by Karen Welch
She seemed surprised, a scowl wrinkling her brow. “You were jealous of Bernie Silverman?” Throwing her arms around his neck, she laughed softly. “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Oh, Kendall, I really do love you! You make me feel so special!”
“I suppose that’s saying something, coming from a princess.”
“No! What I mean is you make me feel special, the girl inside what you call the princess, I guess.” The laughter gone, she studied his face for a long moment. “Thank you for telling me what happened.”
He tipped her chin, looking sternly into her eyes. “We won’t mention it again, all right? And you won’t go looking for any more scars, is that understood?”
She nodded solemnly. “Please at least think about coming to New York. If it’s a good thing for your career, I mean. I wouldn’t want you to do it just because of me, but. . .I would so love having you here all the time.” Her voice had dropped to a husky whisper, her gaze lowering from his eyes to his lips.
“I can’t promise. There are too many things to consider. And I have thought about it. It wouldn’t necessarily be the best thing for you.”
“How can you say that?” Her fingers slid insinuatingly down the front of his shirt.
“Because I’m not the man for you, Peg.” Grasping her hand, he pressed it flat over his heart.
Her eyes sparked and she backed away slightly. “I wish you’d stop saying that. First of all, I’m not looking for a man, not in the way you mean. And secondly, isn’t that for me to decide?”
“Possibly. When you’re old enough to make that kind of decision. For now you’ll just have to trust me.” He fingered the soft chiffon draping her shoulders. “You should go to your room. What if your father should need you during the night?”
“He won’t. He’d call Adamson, anyway. Let me stay, please.”
He smiled, urging the fabric aside. “Since you asked so nicely, I suppose you could stay for a little while.” Dropping a kiss on the exposed skin, he breathed deeply of her perfume. “At this point, I couldn’t send you away if I wanted to. Do you have any idea what you do to me, brat?”
“I was hoping you’d show me.”
He laughed softly against her neck. “Oh you were? And what if I refuse?”
“You won’t.”
“Which just proves I’m not the kind of man you deserve.” He covered her mouth with his before she could argue.
Chapter Twenty-four
Michael Shannon had obvious confidence in his powers of persuasion. Kendall sensed the moment they sat down in the study for a ‘chat’ that the man was certain of the outcome.
It began innocently enough with a question about his activities in London, designed, he felt sure, to put him off the scent of Michael’s real purpose. They briefly discussed the quartet’s prospects and Kendall’s ambition to find a serious student or two in the coming months, someone who would provide a challenge rather than merely require his patience. Had he not been warned by Peg of her father’s intentions, Kendall might have lowered his guard. As it was, he was braced for the moment when the conversation took its inevitable turn.
“I’ll be honest with you, Kendall,” Michael said with a little frown, as though pained by what he had to say. “I hate to see you work yourself so hard, when there are other avenues open to you.”
He hesitated for a split second before taking the bait. “Other avenues, sir?”
“You heard what Silverman said last night. He’d jump at the chance to have you here in New York.”
“I doubt he’d actually ‘jump.’ I’m sure he was being polite, and at best I could expect an unbiased audition.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Don’t minimize your talent, son. You’re good, and in the right organization, you’ll go far.” He leaned forward in his chair, lowering his voice as though they might be overheard. “Besides, Silverman owes me a favor or two. That would surely be added incentive to find a spot for you.” Kendall flinched, imperceptibly, he hoped. “Of course, it’s all up to you. I just want you to know I’ll support you any way I can, should you decide to make the move.” Leaning even further, he went on, “It would make Peg very happy, you know, to have you around all the time. I can see how much she likes you. In fact, I doubt it would take much for her to fall in love with you.”
Surely he wasn’t expecting a response. Kendall stared at his hands, waiting for the rest. As Michael settled back in his chair, he could feel the man taking his measure.
“I’d be quite satisfied to see her with a man like yourself. Oh, I know there’s the little issue of religion, but that can be easily rectified. It certainly isn’t as if she needs to marry money. I just want her to be safe and happy, and I believe you want the same for her. I know she should get a year or two of college behind her, but if you wanted to seal the deal before she’s finished, you’d have my blessing.”
There was nothing he could say without insulting this man who seemed to be making a sincere bid for his daughter’s happiness. Still avoiding his gaze, he took the only route open to him. “I’m in no position, financially speaking, to even consider a step of that sort, sir.”
Without missing a beat, Michael plunged on. “That’s not something you’d need to worry about, son. I’d be happy to set you up, nice apartment, little extra cash. After the two of you were married, you would move in here, of course. I realize Peg is spoiled, but you wouldn’t be expected to support her little extravagances. Peg has her own money, always will have.”
He was staggered by how much thought Michael had put into this plan. At least he hadn’t mentioned grandchildren yet. Even more disturbing was that for an instant Kendall let himself consider it as a real possibility.
The proposal at least deserved an honest response. Mustering his courage, he turned to find Michael watching expectantly with eyes much too much like Peg’s. “With all due respect, sir, as much as I appreciate that you want to see Peg happy, it would be grossly unfair for the two of us to strike a bargain of this kind. Peg is young. She has her whole life ahead of her. I’m sure you wouldn’t ask her to settle for me before she’s had a chance to live at least a little.”
If he’d hoped to put him off, he saw instantly that he’d failed when Michael smiled and nodded. “Humility. I like that in you, Kendall. You’re probably right. She deserves a year or two to sow a few wild oats—not too wild, mind you. But she doesn’t seem overly interested in men, not like a lot of girls today. That said, my offer still stands. If you decide to give New York a try, I’ll give you all the help you need. And frankly, I hope the London Phil doesn’t snap you up. Selfishly, I could use you here. My health being what it is, another man to keep an eye on Peg wouldn’t hurt.”
He was reminded that Peg never conceded an argument, probably a genetic trait. If he couldn’t commit to marrying her, he could always agree to play bodyguard and benefit from Michael’s generosity. The irony of the situation set his teeth on edge. He’d never been too proud to accept favors in exchange for painless service. Why suddenly was he determined to walk away from everything he wanted in life for the sake of heretofore nonexistent scruples?
He hoped his smile was genuine, despite the effort it took to produce it. “I’m touched by your offer. And I will keep what you’ve said in mind. Everything hinges on my career at this point, as I’m sure you can understand.”
They parted amicably enough, but as soon as Kendall left the study, he felt an overwhelming urge to take a long walk, to clear his head and calm the unsettling mix of emotions churning his gut. Unfortunately, he caught sight of Peg, clad in crisply starched shirt and shorts, bouncing down the stairs on long legs that instantly turned his mind in yet another direction.
“Hi! I was just going to sit in the garden. Why don’t you join me?” She landed in front of him and whispered, “And tell me what you and Dad were chatting about for so long.”
“As a matter of fact, I was thinking of taking a walk.” He tried not to notice when her face fell
into a confused little scowl. “I suppose you could come with me, if you like.” No point in calling himself a coward, he readily admitted his helplessness when it came to Peg. At least he had a remnant of his pride intact after the “chat” with Michael. Of course, he’d long ago recognized that Peg was the stronger of the two. And her father lacked certain physical attributes which definitely gave Peg an advantage.
She popped into the study for an instant. He heard Michael chuckle and wish her a pleasant walk. By the time she returned, holding out her hand and nodding him toward the door, Kendall realized his error. Even a walk along a public sidewalk with Peg would open him to her erosive wiles, and he was in no shape currently to fend off her questions or her charms. He might have held his own against Michael Shannon, but he doubted he’d have the same luck with his daughter.
To his surprise, once they fell in step on the tree-lined street, Peg had nothing to say. Subtly tucking her hand in his, she seemed content with companionable silence. Suspicious at first, he watched her out of the corner of his eye, but the view of her fresh-scrubbed face dappled with sunlight served to erode his caution without her needing to ply any sort of wiles at all.
“Your father seems to hope I’ll take Silverman up on his offer to audition.”
“I know. Are you going to?” She kept her gaze straight ahead, her expression unreadable.
“Not just now. I’ll wait to hear from London first. And there are other things to consider. My students and the quartet, not to mention the expense of a move like that. I’m hardly flush with cash at the moment, or at any moment for that matter.”
Without blinking, she said, “Dad would help you. Or I could. I have my own money, you know, a monthly allowance that’s more than I ever need.”
“Peg, I could never take your money. What is it with you Shannons? Is everything and everybody an opportunity to show how charitable you can be?”
When she turned her face up to him, he instantly regretted the question. She seemed horrified, her eyes going dark and filling with tears. “Oh, Kendall, I didn’t mean it that way! But why shouldn’t I help you? I want you to have the career you deserve.” She withdrew her hand and brushed at a nonexistent strand of hair, turning her gaze to the street again. “Besides, I think I’ve fallen just a little bit in love with you after all.”
He stopped walking. He might even have stopped breathing. As Peg took several more steps, he reached for a conveniently placed tree trunk and steadied himself. When she looked over her shoulder, he noted a single tear shimmering on her cheek. “What’s wrong?” The question ended on a little sniff.
“Peg.” Hardly an answer, but then again it summed up his thoughts pretty well.
She turned back, keeping the distance between them. “I said just a little bit. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help it.”
He wanted to tell her how wrong it was, how much it would end up hurting them both, how sorry he was for leading her to this point. Instead, he opened his arms and when she walked into them, he held her as close as he dared on a public street. When he finally found his voice, he did manage to whisper he never meant for it to happen this way.
“I’m not sorry. Why should you be?”
“Because you’ll end up being disappointed. A girl’s first love shouldn’t disappoint her.”
Peg looked up through wet lashes and smiled; nothing exceptional about the expression yet it went straight to his heart, where it lodged like a dagger. “You never have disappointed me. You’ve always been my Sir Galahad.”
“But I’m going to now. I can’t come to New York, not the way you and your father want me to. I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but I have too much pride. I have to make it on my own, if I’m ever to make it at all.”
She lowered her eyes for an instant, bringing them up to meet his again filled with sympathy. “I can understand that. I think I like you better because you want to be your own man. I guess we both have things we need to prove. But does that mean we can’t also be in love?”
“That’s a very wide ocean out there, sweetheart. Who knows when one of us will be able to cross it again?”
She sighed deeply. “We survived three years apart. Surely it won’t be that long again.” A little smile played at her lips. “I’m old enough to travel on my own now.”
He heaved an exasperated sigh. “Peg. . .”
“I know. It won’t be easy. You’re going to try to tell me that I’m too young to tie myself to a man, or that you don’t want to give up your freedom, or that one of us will meet someone else. Before you lecture me, just listen to me for a minute, please.”
“All right. But I reserve the right to lecture once your minute is up.”
They started walking again, and Peg slid her hand around his arm, her fingers lightly stroking along the sensitive skin of his forearm. “Just suppose that when we meet again, we still feel this way. Suppose you’ve gotten your job with the London Philharmonic, and I’ve finished college. Suppose you haven’t found a woman who made you forget all about me. What would keep us from picking up where we left off here?”
He tried to come up with an answer, but he couldn’t get past the idea that there would never be a woman who could make him forget her, not even for a moment. “Have you considered law school? You make a very solid case for completely abandoning common sense and reason to engage in hopeless fantasy. Once I’m gone and you meet other men, I can’t believe you’ll still see me the same way. I’m just that childhood hero you developed a crush on all those years ago in Ireland. But trust me, sweetheart, I’m not the man you think I am.”
She stopped walking, pulling him up so sharply her nails dug into his arm. “Kendall Gregg, what makes you such an authority on what I think? Why should I trust you when you won’t trust me to know my own mind? And how do you know what kind of man I think you are? Give me a little credit, please. I know how I feel when I’m with you, and it’s certainly not like a child!” Cheeks flushed and eyes sparking blue fire, she moved closer, rising on tiptoe until they were nose to nose. “I love you, you silly fool! Can’t you just let me?”
“Good lord!” he breathed. “Where did that come from?”
She blinked. “What?”
“All that fury. And I hardly think I deserve to be called a fool. Not in the same breath with a declaration of love.” He cautiously circled her waist, braced for another outburst. Instead, Peg dropped her head to his chest and groaned.
“I’m so confused, Kendall. You’ve made me feel so many new things in such a short time, I can’t think straight.”
Urging her closer, he rested his cheek on her hair. “I know, sweetheart. I feel much the same.”
“You do?”
“Yes. And I’ve had a bit more experience with this sort of thing than you have. I should know how to handle myself, but I’m afraid when it comes to you, I’ve never been able to keep a grip on things.”
“That’s very sweet.” She sighed, wrapping her arms around him. “I’m sorry I called you a fool.”
“Don’t be. Frankly, I call myself the same on a fairly regular basis. I even told you, if you recall, that you were making a fool of me.”
“Are you sorry now?”
“Terribly. But that won’t stop me from telling you I adore you. And it won’t stop me from wanting to take you somewhere more private than this street and do unspeakable things I will not be sorry for later. What have we done, brat? And what are we going to do now that we’ve gone this far?”
She seemed to be thinking, her forehead still resting on his chest. “Let’s go home,” she finally said softly. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Slowly, they turned together and started walking, he assumed in the direction of the brownstone. Left on his own, he was sure he would have wandered in a daze for hours. They had crossed into forbidden territory with those simple words of love, ventured toward an impossible future, and yet he felt not fearful but elated. Strolling naturally with Peg’s hand in his,
the sun shining down on them as though blessing their irrationally conceived union, he had to admit, he felt an overwhelming sense of completion.
Chapter Twenty-five
The house seemed to be empty. Peg finally located Adamson in his office and returned to report that her father had gone out and was not expected in until after dinner and Mrs. Leary had taken the afternoon off to visit a friend. Grabbing his hand, she started up the stairs.
“Hold on. Where are you taking me?”
“To the nursery.” She tugged harder, pounding up the stairs ahead of him.
“I would ask.” He rushed to catch up. “Why the nursery?”
“There’s someone I want you to meet.” She started up the second flight of stairs, tossing a grin over her shoulder. “Besides, it’s the most private place in the house. No one ever goes in there but me.”
“Ah. Do I smell a trap?”
“Definitely.” On the third floor landing now, she started running down the corridor. “I’m taking you to my inner sanctum. You can do all the unspeakable things you want there, I promise.” Laughter bubbled from her throat as she grabbed the knob and flung open the door at the end of the hall.
Kendall stopped in his tracks, stunned by the sight of literally hundreds of pairs of unblinking eyes greeting him from every corner of the room. “Good lord!”
“Aren’t they wonderful?” Peg twirled across the painted floor, a work of art depicting a flower garden complete with lily pond and stepping stones.
He took his time surveying the rows of bears, lions, tigers, rabbits, horses and assorted turtles, mice and frogs. “Steiff?”
“Every one of them. Dad started on my first Christmas with a Teddy bear, and every birthday and Christmas since, I’ve gotten something. I started buying the little ones with my allowance when I was six. This fellow was for my fourteenth birthday.” She swept around the room, touching first one and then another furry form, stopping beside a large golden horse on wheels. “I never cared much for riding and when all the other kids were getting their own horses, I asked for one of these instead. Now look behind you.”