A Love So True

by Melissa Jagears

  A romantic gesture Evelyn shouldn’t have been privy to. She pulled back but didn’t leave, in case her footsteps would ruin Sadie’s moment.

  “Well”—Franklin cleared his throat—“I couldn’t let you go up there and dance with those fancy gentlemen before you knew what it felt like to be in my arms.”

  “Oh, Franklin, there’s not going to be a line of men wanting to dance with me. And even if there is, a few minutes isn’t enough for any man to lose his heart to a girl playing dress-up. I don’t know why Mrs. Lowe insisted on me being an actual guest, but who could say no to this dress?”

  A rustle of skirts sounded, and Evelyn could imagine her twirling.

  “You were right to say yes.” Franklin’s voice turned soft and low.

  The music began upstairs again.

  “Now go dance the night away, princess.” Franklin’s smile was evident in the warmth of his voice.

  Evelyn quickly pressed back against the wall, hoping neither Sadie nor Franklin would see her on their way out.

  They both passed her, and the moment they exited the kitchen, Evelyn let out a breath and pressed her fingers against the slight ache behind her eyes. She would not be jealous of anyone’s dream come true.

  Cook’s voice boomed, and Evelyn froze, her heart pitter-pattering in a more staccato rhythm. Not seeing Cook, she rushed from the kitchen so she wouldn’t be caught hiding in the corner.

  The hallway was already empty, and when she got to the stairs, she poked her head into the stairwell, not wanting to follow up on Sadie’s heels. The only sound she could hear was music.

  After a deep breath, she climbed the stairs while fiddling with her dance card. With all the elbow rubbing Nicholas and David planned to do on her behalf, would David be too busy to dance? They were just too good to her. It didn’t seem right they would spend the night working hard for her project, while she simply enjoyed the ball.

  On the third floor, she hesitated at the crowded ballroom’s threshold. The men’s tailored coats and shined shoes contrasted with the lighter colors of the women’s rustling silks. The jewels dripping off the women’s dresses and pinned in their upswept hair twinkled in the gaslight. They’d been dazzling enough downstairs during dinner, but in this room amid the music . . . Franklin was right—this was a party for a princess.

  Though she loved the dress she’d allowed Lydia’s tailor to make for her, she would be very out of place amid this finery. She’d insisted it couldn’t be fancier than something she could wear to someone’s wedding.

  Walking along the wall, she kept her eyes down as she made her way to the dance-card table. Only a half dozen or so cards remained. Looking at the time again, she saw there was at least fifteen minutes until the dancing started.

  Lydia would not be happy if she stood against the wall all night long, so Evelyn pulled her fan-shaped card off her wrist and laid it down.

  Sadie’s fan was spread out next to hers, but it appeared to be blank. She fanned Sadie’s out some more—only three names. Had Sadie just put down her card as well or was she being ignored? Surely most of the crowd was unaware of her housekeeping position and couldn’t be shunning her for that.

  “Hello there.” David’s baritone made her skin prickle. “Is your card still out?”

  “Oh.” Her heart fluttered with his nearness. “It’s right here.” Her hands itched to snatch her dance card off the table. Not because she didn’t want to dance with him, but because she wanted to dance with him too much.

  “I’ve been stuck conversing with Mr. Pollack since we left the dining room. He likes to hear himself talk, I think.” He grabbed the pencil off the table. “I hope you won’t mind if I take the dances you have left.”

  Her heart sputtered. “Exactly how many dances do you want?”

  “All of them, of course.” He fanned out her card and frowned.

  She could do nothing but swallow.

  “Nobody’s put their name down.” His eyebrows scrunched as if he couldn’t imagine how her card could be blank.

  “I didn’t put my card out until just now. You see, most men in Teaville who had any interest in me have . . . no interest in me anymore. Only out-of-towners like yourself would bother putting their name on my card—unless they find out I’m taller.”

  He ran a finger down the names of the dances. “That’s silly. You shouldn’t have kept yourself from taking part in the dances because of that.”

  “Just, uh, don’t take the final one.” She put a hand over the last blade of her card.

  He stopped and looked up at her. “That one’s been claimed?”

  “Not yet, but I’m hoping someone else will take that one.” Someone elderly, with halitosis and bumbling feet. That way, when she went to sleep, that dance would be the freshest in her mind and would keep her from dreaming of David.

  His eyes narrowed as he looked at her, as if an X-ray might reveal the identity of the man she wanted to dance with. “Who?”

  “Oh, you wouldn’t know him.” Which was true—she didn’t know who it would be either.

  He continued looking at her so intently she glanced away.

  Sadie sipped punch across the crowded ballroom, her eyes fixed on where her dance card lay.

  “I suppose I’ll take two waltzes and the mazurka, then.” He scribbled his name on the corresponding blades. “As much as I’d love to dance all night long, Nicholas has been too kind in arranging business contacts interested in talking with me.”

  The mazurka? How had she forgotten Lydia had put that on the schedule? She’d tried to learn that dance twice and had given up. For truly, how often did she have the opportunity to dance at all? “I should have blocked the mazurka off my card. I’ve never been good at it.”

  That made his eyes sparkle. “But I am.” He finished scribbling his name and stood. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

  “Wait.” She stopped him by grabbing his sleeve. “I know you said you can’t dance all night, but aren’t you going to put your name on any more cards?”

  He laid his hand atop hers. “Yours was the only card I was waiting for.”

  Oh how her heart was screaming to love him. But her conscience was screaming too, and she’d learned long ago which one she should follow. She closed her eyes and backed away.

  “No need to panic.”

  What must she look like for him to say that? Could he hear her erratic heartbeat over the noise of more than eighty guests?

  “You’re the only lady I know here. I’m not here to meet women, but rather to drum up support. I would have danced with Mrs. Lowe, but she’s sitting out.”

  She’d been slightly surprised Lydia had chosen to come at all. Not because some would say it was against propriety in her condition—her friend had proven years ago she could care less about society rules—but because she’d confessed to going to bed several times this past week at six o’clock.

  “I’ll be more effective getting you what you want by hobnobbing.” He stepped closer. “Unless you’d like a few more dances?”

  If there ever was a question she could emphatically answer with both yes and no, that would be it. “Perhaps we should see how our night goes first.” She glanced at Sadie, who was still staring at the dance-card table from across the room. “But if you’re willing, would you mind dancing with the Lowes’ housekeeper? You remember her—the girl who made the divinity?”

  “Yes.” He scanned the room as if trying to locate her.

  She tugged on his sleeve again. “Don’t stare, but she’s the one in the off-white silk by the punch table. This is likely the only time she’ll attend a ball, and I want her memories to be good.” And how could being in the arms of a man as gallant as David ever be a bad memory?

  “If you so wish.” He made a show of searching the crowd, as if Sadie wasn’t who he’d just been looking for, then turned around and added his name to her card.

  A thickset older man sidled up to David’s right and grunted as he looked over the card
s. Looking down on his balding head might work to erase the feel of David’s hands in hers, so hopefully he’d fill in the slot for her final dance.

  Though the last time David had held her hand, the sensation had stuck with her for days.

  “Let me have your pencil, will you, son?” The man stuck out his fleshy palm. “Do you know which of the remaining ladies dances well?”

  Leaving David to try to help the man, she crossed over to Sadie. The closer she got to the housekeeper, the more obvious it was that Sadie felt exactly as she did—out of place and ready to run.

  “How are you doing, Sadie?”

  “I’m ready to throw up,” she said breathlessly. “All these people. What if someone recognizes me?”

  “You don’t look at all like the girl I got a glimpse of years ago. Besides, Nicholas wouldn’t have allowed you to come if he didn’t believe you safe.”

  Sadie’s squirming didn’t lessen.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, really. It’s just that, I’m preoccupied.” Sadie reached up to run a hand through her hair but stopped before she ruined it. She clasped onto the dainty gold chain at her throat instead. “I wish I hadn’t agreed to attend. Even if I wasn’t what I was, I’m still unfit for this company. I’m much better suited to dance a jig with someone downstairs than waltz with anyone up here.”

  Evelyn took Sadie’s hand, which was pulling on her necklace hard enough to break it. “I saw you dance the waltz downstairs. I think you’ll do fine.”

  Sadie’s eyes widened. “Oh, Miss Wisely, I hope that wasn’t untoward. I don’t want to get either of us fired.”

  “Don’t worry.” Evelyn patted her hand. “I shouldn’t have been watching, but when I saw a man snatch you from the hallway, I wanted to be sure you were all right. Franklin is a fine young man. You couldn’t have chosen better.”

  “You’re right, I couldn’t. But I wish I’d fallen for someone I had a chance with.” She looked away from Evelyn and sniffed.

  “How do you know you haven’t a chance with Franklin? I saw how he looked at you.”

  “You know his opinion on fallen women.”

  He’d been the first new child she’d taken into the orphanage after the Lowes left. His mother had taken out her frustrations on him, and anytime soiled doves came up in conversation, he’d never had a sympathetic word for them.

  She’d actually been surprised he’d seemed so pleasant this evening, since helping reformed prostitutes was the reason for this charity ball. “Maybe he’s starting to see that his past shouldn’t color his thoughts about everyone.”

  Sadie grabbed her necklace again and started pulling it. “I’m still scared of the day I have to tell him.”

  A huge eruption of laughter made Evelyn look across the way at a group of men. They were laughing at something, maybe the bald man in the middle of the cluster whose head was turning bright red. David was in the group, and his smile widened when he slanted a glance at her, his gaze warm—hopefully only because he’d found whatever joke had been told to be funny.

  She couldn’t fault Sadie for being scared of revealing something she wished had never happened.

  But unlike her, Sadie wasn’t responsible for the horrible secret she was keeping. “Sadie, God knows your past, and Franklin’s. Though some people would look down upon you, God doesn’t, and He won’t keep good things from you because of it.” Thankfully Sadie could have whatever good God wanted to give her. “Enjoy your night and Franklin’s attentions. If he can’t get past your secret when you tell him, then maybe God wants you to dream of something else.”

  Sadie stopped nervously scanning the room and looked up at Evelyn. “But I like that dream so much.”

  At least the girl was allowed to entertain her dreams. “I’m sure you do, but don’t ruin your life chasing a dream God doesn’t want to give you. Pray for Franklin. If he won’t allow God to change his heart, your attempts will be futile.”

  “Thank you, Miss Wisely. I’ll do more praying.” Sadie looked at her empty glass. “Do you want punch?”

  “No, thank you. I should probably go find Lydia now.” Evelyn glanced around the huge crowd of people. She’d rather go back downstairs and check on the baby again, or do anything else that got her out of this crowd, but if she had to be here, being near Lydia would make it bearable.

  She headed in the direction she’d seen David disappear. If he’d been heading back to Nicholas, Lydia would likely be nearby.

  Though the windows were open and many women were employing handheld fans, the air was thick. A very good thing Lydia hadn’t held a party this large in the summer.

  Not seeing the Lowes, Evelyn stopped and looked around again. Nicholas was pretty tall, but she couldn’t see him anywhere.

  Behind her, the glass door to the smoker’s balcony showed the terrace to be empty, so she pushed out into the night. Quiet drew her more than the nearness of a friend.

  The cool air was too refreshing to hoard though, so she propped the door open.

  Walls on both sides of her shot straight up to the roof, and the eight-foot balcony was closed in by a plain steel rail—not at all as pretty as the veranda behind the music pit, but blissfully cool. She walked to the edge and leaned out so she could see the last of the sunlight coloring the western horizon.

  The remnants of the day hemmed the deep indigo sky with violet, embroidered with the black silhouettes of trees upon a far ridge. A lovely view, but she closed her eyes against it nonetheless.

  God, I know that what I’ve been dreaming about can’t be your dream for me. I’m trying so hard to do what you would have me do, and yet right now, I wish you’d change everything for me—to swipe away my mistake as far as the east is from the west. To let me be free. At the same time, I know I have to face the consequences of my misstep, but Sadie shouldn’t. Please help her to never regret the choices she makes. Keep her from doing anything that will haunt her for the rest of her life. She already has enough things in her past to—

  “How are you, darling?” Momma’s concerned voice came from behind her. “A lot of people, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” So Momma had sought escape as well.

  She stopped beside her at the railing, and Evelyn put her hand atop her mother’s. “Hopefully that means we’ll end up with one or two more supporters before the night’s end.”

  With her free hand, Momma played with the brooch pinned to her best dress.

  At least someone else in this town realized how impractical a ball gown truly was.

  “You aim too low, sweetheart. Pray for a dozen supporters, at least.”

  “All right.” She was in awe of what a woman of prayer her mother had become the last several years.

  “I saw you finally put your card on the table.”

  And of course, if any person other than David was paying attention to that insignificant detail of tonight’s party, it would be Momma.

  “I’ve been praying that whatever is holding you back from finding someone to love can be resolved.”

  She squeezed her mother’s hand. She had started praying for that as well, but as she had told Sadie, she had to have faith that whatever God answered was best, even if it didn’t feel like it.

  “Thank you for your prayers.” She truly did appreciate them, but she had to get Momma onto another topic. “How’s Daddy?”

  “He’s as good as he was this morning. You saw how he’s still got that droop to his face and slurs his words, but the progress with the rest of his body makes me hope the doctor’s expectation of a full recovery is correct. But even if he gets worse, I’m glad I’ve had the love of a good man. Though this women’s home idea is wonderful, darling, if . . . life takes you elsewhere, no one will fault you.”

  Evelyn simply held on to Momma’s hand. “How long will you stay tonight?”

  “Oh . . .” The single word was laced with her mother’s disappointment over Evelyn’s refusal to talk about love. “I have two more people Nicholas w
ants me to talk to, and then I’m going home.” She tiptoed up to kiss Evelyn on the temple. “I better return to the party so I can get back to your father.”

  Once Momma left, Evelyn stared back out at the sky, where the sparkle of the first star emerged. As a child she’d always thought the best wishing star was the first one to appear, but girlhood wishes had gotten her into a lot of trouble. Better to pray God would do as He pleased than make any wishes.

  Please help me have a good time tonight. I know dancing isn’t a commitment to anything, and I’d love a happy memory to put in my treasure box. I’ve had so few, and I know I don’t deserve them, but if you could grant me an exception this once. Would it be too much to ask that Nicholas’s investigator—

  “Here you are.”

  She shook her head. Trying to pray at the biggest event in Teaville since the opening of the natatorium was seemingly futile.

  David walked up beside her, dangling her fancy dance card. “They just announced the dancing will commence. Yours was the only one left on the table. I hope you remember the first one belongs to us.”

  “There’s no way I would forget.”

  Sadie had told Franklin that a few minutes wasn’t long enough for a woman to lose her heart.

  But what happened if her heart was already lost, despite everything she’d done to save herself the agony?

  She inhaled one last gulp of fresh air before David led her inside. Tonight she wanted to forget everything and enjoy the ball, like she’d told Sadie to do.

  Three dances with David—only about a half hour total. Surely her heart wouldn’t implode.

  30

  “That’s wonderful.” David shook hands with Mr. Pickett, who’d just promised to give him the names of some contacts in Kansas City. That wouldn’t help him with Evelyn’s women’s home or the glass factory here, but there was always time to look for ways to strengthen Father’s holdings.

  The redheaded man with a full beard who’d patiently waited to talk to Mr. Pickett stepped into the small circle that had formed around the businessman from Parsons. “Good evening, Mr. Pickett. May I introduce myself, I’m . . .”