Counterfeit Courtship

by Christina Miller

  There was that word again. Intended. “She knows we’re coming.”

  Aunt Ophelia came to a full stop on the bottom step, her brow furrowed. “How could she possibly know?”

  “Because...” The ridiculousness of the situation hit him like a flying ink barrel to the chest. Why had he told her Ellie knew they were coming? Now he had to explain and bear the embarrassment. “I...sent her a note, of sorts.”

  She nodded and stepped off the staircase. “You delivered a note saying you’d be there in five minutes. You’re right, Graham. You’re not thinking straight. Her maid probably won’t see the note until after we have left.”

  “It wasn’t exactly like that.” He didn’t want to tell her, didn’t want to confess his foolishness, but her uncharacteristic silence drove him to it. “All right, I admit to our childishness. There’s a pulley above each of our bedroom windows, and there’s a long piece of twine attached to them. We send each other notes by this system.”

  Her laughter rang out into the yard as they exited the back door and he pointed out the twine stretching above their yards. “That’s not childish,” she said. “That’s childlike. There’s a difference.”

  “What difference? A child is a child.”

  “Childishness is selfishness, greed, pettiness. Childlikeness is innocence, trust and faith.”

  Now, that was something to think about when he was alone.

  They approached Ellie’s back entrance. “We’re to walk in and head upstairs to Amos’s room.”

  “Amos.” His aunt spoke his name as if he were a cherished friend, which he was. “I hope he’s well. I haven’t seen him since his misfortune.”

  “But why? He and Uncle Willis were great friends.”

  “Yes, my Willis and Amos were the best of friends. But after Amos had this spell, he didn’t want me to come.” She stepped inside as Graham opened the door. “I’ve never understood why.”

  They took the wide staircase to the second floor, then Graham knocked on the open door to Amos’s room.

  With a flurry of pink hoopskirts, Ellie ushered them in. As he stopped to catch his breath at the sight of her the morning after their kiss, she dropped her gaze, her cheeks rosy as her dress.

  Perhaps she had as much trouble not thinking about that kiss as he did.

  “Ophelia.” Amos sat up straighter in bed—unassisted—and smoothed down his beard. “I didn’t want...”

  She hesitated, and then a knowing look came over her face. At his bedside, she reached for his hand. “I know you didn’t, Amos.”

  Didn’t what? These people had a strange way of communicating, but they seemed to understand each other.

  “Graham asked to come over and meet with us,” Ellie said.

  “What for?” The twinge of irritation in the older man’s words surprised Graham. He wasn’t sure he’d ever detected that in Amos’s voice before.

  Ellie pulled out one of the dining chairs. “Miss Ophelia, would you please be seated here next to me?”

  When they had all taken their places at the table to the side of Amos’s bed, Graham addressed the older man. “With your approval, sir, Ellie and I would like to put an idea into place.”

  He narrowed his good eye, making himself look severe. “I already told Ellie that I don’t like it.”

  What? He didn’t want Graham to be their broker? “I don’t understand. I thought you would trust me to do this.”

  “Why would I trust you with something that precious to me, when I know you’re just going to throw it away?”

  Throw it away? “I admit that men sometimes have poor judgment and make bad decisions, but I would do my best—”

  “Miss Ophelia, would you please join me in the kitchen?” Ellie sprang up from her chair and grabbed the older lady’s hand. “I have great need of your advice.”

  What now?

  “Ellie, dear, can it not wait?” Aunt Ophelia tried to pull her hand away, but Ellie didn’t give in.

  “It is of utmost importance!”

  Probably seeing that Ellie had no plan of turning loose of her, Aunt Ophelia slowly stood. “Very well, but I don’t know why it must be now—”

  “This is so gracious of you. I don’t know of anyone else I can ask.” Ellie stood back and waited for the older woman to exit the room, and then she closed the door.

  “What was that all about?” Amos asked with that slur in his voice that Graham couldn’t get used to.

  “Who knows, with those two?” Should he talk to Amos about becoming their broker, or should he wait until Ellie’s return? And what could be so important in the kitchen that she had to drag Aunt Ophelia down there before he could accept her offer?

  “I’m not worried about them. I’m worried about you and Ellie.”

  “Us? Why?”

  “Ellie told me about your plan to pretend to court. Believe me, that’s going to cause nothing but heartache.”

  Pretending to court... So that’s what Amos objected to. “I thought you referred to the fact that I am accepting Ellie’s offer to become your broker.”

  “She told me that she asked you, and I’m glad. But this courtship deception is more important than business. Every day, I pray that God will give you and Ellie wisdom to be good stewards of everything He has given you. Including your hearts.”

  More important than business? Amos must have changed in the years Graham had been gone.

  Or had he? In those last months, he’d often happened upon Amos and Father on their knees together, praying for their families. And for a solution to the problem of slavery that had pricked their hearts ever since they’d heard Charles Finney preach in New York.

  Besides, it was a little late for Graham to become a good steward of his own heart. Eight years too late. Ellie had apparently taken good care of hers. But maybe Amos knew that.

  “Ellie’s vulnerable. She tries to act as if romance means nothing to her, although I don’t know why.” Amos shifted his weight on the pillows, but whether from physical or emotional discomfort, Graham couldn’t tell. “She has a woman’s heart. Attention from you, either true or false, could lead to...an attachment.”

  If he knew about Fitzwald and his schemes, he’d think differently. And if he knew how Ellie had shunned Graham years ago, he’d see how safe she was. No, the man didn’t understand, although he surely meant well.

  “Thank you for the insight. I’ll keep it in the forefront of my mind. I promise not to let it get out of hand.”

  Amos lifted one brow, then shook his head. Graham couldn’t blame him for his doubt, since the man didn’t have all the facts.

  Or did Amos have a lot more wisdom than Graham credited him with?

  Of a sudden, Ellie’s hasty departure made sense to him. She knew her uncle disapproved of their “courtship,” and she’d seen the direction the conversation had been headed. “Amos, I believe Ellie created that diversion to ensure that my aunt wouldn’t hear us discuss the nature of our courtship. We want to keep that a secret.”

  “And Ophelia can’t keep secrets.”

  Graham smiled. “Exactly.”

  Lilah May’s soprano voice wafted into the room from down the hall as she sang her favorite hymn, “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds.” Within moments, she poked her head in the door. “Colonel, Miss Ellie sent me to ask if it was safe for her and your aunt to come back.”

  “Please tell her Amos and I have discussed our courtship.”

  “Mmm-hmm. I’ll tell her.” Lilah May’s cutting tone let Graham know she was also aware of their arrangement—and disapproved.

  This was getting embarrassing. He turned his gaze from her probing eyes and used his handkerchief to wipe the sweat gathering on his brow. Did the whole town need to know that his romance was false? It was bad enough to be spurned. Now he st
ill couldn’t get the girl he’d wanted, even if he tried. Even if he wanted to. And this entire household knew, probably down to Roman, the groom.

  “You okay? You look a little peaked.”

  Graham’s head shot up, and he saw Lilah May scrutinizing him as a young girl’s mother would pierce the heart of her renegade suitor. What was she looking for? What did she think he was going to do to Ellie? He was only trying to protect her.

  Until last night, under the magnolia where they’d stopped to rest a moment and catch their breath. Problem was, it hadn’t been restful. Hadn’t been restful at all.

  Those big blue eyes of hers, looking up at him with trust and respect, silently thanking him for protecting her from Leonard—they had nearly done him in. If anyone thought he was going to back away from her now, they were wrong.

  “Don’t you break her heart.” Lilah May’s voice brought him back to the present and to two pairs of probing eyes.

  “I’d sooner break my own neck.” And he found that he meant it.

  As she left the room, her sideways glance made him think she’d be glad to help him do just that if he trifled with her employer.

  * * *

  If Uncle Amos gave Graham the same courting talk he’d given Ellie, today might be the last day of their courtship ruse. And her disappointment at the thought surprised her more than her uncle’s outburst had.

  Disappointment aside, she needed Graham to keep Leonard at a distance. Last night proved that. Oh, she could deal with him herself, but how much more effective was a supposed fiancé in a Confederate officer’s uniform, his sidearm at his hip? Yes, she would always keep her independence, but why not use the most effective means to achieve her goal?

  Not to mention how devastatingly handsome that officer was in those cadet grays...

  “You knew I needed to talk, didn’t you?” Miss Ophelia, her hair even more haphazard than usual, sat at the kitchen worktable writing a receipt for her Lady Baltimore cake. “It was kind of you to get me away from the men, under the pretense of learning how I make my cakes.”

  No, she hadn’t, but it was no surprise. Besides, Miss Ophelia’s chattering usually required no answer, which gave Ellie plenty of thinking time. “It wasn’t pretense. Lilah May has been pestering me for this receipt.”

  “We’re so much alike, I’m not surprised that you knew I had troubles.”

  So much alike. That chill came to Ellie again, driving away the false sense of security she’d talked herself into last night so she could fall asleep. Truth was, she and Miss Ophelia were alike in many ways. Flighty at times, talking too much a lot of the time, but thinking all the time. Planning. Making a way for themselves. And praying always.

  If only Ellie didn’t have the paralyzing feeling that Miss Ophelia’s fate would also be her own...

  But in reality, she wouldn’t have that fate. If she couldn’t make it on her own, she had no relatives to take her in. And she had Uncle Amos to care for. So, no, Ellie would not wind up a poor relation living on the charity of her family.

  She’d be married to Leonard Fitzwald.

  Nothing could be worse than that.

  If she were all alone, she’d find a way to support herself, even working in a store or a hotel. But she had her uncle to think of. She could never take care of him on a working girl’s wage.

  Ellie had to hold on to Magnolia Grove. Somehow.

  She slipped her hand into her skirt pocket and touched the note Lilah May had brought her just after she and Miss Ophelia came downstairs. Joseph wanted her in his office first thing this morning—alone. With no idea what that could mean, Ellie both longed for and dreaded this meeting. Had he discovered some loophole, some restriction that could set her free from this burdensome loan? Or had something worse come upon her that she knew nothing of?

  She heard Graham trot down the stairs, no doubt tired of waiting for her to come up, his familiar running-down-the-steps gait taking her back eight years. They’d spent as much time in each other’s houses as they had their own, especially that last summer. And she’d noticed how things had begun to change between them, to get sweeter and softer, with innocent yet intentional touches of the hand, the face...

  And she’d cut it off.

  Even now she still felt the pain, the remorse of refusing him. It had been the right thing to do, but hard. So hard...

  And so lonely after he left.

  “All is well with Amos.” Graham pulled out a chair and sat with them at the table. “He accepted me as your new broker.”

  Her uncle liked her idea of Graham being their broker—and he hadn’t forbidden their supposed courtship?

  “That’s wonderful news!” Ellie sprang from her chair and flung her arms around his neck.

  He tensed and then patted her back, his hand awkward. “Wonderful.”

  Ellie pulled back. What was she thinking? About the past, that’s what. She was thinking too much about the past. She returned to her chair, her face flaming. “I’m sorry, Graham, Miss Ophelia. I forgot myself.”

  “Think nothing of it,” Miss Ophelia said. “I’m an advocate of young love.”

  “But not young foolishness.” Ellie cleared her throat and fanned her face.

  “Speaking of love,” the older woman said, “I have a solution to your courtship problem.”

  Ellie’s gaze darted to Graham. She knew their arrangement?

  “As I told Graham, Susanna Martin came to me with a story about the two of you riding out to Magnolia Grove together. It’s causing quite a stir on Pearl Street.”

  “Susanna causes trouble everywhere she goes,” Ellie said.

  “True, but you must protect your reputation, especially if Graham is going to try to become a broker in this town. People must know they can trust him. My solution is to accompany you on your daily excursions.”

  Graham took Ellie’s hand in a convincingly romantic fashion. “I’ll leave the choice up to you. Having another person along will hamper your work at Magnolia Grove. If you decide to risk being the object of gossip, we will continue going alone. I’m sure I can manage to get enough work as a broker to support all of us, even if I don’t get as much as I would otherwise.”

  “That’s true, but you deserve so much more.” Ellie turned to Miss Ophelia. “Thank you for wanting to help us. I gratefully accept, starting this afternoon.”

  “Not this morning?” Graham asked, brows raised.

  She slid him the note from Joseph. “I have to meet my attorney at nine.”

  Ellie could tell when Graham came to the line asking her to come alone. He stiffened in his seat. “Alone? No. I’m coming anyway.”

  “I’ll be all right. It’s probably nothing.” But as she said the words, she knew Joseph would not make this request without good reason.

  Things were about to change. She could feel it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Ellie, I’ve never had to do anything like this in my life, let alone to the niece of one of my best friends.” Ellie sat with Joseph in his office ten minutes later, his face drawn and rather pale for this time of year. He toyed with the stack of papers in front of him, his gaze downward. “It’s bad news.”

  Ellie dredged up a smile she didn’t feel. “I’m not sure how things could get much worse. Tell it to me all at once.”

  “It’s not that easy.” He handed her a paper. “This document shows the transfer of the Louisiana–Texas railroad from Robert Fitzwald to Edward Anderson.”

  She scanned the document, her eyes tearing up at the sight of her father’s signature. “I own a railroad.”

  “Since your father’s demise, technically, yes. It is in your uncle’s name until such time as you marry, and all your profits go into a trust fund that you can access only after your marriage.”

  A railroad
. A successful railroad that hadn’t helped Mother while she was alive and couldn’t help Ellie now. She jabbed the paper with her finger. “Then why did my mother and I have to beg for food? Why did we live in a sweltering little room above a saloon in the New Orleans French Quarter? Why did she, a Stanton, have to serve whiskey in that establishment while I spent every evening alone? What kind of a man was my father?”

  Joseph heaved the sigh of an old man. “It’s not as it seems. He started gambling as a lark, a young man’s diversion, but he wasn’t very good at it. Your grandfather paid his gambling debts for several years, but as the stakes got higher and higher, so did the losses. Finally your grandfather had to cut him off.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Your father was married by then, and you’d been born. He always felt he had to play one more game, try to win a huge pot, and then he’d stop. But, as you can see by this railroad deed, he never stopped. Notice the date, dear. Your father passed on just three months after he acquired the property.”

  She didn’t want to see it, but she had to look. November 29, 1849. “You’re right. We didn’t see him after that. I remember because we had a long, lonely Christmas just before he died.”

  “Here is a copy of his obituary.” Joseph handed her a newspaper clipping. “He was on his way to California to prospect for gold when he got into a gunfight and died.”

  Ellie closed her eyes without reading the clipping. “A fight over a card game?”

  “Yes.”

  She should have known. She shoved the paper toward Joseph and pushed back her chair. Joseph had promised bad news, and he had kept his word. A railroad, worthless to her since she couldn’t sell it, and the worst possible news about her father’s death. She wasn’t even sure why she needed to know that. Life would have been easier without it. “Keep it in your files, please. I don’t ever want to see that piece of paper again.”

  Before she could stand, Joseph touched her elbow, then pushed another newspaper article toward her. “Stay seated, Ellie. You haven’t heard the worst yet.”