“Stone’s well informed on the orchard’s day to day operation.” She had to interrupt Lortz before he wandered away from the subject of Stone and the contract. “He’s always reading to learn everything new to the business. Now that the new trees are coming into bearing age, he’s determined Kincaid Orchards will soar into the upcoming twentieth century.”
“You wouldn’t be prejudiced, would you?”
She grinned at him. “I might, but even if I weren’t, I’d realize he’s smart as a whip and works hard to achieve his goals.”
“You don’t have to sell me, little lady. I’ve decided to sign with him. I like the way he does business.”
She was so excited she hoped she hadn’t squeezed his hand too hard. “You won’t be sorry, Mr. Lortz. The contract will benefit both of you.”
When they returned to the table, Lortz asked, “You have that contract on you, Kincaid?”
“Yes, sir.” He patted his jacket pocket. “I have a pencil, too.”
“Hand them over. I’ve decided to give you a shot.”
Marianne handed her a flute of champagne. “Have a drink, my dear. You look flushed.”
Patience drank the contents before she realized she’d done so. “Thank you, I was too warm.” She leaned near Marianne. “And excited Mr. Lortz agreed to sign.”
Stone and Lortz discussed the contract and this year’s harvest.
A young man she hadn’t met stopped before her. “Mrs. Hauser, would you introduce me?”
“Miss Eaton, may I present Mr. Harold Cummins?”
That dance was the first of so many she lost count of her partners. Between each round, Marianne offered her another flute of champagne. Eventually, the room spun.
“I think I might be ill. Things are going fuzzy.”
Chapter Eleven
Marianne clasped her arm. “Come with me, my dear. There’s a small salon off to the side where you can rest.” She led Patience to the room where there was a sofa. “Just sit here and I’ll get you something to drink and a damp cloth.”
Patience sank onto the sofa. She’d never felt like this. Perhaps it was the meat in the sandwich or her corset was laced too tightly. Wouldn’t you know, just when things were going well?
Marianne returned with another flute. “Drink this and perhaps it will restore you. I’ve asked for a waiter to bring us a damp cloth.”
Patience swallowed the drink but she felt no better. “I must be coming down with something.”
“No, probably just the excitement. You appear flushed and too warm. Here, have my glass too and I’ll get another one.”
Marianne returned to find Patience held the empty glass but had laid her head on the sofa arm and was sound asleep. She removed the glass from the girl’s hand and whispered, “Great, now to get Stone in here.”
She brought him. “I couldn’t leave her here alone. I hate for you to miss the ball, but I was worried about Patience.” She signaled a waiter who brought in a magnum of champagne and two glasses she’d ordered.
Stone was in excellent spirits, so they toasted to his success. She made sure he consumed several glasses of champagne while they talked about what to do. He wobbled a little.
Marianne brushed aside Patience’s skirts so Stone could sit down. She kept his glass filled in the hope he wouldn’t realize how much he’d drunk.
“You know, I think I might have had too much to drink. I can’t focus very well.”
“You poor boy. Here, just lean your head here and rest. I’ll find some coffee.” She left the room but peeked inside until she was certain he’d passed out.
Sneaking back in, she closed the door behind her. Carefully, she tugged Patience’s bodice lower and her skirts higher. Then, she took Stone by the shoulders and shoved him onto Patience. She pulled his arm around until it was under Patience’s head. With her lightest touch, she moved Stone’s arm to Patience’s breast.
Next, she went for Calvin Lortz. When she found him, she asked, “Have you seen Miss Eaton? She wasn’t feeling well, but she isn’t in her room. I can’t find Stone either. I checked on the terrace, but they’re not there.”
With a concerned expression, he said, “We’ll just see where those two could be.”
She eventually led him to the salon where they found Patience and Stone sound asleep.
Lortz growled in anger and woke Stone. “Explain yourself, young man.”
Stone came awake to someone roughly shaking his shoulder. When he saw Lortz prodding him and then realized Patience’s disreputable state, he was horrified. He had no memory of touching her. In fact, his last memory was of Aunt Marianne encouraging him to have another drink.
To make matters worse, his cuff link had become entangled in the lace at Patience’s bodice. When he jerked his hand away, more of her breast was exposed. He pushed the material back in place before he realized how his action appeared. This must be a nightmare and he hoped he’d soon awake.
He was sober enough to realize protesting was futile. “You do remember we’re engaged?”
Lortz narrowed his eyes. “You are getting married right away, aren’t you?”
Marianne said, “Oh, they’d intended this to be their honeymoon, but since Andrew couldn’t come, they’ll wait until they’re home for the ceremony.”
Lortz pointed at Stone. “I suggest you get married immediately. You have to do right by this girl.”
Aunt Marianne slipped her arm through Lortz’s. “I’ll set everything up for tomorrow. Since Andrew’s not here, perhaps you’ll consent to give Miss Eaton away.”
Mollified, the older man said, “I’d be honored.”
Marianne patted his arm. “Leave everything to me. Since the conference ends at one, how about I arrange the ceremony for four?”
“Let me know where and I’ll be there.”
After Lortz had gone, Stone stared at the woman he called aunt. “What have you done, Aunt Marianne?” He held up his hand. “No, I know what you’ve done, why have you?”
She blushed but assured him, “Everything will be all right, Stone. I love you like the son I never had. You have to trust me.”
“Not anymore, I don’t. Patience told me you were trying to throw us together, but I couldn’t believe her. I suppose you’ve arranged a way to get Patience to her room without parading her through the ball room.”
Without answering his accusation, she gestured to a door almost hidden in the paneling. “Yes, there’s a doorway through here where we can get to the service elevator.”
“When—if—we get out of this without the whole thing blowing up in our faces, you have a lot of explaining to do.”
She held up her hand. “Once we’re home but not until then. If you’re steady enough, carry her this way.”
He lifted Patience into his arms. “And did you have a contingency plan in case I could only stagger?”
She led him through the kitchen. “Don’t be disrespectful, Stone Kincaid.”
He dodged chefs and waiters. “Or what? You’ll ruin Patience’s and my lives?”
She opened the service lift. “No one’s life is ruined. You make a lovely couple.”
He leaned against the sides. “Tell that to my father.”
“I will.” She pushed a lever to set them moving.
Apparently the staff didn’t rate the same elevator standards as the guests and there was no operator on duty. At their floor, he almost fell when the car stopped. Aunt Marianne peered both directions and motioned him to follow, which he did as fast as he could.
She unlocked her door and he hastened inside. Patience was getting heavy and he was fading. The sobering effect of Lortz shaking him awake had worn off. He wanted to lie down and sleep for a week.
Marianne gestured through the connecting doorway. “You’ll have to help me get that dress off her.”
He laid Patience on the bed. “Oh, no. The way this evening has gone, you’ll have the police up here accusing me of assault.”
“Stone, that d
ress cost a fortune and is the prettiest thing she’s ever owned. It has to come off before the champagne makes her throw up. I can’t do all this alone.”
“You certainly managed a lot on your own, Aunt Marianne. I have no doubt you can accomplish anything you wish, including coercing me into marrying a stranger.”
She grabbed his arm and narrowed her eyes. “Now help me turn her so I can undo the buttons and loosen her corset.”
Reluctantly, Stone helped. He should look away, but he simply couldn’t. “Hurry, can’t you? I can’t take much more of this.”
“I know this is hard on you. She’s a beautiful woman. Now help her stand and then lift her while I slide this dress to her feet.”
As he lifted her, the corset fell off and he could see through the chemise she wore. “Aunt Marianne, you owe me a thousand times more than you can ever repay.”
She sent him a sympathetic glance as she gathered the dress and laid it over a chair then turned down the bed’s covers. “Tomorrow, she’ll be all yours and you can look all you want.”
He laid Patience on the bed. “You think so? She’s going to be sick as a dog tomorrow and she’ll never forgive either of us. I’m through for tonight. Going to bed and pray a giant meteor strikes the hotel while I sleep.”
“The ceremony will be at four.”
He groaned and left the room.
***
The next morning, Patience awakened with an uncontrollable urge to retch. She barely got the chamber pot out in time. She would never have made it all the way to the toilet up the hall. When she’d finished, she relieved herself, then retched again.
She was washing her face and throat when Marianne came in.
The older woman said, “Feeling rough I suppose.”
“As if I have carpet on my tongue, something very angry in my stomach, and a hammer pounding inside my head. Please tell me what happened, or do I want to know?”
“You’d better sit down.” Marianne packed away last night’s dress and brought out the lavender one with the shoes to match.
Patience sat on the edge of the bed. “Isn’t that too dressy for day wear?”
“Um, you have a lot of catching up to do. You see, you passed out and then Stone came in and he passed out and then Calvin Lortz came in and found the two of you together on the sofa.”
Suspicions weaved their way through the pain. “By ‘together’, precisely what do you mean?”
“Innocent of course, but there you were with Stone lying halfway on top of you. Mr. Lortz thought the worst and insisted that the two of you marry today.”
Patience fought the pounding in her head to narrow her eyes at the other woman. “Marianne, I suspect you’re leaving out quite a lot. You were the one who insisted I needed to drink more champagne to cool myself. Would I be wrong to think you did the something similar to Stone?”
Marianne clasped a hand to her heart, but didn’t meet Patience’s eyes. “You wound me. I was merely concerned for you. Why, I’ve even arranged you a beautiful wedding and Mr. Lortz agreed to give you away since your own father won’t be here.”
“And what happens if Stone and I refuse to go through with the wedding?”
“Mr. Lortz made it clear that you must if you want him to honor his contract with Kincaid Orchards. You’ll go through with it, won’t you? Stone is quite eager for the ceremony.”
For a moment her heart bought into Marianne’s story. “He is?” Then reason doused her spirits. “Did he say that in so many words or is this more of your subterfuge?”
“Subterfuge? My dear, you have such a good education. Why, you put my vocabulary to shame.”
“You’re changing the subject, but never mind. I know the answer. No, he did not say he was eager to marry me. But the contract means a lot to Andrew and Stone. Anyway, I have an idea who wants to marry Andrew.” She glared at Marianne.
The other woman refused to meet her gaze but bustled around the room getting clothing ready for the ceremony. “You’ve slept quite late and there’s not much time to delay. You haven’t time for a bath, so wash your face and hands and I’ll touch up your hair.”
“I just washed my face and hands. I don’t suppose you have headache powders, do you?”
Marianne pointed to a box and a glass of water on the vanity beside a plate on which rested a slice of toast and tub of marmalade.
Patience threw up her hands. “Of course, you do.” She walked over and sat at the dressing table.
Marianne held up a hand. “Don’t drink much water or you’ll regret you did.”
“I already regret a great deal, my kind, generous, considerate chaperone.” She tossed back the powders and sipped enough water to force the remedy down her throat.
“Eat the toast to settle your stomach while I work on your hair.” She sat still for Marianne to rearrange her curls. She donned fresh unmentionables including lavender stockings and let her nemesis lace her into the blasted corset. By the time she was dressed and wearing an amethyst and diamond necklace and earrings, her head and stomach pains had eased slightly.
“Now let’s go, dear. Your bouquet will be waiting downstairs and so will your groom. I’ll let him know you’re ready so he can go down first. Bad luck for him to see you before the wedding.”
“We wouldn’t want that, would we?” Patience hated being so sarcastic, but she was fed up with Marianne.
Some chaperone she turned out to be. Knowing which dress to wear when was hardly worth ruining Stone’s life. She doubted Andrew would be heartbroken. He’d never even tried to kiss her.
Come to think of it, she wondered where he disappeared to all those afternoons. How many errands could one man have? She’d bet he had a nice lady friend somewhere. She’d even bet she could name the woman. Even with a foggy brain, some things were quite clear.
The ceremony was in a beautifully decorated garden room. Those conference attendees who hadn’t gone home attended. She carried a bouquet of hothouse flowers in lilac, white, and pink. She’d expected Stone to stop the proceedings, but there he was. He and Calvin Lortz each wore a pink rose in his buttonhole.
As the minister pronounced them husband and wife, Stone looked into her eyes before he pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. Afterward, he invited everyone to a reception. On the way, he told Patience, “You look beautiful. I’m really proud of you and the way you handled yourself at the conference.”
She rolled her eyes then regretted it. “You mean getting drunk and passing out? This has happened too fast. We need time to talk. Please believe I didn’t have any part in Marianne’s plan.”
“We both know who’s to blame. But you’re part of the reason we have Lortz’s contract. That and in many other ways, you’re an asset to Kincaid Orchards. I’ve really enjoyed our time together.”
“Thank you. I’ve enjoyed it, too.” But he didn’t say he loved her. Not even that he liked her a lot. She wanted his love.
***
Stone couldn’t believe he was wed to the woman he loved. He knew Patience didn’t love his father, so he didn’t feel guilty they were wed. Although he wasn’t even sure she really liked him, he figured she was better off with him than a man over twice her age. From his observations, his father had not developed any deep feelings for his mail-order bride. In fact, he treated her more as a friend and employee than as a prospective wife.
At the reception, Jonathan Griffin, a man he hadn’t talked to in several years, stopped by to congratulate him. “I’m glad you overcame that scandal with Lottie Ames’ death.”
“Just the same, if I knew the name of the real father of her baby, I’d tell him a thing or two.”
Jonathan stared at him. “But, I thought you knew it was Ralph Larsen and you were covering for him. His old man would have disinherited him if he’d known he knocked up Lottie. Mr. Larsen had Cynthia all picked out for Ralph.”
A slow rage built in Stone’s mind. “Yeah, I he did. Ralph pretty much had to marry her in order to keep in the old man�
�s good graces.”
“If he’d learned about the scandal, Ralph would have been in big trouble.”
Instead, he’d stood by and ruined the life of the man who was supposed to be one of his best friends. How could Ralph refuse his own child? Why wouldn’t Lottie name him? Had she threatened to?
The rest of the reception, he was preoccupied with the shocking news he’d gained from Griffin. All this time... all the pretending. He didn’t know which hurt most, the betrayal or the lies. Either way, Stone felt the fool. He remembered to offer thanks for the congratulations, smile at the bawdy remarks about the coming night, and make sure his bride had solid food.
Once they were finally in his room, she faced him. “I don’t have any of my things.”
He turned her and unfastened her dress and untied her corset laces. “Tell me what you want and I’ll have Aunt Marianne find it for me.”
Patience stretched. “Oh, excuse me for yawning. Marianne will know what to send.”
He roused Marianne. “Patience said you’d know what she needs for tonight.”
“Of course.” She searched through Patience’s luggage and gathered several items and others from the vanity. She added them to one of the cases and handed them to him. “Good night.”
He wanted to yell at her for her betrayal. Since he’d ended up married to the woman he loved, he couldn’t bring himself to complain. He bid her goodnight and went back across the hall. Patience was clad in her unmentionables and stretched out on the sheet sound asleep. He pulled the covers over her and pressed a kiss to the lips of his sleeping beauty.
After setting the suitcase by her side of the bed, he stripped and crawled in beside her. Curling around her, he smiled and gave thanks this one thing in his life had worked out right. If only he could convince her that they belonged together, his life would be complete.
The next morning, he woke before his bride and slipped from bed. He dressed in traveling clothes and then waked Patience.
She looked down at her chemise and blushed. “Oh, I fell asleep before you came back with my things. I’m sorry, Stone. Some wedding night you had.”
Patience: Bride of Washington (American Mail Order Bride 42) Page 12
