“I’ll be quick about it.” Alex approached her. “Can we sit? Just for the time it will take me to tell you the reasons I did what I did.” His blue eyes held her gaze. Unable to look away, she nodded and sat on the settee. He took his seat beside her.
“Roxanne, I know what I did was wrong. I knew it then and I know it now. I have no defense other than I was in a bad place. The day we met at the train station was the day I found out my wife had put my four year old daughter on a train with a woman I had never met all the way from New Orleans. Kate’s only explanation was scribbled on a crumpled note that said she wasn’t cut out to be a rancher’s wife.”
Roxi nodded. “That must have been hard for you to hear.”
“It was at first. Kate and I hadn’t been getting along for quite some time. Ever since Grace was born, I suppose. It seemed our daughter’s care and welfare was hampering Kate’s lifestyle. I realize now I should have tried to put a stop to her nonsense long before things got out of hand, but I was so unhappy with my marriage, my position at my father’s bank, I guess I just didn’t have it in me to push the issue.”
Roxi waited for him to continue. She wasn’t going to make this easy on him.
“When Kate didn’t get off the train that day, I realized just how much damage she had done to my dreams by not coming. I had a little girl and a blossoming horse ranch, and both needed my full and undivided attention. It was an impossible situation.”
“So you lied to get my help,” she pointed out.
“Yes, I did. I mean I didn’t set out to deceive you. You were in the school that day and I just assumed you were a working-class woman who wouldn’t be opposed to a good job for good wages. If I had known who you really were, I would have gone elsewhere to find a caretaker for Grace,” he admitted. “I am an honorable man even if my actions contradict that fact. I would never have asked a gently raised woman, such as yourself, to risk your reputation had I known…”
She felt a twinge of guilt. Perhaps she had played a small part in Alex’s deception. If she had told him who she was the day he came to the school looking for help instead of letting him believe she was a teacher there, none of the events that led them to this moment would have happened. And that was part of the problem because without their misunderstanding, she would had the chance to fall in love with Alex and his sweet little daughter, Grace.
Tears stung her eyes and her heart ached with regret. “Alex, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was, but if I had, we wouldn’t have had the chance to…” Her words trailed off.
“Fall in love?” He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t you think I know that? But if we hadn’t met like we did, we would have never had the chance to get to know how wonderful we are together. You. Me. Grace.”
Roxanne took a deep breath for the courage. “Whether we are wonderful together or not isn’t important. What is important is that you are married. You have a wife, Alex. How could you be so—“
“I’m not married, Roxanne. Not anymore.”
Roxanne wanted to believe him, but how could she? He had lied to her before, how could she be sure he wasn’t lying still?
“Truly, I am no longer married. The day Kate arrived in Durango, I ran into John’s friend, Judge Baker. I asked him for a favor, and he obliged. He drew up the divorce decree, I had Kate sign it before she left Durango, and the judge had an attorney friend of his in New Orleans file it. Then, he called in a favor from a judge that heard the case and the entire process was expedited. As of two weeks ago, I’m a single man.”
Roxanne wanted to cry. Even if what Alex was telling her was true, and he was no longer married, it still didn’t matter because she was getting married today.
“Alex, I’m really happy for you. And I do truly wish things could be different for us, but I’m getting married in two hours. No matter how much we both wish our situation could be different, it’s just…too late for us.”
Her heart nearly broke in two at the realization of how close she had come to having her fairy tale love story with the man she loved and his precious little daughter. Despite all his lies, she realized she did understand what he was up against at the time, and she could…forgive him, but—
A knock at the door startled them both. Her sister strode into the room and stopped short when she saw Alex. “Roxanne, what’s going on here. And why do you have a strange man in your bedroom?”
“Marianne, please close the door. Quickly.” Her sister complied and stood guard. Roxanne didn’t know whether she was preventing someone from coming in…or going out.
“This is Alex Harp, the man I told you about,” she offered as an explanation why there was a strange man in her bedroom on her wedding day.
“You mean the cowboy? So this is the man you fell in love with in Durango.” Marianne walked closer and studied the two of them carefully.
“Yes, this is my—was—my cowboy,” Roxanne sniffed her tears back.
“And judging by your emotions, you are still in love him.” Her sister’s statement didn’t require an answer.
Roxanne turned to look at Alex. Did it matter? She was getting married to John Banks. That was her fate. “Yes. I love him. But it is too late for us, Marianne. Our chance at happiness is—gone.” She couldn’t hold her tears back any longer and she covered her face with both hands and sobbed.
Her sister’s voice pierced her sorrow. “Not necessarily, dear sister.”
Roxanne raised her head and wiped her eyes so she could study her twin’s face. “Marianne, it’s too late. I’m getting married in two—“
“Yes, yes. I know. You are getting married in two hours, but…it doesn’t have to happen exactly that way.” Her sister had that look on her face that told Roxi she was planning something.
“Mari, you have that look in your eyes that always means you are about to stir up trouble for someone. How can it not be too late? I’m marrying Maximillian Banks this afternoon. This. Afternoon. You know I would never embarrass Mother and Father by running away with Alex. Face it. There’s nothing that can be done. Nothing.” Roxanne sobbed the last word. Her heart was breaking, and she clung to Alex’s hand.
“Roxanne don’t be silly. You are giving up too fast. It’s never too late until it’s too late, and it’s only too late when you are married. You must be more practical about the situation instead of so emotional.”
Her frustration with her sister mounted. “Marianne, what on earth are you talking about? How can I get out of marrying Max? It would cause such a scandal and I have already told you I can’t do that to Mother and—”
“Yes, yes, I know. But I have a plan that could work if you are sure this cowboy is what you want. Is it, Roxanne? Is this the man you want to live the rest of your life with?”
“Yes, I love him, but—”
“There is no room for ‘but’ Roxi. You either love him or you don’t?” Marianne looked between the two of them for another minute.
“Of course, I love him.” Roxi admitted.
Mari pinned Alex with a studied look. “Mr. Harp, do you love my sister with all your heart, and will you always put her first in your life, no matter what troubles come your way?”
Alex answered without faltering, “I love her with every ounce of life in my body. I will always put her needs before my own. Always.”
Roxanne turned to Alex and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Marianne’s discreet cough brought them back to the reality of their situation. Roxi pulled away and wiped at her tears. “There’s nothing that can be done, Mari. Besides, it doesn’t matter now. It’s too late.”
Marianne shook her head. “Stop saying that. It does matter. Your happiness matters to me as much as my own. And, as I said before, it isn’t too late until it’s too late. Until then, there’s always a solution if we put our minds to it.”
Roxi watched her sister pace around the room. She knew that look on her sister’s face. Mari was a force to be reckoned with once her mind was made up.
“I have a plan, but we have work to do and time is running out. Mr. Harp, you need to leave. Please wait down the street at the church on the corner. My sister will be along shortly.”
Alex turned to her and kissed her as if he were saying goodbye. “I will always love you, Roxanne.”
Marianne pulled him away from her and push him toward the door. “Right. Right. We know. You two love each other. Now get out and wait at the church. Not at the church, but around the corner from the church. I don’t want anyone getting suspicious about a strange man hanging around until it’s too late.”
Roxi watched her sister push Alex out the door locking it behind him. Then Mari turned to her. “Get out of that dress.”
“What?” Roxanne was stunned at her sister’s request.
“I said get out of that dress. Don’t dawdle either. Mother will be here any moment with the seamstress to make the final alterations. We can’t afford to have Mother question our story.”
Roxanne did as her sister instructed. “What story? What are we doing, Marianne?”
“I’m giving you a chance to live this happily ever after thing you want so much, dear sister.”
“But how? What are you going to do? How can I possibly get out of marrying Mr. Banks now? The wedding is today, and—”
“Will you please stop talking and get out of that dress.”
Roxi watched her sister undress. She shimmied out of her bridesmaid’s dress and threw at her. “What are you waiting for? Get out of that dress,” Mari demanded again.
Roxanne did as her sister asked.
Mari grabbed pulled the dress out of her hands and stepped it on. “Roxi, put on my dress, and then help me with these buttons. Hurry, Mother will be here any moment.”
Roxanne did as her sister instructed. “Mari, what on earth are you planning to do?”
“I’m going to pretend to be you, at least for the next few hours.”
“You can’t do that. You’ll be marrying Max. I ca’t let you do that.” Roxi wasn’t so certain her sister was thinking clearly. She may be the practical twin, but she had gone overboard this time.
“No, I’m not going to marry Mr. Banks. Even if things did get that far, the wedding won’t be legal because Max will be marrying the wrong sister. But I don’t intend to let things get that far.”
“Just tell me what you’re planning, please.” Roxi begged her sister.
“You are going to pretend to be me. I’ll pretend to be you. Just before the wedding, you will tell Mother you are feeling quite ill—too ill to attend your sister’s wedding which will cause our parents great concern.
“Then, I will insist that we should go on with the wedding so everyone will be at the church with me. That will give you plenty of time to disappear with that cowboy of yours. You two will be long gone before anyone gets suspicious.”
Roxi’s head was spinning with all that was happening. “But what will you do then? How will you stop the wedding?”
“Before Father and I reach the altar, I’m going to tell him I’m suddenly feeling ill too. I’ll faint in front of everyone, and there’ll be no other option than to stop the wedding.”
“But Mari, how is that going to solve the problem? As soon as you are feeling better, Max Banks will expect to be getting married.”
“Let me worry about that. By that time, you’ll be a happily married woman in Colorado, and that’s all that matters.” Her sister stepped closer and gave her a warm hug.
“But Mari, I can’t let you make this kind of sacrifice.” As much as Roxanne wanted to be with Alex, she wouldn’t use her sister to do it.
“Nonsense. There won’t be any sacrifices. Although Mr. Banks is quite handsome, and I wouldn’t mind spending some time with him myself, I will make certain he understands that Roxanne Sheffield is the kind of woman that will give him trouble and taking her as a wife is not the best decision he could make. I will behave in such a manner that he will be the one to bow out of this marriage, thereby saving Mother and Father from embarrassment. Problem solved.”
Roxanne shook her head in denial. “But you are taking a huge risk, Mari. What if he decides he likes trouble and refuses to break your betrothal? Max doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who would run from a difficult situation.”
“You leave that to me. There’s not a man in this town that can outthink or outsmart me. Now, quickly, help me finished getting dressed.”
Her sister stood in the beautiful bridal gown Roxanne had worn only moments before. “Help me button these buttons. Why would you choose a dress with so many buttons down the front? It would have made quite the challenge for your groom had you married him.” Mari pointed out.
“Exactly the point,” Roxi grinned and helped her sister close the front of the dress just in time.
A knock on the door nearly sent her to her knees in fear.
“Calm down, sister. All is under control.” Marianne winked at her. “Come in,” she called out.
Their mother walked into the room followed by the seamstress. “Well, girls, are you ready for Roxi’s wedding?”
Their mother frowned. “Mari, why are you not dressed? It’s nearly time to go to the church.”
Mari answered for Roxi. “Mother, Mari isn’t feeling well at all. I’ve assured her I will understand if she doesn’t attend the wedding as my bridesmaid.”
As expected, their mother frowned and rushed to Roxi’s side. “Mari, sweetheart. This is so unlike you. What seems to be the problem do you think?”
Roxi opened her mouth to answer when her sister interjected again. “Mother, she hasn’t felt good all morning. I think it would be best if she were to lie down. If she feels better, she can join us at the church later.”
Their mother turned to her. “Well, I don’t know. If she is feeling so ill she will miss your wedding, I think I should send for the doctor.”
Roxi shot a look to Mari who shook her head ever so slightly behind their mother’s back. Roxi summoned her courage and spoke up. “Um, no. I think if I can just lay down for a bit, I will feel better.” Roxi tried to feign a weak voice.
Mari distracted the seamstress. “If you wouldn’t mind, Mrs. Wickers, could you adjust the lace on this sleeve. It seems a bit long.”
“Of course,” the seamstress said and rushed to fix Mari’s imaginary dress problem while their mother fussed over Roxi’s imaginary illness.
“Let’s get you to your room, Mari, and I’ll help you undress.”
“Thank you, Mother, but I can managed. This is…Roxi’s day and I wouldn’t do anything to spoil it.” Roxi said. “I can take care of myself. You need to be with the bride on her wedding day.”
Their mother frowned. “Well, if you’re sure this is what you want.”
“I’m sure this is what I want.” Roxi turned to go when her sister stopped her on the way out the door. “Mari, I hope you will be on the road…to recovery in no time.”
Roxi understood the message underneath her sister’s words. She grinned and hugged her sister one last time before she left Boston to be with Alex. “I’m sure I will—and thank you for being the best sister anyone could ever have,” her words were heavy with emotions at saying goodbye.
Roxanne kissed her twin sister and hugged her close so she could whisper in her ear. “Thank you, my dear sweet sister. I hope you find your happiness too.”
Marianne hugged her back and whispered to her, “I will. As you are very well aware, I’m the practical twin, and I am the master of my destiny.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Their mother watched with a keen eye.
Roxanne trembled at the thought of their mother finding out their charade when she was so close to getting everything she wanted.
Mari took the lead. “I was simply assuring my sister that I will miss her terribly at my wedding, but her health comes first.” Mari sent Roxi a sly look.
Their mother shook her head in agreement. “Yes, if you are so ill you cannot attend your si
ster’s wedding, then I really must insist that you go to bed.”
Their mother’s words pushed Roxi into motion. She kissed Mari on the cheek again and rushed out of the room leaving her mother and her sister to prepare for a wedding.
Roxanne hadn’t planned on traveling today so she hurried to her sister’s room and stuffed a few of Mari’s clothes into a traveling satchel. She would send for her things once she and Alex were safely married.
Quietly, she descended the back staircase to the back hallway near the kitchen where she stopped to listen. She heard rattling pots and muted voices, but all else was quiet.
Her heart raced as she slipped outside, closing the side door quietly behind her. With the fading September sunset lighting her way, Roxi quickly followed the walk down the street and around the corner to the church where she was to have married a stranger. That would have been her fate if not for her beautiful sister, Mari.
Roxanne’s steps hurried when she saw Alex waiting for her next to his rented carriage. Alex was her real-life Prince Charming. She wanted to run to him, but feared it would call attention to her, so instead, she walked confidently toward the man who held her future and their Happily. Ever. After.
Epilogue
One month later…
Roxanne tried to roll over, but the bed was crowded. On the other side of the bed was her handsome husband with hair mussed from sleep. The sight still took her breath away. Regrettably, she could do nothing about the stirrings he caused within her because between them was her sleeping little angel. The thunderstorms last night had frightened Grace enough that she left her bed upstairs and came running into theirs. Roxanne smiled at her bed partners. She didn’t mind the crowded situation one bit.
She lay back in the big soft bed and thought back to her return to Durango. Judge Baker had married them as soon as they arrived. Regina and John were there as witnesses, as well as being her family stand-ins. And of course, Grace was front and center during the whole ceremony.
Roxanne had been so nervous Grace wouldn’t forgive her for leaving, but after a slight hesitation, the little girl gave Roxanne the biggest hug her little arms could manage. Then she announced to everyone that she was going to be the flower girl. Just when Roxanne thought she couldn’t possibly hold any more happiness inside, Alex brought her home. To what was now their home. Her life truly had turned into the fairy tale she had always dreamed about.
The Debutante's Secret: Western Historical Romance (The Debutantes of Durango Book 2) Page 14
