Laura should have felt like a princess—the food and surroundings were extravagant and decadent—but she did not. Isaac sat two tables away with Ruth Bagley across from him. His presence was comforting, but hers made Laura’s blood boil with jealousy and sour memories.
“Stop looking over at them,” Abel said. “No one will care about your parents’ feud here. You came to dine with me.”
“You’re right,” she said, taking another bite of her dinner and hardly tasting it. “When will you buy the house on Seneca Street?”
He wiped at his face with his napkin. “I’m considering other options now.”
“You are?”
“Yes. I want to be sure it’s the right house.”
“You must be sick of living in the hotel.” He’d confided in her a couple weeks back about his lodgings. They were temporary, he assured her. “You’re so well acquainted in Buffalo now. It’ll be nice having a house to host guests of your own.”
“Yes, I suppose it will be. I’ll have to throw a dinner party right away.”
Again, her gaze wandered to Isaac and Ruth. He appeared to be deep in conversation with her, his body leaned forward, eyes focused on Ruth. He’d kissed Laura and spoken of a future with her. There was no reason to doubt his loyalties, was there?
“Ruth’s father is here,” Abel said. “I think I’ll try to meet with him and see if he is interested in making an investment. So stop scowling at them. I don’t want to burn bridges all because you’re upset over a little joke.”
His words smarted. It hadn’t been a little joke; it’d been cruel and hateful. She swallowed the rebuttal she so desperately wanted to throw at him and said instead, “You’ll have all of Buffalo investing soon enough.”
“My father was a savvy businessman.”
She used her knife and fork to cut through the steak on her plate. With her head down she asked, “What if the land ends up not being as profitable as everyone believes it will be? You could be living in a city with a lot of enemies.”
“What makes you think the land isn’t profitable?”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t, only that it might not be. My father, I know, is selling off items in our house and collecting on his debts. He’s ready to throw it all into land he’s never seen. He would suffer greatly if the oil you’ve promised is not there.”
“I don’t like this skeptical talk.” His jaw flexed as he ground his teeth. “I’ve deeds that verify the value of the land. Don’t ever say things like that again. That kind of talk could scare people off. I don’t want to hear another word about your worries.”
She nodded, afraid of the fire she saw in his eyes. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Why’d you really want to come up here?” he asked, his features hard and menacing. The suave, thoughtful suitor from before was gone, replaced by this anxious, agitated man.
She took a steadying breath. “My father is eager to invest with you and is convinced that if I spend time with you, you will let him put in more money than anyone else. That’s the truth.”
Abel gnawed on a bite of steak. “He’s a regular businessman, willing to use anything for collateral, even his daughter. I admire that about him.”
“Collateral,” she whispered. Tears stung her eyes. She fought them back, refusing to cry in front of Abel. It hurt, though, hearing the truth spoken and laughed at.
“I like your father. We think alike.” Abel looked around the room, his eyes landing on Ruth. “I have business to attend to tomorrow. I’ll still take you to the falls in the afternoon. I can’t have anyone thinking I’ve brought you here and abandoned you.” He leaned closer. “This deal is too big for a tiff with a woman to get in the way. I don’t know what you’re up to, but it’s not more important than what I am working on. I’ll let your father invest, but only if you keep whatever crazy ideas you have to yourself. Do you understand?”
She nodded, her courage waning.
“Good. I’m glad we understand each other,” he said before flashing a grin at a couple a few tables away. “There’s music. Should we dance?”
She wanted to shout no and then turn and run away. But she was a spy, and more than just her father depended on her.
“Yes,” she said, taking his hand when he offered it.
The dance floor was small and intimate. As they walked, an older couple commented on how perfectly suited they were for each other. Abel brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, all for show.
“You should smile,” he said as he brought her in close. “If you lean against me, we may even be able to make Ruth jealous. I saw her watching me through dinner. She’s wondering why I’m with you. A jealous woman will do practically anything.”
Laura couldn’t relax in his arms, no matter her efforts. His conniving ways were simply too revolting. Where before he’d worn an elaborate mask, he’d now shed it, and his true colors were on display. The touch of his hand, the smell of his breath—his closeness sickened her.
His mouth came near her ear. “You came here for your father and his business. Doesn’t he deserve a better performance than this?”
“Excuse me.” Isaac stepped onto the dance floor with Ruth. “Do you think this floor can fit another couple?”
“You can see how big it is. Go and dance if you wish.”
“It’s good to see you,” Ruth said to Abel. “My father is hoping to meet with you. We both are eager to know you better.”
“I am hoping to meet with him too.” Abel transformed back into a dapper gentleman. “In fact, why don’t we switch partners for a song, and we can discuss your schedule. Laura, you don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all. I’ll go back to the table—”
“No,” Abel said. “I don’t want you sitting alone. It’s such a fine night. Dance.”
She nodded, hating her complicity, and stepped into Isaac’s arms. His touch was gentle where Abel’s had been taut and severe.
“Are you all right?” Isaac asked in a low voice.
“I don’t ever want to see him again,” she whispered. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you care about me. He can’t know.”
Isaac stiffened and straightened his face. “This isn’t how I pictured a dance with you.”
“We won’t count it. I’ll let you have another chance at a dance later.” She looked past him at Ruth and Abel. “They’re suited for each other.”
“Both eager to get ahead. Tonight, when you meet me, I’ll tell you what I found. Will you be all right until then?”
“Yes. I’ll claim a stomachache and ask to go home after this dance. I’ll blame you for it.”
“If it’ll get you away from him faster, then blame me all you like.” They made slow circles on the small dance floor until the song ended and she stepped out of his arms.
Ruth was slow to leave Abel. She looked at him with desire in her eyes before going back to Isaac’s side.
“I don’t know if it’s something I ate, but . . .” Laura put a hand on her stomach. “Would you mind taking me back to the hotel? I know it’s early, but I’m ready to turn in for the night.”
Abel narrowed his eyes. “One dance with Isaac and you’re sick.”
“I thought it was the food, but maybe it was him.” She let the false pain show in her face. “No matter the cause, I think it’s best if I retire for the night.”
“I’ll take you back,” Abel said and then asked Ruth if her father was available. “With Laura resting, my evening is open. I could take him for a drink.”
“A drink?” Ruth’s eyes twinkled. “What about prohibition?”
“Canada, our dear neighbor, does not have the same laws we do. I figured since your uncle is a bootlegger, your father is probably not a teetotaler. Besides, my deals are closing this week. If your father wants to invest, it has to be quick. Why not talk over a mug of beer?”
“We can all walk back, and I’ll ask him.” She pursed her lips and then said, “I’m not a bit tired. Would you mind if I joined you?”
“Come along if you wish.” When he grinned, Laura felt nauseous. Ruth had wronged her, had humiliated her deliberately, but seeing her so easily wooed by Abel’s charms had her concerned.
They settled their bills at the restaurant and made their way back toward the hotel in silence. Isaac bid everyone good night in the lobby and disappeared toward room 8. Laura allowed Abel to walk her back to her room, and Ruth went to find her father.
“I don’t like you out alone with him,” Mrs. Guskin said the moment the door closed.
“I don’t want to be either. I’m going to be sick again tomorrow.” She put her hand on her stomach as she walked from one end of the room to the other. She stopped at the window and looked out at the street. “He plans to use Ruth to get her father to invest with him. He’ll play games with her heart and her father’s money.”
“She toyed with you.”
“I don’t want revenge. Maybe I should, but I feel sorry for her. And I feel like a fool for ever believing Abel sincere,” she said. “We have to find out what’s going on so we can stop it. I’m supposed to meet Isaac at ten at the gazebo, but if Abel is out with Ruth, I could meet him sooner.”
“Where? If he’s caught in your room, you’ll be in a heap of trouble.”
She gnawed on her thumbnail, her eyes still on the street. “If I write him a note, will you slide it under his door?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Guskin wrung her hands. “I want to help.”
“Thank you,” Laura said, pulling her eyes away from the street and onto Mrs. Guskin. “This is proving to be quite the adventure, isn’t it?”
“It’s not a novel,” she said.
“No, it’s not. But it’ll still have a happy ending. Isaac is sure of it.”
“I got a good look at your Isaac while he was climbing in and out of the window. He’s a handsome man.”
“Mrs. Guskin!” Laura feigned surprise.
“I’m not too old to know an attractive man when I see one. But he’s more than good looks, I can tell, unlike that skunk Abel.”
“Isaac is a much better man than Abel,” she said, already missing him. “He’s thoughtful and hardworking, though his father doesn’t recognize it. I used to dream of a prince, but Isaac’s better than a fairy tale. And worse because we still don’t know how we can ever be together. I don’t want it to be true, but sometimes I feel like we are Romeo and Juliet, bound for a tragic ending.”
“Pishposh.”
“That’s what he said. He believes there’s a way.”
“He’s wise. Add that to your list of fine qualities. You keep doing the right thing, and everything will sort itself out. Go write your letter.”
“I wanted to see Abel leave first.” She watched the street until at last she saw Abel and Ruth and an older man who must be her father. “They’re gone. I’ll write fast.”
Dear fellow spy,
I don’t like the idea of Abel swindling money from anyone, not even Ruth. When we were alone at dinner, his charm was gone, and deep inside I knew he was evil. Meet me in the lobby. I will bring a book and pretend to read while I keep watch for you. You should call Mr. Cannon and tell him everything.
I think I know what our next move should be.
Yours,
The girl who longs for a real dance with you