Evening Star

by Catherine Coulter

  Alex pasted a smile on his face. Seeing her obvious excitement, he couldn’t bring himself to blister her ears. He mumbled something unintelligible.

  “Good heavens.” Giana’s eyes darted to a large clock on the wall. “I am supposed to meet Derry for lunch. Please continue directing the workmen, Anesley. I will see you this afternoon, Alex.”

  And she was gone in a whirl of taffeta skirts.

  ‘’But I like having my clerks on this floor,” Alex mumbled under his breath.

  “Sir?”

  “Nothing, Anesley.” He smiled. “I think the British have landed again.”

  “I don’t know where to begin, Giana. It will take us weeks to catch up.”

  Giana regarded the young matron seated opposite her in the large dining room of the Astor Hotel with a fond eye. Her eyes held four more years of life, but Derry was still as lovely as ever.

  “For shame, Giana. Married to Alex Saxton, the prize catch of New York.”

  “Is he really?” Giana grinned a bit uncomfortably. “A prize catch, that is?”

  “Beware, Giana. There are parents and young ladies alike who want to scratch your eyes out. Not to mention my stepdaughter, Jennifer. Lord, what I’ve had to endure from her ever since she read of your marriage in the newspaper.”

  “Jennifer has a tendre for Alex?”

  “She does, but Alex has never given her the least encouragement,” Derry said. “I mention it only to give you fair warning. Jennifer can be the most bothersome creature.”

  “I’m surprised Jennifer isn’t married yet.”

  “I am more distraught than surprised,” Derry said. “She is as you saw her four years ago, only more so.”

  “Poor Derry.” Giana gave her a sympathetic smile. “At least my stepdaughter is but nine years old.”

  “A nine-year-old child would do. Would you care to trade?”

  “I am afraid I would not have your patience. At least,” she added, “you have no need to worry about governesses.”

  “Jennifer wouldn’t mind a tutor, if he spent his days quoting romantic poetry to her, praising her eyebrows.”

  The two young ladies laughed gaily, and toasted each other with glasses of white wine.

  Giana reached over and clasped Derry’s hand. “I am so glad you’re here, Derry.”

  “I am here as always, still a fluttering butterfly with no children to hang on my skirts.”

  “And so? I am sure Charles is more than delighted simply to have you for his wife.”

  Derry smiled, but her eyes didn’t quite meet Giana’s. “Enough about me,” she said. “Tell me how Alex managed to drag you to the altar. The man must have worked wondrously fast.”

  Only the child nestled in her womb kept Giana from pouring out the whole story to Derry; he would never find out from anyone that he was illegitimate. “I found, in the end, that he gave me little choice. Alex is very convincing, you know.”

  “And so handsome. There, I’ve said it for you. If I did not love Charles, I vow that I would creep into Alex’s house and slip into his bedroom.”

  “That too,” Giana said. “Will you keep a secret, Derry?” she asked, sipping her wine.

  “Of course. You can trust me to stay mum.”

  “I am pregnant.”

  “But you just got married. That is—”

  “Soon all of New York society will be seeing my stomach swell, and counting up the time on their fingertips. I have been pregnant for two months, Derry.”

  “Oh dear,” Derry said.

  “Will you help me, Derry? Things—well, they happen, and sometimes don’t work out as expected.”

  “Don’t be silly, Giana. We will sail through it together.” She tossed her head. “Who cares if the baby is a couple of months early, besides some spiteful old ladies wagging their moral fingers? Ah, here’s our lunch.” Derry smiled up at the hovering waiter. “Russian caviar, Giana.”

  Giana waited until the waiter was well out of hearing. “Even though it won’t be long now, I would just as soon put off the inevitable as long as I can.”

  “Well, I, for one, am excited.” Derry sighed. “How I wish I could give Charles a child. Here you do everything with no effort at all, and I cannot seem do anything as I should.”

  “Eat your caviar and stop being so silly. Charles is the luckiest man alive to have you. And I didn’t want to get pregnant.”

  “Well, perhaps not so very quickly, but I’m not surprised with a man as virile as Alex Saxton.”

  “And so damned potent.”

  “We never know what we’ll find in the cookie jar. Oh dear,” she added, trying to stifle a giggle, “that sounded so terribly vulgar.”

  “Or who, for that matter.”

  “Oh, how my mother would shudder in horror if she could hear us. But surely, Giana, you love Alex. What else really matters?”

  “You are doubtless right.”

  “Of course I am right. Is Alex excited?”

  “Excited? Yes, I suppose he is quite pleased with himself.” Giana scooped up a cracker piled with caviar. “I really don’t know Alex all that well, Derry,” she said after a moment. “Everything happened so quickly, you see.”

  “Alex is a man who is blessed with his own particular blend of male arrogance and charm. Perhaps you know that he and Charles are rather cool to each other. Why, I don’t know. But I count Alex as a friend.”

  “Enough of me and Alex now, Derry. Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

  Derry was quiet for a moment, then smiled into her wineglass. “We entertain quite a bit, all of Charles’s business cronies and their wives.”

  “And there is Jennifer to raise.”

  “Even Charles commiserates with me about his daughter. How I should enjoy having him all to myself in the evenings.”

  “Handsome, elegant Charles. And so urbane. Four and a half years hasn’t seemed to dampen your ardor, Derry.”

  “No, I much enjoy our evenings together, even with Jennifer hanging about.”

  “And the days?”

  “Ah, the days,” Derry said. “We were so young,” she added unexpectedly.

  “Yes, and filled with silly dreams.”

  “Well, at least you waited for Alex, and didn’t marry that wretched fortune hunter.”

  “I assure you, Derry, I wasn’t waiting for Alex, or any other man, for that matter. I was living my life, and he was suddenly just there.”

  “You plan to continue in business?”

  “Oh yes. In fact, I have taken over an office next to Alex’s for myself.”

  “And what does your handsome husband have to say about that?”

  “Why, I didn’t ask him. It is my decision, and my time, not his.”

  “But it is his office building.”

  Giana’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “True. Of course, knowing Alex, if he doesn’t like it, he will tell me soon enough, and punctuated with the most vile curses.”

  “Take care, my friend, that he doesn’t simply tuck you under his arm and lock you in a closet.”

  “Then I would do something painful to him.”

  Derry laughed. “What a couple you must make. But you are more than a couple, aren’t you, with Leah about.”

  “She’s a precious little girl, and not at all standoffish, just as Alex told me. Her governess, though, is another matter. Miss Guthrey is very possessive. I fear that she and I will be locking horns more often than I should like.”

  Derry looked pensive for a moment, then mused. “You know, Giana, when we were girls in Switzerland, you were so very uncertain of yourself. I felt so angry with your mother. But you’ve accomplished so much now, whereas I haven’t done much of anything I can point to with pride. Odd, isn’t it?”

  “Surely you discuss banking affairs with Charles, Derry? You are so bright and full of ideas.”

  Derry blushed in pleasure at Giana’s compliment. My God, Giana thought angrily, does not her precious husband ever tell her how lucky he consid
ers himself to have her?

  “Actually,” Derry admitted, “the subject has never come up. When Charles comes home, he wishes to enjoy only conversation about my day, though why, I cannot guess.”

  Giana fiddled with her wineglass, swirling the white wine about until it sloshed over the edge. “You know, Derry,” she said at last, “I have no one here in New York to help me. Certainly I shall hire people, but there is no one I know well enough to share the responsibility with me. Not only must I oversee the Van Cleve interests, I also have every intention of forming a partnership with Cyrus McCormick.”

  “Cyrus who?”

  “McCormick. He is truly a genius. He is now in Chicago and has built a large factory to produce his mechanical reapers. I want to export them to England.”

  Derry blinked at her.

  “I will need funding, of course, if I can make an arrangement with him. But the fact remains that I will end up being frazzled if I don’t have someone who is very bright to help me.” It wasn’t exactly true, for Giana had already determined to take Alex up on his offer of Anesley O’Leary.

  “Would you like me to ask Charles if he knows an appropriate man?”

  “Man, Derry? No, I was thinking of a woman. You, Derry.”

  Derry leaned back in her chair, her eyes fastened on Giana’s face.

  “I can’t,” Derry said at last.

  “Why not?”

  “I can’t imagine what Charles would say, much less my friends. No, that is not the true reason. I don’t know if I can do it, Giana.”

  “Bosh. Have you forgotten how you helped me with mathematics at Madame Orlie’s? Think about it, Derry. I truly need your help. You could select your own hours.”

  “Oh my,” Derry said, drawing a deep breath. “Giana, you come back into my life like a whirlwind.” Derry suddenly raised her hand and waved. “Waiter, bring champagne.”

  Giana returned to South Street in high spirits. “Is the king receiving?” she asked Anesley when she reached Alex’s office.

  Anesley smiled, despite himself. “Yes, ma’am. He just finished arguing down the roof with Mr. Blairlock. He won, of course.”

  “Of course,” Giana said.

  Alex rose when she entered, and stretched. “Well, madam wife, you look like the cat who has just consumed a very large canary.”

  “Not exactly. I convinced Derry to work with me.”

  “Good Lord, you have been busy, Giana. First you kick out my clerks, then you hire a wealthy lady as your employee. Will you run for mayor next?”

  “If women but had the vote, doubtless your city would be run more efficiently and with less corruption.”

  “Behold a man who refuses to be drawn. My excited daughter told me the two of you are going to the park to feed the ducks tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes, just the two of us, I might add. Leah is so adorable, Alex, and she loves you so much. And so very bright. I can see it now, Alex: Saxon & Daughter, Shipbuilders.”

  Alex walked around the side of his desk to her, chuckling. “I missed you,” he said. “At least when I’m with you, I know my business and my person are still safe.” He leaned back against his desk and held out his arms to her. Giana snuggled against him without hesitation, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Such conduct in an office, sir.” She kissed his chin.

  “Haven’t you wondered why I have that large sofa over there?”

  She locked her hands behind his back and squeezed as hard as she could. But he only laughed. “You can make me suffer, Giana, but not like that.” He nudged her face upward with his chin, and kissed her lightly.

  “Poor Anesley. But imagine his shock, Alex.”

  “Then home it is, madam.”

  “I fear not, Alex. I’m off to the furniture warehouse.”

  Chapter 19

  Giana set down a cup of strong India tea and joined Derry on the new pale blue brocade sofa. “Take your nose out of all those numbers, Derry, and drink your tea. It is the only civilized thing to do at teatime, you know.”

  “What? Oh, yes, dear. I’ve nearly finished with the arrangements Alex made with Mr. Blairlock for the shipyard expansion. He’s done marvels, Giana. Van Cleve/Saxton should be in production by early February.”

  “Speaking of production,” Giana said, her eyes flitting to the clock on her desk, “it’s two o’clock and his royal highness is due back from the shipyard.” She quickly downed the rest of her tea and rose. “Please carry on, Derry. I hope to be back in the not-too-distant future with good news.”

  “Good luck Giana,” Derry said, smiling as she watched her friend pat her hair into place.

  “Is he free, Anesley?” Giana asked a few moments later.

  “I’m certain he is for you, Mrs. Saxton.”

  Giana nodded and entered Alex’s office. He was standing with his back to her, staring down onto South Street.

  “Good afternoon, sir,” she said.

  “Ah, Giana, I was just on my way to see you. I believe I have some domestic news that should please you. Miss Guthrey will be leaving tomorrow morning. I have hired a Mrs. Anna Carruthers, an older widow, who will be better suited to you and Leah. I told her you would be able to see her tomorrow.”

  Giana stiffened a moment at this unexpected bit of news. “Are you telling me, Alex Saxton, that you hired a woman I have never seen as a governess for Leah and dismissed Miss Guthrey, all without a word to me?”

  “I believe that is what I said, yes.”

  The lie was out of her mouth with her next breath. “There was nothing wrong with Miss Guthrey, Alex. We were beginning to deal better together.”

  He raised an incredulous brow. “Laying it on a bit too thick, Giana. Miss Guthrey was a constant thorn in your side. If you are worrying about Miss Guthrey’s future, you needn’t. I gave her a glowing reference.”

  “Miss Guthrey wasn’t a really sharp thorn, Alex, and I—”

  “Giana, I gave you more than enough time to either settle differences with Miss Guthrey or dismiss her. You did neither. I can see that you do not intend to thank me.”

  He was in the right. “Thank you, Alex. And now, will you allow me a surprise for you?”

  “You’ve moved my clerks out of the building?”

  “Oh no,” she said, smiling brightly. “I am going to let you lend me money for my partnership agreement with Mr. McCormick.”

  “McCormick only arrived in New York yesterday,” he said in a neutral voice. “You have certainly moved quickly on this.”

  “I saw him this morning, at Astor House. And I signed the agreement. Now, you, Alex, may lend me the necessary funds.”

  No wonder the thank-you, he thought. “I would have preferred, Giana,” he said, “that you had reviewed your ideas with me before proceeding. What are we talking about in terms of funds?”

  Giana was too excited to hear the chill in his voice. “I would have, Alex,” she said, “spoken to you, that is, but I’ve wanted this ever since the exhibition, and the terms we managed are quite handsome. I need about fifty thousand dollars.”

  “You want fifty thousand dollars?” A muscle twitched in his jaw.

  “I know it does seem like a rather large sum, but the profits, Alex. We shall make it back within a year, and then you’ll be all the richer, what with the interest I’m certain you’ll wring out of me. I might even make you a partner,” she added.

  “That is something,” he said. He suspected his words would fall like water off a duck’s back, but he continued in an even voice, “My advice to you, Giana, is to forget any agreement with McCormick at this time. You needn’t worry about complications, for your signature on that agreement won’t hold up legally.”

  “Just because I didn’t ask for your holy approval, Alex; you’re being unreasonable. I will not renege on my agreement.”

  “It did sound like I’m being a dog in the manger. But it really isn’t the case at all.”

  “Then what, Alex? The agreement is straightf
orward, I assure you. Indeed, in some ways, I fashioned it after the Van Cleve/Saxton merger. He needs capital to expand to fill customer orders I shall doubtless soon have rolling in from England. Surely there is nothing unusual or complicated about that.”

  “How much time did you spend studying Mr. McCormick’s financial situation?”

  Giana shrugged impatiently. “He is having some problems with strikes, and some fools are trying to sue him. But that is nothing to be concerned about, surely.”

  “Mr. McCormick,” Alex said slowly, “is up to his bushy eyebrows in lawsuits. Strikes in Chicago have brought production to a standstill. Even with fifty thousand dollars from you, I doubt he can meet your agreement, for first and foremost, he must see to his customers here in America. Back out of the agreement, Giana. Wait a year or so, until you have a clear picture of Mr. McCormick’s financial status.”

  “No,” she said. “I think you’re too conservative, Alex. Occasionally you must take risks.”

  “I will not lend you the money, Giana, for the reasons I’ve given you. I can’t risk it now. Too much of my capital is tied up in Van Cleve/Saxton, in the shipyard expansion, as you and your mother so charmingly arranged with me.”

  “It appears then,” Giana said slowly, her eyes fastened on a daguerreotype of Leah on his desk, “that I shall just have to borrow the money elsewhere.”

  “No banker in his right mind would lend it to you, save perhaps at an exorbitant interest rate or an outrageous collateral holding. But,” he said, pausing a brief moment, “there is your mother.”

  He knew her mother wasn’t any more likely than he to fund this kind of venture.

  “Oh damn,” Giana said.

  “Let it go for the time being, princess,” he said.

  “The devil I will,” she said, very politely, and left his office.

  The carriage rumbled down Broadway and turned smoothly onto Canal Street. Rayburn, Alex thought, a fine lad with the horses, was making it a comfortable ride this evening. He remembered that Giana had not yet met their hosts for the evening, and smiled into the darkness.