Robert returned to stand by the fireplace. Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie watched him lean one arm on the mantle and stare down into the empty hearth. She fixed her eyes back on the carpeting, willing Mrs. McGuire to return as soon as possible.
“Well, ladies, I find myself at a loss for words.” A small mirthless chuckle followed Robert’s words.
Ellie’s eyes flew to his face. His eyes were those of a stranger, his smile polished but flat. He looked at Ellie without expression and then to Constance.
Ellie slid her eyes to Constance who stared at Robert with narrowed eyes and pink spots on her cheeks.
“Now, see here, Robert—” Constance began.
The door opened, and Mrs. McGuire entered with the tea service. Robert sprang forward to close the door behind her.
“Well, here we are. Isn’t this cozy?” the effervescent little woman asked as she set the tray down on the small coffee table in front of the sofa.
Ellie didn’t particularly think so, and Constance looked like she wished herself elsewhere. Robert’s face reanimated at Mrs. McGuire’s arrival.
She poured four cups of tea, handed them out with sugars or cream as her guests desired and seated herself in a high-backed, dark blue velvet chair. Robert took the seat beside her and across from the sofa. Ellie kept her eyes on her tea, seemingly intent on divining her future in the bottom of the cup.
“Well!” the happy hostess murmured. “Seattle is such a small world. Who could suspect we would all know each other?”
Ellie’s eyes flew to Robert, though he beamed at Mrs. McGuire. Who knew, indeed?
“I must say, Mrs. McGuire, that it was with some surprise that I found both Mrs. Green and Miss Standish here today. I just happened along the street and saw them descending from the carriage in front of your lovely home...and now here I am, having tea with a bevy of beautiful women. How fortunate can one man be?”
Mrs. McGuire tittered and blushed, while Ellie dropped her jaw at Robert’s blatant lie and flirtatious lines. She slid a look toward Constance whose lips twitched as she watched Robert.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Mr. Chamberlain, I am sure you must not include me in your bevy.” Mrs. McGuire delicately raised a small linen napkin to her face.
“Oh, but I do, Mrs. McGuire.”
Ellie gulped her tea and relaxed into her seat to watch Robert at his finest. Perhaps the two of them would chat the entire time, and she could escape without a word.
“Ellie, how do you come to know Mr. Chamberlain and his family? Do you bank with him?”
Her eyes flew to Robert who turned to watch her with the same half smile she could not interpret.
“Um...I...uh...met them on the train.”
“Oh, really! How nice!” Mrs. McGuire took a sip of tea. “I must tell you that when Mr. McGuire passed on, he left me in quite a pickle with the house. It was not paid for, and he left little insurance, so Mr. Chamberlain suggested I turn the house into a boarding establishment. He made all the arrangements for the bank to accept payments from the profits of the house. I consider him a most trusted financial advisor...and a dear friend.” She beamed and reached over to pat his hand as it rested on his knee.
Robert had the grace to blush.
“It was my pleasure, Mrs. McGuire. I must say you are doing a remarkable job.”
“Thank you.” She eyed him with a twist of her lips. “Although I should note that this is the first time Mr. Chamberlain has had time to accept my invitation to tea. He works very hard and has little time for socializing.”
Robert cast a quick, enigmatic glance at Ellie before he looked away to take a sip of tea.
“Yes, that is true, Mrs. McGuire,” Constance chimed in with an amused note in her voice. “In all the years I have known Robert, I do not think he has taken more than an hour or two at lunch. Now, I have seen him on several outings over the last few days. How nice of you to join us today, Robert.” She smiled innocently.
“Well, as I mentioned, I was in the neighborhood and...ah—”
“Yes, you did mention that. And what brings you to this neighborhood, Mr. Chamberlain?” Ellie surprised herself most of all when she spoke. She hoped to tease him as Constance had, to watch the adorable color on his grave face.
Robert’s eyes narrowed and he turned in her direction, staring hard at her. “Well, the truth is, Miss Standish, I thought I saw an old friend of mine with whom I had a misunderstanding. I heard that he became engaged recently, and I wanted to congratulate him and tell him we must let bygones be bygones.” High color stained his cheeks and he tightened his lips. “But alas, I could not catch up to him. Now, perhaps I will never get a chance to talk to him again.”
Tears sprang to Ellie’s eyes, and she ran a hand over her face as if she had a headache. From the side, she saw Constance throw a mortified glance her way.
“I miss my friend,” Robert added in a quiet note.
“Oh, my dear Mr. Chamberlain, what a sad story. Is there no hope of reconciliation? Do you know where he lives? Can you drop him a note?”
Robert shook his head. “No, Mrs. McGuire, I do not know where he lives. I am afraid there is no hope of reconciliation. It seems he is lost to me forever.”
Ellie couldn’t hold back a sob, and she jumped up. “Excuse me. I have such a headache.” She stumbled toward the exit, but Robert jumped up to open the door for her. He turned his back to the room and brushed tender fingers against the side of her face as she passed.
“Ellie.”
She heard him whisper her name, but she turned away as she grabbed her skirts and flew up the stairs to her room. Heedless of the pain, she dragged off her hat, threw herself on the bed and buried her face in her pillow, sobbing and sobbing like she had never cried before. Within ten minutes, a small tap on the door heralded the arrival of Constance. She came in at Ellie’s response and sat down on the edge of the bed. Ellie wiped her face on the back of her sleeve and turned on her side, pulling her knees up in a modified fetal position.
“Ellie, do you really have a headache? I am so sorry you feel poorly.”
Ellie nodded, wishing for nothing more than the over-the-counter pain reliever sitting in her medicine cabinet at home.
Constance peered sympathetically at Ellie’s face. “You have been crying. Robert’s story was quite a ploy to make you feel bad, was it not?”
Ellie rubbed her head against the pillow and nodded. “I guess I deserve it. I should have had the courage to tell him in person that I was leaving, but I wasn’t sure if I could leave once I saw him.”
“I understand,” Constance murmured. “Robert and the driver brought in your bags. They are downstairs.”
“Is he gone?” Ellie sniffed.
Constance nodded. “Yes. He made his excuses as soon as you left.”
“Mrs. McGuire really loves him, doesn’t she?”
“Many people do. He is known to be a very generous and kind man.”
Ellie pushed herself up into a sitting position. She held her pillow to her chest and rested her face against it.
“Why hasn’t he married before now, Constance?”
Constance blushed. “I do not know. You know, of course, that I hoped he would ask me after my husband died. But that did not happen, and I know now it never will.”
Ellie nuzzled the edge of her pillow.
“He told me that he hadn’t found a woman who could put up with him yet, and then he said he had never fallen in love.” She looked at Constance. “How is it possible to be in one’s thirties and never have fallen in love?” At her words, she saw Kyle’s face. Had she ever really been in love with him?
Constance stared out the window above Ellie’s bed. “I do not know. I fell in love at eighteen with the most wonderful young man...my husband.” She sighed. “Robert works a great deal. He has always worked hard to support his family. His parents died when Melinda was young, and he took over parental duties. I do not think he ever had many opportunities to gad about t
own as a young bachelor might.”
“But the train trip. He seemed so relaxed. And all those young women?”
Constance scoffed. “Girls! I know for certain that Robert is not interested in young girls. Those are Melinda’s friends, and while his grandmother would prefer he choose someone that young for...em...the purposes of bearing a large, healthy family, he is not attracted to young, simpering girls.”
“Are you certain you and he...?” It galled Ellie to ask, but if she had to give him up to someone, she preferred it be Constance.
Constance flushed and shook her head. No, I am certain I am not the woman for him. At any rate, I have met someone who seems interested in me.”
Ellie dropped her pillow. “Who?” she asked with wide eyes.
“A certain Mr. Malcolm Stidwell. Perhaps you met him? At the dinner party the other night?” Constance took on a girlish coyness that brought a sparkle to her dark eyes.
Ellie grinned. “The handsome man with the silver hair.”
“Yes, silver hair.”
Ellie leaned forward to give Constance an unexpected hug. “Oh, good for you, Constance!”
“Well, we will see. I do not know how we will get along, but I am to go to the park with him tomorrow.”
“Fabulous!” Ellie leaned back and surveyed Constance, whose cheeks burned bright.
“As you say, fabulous!” Constance eyed Ellie thoughtfully. “Ellie, you should come with us. Please say you will.”
“Oh, Constance, I can’t. I mean...it’s your first date. How would that look? You don’t want me there.”
Constance laughed. “Oh, yes, I do. First date, indeed! I would much prefer it if I had a female companion there. Please come. You cannot stay cooped up in this house all day.”
“Are you sure, Constance?” Ellie wrinkled her nose uncertainly.
Constance gave her a firm nod. “Yes, I am sure. I would be grateful if you could...facilitate my first...date as you say...with Malcolm. I fear I shall be too tongue-tied to say a word.”
“All right, then. I owe you a lot. I’ll come.”
“Wonderful!” Constance rose and turned toward the door. “We will pick you up tomorrow at noon.”
“Tomorrow,” Ellie echoed as she watched Constance leave the room. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep, but its merciful oblivion eluded her.
Mrs. McGuire popped her head in shortly to see how Ellie fared and to inquire about her desires for dinner. Feeling extremely guilty about running out on the hospitable woman’s tea party as she had, Ellie agreed to come down to dinner.
Dinner with the girls was a panacea for any depressed woman. Their lively chatter, occasional bickering and genuine friendship left no room for miserable faces at the table. Mrs. McGuire ran the boarding house much like her personality—bubbly, energetic, full of warmth and love.
“Dorothy, did you know that Mr. Chamberlain was here today?” Mrs. McGuire grinned and cast a sly glance in Ellie’s direction.
Dorothy’s eyes widened. “Oh, my goodness, really?” She drew her brows together for a quick moment. “Did I do something wrong?”
Ellie watched the exchange with confusion. What were they talking about? Did Dorothy know the man, too? Was there one woman on the planet who had not yet met that aggravating man?
“No, dear, he did not say anything about you. He said he was in the neighborhood and came for tea. Miss Standish...Ellie knows him, as well.” Mrs. McGuire nodded in Ellie’s direction. “This is such a small world!”
Ellie held her fork in midair. What?
All three girls turned curious eyes on Ellie.
Dorothy cocked her head in inquiry. “Do you know Mr. Chamberlain, Ellie?”
Ellie stuffed food in her mouth and nodded—now unable to discuss the matter since her mouth was full.
“Oh.” Dorothy turned an inquiring look on Mrs. McGuire.
“She met him on the train to Seattle.” Mrs. McGuire happily supplied the details.
“Really?” Dorothy continued to eye Ellie with a curious stare.
Ellie nodded and attacked her plate for another large mouthful of food.
“That would be when he took his sister and her friends to Spokane for her birthday,” Dorothy said.
Ellie looked up in surprise.
“Mr. Chamberlain is my employer. He is the head of the bank where I work. Mrs. McGuire recommended me to him, and he hired me as a clerk.”
Ellie’s cheeks burned, and she chewed her food with a nod.
“Well, perhaps you know, then, Ellie. He has hardly been at the bank lately, and people are wondering where he has been.” Dorothy bit her lip. “I mean he is always at the bank. Every single day. The first person in to work and the last to leave. But for the last few days, he has only been in the bank for a few hours. Today, he dashed out of the bank as soon as he got there, and he never returned.”
Ellie froze and threw a glance at Mrs. McGuire.
“Well, that is very interesting, Dorothy,” Mrs. McGuire said. “Of course, you know he stopped by here for tea, but he said he was just in the neighborhood looking for an old friend.”
“Do not misunderstand,” Dorothy said earnestly. “I do not wish to gossip, but some people in the bank are talking about his unusual behavior.”
Ellie’s face burned.
“Dorothy, dear, are you sure this is not Mr. Chamberlain’s private life and best not discussed at the dinner table?” Mrs. McGuire regarded her with a kind smile but her eyes brooked no argument.
“Yes, Mrs. McGuire.” Dorothy smiled sheepishly and returned to her food.
“Oh, please tell us what they have been saying at the bank, Dorothy. Now, you have us all agog to hear,” Samantha piped up, seconded by Martha.
Dorothy glanced at Mrs. McGuire, who looked as if she, too, couldn’t wait to hear the story.
Ellie wondered if she could just crawl under the table and die, but first, she had to hear the gossip.
“Well,” Mrs. McGuire drew the word out, “if it is nothing disrespectful, I might like to hear.”
“Oh no! It is rather curious, in fact. The other clerks say that he has fallen in love!” Dorothy delivered the sentence as if she’d dropped a bomb and waited for the fallout.
Samantha and Martha stared for a moment, then resumed eating, the matter of Mr. Chamberlain’s love life obviously not of great importance. Ellie swallowed hard, a dry piece of bread lodged in her throat threatening to choke her. She grabbed for her glass of water and gulped. Mrs. McGuire threw her a quick glance.
“Really?” the older woman murmured. “How do they know such a personal detail?”
Dorothy warmed to her audience. “Well, another clerk’s mother said they saw him at the park the other day with a woman...and that he appeared quite infatuated with her. I have never heard of Mr. Chamberlain doing anything so frivolous as to stroll about the park in the middle of the day. I think that is very significant.” Dorothy quirked an eyebrow.
Ellie didn’t miss Mrs. McGuire’s quick glance in her direction, but she smiled and resumed eating, though she felt slightly nauseous.
“That does sound promising. Well, if he has finally met someone, I am happy for him. I began to think he was a confirmed bachelor.” With a last lingering look at Ellie, Mrs. McGuire returned to her food.
“We all did,” Dorothy murmured. “I hoped he was waiting for me.” She grinned unexpectedly and dug into her food with bright pink cheeks.
“Oh, he is too old for you, silly!” Samantha and Martha giggled and poked her teasingly in the ribs, and Dorothy snickered along with them. Ellie knew how the young girl felt. Robert was hard to resist. She averted her eyes from Mrs. McGuire, who’d already given her several curious looks during the conversation.
The following day, Ellie dressed in her new clothing, a white shirtwaist with a soft lace collar and a conservative, tailored suit in dark chocolate brown. She surveyed herself in the small oval mirror. The color flattered her brown eyes. She love
d the lace at the sleeves and the way the skirt fell away from her hips to the floor. The fitted jacket trailed down to her knees like a brown tuxedo, and she wondered how comfortable it would be when she had to sit down. She’d done her hair as best she could in an upswept Gibson and perched a matching brown velvet hat with harvest gold ribbons on her head. She twirled and preened in front of the mirror, very satisfied with her first Victorian era purchase.
Ellie went downstairs and told Mrs. McGuire she was going to the park with Constance for the afternoon. Mrs. McGuire looked up distractedly from the stove, smiled and wished her an enjoyable outing. A carriage pulled up outside at noon, and Constance and Malcolm Stidwell presented themselves at the door. On closer inspection, she saw that the silver-haired gentleman had eyes of a peaceful sky blue and his smile held a note of gentle humor.
“Miss Standish, it is very nice to meet you at last. I am afraid we were not introduced the other night at the dinner party.”
Ellie stuck out her hand. He blinked and took it in his own.
“Mr. Stidwell, thank you for taking me along on your outing. I hope I’m not in the way.”
“Not at all, Miss Standish. We are happy to have you along, isn’t that so, Constance?”
“Yes, Malcolm. I was very pleased when Ellie accepted my invitation.”
“Shall we, ladies?” Malcolm indicated the waiting carriage. Ellie climbed in first, followed by Constance and then Malcolm, who sat on the opposite seat. He kept up a pleasant running commentary on the city as they made their way to the park. The carriage dropped them off in the same location as before when she’d come with Robert, and she tried to block the memory from her mind. Unsuccessful, she settled for blocking Robert from her mind—just for the day.
Malcolm held out both arms, and Constance took one while Ellie reluctantly took the other. They promenaded along the boardwalk by the lake, and Ellie kept silent while the other two chatted. She allowed the tall Malcolm to guide them as she strolled mechanically, lost in memories of handsome dimples and dark-lashed green eyes.
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