Chapter Five
“Do you still have the ring?”
Jack finished knotting his tie, then stepped away from the mirror, frowning at Walter, who was pacing around the room. His pacing suggested he was more nervous than Jack was, even though Jack was the one planning on proposing that night.
Fishing into his pocket, he withdrew a small box. “Of course I still have the ring, and you don’t need to continue asking me that every five minutes. I’m not going to lose it, not after we went all the way to Chicago to purchase it.”
“Think Myrtle will know how special a Tiffany ring is?”
“She’s from New York. Of course she’ll know. But you didn’t mention to Ruthanne that we were going to Chicago, did you? I told Myrtle you and I were off on a matter of business, but I didn’t mention that business centered around buying her an engagement ring.”
Walter gave a roll of his eyes. “While I completely adore Ruthanne, I’m fully aware that she’s incapable of keeping a secret, which is why I didn’t say anything about Chicago. And because I don’t want anything to go wrong with this night, I’m determined to make sure you don’t lose that ring. It wouldn’t be much of a moment if you ask Myrtle to marry you and then discover you’ve left the ring behind.”
“I’m not going to forget the ring.”
“So you keep saying, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop pestering you about it.”
“You’re very annoying.”
“That’s because I’m your younger brother. Annoying comes with the territory.”
Unable to argue with that logic, Jack returned his attention to the mirror, pulling down the brightly colored waistcoat he’d purchased in Chicago, the purchase prompted after Myrtle had remarked a time or two about how much she liked his embroidered waistcoat, the one he’d been wearing when he’d asked permission to court her. After readjusting his tie, even though it was still perfectly in place, he turned to Walter and frowned.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t have made an effort to seek out Myrtle’s father and asked for his blessing before I ask Myrtle to marry me?”
Walter edged around Jack and began fiddling with his own tie. “I told you, there isn’t time for those types of gestures. Ruthanne told me that Myrtle’s contract with El Tovar and the Harvey Girls was up yesterday. The only reason Mr. Eliot hasn’t pressured her to sign a new one yet is because he’s been busy with preparations for the dance tonight. You mark my words, though, Mr. Eliot isn’t a man to neglect something like a contract for long, nor will he want to lose someone like Myrtle. The guests love her, she’s a hard worker who doesn’t complain, and she’s not an employee any employer wants to say good-bye to. That means if you go off to seek out Mr. Schermerhorn’s blessing, by the time you get back, Myrtle will have undoubtedly signed another contract, and then you’ll need to wait six whole months before you’ll be able to marry her.”
“I don’t want to wait six months.”
“Then you’ll need to forgo asking her father’s permission. Besides, since Myrtle and her parents are apparently estranged, Myrtle might not want you to seek out her parents. Perhaps they’re really horrible people, and she doesn’t want you to discover that just yet.”
“I don’t even know what her father does.”
“Maybe he’s a shady sort.”
“I don’t think a shady sort could have raised a daughter like Myrtle.”
“Good point.” Walter smiled. “Ruthanne’s father is a farmer, and she’s told me he’s a very nice man, but she just didn’t want to stay on the family farm.” His smile turned into a grin. “I was relieved to hear that, because I will need to meet him at some point, since I intend to marry his daughter.”
“You’re thinking about marrying Ruthanne?”
Walter nodded. “’Course I am, but I’m not in any hurry to propose. Ruthanne, unlike Myrtle, still has two months on her contract, so I have time to figure out how to pull off a spectacular proposal, one she’ll never forget.”
Panic immediately surged through Jack’s veins. “I haven’t planned a spectacular proposal for Myrtle. I was simply going to pull her aside at the end of the evening and ask her under the moonlight.”
“Since you’re less than adept in the romance department, that is a spectacular proposal, and I bet Myrtle will love it and cherish the moment forever. And with that said, shall we go and collect the ladies? We’re supposed to meet them at the foot of the staircase in less than ten minutes.”
Nodding, Jack turned and walked out of his room, Walter falling into step beside him. After reaching the first floor, Jack stood beside the staircase the Harvey Girls always used, anticipation flowing freely as he considered the night ahead.
He’d never thought he’d meet a woman like Myrtle, let alone ask someone so delightful to marry him. But she truly seemed to enjoy his company, laughed often whenever they were together, and he was confident the affection he felt for her was returned . . . although if he was mistaken about that, the night might not go off as planned.
“There they are, coming down the stairs.”
Pushing his newfound anxiety aside, Jack lifted his head, his eyes widening as he got his first glimpse of Myrtle.
He’d always thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but tonight, dressed in a delectable green gown, her hair pulled up on top of her head with little wispy bits teasing her cheeks, she was more beautiful than ever. As a matter of fact, the word beautiful didn’t seem to do her justice. Perhaps lovely or—
“Jack,” Myrtle said, interrupting his musing as she beamed a smile at him and came to a stop at the foot of the stairs. “You’re looking exceptionally dashing this evening.”
“Stunning” was his less-than-eloquent reply to that.
Myrtle’s eyes twinkled. “Are you suggesting you prefer the word stunning over dashing, or have you reverted back to the time when you tossed single words my way and expected me to know exactly what you meant?”
His lips began to curve. “No, I don’t want you to use stunning over dashing in regard to my appearance, and yes, I did for a moment revert back to my former ways. In my defense, though, you are beyond stunning this evening, and you stole the very breath from me.”
“Nicely done,” he heard Walter say as his brother took Ruthanne’s arm and strolled away, telling Ruthanne she looked stunning as well, which had Ruthanne laughing as she informed Walter that stunning had already been put to good use that evening, so he had to try harder.
“They make a delightful couple,” Myrtle said as Jack brought her gloved hand to his lips and kissed it.
“And what of us? Do you believe we make a delightful couple as well?”
Returning the smile she sent him, Jack tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and began moving with her through El Tovar, making his way outside, where the dance was to be held that evening.
He drew her to a stop at the edge of a wooden dance floor that had been built for the night’s festivities and glanced around, taking in the sight of old-fashioned lanterns hanging on hooks and tables draped in white linen.
He nodded to where members of the band that had been hired for the evening’s entertainment were already assembled. “It looks like they’re almost ready to begin.”
Myrtle nodded, but then she frowned and caught his eye. “I never thought to ask, but do you enjoy dancing?”
“I’m not that light on my feet, but I do know how to dance. Took lessons a few years back with my little sister.” He smiled. “Sadie decided she needed someone to practice her steps with, and I thought it wouldn’t be bad to learn. I’m glad I took those lessons now because I won’t need you to take over the lead.”
Myrtle returned his smile. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine, but I am capable of leading and did so numerous times when my younger sister, Eloise, was preparing to make . . .”
“Preparing to make what?” he pressed when she didn’t finish her sentence.
Before she could answer him, the band began playing, and the next thing he knew, he was in the very middle of the dance floor, Myrtle in his arms. Any lingering questions about what she’d not finished telling him were forgotten the second they began to waltz.
It quickly became evident that Myrtle had waltzed more than a few times, moving across the floor with such grace that he found himself not paying attention to his own steps, which had him treading somewhat heavily on her foot. “Sorry about that.”
She waved his apology aside. “Happens all the time.”
As they continued to waltz, Jack found himself wondering how often Myrtle’s feet had been trampled during a dance, and then wondered where she’d been doing that dancing in the first place. Deciding that would be a great topic for conversation after the music ended, he pulled her closer to him, that closeness allowing him to enjoy the subtle perfume she’d dabbed on her neck. To his regret, the music soon came to an end, the guests broke into a polite round of applause, and just as he was about to ask Myrtle if she wanted to dance the next dance with him as well, she suddenly stiffened right as someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“Excuse me,” a man drawled from behind him in what could only be considered a cultured tone of voice. “I believe the rest of Mertie’s dances are meant to be mine.”
Turning, Jack narrowed his eyes at a slender man with thinning blond hair who was dressed in what was clearly an expensive suit. “And you would be . . . ?”
The man puffed out his chest. “I’m Mertie’s fiancé, of course—or at least I will be after we clear up a small misunderstanding we have between us.”