The Perfect Wife

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Finally, an hour later, the social engagement was over.

  Though Natalie had to bite her tongue, she managed to wait until she and Velma were alone in the carriage before she asked, “Why did you ask Margie so much about Kenneth?”

  “My father knew some railroad tycoons, and I can’t recall a single time when Kenneth Gordon’s name ever came up in a conversation,” Velma replied.

  Natalie leaned toward her in interest. “You think Kenneth lied to Margie and her husband about it?”

  “I can’t prove it, but it’s strange the name Gordon never came up. Chicago is a large place, but if he was as important as Margie claims, my father should have mentioned it. I might not have everything going for me, but I do have a good memory. Also,” she continued as she removed her gloves, “I think it’s odd that he is choosing such an inexpensive way to propose. I know his aunt and uncle have paid for the orchestra and the ring, but I would be insulted if a rich young man proposed to me with something as simple as a picnic. I would expect a lot more flair. He should be showing off how wealthy he is.”

  “Mark didn’t do that, and you thought it was fine to marry him.”

  “That’s because Mark grew up here with parents who built up their wealth. Things out here are nothing like they are back East. The social engagements I’m used to were far more extravagant than the one we just went to. I’ve come to realize life is simpler out here for everyone. But if Kenneth was in Chicago, he should be used to large displays of wealth. He should be flaunting it. That’s what we all did back in Rhode Island.”

  “Rhode Island isn’t close to Chicago. Maybe things were different there.”

  “For a railroad tycoon?” Velma shook her head. “I can’t believe it. If he wants to impress Annabelle, he would give it more effort…unless he doesn’t have the money.”

  “How much do you think he has?”

  “Well, he’s living with his aunt and uncle. His aunt and uncle are paying for things.” She paused. “I should have asked if they funded today’s restaurant lunch he and Annabelle are enjoying. If I had to bet, I’d say they did.”

  “Do you think Margie and her husband are lying about him selling a railroad?”

  “I don’t sense any deception on her part. I think she’s so glad to have her nephew here because she never had children that she’ll accept whatever Kenneth tells her. Emotions often get in the way of good judgment. I don’t know if her husband is the same way or not, but she’s obviously soft.”

  Natalie settled back in her seat. Was this the missing piece Mark was looking for? She had to tell him. She couldn’t sit on this information without telling him.

  “Now,” Velma began as she set her gloves on her lap and removed her hat, “would you like to discuss what happened in the group as far as you’re concerned?”

  “Obviously, some of those women don’t care much for me,” Natalie said, bringing her attention back to the reason she’d asked Velma to join her today. “Fran, especially, doesn’t like me.”

  Velma snickered. “I wondered if you noticed the way she scowled at you when Margie said you and Mark made a handsome couple. Fran hates the fact that you married him. And from what I saw, she’s pretty close to Katherine, Janet, and Rosalyn. I’m going to guess that those four are the ones who are giving you a difficult time. Am I correct?”

  Natalie thought it over. “Yes, they are. The others haven’t bothered me about things I’m doing wrong.”

  “There you go. The reason you don’t fit in is because Mark didn’t marry Fran. He married you. Fran is jealous, and she and her friends resent you. They would have fawned all over you like they did me today if you weren’t Mark’s wife.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I know so. I grew up around women like them. They can’t come out and say what’s really bothering them. It would be rude and impolite. So they put on a pretense of being nice while looking for ways to make you feel bad about yourself.”

  Natalie hadn’t considered that possibility, but Velma’s words made a good deal of sense.

  Velma chuckled. “Mark was the most desirable bachelor in Omaha, and you were the only one who could get him. If I were in your shoes, I’d enjoy it. He could have picked anyone, and he chose you. You should be flattered.”

  “I didn’t want to be with him because he had women lined up to marry him.”

  “I know you didn’t. You wanted to be with him. You loved him. I don’t know if Fran loved him or not, but I was only after him because of the money. Even if Fran had loved him, she’s petty and manipulative. He’s much better off with you.”

  Touched that Velma should say that, Natalie smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  Velma returned her smile. “Things worked out for the best.”

  Feeling much better, Natalie relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the ride.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Natalie sat in Mark’s parents’ parlor, doing her best to sip tea so that she wouldn’t get too nervous. She didn’t relish the idea of telling Annabelle about Kenneth. After she dropped Velma off at the farm, she instructed the coachman to take her to Annabelle’s residence. She hadn’t warned Annabelle that she was coming, so she had expected to wait. Annabelle, after all, had skipped the women’s social engagement in order to have lunch with Kenneth. Who knew how long she’d be gone?

  Natalie picked up a cookie and bit into it. Maybe she should have sent Annabelle a request to pay her a visit. Maybe she shouldn’t have rushed over here. It wasn’t like her to be so impulsive.

  It was just the nagging sense of urgency that prompted her to come right over. Hopefully, it wasn’t wrong for her to come by unannounced. Back in Kentucky, she wouldn’t have thought anything of it. People showed up at other people’s homes all the time. No one thought anything of it. But who knew if this went against etiquette? There was so much to learn. Even if Fran, Katherine, Janet, and Rosalyn resented her, there were things wealthy people did differently. She needed to figure those things out.

  “Mrs. Larson,” someone called out to her.

  Natalie glanced over at the doorway.

  The butler smiled. “Miss Annabelle’s carriage has just pulled up. I’ll let her know you’re here to see her.”

  “Thank you,” Natalie replied and hurried to finish the cookie.

  She took another sip of tea then put the cup and saucer on the tray. She quickly thought over everything she’d just learned about Kenneth as she wiped her fingers on the cloth napkin. Then she stood up and faced the doorway.

  Annabelle came in a minute later, looking surprised. “Natalie! I didn’t expect you to stop by.”

  “Should I have sent a note first?”

  “We’re family. You can stop by whenever you want.” Annabelle came over to the couch and gestured for Natalie to sit. After Natalie did, she continued, “If I’d known you were here, I wouldn’t have stayed out so long. I thought you were going to Margie’s social engagement.”

  “I did. It’s been over for two hours.”

  Annabelle’s eyes grew wide. “It has?” Her gaze went to the clock above the fireplace mantle, and she shook her head. “I can’t believe it’s so late. Kenneth took me out to lunch, and then we went for a walk. Time certainly passes fast when you’re enjoying yourself.”

  Catching the blush on Annabelle’s cheeks, Natalie winced. This wasn’t going to be easy. She released her breath and wiped her palms on the skirt of her dress.

  “I have something important to tell you,” Natalie began, “and it’s not going to be pleasant.”

  Annabelle turned her sympathetic gaze to Natalie. “I’m sorry. I should have been there with you. I overheard some of the things Fran and Katherine were saying about you. I was struggling to find a way to tell you. How did today go?”

  Natalie frowned. “What were they saying?”

  “Well, I didn’t catch all of it, and I was afraid that if I let them know I was nearby, they would stop talking. But it sounds like they’re looking
for a way to publicly embarrass you.”

  “They’re what?”

  “I was planning to go the social engagement, but Kenneth came by and talked to my father the other day. I’m sure he asked for my father’s permission to marry me. My father wouldn’t say what the matter was about, but he was smiling with that little twinkle in his eye that the Larson men seem to get whenever they’re hiding a surprise. I thought Kenneth was going to propose today. That’s why I agreed to have lunch with him. I didn’t think Fran or Katherine would do anything at a social engagement. It sounded like they were looking for a time when you weren’t with the group. I thought it was safe to go to lunch with Kenneth. Was I wrong?”

  Natalie struggled with which topic to give her full attention to. It wasn’t enough that Fran and Katherine had already made her feel insecure? They wanted to embarrass her when she was in public? She closed her eyes for a moment. No. She couldn’t worry about her pride right now. The fact that Kenneth was lying about his past was more important. Annabelle had to be warned. She had to know, especially now that a proposal was imminent.

  “Natalie?” Annabelle asked.

  Natalie opened her eyes and released her breath. “Kenneth isn’t who you think he is.”

  It took Annabelle a few seconds to respond. “What?”

  “Margie said that he used to own a railroad in Chicago and that he sold it for a large profit.”

  Annabelle nodded. “Yes, I heard that, too.”

  “Well, Velma was with me today at the social engagement, and she said that her father never heard of anyone with the last name Gordon who owned a railroad in Chicago.”

  Annabelle’s eyebrows furrowed. “What are you implying?”

  “Velma’s family was well-connected with wealthy and influential people back East. They knew who was who. She said her father knew men in Chicago who owned railroads. None of them were Kenneth.”

  “You think Margie is lying?”

  “I don’t think she’s lying. She seems like a sincere person.” At least, she didn’t give Natalie an uneasy feeling like Fran and her friends did. “I think Kenneth told her and her husband that story when he went to Massachusetts to find them.”

  Annabelle let out a long sigh and turned her gaze away from Natalie.

  “I’m sorry, Annabelle. I didn’t want to have to come by and tell you the bad news, but if it was me, I’d want to know.”

  “This is unbelievable,” Annabelle whispered.

  “I know, and I feel awful about it.”

  “Do you?” Annabelle looked back at her. “I expected something like this from Mark. He’s been known to manipulate things to get his way. I didn’t think he could talk you into joining him.”

  Natalie blinked. Had she understood Annabelle right? Did Annabelle just accuse her of lying?

  “I’m well aware that Mark wants me to marry Ben. No matter how much I tell him I’ll never do it, he won’t accept it. I should have expected him to stoop to sending his wife over to trick me.”

  “I’m not here to trick you. Mark doesn’t even know I’m here.”

  Annabelle rolled her eyes. “I grew up with Mark. I know what he’s like. Well, you can go back to Mark and tell him that I’m never going to marry Ben. I have no reason to doubt Kenneth. However, I want you to go to Mark and tell him something for me. I don’t care if Kenneth turns out to be a pauper. So what if he didn’t own a railroad that Velma’s father knew about? There are a lot of small railroads being built all the time. I’m not interested in Kenneth because of money.”

  “Money isn’t the issue,” Natalie hurried to say. “This isn’t even about Ben. If Mark’s concern was that you marry someone rich, he wouldn’t bother you about marrying Ben.”

  “Ben is rich. His family is rich. Ben might not have the money right now, but he’ll have it in the future.”

  “What if Ben never asks for it? What if he gives up his rights to an inheritance?”

  Annabelle shook her head in disbelief.

  “I haven’t asked Mark about Ben’s financial situation, but he might not even want his inheritance,” Natalie insisted. “There was a reason he gave everything up to become a preacher.”

  “I’m done with this conversation.” She stood up. “Tell Mark I have every intention of marrying Kenneth, and there’s nothing he can do to stop me. In the future, I hope you won’t let him talk you into lying for him.”

  Natalie bolted to her feet. “I’m not the one lying. Kenneth is. He told his aunt and uncle he sold a railroad he owned and that he has a lot of money. I can take you to Margie. She’ll tell you this herself. Then I can take you to Velma who’ll tell you that no one with the last name Gordon owned any railroads in Chicago.”

  “As I said, it’s possible that Velma’s father didn’t know every single railroad owner in Chicago. And the Gordons do have a lot of money. I can’t believe you’re trying to manipulate things. Wasn’t what Mark did on your wedding day to Tony and Velma bad enough? Do you really want to get involved in one of Mark’s schemes?”

  “This isn’t a scheme!”

  “Is everything alright?” the butler called out as he hurried into the room.

  Annabelle turned to him. “Everything’s fine. My sister-in-law was just leaving.” She glanced at Natalie. “This discussion is over. Please, stop this lying. I want to have a good relationship with you.”

  “But I’m not lying, and Mark doesn’t even know I’m here,” Natalie protested as Annabelle headed for the doorway. “If you don’t like being with someone who lies, you shouldn’t marry Kenneth.”

  Annabelle ignored her and breezed past the butler as she left the room. The butler glanced between her and Annabelle then offered her an uncomfortable smile.

  With a sigh, Natalie headed for the door. Coming here hadn’t done her any good. Maybe she should have brought Velma with her. But would that have done any good, either? It seemed that Annabelle was determined to be with Kenneth. As Mark and Ben had told her, Annabelle was the kind of person who needed proof. Unfortunately, she didn’t think even Velma could prove that Kenneth was lying about owning a railroad. Some things had to be taken on faith, and this was one of them.

  “Mrs. Larson,” the butler began as he opened the door for her, “is there anything you would have me do for you?”

  “No,” she replied. “But thanks.” Shoulders slumped, she left the house.

  ***

  Natalie wasn’t sure where to go after she left Annabelle’s home, so she wandered through Omaha for a while until she found herself outside the building where Mark worked. She stood at the entrance, debating whether or not she should go in and talk to him.

  Even if Kenneth had owned a small railroad in Chicago that Velma’s father didn’t know about, then he was still lying if he told his aunt and uncle he had a lot of money. Lying was a bad sign. It meant he was hiding something.

  But then, Mark had lied, too, and Mark wasn’t a bad person.

  Yes, but Mark was doing something he believed was best for everyone. He knew Velma would be happier with Tony, and he was right. He has good instincts about people. Besides, Velma admitted she’d only wanted Mark for his money. She didn’t love him.

  Did that mean Kenneth didn’t love Annabelle? Was he also planning to marry her for money? Natalie didn’t think Annabelle would be happy with that. Sure, Annabelle wasn’t interested in how much money he had, but she obviously wanted a husband who loved her. It was possible that Kenneth was in love with her. But how possible was it?

  He’s still lying. As Velma said, if Kenneth really was wealthy, he would be flaunting it because that’s what people do back East.

  Natalie would just have to take Velma’s word on that one. She didn’t know how rich people in Chicago or Massachusetts did things.

  If he doesn’t have any money, then why doesn’t he come out and admit it? His aunt and uncle are wealthy.

  Yes, but it could be embarrassing to admit it if he didn’t have any money.

  Velm
a wasn’t embarrassed to admit she didn’t have money. She came out to Omaha with the intention of marrying a man of means because of it. Maybe Kenneth is looking for a woman of means.

  Perhaps it was different for a man to admit he didn’t have money. For a woman, this might not be embarrassing, but that didn’t mean men felt the same way about it. That didn’t necessarily make Kenneth a bad person…did it?

  “Excuse me, ma’am,” someone said.

  She jerked and turned to the man who was behind her.

  He offered her a smile and went around her to open the door. “Ladies first.”

  Face warm, she hurried into the building so he could get in, too. She hadn’t realized she’d been standing in front of the door for so long.

  He tipped his hat to say good-bye then went to the elevator. She watched as he stepped into it. The young man who manned the elevator shut the doors, and they disappeared up into the wall. Should she try going in the elevator today?

  She stood to the side of the large room so she didn’t get in anyone else’s way. She spent the next fifteen minutes watching as people came down from the elevator and went up. They made it look easy. It was silly that she should be scared of something that was obviously safe.

  While it didn’t really matter if she chose the elevator or stairs to get to Mark’s office, she had a nagging sensation that if she could overcome her fear of the elevator, then it would mean she was closer to embracing her new life. It was a small step toward embracing it, but it’d be one all the same.

  She released her breath. She couldn’t go back to Kentucky. And if she was honest with herself, she didn’t want to go back there. She loved Mark. Her life was here with him. She was a part of this world now. When she married him, she married into all of this as well. Velma had learned to accept her new life and all that went with it. It was time for Natalie to do the same.