by Zina Abbott
Delphinia studied Bennett’s backlit profile. There being no moon that night, the only light available was that from the lantern he held in his hand opposite her. In spite of not being able to see his features in detail, she recognized his vacant stare.
“Do you regret your decision to leave West Point?”
“No. I enjoy my life. I take satisfaction in what I create with my hands. I like being in business for myself and not having to answer to anyone.”
Until the last three days.
Delphinia felt envy well up within her. He had walked away from a life ordained by others to one he chose for himself. Why was she not allowed to do the same thing? Then again, perhaps there had been a price for his independence.
“Has your father become reconciled to your decision?”
Bennett smirked and began walking once more. “Let us just say that as far as my father is concerned, one does not turn his back on an appointment to West Point and expect to be welcomed into his home. My mother and I exchange letters once or twice a year through my aunt, her sister, so I stay informed of my family’s activities. However, I have never been back to Albany.”
Delphinia swallowed in an effort to keep her throat from becoming choked with emotion. Was that what she really wanted? To never be welcomed in her family’s home again? Then she reminded herself of the ornate bars on her windows and the prospect of marriage to Andrew Sopworth. No, never returning to her gilded cage, either at her parents’ house or Andrew’s, was worth being able to escape and choose the course of her own life. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Mr. Nighy. Perhaps you can understand why I have gone to such great lengths to leave my life as Delphinia Blakewell of the New York Blakewells behind.”
“Perhaps, Miss Blakewell. Tell me, who is this Andrew Sopworth? Your fiancé?”
“He is the man my parents insist I marry.”
Insufferable, obnoxious, philandering prig.
“He never directly proposed to me and I never agreed to our engagement, not that my objections mattered to him or my parents.”
“You really found him so objectionable you would seek a marriage with an unknown man, a miner? How could you not consider you might end up with someone even worse?”
“I would not have entered into a marriage with any man unless it was on the same terms that I offered you. I don’t expect any man to have to put up with me for forever. I only need to make myself unreachable by being already married by the time my father or Mr. Sopworth finds me, then buy enough time until I turn twenty-five and receive the trust my grandmother left in my name alone. At that point, I would set the man free and we each could go on with our lives.”
“You offered me a business arrangement, Miss Blakewell. What would you have offered to a miner living in company housing?”
Delphinia swallowed. “I don’t know. Perhaps I could have helped him invest his excess funds so by the time I left he would have been far better off than if he left his money in the bank. I would have thought of something. Besides, like I said earlier, the issue is moot.”
Bennett shook his head. Although miners made good wages compared to those who worked as laborers, he doubted most of them had extra funds to invest. He guided Delphinia around the corner as they approached the front of the Howard Boarding House. “Why is the issue moot?”
“Like I said, Mr. Nighy. I need to leave Jubilee Springs. Although Mr. Wardell gave me his word he would not contact my father and tell him where I am, Mr. Shumaker overheard him address me by my real name. I don’t dare trust that he won’t contact my father—as a professional courtesy, of course. I’m not sure I dare wait for Tuesday to catch the train that will take me to Denver. Perhaps I need to catch the one on Monday going west.”
Bennett shook his head as he guided her up the front stairs. “No, you don’t want to go west, Miss Blakewell. The railway is still in the process of being built. It has barely reached Gunnison, the next town of any size to the west. It’s a lot higher and colder there than here. Between here and there are a couple of small communities and temporary winter quarters for the railroad crews. You don’t want to find yourself trapped in places like that.”
“I don’t want to return to Denver on the same train as Mrs. Millard. There is nothing to prevent her from telling my father or his men everything she knows. My father is aware I had been in contact with her, so she is one of the first people he or his men will go to for information. I need to distance myself from her and anyone who can identify me as soon as possible so I may devise a plan on where I will go next, hopefully a place no one will think to look for me.”
They reached the front door. Except for a light left on in the parlor, there was no sign anyone remained at the boarding house. The door was locked when Bennett tried it.
“Come with me, Miss Blakewell. I’ve delivered furniture here. I know where the key is to the back door.” Bennett helped Delphinia down the stairs. When her boot slipped on the ice, he reached for her and grabbed her around the waist. “I warned you this ice is slippery, especially on these boardwalks.” He kept his arm around her as he guided her through the side yard to the bottom of the back stairs leading up to a narrow stoop. He released Delphinia, placed the lantern on the ground, crouched, and reached under the stair supports. He felt around until he located the key. He rose to his feet, but instead of once again offering her his arm to help her up the stairs, Bennett stood in front of Delphinia and studied her face. “I think you are going about this all wrong. Don’t run, not like this. If you leave Jubilee Springs, do so because you wish to leave, not because Mrs. Millard’s threat of exposure drives you away or you fear Graham Wardell or Mr. Shumaker will expose your location to your father. Continue to be the self-assured woman who walked into my store and told me how to run it. Hold your head up high until the worst of the speculation and gossip settles, then decide what you want to do.”
Delphinia shook her head. “I want nothing to do with Mrs. Millard and her brides. I would much rather hide away in my room until I can take a train out of town.”
Bennett stepped closer and took her face in both of his hands. “No, Miss Blakewell, we have not yet finished discussing the terms of the agreement you proposed to me earlier this day. Even though it was Sarah Brown who tendered the initial offer, I am willing to negotiate with Delphinia Blakewell.”
Delphinia looked down and closed her eyes. She shook her head. “There will be no business arrangement between us, Mr. Nighy. I withdraw the offer. I think it best for all parties involved that I leave Jubilee Springs.”
“No.”
“No? Why? Do you intend to accept my offer?”
“Not yet. I’m still thinking about it and still intend to negotiate terms. But to provide a benefit for you, I will escort you to church tomorrow morning so you will not need to hide away from Mrs. Millard or face the curious of Jubilee Springs alone. After partaking of Mrs. Howard’s usual Sunday brunch of cold meats, cheeses, bread and pickled vegetables, I will take you fishing with me.”
Delphinia jerked her head up to meet his eyes, the hopefulness apparent in her voice. “You’ll still take me fishing?”
“After we have duly made our presence noted we attended church, and on the condition that you agree to certain terms.”
Suddenly suspicious, Delphinia leaned away from him. “Terms? What terms?”
You’ll wear low-heeled boots—to church because there may still be some ice, visible or not, and I don’t want you to suffer the indignity of slipping and falling.”
Bennett smiled as a touch of the old Sarah Brown he had first met resurfaced. “I would think you capable of keeping me upright, Mr. Bennett. Are you saying you are not up to the task?”
“I’m up to the task, Miss Blakewell, if you don’t mind my arm around you in public while not on the dance floor. The other thing is, wear your hair more towards the back. I’d prefer it be down, but I know you probably wouldn’t agree to that.”
“Oh, my, no! That would be so plebei
an.”
“Which is why I am not making it a requirement for attending church. However, isn’t there a style where you can have it lower so your hat doesn’t perch so high on top of your head?”
“It’s the style, Mr. Nighy.”
“Others in church can’t see around it to watch the preacher. And don’t wear that hat with the two feathers sticking straight up.” Bennett held two of his fingers and wiggled them.” They’re distracting. They look like you’re trying to use your hat to knock cobwebs.”
Delphinia stepped back and glared at him. “Please don’t bother to inconvenience yourself by escorting me to church, Mr. Nighy. It is obvious it bothers you that I am taller than you are.”
“You are not taller. It’s those infernal two inch heels on your boots, and the way you wear your hair and hats a foot above your head that makes you appear taller than I am.” Bennett reached for Delphinia’s hand, grateful she did not pull away from him. He raised his other hand to her hair and tugged the frou-frou hairband loose. He raised his arm in the air so the headband slid onto his arm. Next he felt around until he found the first comb holding her coif in place.
Delphinia leaned her head away from his hand. “What do you think you are doing, Mr. Nighy?”
“Bear with me a moment, Miss Blakewell. Plebeian though it may be, I am helping you fulfill those terms I mentioned earlier.” Bennett removed a second comb and stuck the two in his pocket. He found and pocketed two more combs, then releasing her hand, he splayed his fingers and ran them through her hair several times. A shower of hairpins rained on the ground. A satisfied smile spread on his face as he heard their clatter when some of them hit the wood of the stairs. He used his fingers to arrange her locks on her shoulders. He reached for his lantern and brought it up to shoulder height so the light illuminated her face and hair. “That’s better. How long has it been since you let your hair down, Miss Blakewell, either literally or figuratively?”
Her lips parted, Delphinia stared at him in disbelief. She had never let her hair down outside her room, certainly not in the presence of a man, ever. So why had she not resisted his improper and forward behavior?
However, Bennett was not finished with being improper and forward. He set the lantern on the stoop, slowly drew Delphinia to him. As he placed one hand on the back of her neck and slowly pulled her face towards his, he waited for the first sign of resistance. He never would force her against her will. He knew if she rejected his advances, he would back off and leave.
However, Bennett soon found Delphinia in his embrace. He pressed his lips against hers and kissed her. The soft flesh of her lips, so unlike the hardened persona she tended to exhibit to him and the world, parted and molded to his. After several seconds he forced himself to end the kiss and lean away from her.
Breathing heavily, Bennett swallowed. “I am not uncomfortable with you because we are close to being the same height, Miss Blakewell. Let me help you up the stairs and wish you farewell until it is time for me to call and walk to church.” Bennett transferred her hair frou-frou from his arm to hers. He reached into his pockets for the combs and placed them in her palm, bending his fingers over her hand to close her grip around them. “After I get you inside, I’ll pick up your pins and leave them in a pile on the counter inside the door. After church we will discuss the terms of our fishing trip.”
~o0o~
Once inside the kitchen of the Howard’s home, Delphinia stood in the darkness for several seconds, still in a daze over what had just taken place. Bennett Nighy, a man to whom she had proposed a business arrangement, not a personal one, had removed all the pins from her hair. She reached behind her at waist level to feel the ends. Then he had kissed her, a very unbusiness-like action for someone still considering a business proposal. She reached up and brushed her fingertips over her still tingling lips.
Andrew Sopworth certainly never kissed me like that.
Keeping her eyes on the light from the parlor that peeked into the kitchen, she made her way towards the stairs that led to her room, wondering if her recollections of everything that had taken place this night at the harvest dance and afterwards would allow her to sleep.
~o0o~
Once he saw Delphinia in the door, Bennett held the lantern with one hand as he searched for the hairpins. The entire time the vision of Delphinia’s face surrounded by loose strands of hair invaded his thoughts. Such thoughts caused his concentration to slip more than once. He suspected he was setting himself on a course from which there might not be an easy return.
He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like it, but he was not ready to turn back.
.
.
.
.
CHAPTER 23
~o0o~
When Bennett stopped by Howard Boarding House to pick up Delphinia for church, he was pleasantly surprised to see she wore her flat-heeled boots. Contrary to her previous claim, they went well with the pin-striped teal ensemble she had worn the first day he had met her in his shop. She once again wore the grey hat with the navy grosgrain band. However, instead of the two upright feathers, pinned next to the ribbon rosette was a pale pink silk rose that looked suspiciously like it had come from the bouquet she had used for the display the day the Shumakers had come to his store. He glanced at the back of her head as he pulled her hand into the crook of his arm. Her hair had been arranged in a loosely braided chignon that extended from beneath her hat which rested flat on her head down to the neckline of her outfit.
‘Don’t look too carefully, Mr. Nighy. I barely managed to get it to stay in place using every comb and hairpin I possess. You have no idea how sorely I miss my lady’s maid.’
“Your hair looks beautiful, Miss Blakewell.”
And it only has to hold together until I get you to the river.
“Thank you. If you would be so kind, Mr. Nighy, please continue to address me as Miss Brown in front of others. In spite of the rumors which, no doubt, are rife after last night, I prefer that name over being widely known as a New York Blakewell.”
“Certainly.”
The pair arrived after most of the attendees were inside and Pastor Alwin had already left his post as greeter at the door to assume his place at the front. Bennett found them two seats towards the back on the left side. Heads turned, and a ripple of murmurs coursed through the room, but he ignored them. He removed his hat and sat it above his knee with part of the brim resting against Delphinia’s skirt. As the pastor officially started the services, Bennett found Delphinia’s hand at her side. He clasped it in his, slid it under the cover of his hat and gave it a squeeze for reassurance. He glanced at her face in time to catch the hint of a smile.
After prayer and singing, the pastor launched into his sermon. No matter how hard Bennett tried to focus on the words, his attention kept wandering to the woman beside him. At one point he looked over at her long enough to realize her shoulder rested almost two inches lower than his. Her face was lower than his. She may have long slender legs, but when sitting next to her, he was definitely taller.
Pastor Alwin caught the couple as Bennett escorted Delphinia out the door. “Good morning Bennett. I’m glad to see the fishing didn’t keep you away this morning.”
“No. This time of year the days are too short and I don’t attempt to get my fishing in before church. I’ll have to settle for what is available this afternoon.”
“Ah, but are you sure fishing is the best way to spend the Sabbath?” The pastor teased.
“Were not many of the Apostles fishermen? In the summer when I get out in the morning, I do try to break away in time for church, but I will admit some days the time gets away from me. However, when I fish in the afternoon, the peace and solitude allows me time to ponder the words of that day’s sermon.”
A stab of guilty conscience hit Bennett. He realized with Delphinia Blakewell joining him on his fishing trip, he probably would not be pondering that day’s sermon. “Allow me to introduce a visitor to Jubilee Spr
ings. Pastor Jeffrey Alwin, this is Miss Sarah Brown.”
The flicker that ran through the pastor’s eyes warned Bennett he had heard something about Delphinia.
Jeffrey Alwin turned to Delphinia. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss …”
“Miss Brown for now.”
“For now? And will you be staying long, Miss Brown for now?”
“I’m unsure. I’m here on a sensitive errand requiring my being discreet. How long I stay depends on what occurs while I’m in Jubilee Springs.”
“I see. Well, thank you for joining us today.”
“My pleasure. I enjoyed your sermon immensely.”
Bennett forced himself to keep a straight face. Miss Brown for now? On a sensitive errand requiring discretion? She had put into play a means of eventually explaining all the names she had used as aliases—and perhaps the one she was given at birth.
Well played, Miss Blakewell.
Bennett glanced around and noticed several of the new women paired up with men, at least one man he recognized to be a miner. He raised an eyebrow at one of the couples—a complete surprise. It looked to him like the pastor was waiting for the crowd to disperse so he could conduct a series of weddings.
A glance in another direction revealed to him the woman who ran the bridal agency standing next to Royce Bainbridge. Not wishing to offend the mine owner, he nodded in the man’s direction while at the same time shifting his body so it partially blocked Delphinia from the view of the marriage broker.
