The Cautious Maiden

by Dawn Crandall

  “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you in the last week, Violet. I think it will shed a new light on things now that they’ve come to what they have.”

  I waited for him to go on. I knew there had been something he’d only halfway got around to talking about a number of times in that week and that whatever it was had made him eventually clam up each and every time.

  “And you’ll better understand why I feel obligated to help—even to the point of proposing.” Vance turned from the window. The stunning panorama made him look so vibrant and alive, and his gaze locked with mine.

  “There’s a man named Rowen Steele whom your brother is associated with. I know him too. He’s also in the lumber business, only on a much smaller scale than we are at Greaghan Lumber.”

  I shifted nervously. After so little an explanation, I couldn’t help but ask, “What about him?”

  “Do you remember me telling you how your brother has learned to be quite the card shark over the years?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well. He seems to have met his match with Rowen Steele. Not only had Rowen been studying Ezra’s every play over the months past, but listening with dire interest to everything your brother ever had to say about you.”

  A chill shivered down my spine.

  “I’m not sure what his original goals in bragging about you were, Violet, but last September, Rowen made his move. I watched as he slowly and meticulously cleaned Ezra out of every dime he had. Until he had hardly anything left to offer.” Vance paced in front of the window, suddenly avoiding my eyes. “In the final hand, your brother threw in the only thing he had left to bet.”

  “And you saw what it was?”

  Vance only nodded.

  “But what was it?”

  “It was a photograph of you, Violet. He bet you, and he lost.”

  “You can’t mean…Ezra wouldn’t—”

  “He did. He’s promised you to Rowen Steele, and whether he wants to back out on his word or not, Steele isn’t going to sit back and let him.”

  “So you’ve been coming around Everston…for my sake? To protect me from Rowen Steele?” I leaned into the nearest seat before my knees collapsed beneath me.

  Vance came to kneel before me once more, taking my hands in his over the arm of the chair. “Violet, the Bible says that you are more precious than rubies…. I hope you realize that. And I am bound by honor to protect you, and now, because of our circumstances, to marry you.”

  His words were confusing, though I understood the general essence—my mind was too filled with hurt and betrayal to really comprehend his meaning. My brother thought so little of me, that he treated me as mere chattel to barter and gamble? That he would so carelessly throw my life away to some man who would do with me as he wanted?

  I stood, not answering Vance. I really couldn’t think of anything to say. I just wanted to cry. He let me leave the room, and I made it to the guest bedroom where my few belongings were still stashed. I sat on the bed, not really seeing anything; only thinking.

  Yes, Ezra had most likely been drunk. But that wasn’t an excuse. Had he thought stealing my beautiful hair would make me less desirable to this Rowen Steele? Had he—my breath caught at this—had he put me in the compromising situation with Vance Everstone to help me? Had he really thought his disreputable actions could be so easily reversed? Why couldn’t he have just left well enough alone?

  I may have felt a bit misplaced while working at Everston, but I’d had a respectable job at a wonderful resort with a kind owner. And now I had a prodigal fiancé who didn’t love me. And what kind of future? Would Vance end up being faithful to me—a wife foisted on him by circumstances? Or would he end up resenting me?

  It had been clear from the beginning that he would never have actually considered me for the esteemed position in his life that I now held. He’d wanted to help me, but he would never have chosen me for his wife. He was merely stuck with me as his future bride and would have to marry me unless he wanted to completely disgrace me and a ruin my reputation forever. Which, I could tell, wasn’t an option he was willing to take.

  ***

  That evening Estella stood beside me near the front door in the far corner of the spacious, empty veranda, waiting for the last stagecoach to Severville. I had on a black fur coat and one of her fanciest hats in hopes that no one would recognize me. My engagement to Vance Everstone had been circulated to everyone who would care, but I still felt like an outcast.

  “I learned this afternoon that Ben won’t be coming with us after all.” She rubbed her gloved hands together against the cold chill. “He’s heard back from the mission society but had a funeral in Laurelton he needed to officiate.”

  “That’s too bad,” I answered.

  I honestly had hardly allowed myself to give a thought to Ben since that morning. There was no point. It didn’t matter what he thought of me now.

  Dexter had gone to pick up his sister, Roxy, from the cottage she shared with their mother while Estella and I waited for Vance to come down from his room.

  I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say when I saw Vance now that I knew he’d done so much for me. It made me sick to my stomach wondering if he would eventually regret his actions. How could he not? I was hardly worth the trouble he’d taken. He didn’t have to do anything, and he was doing all he could for me. And would we really marry? Would he want a real marriage? Or was he only interested in repairing my reputation?

  “There they are.” I heard Vance’s voice boom from the now opened door of the lobby. Estella and I both turned to find him approaching with Mrs. Cagney attached to his arm.

  “It’s such a shame you have to leave so soon; I’d gathered you would be here for at least a few days before traveling down to Boston.”

  “Yes, well. Plans change.” Vance winked at me with a sideways glance, which sent my pulse racing. Why would he do that? And while saying such a thing! Yes, his plans had changed—but was he really so unaffected by the results? Was his engagement to me now just something else to be entertained by? Did he not realize the severity of our situation?

  Estella obviously thought it entertaining—by the little smile she had trouble hiding.

  When they came to stand beside us, Vance dropped his arm from her hold, took a step towards me and quickly grasped my fingers, bowing slightly before me. “My sweet Violet.” He pulled my glove off ever so slowly and pressed his lips into the palm of my hand.

  I couldn’t help my sudden quickness of breath. I tried to pull my hand away, but he wouldn’t let go. In fact, his hand traveled up my arm to my elbow, which he then held securely.

  “Mrs. Cagney,” he said, still facing me, holding my elbow. “I know you met Miss Hawthorne last night, but now I’d like to introduce her to you as my fiancée.”

  “Your fiancée?” she gasped, staring at me, almost in horror. “I thought—I thought she was merely your sister’s friend?”

  “In the last day we’ve discovered,” Vance had looked her way for a moment, but then he turned those intense, black eyes of his to meet mine, “something we simply cannot deny. And I could not go one more day without making sure she was mine.”

  My knees nearly buckled, and my mouth might have been gaping open for a moment before I realized what he was doing. So this was what I’d been warned of—what I’d heard all about. Yes, he was quite good at layering on the charm for his own schemes and purposes.

  Vance still held me by the elbow, though I wasn’t quite sure why. I had, perhaps, wobbled a little as he’d said that last line, but surely I was perfectly able to stand.

  “Well, I…I suppose…goodness!” Mrs. Cagney fanned her face, evidently a little flushed by witnessing Vance’s resplendently amorous declarations. “I suppose congratulations are in order, and you’re all headed to Boston to introduce Miss Hawthorne to the rest of your family?”

  “We are; and to plan the wedding for this summer, of course.”

  “My, you don’t w
aste any time do you, Mr. Everstone?”

  “Whatever do you mean?” he asked with a cocked brow. It seemed more like a dare than a question.

  “Only that you’ve had quite a number of fiancées to name within the last year or so, don’t you think? What is it, three now?”

  “Three to be exact, actually.” Vance’s grip on my arm tightened, and I inadvertently squeaked in protest. “Sorry, Violet.”

  “What—did she not know?”

  I stood as tall as I could—a few inches over her—and replied, “It doesn’t matter.” Vance wasn’t the only one who could play the game. “He’s free to do as he pleases now, and he’s pleased to have me. And I—” the words almost caught in my throat, “I am beyond honored that he has asked me to marry him.”

  Vance’s hand strayed past my elbow to my waist, where it lingered lightly. He’d hardly ever touched me before landing that kiss upon my palm, and he really hardly seemed to just then, but at the same time, he definitely was. So conscious was I of where his hand was, I could barely concentrate beyond noticing Mrs. Cagney’s smug, wide eyes glare at me with envy.

  “I wish you well, then,” she practically grated out.

  That’s when I realized Estella hadn’t said much throughout the interaction. But I could tell her attention was entirely occupied by everything she’d witnessed between the three of us. And that it had delighted her immensely.

  7

  The Train

  “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”

  —Jean de La Fontaine

  Saturday, April 2nd, 1892

  Soon after Mrs. Cagney made her final goodbyes to Estella and Vance, she disappeared into the hotel and Dexter arrived from collecting Roxy, who would be staying with an elderly acquaintance of his family’s for the summer.

  Our luggage was quickly stowed away on the stagecoach and the five of us were fortunately the only ones in the vehicle all the way to Severville, where our train awaited. When we made it to the train station, I came to the quick understanding that we weren’t simply going to take the train to Boston—we would be traveling in a private rail car owned by the Everstone family.

  And upon entering this immaculate rail car, I came to better understand just how extravagantly wealthy Vance’s family was. And how much I would likely never fit in, no matter how ladylike my mother had taught me to be.

  The main sitting room had dark wood-paneled wainscoting and ornately wallpapered walls, gold tasseled tapestries pulled back at the windows, and a fire already burning in the fireplace at the end of the room. Along one side of the narrow parlor was a large built–in green velvet sofa, and facing it were three upholstered chairs, the one in the middle much bigger to accommodate two people.

  I noticed that Roxy’s face radiated a look of awe, and I wondered if mine did, too.

  Estella led the way through the parlor. “Roxy and Violet, you will share the double room.” She disappeared through the narrow door next to the fireplace. Dexter and Vance stayed in the parlor while Roxy and I followed Estella to our room. It was late, and after such a day, I looked forward to crashing onto whatever bed would be provided.

  “It’s perfectly fine if you’d rather retire early for the evening. That’s our plan as well.” Estella must have sensed how tired we were. But then again, Roxy seemed tired most of the time.

  Estella opened the second door down the hall and ushered us into a cramped little room.

  The bedroom was small, but the general grandeur of the rail car created the same kind of ambiance that Everston had. There were two beds, one along the windows and the other tucked in sideways between the first one and the wall. There was a built-in dresser and desk to accommodate much longer journeys than just our one night. With so much extravagance fit into a tiny rail car, I had to wonder what Everwood in Boston would be like.

  Once Estella closed the door behind her, Roxy immediately sat upon the bed tucked against the inner wall of the train. “Please forgive me, Violet, but I really need to lie down and rest. I don’t mind if you want to stay up for a while though.” She pulled back the covers to the bed situated along the wood-paneled wall and slipped in fully clothed, silently fluffing the pillows before resting her head upon them.

  “I’ll likely retire soon too.” I sat upon the other bed and pulled at the tie-backs for the drapes to the wall of windows for her, and Roxy was asleep before the train rumbled down the tracks. Knowing that Estella, Dexter, and Vance could likely still be visiting in the parlor, I stayed where I was, getting used to the movement of the train. I’d never been on a train of any kind before.

  Unlike Roxy, I changed my clothes before getting into bed. It would be late morning by the time we arrived in Boston, after Vance’s family would be getting home from church, and I wanted to make the best impression I could. Not only were my nerves a jumbled mess because of the situation, I had never in my life traveled outside of my little corner of Maine.

  When it was much later, and I’d tried to sleep, and then tried to come up with something new to write—failing at both—I decided I’d spend some time in the parlor where I was sure to be alone at this late hour.

  After pulling my worn dressing-gown over my nightgown, I quietly left the room. The door from the hall to the parlor was shut, and I heard snoring, over the sounds of the train traveling down the tracks, which I assumed was the men. But then when I opened the door to the main room, I found a small light on, the sound of the fire still crackling, and Vance sitting on the long sofa reading his little blue Bible.

  The sight immediately reminded me of our time at the hollow. If everything he’d said there was true, he was a different man now from the man of the rumors I’d heard. Perhaps if we were to marry, we’d eventually have a real marriage; if I could somehow make someone like him fall in love with me.

  But then his words from the night before about his wanting to keep everything platonic between us barged in, tearing apart my wishful thoughts. Was that still his desire? Or would he strive for a real relationship with me? Even if our engagement had such an unconventional beginning?

  I wanted a husband who would love me. Didn’t every girl? And now, I didn’t know if that would ever happen.

  Vance finally looked up, but he didn’t seem surprised to see me.

  I swallowed nervously. This wasn’t at all what I’d envisioned happening in coming out to the main room. It would be a good chance to talk to him about things, but I was also scared…and hardly dressed for such a meeting! “Perhaps I should go back to my—”

  “Nonsense. If anyone were to come upon us, they wouldn’t think anything of us talking together in the lounge. And we are engaged, after all. We’re allowed some added privacy because of that.” He placed a slip of paper—likely the one with the words from Jesus Paid it All upon it—back into his Bible and closed the cover.

  “Oh, I didn’t think of that. I’ve never—”

  “You’ve never been engaged before, of course.”

  He read me so well, which terrified me a little. Would he be able to tell how much he affected me? He always had. There was no use denying it now.

  “How could you tell?”

  “You’re too innocent.”

  “Not after this morning.”

  “You’re still an innocent. True, we shouldn’t have been as we were, but nothing happened. And it was neither of our doing. Even I was blameless this time.” He smirked for a moment, and then it was gone just as quickly.

  “But your arms…they were…” I stalled, embarrassed.

  “What about my arms?” he asked with a clever grin.

  “They were around me this morning.”

  “My arms will likely be around you again, Violet, and I do think you’ll survive.” Vance motioned toward the row of upholstered chairs across the narrow space. “Please, have a seat. We have a few things we need to discuss, don’t you think?”

  I chose to sit in the middle, larger chair, hoping I’d be up for whatev
er it was exactly he wanted to speak to me about. It could be so many things.

  “Estella’s friend Meredyth, you met her at the wedding. Do you remember her?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was engaged to her for a short time last summer.”

  Shocked that he’d brought the subject up so readily, I couldn’t help but ask, “For how long?”

  “A few weeks. It isn’t common knowledge, but Ava must have gone digging around—”

  “Did you love Meredyth?”

  He placed his Bible on the table between us, smiling to himself. “You don’t mince words, do you?”

  “So she’s married and lives in Washington now, and has adopted your deceased wife’s daughter?”

  “That’s what most people believe, yes.” He actually chuckled. “You’re ready to hear everything, aren’t you? But there’s too much to explain all in one sitting, even for someone as straightforward as you.” He looked at me for some time, studying me. And I didn’t really mind, because I could tell he was gathering his thoughts. After a little while, he went on, “I didn’t love Giselle or Meredyth.”

  “Do you have something against falling in love, or have you simply never felt strongly enough to understand what it’s like?” Not that I did either, but I had an idea.

  Before giving me an answer, Vance stood and walked to the end of the small room toward the door to the outer platform. I thought he would leave, but then he surprised me by turning around and taking a seat beside me. He reached over and took my hands. His eyes—so black and mysterious—seemed to beg for my trust before he even opened his mouth.

  “No; I’ve never been in love, though I’ve done plenty of despicable things in its name.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, frowning for about half a second. “To tell the truth, I don’t know if I ever will fall in love if I haven’t yet.”