| |
* * *
Edward watched the factory doors with his arms folded across his chest. He'd started getting funny looks from the workers as soon as they'd begun to file in this morning. He supposed it was only fair, considering the way he'd left yesterday.
He'd managed to avoid his father last night and so far this morning, feigning illness to Myra yesterday when she'd asked why he was home from work so early. He hadn't wanted to return to work after his confrontation with Ray—part of him had feared he wouldn't be able to contain his rage and that he might begin lashing out at undeserving workers.
Now, things were different. Ray was gone. He knew it most assuredly as he knew the sun would shine brightly today. He knew because he'd gone by Ray and Lily's house late at night and peeked in through the windows. There had been no one there.
Initially, he'd been concerned about Lily, thinking Ray may have hurt her or attempted to take her with him. He'd checked the saloons and found Ray nowhere and decided to go walking in an attempt to calm his nerves. He'd happened upon Lily's form in the window of an upstairs bedroom at Dr. Shannon's, watching until he'd seen her face, making certain it was her, then returned home comforted in the knowledge that Ray was gone, and Lily was spending the night with friends.
Ray was gone. He repeated the phrase to himself like a mantra.
Ray is gone. Ray is gone. Ray is gone.
He only hoped that Lily would not be too angry with him when he finally told her what he'd done. How could she be though? The man was a brute. Surely, she would welcome his absence once he made it clear to her that her family was in no danger. He'd struck fear into Ray at the saloon; he'd seen it in his eyes. Combined with the money Edward had given him, he did not think he would see the man again in this lifetime.
"Good morning," Edward said cheerily as Bridget and Patty walked past him. They exchanged looks with each other before nodding politely and moving on.
"Good morning," Della said, also coming in.
"Good morning, Miss Garrison. It's a lovely day out, isn't it?"
Della looked at him oddly and opened her mouth, but his father suddenly rounded the corner. "Miss Garrison," Charles Saunders said, "may I speak with you a moment once you're settled?" He shot a glance to Edward. "You as well."
Della nodded. "Of course." She looked uncertainly at Edward then went on her way. Edward told his father he would be with him shortly.
The line of women clocking in for the day began to dwindle. He continued to watch the doors as well as that line, wondering what could be keeping Lily. He'd been hoping that she would come into the factory brimming with excitement, and he'd be able to tell her that he was the cause of that excitement. That he was the one responsible for Ray's sudden departure.
Finally, the line had finished, and the doors stopped opening and closing. He made his way to his office, disappointed, certain he must've missed Lily's entrance somehow. Perhaps she was already sitting at her desk waiting for him, a big smile on her face. When she wasn't there, he scratched his head and slowly circled the main floor. Maybe she was chatting with one of the other girls, or maybe she'd gone to the washroom.
He stopped when he saw Patty. "Have you seen Mrs. Dickinson this morning?"
Patty's eyes widened, and she shook her head. A sly smile crept up the corners of her lips. "Have you seen her this morning?" she asked, insinuation dripping off her every word.
"No. If I'd seen her, I'd not have asked you."
Bridget called out suddenly from near the packing room door, "Patty, come on." She sneered at Edward, startling him. "Good day, Mr. Saunders. I hear you had a busy night."
She burst into giggles, and Patty ran to join her, both their faces going red as laughter overtook them. Edward scratched his head again, wondering what had gotten into them.
He went back to his office, afraid he'd made a bigger mess of things with his outburst yesterday than he'd realized. Della was at her desk.
"Miss Garrison," he paused, trying to phrase his question without sounding like a fool, "yesterday, when I... became upset in the packing room..."
Della was looking at him with an odd expression—it seemed half sorrow, half pity. "Yes?" she asked.
He finally sighed and shrugged. "Just how big a fool did I make out of myself?"
A slight smile touched her lips. "Quite a large one, I'm afraid."
He shook his head. "At least I know I can count on you to give things to me straight. It's too bad you're not a man, I'd make you the general manager in a second."
Della's lips flattened out. Her eyes grew cold.
Edward suddenly realized what he'd said and who he'd said it to.
"I apologize," he said quickly, holding up his hands to placate the anger he saw brimming inside her. "I only meant that men are more like-minded when it comes to these sorts of business matters. You're a brilliant secretary, and you have wonderful ideas, but I need someone who can assist me with meetings and travel."
"I can't assist with meetings?" she barked. "Why can I not travel? Are women prone to travel sickness more than men?"
"I only meant to say that... well, during my last trip, I was gone for fifteen days."
She blinked at him as if he'd just spoken nonsense.
"In that time," he continued, "I visited six Saunders' factories and paid a visit to the Waterson factory, which you know very well we are eager to merge with."
"I'm well aware of Mr. Waterson and his business practices."
"Yes, but if I'd sent you to greet Mr. Waterson instead of going myself, I doubt the results would have been the same. As it is, he's coming here to meet with us within the next fortnight, and I believe we'll be able to hammer out the final plans for the merger at that time."
Della raised an eyebrow. "You're saying that Mr. Waterson does not like women?"
"No," Edward replied, exasperated. "That's not at all what I'm saying. Mr. Waterson has a wife and a daughter, who’s very near to your own age."
"A daughter?" Della asked.
Edward suddenly remembered the rumor Lily had mentioned regarding his engagement and wished he had gone straight into his office instead of stopping to talk with Della.
"Have you met her?" Della asked.
He drew in a breath. "Yes, but there is nothing between us. We've only met a few times during the course of my business dealings with her father."
"Have you dined with her?"
Why did Della have to be so persistent with her questions? And why did he continue to answer them? "Only when her father was present as well."
"I see."
"There is no truth to the rumors that we are engaged, I assure you. Despite what her father may wish for, it is not to be."
Della leaned forward at her desk. "So, Mr. Waterson wishes you to marry his daughter?"
He sighed. This morning was becoming tedious. "It is not a condition of the merger. It is only an old man's desire to see his daughter wed. But she is rich and pretty enough, and I'm certain that she will have no problems finding herself a husband when she is ready."
"Is this the reason you returned so early from your last trip?"
Now that the secret had been spilled, he might as well finish it. "Yes. I grew tired of Waterson's hints."
Della continued to glare at him. Edward sought to change the subject. "Where is Lily this morning?"
"She spent the night at Caroline Shannon's."
Edward drew his brows together. "Yes, I know, but why is she not at work?"
Della was looking at him with an expression that worried him. "You haven't heard." It was a statement, not a question. "I'm sorry, I just assumed..."
"Heard what?" he asked, gripping the edge of a chair. His knuckles turned white.
"Your father knew. He called me into his office to ask me about it just a few minutes ago. How could he know and you not?"
"I haven't spoken to my father since yesterday morning. Now tell me what it is you know. What's happened to Lily?"
"Everyone in the factory knows, I think."
Edward slammed his hand against the top of the chair he'd been holding. "Darn it, Della, answer my question. What's happened? Is Lily all right?"
Della stared at him. "Lily's fine," she said, and Edward's tension eased at once. "It's not Lily who's been hurt."
The tension returned. His shoulders felt like they were stuck in cement. He could not even roll the muscles they were so tight.
Not Lily.
The hairs on his neck stood on end.
"Is it her mother?" he asked. Della shook her head. "Her sister?" She shook it again. "For goodness sake, who is it that's been hurt?"
Della let out a long breath. "It's Ray. He's dead."
* * *
