by Judith Stacy
“Bessie will have tea for us in a moment,” she said.
Stephen retrieved his derby from the table. “That’s very kind of you, Mrs. Markham, but Caroline and I are going out.”
“You are?” she asked.
“We are?” Caroline echoed.
Stephen turned to her. “We are.”
“But—”
“You should bring a wrap,” Stephen said. “We’ll likely be out until late.”
“But…Now?”
Stephen smiled. “No sense in waiting.”
Caroline planted her hands on her hips. “Did it occur to you, Mr. Monterey, that I might already have plans for today?”
He shrugged indifferently. “No, not for a minute.”
“Run along, Caroline, dear,” Aunt Eleanor said. “You mustn’t keep Mr. Monterey waiting.”
Caroline threw Stephen a sour look and left the room in a huff.
Aunt Eleanor waved goodbye from the front porch a few minutes later as Caroline rode away in Stephen’s carriage, with him seated across from her.
“Well, I hope you’re happy,” Caroline said, and jerked her chin at him.
He nodded. “I’m very happy.”
“Do you always get your way?”
“Most always.”
“Then I suggest you brace yourself for a few disappointments, Mr. Monterey,” Caroline told him. “You’ll find that I’m not like everyone else you know.”
He smiled a slow, lazy smile. “I’m already aware of that, Miss Sommerfield.”
Caroline tugged on her skirt and turned her face to the window, ignoring him.
Since she refused to speak to him, Caroline had to content herself with watching the homes of the West Adams district roll past the carriage window. In the morning sunlight, with their large green lawns, swaying palms and ferns, stone walls and wrought-iron fences, they were even more impressive than when she’d seen them last night.
The homes displayed a variety of grand architecture. There were storybook houses with gingerbread and scrollwork, great stone castles, English Tudors, white brick Colonials with Grecian columns.
The carriage swung into the driveway of Stephen’s home. The brownstone looked bigger, more imposing that it had last night. Witches’ caps topped the circular turrets on the house’s four corners. Balconies opened on the second story. Massive stone chimneys and dormers punctuated the steep roof.
“My uncle Colin and I designed the house,” Stephen said, gesturing out the window. “It’s on two acres, one of the biggest lots in the city.”
“It is a beautiful home,” she agreed.
“Seven bedrooms, not including the servants’ quarters. A trophy room, a card room, a billiard room, several sitting rooms and parlors, a formal dining room and breakfast room, and probably several other rooms I’ve never been in.” He smiled. “We had marble brought in from Italy. The stained glass windows are from France. Aunt Delfi always has some decorating project going on.”
The carriage stopped. Stephen climbed out and helped her down. Richard waited on the front steps. He broke into a full smile when Caroline stepped out of the carriage.
“Miss Sommerfield is starting work today, Richard,” Stephen announced, and presented her as if she were a trophy from a big game hunt.
“Welcome, Miss Sommerfield,” he said. “I’m glad you changed your mind.”
“Thank you,” Caroline said. She liked Richard and wouldn’t be rude to him, even though she might have decidedly different feelings for Stephen.
The front door opened and the butler stepped outside.
“Excuse me, Mr. Monterey. Your aunt asks that you come to her at once.”
Stephen nodded, then excused himself and went inside. Richard stepped over to Caroline.
“His aunt Delfina,” he explained. “The slightly materialistic, indecisive worrier.”
Caroline remembered her from the handwriting sample last night. “Oh, yes. Her. Is she ill?”
“Aunt Delfina?” Richard chuckled. “She’s never had a genuine illness in her life. But that doesn’t stop her from being a…situation that Stephen must contend with. He has several…situations.”
Caroline was certain she’d been one of those situations this morning. What did that make her now? No longer a situation, had she been clicked over into the “dealt with” category?
“Well, I suppose we’d better go in,” Richard said.
But instead he stood there gazing toward the far corner of the house for so long that Caroline turned and looked also.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“What?” He turned back. “Oh, no. I just…I just wanted to mention that you should see the grounds. They’re impressive.”
Caroline wasn’t all that anxious to go inside, so if Richard wanted to stand here casting glances toward the corner of the house, that was fine with her.
“Should I see them now?” she asked.
“See what?”
“The grounds.”
Richard shook his head, as if clearing his thoughts. “No, no, we’d better get inside. Stephen will be…” His gaze drifted away again, but after a few seconds he caught himself. “Well,” he said briskly. “Let’s get inside before—”
Shouts came from the corner of the house, turning them both in that direction. A moment later a little boy rounded the corner, running toward them at full steam, short legs churning, arms pumping.
“Uncle Richard!”
A smile broke over Richard’s face as he walked toward the child, scooped him up and swung him in a big circle. The boy squealed as Richard lifted him high overhead, then settled him into his arms.
Caroline couldn’t help but be drawn to the two of them, laughing together, both so thoroughly happy to see one another.
“And who do we have here?” Caroline asked.
Richard turned so that she could see the child in his arms. Her breath caught. Black hair. Huge green eyes. Good gracious, the boy looked exactly like Stephen.
It hadn’t occurred to her that he might be married. Or have a child. A huge weight settled on her chest.
“This is Joseph Thomas Monterey.” Richard tickled the boy’s chin. “Say hello to Miss Caroline, Joey.”
The boy giggled and turned his attention away from Richard long enough to hold up four chubby fingers.
“I’m this many,” he declared.
“Four years old?” Caroline nodded in pretended surprise. “Goodness, you’re an old man now, aren’t you?”
Joey giggled again and threw his arms around Richard’s neck. “Play, Uncle Richard, come play with me!”
“You’re his uncle?” Caroline asked.
“Honorary title,” Richard said, struggling to hold the squirming boy in his arms.
“And so Mr. Monterey would be his…”
“Uncle,” Richard said. “Stephen is his uncle.”
“Oh…”
“You gots to play with me, Uncle Richard.” Joey tugged on his neck. “You gots to. Miss Brenna is too slow.”
Richard’s eyebrows rose in exaggerated surprise. “Is she?”
“Yes,” Joey insisted. “She can’t catch a ball, or nothing.”
Richard gazed toward the corner of the house. “And where is Miss Brenna this morning?”
A moment later a young woman sprinted around the corner, holding up her skirt. When she saw them she froze for an instant, then walked over, hurriedly smoothing down wisps of her dark hair.
She stopped a few feet away. “Good morning, Mr. Paxton.”
Despite the child in his arms, Richard straightened his tie. “Good morning, Miss Winslow.”
The two of them looked at each other, then looked away.
“Good morning,” Caroline said, and introduced herself.
“I’m very pleased to meet you,” she said. “I’m Brenna Winslow, Joey’s nanny.”
Brenna was about her own age, Caroline guessed. Slender, with dark hair and deep brown eyes. Pretty. Richard seemed to th
ink so, too.
“I’m starting work here today,” Caroline said.
“What type of employment?”
“I’m working in Mr. Monterey’s office,” Caroline said, not wanting to explain yet again what a graphologist was.
“Welcome,” Brenna said. She turned to Joey. “Come along, sweetie.”
“I’ll come out and play with you in a while,” Richard promised, as he set Joey on the ground.
The boy looked up at him with his big green eyes. “Promise?”
Richard winked. “You bet.”
Joey took Brenna’s hand and skipped across the yard, pulling her along with him. She glanced back and waved.
Richard waved, and his hand froze in the air for a few seconds.
“He’s adorable,” Caroline said.
“Who?” Richard gave himself a little shake. “Joey, you mean. Yes, he’s something, all right. Rough life, though, for such a little fellow. His mother…abandoned him.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Joey lives here,” Richard said, still watching them cross the yard. “Brenna…Brenna takes good care of him.”
Even after the two of them disappeared around the house, Richard stood there for a few minutes, then finally gestured toward the stone steps leading inside.
“We’d better go,” he said. “Stephen is waiting.”
And so was her new life. Caroline drew in a big breath and headed up the steps.
As Charles greeted them, Caroline glanced at the sitting room off to her left, the place where she’d first seen Stephen. Last night seemed like a year ago.
There were many things she hadn’t noticed about the house yesterday evening—the red marble entry, the intricately carved ash woodwork, the ceilings painted with elaborate scenes. Stephen was rightfully proud of his home.
When Caroline and Richard arrived at Stephen’s office, Caroline’s heart thumped its way into her throat. Last night. The desk. His offer to undress her.
Caroline silently admonished herself for having such thoughts. Regardless of the circumstances, here she was, one of the pioneer women in the workplace. And all she could think of was Stephen Monterey’s desire to make love to her in her hat and high buttoned shoes. Disgraceful!
Caroline pulled herself up to stand a little straighter.
True, she didn’t know exactly how an employee should act. She’d never known a woman who actually had a job. But men did it. How difficult could it be?
One thing was certain. Thoughts of her employer—at least those kinds of thoughts—should be put out of her head.
She followed Richard into the office. Stephen wasn’t there.
“He might need rescuing from his aunt. I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable,” Richard said, and left her alone.
Comfortable? A ridiculous notion.
Caroline wandered through the big room, situated at the corner of the house. A row of windows ran down one side of the office, around the circular turret and across the back. Paintings of animals and hunting scenes hung on the walls. The furniture consisted of heavy walnut pieces that looked very masculine.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the beveled mirror above the stone fireplace and straightened her hat. When she’d dressed this morning she’d had no idea she’d end up with a job before noon, but was glad she’d worn a take-me-seriously dark green shirtwaist.
Caroline studied her reflection for a few minutes. She was taking the first step down a path she’d be hard-pressed to return from. Accepting a job. Working. Not many thought it proper.
Aunt Eleanor would not be pleased. In fact, she’d be horrified when she found out. Caroline wasn’t quite sure how she’d explain this to her.
The notion of women in the workplace was accepted in progressive circles—circles that were very tiny. Hopefully, by the time she returned home this evening she could come up with some plausible excuse for her absence. And what she’d do about tomorrow and the day after, Caroline had no idea.
She didn’t even want to think about how Aunt Eleanor would react when she found out Stephen Monterey wasn’t courting her.
Despite the fact that she hadn’t wanted this particular job—really, this particular boss—working was the only thing that made sense to Caroline. The alternative was marriage. She cringed at the thought of being stuck in the same house, mindlessly preparing menus, overseeing the mundane activities of a household, never going anyplace new, seeing anything different.
She couldn’t imagine why her father thought she’d like such a life. Since her mother’s death when she was ten years old, the two of them had traveled Europe, living in hotels or as guests in fine homes, never staying in the same location for more than a few weeks or months. Always new places to see, new people to meet. How could anyone find contentment with the same man, one house—forever?
Caroline adjusted her hat again and gave herself a nod of encouragement in the mirror. Even though she’d been coerced into accepting this position, she was glad she had it. Because after today, she might not have to worry about a ghastly future of marriage ever again.
And to think she had Stephen Monterey to thank for that.
Chapter Six
Caroline roamed the office, waiting. She strolled past the windows overlooking the rear of the house. As Richard had said, the grounds were magnificent. Brick walkways wound among palms and ferns and beds of blooming flowers. Water in a large fountain bubbled up, then cascaded down its three tiers.
Under a shady, fruitless mulberry, Joey played. Brenna managed to keep up with him. Caroline saw them both laughing, and that made her smile.
She wandered through the office again and stopped at a glass curio cabinet filled with delicate china figurines. Caroline opened the door for a closer look. There was a prancing horse, an old man with a fishing pole, a mother cradling a baby to her breast, a tiger, a clown. Of the two dozen or so in the collection, each was beautifully sculpted in intricate detail.
On the other side of the cabinet were music boxes. Some were made of rich woods, others encrusted with gems, all fashioned in a variety of shapes. There were simple boxes, elaborate musical instruments, treasure chests.
The collection was stunning. Their music must be lovely, as well. Caroline reached inside to open the lid on a tiny rosewood piano.
“Don’t touch that.”
Startled, she spun around. Stephen glared at her from the doorway. She felt like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.
“I—I just wanted to hear the music,” Caroline said.
He crossed the room, with the force of his presence causing her to move away.
“Is this your collection?” she asked, staring up at his big, wide back.
“Yes, and don’t touch them.” Stephen closed the cabinet door firmly. “Please.”
“They’re beautiful,” she said. “Don’t you want to hear the music?”
“They’re here to look at, not touch,” Stephen said.
A cabinet full of music boxes that weren’t allowed to be played? That was certainly odd, but Caroline let it go.
Stephen pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and briskly wiped away the fingerprints left on the cabinet’s glass door.
“I’m sorry,” Caroline said. “I didn’t know your collection was not to be touched.”
“Well, now you know.”
“Indeed I do,” she said.
Stephen stuffed his handkerchief into his pocket. “Let’s get down to business.”
He seemed to be trying hard to maintain distance from her, or perhaps this was just how an employer should behave, Caroline thought as she followed him to his desk. Either way, she was grateful, because ever since she’d entered this house she’d been on edge. Should having a job make one feel this way? she wondered.
“Please, sit down, Miss Sommerfield.” He indicated the chair in front of his desk.
Caroline perched on the edge of the seat and smoothed her skirt. She gazed up at him expectantly.
/> He looked at her hat—the crown, with its array of bows and flowers, then the brim, which framed her face. Suddenly, Stephen plopped into his chair and pulled his gaze away.
“First of all…” He tugged at his collar and cleared his throat. “First of all, Miss Sommerfield, let me welcome you to my company. I realize we got off to somewhat of a rocky start—”
“Somewhat, to say the least,” Caroline said.
Stephen cleared his throat again. “I have a few requirements of my employees. I expect loyalty. I expect you to be trusting in any assignment you are given. I don’t expect to be questioned concerning my intentions or motives. Is that clear?”
“Maybe you should just buy a dog.”
He blinked across the desk at her. “I beg your pardon?”
“I will not be blindly loyal or obedient, Mr. Monterey,” she told him. “If that’s what you expect, you will be sadly disappointed.”
Stephen seemed lost for a moment. Apparently, this was his new-employee speech and no one had ever challenged him on it before. Probably because everyone else had been desperate to work for him, and Caroline wasn’t.
Stephen shifted in the chair, mentally trying to find his place again. “Yes, well, as I was saying, Miss Sommerfield, as an employee of Monterey Enterprises you’ll be expected to arrive on time for work each day. And you will remain here the entire day, unless given permission to leave early.”
“Here again, Mr. Monterey, you will find a trained animal suits your needs better,” Caroline said. “A collie or perhaps a shepherd. Something you can keep locked up until needed, then trotted out to perform on demand.”
“Miss Sommerfield—” Stephen forced himself to pull in a calming breath and gave her a stiff smile. “Miss Sommerfield, I assure you that these things aren’t—”
“Good, I see you two are already getting things handled.” Richard came into the office carrying a stack of papers.
“I was just explaining to Miss Sommerfield that she will share the office with Mr. Turley.” Stephen rolled his eyes toward Caroline. “Unless you’d prefer I build you a kennel out back.”
“Come along, Caroline,” Richard said. “I’ll get you settled and show you around a bit.”
But before she could rise from the chair, another woman bustled into the office. She was portly, with carefully coiffed gray hair. A frown creased her forehead.
