by Sandy Loyd
Dressed in black pants and an open vest over a white muslin shirt with rolled sleeves, he looked no different from any stationmaster she’d encountered in England.
Except for their rough speech, Americans seemed very much like her British countrymen. They dressed the same, the men wearing somber suits and top hats, and the women wearing dark-colored skirts topped with white blouses and matching hats and gloves.
Penny adjusted her hat to wipe her forehead with her handkerchief and smiled, enduring the stifling heat without a complaint. She loved the hot, humid weather she’d experienced on the ship.
The crowds had thinned to only a few stragglers who hadn’t gone inside yet.
“Please stay in touch after you’re married,” Mindy said, pulling her into a bear hug once Penny’s trunk was secured.
Blinking back tears, she watched her friend climb into the buggy. It rolled down the cobbled road, mixing among other similar conveyances. When she could no longer see them, she turned back to the station’s entrance. The imposing brick building appeared familiar in its opulence. Exhilaration as well as trepidation filled her. Ignoring the small amount of fear at feeling very alone, she headed inside to buy a ticket. The rest of her grand adventure was only a train ride away. San Francisco was a city of opportunity. She had the travel brochure to prove it.
The heavy doors closed behind her and she glanced around. Americans had to have some culture and artistry, given the marbled floors and grand columns. She’d never stepped inside London’s train station, but she figured if she had, she’d note more similarities.
She followed a family of five to the ticket booth. The mother, father, and three children dressed and acted much like the higher classes in England, which eased her sense of isolation. As did the travelers hurrying past her, most likely going off to find adventure just like her.
When it was her turn, Penny flashed a confident smile at the man behind the caged window, “I’m traveling to San Francisco.” He was just like the ticket makers in England, his bespectacled face partially hidden with a visor and a pencil tucked behind one ear.
So far, so good. She’d be fine.
“Just one?” he asked.
“Yes,” Penny nodded, paying no heed to the two men on her left. “Just one.”
He acted none too pleased with her answer but he took Penny’s money and wrote out a ticket. Earlier Lucas had exchanged her British pounds for American currency, so she was all set with American dollars.
“Platform two.” He pushed the ticket as well as her change under the bars. “Train going west leaves at ten thirty tonight.”
“Thank you.” She stuffed her change into her reticule and ambled through the station, taking note of all the activity of other well-dressed travelers going about their business.
She was about to pay a vendor for a pastry to eat when someone shoved her aside and ripped her small bag from her hands. Stunned, she watched in horror as two men sprinted toward the entrance with her money.
It took a moment to gain her wits and she yelled, “Stop, thief!” She ran in the direction they’d shot off, but her half boots and traveling skirt hampered her speed. Pushing past the passersby who were eyeing her with speculation, she lost sight of them.
Tears sprang to her eyes. Oh dear Lord! The thieves had stolen her means to live while she waited for Geoff. Looking down, she was relieved to see the ticket still in her hand, but the fact didn’t stop the emptiness from growing in the pit of her stomach. Bereft and all alone, she walked over to a bench and sat. Though she fought them, her tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Except for the value of her ticket and a few pieces of jewelry in her trunk, she had no means of supporting herself and no idea of what to do now. And even worse, her prized locket had been in her reticule.
~~
“Are you all right?” Parker asked minutes later, sitting down next to Penny.
Staying out of sight, he’d followed her to the station and had observed her tearful good-byes to Mindy. While keeping to his task, he’d noticed the men’s interest. Then, hanging back further, he’d seen them make their move. Only he’d been much faster than Penny. He’d tackled the one who’d grabbed her purse. The thief eventually got away, but he’d retrieve her money, along with the other objects in the small bag. After placing them in his pockets for safekeeping, he’d returned to help Penny.
“Mr. Davis? What are you doing here?” Penny sniffed, wiped away her tears and flashed a brave smile. “They took my bag.”
He gripped her elbow, turning her to him, slowly sliding an intent gaze over her body, looking for injury. Under his scrutiny, her tears increased.
“I lost my locket, my only memory of my parents, along with all my money,” she said in between sobs. “I can’t travel without money.”
“Shush,” he whispered, wrapping her in his arms and holding her as she continued crying.
“What am I to do now?” Her soft, accented words filtered past his ears not long after her tears subsided.
Parker’s arms tightened. “We’ll work it out.” He kissed the top of her head, not about to tell her he’d retrieved her money and locket. The little fool just didn’t realize how dangerous it was to be alone and unprotected in the world. He couldn’t let her go now. While holding her, his mind churned, thinking of some way to keep her in his company until he could come up with a better plan.
“You still have your ticket, right?” When she nodded, he smiled. “All right. Let me see it.”
She placed the ticket into his outstretched hand. “What good does it do me, if I haven’t the means of supporting myself?”
“This is good for travel anytime,” he said, reading the ticket. “Which means your trip will only be delayed.” He met her tear-filled gaze. “When did you say you were meeting your fiancé?”
“Six months.”
“Plenty of time to make it on the train at a later date. I’ve booked a hotel room for the night,” he told her, suddenly coming up with the lie. “Let’s get you a room and we can discuss what to do once we’ve had dinner and can think clearer.”
“I can’t.” Shaking her head, Penny said in a more confident voice, “I just realized I can sell my jewelry, but I don’t have the funds to squander on a room.” She looked off in the distance, lost in thought. “I hate selling the pieces, though. They were my mother’s and all I have left of her now that my locket is gone.”
“It’s not a wise idea to keep to your original plan, Miss Layton.” Parker’s voice became more urgent. “It’s really best to secure a room and postpone your trip.”
“Oh?” she said, eyes widening. “Why would I do that when I won’t be needing one? Hotels charge money. I have until ten thirty to sell some jewelry. Then I can make my train. I’m sure I can get some type of employment once I get to California.” Her voice lacked conviction, but her eyes flashed determination.
Parker bit back a retort and held in his frustration. Was she jesting about still traveling to California alone? And selling jewelry for more money to live on once she arrived there? Hadn’t one lesson of being robbed been enough? Sweet Jesus, she was too trusting. Too naive. There was no way he could let her leave his side, even if it meant taking her screaming and kicking off the street.
“I can’t in good conscience let you get on the train tonight.” He shrugged. “I’ll pay for an extra room and even help you sell your jewelry. Today’s Saturday. Not the best day to do business. Might do better to wait until Monday. Better yet, if you don’t want to sell them, why not come home with me and work on my farm. Surely that’s a more viable solution than me leaving you to make your trip and find nonexistent work in California.”
“I don’t know.” Penny eyed him thoughtfully, chewing on her bottom lip. “If only my bag hadn’t been stolen.” She sighed. “I was so looking forward to my train trip.”
“You’ll still take your trip west.” He hesitated. “You’re only changing your plans a bit.”
She smiled wanly, then admitted sheep
ishly, “This incident has left me a little shaken.”
“It’s a perfect solution.” He grinned and he added more enthusiastically, “Gives you a chance to think about what you want to do. Sell your jewelry and go now, or stay awhile, earn some money, and keep your jewelry.”
Penny nodded. “You do make a good case. I’ll pay you back for the room.” She stared at him for the longest time, as if weighing his suggestion before her focus shifted to a distant spot. Watching her facial features go through several changes, Parker prayed he wouldn’t have to coerce her any more than he already had. He hated deception. Yet if he told her the full truth, she’d leave him only to become an unwilling victim to some other horrible fate, and he couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Maybe it would be best to delay my trip. At least for a day or two.”
“Come along then.” He stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go retrieve your trunk and make our way to the hotel.”
Chapter 10
“Hope you and the missus enjoy your stay at Baltimore’s finest, Mr. Davis.” The gentleman behind the desk who’d registered Parker handed him a key.
“Thank you.” Parker smiled, enjoying the idea of this man mistaking Penny for his wife. For some reason, hearing him address her as such provided an odd feeling. Pushing his thoughts aside, he handed the bellman his key and pointed to where Penny waited with their belongings. “Can you have those sent to our room as soon as possible?”
“Yes sir, Mr. Davis,” the young man said, before hurrying to do his bidding with Parker right behind him.
“Our room?” Penny whispered once he stood in front of her. “I thought you were getting two?”
“There’s a cattlemen’s convention in town. Seems they only had the one left,” he murmured, pulling her toward the stairs and out of the bellman’s earshot. “I don’t see a problem.”
“That’s ridiculous.” She stopped suddenly and crossed her arms. “I can’t share a room with you.”
“We have no other alternative.” He wasn’t any happier when he’d be suffering her alluring presence. At least he’d know where she was and could keep an eye on her until he figured out what to do next.
Penny gaped at him. You’d think he was asking her to lie naked in the streets, rather than help her out of a difficult situation.
“It’s unseemly and simply not done,” she stated in the clipped English accent he’d come to love, holding her nose in the air and looking much like the lady to the manner born. “I’d bring scandal on myself if anyone ever found out.”
Parker chuckled. “Miss Layton, who’s to find out? I’m virtually unknown in Baltimore and no one certainly knows you.”
When she met his gaze, he sucked in a huge breath. The torment mirrored in those vivid blue eyes tugged at him and did nothing to ease the attraction he felt.
“Can you honestly tell me being in your company any more than necessary won’t be a huge mistake?”
She had a point.
He swallowed hard, wondering at this lunacy. Spending the night with her wasn’t the brightest idea he’d ever had. But what choice did he have? He wanted her with him and he’d keep his lust in check. Hadn’t he been doing it for weeks now? “I give you my word, you can trust me to act as the perfect gentleman.”
“You promise?”
The lady had spunk, Parker thought, biting back a smile. With no options left, she still bargained as if she held all the aces in the deck. “Yes, Miss Layton, I promise.”
One of her impish grins emerged and sent a signal directly to his groin in the form of liquid heat. Watching her lips now begging to be kissed, Parker shook his lustful thoughts, reminding himself of her situation and of his promise. She was an innocent, engaged to some other fellow, or so she claimed. Damn! Why had he set himself up for such temptation?
Parker placed his hand on Penny’s elbow and said gently, “Come, my dear. We’re on the second floor.”
They were in the room for a brief period when the bellman knocked. Parker waited patiently as he placed the luggage in the spacious, richly furnished room, including a large canopied bed on one side and a formal sitting area on the other.
Once the bellman finished, he turned to Parker. “Enjoy your stay, Mr. and Mrs. Davis.”
Watching him leave, he heard Penny’s horrified, “He thinks we’re married?”
“He doesn’t know us and he’ll never see us again, so what difference can it make?” Parker answered, his voice revealing a slight annoyance over her appalled expression. “Wouldn’t you rather he believe you were my wife since we’re staying in one room?”
“I expect you to behave as a proper gentleman, Mr. Davis.” All of a sudden she paced, reminding him of a caged tiger. “Otherwise I’ll be forced to carry out my original plan and leave on the train tonight,” Penny threatened, rubbing her arms. She stepped to the window and looked out onto the bustling street below. “I don’t know how I ever agreed to this arrangement.”
“Miss Layton, my intentions are honorable. If you’ll recall, we spent several weeks on board ship without incident, thanks to my efforts.” Chuckling, he removed his jacket and hung it up. He started for the wash closet, saying over his shoulder, “I’m going to freshen up. Rather than stay cooped up, maybe we can take a stroll around town before we find someplace to eat dinner.”
~~
“That would be nice,” Penny said too quickly to Parker’s back as he closed the door. She continued to pace and said a little louder, trying to sound normal, “This is an adventure and I’d love to see all I can. Baltimore doesn’t appear to be much different from London—noisy, crowded, and dirty.”
If only she didn’t like him so much, she thought, wishing she could be braver, more adventurous, and not so relieved to not have to take the train just yet. She wanted to be independent. Yet she’d never been totally on her own before and had never thought about how daunting not knowing a soul in the world could be.
Now that she was safe with Mr. Davis, she reflected on exactly what had happened at the station. Her shoulders slumped in resignation. Women alone were vulnerable.
“True.” Parker’s voice from the small room infiltrated her thoughts. “Baltimore isn’t as big nor as old, but most big cities are similar, whether here or England.” There was a pause before he asked, “I take it this is your first trip to America?”
“Yes. Until eight months ago I’d never been more than a few miles from Newcastle upon Tyne, the village close to where I grew up,” Penny answered honestly.
“So eight months ago you traveled to London? And that was your first visit?”
Seeing no reason to lie, she said, “Yes. I really didn’t like London. Too big and crowded.”
Coming out of the room, Parker wiped his face with a towel wrapped around his neck. He’d taken off his shirt while in the wash closet. He halted at his bag, pulled out a fresh shirt, and put it on while he spoke. “You never did answer my question about why you traveled so far north to sail to America. Or for that matter, you never told me why you’d travel so far to marry. Why not get married in London?”
Penny had to purposefully avert her gaze back to the street as heat seeped up her face. Heavens, did he have to affect her so? In his sleeveless undershirt, his well-muscled upper body was too hard to ignore and she liked looking at it too much. Unwilling to dwell on how attractive he appeared, she turned her attention to a wagon being unloaded across the street, working to quell the emotion in her voice. “I wish you’d quit with your nosy questions. I’m not going to answer them.”
“Still being evasive, Miss Layton?’ Parker chuckled and finished buttoning his shirt. “You know I’ll find out eventually.”
“Not from me, you won’t,” she said, thankful to use his nosiness as a diversion to her attraction. Irritation over his curiosity she could handle much more than his half-naked torso. “I thought we’d become friends.”
“We are friends,” he said cheerfully, ignoring the annoyed look she sent. Parke
r reached for his jacket. Once done shrugging into it, he bestowed on her another wide grin, showing beautiful straight teeth. “Are you ready or would you prefer to freshen up?”
“I’m fine. Let’s go.” Unable to stop the flush of pleasure that his smile educed from spreading, she hurried past him. The walls were closing in on her because his male presence filled the room, leaving no space to avoid him.
Out on the streets, she could breathe easier and had plenty to keep her mind occupied. Everywhere her glance hit, busy passersby rushed about, street vendors hawked their wares in loud voices, and horse-drawn wagons rumbled by. The startling blue sky was marred only with white billowy clouds that added to its beauty. The sun’s heat added balminess to the air, yet felt good on her skin.
Penny relaxed her shoulders and let out a heavy sigh, taking delight in just being free.
She’d escaped the earl. He couldn’t touch her here. It was exhilarating to be walking around Baltimore with a handsome man who did his best to entertain her and keep her mind off her earlier mishap. She decided to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and not worry about her attraction to her escort.
Their hotel was located in the center of Baltimore. The two walked past a bakery and a general store.
At a jewelry store, Parker stopped.
“Those would bring out your eyes.” His nod indicated a pair of sapphire earrings in the window. “Come. Let’s go in and look around.” He reached for her gloved hand and led her into the shop.
The bell tinkled as the door closed behind them.
“May I be of service?” The jeweler looked up from the glass case he was polishing.
“I’d like to see the sapphire earrings in the window.” Parker pointed to the display.
“Ah. A nice selection—perfect stones. I also have a matching necklace and bracelet. Would you care to see those?” At his nod, he removed the earrings from the display and handed them to Parker. “Over here,” he said, going behind another case and removing two stunning pieces of jewelry.
“What do you think?” Parker glanced at Penny, lifting a brow and smiling.