CHAPTER 5

May 15, 1914

I have met a wonderful man. His name is Frank. He’s handsome and funny, and he’s crazy about me! He’s taken me out a few times, though I’ve never let him come back to Mrs. Chamberlain’s. She doesn’t approve of gentlemen callers. But I think even she would approve of Frank if she got to know him. As Mum would say, he can charm the birds from the trees.

Grace tried to ignore the throbbing in her foot and figure out another solution to her dilemma. One that didn’t involve getting into an automobile with a very attractive stranger. If she were back in her hometown, she wouldn’t hesitate to accept his offer. But here in this urban labyrinth, where a person couldn’t discern north from south, accepting help from a strange man didn’t seem a wise idea.

But what other choice did she have? She couldn’t walk with her injured foot, and not one person had come by in the past hour. Except for this gentleman.

And a gentleman he was indeed, offering her his jacket. The warmth from his body still clung to the material that hugged her shoulders, and the woodsy scent of some type of soap or cologne surrounded her. Surely someone so kind wouldn’t have ill intentions toward her.

She dropped her head into her hands. What had she been thinking, going out alone at night? Mrs. Chamberlain had tried to dissuade her, but once again, Grace’s reckless nature had taken over. “I’ll be fine,” she’d said. “I just need a bit of fresh air.”

While I find the Eastons’ house.

She wanted to at least see where Christian was living and hoped she might catch a glimpse of him through one of the windows. Instead she hadn’t been able to get near the fortress, so high were the stone walls surrounding it, and she didn’t dare walk up the drive for fear of being caught.

After waiting for over twenty minutes for someone to come or go through the large iron gates, Grace had given up and attempted to return home. Only to become hopelessly lost in the maze of streets, then injuring her foot on top of it.

A car swung around the corner and headed toward her. She sucked in a loud breath and murmured a quick prayer for protection.

The auto came to a halt, and the man jumped out. He dashed over and offered Grace his hand. “Here, let me help you stand.”

She hesitated, but finally placed her hand in his. With his assistance, she rose awkwardly on one foot, teetering until his other hand wrapped around her waist to steady her. He helped her over to the car and into the passenger seat.

Once he secured her door, he rounded the front and got inside. “All set?”

She leaned back and nodded.

“What’s the address?” He shifted gears and the car lurched forward.

Pain shot up her leg. “Jarvis Street. Near Isabella.”

He turned the most startling blue eyes on her and gave a low whistle. “You did get lost, didn’t you? Where were you headed?”

“Nowhere in particular.” She could hardly admit she was spying on one of the wealthiest families in Toronto. For all she knew, this man could be the Eastons’ next-door neighbor. “I was out for a bit of exercise and fresh air. I should have been more careful, being new to the city.”

“Judging by your accent, I’d say you’re from England?”

“I am.”

“What brings you all the way to Canada?” The intensity of his gaze scattered her thoughts like a bunch of spilled marbles.

Grace focused out the window at the dark street, illuminated by the car headlights and a few well-spaced street lamps. She certainly wouldn’t discuss her private affairs with a complete stranger. “I’ve always wanted to travel, and I’d heard great things about Toronto.” Not a total falsehood. Rose always did praise her new home.

“So you came here by yourself?”

Grace fought a sudden surge of homesickness and merely nodded.

“Quite a brave thing to do.”

“I suppose.” She didn’t feel very brave at the moment. More foolish than anything else. How was she going to look for work now with a sprained ankle? She’d have to wait for it to heal.

“My name’s Andrew, by the way. And you are?”

“Grace.” Despite his friendly manner, something held her back from revealing too much. She had no wish to talk about the real reason she came here or about her sister’s death. “You have a lovely automobile. What kind is it?” She knew nothing of cars but talking about it might keep him from questioning her.

“It’s a Rolls-Royce. My father gave it to me when he ordered a newer model for himself, though it’s a little ostentatious for my taste. I prefer something simpler, like a Model-T.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know much about cars.” She shrugged. “Not many people own them in the town I come from.”

“Then Toronto must seem overwhelming to you.”

“It does indeed.”

“Are you working here or on vacation?”

She studied his handsome profile, the sweep of his golden brown hair over his forehead, the regal nose, and the strong jawline emphasized by a precisely trimmed beard. He wore an air of confidence, like one who knew his place in the world. What would he think of a woman who’d journeyed halfway across the globe with little or no planning, who now found herself adrift on a sea of uncertainty?

“I’m doing some work for the church. The minister has been very kind. He’s offered to help me find a more permanent position.”

“I’m sure you’ll find something soon.” He turned onto a street that at last looked familiar. “This is Jarvis,” he said. “What number are you?”

Grace peered up the road. “You could just drop me at the corner.”

Andrew frowned. “Not with that ankle. I’ll take you right to the door.”

“There’s no need, I assure you.”

“And how will you walk the rest of the way?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Really? Are you planning on hopping on one foot?” His faintly amused gaze caught hers.

“It’s just that . . . I’m already past curfew, and if my landlady sees a man bringing me home . . . well, I don’t want her to think badly of me.” Heat flooded Grace’s cheeks. What would dear Mrs. Chamberlain think of her after this escapade? Would she ask her to leave for breaking the rules of the house?

Andrew slowed the car to the curb. “I’m sure she’ll understand when she sees your ankle. I’d be happy to come in and explain.”

“No, really. You’ve been more than kind already. You can bring me to the door, but I’ll go in alone.” She held his stare, willing him to yield.

He let out a loud breath. “Very well.”

She gave him the address, and he continued down the road until he reached the boardinghouse. As soon as he pulled up the brake, he ran around to assist her.

With his help, she made it up the walkway and the few steps to the door. She leaned against the entrance while she fumbled in her purse for the key. Despite her unsteady hands, she managed to open the door, and then turned to him. “Thank you ever so much. I don’t know how I’d have made it home without you.”

A slow smile spread over his handsome face. “Glad to be of assistance. You’re sure you can make it from here?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Then I will bid you good-night.” He tipped his hat and started down the walkway. At the gate, he looked back at her. “I hope you enjoy your stay here, Grace. For future outings, though, you might consider buying a map of the city.” He winked and turned toward the car.

At a complete loss for words, Grace watched until he pulled away, then limped inside the house.

The next morning, Andrew tapped his pencil on his desktop, his thoughts consumed with the stranded girl he’d helped last night. Why he should be giving her any further consideration was beyond his comprehension. But every time he forced his mind back to Cecilia, where it belonged, an uncomfortable comparison kept creeping in. Cecilia, attired in her beautiful evening gown with jewels glistening at her throat and ears, and Grace in a plain wool skirt and jacket that were neither fashionable nor particularly flattering. Yet even in her simplicity, with only a hint of dark brown hair peeking from beneath a straw hat, Grace had appeared almost noble. And when he stared into those intriguing brown eyes, he’d barely been able to look away.

Andrew’s door opened, and his father stalked in. At the scowl on his face, Andrew straightened in his chair. “Good morning, Father. What can I do for you?”

“You can find a way to make up for the mess you created last night.” His father didn’t bother sitting but stood with his arms crossed.

“I assume you’re referring to my leaving the party early?”

“You let a fine opportunity slip through your fingers, Andrew. Once you’d left, all the bachelors swooped in to rain attention on Cecilia.” He leaned over the desk as if to emphasize his next point. “One man in particular monopolized her for the rest of the evening.” Father paused, obviously waiting for a reaction.

Andrew kept his expression bland. “I didn’t expect Cecilia to sit in a corner all night because I’d gone home. It was her birthday, after all.”

“Then I guess you don’t care that Paul Edison spent the rest of the night dancing with her.”

Andrew’s fingers tightened on the pencil in his hand. Of all people, why did it have to be Father’s new junior executive? Bad enough the guy was trying to impress Father at the office by attempting to undermine Andrew whenever possible and showcase his own work in a more advantageous light. But moving in on the girl Andrew was courting was low, even for him. Andrew’s jaw clenched.

“Ah, that finally got your attention.” His father’s satisfied smirk only added to Andrew’s annoyance. “I trust you’ll do something about it. A nice bouquet of flowers might go a long way to restoring Cecilia’s good graces.” He paused. “But an engagement ring would be even better.”

With a last pointed look, his father left the room.

Andrew dropped his head into his hands. He’d forgotten all about sending flowers this morning. It seemed a personal apology was in order. If he were lucky, a bouquet of roses might smooth out Cecilia’s ruffled feathers. If not, a new piece of jewelry should do it.

Anything other than an engagement ring.