Her gown made her eyes shine like rare jewels, but she was still much too pale except for spots of color high on her cheeks. He wanted to see more color in her face. He hoped that her trip out West would restore a healthy glow to her skin. He could picture cornflower blue eyes and golden skin. A tightening in his groin reminded him that he didn’t need to think in that direction.
Tonight Claire had an odd look in her eyes—almost as if she were a bit tipsy. Naw, not sweet, innocent Claire.
Just then Billy caught a glimpse of another woman approaching him. She was slightly ahead of Claire, and she was smiling at him as if he was fresh meat. It was no secret what that woman had on her mind.
“Hello, Heath,” the woman said when she’d drawn near. “You must introduce me to your friend. I don’t believe I have had the pleasure,” she said as she fanned herself.
Heath had a smirk on his face, and he glanced at Billy. “I’d be most happy to. Lucy Blackwell, I’d like you to meet Billy West, a friend from Denver.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. West. I have an opening on my dance card. Why don’t we get acquainted as we waltz?” Lucy said.
“What’s a dance card?” Billy asked.
“I’ll explain while we dance,” Lucy said as she took his hand and led him to the dance floor right past Claire. “Hi, Claire. Nice party.” Lucy smiled. “We are going to waltz.”
Claire managed a half-smile and nodded to Lucy as she continued on toward her brothers. So much for being forward. Lucy had beaten her to the “prey.”
“Hello, puss,” Heath said. “You are very pretty tonight and should be dancing, not standing around by yourself. “Shall we?” He held up his arm for her to take. Once she’d placed her hand on his arm, he asked, “How do you feel?”
“Don’t start, Heath,” Claire warned as she took his hand and walked with him to the dance floor.
Heath swept Claire into his arms and they swayed around the floor to the strains of the waltz. Claire kept catching glimpses of Billy out of the corner of her eye, and noticed that he danced very well. He was also smiling down at Lucy, evidently enjoying Lucy’s company, which made Claire clench her teeth.
“I want you to promise me that you’ll be very careful and won’t do anything foolish,” Heath said, drawing her attention back to him. “I instructed Billy to be very careful with you.”
She glanced back to her brother, brows raised. “You didn’t say anything about my cough, did you?”
“Of course not” Heath looked insulted. “I promised I wouldn’t.”
“You better not have,” Claire warned him.
“I also want you to remember that Billy is a man and you are a woman, and—”
“Heath!” Claire felt as if her body were on fire. “I’m a grown woman. You don’t need to explain that to me. If you’re going to keep on lecturing me, then you can take me to the refreshment table right this very minute. We’re supposed to be having fun tonight.” Not Lucy’s night, she couldn’t help thinking with a frown.
“Ah, puss. I just want what’s best for you,” Heath said as he walked her over to the punch bowl.
Claire could hear Billy’s laughter and that didn’t improve her mood. She stopped and touched her brother’s arm. “Heath, it’s time for me to decide what is best for me.”
“And you’ve done that,” Heath pointed out. “But it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being your brother, so don’t get your hackles up.”
Claire realized she was snapping at him. “I’m sorry.”
Heath nodded and then said, “Look there.” “Who is it?”
“John Roebling. He and Father must be going to the library,” Heath said as he took her elbow and escorted her over to the refreshment table.
“Who?” Claire asked again, knowing she should remember the name, but her brain was fuzzy.
“You’ve heard us talk about him. Remember the brilliant engineer? I asked him to come tonight and bring his drawings so we can look them over in the library.”
“Oh, I remember. He’s designing the Brooklyn Bridge.”
“That’s right. I thought maybe you’d like to see what the bridge is going to look like before you leave.”
“Yes, I would.” Claire looked at her brother. “Thank you. I just cannot picture such a tremendous bridge,” she said as she looked over the crowd. She saw Billy and Lucy coming their way. Lucy was hanging onto Billy’s arm, Claire noticed. Hussy. Claire touched her lips, thinking that she’d actually said the word instead of thinking it.
“Hello, Claire,” Lucy said with a triumphant smile. “I’m not sure you heard me a while ago. Your party is wonderful.”
“I’m so glad you are enjoying yourself,” Claire said, but then she looked at Billy. “And I’m glad that you did come.”
“You said that it was important to you,” Billy said with a slow smile. “I aim to please.”
Claire’s breath caught in her throat, and she couldn’t find her voice.
“Billy,” Lucy broke the silence. “Will you be a sweetie and get me some punch?”
Sweetie? Claire wanted to throw up.
Billy nodded. “Excuse me,” he said and casually walked over to where Heath was filling two glasses.
Lucy looked at Claire. “He is so handsome. I hope I get to spend more time with him. I think he likes me.”
“Really?” Claire arched her brow, feeling irritated that she was letting Lucy’s remarks get to her. “How do you know?”
“It was the way he held me when we danced,” Lucy said and then patted Claire’s arm. “You’ll understand one day when you get over David.”
Claire felt her cheeks warm. “I’m over David,” Claire said firmly.
Heath and Billy returned with the punch. “I’ve just told Billy about the drawings, and he wants to see them, as well,” Heath said. “Shall we take our refreshments into the library?”
“What drawings? Is there a painting?” Lucy asked, excitedly.
“Drawings of a bridge,” Claire explained.
“Sounds boring,” Lucy said with a frown. “I think I’ll go and say hello to Mrs. Thorndike. Billy, you must save me another dance.”
Billy nodded to the flirtatious woman, and then he followed Claire and Heath out of the room, grateful to be away from that woman. She was as pushy as the women back home. He needed to hang a sign around his neck saying “not interested in marriage, so find someone else,” in bold lettering.
When they entered the library, the first thing that Billy noticed was the wall of books. He’d never seen so many books in one place, in shelves from the floor to the ceiling. There was a long table in the middle of the room where Mr. Holladay and another gentleman were bent over looking at some bundles of old and curling papers laid out on the long table.
Donald Holladay straightened. “I see my children have arrived. Some of them, anyway. Mr. John Roebling, I’d like you to meet my oldest, Heath, and my youngest, Claire. And this gentleman is Billy West who is going to escort my daughter to Denver.”
“Ah, adventure,” John said with a heavy accent that Billy hadn’t heard before. “That’s what life is all about.”
Claire spoke first “It must have been quite an adventure when you came to America?”
“Ja, Deutschland, my Germany, is a long way from here. But I’ve been in this country for many years now.”
So, he was German, Billy realized. He’d never met anyone from that country. So far, he had experienced many new things in his short stay in the North. He wondered what else was in store for him.
“Well, we’re glad that you came to our country,” Heath said. “Or we wouldn’t have the hopes of a bridge connecting us to Brooklyn. However, I can’t imagine not taking a ferry.”
“The bridge will be many years down the road.”
Billy glanced down at the drawing. “What is this?” he pointed. “Seems like some kind of rope.”
“Ja,"John said, nodding. “That is Roebling’s wire rope. We make it very s
trong, so strong that it will support the bridge, making it a suspension bridge.”
“A bridge supported by a rope?” Billy shook his head. “Doesn’t seem possible,” he said.
“Ah, I have a skeptic.”
Billy persisted. “How do you know it will work?” John laughed. “I don’t blame you for your doubtful look.”
“Sorry,” Billy said, “I’m just looking at something that doesn’t seem possible.”
“I know,” John said. “I built my first suspension bridge a few years ago in Pittsburgh, and it has worked well. I was impressed. But the Brooklyn Bridge will be grander and will last for a lifetime.”
“I’m impressed,” Billy admitted. “Maybe when I bring Claire back home, I will get to see the marvel for myself.”
‘‘Ja, I will take you on a tour myself,” John said with a broad smile.
Neither of them noticed that conversation in the room had stilled. Claire could only stare at her father and brother, with stinging eyes that refused to shed a tear.
Secretly, they all knew that Claire wouldn’t be returning home.
Chapter Ten
Billy turned and asked Claire if she was ready to return to the party.
Claire managed a weak smile and nodded. She wished she could count on coming home again. Never seeing her family was overwhelming if she thought about it, so she quickly swept those thoughts from her mind so she could get through the night.
They left the study and strolled down the hall back to the ballroom. She almost hated returning to the crowded room, but this was her party and it would be rude to leave her guests so early.
Claire stopped just before they entered the ballroom and looked at Billy. “I want to thank you for coming tonight,” she murmured softly, for his ears only.
Billy glanced down at Claire, and he thought she had tears in her sparkling eyes. A look of tired sadness passed over her features and he wondered why, then he passed it off as his imagination. It was her party so there wasn’t anything for her to be sad about.
He couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she was in this elegant setting. There were many who would love to live in a place such as this one. How would she feel when she had to face the difficulties of the untamed West? The conditions were harsher and many small-boned women, such as Claire, died over the years because they couldn’t adjust
She looked much too serious at the moment so he decided to lighten the mood. “After I went to all the trouble to have this suit fitted, I couldn’t very well let it hang in the closet,” he said with a grin.
Finally she smiled. He knew she was totally unaware of the captivating picture she made when she smiled.
“You do look handsome tonight,” she said.
“Thank you. But shouldn’t I be the one complimenting you?”
She took an abrupt step back, then twirled around before meeting his gaze. “If you’d like to.” Claire saw a roguish light in Billy’s eyes, when usually she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She found she liked this lighter side of him.
He rubbed his chin. “Hmmm, do I like your gown? How can I find the right words?”
“Well, if it’s that difficult...” Claire said, vowing she would not beg for a compliment. She looked away.
He reached out and chucked her under the chin, tipping her face up so she’d look at him. “There isn’t another woman in that room who holds a candle to you tonight You’re simply breathtaking.”
Claire hadn’t expected him to be so articulate. ‘That is the nicest compliment I’ve ever heard.”
“Would you like to dance?” Billy asked.
“I would like it very much, but first I must go to the powder room. Will you wait for me at the refreshment table?”
She watched him walk away from her before she turned and went upstairs.
Once in the powder room, Claire fanned herself. Being close to Billy made her skin flush. She looked around for the attendant, who wasn’t in the room. Thankfully, she was alone, so no one could see how flustered she was. It was the perfect time to take another dose of her medicine. Just a little precaution so she didn’t start coughing, she kept telling herself. She giggled as she moved over to a special drawer in the bureau. She felt like a little girl about to do something forbidden and she giggled again and then promptly pressed her fingers over her mouth.
“Stop it,” she warned herself sternly. Then she retrieved her brown bottle and took a sip. She could not have a coughing spell and ruin the magical evening. She took one more sip for good measure before replacing the bottle safely back in the drawer.
Feeling absolutely wonderful, she made her way to the ballroom where she stood just inside the door and scanned the crowd for Billy. She had the misfortune of spotting David instead.
He stood between Lucy and Mary Ann, and they were both laughing at what he’d just said. Then Lucy gestured toward Claire, and David turned and looked her way. He nodded, abruptly taking his leave of the other two women, and hurried toward her.
Claire felt the color drain rapidly from her face. She did not need this. Not tonight Her festive mood of a moment ago vanished. David looked every bit the gentleman tonight, but then David had always been the perfect gentleman. Funny, until this moment, she’d never realized how silly he looked. Just like a pompous peacock.
Claire’s head swam and she felt light-headed. She wondered why, and then decided she didn’t care because the woozy feeling gave her the courage to stand her ground and not flee the room just because David was present.
“Claire, my dear, you do look lovely tonight,” David said as he placed a meaningless kiss on her cheek and reached for her hand.
“Thank you,” she managed to say without stammering.
“I must admit that I’m surprised you are making such an arduous trip, considering your condition.”
“Please do not mention my condition again,” Claire snapped and yanked her hand away. “I have told no one outside of the family, except you, of my condition, and I trust you to keep my confidence.”
David nodded.
“I understand. But could the doctor have been mistaken in his diagnosis? You look anything but sick tonight. You’re quite beautiful. ”
“You act surprised,” Claire returned archly. The cad had a smooth tongue, butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. She just looked at him, wondering if he would change his mind about her if she were to tell him that the doctor had indeed been mistaken. Would he tell her he’d made a mistake and still want to marry her?
As she gazed into David’s eyes, she saw him in a new light. She saw him for what he was ... shallow. What a shame she’d never seen it before. He’d never loved her as a person. He’d loved her as one would a trinket, something pretty that he could show everybody.
“There is no mistake,” she said.
“I see,” he returned, stiffly. “I heard you were traveling out West. Do you think that wise?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” she fired back, growing more irritated by the minute.
“Well, you know—” David stammered, looking extremely uncomfortable.
He still couldn’t talk about her sickness. It was as if it were an issue that he couldn’t accept. “I’ve done many things that were not wise, but my trip isn’t one of them,” she said.
Irritation shone in his dark eyes. Good, she thought with satisfaction. He understood her sentiments exactly.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you, Claire, but I couldn’t marry you. I’d get used to having you around, and then you’d be gone.”
Wonderful! Now he was pitying her. Claire could feel unbidden tears stinging her eyes. “I would so hate to inconvenience you.”
David reached out and touched her arm, but Claire shrugged him away.
“You’re upset,” he said. “In time you’ll get over me.”
She thought with fearful clarity that she’d almost married this cad standing in front of her. She had already gotten over him. However she did need more time to get over the embarrassm
ent of ever believing she had been in love with him in the first place. David needed to be taken down a notch. She longed to slap the smug expression off his face, but instead she decided a good barb would work just as well.
“I already have.”
Billy had just taken a bite of a small cake when his gaze settled upon Claire. Some dandy had stopped her as she entered the ballroom, and she obviously wanted to get away. Who was the man that kept reaching out and touching her arm? Whoever it was, the look on her face told Billy that the man was upsetting her.
“Hello, Mr. West,” a female voice sounded from behind him. He turned and was relieved to see it wasn’t Lucy. “Do you remember me?”
“Yes, I do. The lady from Claire’s publishing house.”
“That’s right I’m Ann, Claire’s editor.”
“I’m pleased to see you again,” Billy said with a frown.
“Then why are you frowning?”
Billy nodded toward Claire and the dandy. That fellow over there seems to be upsetting Claire.”
“Where?” Ann turned to see where Billy was looking, “I was looking for her so I could say goodbye before I left,” Ann said as she spotted Claire. “That’s David Ader. No wonder she’s upset She and David were once engaged. I don’t know what she ever saw in the man, but I’m glad he broke it off. He’s so shallow.”
So that was the fool, Billy thought “She looks none too happy to see him.”
“Can you blame her? He humiliated her in front of all her friends. Perhaps we should rescue her.”
I’m with you,” Billy said.
“Claire,” Ann said when they reached her friend. “I’m afraid I must leave, and I want to say good-bye.” She spared a brief glance for David. “David,” she said curtly, and then she turned back to Claire. “I look forward to your first article.” Ann touched Billy’s arm. “I’m sure you’ll be safe in Mr. West’s company.”
“I should have known that you were encouraging her,” David snapped, glaring first at Ann and then Billy.
Billy knew he didn’t like the son-of-a-bitch right away. And Claire was so nervous it made him think that she still cared for David. Mixed feelings surged through him, and he had to fight the urge to punch David in the face.
Until September Page 12