Man Most Worthy

by Ruth Axtell Morren

  She drew in a deep breath. “Very well, but don’t be too long.”

  Nick exhaled in relief. “We shan’t,” he promised with a small smile as a peace offering. “Come along, let’s be off.”

  At the door, he patted Austen on the shoulder. “Wait for me at the front door.”

  As soon as Austen had left, Nicholas turned to Alice, wanting to reassure her. “Thank you for trusting Austen to my care.”

  She pressed her lips together, and he suddenly realized she was near tears. “He’s all I have,” she whispered.

  The words tore at his heart, and he almost entreated her to go along with them. Instead, he reached his hand out and patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. “I won’t let him out of my sight.”

  She nodded wordlessly.

  “We’ll be back soon. I shall await your committee’s decision.”

  Nick put his disquiet aside and concentrated on helping Austen up into the landau. The little boy scrambled onto the seat at the front and bounced up and down on the red leather upholstery a few times. “Oh, I can look all around me.”

  Both sides of the top had been folded down for the fine weather. Nick smiled up at him before addressing the coachman. “Take us through the park to the Round Pond.”

  The coachman tipped his top hat at him. “Yes, sir.”

  Nick climbed into the carriage and sat facing Austen. “Tell me what you’ve been up to since you returned from Richmond.”

  The boy’s smile disappeared and shrugged. “Nothing much. Mama has engaged a governess to give me lessons and Nanny Grove takes me for a walk every day.” Austen’s gaze didn’t stay fixed on him but roamed over the parkland as they entered Hyde Park through Stanhope Gate and rode under an alley of plane trees.

  As the boy chattered on, Nick allowed his thoughts to return to Alice. She seemed deeply distressed about allowing her son in his company. What had her brother been telling her about him? Nick intended to get to the bottom of it. His frown deepened, not liking the things his secretary had begun discovering about her father’s company.

  “Do you think there’ll be enough wind to sail my boat?”

  He forced his attention to the boy in front of him. “If not, we’ll go another day and today make do with towing her along by her string.”

  “May we really go again another day?”

  “Of course, why shouldn’t we?”

  The little boy shrugged and looked out the side. “I don’t know. I’ve been asking Mama since we arrived home when you were going to visit.”

  His deep sigh stirred Nick. Why hadn’t Alice replied sooner? He’d contacted her the day they’d returned. He remembered his own yearnings as a boy, how little they were ever satisfied until he’d become resigned to be content with his lot in life.

  But why would Alice not want to indulge her son, when clearly the boy was lonely and in need of some male companionship?

  His concern grew, and he had to strive to keep his tone light whenever he spoke.

  Alice attempted to catch up on her correspondence while Austen was away. She usually reserved this time for Austen, and now found the time weighing heavily on her hands.

  At the sound of carriage wheels, she rose from her desk and looked out the window, but it was only a passing coach. She forced herself to sit back down and pick up her pen again, determined not to behave the way she had over the treasure hunt.

  Austen was in good hands, she repeated to herself. Nicholas, whatever he might be in business, seemed to genuinely care for her son. Her eyes drifted to the large bouquet of roses in the corner of her desk. She touched a soft petal, moved by the thoughtfulness of his gifts to both her and Austen.

  Letting her pen drop, she bowed her head. Dear Lord, Forgive me for this worry. Help me to be unselfish toward my son. She thought of Julian and his gentle example of selfless love. He’d taught her to put her trust in God above all. She’d thought she’d succeeded as they lived always on the edge of poverty and had had to face death constantly with Julian’s illness.

  It was only now that Austen’s affections were straying beyond the safe boundaries of his home that she was beginning to see how much she clung to him.

  Forgive me, Lord. Grant me your grace. Show me who Nicholas Tennent really is. Is he the ruthless tycoon they tell me he is? Is he the best example for my Austen?

  About an hour later, as soon as she heard a coach pull up in front of the house, she rushed to the window, careful to keep behind its lacy veil. She watched the two descend, Nick helping Austen down, then holding his hand and carrying his sailboat in the other. Austen chattered up the whole walk to the front door, exhibiting more animation than he did at home.

  She couldn’t see them when they entered under the portico. The dim sound of the door penetrated to the parlor, and she held her breath, wondering if Nicholas would ask to see her. What would she say? Part of her wanted to run out into the hallway and see him again, part of her wanted to remain hidden.

  But no one came. A few minutes later, she saw him return to his coach. Only then did her breathing return to normal. With a sigh, she turned to go to Austen, feeling more lonely than she had for a long time.

  Chapter Twelve

  Alice spent the next week immersing herself in her work. After receiving a formal letter from Nicholas’s firm about the intended donation, she truly began to believe it.

  Overwhelmed with what the Housing Society would be able to accomplish with such a sum, she wanted to do something to show her appreciation to him. She decided to plan a special dinner with the entire board of trustees. Nicholas would be given a chance to address them and outline the vision he had for the donation, and they in turn could honor him with a special plaque.

  Perhaps they could name the first terraces after Nicholas? On a burst of inspiration, she jotted down the various ideas she had.

  Keeping herself busy with work helped assuage the disappointment she felt at not having seen Nicholas on a personal level. He’d been to see Austen three times, usually taking him to sail his boat, but always when she was at her office.

  She bit the end of her pen. Nicholas knew where her office was located, so if he had wanted to see her, he certainly could have done so. He even had a legitimate pretext with the pending donation.

  It was for the best, she told herself, looking back down at her notes. Wasn’t it what she’d wanted? Simple friendship and nothing else. She should be thankful things had resolved themselves so satisfactorily. Austen was happy and thriving. And she had peace.

  “Hello, are you busy?”

  Alice started up at Macey’s voice. Her friend stood at the door of her office. “Oh, hello, come in. I’m never too busy to see you.”

  Macey entered the room, pulling off her gloves and smiling broadly. “I mustn’t stay long. I’ve too much to do, but I wanted to say goodbye before I left.”

  She looked at her friend in bewilderment. “Left? Where are you off to? What about the dinner I’m organizing?”

  Macey sat down opposite her and undid the ribbons of her bonnet. “Oh, I shall be back in time for that. It isn’t for at least a fortnight, isn’t it? Tell me how the plans are coming.”

  Alice brought her up to date, still disconcerted that she wouldn’t have her friend’s help in organizing it.

  “But you’ve got everything pretty much settled,” Macey said in reply to this. “It’s just a matter of ordering things and securing the ballroom.”

  “Where are you going, anyway?”

  Macey removed her bonnet and smoothed down her hair. “Didn’t I tell you last week? I’m sure I meant to. I’m off to catch the steamer to Le Havre. I’m taking a holiday in Deauville.”

  “Deauville! Goodness, Macey, when did you decide to go to Deauville?”

  “A few weeks ago. Elizabeth Wilcox raved about it when she came back.”

  Alice made an effort to inject some enthusiasm in her tone while she tried to suppress her dismay. “Well, it sounds lovely. When are you off?” Ma
cey always left London in the summer, but it was usually not far from the city, where Alice could visit on the weekends.

  “Tomorrow, my dear. I’m sure I must have told you.”

  Alice stared at her. “Tomorrow?” Why did she feel suddenly abandoned? She shook her head with a wan smile. “I don’t remember. It must have slipped my mind, what with going out to Richmond last week and planning this and all…” Her voice dribbled off as she glanced back down at the papers on her desk.

  Macey placed her bonnet on the seat beside her. “How is Mr. Tennent, by the way? I’ve been meaning to ask about him. Have you seen him since we came back from Richmond?”

  “Yes, once. He stopped by when he first broached me about the donation.”

  Macey frowned. “Only once?”

  Alice shuffled her papers around. “Yes. But he has taken Austen out a few times—close to home,” she added. “I know he is a very busy man.”

  “Taken Austen out, but not you?”

  Alice’s gaze shot up. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I know he is a busy man, but I shouldn’t think he was too busy to stop by and see you.” Macey folded her hands in her lap.

  Alice made a point of arranging her papers in a pile. “Oh, well, I’m busy, too.”

  “I liked him.”

  “You did?” Why did Alice have the urge to burst into tears and tell her friend all about her wayward heart?

  The older woman looked at her in surprise. “Yes, why? Don’t you?”

  “Yes, of course. I mean,” she added, not meeting her friend’s gaze, “you are usually so critical of men. Why are you championing Nicholas Tennent?”

  Macey sat back. “There’s something forthright about him. He appears a strong, yet not overbearing, person. I don’t get the impression with him that he would be afraid of a woman who knew her own mind.” She nodded, warming to her view. “A woman could form a true partnership with a man like that.”

  Alice stared at the older woman. She’d never heard her talk like that of any man.

  When she said nothing, Macey asked gently, “Has something happened between you two?”

  “Oh, no,” she said quickly, too quickly. “Why should it have?”

  “Then what is it?”

  “Nicholas and I are…only acquaintances,” she began.

  “But I thought you two had known each other years ago.”

  Alice studied the neat words on the stationery before her. “Yes.” That magical period of hardly more than a week. “It was so long ago. He was with Father’s firm for a very short time. Until Father dismissed him.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. He struck me as someone who would have been an asset to the company.”

  “It was all my fault.”

  Her friend gave a small gasp then she leaned forward. “I’m sure you did nothing so terrible.”

  Alice had never told anyone about that day. Only her father had known. Long minutes passed before she was able to speak. “I fancied myself in love with him.”

  “Oh, my dear…”

  Alice swallowed. “I was a foolish young girl looking for attention. Mr. Tennent seemed to notice me. For the first time, someone was genuinely seeing who I was.” She held up a hand before her friend could say a word. “Don’t misunderstand. He did nothing wrong, nothing improper. It was I who pestered him.” She pressed her lips together, finding it difficult to tell the rest. “It was I who threw myself at him, until one day—” her voice lowered to a mere whisper “—I demanded a kiss from him.” Her face flamed with the recollection. After a few seconds, she continued. “Father caught us.”

  “Oh, no!”

  “He immediately dismissed Nich—Mr. Tennent.” She shook her head, still grieved by that act. “The poor man was completely innocent. He was out of a job, with no references, just because of my silly schoolgirl behavior. That’s why he was forced to emigrate. Father sent me away to live with relatives.” She said softly, “I never saw him again, until the other evening.”

  “Your father could be quite harsh.”

  When Alice made no comment, Macey reached across the desk and patted her hand. “What an awful thing you both went through. Young love can be very painful. But that’s all in the past. Your Mr. Tennent has returned and you’ve been able to renew the acquaintance. It sounds like a storybook.”

  Alice put a hand up to her mouth to stifle her emotions.

  “What is it, Alice?” Her friend’s low tone was filled with concern.

  Unable to sit still, Alice got up and walked to the window overlooking the street. “I don’t know.” She hugged her arms to herself, wishing she could understand what she was feeling.

  Macey came up behind her and touched her on the elbow. “Did he say something to you—or Austen?”

  She shook her head. “No…no, it’s just me. I don’t know what I’m saying. Don’t mind me,” she said with a nervous laugh. “I’m just tired and confused,” she added under her breath.

  “Don’t be afraid of your emotions, my dear.”

  Alice pressed her lips together, trying to regain her composure. After a moment, she said, “I have never sought anyone since Julian. I loved him. I can’t…” She shook her head, unable to say anything more.

  Macey put her arm around her. “There, my dear, don’t fret. Your heart won’t be betraying your late husband if you still feel something for Mr. Tennent.”

  “But I don’t know what kind of man he is!” She didn’t voice her greatest fear. What if he was a man just like her father?

  Her friend patted her arm and stepped away. “Well, perhaps you need to take the time to find out.”

  Alice turned slowly to look at her. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean just that. Get to know him.”

  She swallowed back a bitter laugh. How was she to do that when he wasn’t even around? He was too busy with his business concerns. “It’s for the best if we leave whatever was in the past, in the past,” she finished with more firmness than she felt inside.

  Alice turned back to her desk. “Come, I’ll ring for some tea. Tell me more about Deauville before you leave. I envy your being able to just take off at a moment’s notice.”

  “Well, why don’t you come with me?”

  Alice laughed as she went toward the corridor. “Yes, I’ll just run away from all my responsibilities for a few days and not tell a soul where I am—”

  “I’m serious, Alice. Take some time off for a proper holiday and come along with me. You know I’ll pay all your expenses. You don’t have to worry about a thing. It will do you the world of good.”

  Alice shook her head at her friend. “You know I can’t go anywhere right now. What about the dinner I’m organizing?”

  Macey took her seat once again. “You have a good staff here. They can carry out your instructions, we’ll be back in plenty of time for the finishing touches. If you need, I can put off my trip another day or so to give you time to get your things together.”

  Alice walked slowly back to her own seat after requesting the tea. “Are you serious? You know how busy I am. I couldn’t possibly just leave for more than a few days.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “What about Austen?”

  “What about him? Take him along. Children love the seaside. Think of it. A sandy beach and plenty of sunshine and fresh air, just what he needs.” Macey nodded at her for emphasis. “And you, too. You look tired, my dear. If you continue as you’ve been, you’ll work yourself to exhaustion and then where will your son be?”

  “Hush, Macey. Don’t say such things, even in jest.”

  Her friend’s tone softened. “There now, Alice, I’m not trying to frighten you. I just want you to get away from things here for a little bit and take some time to enjoy yourself. The time alone with Austen will do you good. What do you say?”

  Get away from things here for a little bit. Alice focused on those words and, suddenly, the plan sounded all too agreeable. If she left London, she wouldn’t
have to think about Nicholas Tennent. Wouldn’t have to wonder why she was missing those dark eyes looking into hers, demanding something from her which she was afraid to respond to.

  Nick paused in the letter he was dictating to his secretary and stared out the window. Would Alice be in her office at this time of day? It had been over a week since he’d last seen her. He’d kept away from her deliberately, sensing she needed time. He’d also needed the time to get over his anger.

  The anger had long since dissipated. He’d thought by keeping away longer, he’d hear from her, if only on the subject of the donation.

  But all he’d received was silence. Any communication about the donation had been from the treasurer of the society.

  His strategy clearly had not worked. He gave a derisive snort. Was she really glad to be rid of his presence? Perhaps she’d believed even more slander from her brother or that sly Victor.

  A soft cough interrupted him. He glanced at his secretary, who sat with pencil poised over his pad. “I’m sorry?”

  “You were saying?”

  “Oh, yes, where was I?”

  The young man looked at his notes. “The share price of Henderson Limited fell two points yesterday.”

  “Yes.” He cleared his throat and continued. He needed to stop dwelling on Alice and concentrate on his business concerns.

  Two sentences later, he snapped open his pocket watch. Perhaps he could stop by to discuss the housing project. He knew she was planning a dinner where he would present his ideas to the board of trustees.

  Four o’clock. Was it too late?

  He turned abruptly to his secretary. “Excuse me, we’ll have to finish this tomorrow. I’m going out.”

  The man blinked at him. “Oh. Very well, Mr. Tennent. Do you want me to continue when you return?”

  “No, I probably won’t be back at the office until late.” With some final instructions, he bid the man goodbye and left the office.

  A young woman sat at the front desk of the Housing Society.

  Nick presented her with his card. “Is Mrs. Lennox in?”

  She looked at him in surprise. “No, sir. She’s away.”