The expression that formed on Lincoln’s face said that he’d rather be anywhere but here right now. Victoria could relate fully, but they were here, and her hope was to convince Lincoln to see things her way, that a union between the two of them—a completely platonic union—could benefit both of them.
She didn’t want to spend the next month attending marriage marts and knew he didn’t, either.
That was a conclusion she’d come to quite quickly and easily, and she had to admit, that helping him was very appealing.
She took a final sip of her drink and set it on the table next to his glass. “A month isn’t all that long in the scheme of things,” she said quietly. “Merely four weeks. Actually, it’s closer to three now.”
“Until the wedding?” he asked.
Glad he was following her line of thought, she nodded. “Yes. After which I will return home.”
His nod was slight as he glanced around the room.
“There is already a long list of events, parties, and activities that we are expected to attend together,” she said.
“Thanks to my mother.”
“Yes, thanks to your mother.” She glanced towards the group of young women who hadn’t taken theirs eyes off him and were gradually inching closer. “Have you ever considered that she created that list, paired us up so to speak, because she knows what she said in innocence, gossip inflated?”
“I think you’re giving more credit, than credit is due.”
She shook her head. “I don’t. I believe your mother understands what happened and concluded that seeing us together in public so often could cause people to think...” Victoria paused to find the right words. “That you are not interested in pursuing others and that would prevent the chance of a scandal.” She shrugged. “With a small amount of acting on our part, we could encourage others to fully believe that.”
He stared at her for a long, stilled moment. “They could, but why would you want that?”
Being careful to not reveal too much, she smiled. “Because, like you, I am not interested in marriage. Not interested in being inundated with suitors who want nothing more than access to my grandfather’s money.”
“Like Elwood Kelley?”
That was the very subject she was hoping to avoid. She wanted to bring that up again later, after he’d agreed with her. He might then be willing to help her with her case. That line of thinking wasn’t very ethical, now that she thought about it. “Yes.” She quickly added more of an explanation, “Neither you nor I want to spend the next month attending marriage marts or dealing with the consequences of doing so alone. A partnership between us for the next month could be beneficial to both of us.”
“A partnership?” he asked, with one brow raised.
“Yes, to, shall we say, fool a few people.”
He held out a hand. “I think we should continue this conversation on the dance floor.”
The crowd of young women had edged closer, and she couldn’t deny the spark inside her at being the one to dance with him. The one to receive his undivided attention. She laid her hand in his. “All right.”
He led her onto the dance floor, and soon they were gliding across the floor in a slow minuet. Dancing with him was easy. Comfortable, even though it increased her heartbeat. She could also feel the heat of his hand penetrating through the material of her dress at her waist, and how that heat spread throughout her body. Having never been so aware of a man while dancing before, she knew it was because of the room full of eyes watching them.
That was something she’d have to get used to, accept, if he were to agree to her suggestion. A month of pretending to be in a relationship with him wouldn’t be difficult, and though some might be disappointed, it certainly wouldn’t harm anyone. Especially not the two of them.
“Why are you not interested in marriage?” he asked.
She wasn’t ashamed of her reasonings. “Because I will not settle for anything less than I what I truly want.”
“What is that?”
“Love,” she replied. “That is the only reason I will marry. He will be the love of my life, and I will be the love of his.”
“Love?” he asked, as if skeptical.
“Yes. My grandparents married for love. My parents married for love, and I will, too. Currently, my mother and grandfather have forgotten that, even though I’ve reminded them frequently.” She did understand one thing. “My grandfather is getting up in years, and his heart has weakened. He’s fearful that there will not be a man around to take care of my mother, me, and my sister, were something to happen to him.”
“That’s why you didn’t tell him about the stolen money?” he asked.
“Yes. The doctor has warned him about getting overly flustered or worked up, so I didn’t dare tell him, or my mother. She can overreact at times, which can upset him, and so the circle goes.”
“How will she and your grandfather react if we agree to work together, to make things appear to be something when it’s not?”
Her family could be disappointed in the end, but they were already disappointed in her lack of interest in marriage. A month of pretending wouldn’t change that. “Ours wouldn’t be the first courtship that dissolved prior to marriage.”
“The end of a courtship has created a scandal or two.”
“We won’t let it,” she replied. “We can part as friends.”
The music ended, but he didn’t remove his hand from her waist or release her hand, therefore, she kept her other hand on his shoulder and her eyes locked with his. The tingling of a thrill shot though her, confirming how much she enjoyed challenging him, even in the tiniest way. She couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what it would be like to be a real relationship with him—but quickly shut down that thought. There was no possibility of that ever happening.
Neither of them moved, other than a blink or two, until the music began again. As they began to dance, Lincoln asked, “What if you happen upon the love of your life over the next month?”
“That won’t happen.”
“How do you know?”
She shrugged. “I just do.”
“How?”
“Because I won’t let it.”
“You believe love is something you can control?”
“Of course it is.” She’d had to learn to control her emotions years ago. As a child actually, when her father and grandmother died. The pain had been severe, but she’d had to learn to control it, because her mother had been devastated, barely able to function. Her mother still wasn’t the same person she used to be. For a long time, Victoria had wondered if it had been because they’d moved away, left everything her mother had loved behind. As she grew older, she learned that wasn’t true. Her mother loved her and Eva, and their grandfather, and even loved things about their lives now. Her mother had explained that a love between husband and wife was a different kind of love, one that couldn’t be explained. It was felt. Victoria believed that, and had determined that the only way she would enter into such a life-changing event, which is what marriage would be, was when she felt that kind of love.
No one could fault her if she never found a man that she would love like that, for she was the only one who would feel it. Especially not her mother or grandfather. It had been eleven years since her father and grandmother had died, and neither her mother nor grandfather had ever considered getting married again. They claimed that when a person knew true love, they didn’t ever want anything else.
Her throat was growing thick from memories. Or perhaps from knowledge. Her grandfather was aging, and ailing, and she knew his death, at some point, would break her heart. She feared that time, the pain it would bring. She hated losing things. Anything. That was another reason she had no desire to marry. A husband would expect her to turn the job of overseeing the family finances to him.
“What if you never find the love of your life?” Lincoln asked.
That was one thing that didn’t worry her. “Then I will do what I’m doing now. Oversee my family’s finances.” Not waiting to see his reaction, she continued, “I understand some don’t believe a woman is capable of that, but my grandfather has taught me well. I’ve been overseeing his investments for several years. Your father has assisted us with some of them.”
“I am aware of that,” he replied.
“Are you like others? Who don’t believe a woman should be responsible for the family finances?” Her mother believed the household needed a man to guard the family fortune, which was the main reason for the line of suitors knocking on her door.
“Not at all.”
Her thoughts were shifting to him. “Why don’t you want to get married?”
“Several reasons.”
“What are they?”
“You want their names?” he asked.
Her feet stumbled slightly.
Tightening his hold on her waist and hand, he quickly got her back in step.
“Whose names?” she asked. “The socialites who want to get you to the altar?”
“No. All of the friends I know who thought they were in love, got married, and regretted it almost immediately.”
He was looking over her shoulder, but she knew it wasn’t at people. He was thinking. Maybe coming up with a list of names to rattle off. That’s how it had sounded, as if he knew a whole list of people who were unhappily married.
“My life has been planned out for me since I was born,” he said. “How I’d go to school, college, become a lawyer, join my father’s law firm, and get married. But no one ever asked me if that’s what I wanted.”
“You didn’t want any of that?”
“Yes. I like being a lawyer, but I don’t plan on working for the family firm forever.”
Surprised, she asked, “You don’t? Does your family know that?”
“No, no one but you knows that, because I haven’t told anyone except you.”
An odd sensation spread across her chest at his confidence in her. “I won’t tell anyone,” she assured. “What do you want to do when you stop being a lawyer?”
“I’ll still be an attorney. The attorney general for the state of New York.”
“You mean a politician?”
“Yes, you don’t like politicians?” he asked.
“I don’t believe that I know any,” she replied, keeping her grandfather’s opinions to herself.
“I want to run for office and enforce laws that will help people, all people, not just some, and until that happens, I don’t have time for what others call love, or for a wife. Don’t have time to worry if they are sitting at home lonely or not. May not have time for it afterwards, either.”
There was something in his tone that made a tiny shiver tickle the back of her neck. It could be due to her grandfather, or it could be because she, too, would like to see laws made that truly would help people. “Well then, it sounds like our plan will work for both of us. After the wedding, we can part as friends, and neither of us will have any reason to attend any more parties or balls.”
“For at least a few months,” he said.
“Or more,” she said, once again thinking about how she wouldn’t have anyone to attend them with her. That was not going to please her mother, but in all honesty, it wouldn’t bother her and that was a bridge she’d cross then. Now, she just had to act the part, and along the way, convince him to help her solve her case against Elwood.
Several things were floating about in Lincoln’s mind, including his uncle Troy, who was where his loathing towards marriage had first come from. He hadn’t seen his uncle, his favorite uncle, for over twelve years, because that’s how long Troy had been in an English prison—a scandal that the family had kept hidden.
For a moment, he considered telling Victoria about Troy, how he’d married an Englishwoman during one of his ocean voyages for the shipping company, and how he was now serving time, accused of his wife’s death and that of the man whom she’d been consorting with because she’d been lonely during Troy’s absence, but his entire family had prohibited any mention of Troy years ago. The way his family had written Uncle Troy off, as if he’d never existed, goaded him deeply.
He trusted her, believed she wouldn’t reveal his secrets, and he agreed with her that love was something that could be controlled. Why anyone would willingly subject themselves to something that was sure to fail was beyond him. Everyone had impulse control, they just needed to use it. Especially when it came to love and marriage.
Pretending to be interested in her for the short term wouldn’t be difficult, and it would give him breathing room during all of the events he was expected to attend over the next few weeks. As well as for a time afterwards. Her, too.
Convincing the Manhattan elites that the two of them were courting would be simple. Actually, the two dances they’d already danced together were enough to fuel a good amount of gossip.
“So,” he said, letting his thoughts settle. “Do we need to establish any procedures for this plan of ours?”
“Procedures?” She laughed. “You truly are a lawyer.”
He liked having parameters, rules to follow. “Rules and guidelines are useful, they let everyone know what is expected,” he explained.
“True,” she said. “But I don’t think we need to worry about that. All we have to do is pretend to have fun attending the events together. Pretend to like each other.”
He already did like her, especially bickering with her. “So no more whispered arguments?”
She shook her head. “I can’t agree to a promise that I can’t keep. You are wrong about too many things for that.”
“Me? What have I been wrong about?”
“Where do you want me to start? The train station where you didn’t want me to have any disillusions? Even though I already didn’t have any disillusions?”
The music stopped, and he lowered his voice to a whisper. “I explained all that. My mother—”
“Is doing all of this for your own good,” she whispered in return. “When are you going to accept that?”
“When will you realize that she has ulterior motives?” He knew his mother better than she did, and didn’t believe she’d accidently said anything that had been misconstrued.
“No, she doesn’t.”
They’d moved closer during their hushed conversation, so close he was breathing in the scent of her floral perfume. Flustered, he asked a question that was really goading him. “Why would rather believe her than me?”
“Do you two ever talk?” his sister asked, suddenly appearing beside them, along with Jake. “Or just whisper at each other?”
“We talk,” Lincoln replied. “When you aren’t near to overhear what we are saying.”
Audrey’s face lit up. “You two are conjuring up something.”
Lincoln met Victoria’s gaze and silently laughed at what only the two of them knew. She was doing the same, and that was a unique sensation to share with her.
“We are going to get something to eat from the buffet,” Jake said. “Would you two care to join us?”
Recalling the champagne glass incident, Lincoln gave Victoria a questioning look, allowing her to make the decision. She had a mind of her own, and he liked that she used it. That was simply one more thing that made her unique.
She gave a slight nod, before saying, “We would, thank you.”
Lincoln laid a hand in the small of her back as they made their way off the dance floor and around the room, to the adjacent room. A full meal would be served in the wee hours of the morning, but a massive buffet was set out now for people to enjoy at their leisure. He liked how easy it was to be with her. How he didn’t have to worry that any small action, like keeping his hand on the small of her back, would be taken as something with deeper meaning. She didn’t have any ulterior motives, and neither did he. That wasn’t true. They both had ulterior motives, but they each knew what those motives were.
After filling their plates with various cuts of meat, vegetable dishes, and fruits, they found a small table a distance away from the busy buffet and drink tables. As they ate and visited, he realized that this was a nice perk of having Victoria at his side. Normally, his only reprieve from an onslaught of young women was finding a cluster of men to hide amongst.
Actually, he normally only attended balls when required, but during those events, he had found clusters of men to act as a shield to the socialites.
Tonight, he was able to sit and enjoy the food and the company, including Ronald and a few others who joined their table. The conversations were fun, but he found himself more intrigued with watching Victoria as she laughed and joked with the others at the table.
She was very personable, and likeable. To most people. From the number of stares their table received, it was clear that word of the way she’d dislodged Melody from his arm had spread. That brought up the fact that their plan could have a negative effect on her or her character. He couldn’t let that happen. There was no dire need for this deal or partnership that they’d come up with. He was perfectly capable of keeping the zealous young women at bay, just as he’d done most of his life. The main thing about their deal that did appeal to him was it gave him the ability to monitor her suitors. In his opinion, her mother and grandfather were not being diligent enough on that issue.
Feeling her gaze on the side of his face, he glanced her way. Something about her gaze told him to listen to the conversation happening around him, which he’d been ignoring while processing his own thoughts.
Tuning in, he instantly grinned, understanding that Ronald had mentioned bicycles, and was furthering his comment by explaining how he was working on a combustion engine to attach to a bicycle. Ronald was obsessed with combustion engines, insisted they were the future of the nation.
“I love bicycles,” Audrey said, while looking at Jake. “But have only told Jake that because my mother is appalled by them and their increasing popularity.”
Lincoln bit back a grin at the way Victoria grimaced. He turned his face away from the others as if looking over her shoulder as he asked, “Did you know how my mother feels about bicycles?”
“No,” she whispered. “Did you?”
“No.” Because their whispering was sure to draw his sister’s attention, he turned back to the table. “If you will all excuse us.” Switching his gaze to Victoria, he added, “I believe we are here to dance?”
She nodded and excused herself as he stood and held her chair as she rose to her feet. Moments later, as they walked away from the table, she asked, “What are you going to do?”
Although he knew that she was referring to the bicycles he’d purchased, he couldn’t stop himself when it came to bantering with her. It was simply too much fun. “We are going to dance.”
“I mean about the bicycles.”
Once again, his hand found the small of her back, where it fit perfectly, and guided her to step in front of him as they walked through an overly crowded area. “They’ll be delivered next week as scheduled.”
She shook her head. “That might upset your mother.”
Stepping back up beside her, he said, “I’ve been known to do that a time or two.”
“On purpose? Because that’s what buying those bicycles could look like.”
They were keeping their voices low, and once again he recognized a hitch of enjoyment inside his chest. The sensation was as unique as her, and he wondered why he’d never felt anything like it before now. Until he remembered that they’d never interacted in the close proximity that his mother had forced them into this time. “Neither of us knew my mother had an aversion to bicycles when we purchased them.”
“But we do now.”
Keeping his hand on her back as they entered the ballroom, he said, “There have been other things that she was averse to at one time or another, but is no longer.”
“That doesn’t mean she’ll change her mind this time.”
“It doesn’t mean she won’t, either.” Nodding towards the dance floor, he asked, “Would you like to dance, or would you rather watch the magician?”
“Magician? Here?” She twisted left and right, scanning the room, before looking back up at him. “Where? I haven’t heard anything about a magician.”
One of the things he’d never cared for when it came to the socialites pursuing him had been the stars in their eyes. On her, it was a completely different story. He liked seeing her eyes sparkle. “Hans the Magnificent is here. I met him downstairs upon my arrival. He’s performing in the upper hall. Shall we go and see him?”
“Oh, yes, let’s! I saw a magician on the street corner once, he knew exactly what card I’d chosen from the deck, every time.”
Keeping his chuckles to himself, he asked, “Did he?”
“Yes, it was quite remarkable. Every card was different, but he knew which one I’d picked.”
A set of marked cards wasn’t that hard to manipulate, but he chose not to tell her that as they walked out of the ballroom, nor did he attempt to disillusion her when she told him about how the street magician had found a coin hidden behind her ear. There was no need for him to say anything about that trick, because as they walked along the wide hallway, she explained that her grandfather could perform that trick.
He knew plenty of people who performed that trick, too, and from what he’d seen of the magician downstairs, knew the man’s stovepipe hat was large enough to hide more than a single rabbit, which was also a common trick. That was another bit of information he chose not to share with her, because he was looking forward to watching her reactions during the magic show.
The upper hall was smaller than the ballroom, yet still large enough to hold a considerable amount of people, and though a stage had been assembled near the front of the room, the show itself had not yet started because Hans the Magnificent was in the crowd, amusing groups of people.
Lincoln pointed out the man wearing the black stovepipe hat, tuxedo, and flowing black cape with his name embroidered in red across the back.
“Oh, my, he truly looks like a magician, doesn’t he?” Victoria asked.
He couldn’t say one way or the other what a magician should look like, so he merely nodded as they made their way across the room.
“Look,” she whispered. “He’s having them pick a card from the deck. Think he’ll guess correctly?”
“I’m sure he’ll guess correctly,” Lincoln replied.
They arrived at the outskirts of the crowd in time to see that happen, and Victoria joined in with the rest in clapping ecstatically.
“Aw, Mr. Dryer,” Hans said, picking him out in the crowd. “We meet again.” Walking closer, his black, waxed imperial mustache wiggled as he continued, “And look at your companion. There is none more beautiful.” Hans then performed an exaggerated and sweeping bow before Victoria, removing his top hat halfway into his bow.
“Allow me to present Miss Biggs,” Lincoln said.
“I’m sure you meant to say the lovely Miss Biggs,” Hans said.
“Forgive me,” Lincoln said, “I did indeed.”
Pulling himself upright, the magician asked her, “Did you hear that?”
With cheeks turning pinker, Victoria replied, “Yes, I did.”
“Oh, I don’t mean Mr. Dryer,” Hans said, wiggling his thick brows. “Although I’m happy to have set him straight. I meant the other sound.”
“What other sound?” she asked.
Assuming a performance in the making, Lincoln remained silent, but smiled at the excitement on her face.
Hans leaned over the stovepipe hat he was holding with both hands and let out an extended sigh. “It’s Harvey.”
Lincoln shrugged as Victoria glanced at him.
She leaned forward and glanced into the empty hat. “Harvey? Your hat?”
“Oh, no, Harvey is not my hat,” Hans replied, shaking his head while still staring at the hat. “Harvey is, well, a surprise for later, but beautiful women are his downfall.”
“Who is he?” she asked, looking deeper into the hat.
“Oh, well, he’s not going to stop begging until I give him a peek.” Hans held the hat closer to her. “Go ahead and lift him out.”
“There’s nothing in there,” she said.
“He must be hiding,” Hans said. “He can be shy. Don’t worry, he won’t bite, just reach in and grab him.”
Once again, she glanced his way and Lincoln shrugged, then looked into the hat. After confirming it was indeed empty, he gestured for her to reach inside the hat.
A crowd was forming all around them, and with a shrug at him and a gleam in her eyes, she stuck her hand in the hat. “There’s nothing in there,” she said, moving her hand around. “Nothing at all.”
“He’s very good at hiding,” Hans said, as a carrot suddenly appeared in his hand. “I’ll try to coax him out.” He dropped the carrot, complete with the greens still attached, into the hat, then stuck his hand inside and, a moment later, pulled out a small white rabbit.
“Oh, look at him!” Victoria exclaimed, clapping with the crowd.
Lincoln clapped, too, but was enjoying watching Victoria’s reaction to the show more than the show itself. She was captivated, and seeing that captivation was downright enchanting.
“Harvey, this is the lovely Miss Biggs,” Hans said to the rabbit then held him towards Victoria. “Miss Biggs, this is Harvey.”
“Hello, Harvey,” she replied.
“Would you mind holding him for a moment?” Hans asked her.
“Not at all.” Victoria gently took the rabbit from Hans and nuzzled its furry head with her chin as she asked, “Where’s the carrot?”
Hans tipped the hat over and gave it a shake, but nothing fell out. “He must have eaten it.”
“That quickly?” she asked.
“Harvey!” Hans exclaimed, as if upset. “You have to stop doing your own tricks. I do apologize, Miss Biggs.”
Lincoln noticed at the same time as Victoria, because Hans pointed it out, that her nosegay was gone and a carrot, with greens intact, was pinned to her dress instead. Lincoln was trying to figure out how that had happened, when Hans practically shoved the top hat into his chest.
“Hold this please, Mr. Dryer,” Hans said, pressing the tall hat against his chest.
The hat juggled until Lincoln got a firm hold on it.
By then, Hans already had the carrot in his hand. “There, that’s better,” the magician said with a head nod.
Still holding the rabbit, Victoria gasped. “That’s not my nosegay, that’s Lincoln’s boutonniere.”
Lincoln glanced down at his lapel, where her nosegay was now pinned instead of his boutonniere. Hans had to have pinned it there while handing him the hat.
“How on earth did you do that?” she asked the magician.
Dangling the carrot in one hand, Hans gave her an elaborate hand-across-stomach bow. “It’s called magic, my fair lady.” Once upright, he collected his rabbit and hat, and turned to the applauding crowd. “Now, ladies and gentlemen, if you care to take a seat, the real show will begin.”