Bluegrass Blush

by Carolyn Bond

  He glanced up at her and held her gaze for just a second. The torment warring in him pleaded with her. She wished there was some way she could speak to him. If they could just talk, maybe they could find a way to make it work. She couldn’t understand his hot and cold attention and now this. He was obviously affected by this news. If he didn’t care about her, why would he look so disturbed?

  “So Mr. Peeble, what do you enjoy most about Charleston?” said Suzanne making conversation.

  He leaned back and thought a minute. Before he could speak the server came and brought them tea. He waited until he was finished.

  “Charleston has beautiful ladies. I enjoy the scenery.”

  Everyone at the table just stared at him. Had he really said that? Everleigh was even more convinced this was the vilest man she had ever met. If she married him, she was certain he would be a complete embarrassment of a husband.

  “But, of course, Mr. Peeble, you will only have eyes for Miss Addison now,” said Mr. Steel.

  Mr. Peeble was taking a sip of tea and nearly spat it onto the table. Regaining his composure, he smirked a knowing glance at Mr. Steel as though this were a secret among men.

  “Oh, to be sure. Of course.” Then he chuckled.

  “Will you take a honeymoon?” Mr. Clark asked while stirring sugar into his tea. He apparently was not aware of Everleigh’s disgust for the man or surely he would not have asked. Suzanne ribbed him with her elbow and Everleigh gave him a look that could maim. Mr. Steel sucked in a breath. Suzanne brought her napkin to her mouth to cover the shock on her face.

  “Oh, you know. I have much to attend to at home. I have already been away for too long. I see no need for such a silly notion.”

  Everleigh realized that Cherise probably would not care for him to run off with a new bride. In fact, he probably had plans to go on a trip with her. This guy was a piece of work. She had to figure out how to unload this guy and fast.

  She could just refuse to marry him. Of course she would be penniless, but she didn’t know before she had any money anyway. Besides, she would probably be returning to her job in 2016 before long.

  The server brought them menus to select an entrée and then served soup. She picked up the long narrow parchment in front of her with a selection of three entrée’s to choose from. The paper triggered her memory of the legal papers Mr. Peeble had waved in her face. He wouldn’t let her see them.

  What if there was something on them he was hiding from her, she thought? She glanced at Suzanne. Suzanne was watching Mr. Steel. Everleigh could tell her wheels were turning to somehow press Mr. Steel into a jealous fit. Mr. Steel looked more tortured than ever as he had his elbow on the table and was chewing on his left index finger as he read the menu. Seeing her look at him from the corner of his eye, he turned to her and gave her a weak, distanced smile.

  So this side of him was back. Rather than become jealous, he was pulling away. It would be easier, she conceded, for him to just let go, especially if he was so torn. If there wasn’t another woman, then what? What was he hiding? She turned back to her menu and decided she needed to focus on one thing at a time. The papers. How could she get to the papers? Surely he didn’t have them with him now. If he didn’t, that meant they would be up in his room. If she could slip out now, she would know he was occupied and she could find them without his knowing. Her mouth went dry thinking about it. What if he caught her? His behavior earlier showed her that he had no compunction about strong arming her. She shivered at the vision of him finding her in his room with no one there to help her. This was the only plan though.

  She picked up her tea for a sip and the thought came to her. She let the handle slip on her finger and the tea spilled down her dress. With mocked surprised she let out a gasp and jumped from the table.

  “Oh, clumsy me! I’ll need to go change. Please excuse me. She gave little curtsies as she backed away. The men jumped up with nothing to say but Suzanne gave her a side glance and a pucker of her lips. Everleigh could tell she knew something was up.

  “Do you need a hand, dear? Do let me help.” She excused herself and followed Everleigh out the dining room door. “What are you doing?” she whispered as they went up the staircase.

  Everleigh breathed a sigh of relief. This was better than she expected.

  “I got to thinking. Those papers he had. He never let me see them. Maybe he is hiding something? Maybe there is a loophole.”

  “Loophole? I don’t understand.”

  “I mean a way out of this crazy betrothal. Surely Everleigh’s, I mean, my parents,” she corrected herself, “wouldn’t have forced me into anything I didn’t want, right?”

  “I don’t know, honey. Don’t get your hopes up. Parents often think they are doing the right thing when they make decisions for their child.”

  Everleigh grimaced. Times sure have changed, she thought.

  “I am going to see for myself anyway. Will you help me?”

  “Of course I will. That man is awful! Frankly, I am not sure what he has to offer you. What sort of exchange could he have made? Maybe it was a business deal among the fathers.”

  “Alright. You wait at the top of the steps and if he comes, try to head him off until I can get out of his room. By the way, which one is his room?” She was suddenly glad Suzanne followed her. Going from room to room might have been a nightmare.

  “Sounds good. It’s room number four.” Suzanne posted herself guard at the top of the steps and shewed Everleigh on.

  At the door of room number four, she paused a minute and then turned the knob. The room was dark with the light of day fading away. A faint moonlight was cast on the floor beside the window. The curtains billowed in and out with the gentle summer breeze. As her eyes adjusted, she could make out the bed and dresser. His case was open on the bed. She could see clothes inside. She pawed around the sides when something cold touched her hand. She pulled it out. Metal buckles over leather cuffs. The hairs on her neck stood on end.

  What did he plan to do with these?

  She turned to the dresser. Some coins were scattered next to a pair of glasses. She slowly opened the top drawer. Empty. He hadn’t had time to unpack. He probably assumed he wouldn’t be here long enough to get comfortable.

  Turning back to the bed, her eyes landed on the night table. A small drawer was slightly open. She pulled it open and saw the legal papers inside. Snatching them up, she closed the drawer and turned to go. Voices carried up the steps. Her heart lurched. She listened through the door.

  Suzanne loudly made conversation with a guest and his wife in the hallway. Before long, the couple’s footsteps went farther down the hall and she heard the click of the door closing.

  She darted out the door and closed it silently behind her. Suzanne tiptoed to her quickly with a look of glee and ushered her to Everleigh’s room.

  Inside, Suzanne lit the oil lamp on the dresser and Everleigh laid the papers down for them to look at. The yellow glow of the flame made a circle of light around them. They both read as fast as they could. It looked pretty straight forward. Everleigh would gain the inheritance if she married Mr. Peeble. If she did not, the entire estate would go to the only other living relative, Everleigh’s aunt, Emory Heartwell.

  Everleigh turned to Suzanne with a serious gaze.

  “He didn’t mention this. He just said I would not get it. I think he said the court would decide. That liar!”

  “Don’t get too excited. Just because it go to your aunt doesn’t mean it will help you.”

  “Surely my aunt would not leave me penniless! In fact, I am going to live with her, so that will work out.”

  Suzanne gave me another matronly smile.

  “You innocent babe.” She sighed. “I am sure your aunt will keep you until you are wed to a man who will take care of you, but she will likely keep the majority of the inheritance. Do you have any idea how big it is?”

  Everleigh shook her head. There was no way she would know. Suzanne rifled through
the rest of the pages. At the back was a statement from the bank dated the day the papers were drawn up. She gasped.

  “No wonder he wants to marry you! You may as well be royalty.”

  “What do you mean?” She took the papers and read them. Her eyes got as big as saucers as she read the statement. Apparently, her father had invested in Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone at some point and had numerous shares of stock, which at the time the papers were drawn up, had a value of $100,000 worth of gold bullion.

  “Oh my god! These papers are dated fifteen years ago. That stock is worth a lot more now. Maybe three or four times that amount.” She stumbled back on the bed and sat there staring at the papers. “I don’t know how he is so calm about it.”

  “He has to be. You are only thing keeping him from it. He doesn’t want to mess this up. That invention of Mr. Bell’s is talked about widely. Your father must have had a very good intuition.”

  “Then Mr. Peeble had better find some other way to get rich! There is no way I am letting him have that money. Or me!”

  “So are you just going to refuse and let it go to your aunt?”

  “It’s my only option, I guess. I would rather she get it than him, wouldn’t you think?”

  “That’s true. At least he would not get it and you would have means until you marry.”

  She giggled. “What if I never marry?”

  Suzanne smiled, “Oh pretty girl, I don’t see how that is going to work out for you.”

  A knock at the door made them both jump and stare at each other.

  “Who’s there?”

  “It’s just me, Mr. Clark. Are you ladies alright? I was worried about you. I think Mr. Peeble is worried you jumped out a window and he’ll lose his fiancé’”

  Stifling a laugh, “I’m fine, sir. We will be right out. I am almost ready.”

  Suzanne was already helping her with her laces and pulling the gown over her head. When she was presentable, she stashed the legal papers under her mattress for safe keeping, and they made their way back down stairs.

  The three men were all looking in different directions not talking. Mr. Steel’s hair was wild on his head apparently from repeated rakes with his hand. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

  As they approached, all three men jumped up. Mr. Clark released a very stiff sigh of relief. He grasped his wife’s hand and kissed her knuckles giving her an exasperated look that only Everleigh and Suzanne could see.

  “My beautiful darling. So glad to have you back,” he paused. “Perhaps you could tell us one of your funny stories about when your family tried to raise camels when you were a child. We could use some light-hearted conversation.”

  Everleigh stole another glance at Malcolm. At Mr. Clark’s last three words, the corners of his lips turned a devil-who-cares snarky smile. He pulled out Everleigh’s chair for the second time and helped her be seated.

  After some thinking, Suzanne started in on her story about a camel chasing her around a field when she was a child and then taking off through the gate at full gallop. Her father and a workman had a time getting it back as their lasso’s kept falling on the humps and slipping off.

  Everleigh chuckled and looked at Mr. Peeble who was fidgeting with his dinner fork. He was sitting back in his chair as though he had a thousand other things to do and this dinner was keeping him from them.

  Dinner was served and for a while, they all ate in awkward silence. When Mr. Clark put down his fork, he abruptly excused himself and demanded Everleigh come with him.

  Her mouth fell open at his complete inconsideration.

  “Mr. Peeble, I’m not finished enjoying our hosts wonderful meal.”

  “I think you have had enough. Besides, I will not have a fat wife.”

  Like the thud of a book hitting the floor, an ache hit her heart. She looked around for any support and the others, even Mr. Steel sat motionless. This was hers to deal with. It was apparent that in that time, what happened in a marriage was no one’s business.

  Her skin started to sizzle from the neckline of her dress up to her eyes. He might have gotten away with it if he had been talking to only a twenty-year-old, but her 21st century mature self would not have it. She stood turned to face him and felt the unfurling of a dragon inside her before she spoke.

  “Mr. Peeble! Your opinion of my appearance is of absolutely no value to me. Beside the fact that I am already too good for you aside, you would do well to brush up on your manners as a gentleman. Furthermore, I will finish my dinner, if for no other reason than I shall never take orders from you again.”

  With that she sat down, picked up her fork and took a bite of mashed potatoes. When she looked up, they were all staring at her wide-eyed.

  “What? Can’t a woman speak her mind? Puh-lease!”

  She turned to Malcolm whose face morphed from shear surprise to a satisfied grin.

  “Miss Addison, I warn you, I will not be spoken to in such a manner from a woman.” She turned and watched him stomp off. She hadn’t realized it, but the other diners had all stopped during her scene and were now watching it unfold.

  She gave Mr. Steel a side glance and saw him purse him lips and furrow his brow. A renewed flush of steam scorched her face.

  How could he think I should bow to the man? Are all the men of this age pigs?

  “I think I have lost my appetite now and actually feel a bit ill. If you will excuse me, I think I should go get some air.” She stood and the two gentlemen jumped from their seats.

  She made her way across the dining room and out the side porch doors.

  The air was cooling down to a comfortable soft breeze. She sat on the wicker bench under a trellis wrapped in morning glory vines with the blossoms all swirled closed for the night.

  Feeling lonely, she wallowed in the snarl of non-romance she was experiencing with either of these men. If Mr. Peeble would have been in love, it would have been one thing. As it was, he seemed to loathe her.

  Then Mr. Steel would wax and wane with affection and aloofness. She couldn’t figure him out, but he surely wasn’t pursuing her. Whatever his problem was, he had some big hang ups. She rubbed her arms and enjoyed the silky skin of the back of her arms. Maybe being alone really was the best answer. She could just go to her aunts and stay there awhile. Her aunt would be well taken care of. Eventually she could use the lavender soap again and go back.

  A board creaked and she looked up. Mr. Peeble leaned against the pole watching her.

  “I thought you were going upstairs,” she said.

  “I will do as I please and not answer to you. You will need to learn your place.”

  “I know my place. I am free to do as I please as well. You are not my master.”

  He strode the distance between them in three paces, pulling her up in front of him by her arms.

  “I will be soon. Would you rather be penniless, begging for food and a dirty bed? Maybe you could sell yourself for money?” He turned her roughly looking her up and down. “You might get someone to give you a quarter for a roll in the hay.”

  His vulgar comments cut her to the bone. In the modern time, she had endured comments about being fat and no one wanting her from rude men and women, but now she saw the other side. Being thin and attractive meant being called a whore. There was never any peace. She had always thought the pretty girls must have had it so easy.

  “How I manage will certainly be none of your concern!” She shrugged away from him.

  “It doesn’t matter anyhow. You will be marrying me tomorrow. We will get this settled and then I don’t care what you do.”

  She lifted her chin and eyed him, “And what if I say no?”

  He stood dead still sizing her up. She didn’t take her eyes off him and watched his expression change from anger to nonchalance.

  “You will marry me. It will be for your own good.”

  Thinking of the papers, she knew she had other options.

  “Maybe I’ll just live with my aunt
. Together we will get along. It’s not like I need you or something.”

  His eyes lowered to barely a squint. Grabbing her arms just below her shoulder again, he squeezed his fingers until they dug in her flesh. She tried to pull away and he shook her.

  “Everleigh, I don’t think you understand. I will not take no for an answer!”

  “Please! Let go of me! You’re hurting me!” The pain of his fingers gripping her felt like stab wounds.

  “Mr. Peeble, I think you have no right to talk to the lady like that. Not at least until you are legally married. She absolutely has the right to say no to you.” Mr. Steel’s calm gravelly voice cut the air in barely a whisper yet halted Mr. Peeble into a freeze.

  He let go of Everleigh and turned around composing himself as he did. She nearly stumbled from the quick change. Taking the opportunity, she slipped away and stepped behind Mr. Steel, rubbing her bruised arms.

  “Mr. Steel, you should really stay out of other people’s business.”

  “Is that so? But tell me how her rights to refuse you are your business?”

  Mr. Peeble started and stopped to say something. Seeing he had nothing that would refute Malcolm, he tipped his hat.

  “Everleigh, we will finish this conversation another time. Until then…” he stepped inside the dining room doors and disappeared.

  Malcolm turned to her, his face downcast and searching.

  “My dear, are you alright?”

  A tear slid from her eye as she rubbed her arms.

  “He hurt you, then. Bast..” he started, “excuse me. He is the most repulsive man I have ever seen.

  “But you seemed upset at dinner when I spoke my mind. I thought you were mad that I talked to him like that.”

  He looked at her with drawn brows, searching her eyes, then realization caused him to smile gently. “No, my dear, its not you.” He caressed her delicate cheek. “It’s me, I, it’s something I have to deal with.”

  “Can’t you tell me?”

  He smiled at her and her heart thudded into over drive. His tender lips drew her eyes to them. She wanted nothing more than for him to take her in his arms and crush her with his kiss.