Gideon scrambled to his feet and helped Elizabeth up as well, and then his mother saw the blood and nearly fainted.
“I’m all right,” Elizabeth assured her over and over as they got her seated. “I’m not even hurt. It’s all fake.”
“But why? And what was Oscar Thornton doing here?”
“It is,” Gideon said, “a very long story.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Telling the story this time was almost a relief, because this time she didn’t have to lie, at least not very much. Anna and Gideon already knew most of it, even if Anna didn’t know the worst of it. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Mrs. Bates’s eye, though, not when she knew what the good woman would think of her now. How could she bear seeing the disappointment and downright disgust Mrs. Bates would surely feel when she knew the truth?
“But what made you think of having Anna pretend to shoot you?” Gideon asked when she had come to the end of her tale.
They were all sitting in the parlor. Gideon had taken a seat beside Elizabeth on the sofa, and Mrs. Bates and Anna sat across from them.
“It’s something grifters do when a touch comes hot . . .” She drew a breath, remembering they didn’t know what any of that meant. “If a mark figures out that he’s been swindled, he usually wants to go to the police or at least get his money back, so one of the grifters pretends to shoot the other one, and the mark does just what Thornton did, runs away so he won’t be involved in a murder. The mark never comes back looking for the grifters, either.”
“But where did all the blood come from?” Mrs. Bates asked. She hadn’t spoken a single word until now.
“That’s the clever part,” Anna said, still so excited that their plan had worked that she could hardly sit still. “We put the blood in a rubber bladder and stuffed it inside Elizabeth’s bodice. When I shot her, she clutched at her shirtwaist and popped it open. She had a smaller one in her mouth, too.”
“I’ll never forgive you for that,” Gideon said, although the gleam in his eyes said differently. “You took ten years off my life.”
“You weren’t supposed to be here,” Elizabeth said in exasperation. “It was just supposed to be Thornton and maybe his two goons, but no one else. I even gave the servants the afternoon off so they wouldn’t interfere.” She turned to Mrs. Bates. “And you certainly weren’t supposed to come home just then.”
“And if I hadn’t, would I ever have known any of this?” she asked.
Suddenly, Elizabeth wanted to weep, which was getting to be a very familiar feeling. And why shouldn’t she? She’d forever lost the respect of the woman she admired most in the world, and she’d never be able to win it back. Now that Mrs. Bates knew the truth, Elizabeth would be lucky if she let her spend even one more night in her house. But she didn’t have the right to weep, at least not in front of Mrs. Bates. She’d do her mourning in private. “I hoped you’d never have to know what I am, Mrs. Bates. I was planning to just pretend I was going home to South Dakota and then you’d never hear from me again.”
“Oh, Elizabeth, I’ve always known exactly what you are. Oh, not the details,” Mrs. Bates added quickly when Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “Not what made you, but I did know what you’re made of. You’re one of the strongest, bravest young women I know, and I know a few. The way you took charge when we were in the workhouse—”
“I didn’t take charge!”
“Yes, you did,” Anna said. “You knew just what we should do and how we should act and you weren’t afraid to talk to the other inmates or stand up to the warden and the matron—”
“And the way you looked after Anna during the hunger strike was so practical,” Mrs. Bates said. “It was obvious to me that your background was very different from . . . well, from anyone I’d ever known.”
Elizabeth shook her head in silent denial. She’d been so careful not to show how much she knew about being in jail. They couldn’t possibly have suspected anything.
“I thought it odd that you knew so little about the movement,” Mrs. Bates continued, “but it was clear you truly believed in our cause, so it was a pleasure to teach you. Oh, I almost forgot in all the excitement. Gideon, hand me my bag, will you?”
Gideon jumped up and brought over the carpetbag she’d carried to Washington. She dug around inside for a moment and pulled out a small packet wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. “Remember I told you that Mrs. Belmont asked me to attend the conference because the women who had been jailed were being honored? Well, the theater was packed that afternoon. Everyone said there’s never been a suffrage meeting like it. Mrs. Belmont got up and made a stirring speech, praising the courage of all the women who had endured the hardship and humiliation of imprisonment because they love liberty.”
Seeing the glow on her face, Elizabeth could almost imagine being there. Mrs. Bates must have been so honored.
“We read about it in the newspapers,” Anna said. “Did you really block the White House driveway?”
“Not intentionally, but so many people came, they couldn’t help it. Then Mrs. Kent gave a speech. You remember, she was the leader of our picket line. She called all of us up to the stage and gave each of us one of these. I brought yours back for you.” She unwrapped the packet and drew out two small silver objects. She handed one to Anna and one to Elizabeth. “Now everyone will know that you were jailed for freedom.”
It was a silver brooch made with exquisite detail into the shape of a cell door, complete with a heart-shaped padlock and chain.
“How lovely,” Anna exclaimed, instantly pinning it to her bodice.
Elizabeth couldn’t take her eyes off the brooch. She had no right to wear it, of course. Her reasons for going to jail had nothing to do with the suffrage movement, so she couldn’t claim the honor of having been jailed for freedom. She might never wear it, but she would always treasure it.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “For everything. I’ll never forget . . . I’ll never forget any of it. I suppose you’ll want me to leave now, and that’s all right. I’ll just pack a few things and—”
“Leave?” Mrs. Bates and Gideon said in unison.
“Why would you leave?” she asked.
“And where would you go?” he asked.
“Because . . .” Elizabeth tried to think of a reason that didn’t remind them of too many reasons why. “I’m a liar and a thief and I involved Gideon in a crime and—”
“I don’t think Gideon minds too much, do you, Gideon?” Anna said with a wicked grin.
“Not too much,” he admitted solemnly.
“I don’t think he minds at all,” Mrs. Bates said archly. “And it’s obvious you were simply trying to save your life.”
“Which wouldn’t have been in danger if I hadn’t helped cheat Thornton in the first place,” she reminded them.
“I’m afraid I can’t feel sorry for Oscar Thornton,” Mrs. Bates said, “not even in the interest of Christian charity. I always suspected he’d killed Marjorie, and now that you’ve confirmed it, I have no pity for him at all. And yes, what you did was wrong, but none of us are perfect. I can only wonder what I might be capable of in your situation. The important thing is what you do from now on.”
What would she do from now on? She had no idea. Why had everything suddenly become so complicated?
“Which is why,” Anna said, rising from her chair, “you and I should leave Elizabeth and Gideon alone, Mrs. Bates.”
“We should?” Mrs. Bates asked.
“No,” Elizabeth said, but Gideon said, “You should,” at the same time, and Mrs. Bates rose also.
“Elizabeth,” Mrs. Bates said, “you are welcome to stay with us as long as you wish, and I truly hope it is a very long time.”
With that, she and Anna left, closing the parlor doors behind them.
Elizabeth couldn’t bear to hear what Gideon h
ad to say, so she spoke first. “I’m sorry I frightened you. As I said, you weren’t supposed to be here.”
“I might not have been, but when we found out the army never heard of Colonel Inchwood—”
“Who?” she asked in surprise.
“The officer who came to David’s office to arrest the general. Didn’t you know what was going to happen?”
“I did, but I didn’t know what his name would be.”
“Yes, very creative. At any rate, he walked off with all the papers and the bank drafts, but he told David we could go to the armory tomorrow to get more information.”
“A nice touch.”
“It would have been, but Thornton decided we had to go right away and get the papers and the bank drafts back. We went to three different armories before a real colonel told us he never heard of Inchwood or any investigation. That’s when it came hot. Is that the expression?”
“Yes, it is,” she admitted with some amusement.
“So Thornton and his man jumped in a cab, but before he left, he said he knew who was behind it, so I was afraid he was coming here for you.”
“And you were going to rescue me.” Suddenly, she wanted to weep again. She was awfully emotional today, probably because she’d nearly died.
“And I would have failed miserably.” Plainly, it pained him to admit it, too.
“But you were going to try. That was very brave.”
He made a rude noise. “Luckily, Thornton was no match for you and Anna. When I thought you were dying—”
“Gideon,” she said quickly, before he could say too much, “I won’t hold you to anything you said then. I know you didn’t mean it, but you were kind to . . . to . . .”
“To what? Make it easier for you to die? Is that what you think?”
She didn’t think that at all, but, “I was wicked to tease you like that, to make you say things you didn’t mean.”
“I did mean them.”
“All of them?” she wanted to ask, but she was afraid of the answer.
Gideon frowned. “Why do you look so frightened?”
“I’m not frightened,” she lied.
“You already knew I was in love with you.”
“Which is why I shouldn’t have teased you.”
“Were you teasing? Because you didn’t say you loved me, too. Was that because you knew you weren’t dying or because you don’t love me?”
“I . . .” Even now, she couldn’t say it. “I knew I wasn’t dying.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can’t! How could you ever believe me? How could you believe anything I say ever again?”
“I don’t know, but I think it might be very interesting to spend the rest of my life figuring it out.”
What was wrong with him? Why wasn’t he angry or disgusted or appalled? He couldn’t possibly want to marry someone like her, unless . . .
The very thought was too horrible. “You can’t save me.”
“What?”
“That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? That you can reform me and turn me into someone like . . . like . . .”
“Like my mother?” he offered helpfully.
“I could never be that good, but maybe like Mrs. Vanderslice. Someone who will keep your house and raise your children and never cause you a moment’s worry.”
“Why would I want a wife like that? I’d die of boredom.”
“I’m serious, Gideon. I’m not like you and I never could be.”
“Thank God. Now, I’d made up my mind that I wasn’t going to kiss you until you’d broken your engagement to David, but I can see this is an emergency situation.”
Before she could think, he took her in his arms, and when his lips touched hers, all thoughts of protest vanished from her mind. All thoughts of everything else vanished, too, and her traitorous arms slipped around his neck and she lost herself completely. She even heard bells.
When they were both breathless, he broke the kiss, but he only pulled away far enough to say, “Tell me.”
“I love you, Gideon. I truly do.”
She thought she might really cry this time, but he started kissing her again, and she forgot everything else until someone rudely said, “What’s this?”
They broke apart guiltily to find the Old Man glaring down at them. Apparently, the bells she’d heard were doorbells. “What do you think you’re doing with my girl, Bates?”
“Your girl?” Gideon echoed in dismay, jumping to his feet.
Elizabeth rose, too, a little flustered, but very glad to see him. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot to telephone you.”
He clasped her shoulders in his big hands, and his gaze found the blood on her shirtwaist. “The cackle bladder worked?”
“Perfectly.”
“Oh, Lizzie, when you didn’t call . . .” His hands slipped around her back, and he pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace. Two hugs now. The Old Man was getting sentimental in his old age.
“And who’s this?” Mrs. Bates demanded.
The Old Man released Elizabeth, and they turned to see Mrs. Bates and Anna in the parlor doorway.
“This is General Sterling,” Anna informed Mrs. Bates slyly. “Although I suppose he really isn’t a general. And, General, this is Gideon’s mother, Mrs. Bates. She’s really his mother, at least as far as I know.”
The Old Man strode over to them and sketched a little bow. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Mrs. Bates. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your son. You did a remarkable job raising him.”
“Why, thank you,” Mrs. Bates said, obviously charmed and not sure she should show it.
“And how delightful to see you again, Miss Vanderslice,” he added, taking the hand she offered. “I hope you’ll give my regards to your beautiful mother.”
“That probably isn’t a good idea,” Anna said, grinning ear to ear.
“Anna is the one who shot me,” Elizabeth said.
“Ah, so she is brave as well as beautiful, a dangerous combination.”
“I hope so,” Anna said, making him grin in return.
“Mr. Sterling, or whatever your real name is,” Gideon said, not charmed at all, “you should know that Elizabeth is no longer your girl, and that she has agreed to become my wife.”
“Really?” Mrs. Bates said, and Elizabeth thought she actually looked pleased, although it was probably just wishful thinking on her part.
“Is that right?” the Old Man said. “Well, Mr. Bates, you should know that Lizzie will always be my girl, and if you hope to marry her, you will have to begin by asking my permission.”
Gideon could only gape at him, as if he hadn’t quite understood. He turned to Elizabeth for clarification.
“That’s right. He’s my father.”
For some reason, this made Gideon very happy. “Well, sir, in that case—”
“You’re a bit premature, Bates,” the Old Man said with a smirk, “since I believe she’s currently engaged to someone else.”
“And when she does become engaged to you, Gideon,” his mother said, “I’ll have to rescind my invitation for her to stay here, at least until after the wedding. For propriety, you understand.”
Gideon muttered something that might have been a curse.
“And from what I saw a moment ago,” the Old Man said, “I think I should take Lizzie home tonight to ensure that her virtue stays intact until the wedding.”
“Really, sir,” Gideon tried, but both Anna and his mother were laughing. He made a visible effort to regain his dignity. “Does Elizabeth live with you?”
“With my sister, Cybil, so it’s all quite proper. When you come to ask my permission, Bates, we can also discuss the matter of Lizzie’s dowry.”
“She doesn’t need a dowry,” Gideon said, his dignity firmly back in p
lace.
“Well, she has one just the same. She’s rather a wealthy woman, in fact. I’ve . . . uh . . . been putting money aside for her since she was born.”
He had, of course, because he’d never wanted her in the game. The nest egg was meant to provide for her so she never had to work, but she’d desperately wanted the Old Man’s attention, the kind of attention he gave Jake when teaching him the game. So she had refused to resist the lure of the grift, which had brought her to this place. Elizabeth had added to her fortune considerably from the first Thornton touch, and she’d get a lot more from the second one. How much she could only guess at this point, but the Old Man would make sure she got her fair share. Gideon didn’t need to know where the money came from, though. He might want her to give it back, and since it would most certainly be the last of her ill-gotten gains, she saw no reason not to keep it.
“Which reminds me,” Elizabeth said. “What are you going to do with the Ross rifles?”
The Old Man smiled at that. “I sold them to the Canadian army.”
“What?” Gideon almost shouted. “Didn’t Elizabeth tell you how dangerous they are?”
“She did, but when I looked into it, I found out that the Canadian army still uses them for training, and they were happy to get them. They are, in fact, on their way to the border at this very moment.”
“Even though they explode?” Elizabeth asked.
“Apparently, they only ‘explode,’ as you call it, under combat conditions, when they get dirty or overused. They’re fine for training.”
“But how could you sell them? You didn’t even have the bill of sale until today,” Gideon said.
The Old Man merely shrugged sheepishly. “Not all attorneys are as honest as you are, Gideon.”
To his credit, Gideon hardly blinked at this. “And what about the rest of the rifles? The extra ones you convinced Thornton to buy?” he asked. “Did you sell them all to Canada, too?”
The Old Man frowned. “Didn’t you explain it to him?” he asked her.
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