by Unknown
Loud laughter burst forth from his chest as he set the glass down on the table. Marlena’s efforts at sobriety failed and she chuckled alongside him. Finally, he set his elbows on the table and wiped the wetness from his eyes, reclaiming his breath. He looked around at the serious faces.
“How entertaining I must be for you all tonight. It’s all right to laugh with me,” he encouraged. “I find it quite humorous myself.”
His chest began to shake again and more laughter bubbled out of him. Soon, other voices joined him around the table until the entire party was in a fit of hysterics. Sarah’s voice broke out over the laughter.
“When he used his spoon for the butter, I about died,” she called through her own laughter. Heads bobbed up and down in agreement as the volume of laughter rose.
“And when he slurped his soup I had to stifle my laughter with my napkin,” another woman added and the laughter grew. More voices piped in to extoll Dalton’s many showings of ignorance, and he laughed along with them. His humor was sincere but he laughed at more than himself. He laughed at how severely they held such rules, and how trivial they really were when properly thought out.
“What I don’t understand,” Dalton said, continuing to bark his laughter. “Is that you all clean your dirty fingers in your water glasses on the very table you eat at. And you call me uncivilized!”
The roars were deafening. When Mrs. Bradley wiped her tears with her napkin, the cacophony died down. She stood and invited everyone to partake of a dramatic reading in the next room. The company stood and left their napkins on the table, several men clapping Dalton on the shoulder as they shuffled past him. It took him another minute for his chuckles to fade at the ridiculousness of such a setting.
Marlena took his arm. “That was the most enjoyable dinner I’ve had in the last five years.”
He was still smiling. “I’ve never seen so much pomp and circumstance over a meal. Good God, leave it to the rich to complicate something as simple as eating.”
“I wish it would have lasted a little longer.”
He flinched. “Really? It seemed too long already.”
“No, it’s not that,” Marlena said, leaning onto his arm. “I’m dreading what is going to happen next.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sarah told me I’ll be asked to sing at some point this evening. She is trying to prepare me for concerts.”
“Why should that worry you? Your voice is wonderful.”
She shook her head. “Not in a concert setting. I don’t understand it, but I feel myself closing off when I sing on my own. I’m sure it’s only a matter of experience, and I should welcome the opportunity, but I can already feel my stomach in knots knowing it’s coming.”
He studied her, the nervousness plain in her hesitant gait and fidgeting fingers, and it puzzled him.
They shuffled into the sitting room where Mrs. Bradley held up a volume of Dickens. “Would our new guest care to do the honors?” She gestured toward Dalton.
“What? Read aloud?”
“Certainly, if you can read.”
Dalton fought the eye roll wanting to appear. Instead, he smiled. “I know a word or two, and I’d love to read for you all.”
He deposited Marlena into a seat and went to the center of the room, standing in the middle of a circle of seated aristocrats. He took the book, noting it was Great Expectations and that the story had been bookmarked at the twentieth chapter.
“We began the reading a few weeks ago. I hope you don’t mind picking up in the middle?” Mrs. Bradley asked.
“Not at all, but I’m afraid I can’t do this alone. I’ll need a female counterpart. I can manage a decent Pip and Joe, but my baritone is too severe for Biddy and Estella.” He nodded toward Marlena, ignoring the round of shock alighting on faces who clearly hoped to be entertained by more ignorance. “Cousin, might you assist me?”
Marlena rose with a smile and a bright bloom in her cheeks, joining him in the circle’s center. He began the chapter, adjusting his voice to the tone of the text. When it came time for Marlena to speak, her eyes darted to him and filled with worry. He smiled encouragingly and gave her a nod. She cleared her throat and read her lines in a timid, even voice. Dalton parried with greater animation, reaching out to take her hand as though the scene called for it. She laughed at his antics and relaxed a bit, reading with more ease.
Together, they read for an hour, both injecting humor into the lines and seriousness when the story called for it. Marlena fell into characters easily after the first few moments of fear had passed and each time their eyes met she conveyed her gratitude. As they opened chapter twenty-nine, Dalton took the lead in reciting Pip’s monologue as he spoke of his unwavering love and devotion to Estella. As he read the words aloud, he could feel the warmth of Marlena beside him. He’d never believed such as Pip’s love and devotion was possible outside the realm of fiction, but as of late he began to wonder.
As he read the words, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Marlena, whose gaze was fixed on him and, for the first time, not flitting shyly to the ground when their eyes met.
The unqualified truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be. Once for all; I loved her none the less because I knew it, and it had no more influence in restraining me, than if I had devoutly believed her to be human perfection.
He stopped reading after those lines, unable to see anything but Marlena. Her round violet eyes bore deep into his. Her lips tilted slightly at the corners, raising her cheeks in a smile that revealed long slim cheek bones. His gaze slid to her mouth, a perfect bow he longed to taste again, but without the provocation of alcohol. He wanted to feel a willing kiss, one borne of passion and longing.
A throat cleared somewhere in the room and he broke eye contact and closed the book. “I think that’s a good place to stop,” he said, believing it in his soul. Fostering feelings for Marlena was not something he could allow. Their worlds and futures were as wide as the Pacific.
At that moment, Harrison stood. “I, for one, would be honored if Miss Beauregard with regale us with a song.”
The crowd nodded in agreement, and he watched a blush rise to Marlena’s cheeks as she began to fidget and study the ground.
“Yes, Marlena,” Sarah said. “I believe this is the perfect opportunity to tease the company into attending your debut.”
Dalton’s hand slid over hers for a gentle squeeze, and a change came over her. Bright eyes hardened into pure resolve and she nodded at Sarah. As soon as the noise quieted, he made his way to the back of the room where he stood against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest.
Marlena took a deep breath and started to sing. The first note came out shaky and she glanced up with worry in her eyes, but soon corrected her folly. Her gaze slid around the room, looking above and below the faces, but never quite at them. Her fingers knotted and tangled around one another as she continued in the song. Once her eyes found Dalton’s, however, he sent her an encouraging smile and noticed her body relax.
As he studied her movements and performance, a realization hit him with the force of a gale, and it stayed with him for the rest of the evening, always chanting in the back of his mind as he said goodnight to all in the company, accepted a ball invitation for two nights hence, escorted the ladies home and then returned to the inn. Instead of going to bed, he knocked on his mother’s door. Fortunately, she was awake and opened quickly, inviting him in.
“What’s the matter, Dalton?” she asked.
“Do you know how to ballroom dance?” he asked.
“Yes, why?”
“I need you to teach me. I’ve got two days to learn how.”
Juliet smiled. “I thought you said you’d never don the penguin suit a
gain.”
“I’m serious, Mother,” he said in earnest.
She laughed. “What’s got you all bothered?”
“I would like to have more than a single minute of conversation with Marlena without someone by her side, and it appears to do that I’m going to have to learn to dance in a ballroom.”
Chapter 10
Marlena held the tiny horse in her palm, studying the smooth curves of the wood, remarking how difficult it must have been to create such a soft, perfect roundness. She imagined Dalton’s hands with their rough callouses, cradling the thick bark, working it diligently until it took the shape he desired, just like he had the crowd at the dinner party.
Her cheeks burned at his reading of Pip’s love for Estella, and the way his eyes had hooked hers. At the time, she’d imagined they were his words and feelings, not Pip’s. How her heart had swelled! She could hardly breathe. And now she was less than an hour from seeing him again. After a two-day absence, anticipation grew in her stomach.
She studied her reflection in the mirror of the parlor. The gown she’d chosen was a soft lilac tulle to compliment her dark violet eyes. The neckline scooped across her bosom and attached to cap sleeves of white lace. The skirt fell in no less than five scallops of white lace near the hem. For her hair, she had the top half fastened back and pinned with soft velvet lilacs, letting the remainder fall down her back in crisp ringlets.
Sarah entered, looking equally fashionable in a soft blue creation, but the elegance was lost in the quick pace she kept in a march about the room.
“If he isn’t dressed properly when he arrives, I won’t permit us to leave this house,” she declared. “Better to be scandalized by a late cancellation than by a ruffian without scruples.”
Marlena’s spine stiffened. “But the dinner party went so well.”
“Oh, wake up, Marlena!” Sarah spat. “That was a small party of our closest friends. This is a ball with scores of people and wagging tongues who won’t be as forgiving. And Elijah is coming tonight. Do you think he will be amused by Dalton’s ignorance? I can tell you now, he will not.” Sarah turned on her heel and pointed her closed fan at Marlena. “I expect you to hold him to protocol, Marlena. He’s your relation. Make sure he doesn’t step out of line. Make sure he dances with other ladies, if he can even dance at all. And don’t let him monopolize you. Tell him to make conversation with others, men and women.”
“What on earth could he possibly talk about with these people? He comes from a place where survival is foremost on everyone’s minds, not the latest fashion trends out of Paris.”
Sarah’s look was sardonic. “Don’t be so dramatic, Marlena. Surely, they can find some subject of discourse. What does he do for a living?”
Marlena raised an eyebrow and felt a little smug as she admitted, “He’s a hired gun.”
Sarah stopped pacing for a brief moment before resuming an even more vigorous speed. “Oh, dear. Tell him not to speak of that.”
“Once you announce my debut, people will forget all about a ball.”
“We shall see if you debut,” Sarah said, causing a hot stone to sink into Marlena’s belly. “Your performance at dinner left much to be desired. It ended well, but that start...”
“That won’t happen again, I assure you. I was full from the meal.”
Sarah tilted her head, considering. “I suppose that’s reasonable.”
“Why so frantic, sister?” Elijah crooned from the doorway. “It is nothing more than ladies and gentlemen gathered to dance.”
“Except Mr. Cunningham is not a gentlemen.”
Elijah studied his fingernails. “You never had any qualms about sharing your evenings with working class men before. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Marlena’s brow gathered and she glanced at Sarah, whose face had gone ashen and eyes wide with worry and contempt.
“Elijah,” she moaned. “Please…”
Winters appeared and announced Dalton’s arrival and the change in Elijah and Sarah was immediate, leaving Marlena in a fit of confusion. Sarah gasped in happy surprise when Dalton entered, but Marlena found her feet suddenly glued to the floor, all thoughts of the sparring siblings forgotten. He brandished a handsome smile and an elegant, flawless presentation of evening wear. She’d never seen anything so breathtaking. Fortunately, Dalton was preoccupied with an introduction to Elijah and couldn’t see her flustered response.
She avoided his gaze in the parlor and also in the carriage ride, suddenly feeling like an unworthy escort for so handsome a man. As he led her across the ballroom, though, he took the opportunity to speak.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “You seem out of sorts this evening.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” she returned, glancing hesitantly. “You look dashing, Dalton.”
“And you steal my breath,” he said. “As always.”
Her smile was meek and a tremble shook through her body, but she steeled herself against the effects he had on her. “Dalton, Elijah will be very critical of how you are received and perceived here. I’ve been lectured to keep you in line. So, I’m asking you to follow my lead tonight. Sarah is already talking about pushing back my debut and if I anger Elijah who knows what will happen.”
She studied him and knew he held his breath. Finally, he turned away from her and blew a full hot cloud of it into the air. When he was composed, he turned back to her. “Just tell me what I have to do.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief. “You’ll dance the first dance with me, but that’s it. You must dance with other ladies after. I’ll introduce you around and you must mingle and converse with everyone you’re introduced to.”
He rolled his eyes and released another exasperated breath. “In other words I’m to have nothing to do with you after our dance?”
She scrunched her face, sheepishly. “Basically.”
“If I had known that, I wouldn’t have come, Marlena. The only person I care about talking with here is you.”
A wealth of affection flooded her, and she hoped he could see it in her eyes. “I appreciate that, Dalton, and I’m sorry my circumstances have put you in an uncomfortable position.”
Harrison approached with Eloisa on his arm, followed by two more couples.
“Mr. Cunningham, may I present to you my niece, Eloisa Hamilton?”
More introductions were made around the circle and Marlena watched in silence as Dalton carried on conversations with ease. Daggers formed in her eyes as she studied Eloisa’s flirtatious laughter and smile. A cold ring of panic squeezed around her heart when Harrison broached the subject of Dalton’s occupation. She’d forgotten to instruct him on that detail.
“I’m a hired gun,” Dalton announced and Marlena held her breath as the faces of their company fell in wide-eyed shock.
“What exactly is a hired gun, Mr. Cunningham?” Eloisa asked with feigned ignorance.
Harrison took the liberty of answering. “Why, it’s what we’d call a shootist, isn’t it Mr. Cunningham?”
Dalton’s eyes never wavered from Harrison’s. “I answer by that name as well, yes.”
Eloisa gasped and held a hand over her mouth. “So, you’re like…an assassin for hire?”
“Not exactly,” Dalton said.
“Can you really perform all manner of trick-shooting such as we read about?” Harrison asked with a chuckle.
“Like shooting a hole through a coin as it’s thrown in the air,” another gentleman asked. “I’ve a pistol in my carriage.”
“And I’ve a coin in my pocket,” Harrison, again. “How about a demonstration? Are you a quick draw?”
“How many men have you killed?”
Marlena’s mouth pursed and her eyes narrowed at the tone of their inquiries. There was no sincere curiosity. They were baiting Dalton into ridicule.
“That’s quite enough,” Marlena announced, stifling the barrage of questions and drawing all eyes to her.
“Oh, Marlena,” Eloisa drawled with a false laug
h. “I’d forgotten you were there. You’re not usually much of a conversationalist.”
Marlena returned the façade of a sweet smile. “Only when someone interesting speaks.”
Eloisa drew a quick breath at the insult and Dalton cleared his throat to draw the attention his way. “To answer your questions, I am a quick draw. I don’t know about shooting games. That’s a waste of ammunition. If I pull my gun, someone’s going to die. Like the twenty-three before them. Good evening.”
He nodded at the faces that had gone pale as snow before leading Marlena away. She was still seething.
“Those puffed up little peacocks,” she whispered heatedly. “Who do they think they are?”
“Calm down,” Dalton whispered through a grin. “They didn’t bother me. Don’t let them bother you.”
It couldn’t be helped. A low grunt gurgled from the back of her throat as she groaned in frustration. “That smug little Eloisa with her grating voice and insipid face. Not much of a conversationalist.”
Dalton chuckled beside her. “Bravo. It’s refreshing to see righteous anger on your own behalf for a change.”
“I’m angry on your behalf, not mine.”
The master of ceremonies announced the first dance, a waltz.
“No more anger,” Dalton said, leading her by the hand to the dance floor. “We’ve only one dance tonight and I’ll not let you waste it in bad humor.”
They took their positions and Marlena felt the press of each of his fingertips into the small of her back as he pulled her against him. His scent washed over her, intoxicating her with its masculinity. A warm, tingling pleasure rushed to the tips of her breasts where they rubbed along his chest, causing her to suck in a deep breath. She placed her hand on his arm above the elbow and noted its hardness. Her eyes fixed on his necktie as she took another deep breath.