by Jen Turano
Alice lifted her chin. “You’re old enough to be my father. You’re also condescending, arrogant, rude, and I could go on and on. You only married me to provide you with an heir, and when that didn’t happen within the first year of our marriage, you grew tired of me and found me to be worthless.”
“You’re saying too much, Alice,” Alice’s brother muttered. “We’ll likely find ourselves in jail if you continue talking.”
“They’re not going to have us arrested. I’m a countess, and in this country, they don’t arrest aristocrats. They cater to us.”
Less than five minutes later, Alice discovered that was not exactly the case when the Pinkerton detectives who’d followed them to Gilbert’s house, and had been watching the house from the sidewalk, were summoned inside.
Kicking and screaming, and tossing curses at Charles that left Temperance’s cheeks heated, Alice was taken from Gilbert’s house, her brother not putting up a fuss at all when he was led from the house behind his sister.
Charles watched them leave, and then, as calm as you please, he brushed a single piece of lint from his jacket and turned to his brother. “I must apologize for the antics of my wife, as well as apologize for believing you were the one who wanted me dead.” Then, and before Gilbert could respond, Charles turned to his friends. “While it is early for dinner, I’m suddenly famished. What say we go sample the food at Delmonico’s, a place that’s been highly recommended, but a place that’s certain to disappoint.”
Biding everyone a good evening, Charles and his friends quit the room. Gilbert followed them, telling Temperance and his parents he’d be back directly.
Florence took a seat on a linen-draped settee, her husband sitting down beside her. “I think we’re going to have to stay in New York for the foreseeable future, dear, if simply to ascertain that no one else wants to see our son dead.”
As William nodded in agreement, Temperance moved to join them, pulling over a chair that was also draped in linen. Taking a seat, she smiled when her new dog plopped down over her feet.
“What will you name her?” Florence asked.
Temperance considered the dog for a moment, noticing the scruffy fur, the ear that seemed to be missing a chunk out of it, and the happiness that radiated out of the dog’s eyes, as if it had suffered a tough time of it, but finally realized its life was going to be fine because it had found its place in the world.
“I think Happy would be appropriate,” Temperance said, smoothing a hand down Happy’s thick fur.
“That suits her,” Florence said as Happy let out a bark of obvious agreement right as Gilbert strode back into the room, holding a piece of paper.
“Charles and his friends are off to Delmonico’s, where I’m certain he’ll enjoy a superb meal but will never admit to that.”
“What do you believe he’ll do about Alice?” Florence asked.
Gilbert smiled. “He’s the Lord of Strafford, Mother. Distasteful as you find aristocrats, they do wield a certain amount of power, and I’m sure Charles will use that power to secure a speedy divorce, as attempted murder is a legitimate reason to dissolve a marriage.” His smile widened. “I’m sure the courts over in England will agree that an earl can hardly be expected to sleep at night with one eye open, wondering if or when his wife is going to try to murder him again.”
He gave a wave of the paper he was holding. “I found the list and speech I’ve been working on.”
Florence rose to her feet, pulling William up beside her. “We’ll just give the two of you some privacy, dear.”
Sending Gilbert a smile, and then turning that smile on Temperance, Florence and William strolled from the room, whispering, if Temperance heard correctly, something about grandchildren.
“I’ve missed your mother,” Temperance said, trying to distract herself from nerves that were beginning to jingle.
“I’m certain she, my stepfather, and your parents won’t be leaving the city anytime soon, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spend time with everyone.” He bent to look at the paper in his hand, frowning as he scanned the page and, to her amazement, he stuffed the paper into his pocket. “This may seem outlandish, but I’m simply going to try telling you how I feel.”
He strode to stand directly in front of her, then bent down on one knee and took her hand in his. “First of all, I’m incredibly happy.”
Happy turned her head, let out a yip, then stretched out on the floor, rolled to her back, and with legs sticking straight up into the air, closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Temperance felt her heart melt. “I named her Happy.”
“Excellent choice, and remind me to give Tobias a raise since he obviously knew you’d fall in love with Happy on sight.” He sobered and gave her hand a squeeze. “And speaking of love . . .”
“I’m not a gentleman prone to wearing my faith on my sleeve, but I’ve come to the conclusion that God knew exactly what He was about when He allowed you to get abducted and I was sent to rescue you.”
“You were supposed to be rescuing Clementine.”
“Well, yes, but see, that’s why I think people always say that God works in ways we don’t understand at first. If you hadn’t been abducted, and I hadn’t begun to push you to marry me in order to observe the rules of society, well, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
“And where is that?”
“Head over heels in love with each other, our friendship still firmly in place, but a friendship that’s grown into so much more, or . . .” He suddenly looked worried. “At least that’s how I feel. I’m not certain if you’re there with the head-over-heels business. But if you are, and if you’re now convinced we are well suited to each other, I would be incredibly humbled and honored if you would agree to be my wife.”
Fishing a ring out of his pocket, he held it out to her. “This is the ring Mrs. Davenport gave me, but I’m more than willing to get you a different one if you have something else in mind.”
Temperance smiled. “Mrs. Davenport has become a wonderful friend to me, and I’m incredibly touched she’d go through the bother of providing you with a ring, so . . . no, I don’t have anything else in mind.”
“That’s a relief, because I’m fairly sure she was looking forward to the day she’d see this particular ring on your finger. I’d hate to disappoint a woman who helped you abandon your stint as a wallflower, as well as being instrumental in getting Permilia and Gertrude to abandon theirs as well. Although she was aided in that endeavor by Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel, of course.”
“Those three ladies do seem to have achieved their goal of taking Permilia, and Gertrude, and me in hand.”
“They wish you nothing but happiness, Temperance, and have even taken, along with Mr. Barclay, to threatening me with bodily harm if I don’t make you happy, so . . .”
He stopped talking when Happy let out a bark, even though the dog didn’t open its eyes and seemed to fall back to sleep a second later.
Looking slightly disgruntled by the interruption, although his lips were curving at the corners, Gilbert returned his attention to Temperance. “Where were we?”
“I think this is the part where I tell you that I’m head over heels in love with you as well, and that . . . yes, I would love nothing more than to become your wife.”
Sliding the ring over her finger, Gilbert rose to his feet, pulled her up next to him, cupped her face with his hands, and kissed her.
When he finally eased away from her and looked into her eyes, Temperance saw her future gazing back at her, and it was a future filled with love, laughter, amusement, and happiness.
Closing her eyes for the briefest of moments, she sent a prayer of thanks to God, realizing that He’d known all along that she and Gilbert were always meant to be more than friends. In all honesty, He must have been more than amused as He’d watched them realize they’d been caught by surprise with a love that was certain to last through the ages.
Epilogue
JANU
ARY 14, 1884
Reverend Perry walked down the aisle of Grace Church, appreciating the bright sunlight that was streaming through the stained-glass windows. It had been snowing for days, but the snow had finally stopped, and while he enjoyed the sight of the city blanketed in what he thought of as God’s quilt, he cherished this brief respite in the midst of winter.
Taking a seat in the very first pew, he smoothed a hand across the heavy vellum envelope Mr. Barclay had personally delivered to him a short time before, that gentleman beaming in delight about whatever the contents were inside.
Taking some time to simply reflect on the year that had recently passed, Reverend Perry couldn’t help but marvel at the ways God had worked to change the lives of three young ladies who’d been certain their days would be spent as wallflowers.
Permilia and Asher had been the first to marry, in late November of 1883, not wanting to wait more than a week to exchange their vows after Permilia’s father returned to town. The church had been filled to overflowing with friends and business associates, and Permilia had made a stunning bride, wearing a gown designed by Miss Betsy Miller, a woman who was quickly becoming known as the local designer of choice amongst the social elite. Gertrude and Temperance had been Permilia’s maids of honor, while Harrison and Asher had been groomsmen.
The new Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford had immediately left on their honeymoon, but hadn’t stayed away long, the demands of owning a department store having them gone not more than a week.
Gertrude and Harrison had been next to marry, although their wedding had been a smaller occasion than Permilia and Asher’s. Mrs. Davenport had walked Gertrude down the aisle, and there’d not been a dry eye in the house. The newlyweds had departed on Harrison’s yacht for a holiday farther south, but they’d returned two weeks before Christmas, the date Temperance and Gilbert had chosen for their wedding.
That day had arrived with blustery winds and snow, but no one had minded, especially not Temperance and Gilbert. With Happy by their side, dressed in a dragon costume Tobias had crafted, although she’d only tolerated the horn attached to her head for a mere five minutes, Gilbert and Temperance spoke vows they’d created for each other. Gilbert had not even bothered to look at the vows he’d written down, preferring to embrace a more spontaneous attitude, something he later told Reverend Perry he was beginning to enjoy.
Temperance and Gilbert had chosen not to go on holiday after the wedding, preferring to retreat to their new home, one that Temperance was rapidly whipping into shape. Gilbert had insisted on turning one of the rooms into a music room, and they made it a habit to invite everyone to their home to listen to Temperance play. Those gathered together would then repair to the dining room after Temperance was finished, and once there, they were treated to the tastiest of dishes, cooked to perfection—or sometimes not—by former students they’d hired from Miss Snook’s school.
Temperance’s parents, Anthony and Grace Flowerdew, had reclaimed the fortune Mr. Howland had stolen from them, and subsequently purchased a house three houses down from Temperance and Gilbert. They were determined to make up for the time lost when they were presumed dead, as well as the time Temperance had always longed to spend with them in her childhood. They’d also taken to spending time again with Florence and William Beckwith, both couples thrilled their children had finally realized they were perfect for each other, and both couples, if he wasn’t much mistaken, were looking forward to the day they became grandparents.
As for Miss Henrietta, she continued to search for young ladies to take in hand, as well as help the students at Miss Snook’s School for the Education of the Feminine Mind find suitable positions about the city. She was not above badgering Asher, Harrison, and Gilbert to take on more employees, and she encouraged all of their business associates to do the same.
Miss Mabel was still enjoying managing the tea shop at Rutherford & Company, still bickering with her sister every now and again, especially when Miss Henrietta would insist Eugene drive her sister to work when it snowed. The last time Reverend Perry had seen Miss Mabel, she’d been leaping out of a fancy sleigh right in front of Asher’s store before it had come to a complete stop, yelling something about being in fear for her life before she’d stomped away, Eugene grinning ear to ear. He’d then helped the other occupant out of the sleigh, that being Mrs. Davenport, who’d been delivering a few of her latest designs to Permilia, who’d been selling them at a fast clip.
Mrs. Davenport had also created the wedding gown for Edwina when she’d married her Agent Samuel McParland a week before, and because Edwina, now the face of Rutherford & Company, was rapidly becoming known as the It girl about town, whatever that meant, Reverend Perry had a feeling Mrs. Davenport’s designs were going to become more in demand than ever.
Miss Snook was continuing her quest of searching out women in need, willing to offer any woman a spot in her school if that woman was agreeable to working hard to obtain the education needed to better herself. Mr. Barclay had taken to escorting Miss Snook around the city, and together, they’d filled the school to the brim, improving the lives of women who’d never thought they’d have a reason to hope.
Miss Mercy Miner had certainly seen her life improve, having been offered a full-time typing position by Mrs. Martin, Gilbert’s secretary, who’d gone ahead, on Gilbert’s request, and hired all the students Miss Henrietta had originally sent to his office.
Mercy’s brother, Eugene, besides driving Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel around town, had been given the job of teaching the young women at Miss Snook’s school how to defend themselves. Many times when Reverend Perry stopped by the school to check on everyone, he’d hear young women shrieking and running around, dripping paint from paperboard swords and wearing shirts streaked with red paint.
One of the most surprising developments had been with Miss Clementine Flowerdew. She’d turned softer over the past few months, and . . . she seemed to have captured the eye, although it was still too soon to know about his heart, of none other than Charles Cavendish, Lord of Strafford. He’d recently invited Clementine, along with Wayne, Fanny, and their Aunt Minnie, to London for a visit. And while Charles had yet to be granted the divorce he was seeking against Alice, Reverend Perry had the sneaking suspicion Clementine might someday achieve that high social status she’d always desired, along with a title she probably never imagined.
As for Alice and her brother, they’d returned to England where they’d been put on trial, found guilty of a lesser charge than murder, and had already been released. London society evidently did not take kindly to anyone trying to kill off one of their earls, though, so Alice had fled to India, where she was expected to live out her life, eased by the fact that Charles, surprising everyone, had settled an allowance on her.
As his thoughts began to settle, Reverend Perry closed his eyes and folded his hands, giving thanks to God for all the many blessings He’d bestowed on so many people. Asking God to watch over these people, as well as to watch over the ones who’d yet to find their happily-ever-afters, he opened his eyes and turned his attention to the envelope he was still holding.
Breaking the seal, he pulled out a piece of thick vellum embossed with a flower design around the edge, smiling as he read it.
Mrs. Asher Rutherford, Mrs. Harrison Sinclair, and Mrs. Gilbert Cavendish
Request the Honor of the Presence of
Reverend Benjamin Perry
at the
Wallflower Ball
Held at the residence of Mr. Gilbert Cavendish
855 Fifth Avenue
to take place on
Monday, February, 4, 1884
10:00
Dress—Formal—But As You Please
With his lips curving into a smile, Reverend Perry shook his head, read the invitation again, and knew that the Wallflower Ball was going to be a ball for the ages. More important, though, he knew that Permilia, Gertrude, and Temperance would never be left lingering against any walls ever, ever, again.
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Jen Turano, a USA Today bestselling author, is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in clothing and textiles. She is a member of ACFW and RWA. She lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.
Books by Jen Turano
Gentleman of Her Dreams (e-novella)
A Change of Fortune
A Most Peculiar Circumstance
A Talent for Trouble
A Match of Wits
After a Fashion
In Good Company
Playing the Part
At Your Request (e-novella)
Behind the Scenes
Out of the Ordinary
Caught by Surprise
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