It would be years before Elsie was ready for grooming, but she would become the first woman at the helm of the company, and it was his job to make sure she was fully prepared for that.
Therefore, Bridget was a distraction he didn’t need. Even now.
Ultimately, that meant he needed to continue to provide attention to the inquiry, to having her and her friends compensated for their losses so she could travel on to Chicago, to her family there.
A boardinghouse still didn’t please him, neither did her leaving, which was exactly why he had to distance himself from her, focus on getting things settled and get life back to the way it needed to be.
* * *
Bridget could not fall asleep. She had gotten used to the comfort of the big bed, the softness of the pillows and the warmth of the thick quilt. None of that had a thing to do with why she couldn’t sleep.
It was Karl.
Down the hall.
Probably sound asleep.
She huffed out a breath. He had rendered her speechless on the back porch today. He’d kissed her! That’s also why she couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt his lips on hers all over again.
Many men had kissed her before. Quick pecks on the cheek or her forehead, much like she kissed Elsie all the time. She’d also kissed people. Boys. A couple of them who had asked her father if they could come over, take her on a picnic or a walk. Those kisses had been experiments. To see if they made her heart jump rope inside her chest.
That had been what Da had said would happen when she met the right man. That her heart would jump so hard and fast it would be like it was jumping rope inside her chest. That had never happened, and she’d started to believe Da had been fooling her. Teasing her. Lying to her.
She couldn’t believe that he’d ever out-and-out lied to her—that wasn’t Da’s way. But he did tease. Up until today, that’s what she’d figured the whole jumping rope heart tale had been. A teasing tale so she wouldn’t let any man steal her heart.
Today, when Karl had kissed her, she’d discovered exactly what Da had described. It had shocked her, stunned her, and she’d been set upon testing to see if it was really happening, when Karl had ended the kiss.
That’s when she’d known it had been real. Her heart had been skipping rope so hard and fast that her knees had gone weak and she’d had to grab ahold of Karl to continue standing. That truly had rendered her speechless.
She had been so thankful that Willard had arrived outside when he had and that she’d been able to distract herself by talking about Copper and her Da as she and Karl had sat on the swing. She had continued to force herself to focus on conversations thereafter, throughout the evening meal and while sitting in the front room, but she’d felt Karl the entire time.
Even now, lying here, she could feel a connection to him. She didn’t want to believe it. Couldn’t believe it.
“Mercy me,” she muttered.
Karl had made her feel things since she’d met him, and today, watching him with Elsie had intensified all of those peculiar sensations.
That’s what it had to be. She was so grateful for the way he’d taken Elsie over to Reggie and Alice’s, to play with friends, all so she’d see Copper and fall in love with the puppy. Elsie had needed that so she wouldn’t have time to dwell on what had happened.
That was exactly what she needed to do, too. Become so occupied that she wouldn’t have time to dwell on Karl, and the way his kiss had made her heart skip rope.
Maybe it truly hadn’t.
Maybe she’d just been expecting it to.
Well, that was silly. Why would she expect it to?
Shaking her head, she squeezed her eyes shut and told herself to think about the bed, how comfortable it was, and how she’d have beds like this in her boardinghouse.
* * *
When she opened her eyes, early morning sunlight shone in through the window. Karl was still on her mind as she got dressed, but now she also had a full list of reasons why she couldn’t fall in love with him. There was just so much she had to do before any man could make her heart jump rope.
After getting Elsie up and dressed for the day, she hurried downstairs with the little girl to let Copper outside before joining Karl in the dining room for breakfast.
Bridget was relieved that upon seeing him her heart did make a small leap, but it certainly didn’t jump enough to skip rope. While eating breakfast, she decided that she would just keep as much distance between the two of them as possible. If this week was like last week, he would be at the inquiry until late in the evening, so keeping her distance should be simple enough.
Once breakfast had been consumed, Karl gave Elsie a hug that included a tummy tickle. With Elsie still giggling, he set her down on the floor. “I will see you both tonight,” he said.
“Tell your uncle Karl to have a good day, Poppet,” Bridget instructed.
“Have a good day,” Elsie said.
“You, too.” He patted Elsie’s head. “And you.”
Bridget’s heart did another little skip at the way he was looking at her. “And you,” she repeated.
It wasn’t until he was completely out of the room that she let the air out of her lungs. Guilt struck her then, at how she was thankful he was leaving. Avoiding him, when she wanted him and Elsie to spend time together, would be difficult. Even if it was just evenings.
That same guilt struck harder a short time later, when she and Elsie, wearing their coats, arrived at the front door for Willard to drive them to the store.
“I see you are both ready,” he said. “I’m going out to pull the car out of the carriage house right now.” He held up a suitcase. “We’ll need to make a stop along the way. I have to drop Karl’s suitcase off at the train station.”
“Why?” Bridget asked.
“He called and said the inquiry is being moved to Washington, D.C.,” Willard answered.
“He’s going there?” Her heart pounded now, as that guilt increased. All her thoughts about distance didn’t mean she wanted him to leave town.
“Yes. Only for a few days,” Willard said. “I’ll go pull the car out now.”
The wave of remorse that washed over her was great, for more than one reason, but she shoved her personal ones aside. She understood that Karl was set on finding out all he could about the accident. He felt it was necessary, but she just couldn’t help but worry about him hearing the sordid details of that night. All her thinking last night while trying to fall asleep had led her to question why she was so drawn to him. She’d thought it was his love toward Elsie. She admired that, but that wouldn’t give her this deep need to help him. That came from the pain she saw in his eyes. A pain that she felt went deeper than his brother’s death.
She and Elsie sat in the back seat as Willard drove to the train station. They got out of the car and joined him in walking to the depot building. It was much, much larger than any train station she’d ever seen. Even the one in Southampton. This depot building was massive, and there were far too many trains to count.
Her hand held tight onto Elsie’s as they walked along the side of the building. Little signs hung from poles, with the names of towns. She quickly deduced that’s how the people knew which train to board.
Willard led them to the one that said Washington, D.C., and she couldn’t help but notice the one marked Chicago as they walked past it. A train she would soon take.
“I see Uncle Karl!”
Bridget saw him, too. His smile made her heart thud, but a sadness filled her at the notion of him leaving. She had a deep sense that what he was looking for, he wouldn’t find in Washington, D.C.
“I didn’t expect a farewell party,” Karl said, taking the suitcase from Willard and setting it on the ground.
“We are going to the store!” Elsie exclaimed. “For a collar and leash for Copper.”
“He certainly needs them,” Karl said, picking Elsie up.
“Then Bridget and I can take him for walks!”
“Yes, you can.” He kissed her cheek and set her back down. “I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“Why are they moving the inquiry?” Bridget asked, mainly because he was looking at her.
“To make it easier for the senators to be in attendance,” he replied. “I suspect it will also limit others from being able to attend.”
“Must you attend?” she asked.
He nodded.
Not sure what else to say, she nodded. “Be well.”
He reached out and took her hand, gave it a squeeze. “You, too.” Then he picked up his suitcase, spoke to Willard about the hotel where he’d be staying and walked onto the waiting train.
The sadness inside her grew heavier as she watched him disappear. Bridget determined that despite the fears she’d had about him making her heart skip rope, about what that might ultimately mean to her, she had to see this through. Karl and Elsie needed her.
* * *
There was a full train of people traveling because of the inquiry, but Karl found a seat where he could see Bridget, Elsie and Willard as the train pulled away from the station. The idea of not going to Washington crossed his mind, but he had to go. Not only for his brother and for Elsie, but for himself. Staying away from Bridget was his plan. One he had to stick to. That kiss yesterday was still alive inside him, making him want more. He couldn’t do that. Couldn’t want more. Couldn’t care more. That went against all he knew. All he was.
What he could do was help her get to Chicago.
* * *
Upon arriving in Washington, he secured a room at a hotel, then went to the senate office building, and while walking along the hallway, a young man hurried past him.
“Excuse me, Senator,” the young man said to a man walking in front of Karl. “I would like to renew my application to be heard as a representative of a large number of third-class passengers—”
“We have a representative of the third-class on our witness list. That is more than enough,” the senator replied.
“Your witness list contains several first-class passengers, but only one third-class passenger,” the first man said.
“Of course it does,” the other man said sharply. “It’s inconceivable there is anything that third-class passengers experienced that didn’t affect first-, or even second-class passengers. This inquiry won’t become a circus show. Now, excuse me.” The senator sped up and then disappeared through a door marked private.
With a knot of growing anger tightening in his stomach, Karl stopped next to the young lawyer. “You’re representing a group of third-class passengers?”
The man nodded. “Yes, sir.” Then, as if checking his manners, or memory, he said, “I offer you my condolences on the loss of your family in this catastrophe.”
Karl gave a nod in acknowledgment, then because he did not recognize the other man, shook his head slowly, “I’m sorry, Mr.?”
“Braddock. Charles Braddock of McCoy and Associates.”
“Nice to meet you, Charles.” The name of the law firm was very familiar to Karl. He knew William McCoy and the firm well. “I’m interested in adding a name to your client list.”
Charles frowned. “I’m representing third-class passengers, Mr. Wingard.”
“I understand that.” Why hadn’t he thought of that? A class action suit had the potential to carry weight, get Bridget compensated quicker, and others. “It’s actually three clients I’d like to add.”
* * *
By Thursday, Karl had had enough. He’d been in Washington for four days, and the longer he’d been there, the less he’d liked it. The inquiry had a preset determination for its outcome. The interviews he’d sat through made that obvious. The White Star Line would not be deemed responsible for anything.
“They’ve been trying to cover this up since the moment they hit that iceberg,” Charles said with disgust. “They won’t accept responsibility for anything.”
Karl nodded, glancing out the train window as they rolled along the tracks back to New York. The complete disregard of the full impact to all classes affected by the sinking of the Titanic was eating him from the inside out.
He knew why.
Bridget.
He hated the idea that no one cared what she’d been through, or what others had been through.
He also knew he’d missed her the past four days. More than he’d missed someone in a very long time. More than he should miss someone.
She was not of his class. He’d never considered the unwritten privileges that came with his station, nor had he realized how he’d taken them for granted, assumed he deserved them while somehow believing others didn’t.
That was wrong. He would never have come to that realization if not for her.
“I will call you tomorrow,” he told Charles as the train rolled into New York. “Set up a time for you to meet with Bridget and her friends.”
“Are they still in the hospital?” Charles asked.
“I’m not sure. I’ll know more once I arrive home.”
His excitement to get home grew, and less than half an hour later, he walked into the house. Willard wasn’t at the door, but Karl didn’t think much of it. He’d caught an earlier train than he’d anticipated, so it was only after eight in the evening. This morning, he’d phoned Willard and said to expect him home around midnight.
He went directly to the stairs and hurried up them, to Elsie’s room, assuming that’s where he’d find Bridget.
His knock was immediately responded to, but as the door opened, he froze.
“Hello, Mr. Wingard. Elsie’s asleep, but—”
“Where’s Bridget?” he asked, glancing around the woman to look into the room.
Chapter Nine
Bridget didn’t wait for Willard to open her door as he pulled the vehicle up beside the house. The carriage house door was open, and Karl’s car was inside. He’d called this morning, said he was coming home from Washington this evening, but Willard had said he probably wouldn’t arrive until after midnight.
She’d missed him during his absence and had so much to tell him. He’d called several times over the past few days, but she had never spoken to him and sincerely hoped the inquiry hadn’t been overly trying for him.
Determining she’d check on Elsie first, so that when she did see Karl, she wouldn’t need to feel rushed, she hurried to the stairway.
“Good evening.”
Spinning quickly on one heel, she grabbed ahold of the stair post to stay upright. The sound of his voice had her heart pounding. So did the sight of him. He stood in the doorway of his office. Looking as handsome as ever. He’d removed his coat and vest, and the top few buttons of his white shirt were undone.
“Hello,” she greeted. “I saw your car. I was going to run up and check on Elsie before coming to say hello.”
“She’s sleeping. I’ve checked on her. And I would like to talk with you.”
He sounded cold. “All right. I’ll just go put my coat—”
“Now. I’d like to speak to you now.”
Even as a heavy disappointment washed over her, she nodded. The inquiry must not have gone well. Holding a smile on her face, she crossed the front foyer and entered his office as he stepped aside.
She took a seat on the davenport and closed her eyes for a moment. The past few days, while he’d been gone, she’d been able to bury, somewhat, the memory of Sunday, of when they’d stood on the back porch and he’d kissed her.
Burying the memory had been her only option, because she’d been putting too much time, too much thought into it. However, seeing him, sent it all into the forefront again.
Huffing out a breath, she opened her eyes, smiled up at him as he lowered onto th
e armchair next to the fireplace.
“We didn’t expect you until after midnight,” she said.
“And I didn’t expect to arrive home to a stranger taking care of my niece. Did I, or did I not, hire you to be her nanny?”
A shiver rippled over her. She truly hadn’t expected him to be upset. “Yes, but—”
“But? But nothing. I expected you to be here when I returned home, but you weren’t. You were out gallivanting around town.”
Her spine stiffened. “Gallivanting? I wasn’t gallivanting. I was at the church. They were having a bazaar to—”
“Yes, a social event, which you thought was more important than Elsie’s care.”
“I did not!” Fully exasperated, she had to withhold her urge to jump to her feet. Crossing her arms, she settled a straightforward gaze on him. “You heard about the bazaar last Sunday. It was announced at the end of the service. As was how they needed baked goods for the cakewalk and other activities. Mary, Elsie, Catherine and I spent all morning baking so the items would be fresh and then I rode with Willard to deliver them.”
“Mary and your friend Catherine told me all about that,” he said, “and how you decided to stay at the bazaar rather than return home with Willard. It’s my understanding you’ve been there all afternoon and evening.”
“They needed help setting everything up! And Willard returned home to pick everyone else up and bring them to the church to attend the bazaar. Elsie, Mary, Catherine and Sean.”
“Sean?” He shook his head. “You invited Catherine’s brother to stay here, too?”
“Yes. They are brother and sister, and had nowhere to go upon being released from the hospital.” He still sounded so cross, so ornery, her ire continued to grow. “I didn’t think you’d mind. Willard said you wouldn’t. So did Mary.”
“Yet, no one mentioned it to me.”
“You weren’t here!” she pointed out. “And everyone was at the bazaar until it ended.” Elsie had truly enjoyed all the games she’d played, but Bridget wasn’t going to point that out, because he was too ornery to care. It was as if he felt they shouldn’t leave the house without him. “I stayed to help with cleanup while Willard brought everyone else home, and then he returned for me. Mary and Catherine said they’d put Elsie to bed.”
A Family for the Titanic Survivor Page 12