One Year Later
Harrison checked his pocket watch for the time. Again.
He gestured to the stack of paperwork remaining in front of him. “How much more of this do you have, William?”
William Innis, Harrison’s right hand at Archer Industries, shifted in the chair, his expression grim. “At least an hour’s worth.”
“Impossible. My wife’s match begins in twenty minutes. I’ve got to hurry across the street to the club or I’ll never make it.”
Last year, after an extended honeymoon in Paris, Harrison and Maddie had returned to New York City, where he’d assumed the role of Archer Industries’ president. He’d hired William, and together they’d done wonders for the company’s bottom line. The company had finally turned a profit last quarter—the first since his father’s death. The construction of big ocean liners, along with Stephen Webster’s cooperation in transporting lumber, had made all the difference.
The company took up almost all of his time, which Maddie didn’t seem to mind. She focused on her lawn tennis game and traveled to tournaments all around the country, which had led to a spot at the U.S. Nationals again this year. He was damn proud of her.
She’d won handily throughout this tournament, advancing to the championship of the All-Comers bracket. If she won, then she would play last year’s winner for the overall title. The bookmakers were currently giving odds on her winning the whole dashed thing.
Nothing would keep him from being at her match today.
“Just a few more minutes,” William said. “You have been out of the office all week and issues are piling up.”
“Feel free to make whatever decisions you deem necessary. I trust you, Innis.” Harrison pushed to his feet. “Or the world can wait for one week while my wife plays for the national championship.”
He started for the door, but William trailed him. “Wait, one more question before you go. Your brother has accepted your offer of a position at the company, but we don’t know where to place him.”
Harrison paused at the door and thrust his hands into his pockets. Thomas had come begging for money almost a month ago and Harrison had refused. He had, however, agreed to give Thomas a job at Archer Industries, if his brother wished to truly work like everyone else there. No favoritism, no using the Archer name to jump ahead of others. No taking days off to gallivant around Europe or sail in Newport. Just hard work for an honest wage.
It seemed Thomas was truly serious about providing for his family.
“Start him in the mailroom,” Harrison said. “If he succeeds there after an extended period of time, then we’ll move him up.”
William nodded. “We’ll continue this after dinner, I assume?”
“Nope. Win or lose, I’ll be busy celebrating with my wife tonight. I’ll find you in the morning. And thank you, Innis. I know this week has been a long one for you. Feel free to take the rest of the day. You’re welcome to come to the match with me, if you like.”
“No, thank you. I’ll just catch up on some cables, then head out for dinner. I have family here in Philadelphia that I’d like to see. Wish her luck for me.”
“Indeed, I will.” Harrison left the room and took the elevator downstairs, where he strode out into the bright June sun. With the hotel directly across from the Philadelphia Cricket Club, he was through the gates in hardly any time at all.
The main court was surrounded by spectators, a heady excitement hanging in the air. Lawn tennis fever had gripped America, and Maddie was one of the reasons for its popularity. She was bold and outspoken, a brash player who took the game seriously. The newspapers loved to quote her, this woman of high society who dared to sweat and struggle in public. She’d become a national celebrity.
While Harrison supported her wholeheartedly, part of him still feared for her safety after what happened last year. They had decided—together—that guards weren’t yet necessary, that the masher had been an isolated incident, but Harrison never stopped worrying.
He spotted Preston, that tall bastard, right away at center court, surrounded by their friends and Maddie’s parents. Harrison pushed through the crowd to meet them.
Kit slapped him on the shoulder. “About time you arrived. Your wife is already warming up.”
The two opponents were on the court, hitting easily to loosen their muscles. “How does she look, Vallie?”
Maddie’s coach didn’t take his eyes off her as he calmly answered, “Like a champion.”
“I’m nervous,” Preston admitted, wiping his palms on his trousers. “I cannot fathom how you are all so relaxed.”
Harrison was also nervous, but he had faith in Maddie’s abilities. Also, no matter what happened today, she’d already won in his book. Hell, she was ranked the third-best female player in the country at the moment. A spectacular achievement if you asked him, especially when one considered that most of the other players weren’t even twenty years old. Maddie said she often felt like a tottering old fool next to some of these young gals.
“Is it too much to ask for shade?” Mrs. Webster, perched on a tiny folding chair, adjusted her parasol. “Only a man would think women wish to sit in the hot sun for two hours to watch a tennis game.”
“It’s a match, dear.” Mr. Webster patted her shoulder. “And I said you could wait inside.”
“And miss Maddie’s win?” She sniffed. “I think not.”
Even Maddie’s mother had come around on Maddie’s tennis career. Harrison knew that Maddie had been touched by her mother’s support in the last year, though it hadn’t stopped Mrs. Webster from asking about grandchildren.
They weren’t ready yet. Harrison wouldn’t expect Maddie to give up playing competitively to raise their children. He’d used condoms in Paris for years and he didn’t mind using them again now, though they were harder to procure in the United States thanks to the Comstock laws. The trouble was worth it, however, because he was enjoying having her to himself when their schedules allowed.
“Here we go,” Kit exclaimed, and the crowd quieted down.
The match began, with Maddie serving first. Heads moved left and right, back and forth, following the progress of the small round ball as points were traded. On and on it went, the two opponents fairly equal in skill. Vallie stayed quiet, his face stoic, while the rest of them clapped and cheered. Maddie won the first set, but lost the second.
As they changed sides, Maddie walked past them. “Find it,” Vallie said, and she nodded. Then she gave Harrison an exhausted smile, worry shining in her green eyes. I love you, he mouthed to her, adding a wink for good measure. Her shoulders relaxed a bit as she went to the other side of the court.
“What does ‘find it’ mean?” he asked her coach.
“She needs to find her opponent’s weakness and exploit it,” Vallie said. “As soon as she does, she wins.”
In the third set, the other girl played conservatively, staying at the baseline, as if she were scared to play too aggressively. Maddie sensed it and began coming to the net, jumping and diving for balls that seemed impossible, yet she returned them for winners. It was an athletic feat that dazzled the crowd. Everyone seemed to be rooting for her, and she began to pull away as the clear winner of the third set. Even Vallie cracked a smile and clapped.
The next set remained the same, with Maddie controlling the pace and staying ahead, and then it was over. Maddie jumped up in happiness and relief when her opponent’s last shot went wide. She’d won the match. As the two women shook hands across the net, Harrison traded handshakes and hugs with the rest of their jubilant group. Finally, his wife came running over and threw herself at him. He held her tightly, propriety be damned. “Well done, Mads. Congratulations.”
Quickly, she was pulled away by their impatient friends and family, who all congratulated her with kisses on the cheek and slaps on the back. He’d never seen her look happier as she basked in their attention.
When she made it back over to him again, he put an arm around her shoulder and kissed her sweaty cheek. “You were spectacular.”
“It’s not over yet.” She leaned against him. “There’s still the championship game tomorrow.”
“No matter what happens, I’m proud of you.”
“Even if I lose?”
He heard the teasing in her voice, but he answered with all due seriousness, his lips near her ear. “Win or lose, Madeline Jane Archer, you’re still the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
She grinned up at him, squinting in the bright sun. “I’ll go change and then we can go back to the hotel and celebrate.”
That meant taking a bath together and falling into bed naked. He could hardly wait. “Lead the way, champ.”