She fought the urge to tug him back. No, she could do this on her own.
Tessa caught a whiff of lilacs on the breeze, and it reminded her of why this was so important. Not only did she need for this conservatory to go through, the city needed it. Aesthetically pleasing cities, according to the City Beautiful Movement, possessed “civic virtue.” Tessa tended to agree with the idea. When people were able to stay connected with nature, their world was bigger, brighter, and better in every way. Naturally, that would spill over into the residents’ behaviors, so it was good for the people all the way around.
And the only way to enjoy nature all year long in Minnesota was by having a conservatory, so after the project passed the park commission, she’d reveal her hand in making it happen.
She smiled. “Mrs. Brokaw, Edward was telling me about your exceptional children. What are they up to now?”
The floodgates broke, and Mrs. Brokaw spilled forth all manner of boasting. If Tessa didn’t know better, Mrs. Brokaw’s four children would single-handedly save the world from famine, pestilence, and scourge, and do it with aplomb.
But by acting impressed by Mrs. Brokaw’s offspring, Tessa seemed to gain the woman’s favor. When Mrs. Goddard excused herself to speak to a friend who’d just arrived, Mrs. Brokaw suggested she and Tessa sit down at one of the garden tables to chat. “I think my son Gilbert would have found you fascinating, Miss Gregory, but alas, he’s engaged now to Miss Justine Wilshire. Why didn’t we see you among the girls coming out this season or last?”
“I’m attending college. I’m studying horticulture.”
Mrs. Brokaw frowned. “Plants?”
“Yes, ma’am, and garden design.”
“Is that so? I guess young ladies are into all sorts of things nowadays.” Mrs. Brokaw sipped from her lemonade. “Speaking of parks, I’m sure you’re aware Saint Paul has a wonderful park system. Did you know my husband is on the park board?”
Tessa cheered inside. “Is he? It must be fascinating work.”
“To hear him tell it, it’s not, but he says a city without parks isn’t keeping up with the times. It’s bad for commerce to not be on the cutting edge.”
“He’s right. Most of the big cities have invested extensively in their park systems.” Tessa glanced at Edward, who offered her an encouraging smile. “So he must be supporting Mr. Nussbaumer’s plans for the new conservatory?”
Mrs. Brokaw waved her hand dismissively. “They can play music in the bandstand, dear. They’ve no need for one of those.”
“A botanical conservatory, ma’am. It’s a rather fancy greenhouse.” Tessa leaned forward. “It will be a divine location for all sorts of gatherings—perhaps even weddings.”
“Weddings?” The woman’s eyes lit up.
“A one-of-a-kind venue. You could suggest it to your son and his fiancée.” Tessa leaned back and sighed. “That is, if Mr. Nussbaumer’s plan passes.”
“I’ll speak with my husband regarding it. We can’t fall behind the other large cities, now can we?”
“No, ma’am. We wouldn’t want to do that.” She tipped her head in a slight nod, a signal to Edward she was done here. He appeared on cue and told Mrs. Brokaw he’d come to claim Tessa for the first dance of the afternoon.
Edward motioned toward the dance floor, and they walked toward it. Off to the left, a small group of musicians began warming up. “How did it go?”
“Splendidly.” Tessa smiled up at him. “You were right about her children. She loves to talk about them.”
“Talk or brag?” He chuckled. “But what about the conservatory?”
“I think I can honestly say we have her wholehearted support.”
“I won’t even ask how you managed that.”
Several couples took their places on the dance floor as the band struck up a lively two-step. Edward turned to her. “Shall we?”
Her heart thudded against her rib cage. Should she dance with Edward now? It really was no different than the other day at the dinner party. Edward had a girl back at college, and she’d never felt the least bit romantically attracted to him, but now that she was seeing Reese, somehow it all felt differently.
“Tessa? Is something wrong?” He frowned. “I told Mrs. Brokaw I wanted to dance with you. I know you have Reese and I have Eve.” He touched her arm. “It’s to keep up pretenses.”
Pretenses. Such an innocent-sounding word. She pushed the troubling guilt deep inside. Edward was right. Besides, this was a garden party, and she loved to dance.
She’d whirl and twirl and think of nothing other than the moment she took her place beside Reese at Como.
Tucking a finger beneath the stiff collar of his shirt, Reese swallowed hard, then glanced at Fred Nussbaumer walking beside him. The park superintendent didn’t seem the least bit concerned about fitting in with the guests at this garden party, even though everything about them bespoke affluence.
As they crossed the lawn and headed toward a group of men, Reese drew in a deep breath.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen his share of wealthy homes or spent time among the elite. His father’s position had seen to that, and his own family wasn’t exactly paupers, but today seemed different.
Perhaps it was because he sensed this was a test. If he had to guess, Mr. Nussbaumer wanted to see if he could handle the political side of a superintendent’s work. His brother always said he could charm their mother out of her last penny, but could he work a group of men? His lips curled. Certainly not like Tessa could.
Mr. Nussbaumer greeted several of the men in the casual circle and then introduced Reese. While they were polite to him, they directed all of their conversation to Mr. Nussbaumer.
Reese glanced around the haphazard backyard garden. Some would say it was pretty, but it lacked something. He wasn’t sure what, but Tessa would know. Too bad she couldn’t join him. She’d enjoy a fine affair such as this with all of the ladies turned out in their afternoon finery.
His gaze swept the lawn and came to a halt on the dance floor. He wasn’t much of a dancer, but for her, he might even give it a whirl.
Mr. Nussbaumer nudged him. “Don’t you agree, Mr. King?”
“Uh, yes, of course.” His eyes didn’t leave the dancing couples. Was that—
A heavyset man chuckled. “I think your young friend is distracted by the bunny hug.”
It wasn’t the dance that distracted him, it was the dancer. More specifically, it was one girl. His girl. And in the arms of another man.
22
With her cheek pressed against Edward’s, Tessa moved in time to the song with a ragtime beat. The bunny hug was such a silly-sounding name for a dance, but Edward said it was one of his favorites, so she’d accepted his invitation once again. Unlike the waltz or two-step, on this song the floor belonged to a spattering of the younger set.
As the dance dictated, they spun back to back with one another and linked arms, then Edward turned and placed his hands on Tessa’s waist. With her back pressed against his chest, he lifted her feet from the floor and swung her like the pendulum of a clock.
She giggled at the giddy sensation and the gasps from some of the onlookers. Apparently this crowd hadn’t witnessed the bunny hug often. When they whirled, she scanned the crowd for more shocked expressions.
Her steps faltered.
Only Edward’s arm kept her from tripping. “Are you okay?”
“No, I don’t think I am.” She locked eyes with Reese across the lawn as the last notes of the song drifted on the wind. His face was awash in emotion.
Hurrying down the stairs, she hiked up the front of her skirt and raced across the yard.
“Tessa!” Edward called after her.
She ignored him. She had to make Reese understand.
As she neared, she slowed her approach, but Reese held up his palm, telling her to stop. He shook his head and mouthed the words “not now” before returning to his conversation with the men nearby.
Not now? He want
ed her to wait to explain what he’d seen? She could only imagine what he was thinking. For his own good, she should march over there and insist he speak to her.
But he was standing with Mr. Nussbaumer. What would happen to Reese’s possible advancement if they had some sort of public display?
Edward caught up to her and took hold of her elbow. “What’s going on?”
She shook her arm free. “Don’t touch me.”
“Tessa, why are you acting like this?” Edward glanced over his shoulder, apparently following her line of sight. “Who’s that with Fred Nussbaumer? Reese?”
She nodded.
“And he saw us dancing.” His shoulders deflated. “I’ll speak to him, Tessa.”
“No, I’ll take care of this.” She turned to leave, but Edward caught her arm.
“Remember why you’re here. You can’t just take off.”
“Edward, please.”
“Let go of her.” Reese’s voice rumbled like thunder.
Tessa whirled. Mouth rigid, jaw flexing, Reese seemed ready to start a war. Cheese and crackers, was he going to hit Edward over the bunny hug?
Edward jerked his hand away from her. “I apologize, Miss Gregory. I’ve overstepped, but I wanted to express my thanks for the dance.”
“I bet you did.” Reese clenched his fists.
Tessa stepped between them. “You’re welcome, Mr. Ferrell.” Her voice sounded false, even to her. “You’re an excellent dance partner.” Did Reese catch her subtle emphasis on the word dance?
Dipping his head, Edward took his leave, and Tessa turned to Reese. His expression remained stony.
“Was he bothering you?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “And I want the truth.”
“No! Edward’s a perfect gentleman.”
“It’s Edward now?”
Her back stiffened. Tessa didn’t like the tone of his voice, and she didn’t like the accusation in his eyes. “I believe he’s always been Edward. I think that’s what his mother named him at birth.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” His scowl deepened. “Wait a minute. Wasn’t Edward the man you met for lunch the day you were late to the park?”
“Reese King, if you have questions to ask, then do so.”
“All right. Who is Edward Ferrell, and why were you dancing cheek to cheek with him?”
Like an invading vine, jealousy had wrapped itself around Reese’s heart, but that hadn’t been what spurred him to action. When he’d seen Tessa being manhandled, he couldn’t keep from intervening—even if it cost him the coveted position at Como.
Tessa glanced around and he followed her gaze. Several guests seemed to be watching the two of them. “Let’s talk about this somewhere more private.”
When they reached a garden bench behind a hedge of lilacs, Tessa sat down. Reese, however, remained standing. He steeled his heart. If the two of them couldn’t trust one another, they had nothing.
“Like I told you, Edward and I are friends. He has a girl back at college—her name is Eve—but he does have a lot of connections. Since you said you had plans today, I took him up on his offer to escort me to this garden party. I couldn’t afford to miss an opportunity to speak to so many important people about the conservatory.”
“When I saw you, you weren’t exactly talking to anyone.”
She sighed. “It’s a dance, Reese.”
“I’m not socially incompetent. I’ve seen dances, and that wasn’t a waltz.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “It’s called the bunny hug. It’s a new one.”
“Like the turkey trot?”
“Yes.” She smiled as if she thought she was making progress. “Reese, trust me. Dancing at these soirees is par for the course. It’s what is expected of a young lady. If I want to fit in, that’s what I have to do. I’d be an outcast if I refused. If it wasn’t Edward asking me, it would be some other young man.”
“So if you stay, you’ll have to do that dance again with some other fellow?”
“If I’m asked. I could make up an excuse or . . .”
The chasm between their two worlds widened. Perhaps it was the difference in money or perhaps it was a difference in the roles of their two sexes, but either way, Tessa faced a whole new set of expectations he’d never considered. No wonder she bristled against all of the constrictions.
“I apologize for upsetting you.” She lowered her face and seemed to study her shoes, which peeked from beneath her skirt. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
He sat down beside her, took her hand, and traced circles with his thumb. “And I’m sorry I acted like a jealous lunatic. I’ll apologize to Edward too, but no more bunny hugging with anyone except me, okay?”
She chuckled. “You know the bunny hug?”
“No, but I know how to hug. How hard can it be to learn the rest?”
As a dancer, Reese left something to be desired in his bunny hug, but as a man of his word, he figured he ranked among the best. He apologized to Edward and solicited his help in keeping Tessa out of trouble. Out of the corner of his eye, he was certain he saw Edward and Tessa exchange a look, and he prayed she hadn’t talked him into helping her with anything dangerous.
He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be the first person who had told her not to do something. For starters, he imagined he’d have to stand in line behind her sisters.
“I need to get back to Mr. Nussbaumer.” Reese glanced in his boss’s direction.
“He’s speaking to the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Noyes,” Edward said. “Why don’t you let me introduce the two of you? I went to school with their son.”
Tessa bit her lip. “But Reese, if Mr. Nussbaumer sees that you’re with me—”
“I don’t care, Tessa.”
“But I do. I don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize that position for you.”
“If I may be so bold . . .” Edward cleared his throat. “Tessa, you came with me. Perhaps we can continue that ruse for now.” He glanced from her to Reese.
Reese frowned. The thought of someone else claiming Tessa, even if it wasn’t real, sent a fresh jolt of jealously writhing through him.
“I can open doors for Tessa and for the Como project. Just watch how Tessa works these people. It’s amazing, and I promise I don’t have any other designs on her.”
Reese’s jaw ticked, but it wasn’t his decision to make. “Tessa can decide for herself. She’s had people telling her what to do all her life, and I don’t want to be another one. If that’s what she wants to do, I’m fine with it.”
Edward raised his eyebrows. “Tessa?”
She pinched the brim of her hat between her finger and thumb and pulled it down until it tipped alluringly. “What I want and what I have to do aren’t the same thing right now.” She cocked a sassy smile at Reese, then slipped her hand in the crook of Edward’s arm. “Shall we?”
For the second time today, Reese had to see Tessa with another man, and he didn’t like it one bit.
Swallowing the distaste in his mouth, he followed the couple. Sometimes you had to make sacrifices when you loved someone.
But one thing was for sure, when it came time to leave, Tessa Gregory would be going with him—not Edward Ferrell.
23
Sam had not yet reached the front door when James Ferrell’s Packard pulled into the driveway of her home. He’d ignored her entirely today at the capitol. It would serve him right if she refused to see him.
But that would be childish.
“Samantha.” Jolly to a fault, he walked toward her. “I tried to find you after my speech, but we must have missed one another.”
“You must need glasses.”
“Why?”
“Because I was right in front of you.” She put her hand on the doorknob.
He covered her wrinkled hand with his. “You’re right. I did see you. Sometimes my position requires more in the line of duty than enjoyment.”
She sighed. He was right, of course,
but it hadn’t felt that way today. Something inside her said there was more to it, but she hadn’t been involved with a man for a long time. Perhaps her instincts were as rusty as her joints.
“Samantha, I’ve come over here to ask you to join me this afternoon at Fort Snelling. There’s to be a military review in honor of the retirement of Brigadier General Walter, and I was asked to attend. Afterward I hope to visit the soldiers in the post hospital. I promise it won’t be like today. I won’t leave your side.”
“I can handle being alone, and you know it.”
“Then you’ll go?”
She waited a few seconds before nodding.
He glanced at her attire and touched her suffrage sash. “You might want to change.”
“Out of my bloomers or out of the sash?”
“I thought you might be more comfortable in a dress.”
“These”—she tugged on the sides of her bloomers—“are very comfortable.” She looked into his face. “James, what you meant to say was you’d be more comfortable with me in a dress. If we’re to have any kind of relationship beyond friendship, perhaps you had better say what you’re thinking.”
“All right. I’d be more comfortable at this formal affair with the woman I am escorting wearing a dress.”
“Very good. Why don’t you wait in the foyer while I change?”
Samantha made quick work of selecting a modest violet walking suit Tessa had insisted she purchase at the beginning of the season. But at the last minute, she added one more thing to her outfit and descended the stairs.
James’s eyes widened. He blinked not once but twice, as if he could make the suffrage sash lying diagonally across her suit disappear by sheer will.
She stopped in front of him. “Shall we go?”
“You’re not going to, um, wear that, are you?”
Touching the rim of her hat, she feigned ignorance. “You don’t like my hat?”
“No, I was talking about your sash.”
“You still haven’t learned to say what you mean.” She slipped the sash off and laid it on the entry table. “Of course I wouldn’t put you in that kind of position. This was a test, and you, Senator Ferrell, have failed.”
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