JUNE 1886
“I’ve done it now, disappointed my mother again, but this time, instead of banning me from Newport or revoking my credit in all the stores, she’s threatening to send me off to stay with a spinster aunt in Chicago.”
Looking up from the ledger she’d been working on, one that listed donations she kept track of for those in need, Poppy smiled as Beatrix sailed into the library, looking fashionable as always, although her hair was somewhat of a mess as red curls escaped their pins.
“What did you do?” Poppy asked as Beatrix flung herself into a chair.
“It’s not so much what I did—it’s what Thomas Hamersley did.” Beatrix released a dramatic sigh. “He apparently got up the nerve to tell his mother he was in love with Helene. Mrs. Hamersley then surprised him by giving him her blessing, declaring she’d become fond of Helene and found her to be a most delightful lady. With that blessing in hand, Thomas proposed to Helene, she said yes, and they’ll be getting married soon.”
“But that’s wonderful. Helene adores Thomas.”
Beatrix waved that aside. “Yes, yes, of course she does, but I would have thought they’d have given me a bit of notice. My mother was convinced Thomas and I would wed at some point, an idea that I freely admit I continued to allow her to believe, what with how it spared me any matchmaking attempts on her part.” She released another sigh. “Mother’s now furious with me, believes I’m destined to remain a spinster, which might be what got her thinking about that spinster aunt in Chicago.”
“I’ve heard Chicago is lovely.”
“I’m sure it is, but I’ve only encountered Aunt Gladys a few times in my life, and from what I can recall of her, she’s unpleasant.”
“Perhaps if you were to try and behave yourself for the rest of the summer, your mother will reconsider.”
“That sounds like a lot of work.”
“What sounds like a lot of work?”
Poppy’s heart immediately skipped a beat as she looked to the door, knowing she’d find Reginald there, the man she would forevermore call husband.
They’d married a mere six weeks after he’d rescued her from Lena, deciding to be married in the small church Poppy had attended since birth. Reverend Thomas Cameron had officiated, and he’d not been able to disguise his delight that Poppy had, indeed, discovered what else the world had to offer after she’d gone to New York. She’d found the man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with as well as a good use for some of the Van Rensselaer fortune. She and Reginald were currently in the process of creating a charity that would lend much-needed assistance to the most vulnerable of New York City.
Reginald’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, along with Reginald’s sister, and his brother, his brother’s wife, and their children, had caused quite the stir when they’d arrived in Poppy’s hometown. But while the duke was one of the most important gentlemen in England, he’d hurried to put everyone at ease, insisting on being addressed as Richard, while his wife had done the same, preferring Lizzie over Your Grace.
After Poppy and Reginald had gotten married, and after they’d taken a holiday traveling by private Pullman car back to New York, stopping anywhere that struck their fancy, Viola had given them a large reception, inviting the entire New York Four Hundred. To Poppy’s surprise, she was greeted by society with enthusiasm and told numerous times by young ladies and society matrons alike that her debut had been the success of the Season.
After New York, they’d traveled to England with Viola and George, Poppy wanting to see where Reginald had grown up and meet the members of his family who’d not been able to attend their wedding. She’d turned a bit anxious when she’d gotten a look at the homes Reginald had once lived in, but he, apparently realizing her distress, had hurried to reassure her. He claimed he would always love England, but while he’d grown up in country estates that a person could get lost in, surrounded by artwork done by the early masters, nothing had ever been strictly his, since the laws of entitlement demanded everything be passed down to the eldest son.
America was where he wanted to make his mark.
After making a stop in Paris to order fashions from Worth for the upcoming Season, which Poppy was determined to only enjoy in limited amounts, Reginald set about finding them the perfect location on Fifth Avenue to build a house of their own. They’d settled on a lot that wasn’t too far away from Viola and George, but just far enough.
That house was not quite finished, which was why Poppy and Reginald were currently still living at her grandparents’ house, although Viola and George had repaired not to Newport for the summer, but to Kentucky, both intent on making up for lost time with Elizabeth and Harold as well as with their two grandsons.
“Poppy believes if I behave myself, my mother won’t be so put out with me,” Beatrix said, pulling Poppy from her thoughts.
Reginald smiled. “Then I take it she heard about Thomas and Helene?”
“Where’d you hear that? I only heard a few hours ago.”
“Miss Mabel. I stopped in at Rutherford & Company after I went to check on how progress is going on the Van Rensselaer Charity House down in Five Points. She also told me that Adele Tooker, after her mother whisked her away to take a tour of the continents, is to marry the Earl of Crawford.”
Beatrix wrinkled her nose. “That hardly seems right, not with how conniving Adele was with Lord Lonsdale.”
Reginald smiled. “The Earl of Crawford lives on an estate far removed from London, and while he does travel back to London to take his place in the House of Lords, he’s not a very affable man, which means he and Adele will probably suit each other admirably, spending their lives bickering about one matter after another.”
“Oh, well, that’s all right then, and at least Mrs. Tooker can take some comfort in the fact her daughter is procuring the family a title, which might soothe some of the embarrassment that poor lady felt at the first Patriarch Ball so many months ago when Lord Lonsdale was trying to make his grand announcement. But, speaking of mothers, I really should return to mine.” Beatrix rose to her feet. “I left before we’d finished our conversation because it was turning rather heated, but if I let her stew too long, well, it’s never pleasant.”
She sent Poppy a wink. “Besides, you’re watching Reginald again in a most concerning fashion, one that suggests you’d like to kiss him. And what with me apparently well on my way to becoming a confirmed spinster, I don’t believe that’s something I want to witness. Might make me turn morose and all.” With that, she blew Poppy a kiss, sent Reginald a cheeky grin, then sailed out of the room quite the same way she’d sailed into it.
“I say she’ll be married by next Christmas,” Reginald said before he smiled a smile that turned Poppy’s knees all sorts of wobbly. “But since we are now alone . . .”
He’d barely taken two steps toward her when Murray strode into the room, looking dashing in a custom-made suit. He stopped in his tracks. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“I was about to kiss my wife.”
“Oh, so no, I’m not interrupting anything too important since you can commence with the kissing after I leave.” He threw himself into the chair Beatrix had just vacated. “I’ve been banished from my mother’s house.”
“You don’t live there anymore,” Poppy said.
“I know that, and before I forget, Maisie and I have purchased the lot right next to where you’re building your house on Fifth Avenue. Thought I should tell you before it’s finished in case you don’t want to live next to us.”
Reginald strode to stand before Murray, holding out his hand. “Don’t be an idiot. Of course we’d love to have you and Maisie as neighbors. Congratulations.”
Murray grinned and shook Reginald’s hand. “That’s a relief. Maisie has her heart set on that lot, and I would so hate to disappoint her.”
“What are you going to do with the unit you purchased at the Osborne Flats where you’re living now?”
“I’m going to make that my art studio.” He released a dramatic breath. “My art, though, is exactly why I got banished from Mother’s house for the afternoon. She and Maisie are up in the attic, sorting through all the paintings I’ve done over the years to see if any of them are good enough to display in the art gallery Maisie insisted I open. They didn’t seem to appreciate it when I pointed out that some of the pieces are rubbish, so they tossed me out. Having already stopped by my tailor and then taking a stroll through the store where I buy my paints, I was beginning to run out of things to occupy my time. I was riding Wilbur past my new lot on Fifth Avenue, and because it’s not far from here, and because Wilbur does adore you, Poppy, I thought I might as well stop and see if you and Reginald were in.”
“I should go say hello to Wilbur and take him a carrot as well.”
“We’ll come with you,” Reginald said, and taking hold of her hand, they walked with Murray through the kitchen to get a carrot, then outside into a beautiful sunny day.
“Still intending on building a stable next to the Van Rensselaer Charity House so you can rescue workhorses that are too weary to work?” Murray asked.
“I am, although Reginald and I are also looking into buying a farm outside the city with pastures, where the horses would have space to roam.” She smiled. “Maria Romano’s father, Mr. Frank Romano, who has been making quite the name for himself as a master plumber, has an interest in moving his family out of the city. I’m happy to say that he would be willing to live on a horse farm in the future if we find one that would still allow him to continue growing his plumbing business.”
“Remarkable how our encounter with Maria that day in the snow managed to improve the entire Romano family’s life,” Reginald said.
“Remarkable indeed,” Poppy agreed, the very word reminding her that she had some pretty remarkable news to tell Reginald and had been trying to think of the perfect—
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Murray said, drawing Poppy’s attention. “I ran into Nigel at the House of Industry when I was dropping off some clothing Maisie has been collecting for those in need. He’d apparently just returned from a business trip to London where he met with Lord Lonsdale. It turns out there’s a vast amount of coal on a few of Charles’s estates, and the two men have agreed to work together.” He smiled. “From what Nigel told me, it’s going to be a lucrative venture and will provide Charles with what sounds like an impressive fortune.”
“But Charles has no need of another fortune, not when it turned out Edith Iselin’s fortune was larger than any of the other heiresses out last year,” Poppy pointed out.
Murray nodded. “True, but Nigel seemed to be of the belief that becoming involved in the coal industry was a way for Charles to prove to Edith that he truly loves her simply for herself and not for her money.”
Reginald smiled. “Edith certainly turned out to be exactly what Charles needed. She’s a no-nonsense lady who fills the role of countess admirably, and she’s even quite proficient at managing Charles’s mother, the dowager countess, making her mother-in-law stick to a strict allowance.” Reginald’s smile widened. “ I have to imagine Edith will insist on working closely with Charles and Nigel as they enter into business together, making certain Nigel stays committed to abandoning his old, and need I say, nefarious, business ways.”
Poppy returned the smile. “I think Nigel has changed his ways. He makes a point of visiting Lena at the Long Island Home Hotel for Nervous Invalids every week when he’s in town, a place she seems most content, what with how they agreed to allow her the company of her dogs. According to Nigel, she’s even grown accustomed to the guards who are tasked with watching her every hour of the day and apparently doles out advice when they share their romantic troubles with her.”
Murray shook his head. “Not certain how sound that advice could be, but at least she’s not been forced to spend the rest of her life in an asylum.”
“Which she does have Nigel to thank for, since he is the one who convinced the doctors that even though Lena couldn’t live freely among society, she deserved to at least live the rest of her life in some semblance of peace.” Poppy smiled. “If that’s not proof that Nigel’s turned his back on his previous ways, there’s also how much of his time he spends at the House of Industry. He told me he enjoys volunteering there and especially enjoys spending time in the company of Reverend Lewis. Reverend Lewis is certainly inspirational, and has, I believe, allowed all of us to realize we have a duty as children of God to take a more active interest in those less fortunate.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Murray said. “I’m sure Reverend Lewis is delighted that members of the New York Four Hundred are beginning to do more than simply send charities a few dollars every now and again. He has you to thank for that, Poppy, what with how you’ve turned so determined to get all of society involved in philanthropic endeavors.”
“She can be determined when she sets her mind to it,” Reginald said, smiling as he caught Poppy’s eye, the smile leaving her distinctly weak at the knees again.
Murray released a snort. “Honestly, there the two of you go again. I think this is where I take my leave before you embarrass me.” Giving Poppy’s cheek a kiss, then shaking Reginald’s hand, he swung himself up into the saddle, clicked his tongue, then sent them a cheery wave as Wilbur ambled away.
“Do you think we’re really alone at last?” Reginald asked, taking hold of Poppy’s hand and pulling her back into the house through the kitchen.
“Until someone else arrives at the door.”
Reginald looked to Mr. Parsons, who was stirring something in a bowl as Mrs. Hardie poured more flour into it. “Would you tell anyone else who might come to call that Poppy and I aren’t receiving visitors this afternoon?”
Mr. Parsons smiled. “Of course. I’m sure it must get a bit tiring being the most sought-after couple in the city.”
“You have no idea,” Reginald said with a grin, pulling Poppy through the kitchen and then up to the suite of rooms they were using until their house was finished.
“I was thinking we might go to Delmonico’s for dinner later,” Reginald said, kicking off his shoes before he dropped into a cushy chair in the sitting room attached to their bedchamber.
“That might be nice, although I’ve been somewhat queasy today, so we’ll need to wait and see if my stomach settles down.”
Concern immediately flashed through his eyes as he took her hand and pulled her down directly on his lap. “Do you think you’re coming down with a cold?”
Poppy considered that for all of a second before she blew out a breath. “I wasn’t intending on merely blurting this out, but I’m not coming down with a cold. I’m coming down with something remarkable.”
Reginald grew completely still. “What?”
“Remarkable. I’m coming down with—or rather, carrying might be a better way to phrase it—something remarkable.”
Reginald shifted her on his lap. “Am I to understand you’re expecting?”
Poppy’s vision turned a touch blurry. “I am. We’ll be increasing our family before the year is out, and if you ask me, life can’t get any more remarkable than that.”
“I won’t argue with you there.” With that, Reginald brushed a tear from her face. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”
“At least twenty times.”
“I’ve been a bit negligent then.” With that, he told her he loved her again, drew her head toward his, and then . . . he kissed her.