Glittering Promises

by Lisa T. Bergren

  “As if you’ve toiled in the mines all these years, poor, dear brother,” Vivian sniffed.

  “Truly. You have no idea the burdens I’ve borne,” he said with a dramatic sigh.

  “I’m with Felix!” Hugh said, leaning down on one elbow. “You girls can take over the world. I’d be happy to go anywhere either of you two led me.”

  Eleonora laughed at him, and Cora rolled her eyes. She paused as her gaze met up with Will’s, but Will looked away, picking at a blade of grass on his trousers and flicking it away in the breeze.

  If Cora agreed with Eleonora, if she wanted no man to dictate her life… Well, was that how she saw him? A dictator? Someone else who sought to control her? He’d done nothing but support her, love her, want the best for her! Were those the actions of a dictator? Will bit into a slice of sausage and looked to the valley below, where on one hill, a shepherd was leading his herd, and on another two men on horses were riding away.

  “It is supremely lovely,” Cora said, sighing contentedly.

  “Indeed,” Hugh said. Without turning, Will knew he was staring at her and Eleonora, flirting as usual.

  Will rose abruptly. “I’m going for a stroll,” he said briskly to the group, who looked up at him in surprise. “You all will be in Pascal and Antonio’s safekeeping, I trust.”

  Then, without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode away.

  CHAPTER 13

  Cora

  “Well, for heaven’s sake,” Felix growled. “What bee got under his saddle?”

  I didn’t answer him, but instead rose and followed after Will, down a narrow trail, up the next hill and over it. He was walking quickly, and I wondered if I’d lost him when I saw him leaning against a massive old oak, looking outward.

  Tentatively, I drew closer, and it took him a few minutes for him to see me approaching.

  “You remind me of the day I first saw you,” I said shyly, feeling nervous. “In Butte. Leaning against that old tree in back of my father’s house.”

  “Ah,” he said coolly, leaning forward to walk partway around the tree. He lifted one hand up and rested it on a horizontal branch. Stubbornly, I refused to release him from my company and edged around the tree too, leaning one shoulder against the trunk.

  “What do you want, Cora?” he asked softly, looking at me.

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged and crossed my arms. “I want to go back to us. How it was a week ago, before…”

  “Before you turned down my offer of marriage,” he said.

  “Come now, Will,” I said, grimacing. “I didn’t turn you down. I—”

  “You didn’t? It certainly felt that way to me.”

  “I merely said I wasn’t ready. Can you not give me more time? Must it all happen now, on top of everything else?”

  “I didn’t intend for it to be another trial you must bear,” he bit out.

  I sighed and looked out to the valley with him. We stood there in silence for a few moments.

  “Look, Cora,” he said, his tone more civil. “I’m sorry. It’s difficult for me to believe that it’s only because of the chaos of your summer that you cannot promise your hand. It has to be more. It has to do with me.”

  “Well, it doesn’t,” I said. “The only factor that has to do with you, William McCabe, is that while I don’t care for the way you’re carrying on, I find myself terribly in love with you. Is that not the only factor that matters?”

  His eyes searched mine. “You’re certain of that. You love me, not another. Not Pierre de Richelieu.”

  “Will McCabe, I think you began to claim my heart that first night in Butte and have only steadily claimed more and more of it. Don’t you know that?”

  He cocked his head and shook it, as if he were struggling with himself. Then slowly, he moved over to me and tentatively reached out to run his hands down my shoulders to my arms, holding me lightly. I looked up at him, and his face was awash in pain. He shook his head and drew in a great breath of air. “I’ve been a fool, then. Forgive me, beloved. It hurt that you could not say yes in Firenze. I wanted to claim you as mine. Crow the news to the world. Give the reporters something real to talk about…our love.” He bent his head closer. “Will you forgive me?”

  I nodded quickly. “Will you wait, Will? Wait for me to decide about marriage? Until I sort out the rest of my life? Get settled, to some extent?”

  “If I can be where you settle.” He tipped up my chin.

  “But that’s a question, isn’t it? If I’m in Dunnigan, and you want to get your architecture degree…”

  “We’ll work it out. We’ll find a way, Cora.”

  He pulled me in into his arms then, cradling my head with one hand and kissing me on the temple.

  “Oh, that is so much better than the last few days,” I said with a happy sigh. I looked up at him. “So we’re all right now? We can address the proposal…later?”

  He smiled. “Consider it a standing invitation to be my bride.”

  I smiled with him. “Thank you, Will.”

  We forced ourselves to return to the others, recognizing we’d been alone for longer than was proper. But we did so hand in hand. When we appeared, over the crest of the hill, Felix stood up and, seeing us holding hands, began clapping. The others smiled, and a few joined in his applause.

  “Oh, good. Our group will be far more jolly with you two not on the outs any longer,” Felix said, nodding to me.

  I hadn’t really thought about our strain affecting the rest, but I imagined it had. Mama always said that a sour ingredient permeated the whole soup.

  Eleonora accepted Hugh’s offered hand and rose. “I wondered…” She shook her head. “No matter,” she said, clasping her hands and bowing to me. “I think this calls for some dancing after dinner, no?”

  “I always enjoy dancing,” I said, casting a shy smile up at Will. We’d not been able to dance together much on the tour. Until now. If we were openly courting, it was entirely proper, especially if we were in the protection of Eleonora’s home.

  With the perfect, quiet strains of a villager’s fiddle filling the air, Will danced with me, waltzing me across the broad stones of the patio among six other couples. Still more joined us, welcomed whether they were neighbors or off-duty servants, which made us smile all the more. This, this was where I belonged. In Will’s arms, but in a village. Not high society. Would I ever be able to find comfort within the folds of the well-to-do?

  My father and Mr. Morgan looked over the group, and I met my father’s gaze when his eyes settled on me with Will. I dared him to object; I would not allow him to stand between us. But his disapproval settled not on me, but on Vivian, sitting alone on a stone bench, with Andrew off to who-knew-where.

  “Uh-uh,” Will said, pulling my gaze back to him. “Tonight’s about us, not any of the others. No furrowed brows allowed, you understand?”

  I pretended to object. “Wasn’t I just declaring with Eleonora today that no man would dictate my life?”

  “No man except a man who completely adores you and would lay his life down for you, right?” he returned.

  I studied him as we turned. He wasn’t teasing. He truly wanted to know where I stood on this. “Oh, Will, I was only joking.”

  “Were you? I know you have suffragette leanings, and that’s fine by me,” he said lowly. “You have a fine mind and solid spirit. I’d trust you with my life. But would you trust me with yours?”

  “Of course,” I said.

  Still he held me, waiting.

  “Of course,” I repeated. “With my life.”

  “Good,” he said, pulling me closer. He repositioned his hand on my lower back and looked down at me. His face was partially in shadow, his eyes shining in reflection from the numerous candles that lined the veranda. The combined effect of both the environment and the moment made me feel heady with love, so elated I was certain—absolutely certain—that all would be well. Forever.

  “I love you so much, Cora,”
he whispered.

  I smiled up at him and felt tears choke me. “As I love you.”

  “I’m the luckiest man in the world, to be here with you this night.”

  My smile grew, and I glanced around and then back up to him. “It is special, isn’t it?”

  “Indeed,” he said, pulling me close. He smelled of soap and a hint of spice. It took everything in me not to pull him from the dance floor and find an intimate place to steal a kiss.

  “Why are you grinning so?” he asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

  “That is not for me to tell,” I teased.

  “Oh no?”

  “No. But I grant you this—I shall show you in time.”

  “Hmmph,” he said, smiling.

  We danced a bit, and then I looked back up to him. “There’s a part of me that wants to stay here forever. Never leave. Never face our future. Our present is too marvelous.”

  He lifted a hand and brushed a tendril of hair away from my eye, tucking it gently behind my ear. “Let our future come. As long as I have you by my side, Cora, I can face anything.”

  “You promise?” I whispered.

  “I promise,” he whispered back. And then he dared to bend and give me a slow, soft kiss.

  I pulled back in surprise, eyes shifting back and forth in fear we’d been seen. But the others were more interested in their own conversations and dancing than in us. Even my father seemed engaged in deep conversation with Mr. Morgan. Will grinned, pulled me close again, and whirled me in a tight turn, keeping time with the music. I leaned my head back and laughed, laughed with as much freedom and joy as I’d ever let loose. And I thought, I want to feel like this every day for the rest of my life.

  CHAPTER 14

  Cora

  I awakened the next morning at a frightfully late hour. But what was worse was that I could not summon the impetus to care. I sat up and languidly stretched my arms out and rolled my head, my eyes drawn by creamy linen curtains dancing at the tall open window in a breeze that filled the room with the scent of Toscana. How I loved this land! Not since my time in Dunnigan had I felt such a visceral connection to a place. When I’d said to Will the night before that I wanted to stay forever, a part of me had meant it. Perhaps I could sell my part in the mine and buy a plot of land here. Will could find a job and, in time, go back to school to complete his education as an architect. He could build lovely Italian villas, and we’d spend our evenings watching sunsets over the hills and listening to bells toll from nearby towns…

  I flopped back against my mountain of pillows, content in my idle imaginings, reluctant to let them go just yet. All my life, I’d been so practical, so set on reaching the next goal. Never disappointing others. Anticipating expectations and meeting them, surpassing them. But something in taking a stand with my father, something about having a position of respect and social standing, had made me feel somehow free for the first time in my life. As if I was now free to accept or deny any demands I wished.

  Perhaps I really am a suffragette.

  I sighed and rolled over. A serious part of me wanted to refuse the social expectations that urged me to rise, dress, and go out into the day. I stared up at the ceiling of plain plaster and dark oak beams, and thought of all the amazing painted scenes I’d seen along our journey. But it was here that I felt at home for the first time. It struck me, that. The sense of home. How odd to experience it so very far from my true home in Dunnigan!

  I flipped aside the covers, swung my legs over the side, and eased off the bed, then stretched again. Suddenly, I was eager to see Will, to share with him my feelings of joy and contentment, my excitement over the future. How glad was I that he had been willing to give me more time to consider his proposal.

  I went to the window and edged the curtain away. My room was on the second floor, looking over the patio where we had danced last night and down over the valley. Below me, I could see a man and woman bent over a table. The table had an umbrella over it, so I couldn’t make out their faces, could only see that they were side by side. All at once, I wondered if it was Will and Eleonora. My morning smile faded. I’d caught his openly admiring look toward her yesterday. What were they doing together? Standing so intimately together? So close?

  I turned and lifted my bell to ring for Anna even as I perused my reflection in the mirror. I’d apparently had wild dreams all night, my hair was such a fright; it would take Anna a long time to get it into any semblance of order. I sighed and then stole over to the window again and peered over the sill. The couple below was still where they had been before, but the man had straightened. I could see his shoulder and was pretty certain it was Will’s summer jacket.

  My eyes shifted to the clock on the wall, and I huffed a sigh, irritated that Anna had not yet arrived. Had she not heard the bell?

  I laughed under my breath and shook my head. Heavens, how entitled I’d become. When had I forgotten to dress myself? I grabbed my brush from the dressing table and began stroking it through my hair, even as I walked to the trunk and opened the lid. I lifted a rose-colored skirt and a rumpled white blouse with tiny roses embroidered across it. When Anna finally reached my room, I opened the door with it in hand.

  “Sorry about my delay, Miss. I was out in the gardens. They had to come and fetch me.”

  “That’s all right.” I peered around the corner, and seeing that she was alone, opened it wider and handed her the blouse and skirt. “But could you give this a quick press, please?”

  She eyed the ensemble, gave me a brief nod, and set off. I closed the door behind her and pulled out a clean shift and underclothes. Then I sat down on the dressing table stool and swiftly wove my hair into a long, thick braid. I didn’t know where the day would take us, but I wagered it would entail a ride in a motorcar. I wanted the top down, wanted to feel the warm breeze across my face and not worry about my hair. The braid, while common, a peasant girl’s style, was good enough for me.

  I was tapping my booted foot in agitation by the time Anna returned with my clothes. Quickly, I pulled on the blouse, then the skirt with the wide waist band over it, smoothing it before the maid buttoned it down my lower back. She looked askance at me as I moved to the door, clearly unhappy with my braid. But I simply tossed it over my shoulder and left her behind me, intent only on reaching Will and discovering what our hostess and he were so intently discussing.

  I hurried down the staircase and through the big common room, then carefully opened the door to the patio, slowly, as if I were casually emerging for the day, not intent on spying. Ahead of me, Will and Eleonora sat, deep in conversation.

  “Well, good morning!” Will said, rising and turning toward me. Behind him, Eleonora rose too. She stretched out long fingers to keep the large papers on the table from blowing away in the wind. “I had about decided you might sleep through the entire day!” Will said. “The others gave up on you and set off for Montalcino with Antonio.”

  No wonder it was so blessedly quiet and still. The others had all left! Instead of abandonment, I felt nothing but relief. A little time alone with Will would be wonderful. Alone, I repeated silently, without Eleonora. “Even my father went?”

  “Every one of them. Lillian was quite worried you’d taken ill. I assured her you were merely in need of a good rest.”

  I smiled and went to him, lifting my cheek for a kiss. “Actually, I haven’t slept so well in years,” I said.

  He smiled down at me and ran his fingers down the length of my braid. “Don’t you look fresh and pretty,” he said. “Like a schoolgirl out for a stroll.”

  “I feel like a schoolgirl,” I returned. “Ready to learn from my tutor all he can teach.”

  “Well, that sounds scandalous,” Eleonora said with a laugh.

  I’d almost forgotten she was there. I felt the heat of a furious blush rise as I repeated my own words in my mind. She’d taken a far different meaning than I’d intended. “I…I didn’t…”

  Eleonora and Will laughed. “Don’t f
ret,” Will said. “We know your heart.” He lifted my hand to his lips, making me realize that I’d forgotten my gloves. Goodness, I had been in a hurry.

  “What were you two studying so intently?” I asked, edging past Will to stand beside Eleonora.

  Her deep brown eyes moved to the papers again, and here, beside him and Eleonora, I could see that they were architectural drawings. “It’s the plans for our orphanage,” she said proudly. “Will was sharing with me, over coffee, that his hobby is architecture, so I thought I’d show these to him and get his input on possible improvements.” She crossed her arms and leaned closer to me to whisper, “Toscana’s architects haven’t thought of anything innovative since the Renaissance.”

  The breeze blew up again, and we both leaped to keep the sheaf of papers in place. “I assume he was of help,” I said, glancing to Will. I felt a pang of guilt over my idle jealousy, when they’d simply been discussing a project of such import. But her next words sent me into a new wave of concern.

  “He is a visionary,” she enthused, her eyes shining as she gazed at him. “He thought of several different aspects that will make the building far more functional. The architect will not care for my meddling, but he’ll do what I ask. In the end, she who pays the bills rules the day. That is, when I can pay it, he’ll do what I ask.” She sighed. “At the rate I’m saving, it will be a good two years before I can begin construction.” She reached for several porcelain mugs and anchored the papers, then gestured for us to sit around the table.

  I forced a smile. Even if she was looking at Will in ways I didn’t care for, she was doing something wonderful. “It’s so lovely of you, doing this for your town. Do you have a great number of orphans?”

  She shrugged her slim shoulders and then began rolling the blueprints up again. “The community is good about taking care of her own. But there are quite a number of Gypsy workers who come for the summer and fall to harvest our grapes and olives, then move on come winter. Many leave behind children. Last summer, one left a baby on my doorstep.”