Abbie’s heart stumbled at the thought. Tonight would be the night the man she had prayed she would find was going to propose. It was the happiest day of her life. She just hoped Matthew would understand the circumstances and reasons behind her failure to disclose the truth about her situation.
“Where’s Jeannie? Jeannie, where are you? We need to get Abbie’s hair done.” Aunt Lila yelled loud enough to be heard downstairs.
“I’m here.” Aunt Jeannie’s voice called from the hallway. She entered the room with two lady's maids who carried the metal curling tongs, the gas burner, and enough pins and pearls that Abbie would be surprised if she could hold the weight of her head up when they were through.
“Oh, that dress was sent from heaven just for this occasion. It is stunning, my dear. Mr. Bell doesn't stand a chance.” Aunt Jeannie exclaimed. The lady's maids cast a curious glance over at the dress, but then went about setting out all the hair accessories and heating the curling tongs.
Aunt Lila spoke up. “I’m still puzzled by your father’s telegram. Honestly, I think he has let his imagination run wild and he has convinced himself all sorts of trouble has befallen you. Or, it could be simply that some men are just overbearing. Your father may be one of them. I know from firsthand experience what that’s like. You probably don’t remember my husband, Henry. And you’re better off for not having remembered him. He was an overbearing, pompous, self-important, egotistical as—”
“Lila, I don’t think you’re helping our niece with that kind of talk.”
Abbie saw the look Aunt Jeannie sent to Aunt Lila who then turned to her and issued her apology. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I do have a tendency to get carried away sometimes. Your father is nothing like Henry. Nothing at all.” Aunt Lila insisted.
“I know that. I just wish he wasn’t coming, that’s all. I want this night to be special and I fear my worry about what father is up to is going to spoil it for me and Matthew.”
“Nonsense. Not if you don’t let it. Now, have you had a chance to explain to Matthew that your father is coming? My brother can be quite intimidating if not adequately prepared.” Jeannie asked as she brushed through Abbie’s hair.
“I tried. After we received the telegram from Father, I sent a note to Matthew at his hotel asking him to come over because I had something very important to discuss with him.”
“And what did he say?”
“He hasn’t responded,” she admitted.
“Well, he’s probably making the last minute arrangement for tonight. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t worry, but—”
“Is something troubling you, dear?” Aunt Jeannie asked. Both her aunts sat on her bed, worry etched frowns on both their faces.
“Yes—well, no. I don’t know. Matthew has seemed so distant this last week. He sent a note saying that he was going to be very busy with his business matters this past week. And I understand completely a man has to pay attention to his business, but, it was more what he didn’t say than what he did say.”
“What did he not say? What do you mean?” Aunt Lila looked at her with bewilderment.
“He was just matter-of-fact, that’s all. He said he would be busy and we wouldn’t be able to see each other, but he would be done in time to pick me up for the ball. There was no sweetheart, or I can’t wait to see you again, or I love you.”
Relief brightened her aunt’s faces and her Aunt Lila exclaimed. “Oh, Abigail. You are worrying about nothing. Men aren’t poets. At least most of them aren’t. Matthew strikes me as a man of facts. He said what needed to be said and I’m sure he’s saving that kind of sentiment for when he proposes. Now, don’t you worry any longer about this my dear.” She turned to the lady's maids who were waiting to begin and nodded. “Let’s get your hair done, shall we. And I’ve brought you that lovely topaz necklace and matching ear bobs of mine. They will match your dress perfectly. The citizens of Durango won’t know how to react when they see you glide into the hotel’s ballroom in that beautiful dress.”
Her Aunt Lila lowered her voice in a conspiratorial tone even though the lady's maids were obviously close enough to hear every word. “All the other men in Durango are going to be kicking themselves because they didn't get the chance to steal your heart like our lucky Mr. Bell.”
Abbie laughed at her aunt’s flattering words. “You are right about one thing, Aunt Lila. Matthew Bell has definitely stolen my heart. And I can’t wait to be his wife.”
Chapter 14
It was almost seven o’clock and Matthew still hadn’t arrived. He was half an hour late. What could be keeping him? Perhaps it was the snow coming down in giant flakes outside her window. It wasn’t like him to be late, but since she had only been communicating with him through messages for the last week, she wasn’t sure what was going on.
She heard a knock downstairs at the front door. “Oh, he’s here,” she didn’t even try to hide the excitement in her voice.
Aunt Jeannie admonished her. “Really, Abigail. You really should try to play a little hard to get.”
She gathered her things in preparation to be called downstairs, instead her Aunt Lila came to her bedroom door. “There’s been a note delivered. It’s from Matthew.”
She shot a worried look to her aunts. “What could be keeping him?”
“Well, we won’t know that until you read the note. Open it.” Aunt Lila shoved it at her.
She cast another worried look to her aunts and then took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope.
“I’m sorry I am unable to pick you up for the Harvest Ball. It is once again my business affairs that have detained me. However, the good news is there’s a carriage just outside your door to take you and your aunts straight to the hotel.
I know this isn’t the way you had imagined this evening. I’m quite disappointed myself at the way things have turned out, but I will be waiting for you at the ball and I can assure you, it will be a holiday you will remember.”
M. B.
All three of them expelled a sigh of relief at the same time.
“Now see, all that worry over nothing. It’s business, that’s all. And there is a carriage waiting outside just as he promised. I think we should go, don’t you? After all, your Mr. Bell is waiting and he did say it would be a holiday you would remember.” Aunt Lila gushed.
“Then let us be off.” Aunt Jeannie exclaimed, her voice quivering with excitement that mirrored Lila’s.
She laughed at her aunt’s exuberance. “I’m ready. Let’s go. Should we go by and pick up Regina? I’m sure John is probably working tonight since the ball is in his hotel.”
“That won’t be necessary. Regina went to the hotel early to help her husband direct the staff to prepare for the possibility that the storm will dump more snow and prevent out of town guests from returning home. She said the hotel was already almost at capacity. Now the storm will require even more guests to stay over after the ball,” Aunt Lila explained.
“Then lead the way, Aunt Lila. We are right behind you. Our chariot awaits.” Abbie felt as if her joy and happiness would bubble over any moment—like a glass full of champagne. It was a glorious feeling and she had waited for this moment her entire life. She was getting engaged to a man who loved her. Her. Not her father’s fortune. She was deliriously happy.
She and Aunt Jeannie linked arms and followed Aunt Lila to the carriage. The driver helped them up and closed the door behind them.
A few short blocks later, the carriage pulled up to the front door of the hotel. The lights were shining brightly, and music could be heard in the street. With all the pumpkins and flowers decorating the hotel doors, it looked quite festive. She couldn’t wait to lay her eyes on Matthew.
“Are you excited, Abbie?” Aunt Jeannie whispered as they stood on the sidewalk outside the hotel.
“Yes, I’m so excited.” Snowflakes drifted from the sky and cast a magical glow around the hotel. “It’s so beautiful. It reminds me of
a snow globe father once gave me when I was a child,” she remarked. Thoughts of her father threatened to dampen her spirit. Not tonight, she told herself. Tonight was reserved for only happy thoughts. There would be time enough to deal with things tomorrow.
“Yes, it is beautiful. And cold. Let’s go inside before we catch our death.” Aunt Lila shivered and led the way.
She and Aunt Jeannie followed. They crossed the hotel lobby in unison. The decorations glittered with candlelight. Everything was so beautiful—it was the perfect backdrop for Matthew to propose.
A niggle of doubt elbowed its way through her happiness. Abbie wished she could have seen Matthew before now. She had planned to tell him the truth about who she was and the reasons behind why she had pretended to be someone else.
After their talk, he had made it clear his prejudices against people with money did not include self-made men like her father. She was certain he would understand once she was able to explain her motivations behind her deception. He was such a good man; she was sure it was a story they would laugh about in the years to come. It would certainly be a story to tell their children about the holiday to remember.
She and her aunts proceeded to the ballroom. “Oh, it’s so lovely,” Aunt Lila exclaimed. “Regina and John have gone above and beyond. They have truly outdone themselves this year.”
“Yes, they have indeed,” Aunt Jeannie agreed.
Abbie glanced around the room searching for Matthew all the while trying to not appear that she was doing just that.
“I haven’t seen him either, Abbie, but I’m sure he’s here somewhere.” Aunt Jeannie whispered in her ear. “Now, shall we go find a seat, Lila? We want to be front and center for Abigail’s big night.”
Abbie watched her aunts skim the edge of the dance floor, stopping to talk with people Aunt Lila knew, introducing her guest from out of town.
Abbie took another look around the room. She was surprised she hadn’t caught even a glimpse of Matthew. Worry tumbled in her belly. She hoped Matthew’s business hadn’t kept him longer than expected.
She decided she needed something in her stomach to settle her nerves. As she walked through the crowded room filled with partygoers, a couple of men had approached her asking her to dance. She respectfully declined explaining she was saving her dances for her fiancé. She noticed the look of regret on their faces, but she couldn’t have cared less. She only had eyes for Matthew.
She took another look around the crowded room hoping to catch a glimpse of his handsome face, but there was still no sign of him.
“Over here, darling.” Aunt Jeannie waved at her from her seat by the buffet table. “Look at all this delicious food. I swear John’s kitchen staff have outdone themselves this evening. Would you like a plate?”
Without waiting for Abbie’s reply, Aunt Jeannie shoved a loaded plate at her. “Here, you need something to eat. You certainly don’t want to faint away from starvation during your big moment, now do you?” her aunt teased. “By the way, where is Matthew hiding? I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the man.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him either,” she admitted.
She shrugged off the alarmed look on her aunt’s face. “He’ll be here,” she assured her aunts.
Aunt Jeannie relaxed and continued placing bits of food from the buffet onto her plate.
“Of course he will. Don’t you worry one bit. If I’ve ever seen the face of a man in love, it’s Matthew Bell’s.” Aunt Lila assured her in a not-so-subtle voice.
“Lila, keep your voice down. Do you want to draw attention to yourself?” Aunt Jeannie chastised.
“Would that be so bad, Jeannie? After all, neither of us are attached.” Aunt Lila waggled her eyebrows at the both of them.
“Lila Beckett, you are still a married woman,” her Aunt Jeannie reminded her.
“Oh stuff it, Jeannie. Henry doesn’t count and you know it. He’s somewhere back East and not likely to ever show his face around this town again. Besides, I’m not too old to have a little fun...and neither are you.” Lila threw back.
“Lila Collins Beckett, you beat all, do you know that?” Aunt Jeannie posted her fists on her hips and rounded on her fellow aunt.
Before the two of them could cause a scene that would embarrass them all, Abbie separated them. “Ladies, please. You are causing a scene,” she admonished the both of them.
Aunt Lila’s eyes grew round with surprise.
“He’s here. There he is now.” Aunt Lila nearly shouted the news.
Abbie whirled in the direction Aunt Lila was looking. And there he was, indeed. Matthew was walking toward the bandstand.
Her heart thudded with excitement. There was the man who was going to propose to her. She had to remind herself to breathe.
She watched her handsome soon-to-be fiancé lean in and whisper something to the bandleader. The man nodded and turned to cue his band. The music stopped and everyone on the dance floor slowed their dance and then stopped altogether sensing something was about to happen.
“Abigail, look how handsome he is,” Aunt Lila whispered.
“Yes, he is quite handsome, isn’t he?” It was all she could manage to say, her excitement robbed her of her ability to speak. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
Matthew nodded to the bandleader and then took center stage. “Can I have everyone’s attention? Please. Just for a moment.” he said, his voice carried across the floor to where she stood.
Murmurs in the crowd died away leaving only silence and a few scattered whispers of curiosity around the ballroom.
“Hello, everyone. I’m glad to see everyone having such a good time here tonight. It looks like the hotel will be full to capacity because of tonight’s early fall snowstorm. If you haven’t made plans to stay in town tonight for those of you who traveled in for this year’s Harvest Ball, I suggest you do so sooner rather than later. Mr. Kingston tells me he is just about full.”
Murmurs could be heard and heads nodding in agreement.
“I don’t want to keep you from enjoying this evening’s festivities, so without further ado, let me get to the purpose of my interruption.”
Abbie saw Matthew search the crowd. When his eyes landed on her, she could have sworn his gaze grew hard, but before she had a chance to wonder, he smiled and extended his arm toward her. “Ah, there you are. Please, come on up and join me, won’t you?”
All eyes turned to her and she felt herself blush. She could see the questions in everyone’s eyes. She felt Aunt Jeannie’s hand squeeze her arm. “This is the moment you’ve been waiting for.”
Tears burned, but Abbie didn’t want her emotions to overshadow this moment. She wanted to remember every single second of this night.
She gave a slight nod and made her way through the crowd of dancers standing still on the dance floor. Every eye was on her as she reached the bandstand and Matthew reached out for her hand and helped her up to stand beside him.
Abbie felt the warm strength of his fingers and gave them a squeeze. She wanted him to know she was more than ready for this night and the future they had planned together.
As soon as she stood beside him, he released her hand and put a step or two between them. Perhaps he needed room to get on one knee, she reasoned.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I know most of you don’t know me. I’m a stranger to this town and only arrived in Durango weeks ago on business. I can see some of you are puzzled as to why this would interest any of you. Well, let me explain.”
Abbie had no idea where Matthew was going with this, but she was certain he had his reasons, so she stood patiently by his side waiting for her big moment.
“First, let me introduce you to this beautiful young woman beside me. If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting her, some of you may know her as Rose Collins, but there are a few of you here who know her by another name.”
She watched as Matthew searched the crowd again landing on her aunts. “Ah, Mrs. Beckett and Mrs. Wentworth. I’m g
lad to see you here to witness this memorable night since you both have played such a large part in making it possible for your niece to have this wonderful holiday here in Durango, Colorado.”
She shot a puzzled look to her aunts who look as puzzled as she did.
“But back to my introduction. “This beautiful young woman beside me is none other than Abigail Livingston—the daughter of the wealthy Winston D. Livingston. I’m sure most of you have heard of him. He’s one of the richest men in the United States.” It was clear by the bobbing heads that everyone had heard of Daniel Livingston.
Abbie’s heart dropped at the mention of her real name. She cast a panicked look to Matthew, but he seemed oblivious to her now. Then, she searched for her aunts and by the look on their faces, they were as shocked as she was.
She leaned in and whispered to Matthew. “Matthew, I can explain.” But he went on as if she hadn't said a word.
“Those of you who are parents can well imagine Mr. Livingston’s worry when his daughter insisted on having a holiday far from his watchful eye. As you know, there are many unscrupulous people who might want to take advantage of Miss Livingston because of her father’s wealth.”
She moved closer to Matthew and pulled on his arm. He ignored her and continued.
“That’s why Mr. Livingston—Miss Abigail Livingston’s father—hired me to keep an eye on her and make sure none of those unscrupulous people I mentioned earlier could take advantage of this innocent young heiress.” She heard his emphasis on the word innocent and knew exactly what he was referring to.
Abbie couldn’t breathe. Her father had hired Matthew to babysit her? So, he had known all along who she was. He had pretended to care for her, all the while he was eyeing her father’s money. He was no better than the rest—no, he was much worse, because he pretended to care even when she offered him—she was certain she was going to be sick.
The Debutante's Holiday: Western Historical Romance (The Debutantes of Durango Book 6) Page 12
