A Lady's Choice

by Sandra Robbins

He opened his mouth to say no. Instead words he hardly recognized came out. “Yes, Lydia, I’d like for you to put through a long distance call for me.”

  “Certainly, sir. Who are you calling?”

  “I want to speak with Ben Cooper in Washington, D.C. He’s a law school friend, and he’s practicing in a firm with Dudley Malone and Matthew O’Brien.”

  Her eyebrows arched, and her back stiffened. “Yes, sir.”

  She turned to leave, but Alex held out his hand. “Wait a minute. Do I detect some misgivings in your attitude?”

  Lydia turned and faced him. “No, sir, it’s just that I’ve heard of these lawyers. They are very active in the suffrage movement. I’m not sure Mr. Buckley would like you associating with anyone in that firm.”

  Alex narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “Let me remind you, Lydia, that you work for me. It’s not the other way around. Until Mr. Buckley removes you or me, it is not your place to comment on who I do or don’t speak with. Now please get my friend on the phone without any more delay.”

  Lydia’s face flamed bright red, and Alex swallowed back his regret at how he’d spoken to her. She lifted her chin and nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll get him right away.”

  It was only a few minutes before Lydia let him know the call had been completed. He smiled when Ben’s voice echoed on the line. “Hello.”

  “Ben, this is Alex Taylor down in Memphis. How’re things going in Washington?”

  “Alex.” Ben’s greeting reminded Alex of how his good-natured friend had seen him through a lot of long-night study sessions. “I’ve been wondering how you were doing. Is there any special reason you’re calling?”

  “Will and I are attending the same church in Memphis, and we talk about you a lot. He told me where you were working. I understand your firm has an interest in the suffrage movement.”

  “Yeah. The two senior partners are supporters of Alice Paul, and they’re monitoring the situation with her supporters.”

  Alex sat up straight in his chair and frowned. “Do you think there may be some problems?”

  “We’re not really sure. Her silent sentinels are demonstrating outside the White House every day, and they’re attracting big crowds. Some of those folks are quite vocal to the women. We hope it doesn’t turn into something bad.”

  Alex swallowed his fear. “Look, Ben. I want to ask a favor of you.”

  “Sure. What do you need?”

  “There’s a young woman in Washington working with Alice Paul. Her name is Sarah Whittaker. Or if she’s gotten married, it could be Thorne. No matter what her name is, would you mind keeping an eye on her for me? She doesn’t have any immediate family, and I want to know if she gets sick or hurt.”

  Ben chuckled. “Is this girl close to you?”

  Alex exhaled. “Yeah, but it’s complicated. I just want to make sure she’s all right.”

  “I’ll do what I can, Alex. I’m going to be out of town for a while later this summer. I’m getting married, and my wife and I are taking an extended honeymoon in Europe.”

  Alex laughed. “It sounds like you must be making a lot of money.”

  “I’m doing all right, but my future father-in-law is the one with the money. He’s paying for the honeymoon. I’ll think about you when I’m in Paris.”

  “Yeah, you do that. It’s good to talk to you, and I wish you well in your marriage.”

  “Thanks, Alex. I’ll keep an ear open for anything you need to know about your girl.”

  “Thank you. Good-bye, Ben.”

  Alex hung up and sat there thinking about Sarah. Why did he have this feeling that something wasn’t right in Washington? He pushed up from his desk and walked back to the window.

  The storm had passed, and the dark clouds now traveled to the east. The sun now shone in the sky, but it didn’t relieve the dark fog that had hung in his mind for days. Then a new fear entered his mind. The murky shadows that seeped from the recesses of his mind might just be a premonition of bad things yet to come.

  Sarah pecked at the keys on the typewriter with her index fingers and muttered under her breath at her lack of skills as she tried to type the handwritten list of today’s demonstrators.

  “Your willingness to try anything impresses me.”

  Sarah turned in her chair and smiled at Marian Douglas who stood there. “I never did learn how to type, so I have to use the hunt-and-peck method.”

  Marian sat down opposite her and crossed her legs. “You’re doing an excellent job, and everyone appreciates the effort you’re making to fit in here.”

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

  Sarah noted a small frown wrinkle Marian’s forehead. “Sarah, Alice asked me to talk to you about Roger. He comes here every day to drop you off and pick you up. I’m afraid he’s becoming something of a nuisance. It’s as if he’s trying to impress all of us with his commitment.”

  Sarah quaked at Marian’s words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he was in the way. Maybe I could ask him not to come inside.”

  Marian shook her head. “It’s not that he’s in the way. It’s his manner with everyone. He brags about all the money he’s spent to get you in the movement and tells everyone how he rescued you from obscurity and made you an activist in Memphis.”

  “Well, he and his aunt have done a lot for me. I owe them more than I can ever repay.”

  Marian leaned forward and took Sarah’s hand. “He’s beginning to pester Alice to let you picket at the White House. He’s offered her a lot of money for the campaign if she will let you go with the others. It appears he thinks his money can buy him anything he wants.”

  Sarah’s mouth dropped open, and she frowned. “Oh Marian, I’m so sorry. I don’t want Miss Paul to be angry with me. I knew nothing about this. Roger knew I asked Miss Paul about joining the pickets. I’m sure he only wants to give me what he thinks I want.”

  Marian looked into her eyes. “Does he want it for you, or does he have some selfish reason for himself? Why did he really bring you to Washington?”

  The question surprised Sarah, and she searched for an answer. “W–well, he says he’s in love with me and wants to marry me, but I’ve told him repeatedly that I won’t marry him.”

  “Did he think by bringing you to Washington you might be so grateful that you would marry him?”

  Sarah shook her head. “But he didn’t bring me here. Our group in Memphis sent Mrs. Simpson and me. Roger only came along to make sure we were safe.”

  “You think your suffrage group sent you here?”

  “I don’t think. I know. Roger is on the executive committee of our group in Memphis. When he came home from one of the meetings, he said they wanted me to represent them since no one else could get away at that time of year.”

  “But if I understood correctly, you were teaching school. How did you manage that?”

  Marian’s questions were beginning to cause Sarah some concern, and she fidgeted in her chair. “Roger owns the school, but Mrs. Simpson runs it. She hired a substitute for my classes.”

  “I see.” Marian sighed, took off her glasses, and rubbed her eyes. “Sarah, there’s something you need to know. Alice had a phone call from Mrs. Windsor in Memphis. She had called to check on you and see how you were making it since she hadn’t heard from Mrs. Simpson or Roger. In the course of the conversation she mentioned that she and another lady were making plans to come to Washington, but Roger persuaded them to let you come in their places. In fact he donated a large sum of money to the Memphis group in exchange for him to bring you and his aunt.”

  “What?” Sarah stared at Marion in disbelief. “There must be some mistake.”

  “It’s true. When Alice told Mrs. Windsor that Mrs. Simpson has done very little since she’s been here, Mrs. Windsor said that didn’t surprise her. Evidently she does very little in their group too.”

  Sarah jumped to her feet and began to wring her hands. “Oh, this is terrible, but I assure you I knew nothing about this.
I thought I had the wholehearted endorsement of the group.” Another thought hit her, and she placed her hands on her burning cheeks. “Oh, what Miss Paul must think.”

  Marian shook her head. “She thinks you’re a very dedicated worker, but she’s concerned about your involvement with Mrs. Simpson and Mr. Thorne. I know you don’t have any family, but surely someone else must have warned you to be careful in your association with them.”

  The memory of Alex questioning her about the letter she received from them before her mother’s death popped into her mind. “Someone tried to, but I wouldn’t listen.” She swallowed and asked the question she feared to ask. “Does Miss Paul want me to leave?”

  Marian shook her head. “Of course not. She’s very fond of you, and she thinks you do a good job. We felt you needed to know this.”

  “I did need to know. I must do something, but I don’t know what. I can’t give up the work here. Since the time I saw suffragists marching in downtown Memphis, I’ve known my destiny lay with this cause.”

  “What are you going to do about Roger’s proposal?”

  “The same thing I’ve been doing since he first spoke of it, tell him no. I don’t want—”

  The front door burst open before Sarah could finish her sentence. Henrietta Morris, a new volunteer from the Boston area, ran into the room. She stopped just inside the door and bent forward, her hair disheveled and her arms crossed at her waist. She panted for breath, and tears streamed down the girl’s pudgy cheeks.

  “Miss Paul! Miss Paul! Come quick!” she cried.

  Alice came running from her office. “What is it?”

  Sarah and Marian ran to the girl who was struggling to speak. Between sobs she gulped out her message. “They’ve been arrested! The pickets have been arrested and taken to police headquarters.”

  Unable to move or speak, Sarah glanced at Marian, who appeared just as shocked as she. Alice grabbed Henrietta’s shoulders and gave the girl a gentle shake. “Arrested? Who arrested them?”

  “The police. They took them away in a police wagon. They said they were obstructing sidewalk traffic and arrested all of them.”

  Alice turned to Sarah and Marian. “I’m going to police headquarters. You stay here and see if you can calm Henrietta. I’ll be back as soon as I know anything.”

  With that Alice charged from the office into the street. Sarah put her arms around the girl and led her to a room in the back that housed two cots. She settled Henrietta on one of the cots and went to the kitchen, where Marian had already poured water from the kettle for a cup of tea.

  Marian raised anguished eyes to Sarah. “I knew this would happen. It was only a matter of time.”

  Together they took Henrietta the tea and then left her to rest. Sarah walked back to the desk and sat down at the typewriter. She picked up her list of today’s demonstrators and with a heavy heart read their names.

  Chapter Twenty

  In the week since Alice had told Sarah about Roger’s deception, she hadn’t been able to confront him. She wanted to, but she had mixed feelings about the matter. As angry as she was that he had paid the Memphis group to sponsor her, she still was glad she had been given the opportunity.

  Every night she had tossed and turned trying to decide what to do. Confront him or ignore the situation? Deciding hadn’t been easy, but now she knew what she must do and couldn’t put it off any longer.

  She took a sip from her second cup of coffee and rose from the dining room table just as Dora appeared at the kitchen door. “Are you through with your breakfast, Miss Sarah?”

  “I am, Dora. Thank you.”

  Dora stacked Sarah’s dishes and picked them up. “When are you leaving for headquarters?”

  “I’m not sure. Mr. Thorne will be here any time now, but I’m not sure I’m going today.”

  Dora’s mouth dropped open, and she frowned. “You’re not sick, are you?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. I just may take the day off.”

  Dora narrowed her eyes, and cast a suspicious look in Sarah’s direction. “Are you sure you ain’t sick? It’s not like you to miss a day.”

  “No, I’m not sick. I’m going in the parlor to wait for Mr. Thorne. I’ll talk with you later.”

  Dora backed toward the kitchen door, but she didn’t take her eyes off Sarah. “I have to go to the market to pick up some things for Mrs. Simpson, but I won’t be gone long. I’ll check on you when I get back.”

  “All right, Dora.”

  Sarah walked to the parlor and sank down on the brocade sofa that faced the fireplace. She clasped her hands in her lap and waited for Roger. He should arrive any minute, for he was never late. As if she’d conjured him up, the door opened, and he walked into the house.

  His eyes lit up when he spotted her on the sofa, and he eased down beside her. “Aren’t you ready to go?”

  Sarah nodded and let her gaze drift over him. Since they’d been in Washington, Roger had appeared to relax, and he’d acted happier and looked healthier than he had in months. Perhaps it was being away from the stress of his business in Memphis and the hours he’d spent on the golf course since arriving in Washington that had brought about the change. Whatever it was, he seemed to have benefited, and she hoped he didn’t get too upset over what she was about to say.

  She sat up straight on the sofa and cleared her throat. “I need to talk to you.”

  He nodded. “All right.” Then he frowned and glanced around. “Where is Aunt Edna?”

  “A friend picked her up early this morning. They’re spending the day out at Mount Vernon.”

  “Oh yes, I forgot.” He shifted on the sofa to face her. “I think I’d like to have a cup of coffee while we’re talking. Is Dora in the kitchen?”

  “She’s getting ready to go the market, but I’ll ask her to fix you some.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll get some at the golf course after I drop you at headquarters. Now what did you want to talk to me about?”

  She took a deep breath. “I learned something last week that really upset me.” His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t move as she told him what Marion had revealed to her. When she finished, she waited for him to say something, but he didn’t move. “Aren’t you going to explain yourself, Roger? Why did you lead me to believe the Memphis group wanted me to represent them when you had really bribed them to let me take someone else’s place?”

  He stood up, walked to the fireplace, and then turned to face her. His face was void of any emotion, and that frightened Sarah more than if she’d seen anger. He stared at her as if she were some insect he was studying under a microscope. “You disappoint me, Sarah. Surely you can’t be stupid enough to believe an organization as large as our group would want to send a girl who’s lived the pampered life you have.”

  Sarah rose to her feet and bit down on her tongue to keep from giving a heated retort. Making him angry wasn’t the answer. He needed to understand how betrayed she felt. “I wouldn’t call my life pampered, Roger. I’ve lost both my parents, and I’m working so I can take care of my needs.”

  He took a step toward her, and his mouth curled into a sneer. “Your needs are being very well taken care of, my dear. You’ve been furnished a place to live, given all your meals, and paid a salary too. I think that sounds rather pampered.”

  “I understood I was given room and board as part of my salary.”

  Roger threw back his head and laughed. “Do any of the other teachers get anything extra? Poor Christine didn’t. She could barely make ends meet.”

  Sarah closed her eyes for a moment to digest the things Roger had said. When she opened them, he was staring at her, one eyebrow cocked. “I suppose I am a foolish girl. I can see now I was given special treatment, and it makes me ashamed. The other teachers must hate me.”

  Roger shrugged. “Who cares what they think? I’m sure they suspected your special treatment was because you’re going to marry me.”

  Sarah gasped and shook her head. “Roger, I have to
ld you repeatedly I don’t want to marry you. When are you going to believe me?”

  His eyes narrowed, and he took a menacing step toward her. “And when are you going to understand you have no choice? I have given you a comfortable life, and I’ve arranged for you to get to do what you’ve dreamed about. You owe me, and I intend for you to repay your debt.”

  She heard the words, but she couldn’t believe what he was saying. Tears ran down her face, and she shook her head. “You have done some wonderful things for me, and I was naïve enough to think you did it out of friendship. Now I understand it was your way of manipulating me into marriage. But it’s not going to work, Roger.” She took a deep breath and pulled herself up to her full height. “Now I think I must leave this house. I have money my parents left me, and I will repay you for every penny you’ve spent on me in the past year. I’m just sorry we have to part on such bad terms.”

  She turned to leave the room, but he caught her by the arm and whirled her around to face him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Upstairs to pack. Then I’m going to call a taxi to take me to Cameron House. Maybe Alice will let me stay there for a few days until I can find a place to live.”

  His face turned pale, and he shook his head. “No, you can’t leave. I’m sorry if I made you angry. I’ll do anything if you’ll just stay.”

  “I can’t stay, Roger. I’m sorry.” She pulled loose from his grip and strode to the staircase. She had just put her foot on the first step when he called out to her.

  “Don’t leave me, Sarah. You don’t know what I’ve gone through trying to make you love me. Don’t make me do it again.”

  Sarah glanced back at him, and for a moment was almost persuaded to go to him. His shoulders drooped, and tears stood in his eyes. He reminded her of a little lost boy with nowhere to turn….

  No. She couldn’t let him manipulate her again. “I’m sorry, Roger. I’m leaving.”

  She left him standing alone in the parlor as she rushed up the stairs and to her room. There was no need to pack all her clothes at the moment. She could take only what she needed and get one of the volunteers to come back with her later for the rest.