M. Donice Byrd - The Warner Saga

by No Unspoken Promises

  “No, Donna did. She’s the one who found him.”

  Cloris suddenly stood up and placed her dishes on the tray giving Meredith her back. “I know you have an appointment with the estate agent. Do not tell him where you are getting the money.”

  “But what if Blake comes and doesn’t want the house?” What if he denied they were married? Criminy, she’d look like the worst kind of fool.

  “Sell the house and repay me then,” Cloris said. “I’ll have my attorney draw up a promissory agreement.”

  Meredith set down her unfinished tea and rose to her feet.

  “I will come get you tonight for the Mayor’s Gala. My maid, Sally, will arrive two hours prior to help you pick out an appropriate gown and to help you with your hair,” Cloris said walking her to the door. “Whenever I come to get you, I will pick you up at the time on the invitation. I hate being the first one there.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Billingsham. I do understand why you are helping me and I would like to thank you.”

  “I am helping you because Donna telegraphed me and asked me to help. I am not the benevolent humanitarian you give me credit for.”

  24

  Meredith stepped into the carriage with trepidation. She did not want to go to the Mayor’s Gala at all and to go with Cloris Billingsham after their unpleasant discussion made her want to attend even less.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Warner,” Cloris said in a friendly tone. “I’d like you to meet my husband and two of my children. This is my daughter, Palentina, and my son, Phillip. Children, you remember Aunt Donna and Uncle Hamilton’s friend, Mr. Warner. This is his new wife, Meredith Warner.”

  Meredith was surprised the children had not been informed Blake was their uncle. She supposed it was because children might not understand the consequences of letting the truth slip but it seemed that Palentina and Phillip were old enough to be told.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” the seventeen-year-old Palentina chimed in immediately.

  “I’m Frederick Billingsham,” her husband said extending his hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Billingsham, Miss Billingsham, Mr. Billingsham.”

  “Did you find a house?” Cloris asked.

  “I think so,” Meredith said pensively. “I had no idea the houses were going to be so large and expensive.”

  Meredith didn’t know if Cloris had told her husband of their arrangement so she didn’t bring up that Cloris had offered to loan her the money.

  “Posh, I’m sure your husband can afford anything you choose. Tell me which house was your favorite?”

  “I believe the previous owner’s name was Pembrook.”

  “And why that one, my dear?”

  “Honestly, because there was already a great deal of furniture in it and until Blake arrives, I am reluctant to make any more large purchases.”

  “Speaking of Mr. Warner,” Frederick said. “When are you expecting him?”

  “I don’t know really. He was called away on business and was supposed to return two weeks ago.”

  “And what kind of work does he do?”

  Meredith thought the question was odd. The Billingshams obviously knew Blake. Why then wouldn’t Frederick know what kind of work he did?

  “I think he’s a government courier.”

  Frederick chuckled. “Why do you think he’s a courier?”

  “When the cavalry lieutenant told me the details of my parents’ deaths he said my parents were found by a courier. Then I overheard Blake tell Donna he found my parents’ bodies and when he left he gave me a letter saying he was going south on business and he might get killed or captured.”

  Cloris gasped. She pointed her finger at her children and shook it as she spoke. “Palentina and Phillip, if you repeat a word of that, you will be shipped off to boarding school. Really, Mrs. Warner” she said pointing her finger at Meredith. “You’d think you would have more sense than to make these wild assumptions and leap to these ridiculous conclusions. Your husband is a man of leisure who lives off his family’s wealth. How could he have found their bodies when you wired him and told him they were dead?”

  A moment of uncomfortable silence passed as the occupants of the carriage all eyed Cloris, shocked at her outburst, before Frederick spoke.

  “Have you had any word from him?”

  “Donna received a telegram saying he was well but delayed. I’m hoping he’ll join me soon.”

  Meredith became an expert that night on the inflection in people’s voices when they said, “Oh!” It seemed the first word out of everyone’s mouth when they found out she was married to Blake Warner was, “Oh!”

  Mostly, they were Oh’s of surprise but Meredith instinctively knew the women he’d slept with. There were several different Oh’s with those women. The ones who wanted to marry him said it with tight lips and annoyed tones. They tended to be rude and always made a hasty excuse to leave. The women who were embarrassed over their indiscretion were even more embarrassed to be face-to-face with his wife. Their Oh! was high-pitched, their hand involuntarily lifted to their mouths and their eyes not meeting Meredith’s, their excuses immediate as they hurried off.

  The last group of women had gone to his bed knowing he was offering nothing more than a little recreation between the sheets. Most of them would gladly return to their role if given the chance. They spoke the long drawn out Oooh! with a knowing smile. She got the distinct impression that a couple of them wanted to tell her.

  It was Rebecca Grant who rescued her from the constant barrage of people to whom Cloris introduced her.

  “You clean up nicely,” Rebecca whispered in her ear drawing her attention. She hooked her arm through Meredith’s and led her away.

  “Are there any women here Blake hasn’t slept with?” Meredith asked looking quite upset.

  Rebecca thought about it for a moment and began looking around. “Besides me? See that woman by the punch bowl?”

  Meredith located the refreshment tables and spied an elderly woman who must’ve been eighty years old standing next to it. Meredith chuckled.

  “Should we go see if the mayor’s wife…?”

  “No, please, I prefer not to know.”

  After days on the train, the trio dragged into the lobby of the Regent Arms Hotel.

  “Out!” Agnes Donovan shouted when they were about ten feet inside. “You little urchins leave that gentleman alone. We’ll not have riffraff bothering the guests at this hotel.”

  “Mrs. Donovan, these children are with me.” Blake said, his annoyance edging his voice. “This is my daughter, Lolly and the tall quiet one is my son, Pete.”

  Behind his back, Pete’s look went from surprise to overt hostility.

  “Oh, excuse me, I didn’t realize.”

  “We’ve been on the train for days and we just want to go to our room.”

  Pete and Lolly sat down in chairs in the lobby while Blake approached the desk.

  “Mr. Warner, it’s so good to see you back. I have to say you are full of unexpected surprises.”

  Blake looked over his shoulder at Pete and Lolly then turned back smiling. “I suppose I am. Do you have any two bedroom suites available?” In light of Pete’s recent attempt to run away, Blake knew he should probably share a two-bed room with them as he had been doing. Because Pete had been having nightmares, Blake had allowed him to leave the lantern burning lowly and the light was interrupting Blake’s sleep.

  “Oh, of course, let me check. I could hardly expect all four of you to fit in Mrs. Warner’s room.”

  “Mrs. Warner?”

  “Your wife.”

  Agnes watched Blake’s reaction carefully. Although she had no proof to doubt Meredith Warner’s assertion that she was Blake Warner’s wife, there was still doubt in Agnes’s mind. She never thought Blake was the kind of man who would settle down with one woman.

  “Meredith is here?”

  Agnes wasn’t sure who was more surprised she or Blake Warner. “You weren’t expe
cting her to meet you here?”

  “I was going to send for her after I arrived,” he lied smoothly, feeling mixed emotions at the prospect of seeing her.

  Mrs. Donavan smiled widely remembering one of their last conversations before he left. “I see you got over your fear of redheads.”

  Blake laughed heartily. “Oh, Mrs. Donavan, you have no idea how much that one scares me. Why do you think I found such a small one? And her hair is barely red. It gives me a whole new respect for Mr. Donavan.”

  Agnes’s face turned almost as red as her hair. “Mr. Warner!”

  “What room is she in?”

  “I put her in room 222 but she’s gone out for the evening.”

  “Gone out?”

  Agnes prided herself in her knowledge of the comings and goings of the socially elite. She knew who was inside a closed carriage by the coachman and footmen riding outside. She also kept abreast of society parties, galas and balls. “I believe Mrs. Warner was picked up by Mrs. Billingsham. I can’t say for certain where they were going but I know the mayor is having a gala tonight and since Mrs. Billingsham is a member of another political family, I suspect that is where she has gone.”

  “Mrs. Billingsham? How odd. She and I hardly circulate in the same crowds.”

  “I assume Mrs. Daily has asked her to introduce her around since Mrs. Billingham’s is her sister.”

  Blake schooled his expression. He shouldn’t be surprised to find Agnes knew he and Donna were close considering he received occasional letters from Donna and they always spent time together when she and Hamilton came to visit but for some reason he was.

  “I’m sure you’re quite right, Mrs. Donovan. How long has my wife been here?”

  “She arrived yesterday afternoon.”

  “About the suite….”

  “Yes, I do have one available. It’s five dollars a night but well worth the price.”

  “Send up a bath, the trunks I left with you and some food for the children. Have my horse boarded at the livery and have Meredith’s things moved into the suite.”

  Agnes handed Blake the key. “It’s room 412.”

  “Thanks, Agnes.” Crossing to the children with renewed energy, Blake asked, “Have you two ever ridden in an elevator?”

  25

  The mayor’s annual gala smacked of overindulgence and waste. It was one of the few times during the social calendar when the politically influential nouveau riche hobnobbed with the old money. In more than principle, Blake enjoyed the infusion of new blood into society. He liked to see the once middle-class business owners, who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and now had as much money as many of the people living off the money their great-grandfathers earned, putting their toes in the waters of society.

  Blake intentionally came in through the kitchen door to avoid being announced as he entered the party. He found a spot hidden from the view of most of the room and began searching the partygoers for his bride. Being a regular to these events, he could tell there was an excitement encompassing the room and he had no doubt who everyone was talking about. The women stood in groups with their heads close together and their fans shielding their mouths from view.

  Blake spied his father with Cloris not far from the main entrance. Senator Knight could always be expected to be near the doors because he liked to make sure he’d both greeted and said goodbye to every potential voter and his wife.

  Randolph Knight’s wife, Clara, spoke to him as he nodded absently but his mind and his eyes were focused on the same corner of the room as everyone else. Meredith.

  Blake wondered what his father thought. Had he met her yet? Did he find her provincial? Did he find her naïveté charming? Had she said something completely inappropriate? Or was he wondering if the marriage was scandalous?

  Blake Warner stood across the room looking at his bride. Her back was turned toward most of the room but from what he could see she looked beautiful. She wore a midnight blue gown with a full hoop skirt. The modest neckline, no doubt, met the approval of the matrons and, he had to admit, was wholly appropriate for a married woman. Blake would have liked to have seen her wearing something off the shoulder, with a low décolletage which might give him a glimpse of her beautiful breasts. But then again why should she be on display for other men to ogle. For someone as petite as Meredith, she had very nice breasts. Not so large that she looked out of proportion but enough to fill his hand. And they were youthful and firm and ….

  Blake gave himself a mental shake. If he kept thinking like that, it would soon be quite clear the direction of his thoughts. He purposely sought out Cloris with his eyes. That should waylay his lustful imaginings. She wore a rather glib smile on her face and he wondered why.

  As if she felt his gaze upon her, Cloris glanced in his direction, her eyes widening with surprised when she saw him. She inclined her head in a public acknowledgment of his presence then spoke to her mother behind her fan.

  Just as Blake turned back, Meredith turned where he could see her profile. He could see immediately she was troubled even as she laughed at something amusing Rebecca said. Whether someone was rude to her or Cloris had done something, he didn’t know, but he knew if he provoked her, she would soon forget about whatever upset her.

  In light of the fact that Pete and Lolly needed a mother and the way she had introduced herself to the town as his wife, he supposed he had little choice but keep her as his wife. But she needn’t know that yet and he decided to have a little fun at her expense. Frankly, if she wanted to stay married, a little conversation about it would have been the polite thing to do. This, which he had to admit, had the feel of Donna’s hand all over it…well, it was sneaky and underhanded. And, by-God uncalled for. They had an agreement! The more he thought about it, the more it annoyed him.

  Blake thought about stealing up behind her and planting a kiss on her lips when she turned but in the light of her decision, he strode across the room and boldly confronted her.

  “You!” he shouted, pointing his finger at her. He was intentionally causing a scene. “Are you the woman going all over town claiming to be married to me?” Blake managed to keep the smile from his lips but he was sure his eyes danced with mirth.

  Rebecca gasped but Meredith looked at him blankly, blinking.

  Blake saw one corner of Meredith’s lips tug upwards and then disappear.

  “Alas, my plot is foiled,” she said, loudly, her acting as bad as the troupe of traveling actors who had performed in Des Moines. “I thought I would have more time to hoodwink these people and your reputation would be destroyed if you did not wed me. But now I see no one could possibly believe I am your wife.”

  Blake stood there flummoxed. He wanted to see her stammering and protesting the truth but instead she’d done the opposite.

  Meredith leaned toward him and spoke in hushed tones. “Thank God, I knew I erred when I came here but I didn’t know how to fix it.” She took two steps toward the exit. “Can I catch one of those omnibuses in front?”

  Blake grabbed her by the arm. “What the hell are you talking about?” he said in her ear.

  “Do I need to use small words? I came here because I thought I wanted to stay married but it was a mistake. You have brilliantly given me a way out and I’m going to take it.” Meredith tried to pull her arm free of his grasp. “Please, let me go so I can leave.”

  “No, you’re not going anywhere.”

  Blake noticed the lowering of the crowd noise and knew every eye was on them. “Oh, I remember you now,” he announced loudly. “You’re Meredith Vande Linde-Warner, the one I married in Minnesota about two months ago.”

  Meredith gasped. “Why did you do that?” she hissed in low tones. She then raised her voice. “The hoax is revealed. No one will believe it now, sir.”

  “Your memory seems faulty, treasure. You and I stood before a minister and took vows.”

  “We did not,” she said waspishly. “You said, ‘I agree to marry her. Period.’ That’s no v
ow.”

  “So you will agree we are married.”

  “Stop,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. You’ve had your fun. Just let me go and you’ll never see me again.”

  “But there’s the problem, Meredith. I’ve decided to keep you.”

  Meredith’s frustration showed on her face.

  “Have you forgotten our wedding night?” he said into her ear to remind her that the marriage had been consummated.

  Meredith looked at him directly in the eye and said only loud enough for him to hear. “I slept alone that night.”

  “You would have me refer to the night I ruined you by some other name?”

  “Indeed, Blake, perhaps you should call it the night I committed adultery.”

  Blake couldn’t help but grin at her. “I knew you’d be mad about that. I wish I could’ve seen your face when Rebecca told you.”

  Meredith’s expression changed. She bit her lip and her eyes filled with unshed tears. “I don’t know how you can laugh? Do you find pleasure in hurting me?”

  “No, Meredith, no,” he said contritely. “I didn’t want to hurt you, I just like it when you get mad and argue with me.”

  “Please, let me go.”

  Damn. He hadn’t meant to upset her – well, make her mad, yes, but not to make her cry.

  “I’ve missed you, my little treasure. Take my hand and we’ll leave together.” Blake released his grip on her arm.

  “Why would I leave with you when I just told everyone I’m not really married to you?”

  “First of all, you are really married to me. Second, we’re going to the same place and I asked the driver of the carriage I rented to wait,” Blake said, reasonably. Then, he added – not so reasonably, “If it weren’t for those damned hoops, I’d throw you over my shoulder and haul you out of here!”

  Meredith shrugged and shook her head. “Darn these stupid hoops.”

  “I’ve just spent the last two and a half days on the train to get here. All I want to do is go to bed. Then Agnes told me you were here so I bathed and dressed up and came to get you. I was actually excited to see you but, frankly, I’m all battled-out and I just want to leave.”