“Isn’t that the way of love, Mary?” Willa grinned. “It sneaks up on you, then hits you in the middle of your heart like a lightning bolt.”
“Let’s wait and see how dinner is before we do any meddling, shall we?” Mary suggested “Agreed?”
“Agreed!” Willa smiled.
Auggie paced his apartment, pausing every few moments to check the time on his pocket watch. Why he was nervous about dinner escaped him. Granted, it had been quite some time since he’d had dinner guests. Was that the reason for feeling anxious or was he doubting his decision to ask Elizabeth to dine with him after work hours? And in his private residence?
“Fifteen minutes,” he noted, pulling on the collar of his shirt to ease the uncomfortable tightness forming around his throat. “Why did I not think this through before plunging forward? The evening may end in disaster, and I can’t have that.”
The sound of the dumbwaiter drew his attention. Mary wouldn’t be far behind, dressed for dinner. Too late to back out now.
He didn’t want to, plain and simple. By all accounts, Elizabeth was anything but a woman looking to advance her current situation. Besides, no one other than himself, and Mary of course, knew his background and the size of the fortune he was to inherit. Not to mention what his assets in the hotel were.
His father owned a successful shipping enterprise. One that had kept Auggie in the best schools and surrounded by the best families. It had been expected that he would marry into high society, but he wanted to marry for love, not station or rank among his peers.
So, he’d gone and convinced his father a fortune could be made in the West. As Auggie always suspected, money meant more than family. His father agreed to give him a loan at the highest possible lending rate to build the hotel.
His father had told him he expected Auggie to return home before the end of the year, broke and thankful to be back in the comforts of wealth. That was a year ago. At least he’d earned his father’s respect—finally.
“Auggie!” Mary’s voice happily intruded upon his unpleasant memories.
“Coming, Mary,” Auggie answered, making his way to the hallway.
“Would you please help me?” Mary stood beside the open dumbwaiter filled with various serving bowls and platters, as well as plates and silver.
Auggie smiled, stepping out of his apartment door. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for Mary for the rest of her days. Even if it meant carrying plates of food into his living space for his own dinner party.
“I believe you have done more than enough, Mary. I could have asked the entire town for dinner!” Auggie teased, picking up the large platter of braised beef and various vegetables. “It smells delicious. Are you trying to fatten me up?” He winked.
Mary laughed, a tray of glasses and a few bottles of wine in her hands. “You are not in need of fattening up, Auggie! What you are in need of is a companion every so often.”
Carrying the platter into the apartment, Auggie set his on the table then relieved Mary of the tray she was carrying.
“That is a very old and tired subject, Mary. I take pleasure in your companionship, as well as my employees. All day. Every day,” Auggie insisted with a crooked smile on his face, thinking of Elizabeth. “Why must you continue to treat me like a boy needing to be looked after?”
“Because, Auggie, there are times you need looking after,” Mary scolded. “Now, please go get the rest of the food while I set the table. Your other guests will be here any minute.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Auggie saluted, snapping his heels together.
He never expected a mother figure once he’d become a man and struck out on his own. Little did Mary know he’d overheard his mother giving her strict instructions about looking after him. It was the only reason she’d had been allowed to come with him.
“My little secret,” he whispered.
“What secret is that, Mr. Raines?”
Elizabeth’s sweet voice sent waves of heat through him.
“Nothing of importance to anyone but me,” Auggie answered, noting Elizabeth had arrived with Willa. “I’m pleased you could join us, Mrs. Alexander.”
“Oh, I wasn’t about to miss a dinner cooked by Mrs. Hall!” Willa chimed, smiling as she strolled into his apartment.
“Here, let me take something,” Elizabeth offered, taking a plate of cups filled with pudding. “I think Mrs. Hall outdid herself today. I do hope it wasn’t too taxing on her with her duties in the hotel dining room.”
“If I know Mrs. Hall, she found it enjoyable.” Auggie grabbed the bowl wrapped in a cloth. “I left the menu up to her. She hasn’t been able to cook like this for a very long time, I’m afraid.”
“Come, children, before everything gets cold!” Mary called from the doorway.
“We have been summoned.” Auggie grinned, waiting as Elizabeth stepped lightly through the door ahead of him.
She’d changed into a rather attractive blue dress with a simple belt that fit her waist perfectly. Her auburn hair was piled elegantly upon her head with little curly strands escaping here and there. The only piece of jewelry was her wedding ring.
Auggie was sure Willa must have brought the dress and fixed Elizabeth’s hair for her. He didn’t remember seeing Elizabeth bring any extra items to work with her this morning.
Auggie placed the warm bowl on the table then stood at his chair, waiting for the chatting ladies to take their seats. Mary and Willa had already claimed seats next to each other, leaving Elizabeth no choice but to sit next to him.
He didn’t mind. He would have preferred sitting across from Elizabeth so that he could look at her without being detected. Now every time he wanted a peek, he’d have to turn his head, letting everyone know his interest.
His attraction to Elizabeth would be revealed.
CHAPTER 10
Elizabeth shot Willa a look that could have put her six feet under. She was not pleased with the obvious meddling in her life. How many times must she tell Willa she had no interest in finding another man to marry. Or love for that matter.
And then to make sure she sat next to Auggie—well! That was pushing things a bit. And judging by the look on Mrs. Hall’s face, Elizabeth surmised Willa had an accomplice. Looking at their faces, her anger slipped away. How could she remain upset with two kindly ladies who only meant well? Who cared enough about her well-being to meddle?
Glancing over at Auggie, her heart warmed. The smile on his face producing little smile lines at the corners of his eyes which softened an otherwise stoic appearance. The navy-blue suitcoat fit him perfectly. The white starched shirt with a very stiff collar a sharp contrast to the darkness of the jacket. He’d taken care, making sure his hair was combed in place, even going so far as to trim his beard, which she was sure he’d done this morning.
Elizabeth often wondered what lay beneath the facial hair. She imagined he had a strong, angular jaw with a dimpled chin. Maybe one day she’d have the chance to see for herself.
Listen to yourself! I have no business wondering anything about another man. Steven’s body is barely gone from this Earth and I’m thinking how attractive Auggie is!
Yet she couldn’t help but notice that here, in his private quarters, he was perfectly at ease and appeared happy. All the worries of the hotel were left at the apartment door. How could she not feel a small attraction to him?
“Mrs. Hamilton, would you care for some of the braised beef?” Auggie’s simple question resulted in a blush of heat brushing her cheeks. She smiled then took a piece from the platter. “Ladies, may we dispense with formality tonight? I would much rather use first names since we are in my home.”
“Yes, of course.” They agreed in unison.
“Everything smells marvelous, Mary,” Elizabeth complimented, spooning a few of the vegetables on her plate as well. “I do hope this didn’t cause you any distress in preparing such a lavish meal. I’d hate to think you felt overworked in the kitchen preparing an extra meal just for tonight.”
“Nonsense, Elizabeth. I haven’t been asked to prepare a meal for an intimate party in quite some time. I rather enjoyed it,” Mary gushed. “I do hope Auggie will have another opportunity for more dinner guests in the future. He rarely leaves his work; often times falling asleep in his office chair. Don’t you, Auggie?”
“Now, Mary, you know very well the hotel keeps me quite busy,” Auggie protested, slicing into the beef. “If I didn’t keep up on the running of things, we could all very well be out of jobs. I owe it to my employees to know they are well taken care of.”
“How did you come by the hotel, Auggie?” Elizabeth had been wondering for the past few weeks what the process of obtaining a business was but felt it inappropriate to ask. Now that they were having dinner with Mary and Willa, she saw no reason not to ask.
“The same as any other businessman would, I suppose,” Auggie replied vaguely, not making eye contact with anyone except Elizabeth. “You find a funding source and present your plans. With any luck, the representative will consider you a good investment. Once that happens, the loan for the requested funds is made and its terms presented.”
Auggie smiled then shifted his gaze from her to Mary. It was that exchange between them that surprised her. Elizabeth may have been out of touch with the goings on in the everyday world these past months, but she certainly recognized the look of secrecy when she saw it.
Could it be Auggie was overextended on his finances? Was his loan being called in? Or was it something else entirely? Something from his past? She couldn’t imagine him doing anything dishonest or dishonorable, ever. Elizabeth was sure she was wrong, and everything was perfectly alright with Auggie.
“Did you take out a bank loan or something else?” Elizabeth continued, curious as to the mystery of how one started a business. Especially when it was a woman who was inquiring to secure a loan. And being a penniless widow, Elizabeth thought she’d be a target for some unsavory man trying to exploit her situation for his own good. Not that she had much to exploit.
“Elizabeth!” Willa exclaimed as Mary coughed and Auggie burst out laughing. “Those are highly personal questions.”
“Mrs. Hamilton—err—Elizabeth, are you thinking of putting me out of business one day soon?” Auggie asked, his eyes dancing with humor as he sat back in the chair.
Elizabeth dabbed the corner of her mouth then placed the napkin back on her lap smiling. Had she really given him that impression? She’d asked a simple question really. Not unusual as far as she was concerned.
“By no means at all. Between Willa’s boardinghouse and the Grand, I don’t believe Blessings Valley has room for another lodging establishment,” Elizabeth replied, her eyes meeting the astonished ones of both Willa and Mary. “I am only curious. Now that I am on my own, I have been thinking of my own future. One day, I may want to open a dress shop. I was inquiring as to how to obtain financial backing to do so.”
Her gaze swept back to Auggie, the smile on his face soothing her fear she’d offended him. If anything, he looked pleased of her proclamation to make something of herself without anyone’s help. Well, outside of a loan, that was.
“You should have asked me, Elizabeth,” Willa stated, harshness edging her words. “I would have given you advice. Maybe even invested in your shop.”
Elizabeth looked at Willa, cringing at her expression.
“Yes, Willa, I could have. But I know how you were able to fund your boardinghouse,” Elizabeth said, folding her napkin on her plate. How was she going to let her friend know that she didn’t want to risk their friendship over a business matter? “Unfortunately, Steven didn’t leave me with that kind of money. I have been left to my own wits and must find my way, Willa. Make a life for myself. So you see why I may want to know how Auggie started out, don’t you?”
“It’s a reasonable enough question,” Auggie said, reaching for her hand.
His warm touch radiated through her, sending shivers to places once meant for her husband. She withdrew from him, folding her hands securely in her lap.
“I secured a loan from a, ah, friend of the family.” Auggie poured some wine for them all before making eye contact with Mary for a moment or two. “He thought the idea of a hotel in the West was intriguing but needed more information. And he’d have a place to stay should he ever venture this way, which is highly unlikely. It wasn’t easy though. It took a lot of planning and convincing him I was a good investment after all.”
He’s hiding something, Elizabeth thought, suddenly feeling foolish and uncomfortable. Something that he wishes to remain secret. Does Mary know, I wonder?
“Well, I have had quite enough business talk.” Willa stood, gathering dishes one by one. “It’s still fairly early, and I would like to hear a bit of music. Do you have a gramophone, Auggie?”
“I do, Willa.” Auggie smiled. “I even have several recordings.”
“Wonderful, something to dance to would be nice,” Willa suggested, looking over at Elizabeth.
No, Elizabeth mouthed, shaking her head. She was not about to dance with her boss, even with two chaperones in the room.
Auggie crossed the room and rummaged through his recordings until he found one. Preparing the gramophone, a Sousa’s Band recording started, and he headed back to the table.
“Mrs. Hamilton, may I have this dance?” he asked, offering a hand for her to accept.
Elizabeth stared at his extended hand, her breath caught in her throat. Without another thought, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to guide her to the center of the room. His arm slipped around her waist, and he guided her with expertise to the melody of Phroso waltzes.
The room around them melted away. There was just him and her. No one from the outside world to give their opinion. Only the two of them and the music.
The music stopped, and they stood in the middle of room. Auggie held her in his arms, gazing down on her. Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat for a moment.
She had to get out of there. This wasn’t right. She belonged to Steven.
She shouldn’t be in the arms of Auggie Raines, plain and simple.
“You work on Elizabeth, and I’ll do the same with Auggie. These kids need a push, and I’m not afraid to give him one right in the middle of his back!”
Somewhere in the dreamy fog she thought she heard talking but couldn’t be sure she’d heard correctly.
Dusk began to fully claim the night as Auggie walked through the street with Elizabeth and Willa. They strolled in quiet comfort the short distance from the hotel to the boardinghouse, each of them lost in their own thoughts.
Auggie felt a spring in his step. It had been far too long since he’d enjoyed a night like this one. Dancing with Elizabeth reminded him of those days—and nights—spent at debutante events. The joy of music shared with an attractive woman in his arms.
He even quite enjoyed taking a turn around the room with Mary and Willa. They reminded him of one of his elderly widowed aunts.
But it was Elizabeth who had made him feel alive with hope again. Hope that maybe he could one day find love with the right woman. Could that woman be Elizabeth? It was too soon to tell, but it was a good start in finding out.
“Thank you for joining us tonight, Willa,” Auggie said as they approached the boardinghouse. “I really enjoyed the evening. Especially dancing with two special women several times.”
“It has been a long time. I’m not sure you enjoyed it as much as Mary and I did however.” Willa laughed, stopping at her porch stoop.
“On the contrary, it was quite enjoyable,” Auggie insisted, “regardless of who my dancing partner was.”
“Humph!” Willa exclaimed, a smile on her face. “At least your feet were spared. Alas, the night has ended, and I must get some rest for there are several boarders expected tomorrow. Thank you for inviting me as I did enjoy myself. It was good to spend a few hours with Mary, as well.
“Elizabeth, you are welcome to stay the night if you prefer n
ot walking home tonight,” Willa offered as she walked up the steps. “I would rather you not travel the path home this close to nightfall alone.”
“She won’t be alone, Willa,” Auggie said, offering his elbow to Elizabeth, only to withdraw it when she refused.
Blast! Nothing has changed between us. And here I thought that maybe it had.
“Auggie has offered to accompany me, and I would much rather sleep in my own bed tonight,” Elizabeth answered, taking a step away from him.
Auggie had hoped after their evening together Elizabeth would have changed her mind about him. Had he offended her in some way? He didn’t think so. Yet, she still wouldn’t yield to him being a gentleman.
“I will make sure she arrives safe and sound on her doorstep, Willa.” Auggie smiled, looking from Willa back to Elizabeth. “I give my word as a gentleman.”
“Well, since it has all been arranged, then I shall say goodnight.” Willa turned and walked into her boardinghouse.
Once lights were on, Auggie and Elizabeth continued on the path toward the row houses provided by the mining company where she and the other widows still lived.
“Did you enjoy yourself tonight, Elizabeth?” Auggie clasped his hands behind his back to keep from touching her in any way.
“Yes, I did. Thank you for inviting me,” Elizabeth replied, her gaze on the path straight ahead of them. “Mary prepared a fabulous meal, don’t you agree? I believe it is the best I’ve ever had. You are lucky to have her under your employment at the hotel.”
“I am pleased you had a good time.” Auggie smiled, pride washing over him. He had hoped she enjoyed his company and dancing with him after all she’d gone through these past months. It had to be devastating to have lost someone you pledged to love forever. “As for Mary, I am extremely blessed to have her.”
“How did you ever find her? Someone of her skills should be running a kitchen in a big fancy house somewhere, not in a small hotel in the West,” Elizabeth remarked, looking over at him, her expression lost in the rays of the setting sun. “I am only curious and don’t mean to pry.”
Elizabeth (Widows of Blessings Valley Book 1) Page 9
