He picked up the pen on his desk and looked back down at his work, knowing he would not succeed in ending this skirmish.
“William, I am not going to be put off,” Eunice warned, as she began pacing the room in agitation. “What could you possibly be thinking bringing a whore into your home . . . and into your future wife’s bedroom?”
William’s pen dropped and he was on his feet in an instant.
“Do not ever call her that again,” he warned. “Whore is such an ugly word. And it couldn’t possibly fit the angel currently installed in my house. And if it did ever fit her, it was because of me that it is so.”
Eunice gasped at William’s uncharacteristic show of emotion.
“Such affection for your mistress?” And you would say that to your own mother? How could you defend a common trollop against me?” Her face had turned a deep shade of purple and her large bosom heaved inside of her royal blue velvet gown.
“I will not tolerate your comments mother. You will not speak of Victoria with anything but respect.”
“Victoria? Is that her name? Can you tell me that much since I can’t make any progress with you otherwise?” Eunice said. “I think you care about the girl, which is infuriating and completely improper.”
“Yes, her name is Victoria.” William answered, leaning against the desk top, her name tasting sweet and familiar on his lips. “I think it is quite proper to care for one’s mistress, otherwise, why have one at all?”
“Victoria what?” Eunice probed, her gaze narrowing.
“There is no need for you to know, so just forget about it.” William replied. He knew he couldn’t tell his mother who Victoria really was. Not yet anyway.
“Oh, William, for goodness sake! What would it hurt for me to know her name?” Eunice put her bottom lip out in a convincing pout trying a new route.
“Don’t play the poor, wounded one with me Mother. She is off limits to you and your schemes. Furthermore, if I find out that anyone, and I mean anyone, has said or done anything to her, there will be hell to pay.” Hard steel and determination edged his warning.
“I know that tone, you sound just like your father. I knew I should have taken more of a hand in your raising,” she said, sighing over the words she had worn out in uttering. Then she asked, “What happened to that Chinese woman you were regularly going to see? She was a perfect mistress, no complications.”
“That is none of your business. This conversation is over.” William said, his voice warning that he had run out of patience.
“Okay, son, but please, could you just remove her from your house. Will you do that much for me? I don’t want the whole world to be aware of your affair, especially Faith. She would be so upset if she knew. She cares for you, and she deserves your respect.”
“Your point is well taken, Mother. I will consider what you have said although I am fully aware of the social issues here. Now could you please allow me to finish my work?”
“Of course son, of course. I know that you are aware of your duties, speaking of which, don’t forget, we are to go to the Anderson’s tomorrow for dinner. Faith is anxious to see you and complained you haven’t been around to see her,” Eunice finished, breezing to the door as if a major showdown had never occurred. She stopped and gave him a small wave before closing the door behind her.
“Goodbye Mother and good day,” he replied, to the closing door.
Damn, William thought, annoyed as the door clicked shut. He had almost forgotten about the weekly dinner with Faith and her parents.
Even though he was normally more charitably disposed about the whole affair, it was suddenly an unpleasant occasion to anticipate. Until this moment, he never considered seeing Faith and her family as a bore. He could even go so far as to say that he previously enjoyed Faith’s chatter and even participated in her planning.
Now, he considered the notion that it most always proved to be an exceedingly dull evening filled with Faith’s chatter about wedding plans, Albert Anderson’s loud overblown personality and his mother’s endless, jealous, gossip with Jeanette Anderson.
Right now he just didn’t feel like being charitable, or subjecting himself to the torture of the scheduled dinner that was designed to bring the families together so that everyone could get better acquainted.
He knew the root of his impatience and unkind disposition was that he was anxious to spend time with Victoria.
His time with Victoria would have to be postponed. There was nothing to be done about that. They only had tonight together and then it would be another two days before he could see her again.
There was one thing that his mother was right about. Victoria would have to be removed from his house. Otherwise, there was no telling what his mother or Faith might do. Society was not kind to the Victorias of the world.
And he truly didn’t wish to shame Faith by being so blatantly indiscreet.
Pulling the cord to ring Ernst Pike, William swiftly made his mental plans.
“Yes sir?” Pike, entered his office looking as pale and nervous as ever.
“Pike, get in touch with the real estate department. Have them find me a little house on the hill within a block or two of my residence. The house should be elegant, spacious, with a view of the Bay and furnished to the smallest detail in something tasteful and comfortable.”
“And red,” he added, his voice dipping low with emotion.
“Red sir?”
“Yes, red – the curtains, the sofa, perhaps even the paper on the wall should be red – tastefully done of course. “Red is her color.”
“I will make sure the decorating is done in red,” Pike assured him patches of color appearing on his face.
Perhaps that was going a bit too far.
“The furnishings should be elegant but comfortable. The house should have all the latest amenities. Have the house paid for in cash and have the deed made out to Victoria Riley,” William finished.
Certainly Victoria wouldn’t mind living in her own home. In fact she would likely prefer having her own home. Of course he would be certain that he spared no expense with her house, which should please her greatly.
“I will do my very best sir.”
“Offer whatever price you must to get the house that fits the requirement Pike, everyone has a price, just find the right house.”
“I will make sure it is a very fine house that exceeds all of your expectations,” Pike said.
“I am sure that you understand Mr. Pike, this house is for a very special lady.”
“I do understand completely,” Earnest said his face flushed with embarrassment. “If there is nothing else that you need from me sir, I would like to get started right away.”
“Yes, please do and also send word to Cloe Lanet to be at my house tomorrow to start fittings for gowns for the young lady. She will need an entire wardrobe, then more, make that clear to Cloe ... the best, only the very best ,” William said.
“I will make sure she understands sir.”
“That will be all, Pike,” William finished. It was a good start, he thought.
Dismissed, Pike started swiftly towards the door.
“And Pike,” William said, just as Pike turned the doorknob.
“Yes, sir?”
“Please don’t forget to tell the decorator that the main theme of the house should be red.”
“As you wish,” Pike responded. He hurried from the room, his own face spotted in deep red. “I think red is a very fine color for a lady.”
CHAPTER 14
Anxiety, anticipation and dread swirled inside of Victoria in varying degrees as she waited that evening for William to return home. While she waited nervous energy sent Victoria on a quest to thoroughly explore his house and the surrounding gardens.
Elegant and opulent would be words that fell short to describe his grand palace, sitting on a hill with a glorious view of the city and the Bay beyond.
The house boasted four stories with each level a stage of open m
arble hallways lined with elegantly appointed rooms, each decorated with its own distinctive elegant style that still harmonized with the entire house.
Victoria discovered three separate dining rooms, two kitchens and at least one washroom with plumbing on each floor, all with hot running water, no less.
The gardens of the house matched the house’s splendor. The lush, compact, city gardens impressed as much larger than they were and included delicate bubbling water fountains, a small secluded gazebo and pathways surrounded by bright blooming flora.
Apparently, William nearly owned the world and she had a glimpse this opulent fantasy in his home.
What could a man who lived in such a beautiful world possibly want with her?
A more important question was how could she … Victoria possibly please such a man in the ways of a mistress?
Had she truly considered all of her options? What if she lay with him only to discover that he had used her, found her not to his liking and abandoned her without her virtue, dignity, or the store? Should she have had him sign a document to memorialize their agreement and to protect herself?
That mercenary thought sent a shudder through her. The whole business of his proposition was shameful. She wouldn’t make it any more mortifying by putting it in writing.
She would have to find a way to please him, no matter what it took. Surely she could accomplish this task, couldn’t she?
*****
Most all of the bank employees watched as William Worthington, with his signature purposeful stride of elegant manliness, carried him with a compelling mixture of grace and power through the lobby of the bank and out the ornate, beveled glass doors.
As always, William nodded and said a polite “hello” to those he passed. But the employees knew despite his keeping with routine that today was different from other days because Mr. Worthington never left before 5:30 p.m., especially after coming in late in the morning. And amazingly, yesterday he hadn’t come in at all.
Something was afoot.
Whatever the reason for Worthington’s early departure, it was a pleasure to see the man who had long since been dubbed a workaholic acting a little more humanly.
William was annoyingly aware of his employees’ natural curious speculation dogging his footsteps as he left the bank.
There was no help for his obvious distraction. Moving Victoria in the direction of his bed was not a matter to take lightly. She was positioning herself to merely be a receptacle of his sexual advances while holding her own feelings from him in the cold cloak of a business transaction. This was not a situation he envisioned nor would he permit. He was not a man to simply throw her onto the bed and have his way with her in return for a simple business transaction. To get what he truly desired, which was her complete and utter sensual surrender, would take finesse, charm and time.
When she came to him he would be certain it was with desire equal to his own.
When he arrived at his house fifteen minutes later he didn’t wait for Chester to get down from the driver’s seat and open the carriage door before he bolted out. Blood pounding through his veins he opened the front door on his gaping butler Carter standing frozen in the foyer, who had not had time to get to the front door of the house let alone open it for him.
“Sir, you are home early,” Carter’s surprised voice followed him, as he bounded past him and up the steps, turning toward Victoria’s bedroom.
“Indeed I am,” William called back to Carter offering nothing else in the way of explanation.
Victoria’s bedroom door was open, and Victoria heard Carter calling up the steps to William.
He was home.
Victoria’s heart slammed against her ribs when she heard William’s footsteps on the polished wooden floor advancing quickly closer to her room.
His presence filled the doorway and her eyes lifted from the letter she was composing to Mandy to meet his. Emotions sizzled in the air between them like some tangible live thing.
Leaning on the door jam with his arms crossed, William regarded her with half lowered lids that could not conceal the predator’s sensual glitter in his eyes.
Victoria was motionless, her eyes swimming in his silver regard.
“How was your day?” he asked, straightening from the door jam and moving into the room like a panther stalking its prey.
“It was fine,” she answered, breathlessly. “Your house is beautiful.”
“Thank you,” he said smiling. “And I hope you will like the house I am going to give to you,” William said. “I plan to give you every possible luxury.”
“Really it isn’t necessary,” she demurred, her eyes sliding away while a pink flush touched her cheeks.
“You have become an obsession do you know that?” he said quietly. “And it is deeply troubling.”
“I am sorry,” Victoria whispered a hotter flush advancing across her face.
“There is no need to be sorry, and I am pleased to see that you fit into my cousin’s gown quite beautifully.”
“Yes, it was very kind of you.”
“It is nothing compared to what I will give to you.”
“I do not know what to say. It is a little too much I think.”
“Nothing is too much for you.”
He paused, smiled and asked, “What are you writing?”
“A letter to my sister, Mandy,” she replied, moving the paper away from his probing gaze. The ink still had to dry so Victoria slipped the page into the top drawer of the desk.
“Would it be impolite to ask what you will tell your sister? Perhaps you could indulge my curiosity.”
“As a matter of fact, I need a few questions answered myself so that I might tell my sister an accurate accounting of our … arrangement,” she said quietly as her gaze slipped away from his. Her own lack of sophistication was annoying. This was more embarrassing than she could have imagined, but a good business woman should be able to talk about the terms of an agreement.
Mina arrived with a glass of scotch and a tea service. William waved her inside and she quickly and deftly laid out the refreshments with practiced efficiency, then left the room.
“Of course, you need to know the details of our agreement,” he said, lifting the glass and taking a long swallow of his drink.
With a slight tremble, Victoria stirred the sugar cube into her tea, taking care to make not a sound, just as her mother had taught her.
“Well, yes, of course I have to tell her,” Victoria answered, settling the small tea spoon beside her saucer with an unintentional but notable clatter. Her mother certainly had not taught her that.
But then, her mother had never told her anything about what to do with a man like William Worthington in a situation like this.
“I can’t very well lie about something that will keep me away for an indefinite amount of time. Besides, we are very close.”
“Watching you is fascinating,” William said, his eyes moving over her.
“What do you mean?” She asked, breathless.
“Between your blushes and missish ways you will give mistresses a new name,” William said, “However I admit that your trembling does make me feel a complete bastard.”
“Please, William, do not say such things to me.”
“Alright, tell your sister you will be here for a long time. Tell her that she can go to the bank where there is an account set up in her name and she may draw from it what she likes. If you want, she can come visit you, I am more than happy to pay for her trip expenses, of course,” he said quietly.
“Oh no, she can’t come here,” Victoria hastily declared.
Good gracious, she had thought of a thousand lies she could tell Mandy, but had discarded them all. She just never lied to Mandy. That was not the way things were between them. Mandy would know she was lying. And if Mandy knew she was lying she would most certainly come here to San Francisco to get to the bottom of what was really going on.
It was bad enough that she had to tell Mandy what
she was going to do, but she could still never let Mandy see her like this.
“No, of course, I understand, you would not want her to meet me.”
“It isn’t that, of course, she would love to meet you. But surely you understand that it is the circumstances and she is my sister, my younger sister and she doesn’t need to see me in this...”
“Situation,” he finished for her. “You are right, of course. Tell her the store will be turned over to someone else, I have a buyer,” he stated briskly, taking another drink and mentally punching out an inexplicable notion of guilt.
“A buyer?” Victoria jumped to her feet upsetting her teacup. “What are you talking about...there will be no buyer for the store. The store was part of our bargain, surely you have not forgotten that.
“Sit down, Victoria,” he commanded in a low voice, righting the tea cup and placing a napkin over the small spill on the tablecloth. “I didn’t think it would matter that much.”
“How can you say that, when you know that store means everything to me?” she declared, slowly taking her seat again, her eyes fixed on him. “It was the most important part of our deal.”
“I thought you needed the store to be economically independent. You will not need to work anymore. I thought you understood that.”
“For now perhaps I will not need to work, but eventually I will go back home,” she reminded him, as panic continued to rush through her. In the span of a few days he had taken over her whole life. Trapped and suffocating and she was powerless to do anything about it. “You knew how I felt, I told you about all of my plans,” she accused.
“Don’t be so upset, Victoria. I guess I didn’t entirely understand how you felt about the store. I was focused on the economic aspects. If you would like, I will turn the deed over to you, but Mandy will still have to run it for you, at least for a while. Do you think she can manage on her own?”
“Of course she can manage on her own and she has Johnny to help her.”
“I am sorry Victoria, I think I have pushed you a little too far and a little too fast. The store means a great deal to you and I know that. But darling, you aren’t going to need the money, so I hate to see you toiling unnecessarily,” he said, his voice low and husky and filled with so many promises ... promises to give her everything she wanted and promises of endless sultry nights in his arms.
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