by Beth Bennett
Turning away from her, he leaned across the table and took Olivia by the hand. She startled at his touch. “Your dress is lovely, my dear. The color suits you.” He knew he shouldn’t but he couldn’t miss an opportunity to goad Lucy. He intimately caressed Olivia’s palm with his thumb. She smiled demurely and practically purred.
“Why thank you so much, Mr. Daniels.”
“I think we should call each other by our first names. There’s no need for formalities. After all, you are staying with my family. Jackson. You simply must call me Jackson.”
Olivia looked straight at Lucy. “What do you think, Lucy? Shall I call the handsome gentleman by his first name?” Anger roiled across Lucy’s face. Jackson smiled to himself. Olivia knew exactly how to play the game.
“Call him whatever you like. I can think of a few choice words besides Jackson.” She quickly found an excuse to leave the table.
Jackson and Olivia laughed quietly together. He released her hand and he took a sip of coffee. “I hope she hasn’t bothered you too much.”
Olivia seemed unfazed. “She is rather, unpleasant. She certainly seems possessive. Have you known her long?”
He might as well tell the truth. “I’ve known Lucy since she was a girl. We had an understanding at one time, but were never engaged. We were youthful and immature. My head was too easily turned by a pretty face.”
Olivia’s pursed her lips and tapped her chin with a slender finger. “And now, do plainer women meet your fancy?”
“I wouldn’t know. The one sitting across from me now, is anything but plain.” Jackson watched in delight as a sweet blush crept over her face. Her reaction absolutely delighted him.
Lucy kept her distance the rest of the evening. Jackson posted himself near Olivia and unapologetically dominated her time. He told himself as his ward, it was his right to protect her. Albert Winestock and several other gentlemen made a ploy at introductions and conversation but Jackson’s deep frown discouraged their overtures. When it was time to bid farewell, Jackson handed his mother, Hettie, and Olivia into their waiting rig but instead of taking a place up top by the driver, he clambered in behind them. The seats were so small and their dresses so large, he had to finagle a place beside Olivia by shoving her gently to the side.
His mother gave him a disapproving glare. “Really, Jackson, you should have ridden on top. This carriage barely holds four small people. You take up the room of two.”
He grinned and placed his arm around the back of the carriage seat. “I’ll just put my arm here to give Olivia a bit more room.” Olivia had no choice but to sit in the nook of his arm, pressed up against his side. He was enjoying himself immensely. The carriage bounced home as Jackson enjoyed the feel of Olivia’s body pressed close to his own.
Chapter 16
As she readied for bed that evening, Olivia brushed the back of her hand against her cheek. Jackson had kissed her. Just there. Oh, she knew he was only goading Lucy, but still, his actions during the evening had been totally unexpected. Attentive and interested, she’d had no idea he could be so accommodating or so conversational. When Albert and his friends came sniffing around, Jackson’s bark had sent them packing. And Lucy! Olivia gleefully remembered the look on Lucy’s face when Jackson succinctly put her in her place. Altogether, it had been a most satisfying evening.
She placed her nightgown over her head and combed out her long, luxurious hair. Turning down the lamp, she snuggled under the summer bedcovers. The windows were thrown open and the night sounds of New York came floating in. The clop of horse hooves and the rattle of wagons lulled her into a deep and peaceful sleep.
The following morning, the rattle of dishes and the smell of breakfast woke her up. Olivia hurriedly washed her face and twisted her hair into the simple bun she had become fond of wearing. Biting her bottom lip, she looked inside the wardrobe. The newly purchased dresses hung next to her simple country gowns. Without hesitation, she chose the day dress she had purchased at A.T. Stewart’s. She just couldn’t bear for Jackson to see her in the plain simple clothes he had bought her in Virginia. She skipped down the stairs in eager expectation. Hettie was already seated and Mrs. Daniels was just entering the dining room but Jackson was nowhere to be found.
She couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. She took her place at the table and waited for Mrs. Daniels to be seated. The blessing was said and everyone began to eat. Hettie spoke between bites. “Where’s Jackson this morning, Mother? His first day home and he’s already gone before breakfast.”
Mrs. Daniels patted her mouth with a fine linen napkin. She daintily balanced her knife on the side of her plate. “He’s at the granary office today. It seems there is much to attend to. A discrepancy with the books I think he said.” She took a sip of coffee from a delicate porcelain cup.
“Mother, I’d like to go down there today and make Jackson take Olivia and me out to lunch. He shouldn’t have left so early this morning. I didn’t even get to see him.” Hettie looked eagerly at Olivia. “Wouldn’t you like to come? It will show you an entirely different side of New York. The granary office is near the docks.”
Mrs. Daniels raised her eyebrows. “Olivia has studies to complete this morning and you have plenty of other pursuits to keep you occupied. I don’t think Jackson would appreciate the interruption nor your unannounced appearance at his workplace. Besides, the docks are not in a very reputable area of the city.”
Hettie gave a slight nod and then replied, “James is supposed to call this afternoon. He wanted to consult about wedding plans. I guess it is best to stay home.”
Olivia perked up at this bit of news. If Mr. Whitmore was coming to call, Jimmy might be driving his carriage.
The morning lessons dragged by rather slowly. More than once, the professor asked why she was so distracted. “Oh, no reason,” she replied.
“Let us hope you will be better focused on the morrow,” he lectured. His eyes darted to the corner. Olivia redoubled her efforts to pay attention.
Afternoon finally arrived, and Olivia posted herself in a chair near the front door. She pretended to read as she waited for Mr. Whitmore’s arrival.
Hettie brushed the curtains at the front window aside and peeked out. “He’s late again. Olivia, why are you reading a book upside down?”
“Huh? Uh, no reason. I was simply looking at the pictures.”
“James and I are going to have tea. He’s also bringing over some wedding invitation paper to choose from. You’re welcome to visit with us.”
Olivia put her book down and uncurled her legs. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t think of intruding.” She decided to leave the front sitting room and wait at the back of the house. It would be easier to catch Jimmy that way.
Liza saw Olivia looking out the back door. “What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting for somebody.” Olivia’s voice dropped to a low whisper. “Please don’t say anything.”
Liza put her head beside Olivia’s and peeked out. “Who is it?”
“You won’t believe it. I met somebody from home.”
“From home? Who in the world is it?”
“Well, you know when I went to that picnic party?”
“Yes.”
“I ran into a boy I knew a long time ago. I thought he was killed in the war, yet, there he stood. I couldn’t believe it. And, to top it off, he works for the Whitlows as a groom. I was hoping he would be driving Mr. Whitlow today.” Suddenly they heard the rattle of carriage wheels on cobblestone. “Liza, please don’t tell anyone. Can you keep my secret?”
“I won’t tell a soul.”
Olivia raced out the back and stood at the corner to watch as Mr. Whitlow disembarked. Sure enough, Jimmy was driving. The carriage house was near the kitchen. She could catch him when he came round.
Jimmy took the horses to water at the trough. Olivia self-consciously stood waiting. Her hands twisted in a knot behind her back. Jimmy saw her immediately and shot nervous glances her way.
&nbs
p; Once he had the horses secured, he came to stand beside her at the kitchen steps. “Do you think we should be talking out here in the open? Maybe we should stand inside the carriage house.” Olivia nodded and followed him there. When she glanced back, Liza was waving encouragement from the backdoor. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Jimmy turned and grabbed her in a big bear hug. “Ollie Overton, as I live and breathe. I ain’t never been so surprised to see anybody in all my life.” His words were suddenly infused with the melody of the mountains. He stood her back on her feet but continued to hold her by the shoulders. “Let me look at you. Why you are just as pretty as a picture. All grown up. I declare.” He shook his head. “How in tarnation did you ever get all the way to New York City?”
Olivia started to cry. She couldn’t help it. The sound of his voice, just the way she remembered it. His face older and even more handsome. The wispy brown hair, still a bit fly-away. The memories of home, of loved ones and of the terrible time when they had all been sure Jimmy was dead came rolling back. Olivia punched him in the shoulder.
“Why didn’t you write? Why didn’t you tell us you were alive? The whole mountain grieved for you. Your poor parents.” She was so upset she turned away and went to stand beside some hay bales. “I can’t believe you never wrote.” She placed her hands over her face and cried.
Jimmy stood quietly behind. He placed his hand on her arm. Olivia shrugged it away. She turned and wiped her tears with the backs of her hands.
Jimmy kicked the straw with the toe of his fancy groomsmen boots. “I did write Ma and Pa. By the time the war was over, they had already left Goldsboro. My letter got forwarded on to Chase City where they settled. I was injured, Olivia. I didn’t even know my own name for months.” He looked up. “By the time I got to Chase City, nearly a year had gone by. The farm was gone, there was nothing for me in Goldsboro. I just never went back.” He pushed a stray lock of hair out of his eyes. “We were nothing but kids. I didn’t think you’d even miss me.”
“You must be the dumbest idiot I ever met, Jimmy Simpson. We all missed you. I searched the lists of the dead in the newspaper for months.” She sat down hard on a hay bale. “I cried every day for months. For you, Jimmy, every single stinkin day.”
Jimmy sat beside her. He twisted a piece of straw in his hands. “I’m so sorry, Livia. I had no idea.”
“Paw’s dead.”
“Oh, Olivia.”
“Yes, he died and the railroad took my farm. We couldn’t pay the taxes and I lost everything. Jackson Daniels was the man in charge. He felt guilty about it and sent me here, to stay with his family. Just until I could get on my feet. I’ve been in New York for months now.” She looked up and studied the carriage house walls. “I’ve been doing school work and trying to get educated so I can go back home.” The old grief came rushing back. Talking to Jimmy had only made things worse. She began to wish she’d never told him who she was. “I’m not staying here. I’m leaving as soon as I can.”
Jimmy nodded. He sat beside her and rested his hands on his knees. “After the war, I got a job with the New York Carriage Club. One of the owners saw me working with horses down in Virginia. I’ve been helping run the races at Jerome Park and in the off season working as a groom.” Jimmy gave her a nudge with his shoulder. “Olivia, if I had known. I would have written. I just didn’t think…if I had known you were in trouble with the farm, I would have come home. I am really sorry.”
“What’s done is done. We can’t go back. I thank you for meeting me. I wanted to find out what had happened to you. Now, I know. Maybe I’ll see you again, sometime. I’ll be in New York for a few more months. Hettie says I might be able to get a teaching position after I sit for my exams. I’ll have my secondary school certificate, then.”
As she stood to leave, Jimmy reached up and took her hand. “I want to see you again, Olivia. We can talk over old times. There’s a dance, Olivia. Nothing so fancy as what you’ve gone to with the Daniels but it would give us a chance to talk.”
She swallowed hard. “Old times seem like nothing but hard times, Jimmy. I better not. I best be going. Thank you for coming today.”
“Just think about it Olivia. It’s Friday night. We leave around ten. Mr. Whitlow lets me borrow his small rig. Liza is going. I’m going to pick her up. You mustn’t let anyone in the house know. I doubt Mr. Daniels would approve. We aren’t going to do anything wrong mind you. But you know how these New York types can be.” Olivia nodded. Jackson would most certainly not approve of her going out unescorted so late.
Jimmy tried to grasp her hand again but she pulled away before he could. “Maybe I’ll think about it.” She turned and left.
Chapter 17
Olivia dashed into the back door. Liza was waiting with her nose pressed against the window glass. “What did he say?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “We talked about old times.” She bit her bottom lip. “He told me there was a dance this Friday night.”
Liza jumped up and down. “Oh there is, there is. He invited you to come didn’t he?” She nodded. “It’s held in one of the empty warehouses by the docks. You’ll be home before anyone knows you’re gone at all.”
Olivia was torn. How she would love to escape the pressure of high society New York. She surely did not fit in on any account. Her life was still her own. It would be fun to get away for a few hours. She’d get to see Jimmy too. “All right, I’ll go.”
Liza whispered, “You be ready at ten o’clock sharp. Most everyone in the house will be in bed. Meet me here at the back door.”
“All right.”
“And don’t wear those fancy duds neither. That pretty pink checked dress will be just right.”
Olivia’s eyes danced with excitement. Finally, she could simply be herself. They would leave late and be back before anyone was the wiser.
Friday evening rolled around and Olivia was more than a little nervous. There was simply no way to ask permission. Jackson would never agree and she had no intention of telling him about Jimmy. Besides, Jackson had not spoken more than a polite word or two, to her since the night at the Astoria Hotel.
Hettie was more than curious. “You’re up to something. I can smell it. What’s going on?”
Olivia stared at the ground and tried to look at innocent as possible. “Not a thing. I’m just happy is all.”
“You must tell me, I won’t tell a soul.”
“What is it you won’t tell?” Jackson walked in. He looked from Olivia to Hettie. Neither said a word. Sifting through the mail, he turned to leave, then stopped, to send his best scowl toward them. “Just you two remember. I am the head of this house. You may have gotten used to Mother’s indulgences but I am home now. Is that understood?”
That was the Jackson Olivia was used to.
“You’re an absolute bully, Jackson Daniels.” Hettie raced out of the room. “Mother,” she called.
“Twill do no good telling on me, dear sister,” Jackson called behind her. “Mother agrees with me I assure you.” His eyes flitted back to Olivia. “Are you sure there isn’t something you want to tell me?” She shook her head. “I wouldn’t let Hettie get me into trouble if I were you. She, most certainly won’t be worth it.”
“Truly, there isn’t a thing.” Jackson could go find someone else to harass. She was going to see Jimmy whether he liked it or not.
After dinner, Olivia began collecting plates to take to the kitchen. Jackson was disapproving. “You were not sent here to serve as the hired help. Leave the dishes to the servants.”
Olivia jutted out her jaw in stubborn defiance. “What’s wrong with helping out a little? It makes me feel useful.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Your mother doesn’t mind.”
“She has always been over-indulgent.”
She turned to go through the kitchen doors anyway but his bark stopped her.
“Olivia, what did I just say?”
Turning, she glowered at him. She thoug
ht of that belt spanking he had given her. The one with his hand hadn’t been too nice either. She didn’t think there were any good switches growing out back but she didn’t want to test it. Her nostrils flared in anger and her mouth set in a thin, firm, line. “Fine. This house belongs to you. I won’t touch another dish.”
She mounted the steps as gracefully as her anger would allow. His judgmental words made her want to go to the dance more than ever. She scoffed at herself for enjoying his attentions at the Astoria. She should have known better. He was a New Yorker through and through and dominating to boot. So, his handsome face turned her head a little. What girl wouldn’t find him attractive? She put her mind on Jimmy and the night to come.
Instead of dressing for bed, she dressed for the dance, then lay under the covers, waiting for everyone to fall asleep. Creaaak…The door to her room cracked open.
“Pisst, pisst. Are you asleep?” It was Hettie.
Olivia jerked the covers up to her chin. “Not yet.”
Hettie tiptoed in. The bed squeaked as her weight settled on the side. “I’m sorry about Jackson. He’s used to ruling the roost around here. I hope he didn’t hurt your feelings too badly.”
Olivia snaked a hand from underneath the covers and gave Hettie’s hand a pat. “I know how he is. I won’t pay him any mind.”
“Good.” Hettie gave a sigh of relief. “He has your best interests at heart and underneath it all, he’s a good man.”
Olivia wrinkled her nose but thought better of her sharp reply. “I am sure he is.” She yawned for effect. “I’m pretty tired. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Of course. Till tomorrow.” Hettie passed noiselessly through the door. The minutes dragged by. Olivia stared at the ceiling then started to count the flowers in the floral pattern running down the wall paper. The grandfather clock in the foyer finally struck ten. Olivia crept to the bedroom door to listen. Tick, tock, tick tock. Nothing stirred. She glanced up. Hettie’s door was closed. Grasping her shoes in her hand, she tiptoed quietly down the back staircase. Liza was already waiting by the back door. They both hustled out as quietly and as quickly as possible. The rig was parked and waiting for them.