20

Lenore hadn’t been home long when a maid came to fetch her. “Mr. Booth has come to pay you a visit, Miss Lenore. Should I tell him you are indisposed?” She glanced to the dressing table where Lenore sat working to rearrange her hair and then back to meet her mistress’s face.

“No!” Lenore all but yelled. She hurriedly replaced her hairpins. “Tell him I’ll be right down. But first, please do up the buttons on the back of my gown.” Lenore turned to present the maid with her back.

The girl did as instructed, then headed for the door. Lenore stopped her. “Have him wait for me in the music room.”

“Yes, Miss Lenore.” With that, the girl curtsied and hurried from the room.

Lenore appraised her hair and gown. Her first desire upon returning home was to change from her rather soiled gown, and now she was very glad she hadn’t taken the trouble to bathe first. The clock chimed four as Lenore made her way from the room and down the stairs. She could only pray that Kolbein had come to his senses and would offer her no further argument about her age.

“Please, God,” she whispered, “let him see that I am not a child but a woman quite capable of being a wife to him.” She paused, lifting a smile to the ceiling. “And please let me be a capable woman.”

She made her way to the music room, stopping only long enough to order tea and refreshments. Sweeping into the room as though she hadn’t a care in the world, Lenore found a most repentant Kolbein.

He held out a bouquet of flowers first and then spoke. “I’ve come to apologize for my beastly behavior.”

She smiled and took the bouquet. Breathing in deeply of the various scents, she couldn’t help but be pleased with his contrite spirit. God had surely answered her prayers.

“I knew you would,” she finally said with more confidence than she’d originally felt. “You are a man of reason, after all. I knew that given a little time, you would clearly understand that your fears were for naught.”

“Then you were much wiser than I,” he said, hands held out in apology. “I am so sorry for my reaction to your age. I’m afraid I was terribly caught up in my worry over Greta. Your line of reasoning, however, helped me to better see what a tyrant I had become to my sister. I have to admit—that was hard for me.”

“Why don’t we sit and you can explain,” Lenore said, moving to the settee.

Kolbein very properly pulled up a chair and sat directly opposite her. “I couldn’t bear thinking that I might lose you. I realized that your physical age wasn’t at all important, at least not in our case. I know that you’re a responsible young woman with a good head on your shoulders. Greta too. I’m afraid I never gave her credit for having grown up.”

“Is that why she ran away?” Lenore asked gently.

“Yes. She saw herself as full grown and capable, and I did not.” He sighed. “Now she is lost to me. Maybe forever.”

“You don’t believe that,” Lenore countered. “If you did, you wouldn’t be here. I will not allow this apology to turn into a party of pity for all your regretful actions.” She softened her words with a coy smile. “Besides, there are far more interesting things to discuss.”

He returned her smile and leaned back into the chair. “Such as?”

“Such as . . .” She fell silent as the maid delivered the tea cart. Atop were several plates of cookies, cakes, and fruit. Cook had chosen her grandmother’s Foley with its delicate floral pattern for the teapot and china. When the maid offered to pour, however, Lenore waved her away.

“I’ll manage. Please leave us now and pull the doors closed.”

Lenore reached for the pot. “As I recall, you drink it with one lump of sugar.”

“I do. How very observant of you.”

“A good wife needs to be observant. That’s what I started to tell you, but I didn’t want to be overheard. You see”—she leaned in and lowered her voice as Kolbein bent forward slightly—“I am taking classes on how to run a household.”

“You?”

She poured the tea and laughed in a light lyrical manner. “Of course, me. I realized that you were right in the fact that I was immature when it came to running a household on my own. I have been trained to order servants around, but as far as being wife to a poorer man . . . well, there are a great many things I do not know.” She saw him frown and shook her head. “Don’t be like that. You probably worry about taking me away from a life of ease, but I assure you I can handle whatever comes my way. Especially after my classes are complete.”

“Classes at Mrs. Madison’s school?” he asked, taking the offered saucer and cup. He picked up the dainty silver spoon on the saucer and stirred the tea. “Are you now one of the bridal school students?”

“I am. Well, not exactly like the others,” she said, pouring a cup of tea for herself. “I will be there only during the day. My father is taking me on the pretense of visiting Abrianna, who, by the way, is training with me.”

“She must be overly excited about that,” he teased.

“You know her well. Of course she wasn’t excited, but she agreed for my sake. We are to receive private instruction from one of the aunts while the others take care of the students elsewhere. We are keeping it all very private, lest Mother and Father be shamed by their peers.”

“I see. And when does this schooling begin?”

She offered him a plate with cakes, but he shook his head. Replacing it on the tray, Lenore picked up her cup and saucer. “It started today. I have learned all about stocking a proper kitchen. Tomorrow we are to learn about stoves—how to manage them, clean them, and build a perfect fire. I’m quite excited actually.”

He roared with laughter, taking her completely by surprise. “Oh, Lenore. You do give me great delight. You have done this all to impress upon me that you are able to keep house for me, and I am deeply touched.”

Shrugging, Lenore sipped the tea. What else could she do? After all, she would have to manage the house for herself on a lawyer’s salary. Perhaps when she came into her trust, Kolbein would allow them to move to a bigger house and have a servant or two, but for now she was content to do what she could to serve him.

“I am hopeful that my studies will advance quickly, and by the time the bridal ball arrives, we can be married.”

He all but choked on his tea. Hurrying to use his napkin to dab at splotches that had escaped to his clothes, Kolbein looked up to find Lenore grinning. She was pleased to have shocked him.

“Does that seem too soon to you?”

“It’s less than a month, is it not?”

Lenore nodded. “Yes. The ball will take place Friday the fifteenth of June, and I would like to be married on the sixteenth.”

“And you don’t think it too soon to hold a wedding?”

“You do?”

Kolbein shook his head. “No. I would marry you today if I thought we could ever convince your parents.”

Realizing she had him exactly where she wanted him, Lenore continued. “I will manage Mother and Father. What I need to know is if you intend to take the matter of matrimony seriously? After all, there are several things I need to plan out, and since I will be very busy with my training, I must know what your intentions are.”

He put the cup down and stood. Without a word he joined her on the settee and took the tea from her hands and placed it on the table.

“I think you know what my intentions are,” he said, turning to pull her into his arms.

Lenore didn’t try to stop him. She rather liked that he was embracing her in such a possessive manner. She knew her heart and mind belonged to him, and one day soon her body would, as well.

He kissed her quite passionately. The depth of his devotion and adoration was completely conveyed in that kiss, and Lenore did indeed feel confident of his intentions.

Pulling away, Kolbein reached up to touch her cheek. “I hope I’ve made myself understood.”

“Completely.” She met his gaze—his face only inches from hers. His eyes seemed to pierce her heart. How easily she had fallen in love with this man.

“Then I will ask for your hand,” Kolbein said, getting to his feet. “Where is your father?”

“In his study. It’s the room just down the hall to the right.” She smiled and picked up the tea cozy that had been placed on the tray. “I’ll just wait here and keep the tea warm.”

Kolbein grinned. “I doubt I’ll care much about tea when I return.”

Wade had just completed sanding the piece of lumber that would become a wagon seat when his shop door opened and to his surprise Priam Welby entered.

“Good day, Mr. Ackerman,” Welby said, coming to where Wade worked.

“Mr. Welby,” Wade replied with a nod. “What can I do for you today?”

“I need to order two wagons to be built.”

Wade raised a brow in surprise. “Two?”

“Yes. You see, my import business is expanding. As you might also know, Mrs. Madison has finally agreed to allow me the purchase of her building.”

“Yes, I knew that,” Wade replied. “I’m actually glad she did. Those ladies need to be out of the area. It’s just not safe this close to the wharf.”

“I completely agree,” Welby said, dusting his suit sleeve. “It took more work and negotiation than I’ve ever faced before. I swear, dealing with a woman is far more difficult than a man. With a man you know where you stand, and you aren’t afraid to let him know what you want. With a lady you must be much more delicate and . . . creative.”

“I can’t see Mrs. Madison being all that delicate in negotiating much of anything,” Wade said with a laugh. “That woman could run the city and make a profit.”

“Indeed. Well, that’s behind me now. I have agreed to allow the occupation of the building until after the annual ball. She said it would be too difficult to stage a ball at the new house so quickly after moving.”

“And where is the new house?” Wade had been curious about this little detail since Mrs. Madison first mentioned it.

“In Lower Queen Anne. I purchased one of the grander homes some time back with the thought that it might one day be my residence. However, while I began immediate repairs and improvements, this opportunity was much too important to pass up. Since Mrs. Madison felt the house met all of their needs, including a third-floor ballroom and extensive outdoor lawns and gardens, I am quite content that it belong to her.”

“Especially since it gets you what you want.”

Welby nodded. “Exactly so, and isn’t that what the art of negotiation is all about?”

“I suppose so,” Wade replied. “It surprises me that you are so intent on that particular building.”

“Well, if you’ve been keeping apprised of the real estate market, then you’ll know that there is little available in this area. It suits my needs perfectly, since I already have space purchased near the docks.”

“I’m just glad to see the women away from such a dangerous location. Kolbein Booth arranged twenty-four-hour guard service, but I was never certain it would be enough.”

“Yes, well, Mr. Booth is a man of many surprises,” Welby replied, sounding none too happy. “I suppose he did as he felt necessary, but truly, if he would have just encouraged the ladies to move sooner, he wouldn’t have had to bother.”

“I don’t think it was a bother to him.” Wade wiped his hands on the leather apron. Walking over to a work desk, he took up a pad of paper and a pencil. “Now, why don’t we get down to business. What kind of wagon do you have in mind?”

“I want two wagons, both with false bottoms like before. They must be large enough to hold valuable art but small enough not to attract attention. I believe the hidden enclosure should be a foot deep. I want the door in the wagon bed rather than on the end.”

It seemed a strange order for a man who would soon have warehousing at the Madison Building. “I guess it’s none of my business, but since you are buying Mrs. Madison’s place, why are you so worried about hiding your pieces of art?” Wade couldn’t help but think back to the night he’d seen Welby on the dock. “Are you up to something illegal?” he asked in a blunt fashion.

Laughing without any real amusement, Welby’s eyes narrowed as he sobered. “Would I admit it to you if I was? It isn’t any of your business. However, if you must know, I intend to transport goods from here to other cities. I won’t have those treasures taken from me by underhanded thieves. You may not be aware of it, but some of the pieces I’m bringing into the country are priceless. I have customers who will pay a considerable fee for such things, and I intend to see that nothing goes wrong in the transactions.”

Wade couldn’t help but feel there was more to the story than the man was relaying, but there was little he could do to force Welby to admit to wrongdoing.

“What dimensions do you need and how much weight should they be able to haul?”

Taking down every bit of information provided him, Wade looked over the details. “This won’t be cheap.”

“I don’t care.” Welby reached into his coat and took out a wallet. He counted out five fifty-dollar bills. “I’m thinking this should handle the cost, but if not, you are more than welcome to furnish me with a bill for the remainder.”

Two hundred fifty dollars was double what Wade had planned to ask. Even with the steel axles for the heavier weight, he would still make a hefty profit. But as much as he disliked Welby, he couldn’t cheat him.

“This is double what they’re worth,” Wade said, pushing the money back.

Welby held his gaze and slid the money back to Wade. “This is what I’m willing and determined to pay. With it comes a fee for your silence. I don’t want anyone to know about the wagons. It would, after all, defeat the purpose of secrecy.”

Wade looked at the money and then returned his focus to the man before him. “All right. If that’s the way you want it.” He could think of no reason that it would be wrong to keep the matter between them. “When do you need them?”

“The sooner the better.”