The Escort

by Gina Robinson

  Angelina had pulled her hair into an elegant creation that she had copied with studied determination from the New York society pages. Softly waved, then pulled into a lustrous bun of curls that ran from the top of her head to the nape of her neck where a few soft wisps escaped to curl airily. A few similar wisps adorned her forehead. Gone was the painfully foreign peasant girl she had been and in her place was a beautiful American woman.

  "I hope so, May."

  "You'd better take a shawl tonight or you'll surely freeze in that dress."

  "Now you sound like my mama." She pulled on a pair of garnet velvet gloves that reached well above her elbows.

  "Would your mama let you out of the house in a dress like that?"

  "Certainly not, May! Not in hundred years!"

  "So then, I'm certainly not your mama, aiding and abetting you like I am. To tell the truth, what I am is envious. Oh, to be young and beautiful! I was young once, but I was never beautiful."

  "May, you've always been beautiful. On the inside where most people are ugly. Only a beautiful person would've gone to all this trouble for me. Tonio doesn't suspect, does he?"

  "Angelina, that man is out of his head thinking you've gone back to Italy."

  "Good. You'll send word when he arrives at the ball? I can't arrive before he does, it would ruin everything."

  "I'll send word the moment he shows up. You're really going to go through with this?"

  Angelina smiled. "You mean proposing to him? Yes."

  "It's not traditional."

  "I suppose not, but what did traditional get me? An arranged marriage to a man twice my age who died before I could meet him. I want Tonio. I won't lose him again."

  May gave Angelina a little hug of support and turned to leave the room. "I'll send word when he arrives."

  "Excellent!" Angelina sprayed herself with a heady perfume as May left the room and walked down the hall. This perfume should send his senses reeling, Angelina thought.

  # # #

  Tonio leaned on the bar, eyeing the crowd dispassionately. Several women gave him flirtatious looks, willing him to leave his post and ask them to the adjoining ballroom for a dance. He was fully aware of their appeals and just as fully disinterested. He dressed in a starched white shirt, white satin vest and bow tie, and tails which May had forced him into. He'd just as soon be in his black fringed jacket and jeans. A plate of appetizers sat on the counter in front of him. Harry Scott lounged to his left.

  "You seem immune to the ladies' charms tonight, Tonio. Several attractive ones have been eyeing you for some time. Perhaps it's the monkey suit. You seem to be the only man in the place so attired."

  "More than half of them are whores from the Lux. What's wrong with May, planning an event like this in a town where the men outnumber the women in such quantity? The Lux ladies will end up with more money by morning than the benefit collected, mark my words. Miners who can't find enough to feed themselves can always scrounge up enough for a good time with one of the willing women. They're probably charging two bits just for a dance. And what's wrong with the rest of you? I was told this was a formal occasion."

  "Where does the ordinary man get a tuxedo, Tonio? Not being wealthy Italians, we must settle for ordinary suits."

  Tonio laughed. "Why don't you go ask one of the ladies to dance, Harry?"

  "Helen hasn't arrived yet and she'd be furious if she caught me dancing with someone else. I prefer to stay here in your uplifting company."

  "There's no accounting for taste," Tonio said. "You sure picked a helluva a time to come home from Boise, Harry. How did the Senate session go? In what little space they're not devoting to the bombing, the papers are saying it was frivolous and an utter waste of time."

  "We did better than the House. We at least ended the session with gentlemanly handshakes. The House ended by throwing paper wads dipped in ink and stealing every wastebasket, inkstand, and jar of paste in sight."

  "The Senate's behavior can be credited to your able leadership. You evidently succeeded where their mothers had failed; you taught them manners. Not bad for a bunch of grown men."

  "I wasn't entirely successful. Did I tell you about the man who stabbed his fellow legislator? I can't remember what their disagreement was. Stabbed him in the arm. It was only a superficial wound. Claimed he'd opened his pocket knife to sharpen his pencil and the guy fell into it—bad timing."

  Tonio laughed. "Bad timing, like our little insurrection here. Sounds like our politicians in Boise are living up to their unsavory reputation. I can see how you'd be glad to be back working with us civilized Hole folk. To think that both suspected bombers, Orchard and myself, have at times owned the same mining shares. Ironic, isn't it?"

  "Can't say I'm not happy that Orchard sold out to you and Cardoner. I never doubted your innocence, Tonio. I was happy to go to bat for you in Boise. As for Orchard, they'll catch him, sooner or later."

  "Can't tell you how much I appreciate what you did for me, Harry."

  "Anything for a partner." Harry nodded toward the banquet tables. "Looks like they're stocking the buffet. Shall we give it a try?"

  A volunteer in a white apron busily set out trays of small sweets meant to serve as appetizers until the grand cake was served. Tonio grabbed a small plate. If he was going to drink heavily tonight he might as well fill his stomach. He didn't want to get drunk too fast. May had made it clear he was required to make more than a cursory appearance.

  As he reached to fill his plate with mints and cookies, he stopped. In front of him was an elegant tray of Piemontese paste, tiny cream puffs filled with buttercream and custards and delicate individual profiterole. Angelina was the only one who knew how to make such things.

  He looked up and scanned the room as if he expected to find her. If she wanted her necklace back, she'd have to come back and face him. He had no intention of mailing it back to her. She wouldn't leave the country without it, he was certain of that. May breezed by. He caught her by the arm. "May, where is she?"

  May looked confused.

  "Who made these?" He pointed to the paste.

  "Oh, those? An old Italian woman in Kellogg. Why do you ask?" May's puzzlement seemed genuine. He let her arm go.

  Angelina made her grand entrance. She walked in with head held high, drawing the attention of the male crowd, fully aware of the impact she made. Take a deep breath, she reminded herself. Enhance the presentation of the bustline and calm the nerves. Tonio, where are you?

  Tonio heard the heightened buzz of the crowd and turned to see who'd come in. Their eyes locked immediately. She was a lovely vision, a dark beautiful Angel. He'd been done over by May and Angelina, but he didn't care.

  He was in a tunnel and Angelina was at the other end with the entire crowd separating them. He pushed his way through the throng, determined to take her in his arms. He wasn't going to lose her this time.

  She saw him making his way toward her and smiled in encouragement. The look on his face told her that she was not wrong in coming. He didn't mince words when he reached her.

  "Angelina, we need to talk." There was a plea to the hard edge of his voice.

  "Yes, Tonio. Someplace private. We have unfinished business."

  "The Colonel's office?"

  "Wherever you like."

  Chapter 19

  The Colonel's office reflected its masculine owner. Furnished with heavy wood and leather, the thin walls allowed music from the dance band to drift in. Tonio closed and locked the door.

  "No interruptions." He stood straight-backed and solemn. A month ago she would have found his stance intimidating.

  "No interruptions," she repeated dumbly. Now in his presence, she was suddenly at a loss. "You're looking handsome tonight, Tonio. You've recovered well from your stay in the bullpen. Harry did a good job of getting you out."

  "Harry Scott is the best friend a man could have. He used his influence as a state senator and convinced Governor Steunenberg that I didn't know any more than I'd a
lready told them."

  He stepped forward, so close that she longed to touch him. "Angelina, as long as I was in the bullpen and not talking, I was at a stalemate with both sides. I felt that we were both pretty safe. Your visit nearly tipped the balance.

  "The guards had orders to listen in on every visit I had and the captain was smart enough to post Italian-speaking watchdogs. Maybe I was paranoid, but I half-imagined them with a cup to the wall trying to hear us. You came in talking about my meetings with Baker…"

  "I'm sorry."

  "Me, too. You almost gave them the fodder they needed to charge me as an accessory and you put yourself in danger. I was concerned that Clell would get wind of your visit and come after you, thinking that you knew something. Or that he'd realize how much you meant to me and use you as a union hostage to keep me from talking.

  "Hell, I was just worried about you. Telling you to leave was one of the hardest things I've done."

  "You're much too good with a poker face, Tonio. I almost believed your ruse. Did you know more about the union's activities?"

  He broke into a crooked smile. "What do you think?"

  Angelina returned the smile. "What about the union, Tonio? Are we safe now?"

  "Harry and Baker are friends. Baker is courting Harry's sister Eleanor. Harry convinced him that I wouldn't talk. They know I'll never divulge what I know unless subpoenaed.

  "To be honest, Baker never concerned me, it was Clell. Rumor is he ran to Canada. If that bastard ever steps foot in North Idaho again…"

  He didn't need to finish, his meaning was clear. Hatred for the man filled his eyes.

  "I suppose you've come back for your necklace," he said. "You had me doubting my ability to judge character, Angelina. When Nonna Gia telegraphed that you'd left New York, I thought I'd misjudged how much you valued it.

  "Do you remember—you told me once that you would never leave the country without it? When I thought you had left, I held onto those words. If you were really going back to Italy, you would have asked for it back. Now I see that I was right and you didn't lie."

  He paused. "I could have told you where it was that day in the bullpen, but I thought that as long as I had it you wouldn't go far."

  "I came back for you."

  The raw look that she could never explain before was back in his eyes as he stared across at her. He watched her as closely as he would the fuse on a stick of dynamite. This time she hoped she read it correctly.

  She pulled a folded document from the small velvet purse that hung from her wrist and held it out for him to see. "Citizenship papers."

  He pulled it from her hand to get a better look. She watched as a tiny frown turned the corners of his mouth and a barely perceptible crease wrinkled his brow. "This isn't legal."

  "Legal enough to fool the authorities, or so I was told. I was sworn in by a certified judge of the United States of America and all I had to do was swear that I could vote."

  "Damn, Angelina! You charmed your way into a naturalization mill!" He was clearly amused.

  Angelina bit her lip. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. She didn't know how to go about making a marriage proposal. She didn't suppose many women did. Even men seemed to have a tough time with it.

  She took a deep breath, hoping her voice would stay steady. "I had a little speech planned, but it escapes me now so I'll just plunge ahead. Tonio, I may not be the blond American woman that you've always wanted—"

  "Blond woman?"

  "Maria told me that you've always liked blondes."

  "What does she know about what I prefer?"

  "Please, let me continue before I lose my nerve. I may not be blond, but I am an American now." She stepped close to him and looked up at him, grabbing him lightly by both arms. "Let's be the ultimate partners. Marry me, Tonio."

  He stood perfectly still long enough for her to grow nervous and drop her gaze. Her hands fell to her side. When at last he spoke his voice was low and solemn. "Why do you want to marry me?"

  She answered in a strong confident voice. "Because I love you."

  "Good. And no, I won't marry you."

  She froze. Before she could respond he sunk to one knee and grabbed her hand. "You may be a modern American woman now, but I'm still enough of an Italian male to want to do the asking. You may as well know that I was on the verge of chasing you to New York to do just that."

  A tear slid down her cheek, this time one of joy. "Yes."

  "I haven't asked yet. Will you let me make an honest proposal?"

  She nodded and wiped the tear away.

  "Ti voglio bene. Sei il mio tesoro d'oro e ti amo con tutto il cuore—"

  "I'm your golden treasure?" She laughed. "If I can't be blonde, I may as well be golden."

  "Please, no interruptions, I'm in the middle of a proposal." His tone turned serious. He squeezed her hand. "Marry me, Angelina. Marry me tonight, here at this ball."

  "Tonight?"

  "We're dressed for it, aren't we? I saw the judge out there." He nodded toward the party. "I'm sure we can convince him to perform the ceremony."

  "Yes!"

  In a fluid motion he was on his feet and she was in his arms locked in a kiss.

  Half an hour later Tonio carried her across the threshold of the suite the Colonel had given them with his compliments. In the ballroom on the floor below several hundred miners drank to the new couple's health. Their laughter and the tinkling of their music filtered through the floor into the bridal suite. But the reminder of the crowd below and their ribald, joking threats to crash in on the new couple didn't deter Tonio. He would have his bride this night.

  He didn't set her down until he'd let them in and locked the door. He set her gently on the bed, then moved the only chair in the room so that it was braced snugly beneath the doorknob. "To discourage visitors."

  He walked to the bed, pulled her to her feet and hard against him wrapping one arm around her waist, using the other to hold the back of her head and guide her mouth upward to his. She leaned into him and stroked his hair as his tongue in her mouth sent shivers that ran to the tips of her toes. The shadow of his beard scrubbed at the corners of her mouth, but the masculine reminder only caused her to lean harder into him.

  He smelled clean, of good cologne, of heaven. The excitement that coursed through her was nearly unbearable. She didn't want to let him go even as he pulled away to shed his jacket. She loosened his tie and unbuttoned his vest and shirt and ran her hands over the strong line of his shoulders.

  His shirt hung open revealing hard muscles and a flat abdomen covered thickly with curling black hair. She stroked him lightly, running her fingers over his nipples then bending to suck them gently. He pulled her away and spun her around. His eyes sparkled with the heady excitement she'd seen in the mine the day they set the charge and her heart raced with the knowledge that the excitement there was for her that day, and this.

  She presented her back to him. He nibbled her neck leaving warm circles of moisture on her flushed skin as he unbuttoned the dozens of tiny velvet buttons that lined the back of her bodice. She backed up against the warm bulge of his manhood as he expertly released the buttons from their velvet loops. She slipped off her shoes.

  The gown dropped to the floor followed by her underskirt and hose until she was left standing in only her strapless gartered chemise. She heard his shirt fall to the floor and felt the hard warmth of his bare chest against her back. He circled her with his arms and massaged her breasts until she felt as if the titillation of his touch was almost too much. Then he turned her back around until she faced him again, and slowly untied her chemise until it pulled free and joined his shirt on the floor.

  She kissed the perimeter of his lips as he pulled the pins from her hair and ran his fingers through it until it fell cascading in raven waves over her shoulders.

  "Beautiful," he murmured. She ran her hand over the coarse hair of his abdomen as he released his pants to join the pile of clothes on the floor. He stood wond
erfully naked before her.

  "Beautiful," she whispered in reply.

  He pulled her to the bed, where he lay down and stretched out before her, confident and aroused. Then he pulled her on top of him. She positioned herself on him so that she could feel his hard manhood. As she bent to kiss him her hair curtained their faces. Her hands stroked and caressed his body in an expression of months' worth of fantasies. He shuddered in pleasure at her touch, reaching to fondle her full breasts that fell like ripe peaches above him. Then, with a motion as fluid and smooth as a choreographed dance, he rolled them over. He poised on his elbows above her and entered her moist, welcoming body and the two became one. Their shadows melded together against the pale wall behind them, the fading light filtering through the curtain enough to cast a shadow of passion and ecstasy.

  Angelina opened her eyes long enough to look into the face of the man she loved and see the consumed look of passion on his face above her. As the surroundings faded away, and she was aware of nothing more than the two of them, and the passion that built inside her, she reached up and coiled the tiny lock of hair above his eye around her finger. With a final thrust they shuddered in completion and she uttered a cry of love perfected. He collapsed on top of her.

  She encircled his moist, warm body with her arms and traced the firm outline of his back with her fingers. "I love you," she said very softly. Without thinking she reached to finger her necklace in a gesture of happiness and found only bare skin. She still expected it to be there, even after its long absence. Her instinctive action was not lost on Tonio.

  "I almost forgot. I have a something that belongs to you." He rolled off her to the side of the bed and leaned over to fumble in the pile of clothing on the floor. He rolled back next to her and leaned up on his left elbow. He opened the fingers of his right hand. She caught the glisten of gold as he dropped a chain and caught it between two fingers. Her necklace bobbed from his fingers.