by Bess McBride
Susan smiled. “I cannot imagine how you dressed yourself without assistance. Let me see.”
Dani twisted and turned, watching Susan’s expression over her shoulder. Apparently, she passed muster because Susan’s eyebrow didn’t quirk as Dani had seen it done before.
“You have done well. Here is one button that is undone.” Susan buttoned the top button at the back of her dress. “Did you do your hair?”
Dani raised a self-conscious hand. “Yes? No?”
“It will do,” Susan said, her own smooth hair perfectly coiffed. “You must have difficulty restraining all that hair,” she noted with a smile.
“I could have used some creme rinse, that’s for sure,” Dani said.
“Creme rinse?”
“You know, a hair conditioner? To keep my hair from flying around like it does?”
“Oh, yes, I use an olive oil on occasion,” Susan said. “I shall ask Bridget to bring you some for your use the next time you wash your hair.” She displayed the sprig of roses in her hand. “Would you like to wear this in your hair? I have one similar in mine.”
And indeed, she did have a tiny sprig of baby blue silk roses tucked into her chignon.
“Yes, please. Could you put it in my hair? I wouldn’t know how.”
Dani turned, and Susan inserted the sprig into her bun.
“There,” Susan said in a motherly tone. “You look very pretty.” Her cheeks reddened.
“Thank you!” Dani leaned in to give her a hug. Susan stiffened at first but relaxed into it. “We’d better go,” Dani said. “Your brother will be waiting.”
They descended the stairs together. Stephen awaited them at the bottom, dashing in a black dinner jacket with tails over a black silk vest with a white tie and stiff shirt collar. He held a top hat in his hand. He looked so dashing that Dani thought her heart stopped for a moment when she saw him.
He blinked when he saw them, and his welcoming smile broadened. “Two of the loveliest ladies I should ever hope to behold,” he murmured as they reached the bottom step. Susan blushed and swatted playfully at him. He met Dani’s eyes over Susan’s head, a light shining through them. Dani took a deep breath, again wondering how she could leave.
“I have hired a carriage for this evening as our carriage is not at present in any condition to transport us,” he smiled. He donned his top hat and led the way to the door.
“Wait! I don’t have a hat,” Dani said. She turned to Susan. “Aren’t you wearing one?”
Susan shook her head and furrowed her brow. “No, not at night. It is not necessary.”
Dani turned to Stephen who shrugged with a sheepish grin.
“How does one ever know when things are done around here?” she asked as she followed Susan out the door. “When to wear a hat? When to change clothes? When to bow, when to curtsey?”
“You will learn, Miss Douglas. It will come,” Susan said, climbing into the carriage with her brother’s help. “And we tend not to curtsey anymore unless we are meeting royalty. We are not expecting any royalty in Seattle in the near future, I think.”
Stephen laughed as he handed Dani into the carriage.
Within twenty minutes, the carriage arrived in an area downtown which Dani recognized as Pioneer Square. The sound of a hard surface under the carriage wheels caught her attention.
“Oh, so now the roads are cobblestoned?” She turned to Stephen.
“Yes, they are here in the city and Pioneer Place. But the rest of the roads, including our own are only graded.”
“Well, they’ll be paved soon enough,” she said. “You’ll be happy about that.”
“With what material?” he asked. “Cobblestone pavers? Brick pavers?”
“Oh, geez, I don’t know. Asphalt?”
“And what is asphalt? No, tell me later, we have arrived.”
The carriage stopped in front of a beautiful red brick five-story building—one of those triangular structures that large cities often built in the flatiron block at the corner of two perpendicular roads. Gold-colored lettering at the top of the building read 1890 and further lettering above a large awning proclaimed it the Hotel Seattle.
As Dani descended the carriage, she stared at the building and then turned to survey the Square or Place, as Stephen called it, to orient herself. Gone were the cars and pedestrian walkways over asphalt roads, gone were the glorious trees that decorated the downtown area. In their place were cobblestone streets embedded with trolley car tracks teeming with pedestrians and carriages, massively tall electric power poles and an overhead network of wires for the trolley cars.
She remembered this corner. A parking garage half buried under the street and resembling the bow of a ship sinking below the waves now presided where the beautiful Hotel Seattle stood. She’d had no idea such a wonderful building once stood at the apex of the intersection. She turned to Stephen to tell him but bit the words back. Maybe this was what he meant when he asked her not to share too much of the future with him.
They climbed the steps and entered the hotel. Dani blinked at the dazzling display of red carpets, marble Ionic columns, soft-globed lighting, and gilt-edged furniture of velvet and marble. Emerald green ferns abounded in pots throughout the lobby. Men in coattails and women in a colorful array of silk fabrics milled about or worked their way toward the restaurant.
Dani clutched Stephen’s arm tightly with the thought that he probably shouldn’t have brought her into public like this. What if someone “detected” her? What if they figured out she wasn’t from their time? Certain she stuck out like a sore thumb, she hesitated.
“Be brave, dearest. You are safe with me,” Stephen bent to whisper near her ear. She gave him a shaky smile. It was as if he could read her mind. There was no doubt he knew her well.
“There you all are!” Ellie said as she came toward Dani with her arms outstretched. Dani hugged her back, a little more tightly than was necessary. Robert followed.
“Stephen sent a note over to our house and asked us to join you,” Ellie whispered before she let Dani go. “He thought you might be uneasy in public.”
“He’s right. I didn’t realize how nervous I was until we ran into all these people.” Dani spoke in a low voice as Robert greeted Stephen and Susan.
Ellie laughed. “Don’t I know it! It gets easier though. They’ll never know. Would you believe it if it hadn’t happened to you?”
Dani shook her head.
“Shall we?” Stephen said.
They entered the restaurant, a beautifully dark-wood paneled room with round tables festooned with white linens and fresh-cut flowers in crystal vases. The maitre d’ led them toward a table.
To Dani’s surprise, various people hailed both Stephen and Robert as they moved through the aisles. Having never seen him in a large gathering, she hadn’t realized Stephen knew so many people. He was forced to stop at a table when a matron stopped him. Susan paused beside him to greet a younger woman at the table. Robert had stopped to shake hands with an elderly gentleman at the table.
Ellie, on the heels of the maitre d’, didn’t stop but forged her way to the table with Dani in tow.
“I still don’t know very many people,” she said in a low voice out of the maitre d’s hearing. “I’ve only been here about five months myself.” She slid into the seat pulled out by the maitre d’ and Dani took the seat beside her.
“Don’t you ever want to go home? I know Stephen asked, but I’m curious too.” Dani threw a furtive look over her shoulder and kept her voice low.
Ellie shook her head. “Even if I thought I could, I wouldn’t. My world is right here...with Robert. I’m perfectly happy here with him.”
“But what about...you know...medical care? What about the birth?” Dani hated to ask the question, but she was driven to hear Ellie’s answer.
“Well, sure, I’d like a nice clean hospital with lots of anesthesia to kill the pain. The hospital here looks pretty clean, but I’m having the baby at home. As far as t
he anesthesia goes, I’ll just hang onto to Robert’s hand—bite it if I have to,” she grinned. “He promised me he’ll be there, which is very unusual for a man who grew up in the nineteenth century.” Ellie looked toward Robert and Stephen who approached the table.
“What about trying to take him forward in time?” Dani whispered.
Ellie’s eyes widened and she gave her head a quick shake, but was prevented from replying by the arrival of the men and Susan.
Dinner was a lively affair with Ellie and Robert teasing each other, and Susan, grateful to be out of the house, exhibiting her dry sense of humor. Stephen, to Dani’s surprise, shared the same sense of humor. She’d only seen flashes of it until now, not surprising given the circumstances. Dani almost forgot her surroundings for a moment and relaxed in their care. For it was certain that she was cared for by these people. She imagined what she felt for both Ellie and Susan was a bond of sisterhood, for different reasons, though she’d never had any siblings. Robert knew her secret. And Stephen—well, Stephen loved her.
They had just begun dessert when Lucinda and Gerald Davies sailed past with a young woman in tow.
“How lovely to see you again this evening!” Lucinda sang out, a vision in purple silk and black feathers in her hair. “Had I known you were coming out tonight, I should have suggested we make a party of it.” She turned to her husband. “Gerald, you remember Mrs. Danielle Sadler, of course, from the train?”
The slender man nodded, and shook hands with the men.
“This is my daughter, Evelyn, Mrs. Sadler. Evelyn, Mrs. Danielle Sadler.”
Robert and Stephen rose. Dani moved as if to stand up to meet the young woman, but Stephen stayed her with a hand on her shoulder.
“How nice to meet you, Mrs. Sadler,” the young brunette said in a voice that suggested anything but. She threw Stephen a quick glance, a blush staining her cheeks. “Congratulations on your marriage, Mr. Sadler.”
“Marriage? You, Sadler?” A gentleman at the next table called out. He jumped up to shake Stephen’s hand. “I hadn’t heard,” the older man said. “Did you hear that, Mother? Sadler here has gone and gotten married! Well, when did this happen? Introduce us.”
Dani cringed. What had Stephen’s small white lie gotten him into? Or her?
Robert seated himself, a twitch of his lips betraying his amusement. Ellie coughed and put her napkin to her mouth. Susan beamed at Evelyn Davies, seemingly aware of, and tickled by the other girl’s unhappiness. There must be some history there, Dani thought.
“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Davies. Thank you, Miss Davies. Yes, Mr. Brown, I did recently marry.” Stephen turned to Dani. “This is my wife, Mrs. Danielle Sadler.”
Though her knees shook, Dani tried standing up again, but Stephen kept a hand on her shoulder. Wasn’t anyone supposed to stand up when introduced?
“Congratulations, Mrs. Sadler,” the elderly man said. His wife remained seated but nodded and smiled. He resumed his seat, and Stephen turned toward Mrs. Davies.
“I am so glad we were able to see you tonight, Mrs. Davies. Mrs. Sadler and I are called away tomorrow, and she will not be able to participate in the planned events tomorrow.”
Dani had forgotten. She looked at Ellie, who seemed not surprised. Somehow, she knew.
“I’m afraid I shall have to cancel as well, Mrs. Davies. My sole intent was to take Mrs. Sadler shopping but that will have to be delayed now,” Ellie said, always quick on her feet.
“Oh, dear, I was so looking forward to our day tomorrow,” Lucinda said to Dani and Ellie. “Perhaps next week then. Do you intend to be gone for long?” She addressed Dani and Stephen with a curious glint.
Evelyn looked completely bored with the conversation, and Gerald stood passively by.
“Not long, a week, perhaps,” Steven said.
“Well, we shall reschedule when you return. Send a note to me. Come along, Evelyn, Gerald, I am famished.”
Stephen almost slid down in his seat.
“Oh, Stephen. You have put yourself in a very difficult situation,” Ellie chuckled behind her napkin.
“But he did it to protect me,” Dani said. She turned to Stephen. “I just don’t know what you’re going to say when—”
“Let us not concern ourselves with that this evening,” he said with a sideways glance in Susan’s direction.
Dani pressed her lips together. That was right. Susan didn’t know she was returning to her own time but thought they were going away for a few days.
“In honor of which, I have some things in our carriage for you to wear on your trip,” Ellie said with a careful look in Susan’s direction. “Since you won’t have time to go shopping before you leave.”
Dani grinned, tears forming in her eyes. She wiped at them with the back of her hand. She was going to miss Ellie terribly. It occurred to Dani that she might discover what became of Ellie, Robert, and their children when she returned. And Stephen and Susan. But they would be dead—” She couldn’t finish the thought. She would not finish the thought. The people before her would live forever in her heart. She was reminded of the older man she met on the train. Edward? His green eyes...like Robert’s.
“Sadler! Where have you been?”
Not again, Dani thought, as she looked up at a very handsome, raven-haired man of Stephen’s age. He greeted Robert by name as well.
“Rory!” Stephen rose and embraced the man. “How long has it been?” he said with a broad smile.
“Too many years.” Rory sported an arresting pair of blue eyes and a broad sardonic smile. “Not since college, I think.” He stared at the party with interest.
“My manners,” Stephen said. “You know Robert, of course. His wife, Mrs. Ellie Chamberlain. Susan, all grown up.” He turned to Dani. “And my...wife, Mrs. Danielle Sadler.”
“Your wife?” One dark eyebrow rose. “Never say! Mrs. Sadler, how delighted I am to meet you.” Rory bent over her hand and kissed the back of it. “I had no idea you were married, Stephen, and certainly not to such a beauty.”
“That’s quite enough, Rory. Thank you.” Stephen retrieved Dani’s hand from Rory’s.
“This is an old college friend of mine, Harold O’Rourke.”
“Delighted to meet you all. I have just returned to town from several years in Ireland, so I am trying to reacquaint myself with everyone.” He looked across the room to where several people at a table waved to him. “My party awaits me. Forgive me. Call on me, Sadler. You know my address. It has not changed.” He strode away, a tall, lithe man brimming with energy.
“I really had no idea I had been so reclusive,” Stephen said. “So many people are about tonight, and everyone wishes to visit.”
“You have been staying home to take care of me, Stephen, but now that I am well, you must start going out. And Danielle must go with you.”
Stephen looked at Susan, startled, and coughed. “Yes, of course.” He rubbed his chin. The waiter brought the bill, and Stephen took care of it with protestations from Robert and Ellie.
“Nonsense. I enjoyed the company,” Stephen said. “And I know Miss Doug—Danielle did.”
They rose and followed Ellie and Robert to their carriage where Ellie handed Stephen the same satchel she had brought over that morning.
“Here, she’ll need these for the train,” Ellie said. Dani stood by helplessly, unable to say everything she wanted to Ellie in Susan’s presence. Stephen, intuitive as always, took Susan over to their carriage.
Ellie threw her arms around Dani, while Robert turned away.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Ellie said, her voice breaking. Dani broke down into tears and clung to Ellie.
“Me too. I’m so sorry. I hate to leave, but I know you have Robert, and soon you’ll have your baby. But I still hate to leave. And I hate to leave Susan...and Stephen. This is breaking my heart.”
“Shhhh,” Ellie said. “It’s all right. This is what you need to do. Part of me wishes it doesn’t work—your attempt t
o return. I know that’s selfish. But I really do wish you well, and I hope your mom recovers.”
Dani lifted her head and rubbed her nose. “If I can come back, I will, Ellie. Wouldn’t it be great if I could just run back and forth? At least until my mom... Well, while she’s still alive?”
“Yeah,” Ellie said. She let Dani go. “Take care.”
“Goodbye, Robert. It was so nice to meet you,” Dani said. “Watch over Stephen. He means a great deal to me.”
“As you do to Stephen, Dani. Safe journey.”
Dani crossed the street to where Stephen waited for her by the carriage with a handkerchief. She grabbed it and wiped at the tears streaming from her eyes. What she really longed to do was bury herself in Stephen’s arms and listen to him tell her everything would be all right. But under Susan’s eye, that didn’t seem quite the thing to do.
The ride back to the house on Queen Anne Hill was uneventful. Susan dozed. Ellie and Robert’s carriage preceded them up Queen Anne Hill. Stephen pointed their house out as they passed, and Dani waved one more time from the passing carriage to Ellie and Robert as they stepped down from the carriage in front of their home. She thought they waved back, but it was dark and she wasn’t sure. The house, built on a hill, was stunningly elegant, the lights from the porch and house pouring onto the street below.
On arriving at Stephen’s own beautiful Queen Anne house, Susan, yawning, bade them goodnight.
Dani stood uncertainly, unwilling to walk away from Stephen on her last night with him. He had said earlier “We still have tonight.” Did he mean...? Stephen watched his sister climbed the stairs then turned to take Dani by the hand and lead her into the library, where he seated her in one of the large easy chairs in front of the unlit fireplace.
“Would you like some tea? A drink?” he smiled softly. “A hot toddy?”
Dani smiled, nervously lacing her fingers. “Maybe a drink?”
Stephen poured them each a brandy and settled into the chair beside her. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Stephen stared at the cold fireplace.
Dani had so much to say, yet nothing really seemed adequate. What do you say to someone whom you love but might never see again? She committed Stephen’s face to memory—the beautiful golden waves of his hair, the square cut of his chin, his tender mouth now unsmiling.