who would hire you if something should happen to Mr. Winston?”
Only the last gave her pause. Any admiration she might have gained from climbing the mountain could easily turn to ridicule, which would hardly help Mimi and the other suffragettes. Even working for Winston, she needed a solid reputation. Some men were already threatened by her accomplishments. How much more when it became widely known she’d climbed Rainier?
But to hide her light under a bushel? No, that was too much to ask.
“Very well, Mother,” she said. “I’ll go, if only to hold my head high and show any rumors for lies. But I will not dance attendance on Cash Kincaid.”
Her mother sighed. “Must you be so unreasonable?”
“I’m sorry if I offend you,” Cora said. “Now, please excuse me
. I must see about returning Miss Fuller’s things. If Mr. Hardee should call, send word.”
Her mother eyed her. Cora tried not to cringe at the look.
“And tell Lily I am no longer home to any other callers,” she continued doggedly, “especially my supposed fiancé, Mr. Kincaid.”
Cora did not see Cash Kincaid until the next day, when he came to accompany them to the ball. In the meantime, she had hoped to return to work at the bank, but her mother had insisted that she stay home to manage the callers. They had so many, Cook had exhausted their supply of tea, and Darcy seemed as out of breath as Winston after answering knocks at the door.
Nathan hadn’t called. His was the only face she would have been glad to see, besides Mimi’s, of course.
Now Cora stood under the porte cochère, her cream-colored skirts belling about her. When she’d chosen the satin with its huge puffed sleeves and fine net collar gathered in a white rose at her bosom, she’d thought it particularly pretty. Applique of the same material in large circles like bubbles speckled the skirt from the hem to the waist, as if she’d risen from a churning sea. Now that she had risen, from a churning river no less, the dress seemed a little overdone.
Cash Kincaid didn’t seem to think so.
“You look particularly fine this evening, Cora,” he said as he handed her up into the lacquered coach. Mrs. Underland’s house was less than a block down C Street, but of course he insisted on taking them in his carriage. “As do you, Mrs. Winston. Why, you and Coraline might pass for sisters instead of mother and daughter.”
“Keep this up, and she’ll catch on to you,” Cora said as he took the seat beside her.
“What Coraline means is that you mustn’t flatter us so, Mr. Kincaid,” her mother amended from her seat beside her husband across the carriage. “You’ll turn our heads.”
“I predict you will both turn heads tonight,” he said gallantly.
“Nicely put, sir,” Cora’s father agreed. “Was any man ever so fortunate in wife and daughter?”
“You are too sweet, Mr. Winston,” her mother told him with a smile.
Mimi came to her rescue as soon as Cora, her mother and father, and Kincaid had finished the receiving line and entered the ballroom. Mrs. Underland, the wife of one of the Northern Pacific executives, prided herself on originality. Accordingly, the white walls of the cavernous room had been draped with swags of blue satin, until it appeared they walked through the ocean. Cora’s gown was perfectly suited, after all.
