“Wonderful?” she repeated with a doubtful frown. “Pardon my saying so, Lily, but neither of those ladies will ever be a poker player.’’ She didn’t add that Lily would never be one either. She didn’t have to.
“Where on earth did you learn how to play?” Lily asked, still grinning from ear to ear.
‘’I used to watch my father,’’ she admitted slowly. She paused for a moment before she added, “He always won.’’
“Well, I’ve never seen Isabel lose so badly to anyone before, and I’ve never seen her concentrate so hard that she turned down a brandy to keep her mind on the game! It was wonderful fun for me, after all these years of losing.” She did her utmost to assume a sober expression, but the smile continued to tug at her mouth. “Perhaps you might let her win a hand or two next time, Ambrosia. Otherwise, she may never come back at all.’’
She giggled again and Ambrosia laughed as well as she gave a nod.
It was a Monday morning in early February when someone knocked at the door of Drayton’s warehouse office. Drayton was sitting at his desk, writing up orders for factory supplies, completely engrossed in his work. “Come in,” he called tersely without raising his eyes.
Matt Desmond entered the office and closed the door behind him, waiting patiently to be recognized. After several moments he shifted his weight, fingered his hat, and finally cleared his throat loudly.
“Yes, what is it?” Drayton asked, again without looking up.
“I want to speak with Drayton Rambert,” Matt returned archly, “if he isn’t too busy.”
Drayton’s head shot up in surprise. “I’m sorry, Matt. I thought it was the new warehouse foreman. Sit down. What did you need to talk with me about?’’
“Your favorite subject,” Matt responded lightly, waiting until he saw the slightest bit of irritation in Drayton’ s eyes. “Business!” he said to the unspoken question. “What else?” He smiled as Drayton scowled. “I have to admit that I’m pleasantly surprised at your commitment to this place. I always thought you were a country medicine man through and through. But in the past few months, I’ve seen you tear down a malfunctioning piece of machinery with your bare hands, shovel coal into a steam engine at the factory, and operate one of those newfangled grinders of yours. I’ve even seen you drive a wagonload of paints to-’’
“Get to the point, Matt. It’s Monday morning, and I have a lot of work to do.”
“That’s what I like about you, Drayton. You’re totally dedicated to what you do, no matter what it is. That’s why you’re going to succeed. And that’s why I’m going to help you.”
“Help me what?”
Still smiling that same, cunning smile, Matt paused to offer Drayton a cigar and to light one for himself. ‘’What if I told you I’ve found a way for you to increase your sales potential ten times over in the coming year?”
Drayton sat back in his chair and eyed Matt narrowly as he took a long draw on his cigar. Matt knew as well as he did that sales were still slow and that it was crucial to the business that they double within the next few months. ‘’What did you have in mind?’’
“A national distributor, already established in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco-”
“What distributor is this?” Drayton broke in, his curiosity aroused.
“Ken Galbraith.”
Drayton frowned as he repeated the name. “He distributes artists’ supplies, doesn’t he?”
“In addition to the finest British carriage varnish,” Matt returned. “When he told me he was thinking of expanding his business in the near future, I brought up the idea of handling your colors.’’
“And?”
Matt gave a shrug. “He seemed interested.” “Did he now?” Drayton returned, pleased.
“Especially when I told him about the new method of grinding pigments being used in your factories. He only handles the best, you know.’’
‘’Rambert Paint is the best,’’ Drayton told him matter of-factly.
Matt grinned. “I know. That’s why I’d like to see the two of you get together.”
‘’I’d like nothing better myself. And the moment you can set up a meeting, I’ll-”
“You’ll squeeze him into your schedule like you’re doing me right now?” Matt shook his head. “That won’t work with Ken Galbraith. He almost never does business with a casual acquaintance. He’s accustomed to being...shall we say, ‘courted.’ If you want him to take you seriously, you’re going to have to befriend him socially.”
“I’ve never even met the man,” Drayton protested. “No, but you will. Friday Leanne is giving a little party. You’re going to come to that party, Drayton, and you’re going to charm your way into his tight little circle of friends. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you. They spend half their time catering to their wives, and the other half talking business. You ought to feel right at home...at least with the business part,” he added with a slightly taunting smile.
Drayton scowled and smashed out his cigar. Matt heaved a sigh. “I’ve known Ken Galbraith for almost ten years,” he said seriously. “He has a habit of doing business with fine, upstanding family men. Convince him you’re one of those-’’
“I’m not that kind of businessman, Matt.”
“Then you’re not a businessman at all,” Matt shot back. “I’m not asking you to compromise any of your high-and-mighty principals, Drayton. I’m merely reminding you that locally, there’s been a lot of resistance to the new products you’re trying to sell. And the fact that your stepbrother is still here in the city, making a reputation for himself as a drunk and a gambler, certainly doesn’t help your image.”
Drayton scowled, knowing full well the reputation Aaron had earned in the past months.
“Fact is,” Matt went on, “you and your stepbrother carry the same name as the paints you’re trying to sell. That’s hurt you. And it just might force you to play another facet of the game. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t. It’s a simple truth that men allow friendships to sway their business decisions. And with your natural charm,” Matt went on, tongue-in-cheek, since Drayton had been anything but charming since he’d taken over this business, you could make a lot of important friendships. “
Matt paused, waiting for the unyielding set of Drayton’s jaw to soften. It did not. He sighed in exasperation. “Dammit, Drayton, do you think the bank loaned you the money you needed to get this business back on it’s feet on the merits of your sterling reputation alone? Whether you like it or not, our friendship had something to do with it. None of that matters at this moment, though. What does matter is the future. And nationwide distribution is the brightest future I can imagine for Rambert Paints. I’m asking you to meet the man who could make that future possible.”
Drayton vented a lengthy sigh, realizing that it would be foolish to refuse an introduction that could mean so much to the future, yet still unwilling to befriend any man for the sake of profit. “I’ll come to the party,” Drayton agreed.
‘’Good. Then I’ll expect you at the house at seven sharp.’’
Drayton turned his attention back to his papers in a gesture of dismissal, but Matt made no move to leave. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ‘’It might be a good idea to bring along your wife. She’s been the subject of much speculation lately, you know.’’
Drayton’s head jerked up, his eyes bright and angry. He hadn’t known that at all, though perhaps he could have guessed as much.
“I must admit I’m a little curious about her myself,” Matt admitted. More than a little curious, actually. Talk was that Drayton’s wife had given birth to a child a scant six months after a hasty marriage in Charleston.
“Ambrosia was seriously ill a few months back,” Drayton said stiffly. “And she’s still recovering from Mandy’s birth.”
“There’s talk that she’s perfectly well, Drayto
n,” Matt told him frankly. “I’ve heard it said she attends church services in the village-”
“I don’t care what you’ve heard,” Drayton flung back sharply.
Drayton’s outburst surprised Matt a little and revealed something to him as well. Drayton was very touchy about his wife. Perhaps Mrs. Craig, one of Leanne’s closest friends, had told the truth. Perhaps his wife had caused a scandal that ruined Drayton’s career in the army, that forced him to leave Charleston. Matt had taken the story with a grain of salt, since Carolyn Craig had a tendency to exaggerate things a bit. But she had been in Charleston at the time…
“All right,” Matt agreed pleasantly. “We’ll leave your wife out of this for the time being. But I still expect to see you at seven sharp.”
“I’ll be there.” Drayton quickly turned his attention to the papers on his desk.
‘’Don’t work too hard,’’ Matt called over his shoulder as he took his leave.
The Desmonds lived in a three-story brownstone in Gramercy Park just a block from Drayton’s residence. Drayton stepped into the spacious entrance hall and surrendered his coat and top hat to the butler. A moment later a painfully thin woman with sharp, narrow features and mousy blond hair came forward and offered her hand. “I didn’t really believe it when Matt told me you were coming. It’s been much too long, Drayton,” Leanne Desmond gushed. She smiled, a smile so obviously false it made her thin features appear even more pinched and unattractive. Drayton returned her greeting with one slightly less cordial.
Leanne smiled at him again after her eyes had appraised him thoroughly. He had changed a bit in the time he’d been away, but if anything he was even more attractive. It was quite easy to imagine why Carolyn had been so obsessed with him in Charleston...and was still obsessed with him. Her smile widened a bit when she realized that Drayton had come this evening alone, just as Matt had said he would. Wouldn’t Carolyn be pleased when Leanne told her!
“I heard you married again,” Leanne said, clinging to his hand a moment longer. “I’m dying to meet her. You must promise to bring her along next time.” She couldn’t resist, even though Carolyn would murder her if she knew. Drayton had treated Carolyn shamefully in Charleston, after all. Leanne knew all about that, and about the little Rebel he’d married...
“I’m sure I mentioned that Drayton’s wife was ill, Leanne,” Matt inserted, coming to meet Drayton as well. “And she is still recovering from the birth of their daughter.”
Leanne unfolded her lacy fan and waved it in front of her face. “Oh, yes, I suppose you did mention that...” She knew better than to ignore the warning in Matt’s voice. Drayton was a friend of his, and though Leanne relished the thought of making him squirm a little inside, she dared not overstep her bounds. Too bad tonight had been a business party, too bad Matt had prepared the guest list. The next time...
“You’re early, Drayton,” Matt said to change the subject. “But a few of the guests are here already. Excuse us for a moment, will you, Leanne? I want to intro duce Drayton around.”
The parlor was thirty feet wide and half again as long with dark wood couches and settees upholstered in deep red velvet clustered about the room. Matt introduced Drayton to four men and their wives, including Ken and Muriel Galbraith.
Galbraith was a tall man in his late fifties, with friendly brown eyes and a congenial manner. “You remind me of someone....” he said thoughtfully, stroking his chin as he considered Drayton’s face for a long moment. ‘’I hardly ever forget a face, and yours seems so familiar to me.” It was several minutes later when Galbraith interrupted the light conversation by saying suddenly, “You look like the boy who used to tag about after Henry Collinsworth!’’
Drayton’s eyes reflected his surprise. “Henry was my uncle.”
For the next few moments the two of them exchanged memories of a man they had both known and respected. “I remember when I had my first job at a little tobacco shop on Broadway. I was only a store clerk then, but Henry Collinsworth used to talk to me as if- Sit down, Mr. Rambert, sit down...”
The conversation was the beginning of an easy camaraderie between the two men. Drayton felt uncomfortable only one after that, when Mrs. Galbraith questioned him about his wife’s absence from the party. He quickly repeated the excuse he had given to Matt and Leanne, but he noticed that more than one of the women in the group seemed openly doubtful, as if they’d heard part of the gossip already and had good reason to wonder.
Still, by the end of the evening, Drayton had received several invitations to forthcoming parties and dinners, and everything had gone exactly as Matt had expected it would. What neither Matt nor Drayton expected was that Drayton would be the main topic of conversation at Leanne’s tea the following Tuesday, a tea attended by Carolyn Craig.
Chapter 40
On the last day of February, Drayton arrived at the Galbraiths’ four-story red brick Georgian mansion on the north side of Washington Square, one in a long row of elite private dwellings built there three decades before. The affair was a large one, celebrating the engagement of the Galbraiths’ daughter. Drayton entered the pretentious, art-laden hall and greeted the Galbraiths, then turned toward the salon. But the sight of a young, attractive woman in a stylish gown of bright yellow silk made him stop. The woman was Carolyn Craig.
Drayton said nothing as his eyes moved slowly over the silk that clung suggestively to the outer curves of her shoulders and scooped low over her breasts. He remembered the last time he’d seen her, a year ago at a reception in Charleston. She’d been angry then, rightfully so. He’d never thought to see her again, after that episode, after she’d gotten her revenge. He had pointedly avoided her, even ignored the letters that had begged and pleaded for one last rendezvous, a proper farewell. Nothing would have been gained by another meeting, Drayton knew. It would only have been an ugly scene. And now...
“It’s good to see you, Drayton.”
He hesitated before he stepped forward to take the gloved hand she extended and press it lightly to his lips. “Good evening, Carolyn. “
She felt the butterflies taking flight in her stomach at the sound of his voice and the touch of his lips to her gloved hand-but he released that hand much too quickly. She perched her palm on his lapel. “Is that all you have to say? After all these months?’’ She leaned forward until she saw his eyes fall where she wanted them, her breath coming short and fast now, as a result of his nearness. He was so much more handsome than she remembered! So tall and strong and masculine that every other man seemed to fade into the woodwork. “Haven’t you missed me?” she asked softly.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he returned dispassionately, sidestepping the question. He didn’t want a scene here, now.
“Did you expect me to stay in Charleston?” she sniffed. “Even after you left?”
‘’I never really gave it a thought, ‘’ he returned coolly. His eyes shifted slightly when he noticed several women who seemed to have come from out of nowhere to eavesdrop on their exchange. One of them was Leanne Desmond. Carolyn was every bit as aware of their audience and decided to take advantage of it.
“I believe you still owe me a dance,’ ‘ she said sweetly. ‘’You remember. From Charleston...’’
Drayton thought about refuting that remark, but thought again and escorted Carolyn to the ballroom. A dance would do no harm and would allow them a few moments of private conversation, if nothing else. He slipped an arm about her tightly corseted waist while his other hand grasped lightly at her gloved fingers. The music began. Carolyn was disappointed when his eyes remained cold, his touch indifferent. She began to stroke her thumb suggestively over his palm.
“What do you want, Carolyn?” he demanded bluntly, catching her fingers tightly in his own to stop the gesture. “I think you already know,” she responded softly.
Her eyes traveled swiftly over the length of him. She had
never seen him in black formal attire before. But his perfectly tailored cutaway coat accentuated the breadth of his shoulders, the magnificence of his muscular chest. A crisp, pleated shirt of snowy white contrasted sharply with his bronzed skin and made his eyes appear an even deeper blue. She felt a delicious shiver of anticipation pass through her at the memory of what was beneath all that fine, tailored clothing, at the memory of those alltoo-brief days in Charleston, days when she had been so certain of her hold on him...
“I’m a married man, Carolyn.”
Her smile vanished at that. She forced her eyes to leave his face, to pointedly search the crowd. “Where does the little Rebel keep herself these days, Drayton? I heard she had a baby, but surely she’s recovered from that by now. Has she gotten herself another job? Like the one she had at Maggie’s? She seemed very well suited to menial labor.” She met his eyes again with a catty smile. ‘’Or is it true you keep her locked away in the country, so that she won’t ruin your life here the way she did in Charleston?”
He straightened abruptly, and the look in his eyes told her she had gone too far. She trembled a little, and not with pleasure. She felt her breath catch as his grasp on her hand tightened painfully. “I-I’m sorry, Drayton,” she said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said those things, I know. But-but you were so unfair to me in Charleston! So terribly unfair! You let me believe that you werewere considering marriage, and then you married her. Without a single word of explanation or apology. You didn’t even have the courtesy to tell me about it yourself! I might have forgiven you if you’d come to me, if you’d have explained that you made a mistake. But you told me nothing. I heard it instead from everyone else. Do you think that was fair, Drayton?” She blinked back a tear. “Do you?” When he didn’t answer her her voice came soft and pleading. ‘’After all we meant to one another?’’
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