Rose Gardner's Florist

by Dee, Bonnie

  Now he thought, I love her. I am absolutely, irrefutably in love with this woman. And I must do whatever it takes to convince her we can live happily ever after—if only she will allow me the chance.

  Chapter Eighteen

  By the time they reached the shop, Candace was alert enough to speak. She regarded them both after Rose helped her into bed. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you both for your friendship. You have saved me in so many ways.”

  “You’ll be safe now. He should not bother you again. Rest. You have nothing to fear.” Rose tucked in the covers and she and Will left the room.

  He appeared huge and unexpected standing in the middle of her meager flat. Rose found herself wanting to apologize for its paucity—as if that mattered, as if Will were the type of man who would mind. Instead she said, “Thank you for coming to our aid. You were nothing less than heroic tonight.”

  “As were you,” he replied. “When you charged in brandishing that umbrella, I would have hated to be on the pointy end of your fury.”

  “I can have a bit of a temper when my friends have been attacked and locked up. What a disgusting toad!”

  “Indeed. I still fear for you both, which is why I insist on remaining here to make certain you both are safe.” He glanced around the room. “I will, of course, sit in a chair downstairs.”

  “You will not. If you insist on guarding us, and I can tell there is no use arguing, then you must be made at least a little comfortable.” Rose gathered cushions and blankets to form a pallet on the floor. “Tea?” she asked, although her head was pounding and she wanted nothing more than to relax at last.

  Will shook his head. “You are exhausted after your ordeal. Sleep now, and we will discuss everything in the morning.”

  Within half an hour of arriving home, Rose lay in bed, listening to Will’s shifting and breathing on the other side of the wall. He might rest more comfortably in her bed, their bodies warmly pressed together. He would hold her and, after a bit, begin to touch her—just there. Her hand found the spot. And then…

  How was it possible to have sensual inclinations after the terrible events of the evening? Yet the danger and violence seemed to have ignited passion. She should be considering Candace’s wellbeing, but thoughts of tiptoeing from her room join Will beneath the knitted afghan danced in her head. Honestly, such wanton notions! Rose removed her hand from between her legs and rolled onto her side, determined to sleep.

  When she opened her eyes, it was to daylight seeping under the window sash.

  Drowsy thoughts warmed her for a moment before she bolted upright. Her supplier would have come to deliver the flowers by now and she had not been there to answer the door. She would be forced to make do with yesterday’s slightly drooping flowers. Her reputation would suffer and she’d be out of business before she could say Jack Sprat.

  Rose leaped from the bed and into a dress. She combed out her hair and rolled it into a simple twist. Low voices drifted from the flat, Will and Candace speaking together.

  When Rose joined them, Candace appeared refreshed in a daffodil yellow frock, and with a smile on her wan face. Will caught sight of Rose and he poured her a cup. “Good morning. How is your head today?”

  “Nothing an aspirin powder won’t cure,” she replied. “What about you, Candace? Feeling any better?”

  Candace’s brown eyes sparkled. “Much better, and I have both of you to thank for it. When I think of how things might have gone, my gratitude will never cease. It seems as if I will soon be completely free of Edward Merker at last.”

  “I am so glad. Now, you must rest today and recover I should go down and sort out what to do about the flowers. Perhaps it is not too late to get something fresh from the market.”

  “Your daily order is already here. I helped the farmer carry the flowers inside,” Will said calmly. “Sit and have the eggs I made for you. While I go and put the flowers in their display buckets, you and Miss Sweet catch up.”

  “But you haven’t had a proper rest. You slept on a floor last night. I really can’t sit while you do my work.”

  “You may for a few minutes. Please don’t argue.” Will stood and guided Rose into the chair he’d occupied. It was still warm.

  After he left, Rose inhaled the calming fragrance of tea rising from her steaming cup. “Do you still feel dizzy or have any residual effects?”

  “None at all. Truly, I am well and happier than I have ever been. In France, I was as constrained by Madame Brodeur’s strict rules as I had been at home. For the first time in my life, I may do whatever I please with no one controlling me.”

  “Whatever you decide to do with your life, I’m certain it will be great, although I do hope you’ll remain my assistant for a time.”

  “Of course! Mr. Carmody promises he will make certain the legalities of attaining my rights are sorted out, so I will certainly help in the shop today. That Mr. Carmody of yours is a very remarkable gentleman.”

  “He’s not my Mr. Carmody, but yes, he is a good friend.”

  “More than a friend I think. He is clearly in love with you.” Candace smiled.

  “No. He may have some romantic ideal of who I am, but he doesn’t really know me.”

  “I think he does, and I believe you are in love with him too. Why would you fight against it?”

  “You are not naïve, Candace. You know a gentleman of his station could never marry a commoner like me.”

  “If ever there was a man who didn’t give a fig about bloodline or society’s censure, it is he. Come now, Rose, you are a suffragette who believes in equality. Why would you rate yourself as somehow lower than Mr. Carmody?”

  Rose shrugged. “His family would never accept me, and if he ever met mine, he’d run away screaming. The two of us together would be like a dandelion and orchid in the same bouquet—just wrong.”

  “Both are plants which require water, adequate light, and proper soil to grow. They are the same beneath their differences and each beautiful in a different way. Don’t allow a chance at happiness to slip away due to a lack of faith in your worth.” Candace touched Rose’s hand. “I could not bear to see you unhappy, and I fear you will be if you don’t open your heart to the love Mr. Carmody has to give. You deserve him, and he deserves you.”

  Rose squeezed the hand stretched out in kindness, but offered no reply. “I must open the store. You may join me when you are ready.”

  In the shop, Will crouched to fill the last of the flower bins. He’d arranged by hue so the blooms ranged from pale yellow to a deep blue across the risers.

  “You’ve an eye for color. Thank you so much for rising early for the vendor.”

  “I almost shook you awake as I was worried you had become comatose. Are you quite certain I cannot take you to my physician?”

  Rose tapped her aching forehead. “Right as rain and any bruising is hidden by my hair, so the customers won’t be aghast.”

  He rose and wiped his wet hands on his trousers. Yesterday’s trousers. The poor man hadn’t had an opportunity to change to fresh clothing.

  “You must go home,” she commanded, then realized he might misunderstand. “I mean, you haven’t had any solid sleep or a chance to wash up.”

  “Are you certain you don’t need my help here?”

  “Candace will be down shortly. I don’t believe we need to fear Mr. Merker or his agents during the daylight hours. I do thank you again for becoming so involved. You didn’t have to.”

  “Of course, I did. I behaved as I would for any friend in trouble.” He picked several leaves off his sleeve before speaking again. “But I must tell you, Rose, I do not really wish to remain friends with you.”

  “Oh.” It felt as if her stomach had been kicked rather than her head. Being summoned from his home in the night to punch and threaten people had been too much for him, of course. Why would he want a friend who would drag him into such violent drama?

  “I see,” she replied. “I understand.”

/>   “No. I don’t believe you do.” He grasped her arms and faced her squarely. “I meant to say I don’t wish to remain merely your friend. I told you it would be sufficient, but it isn’t. I want so much more than that and I am no longer afraid to ask. Please you grant me the favor of being your beau, Miss Gardener. Allow me to court you properly and if, at the end of a month, you still cannot envision us together, I will walk away with no hard feelings.”

  “Oh, Will, you make it so hard to say no.”

  His mouth tightened. “All right. At least I’ve tried.”

  “Now you misunderstand me,” she said. “You make it so hard to say no, that I will say ‘yes’ instead.”

  A thought occurred, an opportunity for him to truly understand how vastly different their worlds were. “Will you accompany me to my sister’s wedding?”

  His eyes opened wide, bright and eager. “Yes. Absolutely! When and where?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The old church, wedged incongruously between a cemetery and a more recently built butcher’s shop, could scarcely accommodate both the Barnes and Gardener extended families. In addition to the immediate families, there were aunts, uncles, cousins, half-relations, and friends from the neighborhood on both sides. Ongoing feuds of one sort or another separated them into various clusters who shot bitter looks at one another. Insults and arguments flew back and forth across the aisle before the minister arrived to temporarily quell the seething resentments.

  Rose kept glancing at her escort to gauge his reaction to the noisy crowd assembled for a sacred occasion.

  Will’s lips twitched as her brother Danny, sitting beside him in the pew, muttered about an enemy, “Bloody arsehole! I’ll see him dead if he crosses me again.” And Will could hardly contain his amusement when Dale’s wife Madge cuffed her son on the side of the head to keep him from making paper airplanes from the hymnal pages.

  Please start. Please be over soon. Rose prayed with folded hands. Her wish was granted as Alice Chauncey played Arietta and Dad up the aisle on a wheezing organ.

  Her sister looked truly lovely in her pink ensemble, but far too fresh and glowing to be marrying the grizzled Gus Barnes. He was nearly dashing in his uniform with freshly trimmed hair and beard, but so very much older than Arietta it made Rose grimace. The vows were dispensed with in short order and the guests raised a cheer at the kiss that sealed the union.

  “Your sister is a beautiful bride,” Will whispered. “She seems very happy.”

  “I pray she will be in the future as well,” Rose said. “Wish I could tell you this is the end of it and we could leave now, but there’s the reception yet to come.”

  “I’ll be pleased to meet your family.”

  You won’t be, she thought. But perhaps it wouldn’t be as bad as she imagined. The heavy drinking wouldn’t start till later in the day, so Dad might not be quite as belligerent or Mum as quick with the sly jabs at anyone who crossed her path. She would be sure to leave before they reached that point.

  Hoorahs and good wishes lasted about as long as it took for Arietta and her groom to go down the aisle, greeting people on the right and left on their way. One could almost believe the good nature would last, but truce flags went down as soon as everyone left the church.

  Outside the building, Danny resumed squabbling with his one-time rival Job Barnes, Gus’s younger brother. Their fight quickly escalated to blows, forcing other guests to pull them apart, which naturally led to more fisticuffs on the side.

  “What’s the argument about?” Will asked, watching the brawling with interest.

  “Years ago my brother and Job were stepping out with the same girl,” Rose explained. “She’s long since wed someone else, yet the two continue to fight bitterly over the betrayal.”

  “Who’s yer fancy man, Rosie?” Madge butted into their conversation, extending her hand toward Will. “How d’ya do? I’m Dale’s wife.”

  “So pleased to meet you, Mrs. Gardener.” He bowed over her hand.

  Madge gave Rose a wide-eyed expression of shock above his head. “Cor, what manners! And what a fine suit. Looks like ya landed yerself a gent here. Good for you, Rose.”

  “Sally’s dunking her doll in the baptismal font. Might want to look into that.” Rose directed her sister-in-law away. After Madge went inside the church, Rose said, “I apologize for her rude manners.”

  “Nonsense. She was very complimentary,” Will said smoothly. “Now, may I meet your parents?”

  There was no avoiding it. Arietta and her new husband had already left for the hall rented for the occasion. As Mum and Dad approached, Rose pasted on a smile.

  “It was a beautiful wedding. You outdid yourself decorating the church, Mum.”

  “No thanks to you who couldn’t be bothered to come early.”

  Rose had spent much of the morning helping Arietta dress and arranging her coiffure prior to Will meeting her at the church. She ignored the barb. “Mother, Father, I should like to introduce you to Mr. William Carmody. Mr. Carmody, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gardener.”

  Will smiled and bowed slightly “How do you do? I’m very pleased to meet the parents of such a lovely and accomplished woman as Miss Rose.”

  Mother sized him up as if he were a zoo animal, noted his genteel manner and fine suit—far better than the one the groom had worn, and adopted her best imitation of an upper crust accent. “Pleased to meet you as well. Rose has not mentioned you before. Do tell us something about yourself. Who are your people?”

  If taken aback by her questioning, Will did not betray it. “Lord Horace and Lady Gwyneth Carmody. I was introduced to your daughter by a mutual friend, Mr. Guy Hardy. Her direct manner and strength of character immediately impressed me.”

  “Always was a stubborn one, our Rosie, an’ too proud for ‘er own good.” Dad, in the jovial phase of the day’s drinking, clapped Will on the back as if he were an old friend. “Drink to my daughter’s weddin’ day, Carmody.” He offered the bottle in his fist.

  Will politely refused. “No thank you. I have a bit of a sore throat and wouldn’t want to share any illness.”

  “Then you’ll drink with me when we get to the party. A full barrel awaits and a spread the likes of which ya ain’t never seen. No one can say I didn’t see me daughter off right,” he announced grandly

  “I’ll be sure to enjoy a beer then.”

  Rose touched Dad’s arm to stop him from taking another pull on the gin bottle. “Time for that later. Best move everyone along, don’t you think?”

  He jerked his arm away. “Don’t tell me what to do, gal. Like I said, ya never did mind yer betters or know yer place.”

  “She’s right, Pete,” Mum interrupted, anxious to quell him before he frightened off her daughter’s wealthy beau, a potential resource to be mined in the future. She dropped an unnatural and unnecessary curtsey to Will. “Pleased to meet you, sir. I pray we will see much more of you in the days to come.”

  Not if I can bloody help it. After they’d walked away, Rose exhaled the breath she’d been holding. “My parents. Do you understand why I was not anxious for you to meet them, or any of these people?” she indicated the dispersing crowd.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a snob, Miss Gardener,” Will countered. “They are a boisterous lot, certainly, but not bad at heart I’m sure.”

  “If by boisterous you mean coarse and loud.” She shook her head as Madge passed by dragging her dripping daughter away from the baptismal font. Her scolding was peppered with expletives that made Rose wince.

  “I don’t mean to judge them,” she continued. “But really, do you see now? No one ever talks quietly here when a shout will do, or applies reason or calmness to solve an issue. It seems tempers are always on the verge of breaking and there is no peace to be had. Is it any wonder, I wanted to escape or that I was immediately drawn to a soft-spoken man like you?”

  Will took her hand. “I do understand, but wish to point out that squabbles, feuds and cri
ticisms occur in the very best families. Only the insults are delivered in backhanded compliments and disdain is masked by good manners. I have attended events at which royal family members were present and witnessed seething yet repressed anger. So-called ‘polite’ society’s way is to deliver sharp thorns in a bouquet of well-wishes.”

  His cool hazel gaze soothed her irritation like balm and prompted a different sort of internal fretting. If only they could be alone to explore that anxious feeling.

  “Now shall we go to the party?” Will asked.

  Rose nodded.

  Several hours into the festivities, with the food gone and the keg getting low, the dancing began. Jigs, reels and foxtrots filled the union hall which reeked of smoke from years of workers gathering to dispute their wages, wait out strikes, or socialize during the good times.

  Arietta’s hair had tumbled and strands stuck to her sweating forehead. A growing rip separated one side of her bodice seam, but her face glowed as Sergeant Gus Barnes swung her around. She appeared happier than Rose had ever seen her. Perhaps this match was the perfect one for her sister.

  “Would you care to dance?” Will held out his hand. “I’m not much good at it, but I’m game to try.”

  The reel had ended and the fiddle struck up a waltz. “Anyone can waltz,” Rose pointed out. “Step, step, slide.” She reached high to rest her palm on his shoulder, and a thrill quivered through her as he slid his hand around her waist.

  Then she was airborne. Not literally as he did not quite sweep her off her feet, but with every glide and turn, her spirit lifted higher. This was the sort of romantic feeling she had yearned for but not found in any chap she’d stepped out with. This was more than romance for the feelings tied into the giddy sensation were powerful enough to take her outside of herself.

  Love. I am in love with William Carmody and he appears to be in love with me. The beautiful crystalline thought filled her mind. Any worries for the future no longer mattered, for this moment of pure happiness was sufficient to last a lifetime.