Daylight Comes

by Judith Miller

  As Grace descended the steps, Truth noted John’s appreciative look. Obviously, Mr. Rockley found Grace quite enchanting—not that Truth was surprised. Her sister looked particularly lovely this evening.

  As the foursome prepared to depart, Dovie reappeared in the hallway. Circling around Moses, she moved near John’s side. “It was truly a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rockley. You have a fine time this evening.” Without a word to the rest of them, Dovie disappeared from the foyer as quickly as she’d entered.

  Truth was rendered speechless by her friend’s flirtatious behavior. Dovie had even batted her lashes as she beamed up at John Rockley. She and Dovie must talk!

  After they’d all climbed into the carriage, John leaned slightly forward in his seat. “Miss Tuttle mentioned the three of you ladies were friends back in Kentucky and came west at the same time.”

  Truth nodded, wondering what else Dovie had disclosed about their past. Not that she was ashamed of her humble beginnings.

  However, the fact that Dovie would discuss her employer’s personal history or business with a total stranger was even more disconcerting than her rude behavior. She and Moses must decide upon a plan of action; she would speak to him when they arrived home.

  Though the trouble with Dovie had stolen her earlier excitement, Truth’s mood lightened as they entered the gaily decorated banquet hall. A bunting of golden yellow and navy blue hung from the speaker’s platform, and each of the dining tables was covered with a dark blue cloth. The pristine white dishes were rimmed in gold, and the delicate crystal water goblets shimmered in the candlelight, giving the entire room a formal yet festive appearance.

  Each table held a placard bearing the name of the distinguished guest being honored. Truth’s pride resurfaced when she noted the signage centered on their table. The card was engraved with the words Kansas State Auditor in bold dark letters and her husband’s name in a beautiful script directly below. An engraved place card was situated by the water goblet at each setting.

  Truth tugged at Moses’s arm. “Shall we peek at the cards and see who else will be sitting at our table?”

  “No need.”

  Truth spun around at the sound of her aunt’s voice. “Aunt Lilly!

  How did you . . . What are you . . .”

  Her aunt’s right hand rested on the arm of a distinguished-looking gentleman Truth had never before seen. However, Moses clapped him on the shoulder while he enthusiastically shook the stranger’s other hand. “Mr. Rockley, I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Truth, and her sister, Grace.”

  Truth glanced back and forth between John and the stranger. The older gentleman smiled and nodded at John. “I’m John’s uncle— Charles Rockley. It’s a pleasure to meet you. And I believe you have all met my lovely guest for the evening.”

  Truth noted that even Moses appeared taken aback by Lilly’s presence. She wondered how and when John and Charles Rockley had met her aunt. Lilly grinned like a Cheshire cat as she and the elder Mr. Rockley circled the table and then claimed the remaining two places.

  John reached to assist Grace with her chair. “Your aunt insisted upon surprising the three of you. I was sworn to secrecy.”

  After seating Truth, Moses eased into his chair. “Well, I’d say you succeeded. I didn’t even realize you’d met Truth’s aunt.”

  Lilly squared her shoulders. “I’ve hired Mr. Rockley as my lawyer.

  He handled the purchase of my business here in Topeka.” She tapped her folded fan on Moses’s arm. “Surely you realize I’m an astute businesswoman who wouldn’t enter into a contract without a lawyer’s advice.”

  Truth stifled a guffaw. The entire family knew Lilly’s prowess as a businesswoman. Of all people, Lilly didn’t need a lawyer to point out any possible flaws in a real estate contract. In all probability, Lilly had sought Mr. Rockley’s counsel after learning he was an eligible man of distinction. Using her business contract as an effective tool, Lilly obviously planned to snare him into her web. Knowing Lilly’s history, Truth decided that if Mr. Rockley proved to be a man of considerable financial means, Lilly would be Mrs. Charles Rockley by winter’s end.

  By the time dessert was served, Truth was convinced Lilly had set her cap for Mr. Rockley. Her coquettish behavior was obvious and embarrassing—at least in Truth’s opinion—though none of the others seemed to notice. In fact, Truth was pleased to observe that her sister appeared more interested in conversing with John than in observing Aunt Lilly’s flirtations.

  Their tables had been cleared and the musicians had taken to the platform in preparation for the ball when Lilly tapped her fan on the table to get Grace’s attention. “Grace, I was surprised when John told me he was your escort this evening. Whatever will Silas think?”

  Without waiting for Grace’s response, Lilly accepted Charles’s invitation to dance. Taking his arm, Lilly rose from the table and strolled to the dance floor. Glancing over her shoulder, she winked at Truth. To say Lilly was infuriating would be an understatement.

  Grace shot a look of panic in Truth’s direction.

  John raised an eyebrow. “May I assume that Silas is someone who lives in Nicodemus? Your fiancé, perhaps?”

  “No!” Truth said before Grace could answer. “They’re not engaged, Mr. Rockley. Merely close friends. Silas and I are friends, also. Silas was employed at the boarding school Macia Boyle attended in New York City. When we learned he was anxious to begin life anew outside of the city and subsequently agreed to help us escape Macia’s boarding school, I told him he could come west with us.”

  “Escape?” John asked.

  Truth told him the whole story, and John seemed captivated.

  When she’d finished the tale, she glanced at the dance floor. “The musicians will want to go home before we have even one dance.” She looked at her husband, knowing he’d get the hint.

  Moses laughed and took his wife’s hand. “You two may as well join us, John. No need to sit at the table by yourselves.”

  John stood and offered his hand to Grace.

  “Besides,” Moses said over his shoulder to John, “I don’t want to be the only one stumbling over my feet.”

  Truth followed her husband’s lead as the other couples swirled around them, pleased when John and Grace came into view. She wondered if her matchmaking efforts were destined for failure. Between Dovie’s unconcealed attraction to Mr. Rockley and Lilly’s reminder of Silas, she doubted whether Grace would be comfortable seeing the dashing young lawyer again. Still, they danced together with an ease that belied the fact they’d met only recently. Surely they were intended for each other.

  Truth had already put Silas out of her mind. The young man had come to Kansas thinking he might marry her. His interest in Grace hadn’t taken seed until after Truth and Moses married. Even then, both Jarena and Truth had questioned Silas’s intent. Did he truly care for Grace or had he chosen her because she resembled Truth? Grace deserved a man who cared for her solely because of who she was, not because she looked like someone else.

  Much to Truth’s frustration, Grace would say little regarding her feelings about the day of the swearing-in. On several occasions since the ball, Grace had confirmed her enjoyment of the various celebratory events, but the perfunctory responses were all Truth could get out of her. She would say nothing about her feelings toward John Rockley.

  Truth concluded that Grace thought others would consider her disloyal to Silas. Although it seemed Silas need not worry. At least two times a week Truth saw a letter addressed to Silas on the table near the front door. Moses dutifully took each letter and posted it for Grace. No, Silas need not worry about Grace’s loyalty—at least not yet.

  In the last week, Truth and Moses had taken Dovie aside and outlined the behavior they expected of their servant. Moses had at first said he thought Truth needed to handle the training and discipline of household servants, but after a bit of cajoling, Truth convinced him that she needed his moral support when dealing with her friend. A
fter their discussion with Dovie, Moses said he’d felt unnecessary. But Truth knew that was not the case. It was his presence and not Truth’s words that had caused Dovie’s meek demeanor and quick acquiescence to the household rules. Thus far, Dovie had taken the admonitions to heart. However, she would soon be put to the test, for Truth had invited John Rockley to be their supper guest.

  After Moses had agreed that a gathering any night the following week would suit, Truth had forwarded an invitation to Mr. Rockley. She now looked forward to his affirmative reply. And although Moses had suggested she also invite John’s uncle and Aunt Lilly, Truth quickly vetoed the idea. Aunt Lilly’s reminders of Silas weren’t the table conversation she desired at her dinner party. But she did invite Mr. and Mrs. Ditmore, a friendly middle-aged couple John had introduced them to at the inaugural party. Truth was well aware that without the addition of at least one or two guests, Grace would become suspicious and accuse Truth of interfering—or worse, matchmaking.

  Moses came home a little before noon and entered the parlor still rubbing his hands together. “Even wearing thick gloves isn’t enough protection against this weather. I hope Dovie has prepared a good hot soup for our noonday meal.” He leaned down and kissed Truth’s cheek, but when he attempted to nuzzle her neck, she playfully pushed him away.

  “You’ll not warm your cold face in my neck.” She laughed as she shook a warning finger in his face. When he continued to try, she laid her hands upon his chest. “I’ll tell Dovie not to serve dinner if you keep up your antics.”

  Moses plopped down beside her looking like a recalcitrant child. “In that case, I suppose I had best behave.”

  A short time later, Truth set aside her stitching and took Moses’s hand as they walked to the dining room. While Dovie hastened upstairs to fetch Grace, the two of them took their seats at the table.

  Moses stood as Grace entered the dining room a short time later. After saying a quick prayer, he unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap. “I nearly forgot. Your invitations have been accepted, so you best begin preparing your menu.”

  “Menu for what?” Grace looked back and forth between her sister and brother-in-law.

  “We’ve invited a few guests for supper on Friday night. Nothing elaborate—just supper and visiting. My condition will soon prevent entertaining until after the baby’s birth. I hoped to squeeze in one or two supper parties before then.” Truth snapped open her napkin and placed it on her lap.

  Nodding, Grace spread a dollop of butter on a thick piece of crusty bread. “Who have you invited?”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Ditmore—you remember them from the dance, don’t you? The older couple who sat at our table and visited toward the end of the evening?”

  Grace bobbed her head. “Oh yes. They were nice. Mr. Ditmore said he was involved with the railroads. Who else?”

  Truth dipped a ladle of stew into her bowl. “John.”

  “John Rockley? That’s all? The Ditmores and John Rockley?”

  Truth passed the steaming bowl of stew to her sister. “I didn’t want to invite eight or ten guests the first time I hosted a supper party.

  It would be rather unfair to Dovie, don’t you think?” She raised an eyebrow and met her sister’s inquiring stare. “She hasn’t been required to prepare and serve a large dinner for over a year. In addition, there are only a few days to organize a menu and shop.”

  “Oh. I wasn’t thinking of the trouble it might create for Dovie.”

  Grace gave her sister a sidelong glance. “I thought you were . . . well, trying to bring John and me . . . well . . .” She ate a spoonful of stew as she collected her thoughts. “I should quit thinking everything that occurs has something to do with me. Pappy would say I need to get my mind off myself and start thinking about others.”

  Guilt pricked Truth’s conscience, but she remained silent. Even her husband’s raised eyebrows weren’t enough to force an admission that Grace’s assumption had been correct. Instead, she suggested she and Grace sit down and plan the menu later in the afternoon—a meal that would be elegant yet simple.

  Grace giggled. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be ’cause I’m not sure what ‘elegant but simple’ means. Between your spending time in New York and living with a cultured husband, you know more about elegant meals than I do.” Grace finished her final bite of stew. “As far as I’m concerned, this stew is simply elegant.”

  Moses pushed his chair away from the table and smiled at his sister-in-law. “I believe the Ditmores may expect something a little more lavish. John, on the other hand, probably won’t care what we serve for supper, as long as you’re seated next to him.”

  Grace swiveled around to face her sister. Truth forced herself to remain a model of control as she carefully masked her surprise. Why had Moses stirred things up? Grace had already stated her suspicions. Surely he knew such a comment would only fuel her concern.

  Truth forced a laugh. “That’s a relief. I would be alarmed if he desired to sit next to one of the married women.”

  Grace’s frown disappeared and her shoulders relaxed. “Yes, I suppose that would cause quite a stir.”

  Whether Truth had completely convinced Grace remained to be seen, but she looked as though she believed the dinner party was not just a ploy to force her to spend more time with John.

  As her husband leaned down to kiss her good-bye, Truth turned to whisper in his ear. “We need to have a talk about your unnecessary comments to my sister.”

  Moses’s breath tickled her ear as he replied, “You need to stop meddling, my dear.”With that, he kissed her lips soundly, donned his coat, and bid the two women good-day.

  CHAPTER

  24

  Plans for the supper party progressed more smoothly than Truth had imagined they would, and thus far, Dovie had followed through on all of her instructions. Hopefully, she would also remember to keep her interactions with John to a minimum— Truth planned to admonish her shortly before the guests arrived. If Dovie followed all of the protocol and etiquette she’d been taught by her former employer’s wife and by Truth and Moses, the evening should prove a success.

  Grace seemed a bit despondent the night of the party, and Truth wondered if it was because she had received no letters from Silas.

  Secretly, Truth celebrated each day that passed without an envelope bearing Grace’s name, for it might work to give John the advantage.

  Truth still wondered how much Silas actually cared for her sister. Why didn’t he answer at least one of her frequent letters?

  As Grace assisted her with the fawn velvet dress and carefully arranged the silk overlay, Truth considered the cost of the gown. It was an extravagance Moses had insisted upon, stating he expected she would have future use for the gown as their family increased.

  “This is truly a lovely dress.” Grace drew a circle in the air with her index finger. “Turn around and let me see that the back of the gown is in order.”

  Once Grace gave her approval, Truth held out a necklace. After her sister clasped it around her neck, she retrieved the matching ear-bobs. “You can borrow the gown when you’re expecting a child of your own.”

  Grace smiled into the mirror and locked eyes with her sister in the oval glass. “I think I best have a husband before we speak of children.”

  Truth chuckled and gave her sister a hug. “I suppose you’re correct. I’m going downstairs to give Dovie her last-minute instructions and inspect the dining room. Please join me downstairs as soon as you’ve dressed.” She glanced at the porcelain clock sitting on her dresser. “I do hope Moses comes home soon.”

  “We have plenty of time until the guests are scheduled to arrive,” Grace reminded her.

  Truth assumed she would need the time to ensure everything was prepared according to her exacting requirements. And to be certain Dovie understood she must avoid interacting with any of the guests, especially John Rockley. Descending the stairway, she made a brief stop in the dining room. The table had been
set with the best china, and large gold candelabra flanked both ends of the table. A third ornate candelabrum had been centered on the buffet. A large mirror hanging above the buffet would reflect light from all three, providing a luminescent glow—at least that was Truth’s plan. She would remind Dovie to light the candles before announcing supper.

  Setting off toward the kitchen, she did her best to walk with a refined sashay. She feared her endeavor more closely resembled the lumbering gait of an old workhorse. She had never realized the difficulties expectant mothers were required to overcome each day. It was still hard to believe she’d be holding her own child in such a short time.

  “The dining room looks marvelous, Dovie,” she said as a greeting.

  “Are the meal preparations going smoothly?”

  Dovie was concentrating on her work at the chopping table, where she was pressing potatoes through a sieve. “I think so. I hope this souffle turns out like the one I made fer supper las’ week. If it don’t, it’s gonna look more like a potato pancake.” She looked up long enough to grin at Truth.

  “It will be wonderful.” Truth didn’t want to interrupt Dovie’s duties, but she needed to make sure they had reached a clear understanding. “You do remember what I said about conversing with the guests?”

  “I understand.” She added salt, pepper, and a dollop of cream to the potatoes before she stirred the mixture. “What you want is clear as a sun-filled Kansas sky, Truth.”

  The tone of Dovie’s voice belied the innocuous response. Choosing to ignore the remark, Truth started to leave. When her curiosity overruled her better judgment, she turned back into the kitchen. “Just what is it you think I want, Dovie?”

  “You think you’s hiding it real good, but you’re not.” Dovie carefully separated six eggs and added the yolks to the potato mixture.

  Then she added a pinch of salt to the egg whites and whipped them into a stiff froth with more vehemence than Truth thought necessary.