by Amanda Cabot
“Twenty-four.”
“And was your mother worried you’d die an old maid?”
Charlotte shook her head as she removed Miriam’s gown from its hanger. “She was so ill the last few years of her life that I think she was glad I wasn’t married then. A husband might not have been happy that I spent all my time nursing her.” Jeffrey wouldn’t have been pleased. Charlotte tried to dismiss the thought. She didn’t want to think about Jeffrey now. There would be time later to mark the anniversary of his death.
Turning back to her customer, Charlotte smiled. “Is this gown for a special occasion?” When she’d ordered the silk, Charlotte had had Miriam in mind, knowing that the deep forest green would highlight Miriam’s blonde hair and draw attention to her striking green eyes.
Miriam nodded. “We’re going to a concert.” The smile that lit her face turned Miriam into a beautiful woman, if only for an instant. “The symphony’s playing Beethoven’s Ninth. That’s one of my favorites.”
“Mine too. My mother used to sing ‘Ode to Joy’ while she was working.”
Miriam stretched her hands above her head as Charlotte prepared to slide the dress onto her. “Before she was so ill, was your mother a modiste like you?”
Though Miriam couldn’t see her, Charlotte shook her head. “No. Just a wonderful mother.” While she was confident that Miriam would never knowingly betray a secret, Charlotte was careful about the stories she told her. There was no reason to tell Miriam—or anyone—that her mother had been a minister’s wife and that her work had involved visiting infirm parishioners and making some of the best jams and jellies in Vermont. To deflect attention from herself, Charlotte spoke while she arranged the demi-train behind Miriam. “I imagine your mother enjoys music as much as you do. The newspaper always lists her among the who’s who at every event.”
An unladylike snort greeted Charlotte’s words. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but my mother is tone deaf. It’s my opinion that she attends concerts only because it’s expected . . . and because it gives Papa something to write about. He’s always saying that the paper needs to include information that will appeal to ladies, even if it is boring.”
And ladies, despite the fact that they’d been given the vote and had even served on juries in Wyoming Territory, weren’t deemed intelligent enough to care about politics. It was, Charlotte knew from the conversations she’d overheard, a common enough opinion.
“You needn’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” Charlotte had become a master at keeping secrets, her own and others’. “What about Mr. Landry? Does he enjoy music?”
Miriam shrugged, then grimaced as a pin scraped her shoulder. “I don’t know. He might be like my mother.”
Charlotte suspected that was the case. Though she had never met Barrett Landry, enough of her customers had mentioned him that she had formed a picture of the cattle baron who’d moved to Cheyenne five years ago. Rich and ambitious, he owned one of Cheyenne’s finest mansions. Though only three blocks farther north on Ferguson Street from the building that housed Charlotte’s shop and her living quarters, the Landry residence was a far cry from the simple brick structure where she plied her trade. It might not possess a ballroom, as some of the neighboring houses did, but Barrett Landry’s home was clearly designed to impress. Having seen it, Charlotte did not discount the rumor that he was planning to enter politics. The mansion would be an ideal place to entertain the territory’s most influential men, including Miriam’s father. Charlotte tried not to frown at the thought that Cyrus Taggert might be part of the reason Barrett intended to court Miriam, if indeed that was his intention. She hoped that was not the case, for Miriam deserved a man who loved her for herself, not for the votes her father could deliver.
The bell that Charlotte had positioned on the front door tinkled.
“That’s probably Barrett.” Color rose to Miriam’s cheeks. “Go on out. Molly can help me finish dressing.”
“Are you sure?” Charlotte asked as she moved toward the dressing room door. It was true her assistant could button the three dozen pearl buttons that decorated the back of the gown.
Miriam nodded. “I want your opinion. Your honest opinion.”
“Of course.”
When she entered the main part of her shop, Charlotte found Molly staring. It was no wonder. The man who stood inside Élan was more handsome than even the most breathless rumors had claimed. At least six feet tall, he boasted dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a face that was saved from perfection by the small bump in the middle of his nose. Though he was not as muscular as the farmers Charlotte had known at home in Vermont, his finely tailored coat left no doubt that this man possessed his share of brawn, and yet that brawn was so beautifully packaged that the overall impression was of a gentleman. An important gentleman. Barrett Landry was a man no one would ignore.
“Mr. Landry?”
He nodded. “You must be Madame Charlotte. I beg your pardon, but Miriam never told me your full name. She simply described you as Madame-Charlotte-who-makes-the-most-beautiful-gowns-in-Cheyenne-better-even-than-Mama’s-Paris-originals.”
Charlotte chuckled. “Miss Taggert exaggerates.” Though Mr. Landry had given her the opening to reveal her surname, she did not. When she’d opened Élan, Charlotte had deliberately chosen a French name for the shop and had called herself Madame Charlotte, though she possessed not a drop of French blood. Not only did most of her clients prefer the illusion that they were buying gowns with a connection to France, but by using the title with her first name, Charlotte avoided hearing herself referred to as Mrs. Harding. It was true that she’d signed the bill of sale for Élan as Charlotte Harding, but she still cringed whenever someone called her Mrs. Harding. She’d been Miss Harding, then Mrs. Crowley, never Mrs. Harding. Perhaps she should have chosen another name altogether, but Papa’s sermons about the dangers of lying had led Charlotte to use the name she’d had for most of her life.
“Please, have a seat. Miss Taggert will be ready shortly.” Charlotte gestured toward one of the gilded chairs that flanked a small table. It was here that customers waited, occasionally perusing the fashion magazines she carefully arranged on the table. The room—indeed her whole shop—was designed for women. Perhaps that was why she felt so uncomfortable having Barrett Landry here. As for the mission Miriam had given her, to form an opinion about the man who might or might not plan to court her friend, Charlotte could hardly begin a conversation by asking him if his intentions were honorable.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
Mr. Landry shook his head before walking toward the shelves laden with bolts of fabric. To Charlotte’s surprise, he fingered several pieces.
She bit back a smile as she thought of the report she would give Miriam: Your gentleman caller was the only man to take an interest in a piece of silk. At least in that regard, Barrett Landry was not what Charlotte had expected.
The object of her thoughts turned back toward her. “You have very fine merchandise. If I’m not mistaken, that’s China silk.” He gestured toward the display of bolts that stood on end rather than being stacked as the less costly fabrics were.
“It is, but I’m surprised you recognized it.” Many of the women who patronized Élan could not distinguish between silk and satin, and not one would recognize the difference between silk from India and China. Barrett Landry wasn’t merely breathtakingly handsome; he possessed unexpected facets.
As if he sensed her thoughts, he grinned, the self-deprecating smile only making his face more appealing. “I haven’t always been a cattleman. Before I moved here, I worked in my family’s mercantile in western Pennsylvania. We didn’t normally carry silk, but my father ordered it occasionally.”
The mystery was solved. The cattle baron who might be entering politics had a logical reason for being knowledgeable about fabric.
“Nothing else drapes quite like silk,” Charlotte said. “That’s why I enjoy using it for evening gowns.”
Mr.
Landry turned back to the bolts and touched one. “This green is particularly attractive. It would complement Miriam’s eyes.”
Keeping her expression impassive, Charlotte gestured toward two others. “Then you would prefer it to the sapphire or the apricot.” When Miriam had commissioned the gown, Charlotte had suggested either the sapphire or the forest green, but Miriam had been drawn to the apricot, perhaps because it was similar to a shade Charlotte had been wearing that day.
“Yes.” Mr. Landry’s reply was unequivocal. “The orange—er, apricot—would suit you far more than Miriam.” He was right. The apricot would complement Charlotte’s dark brown hair and eyes far more than Miriam’s coloring. It appeared the scope of Barrett Landry’s knowledge was wider than simply recognizing fabric.
He turned at the sound of the dressing room door opening. “Ah, there you are,” he said as Miriam emerged.
She revolved slowly, letting him see the gown from all directions. “What do you think?” The sparkle in her eyes when she glanced at Charlotte suggested that Miriam viewed this as some sort of test. Perhaps she was trying to learn what kind of husband he would be, whether he’d care about her clothing.
“It’s a nice dress.”
Though Charlotte suspected that Mr. Landry was teasing Miriam, her friend pursed her lips as if she were annoyed. “The color, Barrett. What do you think about the color?” She took a step closer to him. “Don’t you think it makes me look like a Christmas tree?”
“No, it does not. It makes you look absolutely beautiful. I’ll be the envy of every man in Cheyenne.”
Charlotte tried not to stare. Though Mr. Landry did not resemble Jeffrey physically, the tone of his voice and the words he’d chosen sounded like Charlotte’s former husband. The casual, friendly tone he’d used when discussing the silk had changed, and the sincerity she had thought she’d heard when he’d told her his color preference had disappeared. The changes were subtle, but to Charlotte’s ears, the words he’d spoken to Miriam rang false.
Afraid that her friend was making a mistake, Charlotte waited until Miriam returned to the dressing room before she said, “I’ve heard rumors that you’re considering entering politics.”
Barrett Landry leaned against the counter, his blue eyes sparkling. “I am. Don’t tell me you disapprove. I was counting on your vote.”
His smile was engaging, and Charlotte did not doubt that he was accustomed to charming women with it. She would not succumb to that charm.
“It’s too soon for me to know whether I approve or disapprove,” she told him. “I am curious, though, about your reasons for running for office.” In Charlotte’s experience, too many men were like Jeffrey, seeking fame or fortune or both. For Miriam’s sake, she hoped Barrett Landry was not one of them.
“What would you consider a valid reason?”
Charlotte noticed that he had not answered her question but had instead turned the tables. “I’ve always believed that each of us was put on Earth to make it a better place. We can’t change the past, but if we make the present the best it can be, we can influence the future. Whatever we choose to do with our lives should be done with that in mind.” Now she was sounding like Papa, preaching a sermon. That wasn’t what she had intended. She was supposed to be learning more about Barrett Landry, not telling him her deepest beliefs.
He was silent for a moment, absentmindedly rubbing the bump on his nose while his eyes remained fixed on her face as if he were assessing her sincerity. “I have no doubt that the citizens of Wyoming would be better off if we were a state instead of a territory. We could elect our governor, not have some crony the president appointed running Wyoming. We know how to manage our resources, especially water, better than a man who’s never set foot in the territory. The politicians back East don’t understand how scarce water is or how lives depend on its being managed wisely.”
He was not a dilettante or a man out for only personal gain. The passion in his voice convinced Charlotte of his sincerity about running for public office. “And you believe you’re the man to change Washington?”
Barrett Landry shook his head. “Not alone. But with the right advisers, yes, I believe I could make a difference.”
Charlotte heard the sound of muted laughter coming from the dressing room. Whatever Molly and Miriam were discussing, it was lighter than her conversation with Mr. Landry.
“What about you, Madame Charlotte?” he asked, his lips quirked into a semblance of a smile. “Do you believe that sewing fancy gowns for wealthy women is making the world a better place?”
Charlotte blanched as his words registered. She was doing what she could to provide for herself and David, but she wasn’t improving the world by dressing women like Miriam. She should never have introduced the subject. “No, I don’t,” Charlotte admitted. “I guess that makes me a hypocrite. I apologize, Mr. Landry.” She forced herself to keep her gaze steady, though she longed to duck her head.
To Charlotte’s surprise, Barrett Landry shook his head. “I’m the one who should apologize.” The sparkle faded from his eyes. “My mother would have washed my mouth out with soap if she’d heard me. If there was one lesson she drummed into us boys, it was that a gentleman is never rude to a lady. I was, and I’m sorry.”
“You were only being honest with your question.”
“Honest. Indeed.” Though there was nothing remotely amusing about her words, once again Mr. Landry’s eyes betrayed a hint of mirth. “May I ask your opinion about something? Your honest opinion.” He stressed the adjective.
Charlotte nodded, trying not to reflect on the irony that this was the second time in less than half an hour that someone had asked for her honest opinion. What would Miriam and Mr. Landry think if they knew that she had begun the day reflecting on her own deception? She was still undecided what she should tell Miriam about this man, and now he was asking her opinion. She could only hope it did not concern Miriam.
“My advisers tell me I need a campaign slogan.”
Not Miriam. Thank goodness. “They’re probably correct.”
“Since we’re agreed on that, what do you think of ‘Landry Never Lies’?”
Charlotte swallowed, trying to dissolve the lump that lodged in her throat at the memory of all the lies and half-truths she had uttered.
“It has a nice cadence to it,” she said at last. “You could turn it into a jingle. You know, like ‘Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too.’” Though it had been more than forty-five years since that campaign, Charlotte knew the words to the song that had helped William Henry Harrison and his running mate John Tyler gain the White House. All three Harding sisters had heard the story of their maternal grandparents’ one serious disagreement and why their grandmother would croon the song only when Grandpa was not home.
Mr. Landry chuckled. “I’d forgotten about that and fervently hope that my advisers have too. If I have to sing a song, I’ll lose every last voter. Bullfrogs are more melodic than I am.” He wrinkled his nose before turning serious again. “Ignoring the musical possibilities, what do you think about it as a slogan? Do you think voters will like it?”
Not wanting to dwell on the idea of lies, Charlotte forced a smile. “I do, Mr. Landry. Indeed, I do.”
2
You brought the carriage.” Miriam tightened her grip on Barrett’s arm as her face lit with pleasure. It seemed he’d done something right today. There were times when Miriam’s mood was difficult to read, when he felt as if he were playing a role, trying to coax her into a smile, but the sight of his cabriolet with the top folded down seemed to have chased away her pensive mood. She’d been unusually quiet when she’d emerged from the dressing room, and he’d had the impression that he was intruding, keeping her from a private conversation with Madame Charlotte. That was absurd. Miriam had asked him to meet her at the shop. She wanted him there. He’d done exactly what Miriam had asked, and she’d seemed miffed. But now, fortunately, she was smiling again.
“I thought we might go to the park
,” he said when he’d helped her into the carriage. It was a perfect October day, the sky a deep blue that seemed unique to Wyoming, highlighted by a few fluffy cumulus clouds. The sun had warmed the air enough that strolling through the park would be pleasant, and though the trees the schoolchildren had planted were still saplings, providing little shade, that was not a problem, for Miriam had brought her parasol. “You can show off your new hat,” Barrett told her as he tightened the reins.
Miriam wrinkled her nose, the look she gave him indicating he’d done something wrong. Again. “This is not a new hat. You’ve seen it before. Everyone has seen it.”
“It still looks very nice. You look very nice.” Barrett could have kicked himself. Compared to women, cattle—even the ornery ones that tried to hide during roundup—were the most agreeable creatures on the face of the earth. It appeared that he shouldn’t have said anything about the hat, but Camden had claimed that ladies wanted to be complimented on their appearance. His brother had neglected to mention that a man had to be careful about referring to a specific piece of clothing. As he considered his words and Miriam’s reaction, Barrett realized he should have simply said that he wanted the privilege of having her, the loveliest lady in the city, on his arm when he strolled through the park.
Were all women this prickly? Barrett doubted that Madame Charlotte was. She hadn’t seemed that way. She wasn’t the most beautiful woman Barrett had ever seen. Other women had dark brown hair and eyes the color of Mr. Ellis’s best chocolate. Other women wore skirts that whispered when they moved, attracting a man’s attention even though the fabric covered practically every inch of skin. Other women wore soft floral perfume that hinted at a summer garden. But no other woman Barrett had met had displayed the same intriguing combination of confidence and vulnerability.
When Madame Charlotte walked around her store and spoke of the silks, she was the consummate shopkeeper: knowledgeable, helpful, seemingly genuine in her interest in Barrett, even though he was not a customer. She’d even forgiven him for embarrassing her with his question. Question? It had been little more than a taunt. She had challenged him when she’d asked about his motives, and he’d felt the need to retaliate. Barrett wasn’t proud of that, any more than he was proud of the fact that his initial motivation for seeking office had not been as pure as he’d claimed. When Richard and Warren had first suggested he run for public office, he’d seen it as a way to prove he could do something his brothers hadn’t. It hadn’t been easy, growing up in Harrison and Camden’s shadow. They’d been big and strong, whereas he’d been small for his age, not reaching his full height until he was almost eighteen. When his brothers had called him the runt of the litter and refused to include him in their games, he’d retaliated by playing pranks and had soon earned a reputation as a mischief maker. Though he’d outgrown that and had mended his relationship with Harrison and Camden, he’d never felt completely at home in Northwick. That was one reason he’d left as soon as he could.
