by Bella Bowen
Mrs. Carnegie sent Fontaine up to check on her and make sure she wasn't suffering any ill effects from fainting. She also granted permission for Lizzy to have a second bath that day, if it would make her feel any better.
But Lizzy didn't want to wash her face for a while yet. And she definitely didn't intend to wash her lips...
CHAPTER TEN
Jacob travelled back to Boston with Caroline, but it was a much quieter trip. He hadn't allowed her to talk about Mrs. Carnegie or Elizabeth Tanner. Each time she brought the conversation back to either of those women, he would stand up and walk the length of the train. Sometimes, he found another place to sit for a while. She learned, eventually, that if she didn't want to sit alone, she had to keep her thoughts to herself.
Jacob kept his thoughts private as well.
Mrs. Carnegie was a wise woman. She'd had one particularly wise suggestion for him—that he try to remember Elizabeth Tanner as a child. His journey would have been easier if only he'd been able to follow that advice. And sometimes, he succeeded enough to sleep.
There were other times when it was better to think of her fitting perfectly into his arms with her lips clinging to his. At least those images helped distract him from his discomfort when he woke in the night, stiff and sore from the cramped quarters. It made it impossible to sleep, but infinitely more pleasant.
Until his memories circled around to the point where he understood Elizabeth was not for him.
It was true. She was unsuited for his life in Boston. High Society ruled more than just his sister. It dictated his business, his success. Most contracts were signed the day after an important social event if the two parties had rubbed elbows near the dance floor the night before, or had a chance for a brandy and cigar away from the women. A man's character was proven by the way he was perceived by his peers. A ball was a fine way to see who was, and was not, respected.
Heaven help him, he owed much of his business success to Caroline.
Too bad she wasn't a man. He'd be able to hand over the business to her and let her do with it what she wanted...while he pursued other interests.
It was a particularly vivid dream on the train one night that placed him in the middle of Indian Territory, in a cabin, pointing rifles through little holes in the shutters, defending his home and family. Elizabeth stood beside him, reloading his guns while he emptied them. She showed no fear and chatted amiably about Mrs. Carnegie's Ranch and how lucky they were she'd been taught to load a gun.
Jake gave her a quick kiss and went back to shooting, only their cabin wasn't surrounded by Indians anymore—they were surrounded by waltzing couples who were trying to choke them to death with the dust they kicked up.
He woke gasping and wondered if he was suffering the same sensations women suffered when tied too tightly into a corset.
The next day, he thought it best to wean himself off Elizabeth’s image and determined not to think about her for the entire day. And he only had to remind himself two or three...hundred times.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lizzy was relieved when Meg delivered her schedule. For two days, she'd thought of nothing but the man who'd washed her face, kissed her lips, and cut the back off her dress to rescue her from her own foolishness. It was time she thought of something else.
The problem was, the dress had been repaired and the waist seam had been let out. It fit her as perfectly as it had while wearing the corset. And every time she looked at the dress, or opened her wardrobe and saw the corset, the man forced his way onto the stage of her mind whether she welcomed him or not.
She hurried along to her first class, hopeful she would be free of him at last.
The first class was cooking. The black woman was the instructor and what Lizzy and two other “brides” cooked was supposed to be served for dinner that day. It explained why the noon meal regularly had a lot of burnt edges that needed to be trimmed before it was edible. The other two who shared her class time didn't seem to grasp the fact that a hotter oven wasn't a better oven, or that things cooked quickly didn't make for a good flavor.
Lizzy's biscuits turned out pretty and cooked through. And her gravy didn't taste a bit like flour. Unfortunately, when it was time to sit down to dinner, she ended up eating someone else's cooking.
Her afternoon class was with Fontaine. There were seven brides attending because Fontaine wasn't available very often, her primary duty being to Mrs. Carnegie, as her messenger, especially when those messages needed to be sent to town. If someone else went to Sage River, a guard had to be sent along, whereas Fontaine could go on her own.
Lizzy learned a new respect for the young woman when she shot the flowers off the end of a branch at the end of the orchard. Lizzy could hardly see what Fontaine was aiming at until the little blossoms shattered and rained to the ground. But Lizzy was no green horn when it came to guns. Her grandpa had taught her at a very young age how to load a muzzle. And the lesson she never needed to be taught, that the other brides were required to learn, was not to be afraid of their weapons.
Fontaine praised Lizzy for her aim, even though her target was half as far away and about ten times as large as the little bundle of blossoms. It only took a few shots to get used to the way the rifle pulled to one side. Then the sound of the bullet smacking into the log was almost as gratifying as Fontaine's compliment. Unfortunately, after two hours with Fontaine and a turn with five different kinds of guns, Lizzy's schedule had to be altered. Since she no longer needed instruction, she would only need practice.
By the time supper rolled around, Lizzy was feeling pretty pleased with herself. Yes, indeed. She'd gone all day without thinking of Mr. Jacob Montgomery at all.
Until she realized that was exactly what she was doing.
She just hoped she graduated quickly so she could meet some of the other men coming to Sage River to find a bride. Surely one of them would be able to kiss her well enough to wipe away the memory of Jacob's lips. If she ever allowed it, of course.
Her hand went to her mouth. She paused in the hallway with her eyes closed and thought about the way he’d kissed her. Maybe, in case her future husband couldn’t kiss her that well, she should be good and sure not to let that memory fade after all.
That night, she gave over to a good cry when she realized how difficult it was going to be for any husband to live up to the impression made on her by Mr. Jacob Montgomery.
~ ~ ~
Jake waited in the outer office of one of his biggest clients and tried to shake the feeling that he was going to spend the rest of his life doing something similar. Winning clients. Wooing clients. Doing whatever was needed to keep them happy. And there he was again, preparing to impress people who shouldn't need constant impressing.
But there were competitors who would scoop up his business in a heartbeat if he wasn’t diligent. He had to keep his customers panting after him and his fine fabrics.
It was an image he didn’t care for, even though it put a great deal of money in his pockets.
The textile business was brutal in a way that had always appealed to him. He was rewarded for his aggressive tactics. But lately, the business as a whole was becoming irritating as a whole. If only Caroline had a business head on her shoulders...
Buxton's man gestured for him. “He'll see you now, sir.”
Jake had half a mind to turn toward the stairs and leave without saying a word. But that wasn't going to keep his employees employed for long.
He shook the rotund man’s hand and took the seat he offered. After a few pleasantries, Buxton sat seat next to him instead of behind his desk.
“Of course, Jacob. Whatever your new line, we'll be happy to take a large portion off your hands, as always.” The man grinned. “And I think I've got something you might like to take off my hands as well.”
Jake laughed. “You mean, besides your money?”
Buxton laughed heartily—too heartily. The man was up to something and Jake was worried he knew just what it was. Buxton
had four daughters.
“My daughter, Elizabeth.”
Jake's stomach clenched at the name, but he kept a pleasant smile on his face.
“I heard a discreet rumor that you were in the market for a wife. And my Elizabeth... Well, let's just say I'd hate to part with her. She's such a talented, pretty thing. But I can't help but think you two would make a fine pair.”
Jake willed himself to remain polite and tried to think of a tactful way to refuse the suggestion. The face of Elizabeth Tanner came to mind. Of course, the only thing surprising was the fact that she had left his mind for any time at all.
“Well, I'd be happy to meet with the girl, but I must admit that I believe I've already found the woman for me.” An easy lie to tell, with Elizabeth’s smiling face looking on.
Buxton's face dropped much farther than its usual droop. The man looked like a dog with enough skin for two. But Jake had never seen the man quite as unhappy as he was at the moment.
“Who is she,” he demanded.
Jake's heart jumped. Of course he had no Boston woman in mind when he'd said it. But he did know what it felt like to know that a woman would be good for him. A few moments with his Elizabeth had taught him that. And if it took him another decade to find a woman who could evoke that feeling in him again, he'd wait for it.
He’d met Buxton’s daughters before and each and every one of them had their father’s look—one side of nose was always turned up, like he smelled something foul—and Jake suspected it was due to the family attitude more than the family face.
“It would be bad form to share her name with you, sir, before the young woman even knows.”
Buxton's brows lifted a little, along with his hope, unfortunately. “Well, that's fine then. Just fine. Not too late for my Elizabeth then. We'd like you to come to dinner tonight. Then if you two take a shine to each other, there'll be the mayor's ball next week.”
Jake refused to be bullied, even if Buxton was one of his larger purchasers.
He looked the man dead in the eye. “Well, perhaps you'd like to reconsider dinner when I say that if I do attend the mayor’s ball, I will be taking along…the woman I mentioned.”
In his mind, he walked into the ballroom with Elizabeth Tanner on his arm, which would be impossible. He could hardly fetch her back in a week, let alone…
Impossible. Too young. Was probably already married off…
Buxton's eyes narrowed. “Perhaps I should reconsider more than just dinner.”
Jake inflated his lungs as he stood. Some imaginary weight lifted from his shoulders and he couldn’t help smiling. Just the image of her had reminded him of what he really wanted in his life, and it had nothing to do with hob-knobbing with the likes of Buxton, even if it meant the demise of his company.
A settler in the West could be happy for a year with what Jake usually spent in a week. Or rather, what Caroline spent.
And damn it, he was going to be happy. And the path to that happiness led to Wyoming.
He suppressed the urge to jump in the air.
“Dinner would have never been a good idea,” he said cheerfully and headed for the door. “As for your business, sir, you can find another manufacturer if you like. You know our reputation, but you’re welcome to take it or leave it. My personal business will be taking me out of Boston, I’m afraid, but the company will still be here. Call on my people if you have orders you want to cancel. But in the future, you’ll have to deal with those in the office.”
He took his hat from the rack and started out the door, but a worry caused him to turn back. “One more thing, sir. My sister will be staying, of course. I expect her to be treated with respect, no matter what you think of me. If I hear she’s been…put out…in any way, I will be back to correct the error.”
Buxton’s eyes gave a satisfying bulge. Jake took that as confirmation the man had understood the threat. He expected Caroline would have a similar reaction when he got around to telling her he was heading west.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lizzy took her time getting ready for the day. Instead of showing up for her appointment with Gilly—the woman who gave hunting instruction to all the brides—she stole out to the bathhouse. With a large tub of freshly heated water all to herself, she tried to relax. Sunk down in the giant wood barrel, head wouldn’t be seen by anyone glancing into the room.
She absolutely refused to kill some poor creature just for getting caught in her trap—not that there would be anything in her trap if Gilly hadn’t forced Lizzy to build it properly. She hadn’t slept all night worrying about what she might find, and tonight would be filled with nightmares if she returned to a full trap with that bloodthirsty woman!
If Mrs. Carnegie called her to task for skirting her lesson for the fourth time, she would have to admit she was not cut out to be a Diamond Springs Bride after all. She’d have to return to Stark County, Ohio in shame. After punishing her to his satisfaction, her uncle would probably marry her off to the first man to look her way.
She prayed Mr. Shaw had already found a wife—not that he’d be interested in her anymore. He didn’t seem to be the forgiving type when he’d been hauled off to jail for attacking her in the middle of his own Welcome Home party.
If she had to face him again, after being sent away from Mrs. Carnegie’s…
She shuddered in spite of the hot water. After some of the things she’d learned in her classes, she doubted Mr. Shaw would have stopped with just a kiss, even if she’d allowed it. But then it hadn’t been many days later when she’d willingly allowed Mr. Jacob Montgomery to steal away that favor meant for her future husband.
She growled and slapped the water, sending ripples over the edge of the slats.
How could she have? What could possibly justify her lapse in resolve? She’d been able to fend off every other male who’d tried to kiss her, even those with a pretty face. What the devil made Montgomery so irresistible?
She remembered him being the most comely man she’d ever seen, but that was no excuse. As the weeks had passed, however, she was no longer able to remember his face precisely enough to justify the betrayal. At least a thousand times, she’d imagined that moment when she would tell her bridegroom that his kiss would be her first, that she’d saved her lips only for him. Now, that moment would never be.
What frustrated her most was the fact that, since the man had left the ranch, the vague image of her future husband had a tendency to wear a flat-brimmed hat.
Maybe the only cure for what really ailed her was a bit of bloodshed. Maybe she should gird up her loins and go see Gilly after all. Let some creature pay the price so she could graduate. And once she had been deemed worthy, she’d be able to go into town for the dances. She’d meet some handsome man with a suitable hat and move on with her happy future.
Anything would be better than going back to Stark County.
“I figured you’d be in here.” Gussy peered over Lizzy’s shoulder. “Enjoy yourself for a minute, maybe even three minutes, before you high tail it over to the big house. Mrs. Carnegie wants to see you.”
Lizzy sighed deeper into the hot water. Her change of heart, it seemed, had come too late.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It took a full two weeks for Caroline to grasp that change was headed her way.
She stormed into his office without allowing Porter, his secretary, to announce her, and that was something Lady Caroline Laughlin never did. Jake suspected she couldn’t get enough of hearing her title on someone else’s lips. Or perhaps she liked to remind others she’d been married at one time. She was not simply Caroline Montgomery any longer.
It was Lord Laughlin who had changed his sister. Before the baron, his sister had been as humble as pie. And he was sad to admit it was only the humble version of his sister he would miss when he left. If he were truthful, he missed her already, even when the less humble version of her was sitting across the table from him.
Especially then, actually.
“
Do you mean to make me the laughing stock of Boston, brother?” She marched up to his desk and tossed her shawl on the chair beside her. “Imagine my surprise to find that everyone—everyone—at my little luncheon was aware you were planning to leave town except for your own sister?”
Jake winced. He’d forgotten about the special luncheon Caroline had been preparing for some female relatives of her late husband. She’d been going on about it for two weeks and he had simply stopped listening to details. He’d been too distracted with his own plans.
“Forgive me,” he said. “It was inexcusable.”
Her mouth gaped. Apparently she’d been unprepared for his easy capitulation. It took her almost a minute to recover.
“I demand to know where you’re going and why you haven’t invited me along. It isn’t as if you don’t enjoy my company. We had a lovely train ride only a month ago. Surely—”
“I am not taking a trip, Caroline. I don’t plan to return. For years, perhaps.”
Caroline turned just enough to locate the chair at her hip and collapsed into it, mindless of her wrap crushing beneath her. “What do you mean, years? You mean to leave me for years?” She perked up suddenly. “If you’re going abroad, Jacob, you must take me with you. Even if you leave me in London while you go about…” she waved a hand dismissively, “doing whatever it is you need to do.”
“I’m not going abroad. I’m going out West.”
His sister winced like she’d just had a bee fly into her face. “West? West what?”
Jake sighed and laughed to himself. He’d been right not to tell her any sooner. As it was, she would probably harp at him until he boarded the train.
“West America, Caroline. You know. Kansas, Colorado, California…Wyoming perhaps.” He opened a lower drawer to be sure he hadn’t left anything. It also gave him a reason to avoid his sister’s gaze.
