Leather and Lace (Gold Sky Series Book 5)

by Rebel Carter

  “What do you mean?” she asked when she trusted her voice not to waver.

  “In Gold Sky there is more than one way to be married, Minnie, and one of those ways is without a man.”

  Chapter 3

  “What are you--”

  “Mary!” Her mother’s shrill shout cut through the din of activity around them and sliced into the little piece of solitude and peace Mary had found with Alex. She looked with a start to see her mother marching across the square.

  The woman paid no mind to the workers around her, and more than one shout of caution and disapproving look followed in Sarah James’s wake. She was carrying a covered basket in her hands and Mary remembered she was practically starved. How could her hour already be up? And when there was so much to talk over with Alex as well. It was just her luck her mother arriving at this moment.

  She had to find a way to continue the conversation and fast. It had all felt so big, momentous in what Alex was about to disclose and she could not let it slip through her fingers now. And speaking of fingers and hands...Mary jerked her hand back from where it still lay beneath Alex’s. She curled her hand into a fist and pressed it to her chest with an apologetic look at the woman beside her.

  “That’s my mother,” she told Alex. “I did not expect her to arrive so suddenly. She will not let us continue speaking. Not if she sees us like this.” She shook her head and continued, breath catching as she rushed to get the words out. “I wager she would refuse us the opportunity to speak even if she did not understand what I feel towards you. But I must know what you were about to tell me.”

  “About the peculiarities of marriage and Gold Sky?”

  “Yes, that. Please.” Mary gave a quick jerk of her chin.

  “There is a dance tonight. We can meet there and speak. I will be there as an usher. Do you think you can manage to convince her?”

  Mary bit her lip and glanced towards her mother who was waving at her now and yelling her name with new vigor. The covered platter in her hands was a good sign that her lunch had gone well. Mary could work with that.

  “I will do it.”

  “Then meet me here,” Alex tapped the step they sat on with a rap of her knuckle, “at the church tonight at seven. I’ll be waiting even if she keeps you. I’ll explain it all then.” Alex stood and gave her a meaningful look. “You are not a bad person, Minnie. You are just a desperate one. Remember that.”

  And then Alex was turning on her heel and walking away. She crossed paths with her mother, but the older woman barely spared her a glance in her trek forward.

  “What are you doing sitting here? You were supposed to meet me at the cafe. I’ve been looking all over for you, young lady.”

  “My feet were tired, mama. Back too. I had to sit for a moment so that I didn’t faint,” Mary explained, standing from her seat. She was loath to leave the spot and her mother made a shushing motion with a hand.

  “Stop carrying on or people will think something’s wrong with you.” She thrust the covered dish at her daughter. “Here is your lunch provided by my own hard work.”

  “Lunch was successful then?” she asked, flipping back the covering of the platter to reveal a side of roast beef, potatoes, two yeast rolls and a slice of chocolate cake. Her mouth watered looking down at it all and it took all of her willpower not to snatch a roll up and shove it in her mouth at once.

  “Very, as you can see by these generous provisions. I let him know my daughter was feeling under the weather. Mr. Rutherford sends his regards, darling. Now come along.” She flicked a finger at Mary, beckoning her to follow behind and set off towards the boarding house they were staying in.

  Mary fell in step behind her mother but not before sneaking a quick bite of the roll. She almost moaned in satisfaction. It was absolute perfection.

  “The sir is unattached and well-spoken, in possession of considerable fortune and gumption. I estimate his worth to be twice what your father’s was.”

  Mary’s head snapped up at that. “I wish you wouldn’t speak of Papa like that.”

  “Like what?” Her mother turned to glare at her, and Mary swallowed hard, the once tasty morsel of food turning to ash in her mouth at having her mother’s piercing eyes focused on her.

  “Like he was nothing more than a means to an end. Like he was an investment bond,” Mary’s voice shook, but she continued speaking. She had loved her father and he loved her. She knew he had treated her mother well despite their differences, and she could not abide Sarah James’s mercenary tone when speaking of him now that he was gone.

  “He was a good man.”

  Sarah James’s eyebrows drew together, and she turned away. “Yes, he was,” she said, her voice soft and gentle in a way that Mary hadn’t heard in years. Perhaps her mother missed her father as much as Mary did? She frowned and opened her mouth, ready to offer comfort to her but then Sarah James did what she did best and reminded her that she was not a soft woman.

  “And he was too gentle with you. He spent all that money on giving you a fine education and look at where you ended up. He spoiled you.” Mary jerked back as if she had been slapped and nearly dropped the platter of food in her hands as her mother continued. “But none of that matters now. Mr. Rutherford seems to be of the same mind as I. He will need a respectable wife, especially in his dealings with the community at large and I aim to be the most attractive candidate.”

  “Of course, mama.”

  “Now then, inside with you. I have a plan to hatch.” She gestured at the boarding house in front of which they stood. It was a modest two-story establishment, not as fine as Ms. Alice Hill’s but still far better than Mary had thought the frontier could offer by way of lodging. She was simply happy they had no need to stay in the town saloon.

  “What kind of plan?” Mary asked. She was grateful for an opportunity to sit and eat but hated to leave the warm sunshine and company of other people behind. She glanced behind her one last time taking in the sight of the life Gold Sky had to offer. Around her there were all manner of people, fair and dark skinned alike, and all of them seemed to be...happy.

  How she wished for a bit of that for herself. But did she deserve it still?

  You are not a bad person, Minnie. You are just a desperate one.

  She sighed heavily. Alex’s words worked as a balm to her nerves and she turned to follow her mother into the boarding house. She shut the door and continued forward to see her mother’s skirts vanishing into the dining room. Wordlessly she followed and took her place at the dining table. Her mother dropped a set of silverware beside her before taking a seat across the table, but even with a fork and knife at hand Mary knew better than to eat. Not until her mother gave her word that she was free to do so.

  “What is your plan, mother?” she asked.

  “To make Mr. Rutherford fall in love with me of course. I want the man besotted and proposing within the week. If I plan carefully, I think I can manage it.”

  “The week? Why so soon?”

  “On account of your little situation.” Her mother gave her abdomen a pointed look. “We have no clue how long until you begin to show that you are expecting, now do we? The sooner that I am able to secure an offer of marriage the better. It will also make getting a man interested in you all the easier if there is an influential man attached to us.”

  Mary nodded, eyes on her plate. “Of course, mama.” Her mind already turning over the puzzle of how she would persuade her mother to attend the town festivities.

  “...But of course, the gentleman has already asked for me to accompany him to the fair this evening and--Mary are you listening to me at all?”

  “Pardon?” Mary blinked in surprise.

  “Do stop daydreaming and pay attention to me, and for heaven’s sake eat your food.” She waved a hand at Mary, and despite the disapproving look on her face, Mary had never heard a sweeter word from her mother.

  “Yes, mama.” She snatched up her silverware and set to work eating her lunch with
fervor. It was good to eat and have something in her belly to chase away the memory of sickness. It was only when she was halfway through her roast beef that she remembered she was supposed to be listening to her mother’s thoughts on the ‘gentleman of means’.

  “He expects me to attend the fair like a common woman.”

  “Aren’t you?” Mary asked in confusion but at the dark look on her mother’s face she quickly added. “I mean to say that it would be good for Mr. Rutherford to see you as a salt of the earth woman. No doubt he has had his fair share of, ah, women in search of wealth. If you give him the impression that he has found a woman unconcerned with appearances and the like, then he may find you more desirable.”

  Mary hated that she knew the exact words to say to manipulate her mother into attending the fair, but it was necessary. She did not wish for it, but she was desperate. It was a means to an end and hopefully she would not have to do it again once she knew what Alex had to tell her.

  “Too true, too true.” Sarah James nodded in agreement. “Then you are of the opinion that I should attend the fair this evening?”

  “Yes, of course. If your aim is to secure a proposal then as much time spent in his company is best, but do not, ah, do not go alone,” she continued on, remembering that she must get herself to the fair as well.

  “What do you mean?” Sarah James gave her a shrewd look that Mary knew well from having it trained on her more times than she could count.

  “I mean that I should come with you, to the fair. If you were to go alone then it would present an odd picture to the gentleman.”

  “He thinks you are sick. There is no reason for you to attend, and we do not have the spare money to provide you with any refreshments,” Sarah James countered.

  A shiver of panic rose up in Mary at her mother’s words. She had to go to the fair. She simply must and if she meant to sneak out there, she knew her luck would not hold. There was no way her mother would not spot her Titian hair in the crowd that night.

  “I do not need refreshments. This meal is plenty to tide me over until breakfast. I swear it.” Mary gestured to the plate in front of her.

  “Why do you wish to go to the fair so badly tonight? I think there is something you are not telling me, dear.” Her mother leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “What is it you want so badly?”

  “Nothing!” Mary blurted out and winced at the desperate tone in her voice. “I mean, nothing, mama. Nothing. I only wish for you to have the best opportunity with the gentleman. I can help provide that. It is my, ah, future on the line as well. We both know you are far better suited to securing a match than I.” She set her fork down and smiled as sincerely as she could. “I only wish to help, mama. I swear it.”

  Sarah James steepled her fingers and considered her. “I suppose a family image would go a long way when enticing a man to see me in a kinder, gentler manner.”

  “It would. You would show Mr. Rutherford that you are able to offer him more than simply a pretty smile, but a partner capable of making a home for him. That is the true dream for any man of business.”

  Sarah James dropped her hands and smiled at her daughter. It was nothing more than a show of teeth, but it was far more than Mary was accustomed to seeing.

  “And all this time I thought you woefully inept at understanding the finer points of society and relationships. I underestimated you, Mary. I am impressed by your keen thinking.”

  “Thank you, mama. I learned from you.”

  “Good to know that you are paying some attention.” Her mother practically beamed at her and then tapped the table as if settling the matter entirely. “Now then, you will come with me to the fair. We leave at seven sharp. A lady never keeps a man waiting and we shall be escorted to the event by Mr. Rutherford and his associates. Is that understood?”

  Mary nodded forcing a cheery smile to her face. “Yes, I will be ready and eager to make his acquaintance.”

  Sarah James nodded and rose from the table. “Finish your meal and do wear the green dress. It suits your complexion and eyes perfectly. That is all.” Her mother took her leave and Mary sighed in relief the second she rounded the corner and turned down the hallway.

  She had secured her way to the fair, but she would not be on time to meet Alex, though at least she knew the woman would wait. She had told her as much, hadn’t she?

  “Calm yourself,” she whispered, pressing her hand to her chest. “She will wait, she will wait. She said so.” Mary sucked in a deep breath and rubbed her chest until she was able to take in a solid breath. She lifted her head up and nodded once her heartbeat had slowed enough for her to concentrate.

  “She will wait.” Mary picked up her fork and knife and began to cut into her meal again. “She will wait. She will.”

  Chapter 4

  “You cleaned up nicely. Well done, Mary.” Sarah James gave her an approving nod as she looked her daughter over. “Mr. Rutherford will be impressed by how well the James family presents themselves.”

  “Thank you, mama.” Mary hated that she felt the glow of pleasure in her chest. She should not warm to her mother’s praise, but it was difficult for a girl not to want her mother’s approval, no matter how dire or ill the circumstances.

  A rap at the door signaled an arrival. Sarah James waved her daughter forward with a flick of her wrist. “Answer the door, dear and remember to smile.’

  Mary gave her mother an absent-minded nod and went for the door. She opened it with little ceremony and could practically hear her mother’s sigh of exasperation at her daughter’s lack of fanfare and drama. Even so, she plastered a smile on her face and greeted the man in front of her with an incline of her head.

  The man was tall and thin, his lean form clothed in fine bespoke clothing she knew had attracted her mother's attention. He wore his salt and pepper hair neatly combed, shoes polished until they gleamed and when he lifted his hand to his chest in greeting his silver cufflinks shone in the waning light. He smiled at her, and it was not an unkind smile she saw from the soft look in his blue eyes.

  Perhaps the man would be a decent match for her mother. It would be a blessing to know he would not treat her unkindly. It would give Mary's nerves a much-needed break if she were able to rest assured in her mother’s future.

  “Hello, Miss. I am Reginald Rutherford. You are the younger Miss James, I presume?”

  She bobbed her head in acknowledgement. “Yes, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I apologize for my illness keeping me from a lovely lunch this afternoon.”

  “Everyone must take time to rest. I am happy you have recovered.” He bent low in a bow and surprised her when he took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. The man was grand in his gestures, her mother would adore it all.

  “I have, I have.” She turned her head to look behind her to where her mother stood and opened the door wider. “My mother and I are happy to spend the evening in your company. Aren’t we mother?”

  Sarah James swept forward with a smile on her face. “Yes, we are, dear.” She extended a hand towards Mr. Rutherford. “Pleased to see you again, sir.” The smile on her mother’s face was unlike the few Mary was accustomed to seeing. This one was all tender and playful and made her mother appear infinitely younger than she was.

  The transformation transfixed Mary to no end.

  She forced herself to step aside while her mother and her suitor made their hellos and before long they were off and walking towards the town square. Her mother arm-in-arm with Mr. Rutherford while Mary trailed behind them. She pretended to be interested in the couple’s pleasantries and was able to keep up a constant stream of chatter, but her eyes were sweeping the avenue as they walked.

  She told herself it was on account of her taking in her new surroundings, but in truth she scanned the area looking for Alex. As much as she willed herself to believe the other woman would wait for her, she worried Alex would think she was not coming. If Mary saw her in passing she could attempt to catch her eye and b
e able to stop her from leaving entirely.

  At least she hoped so.

  “Darling, are you listening to a word I’ve said?”

  Mary nearly winced and slowly looked back to her mother. “Pardon, mama?”

  “I said, my darling girl, we will take a turn about the festivities and then perhaps meet back here within an hour's time?”

  “Oh, only an hour? I was hoping for more?” Mary felt confident in her play for time. There was no way her mother would push back in front of her suitor. It would destroy the carefully crafted image of the good-natured mother she was working to create.

  Sarah James raised her eyebrow at her daughter. “And what do you intend to do with such idleness, hmm?”

  “I, ah, was hoping to enjoy the fair, of course, mama.” She gestured towards the town square that had been cheerily decorated. Ribbons hung from shop balconies, there were lanterns dotting the space lending their warm light to the dusky sky. There were tables laden with food and drink nearby and at the center of the square a makeshift dance floor was in front of the stage where a band was playing merrily away.

  If she wasn’t mistaken, she even glimpsed what looked like a vaudeville strongman act taking place near the church. There was much to see and even without her plans to meet Alex. An hour's time would not be nearly enough to see and enjoy it all.

  Sarah James narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “I don’t see why you would--”

  “Oh, I think some extra time would do the young lady good, don’t you? There are so many new people to meet, and not to mention,” he gave her mother a warm smile, “it would be lovely to spend more than an hour’s time in your fair company, Sarah James.”

  Her mother paused and then blushed before she cleared her throat. “Yes, yes, you are quite right. More than an hour’s time to enjoy the fair would do us all good, I think.” She nodded at Mary. “Enjoy yourself, darling and do return here in, ah, two hours’ time.”