by Jody Hedlund
“That doesn’t mean we have to get married now.” His eyes were hard and determined.
She reached for his hands, clasping them both in hers. “You were born to be the leader of your father’s company. It’s time to show him that.” She wouldn’t tell him all Bradford had done to undermine his part in the competition. It wasn’t her story to tell. Nevertheless, the thought of Bradford being in charge sent chills up her spine.
Thornton studied her face, his eyes turning grave. “I already abdicated the contest to Bradford yesterday at his wedding. He’s probably in father’s room right now with the lawyer, signing the papers that will give him control of the company.”
A surge of indignation stormed through Elise. “Then we have to go stop him. Right now.”
“It’s too late.”
“Not if we hurry.” She began to tug him toward the door. “We’ll get Reverend Bedell to perform the ceremony in the chapel.”
Thornton followed her a few steps before halting.
“Let’s go,” she urged.
He didn’t budge. Instead he drew her back to himself and wrapped his arms around her. She was tempted to wiggle free, knock him over the head, and drag him down to the chapel by his feet if need be. But the tenderness in his eyes brought her to a standstill.
“Are you sure?” he asked quietly.
His question was the same one he’d asked that day in Quincy before he left. Maybe she hadn’t known then what she wanted. But she had no doubts anymore. She wanted to marry Thornton, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. Whether he was leader of the company or not. Whatever would come their way, she wanted to be by his side. Forever.
“I love you, Thornton Quincy.” There was no hesitation in her declaration this time. “And together we can do this.”
He stared long and hard into her eyes as though searching deep into her soul. Finally he nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter 25
Reverend Bedell stood before them, his expression solemn but his eyes kind. “Forasmuch as Thornton and Elise have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring and by the joining of hands . . .”
Thornton held Elise’s hand and slid on the ring that had once belonged to her mother.
“I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
His heart was filled with wonder that this beautiful, amazing creature before him was now his wife. Never in his wildest imagination could he have believed when he’d left home tonight to get away from the drama playing out in Father’s bedroom without him that he’d find Elise and end up marrying her.
He hadn’t planned to stop by the mission at all. He’d only done so on a whim to check on Marianne and to see if she had any leads on Sophie. Of course, he had his own private investigator still working on the case. But since he felt responsible for all that had happened to the young women, he’d had a hard time resting, especially thinking about how distressed Elise was about Sophie’s disappearance.
Elise glanced up at him from beneath her long lashes, her eyes almost shy, and yet somehow impossibly seductive.
A fuse had been lit upstairs in the bedroom when he kissed her, and now it was sizzling. It was probably a good thing they wouldn’t have a prolonged courtship. The thought that tonight he’d get to take her to his bed made his gut cinch. As though his thoughts were written clearly on his face, she lowered her lashes. Her cheeks took on a pink glow.
“Would you like to kiss your bride?” Reverend Bedell asked with a knowing smile.
“No need to ask, Reverend,” Thornton quipped. “I’ll take every chance I can get.” He tilted his head and she met him, her lips as eager as his. The kiss was warm and firm and filled with a promise of all that would come later.
But for now, he broke the connection at the same time she did. They had no time to spare. He reached to shake the reverend’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Reverend Bedell nodded and waved at the door. “Go now. We’ll have time to talk later.” The chapel was surprisingly full on such short notice, with Miss Pendleton and Marianne in the front row. Other women who boarded there had come down from the dining room with their children to witness the wedding. Even blind Isaiah was present at the back of the room.
Elise hugged Miss Pendleton before turning to Marianne and giving her a tight hug and kiss. After a flurry of hurried good-byes, they were outside in the carriage that Thornton had left waiting out front, and they were driving through the dark evening toward the Quincy mansion.
Elise’s words from earlier resounded into the far corners of his mind. “You were born to be the leader of your father’s company. It’s time to show him that.”
Her gloved hand slipped into his. “Even if he doesn’t reward you with the leadership, you’ll at least get to tell him how you feel.”
Thornton squeezed her fingers, then wrapped his arm around her, dragging her into the crook of his body. “I’d much rather spend time alone with you.” He bent and let his lips graze the smooth silk of her neck.
She sucked in a breath that stirred him and only made him want to kiss her until both of them were breathless. But she pulled away slightly. “Later, Thornton.” Her voice was shaky with a desire she couldn’t hide. “For now, you need to focus on the task at hand.”
Although he didn’t like it, he knew she was right. He needed to pray for wisdom and strength to say the right things to his father. What would he say to the man who’d snubbed him all his life? What could he say to make things right?
He realized that was what he really wanted to do. He wanted this last opportunity, not to try to persuade his father to give him the company. Not even to make his father proud of him. He simply wanted the chance to make peace with him.
For too long he’d been seeking his father’s approval. He’d thought that if he were like Bradford, his father would love him more. But since living in Quincy, he learned he wanted to be different. He liked being his own person with his own ideas and plans and dreams. If his father didn’t approve of who he was becoming, then Thornton would have to be all right with that. Ultimately, what mattered was living in a way that pleased his heavenly Father.
When the carriage pulled into the semicircular drive that led to his home, Elise gasped. She was staring at the sprawling estate. Lantern light glowed in many of the arched windows so that the brownstone mansion sparkled like a diamond in the dark.
He tried to see the house the way she did. With its three stories four bays wide, the mansard roof and side gable, it wasn’t necessarily fancy, but he supposed it was imposing. His father had never flaunted their family wealth. Still, the home clearly made a statement about the Quincy riches and power.
“Thornton,” she said in a low voice, “I will live with you here if that’s what you need. But I have to admit, I’d much rather return to Quincy.”
“We’ll live wherever you want,” he said.
She turned to face him, her pretty forehead creased with anxiety. “Won’t you need to be here for business?”
“Quincy is actually the perfect location for land development in Illinois.” Once Bradford became president of the company, he probably wouldn’t care where Thornton lived, so long as he didn’t attempt to interfere with how he ran the company. “I can always travel back here on occasion.”
“Then you won’t mind if I continue to work and manage your restaurant?”
“As a matter of fact, I will mind.”
She bit her lip, as if she wanted to argue with him but was holding herself back.
He smiled. “I’d be much happier if you manage your restaurant.”
“My restaurant?”
“It’s yours now. My wedding present to you.”
Her eyes widened with understanding, and her lips curved into a sm
ile. “I couldn’t accept. It’s much too generous.”
“Your other wedding present will be a house, of course. In the spring I’ll build you the biggest house in town.”
“Thornton . . .” Her voice chastised him, but her expression was filled with pleasure—a pleasure he wanted to put there again and again the rest of her life. “I don’t need a big home.”
“Yes, you do. So that we can accommodate your sisters and the two little ones once we find them.” His eyes focused on her lips. “And so that we have plenty of room for all our own babies.”
She swayed toward him as though unable to resist him. He started to pull her against him, needing to kiss her again and never stop. But then the carriage came to a halt, jerking him back to reality.
A footman stood waiting on the front stoop, ready to open the door. It was time to do what he should have done long ago.
As he made his way up the spiraling staircase and down the long hallway to his father’s rooms, he couldn’t speak. Elise didn’t attempt to engage him in conversation either, for which he was grateful. She seemed to sense his inner turmoil and held his hand tightly, lending her silent support.
Rupert had indicated that Bradford, Mr. Morgan, and Father had just gathered. The butler had offered to escort him and interrupt the meeting on his behalf, but Thornton needed to do it himself.
“Very well, sir,” Rupert said with a bow. He held out a telegram envelope. “A messenger delivered this while you were gone.”
It was from Mr. Gray in Quincy. Thornton tucked it in his vest pocket. He’d read it later, after his meeting with father. There wasn’t time now. Besides, if there were any problems in Quincy, he didn’t want them to ruffle his confidence.
At the bedchamber door, Thornton lifted his knuckles to knock, but then changed his mind and opened the door unannounced. Mr. Morgan stopped speaking mid-sentence, and three pairs of eyes shifted to stare at him and Elise. His father was propped up in bed against a mound of pillows, the bed curtains opened wide. His face was pale and drawn, his lips pinched in obvious pain.
“Thornton?” Bradford didn’t move from his spot next to Mr. Morgan, but as his gaze shifted to Elise, his eyes widened with both recognition and disbelief. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Elise to be there, which was strange considering Bradford was well aware, after Marianne’s visit the night of the dinner party, Thornton had arranged for Elise to come to New York City as soon as possible.
Why would Bradford be surprised? Unless he hadn’t wanted Elise to come . . .
Thornton touched his vest pocket where he’d stuffed the telegram from Mr. Gray. Why was Mr. Gray sending him a telegram and not Hewitt? His assistant, not Mr. Gray, was always the one to update him on conditions in Quincy while he was gone. What had happened to Hewitt?
A strange prickling skittered up Thornton’s spine.
At the same time, cautious shadows shifted across Bradford’s face. “Do you mind waiting outside until we finish our business?”
“No, let Thornton come in.” Father waved at Thornton weakly. “I want your brother here.”
Bradford hesitated, then nodded. “Very well. But your friend will need to wait in the sitting room.” This time he tossed Elise a derisory glance.
Thornton’s entire body flinched as though Bradford had punched him. At the same moment, anger surged through his veins. “That friend happens to be my wife.”
Bradford’s eyes darkened with something like fear.
Was Bradford afraid? If so, of what? Elise? Before Thornton could read further into Bradford’s thoughts, his twin composed his expression into stoicism. “Then I guess congratulations are in order.” Bradford’s tone was cold, as if he were issuing the command to a firing squad rather than to newlyweds.
“I don’t understand.” Their father attempted to sit up straight, and the doctor’s assistant rushed over from a corner to help him. “I thought you called off your wedding.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Bradford said before Thornton could reply. “This woman is nothing more than a poor German immigrant who latched on to Thornton for his money and power. Thornton is clearly desperate to do whatever he can to win the contest and so agreed to marry her regardless of the shame such a union will bring to the Quincy name.”
Thornton’s blood ran hot with anger. “Don’t talk about my wife that way.” Thornton started toward Bradford, his muscles tensed with the need to slam his fist into the man’s face. But Elise’s grip on his arm stopped him.
“Don’t, Thornton,” she said calmly, her blue eyes imploring him to stay focused on the reason he’d come.
Thornton took a deep breath before stepping back to Elise and wrapping his arm around her waist and drawing strength from her. “I didn’t come here to argue with you, Bradford.” He pulled Mr. Gray’s telegram from his pocket. “And I won’t open this telegram from my stationmaster back in Quincy, although I’m growing more curious why he contacted me.”
Bradford’s face blanched at the sight of the telegram, which told Thornton more than he’d wanted to know, what he’d wanted to deny. Bradford had been sabotaging his efforts in Quincy in order to win the contest. The thought hurt more than angered Thornton.
“If you want Quincy Enterprises enough that you’d ruin our relationship in order to have it, then it’s yours.” Thornton spat the words. “I love Elise too much to have you drag her name and reputation through the muck simply to make yourself look better. In fact, I wasn’t planning to marry her tonight. I wanted to wait so she’d know without a doubt I was marrying her because I loved her and not to win the competition. I only did it because she insisted, because she believes in me and my leadership.”
Father struggled again to sit up straighter, grabbing the assistant’s arms to aid him, all the while staring at Elise, his eyes unusually big in his gaunt face.
Her fingers tightened against Thornton’s, the only sign she was nervous. Standing next to him in her beautiful blue gown with her blond hair pulled back in a simple but elegant style, she looked every bit as regal and ladylike as his mother always had. He was proud to call a woman like Elise his wife. He’d be proud of her even if she’d worn her simple work clothes and had plaited her hair into the usual coil.
She squeezed his hand and nodded at him.
He squared his shoulders and faced his father. “Maybe my methods of town development have seemed strange to you, but I wouldn’t change a single thing about the way I managed Quincy, except that I didn’t show more compassion and kindness to the people there sooner. My only regret about abdicating this contest to Bradford is that I won’t be able to put my ideas and practices into effect all along the Illinois Central in the towns yet to be developed.”
“It’s a good thing you won’t be able to,” Bradford said. “You’d run this company and our reputation into the ground.”
Thornton ignored his brother and addressed his father. “I believe towns will thrive when the people are treated with understanding, when we listen to their concerns, and when we do our best to meet those needs rather than simply treating them like numbers on our charts to be added or subtracted without consideration.”
Bradford scoffed. “As if they really know what they need.”
Father waved his hand impatiently at Bradford. “Let Thornton finish.”
Thornton took a deep breath and cast a silent prayer heavenward for the hardest part of what he needed to do. He met his father’s gaze, which surprisingly was as clear and direct as it had always been, and strangely filled with expectation.
“The fact is, Father, I’m not like Bradford, and I never will be. I’ve tried for so long to be like him so that I could make you proud of me. But I’ve finally realized that, whether I ever make you proud or not, I’m my own man. I’m proud of myself and all I accomplished in Quincy. And that’s really all that matters.”
His father didn’t say anything. Against the towering stack of pillows, he appeared small and frail and even paler. For a moment, Thornton waver
ed, all the old insecurities blowing back, bitter and cold. Had he said too much? Maybe he should leave now before his father could think of a reply.
No. He gripped Elise’s hand harder. He wasn’t walking away. He wasn’t cowering. He wasn’t bowing to his father or Bradford and their strong, domineering personalities. Whether they approved of him or not, he’d done what God had wanted. That was all the approval he needed.
“I believe I’d make a good leader of this company and bring prosperity to the Illinois Central with my philosophy.” He met his father’s gaze again, this time unswerving. “However, I’m unwilling to compromise who I am and the woman I love in order to win your approval or win the competition. I’d rather lose the company than lose my integrity.”
Thornton fell silent then as a sense of peace whispered through him. He’d done it. He’d finally stood up to his father as the man he was, without pretense. Elise’s shoulder brushed against him, and when he glanced down to the pride shining in her eyes, he smiled. He couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and claimed a kiss, a quick one, but soft and earnest nonetheless.
She smiled back up at him. And he knew that her smile was all he needed, that he’d be content the rest of his earthly life with her by his side. Anything else would just be a bonus. “I guess it’s time for us to go,” he said with finality.
“Yes, it would seem that way,” Bradford said.
“Not yet,” Father said in a weak voice.
Bradford frowned but refrained from contradicting their father.
“I wasn’t sure either one of you would be suitable for taking over the company,” Father said so softly Thornton almost couldn’t hear him. “What with Thornton’s lack of a backbone and Bradford cheating—”
“I haven’t cheated,” Bradford started.
Their father nodded at Mr. Morgan, who’d stepped back against the wall. The short man was wearing his usual tall top hat, which obscured his face. “Mr. Morgan received regular reports from both towns so that we could keep abreast of every detail of what the two of you were doing.”