An Unlikely Mother

by Danica Favorite

  “Mother, I told you, we think something bad happened to Pierre’s father, preventing him from being able to return for him.”

  “Yes, but you are a young lady, not a lawman.” The fierce gaze Flora’s mother gave her brought a smile to George’s lips. There was no doubt where Flora got her iron will.

  “Ma’am, I believe a missing person report was filed with the law. I understand that they get many such reports, and since there was no evidence of a crime, it wasn’t a priority.”

  “Disgraceful,” Flora’s mother said again, frowning. Then she turned to her daughter. “I just can’t understand how you came to be involved in this mess.”

  Flora let out a long sigh, and in the time George had gotten to know her, he’d come to find that sound endearing. She was trying so hard to be patient and get her mother to understand the changes in her life, just as she was trying to convince everyone else, but no one seemed to be able to see through their image of who she’d once been. Sometimes it made George glad he hadn’t known the old Flora—the grown-up one at least. His vision wasn’t clouded by the times she seemed to regret so much.

  “I told you, I was the only person who could communicate with him. And now...” Flora looked out the window, presumably to where the children were playing. “I love him. Pierre is a darling child, and he deserves someone who cares for him. Until we find his father, I’m going to be there for him.”

  “And what if you don’t find his father?” her mother asked.

  Flora shrugged, her gaze still focused out the window. “I’ll keep him for as long as he needs me.”

  “That’s so kind of you,” Rose said, smiling. “Anyone can see that you have a special connection with Pierre. I hope, when his father is found, that he’ll allow you to still spend time with Pierre.”

  “I hope so, too,” said Flora. “It breaks my heart to think of never seeing Pierre again.”

  The expression on Mrs. Montgomery’s face softened. “You do care about this child, don’t you?”

  Flora nodded, and the gleam in her eyes once again made George wish things could be different between them. Only a fool would miss the tenderness and longing, the depth of emotion in a woman who had no reason to care, except that she chose to open her heart to a boy who needed it.

  “Well, I suppose we must do our best to make him feel at home.” Mrs. Montgomery sounded like she was steeling herself for an unpleasant task, but her words made Flora smile.

  That, at least, was reason to give George hope.

  “I agree,” Rose said. “And with that, I’m going to check on Silas and the children. He tries, but sometimes I do wonder what he’s thinking in what he allows them to get away with. Mrs. Montgomery, won’t you join me? I understand you speak passable French and can help with Pierre.”

  At first the older woman looked like she might refuse. But Flora shot her a meaningful glance, and George realized what was going on. Flora must have asked Rose to get her some time alone with him. Perhaps he’d misheard Flora’s words last night.

  Mrs. Montgomery gave Flora a hard look, then turned her attention on George. “We’ll be right outside and will return shortly.”

  What was she expecting, that he’d ravish Flora as soon as they were out of the room? George tried not to groan. But, he supposed, Mrs. Montgomery was only looking out for her daughter.

  As soon as Rose and Mrs. Montgomery were out of the room, Flora turned to him.

  “I know who you are,” she said.

  Before George could respond, she continued. “My father did not break your confidence. I overheard last night.”

  It did make him feel better to know that John hadn’t betrayed him, but it was a good reminder of why they had to be so cautious in their endeavors. Who else had overheard them? Mrs. Montgomery? No. She’d be less hostile if she knew he came from a good family, as would Agnes.

  “Flora, I need you to—”

  “Not gossip about you?” She stood, looking at him with such venom in her eyes that he almost didn’t recognize her. “I don’t do that anymore. I can’t believe that after all the time we’ve spent together, you would still have questions about my character, that you wouldn’t trust me.”

  Her eyes were filled with pain, and George took a step toward her. “That isn’t what I was trying to say. I never meant to hurt you. You have to believe me.”

  “I don’t have to do anything,” Flora said, tears in her eyes. “Why couldn’t you trust me?”

  “Because...” George took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t know who to trust. And when I realized I could trust you, there were too many reasons I couldn’t reveal the truth.”

  “Like what?” She stepped into his space, her face turned up to his, inches away.

  The pain, the anguish, the rejection he’d inadvertently placed in her heart stared at him, making him feel like an even bigger heel than he’d thought he’d been in keeping this information from her.

  All he wanted was to fix it, to make it better.

  So George did the only thing he could think of. He closed the gap between them, and he kissed her.

  A full-on, deep kiss, projecting all the emotion he’d been trying to hide. Things he had no business feeling, except that Flora was hurting, and he had to let her know how desperately he cared for her.

  For a moment, Flora kissed him back, then somewhere in the house, a door slammed, and she jumped away.

  She stared at him with an expression of absolute bewilderment.

  “That’s why,” George told her. “There’s something between us, and I’ve done my very best to fight it. But Flora Montgomery can’t be courted by a miner. And George Bellingham isn’t here.”

  “But...you could have told me.”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Even if you kept my identity a secret, you would have treated me differently. People would know something was amiss because of the affection you were bestowing upon a miner.”

  “Even if?” Flora shook her head as she stepped away, wiping her mouth. “No, you don’t trust me. You’re like all the others, thinking I’m a pretty face, willing to amuse yourself with me. But when it comes to sharing the deep parts of your heart, you let my reputation get in the way.”

  George’s stomach fell. “I didn’t mean it that way. You’re twisting my words. All I meant was that while I knew you would keep my secret, it wouldn’t stay a secret, not because of anything you would say, but of how you would act. Every time things started to look like we might be getting close or having an affection for one another, you would pull away, and it was obvious you were fighting your feelings for me because they could never be. If you knew who I was, you would have had hope that we could someday be together, and you wouldn’t have pulled away.”

  “You pulled away, too!” Her eyes were red with unshed tears, and George hated himself for putting them there.

  “I did,” he said gently. “Because I knew the truth, and the truth is, you are right to think of me with the same status as a mere miner. The situation at the mine will be the ruination of my family, though it was well on its way prior to the accident. I cannot support a wife. I cannot offer for your hand in any honorable fashion.”

  Watching the emotions play across her face was like watching himself being slowly tortured by a villain of his own making.

  “Then why did you kiss me?” Her voice was soft, hesitant and spoke of a deep betrayal that made him feel even worse.

  “I know I shouldn’t have,” he said. “I apologize. I should not have taken such liberties. Sometimes when I’m with you, I can’t think straight, and I forget myself.”

  The way she looked at him made it even worse. Not that he’d expected her forgiveness or even understanding. But she looked at him like he’d crushed something in her.

  “Flora, I didn’t
mean to hurt you.”

  “Well, you have,” she said, looking forlorn. “I suppose I should be more understanding. After all, I’ve done my share of hurting people, but I can’t understand...”

  Flora shook her head. “I shared things with you that I’ve never shared with another human being. I trusted you. But you didn’t trust me. You don’t know how I would have acted. Maybe I wouldn’t have acted any differently. Especially since you’re telling me that there’s no way we can be together.”

  If there was anything that would make him feel worse, it was how she pointed out the difference in the way she’d treated him. She’d been open with him, trying to be a better person and prove her worth. He hadn’t done the same for her.

  He’d been too worried about keeping his secrets to think about how they affected her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said again. “But hopefully we can start again.”

  The look she gave him tore his heart in two. “And what would be the point of that? It is, as you say, impossible for us to be together. Since you don’t want me treating you any differently, I see no point in changing things.”

  She straightened, looking in the direction of the door. “However, I do think that in light of the fact that we’re back in town, and I am trying to reestablish my reputation, that you keep your distance from me. I have no problem with keeping your secret.”

  The front door opened, and the sound of children laughing greeted his ears. Only a few seconds left with Flora, and then it would be back to the cold shoulder.

  “Flora, I just...”

  She shook her head. “I understand that you’ll want to spend time with Pierre, but please keep your attempts at personal conversation with me to a minimum.”

  Before he could answer, Pierre ran into the room, a wide smile filling his face. “George!”

  He leaped into George’s arms, and George held the little boy tight.

  The other ladies entered the room, and over the little boy’s head, he caught a look passing between Flora and her mother. He should have known that this was what the other woman wanted and that she was guiding Flora in her decisions.

  However, this wasn’t just Flora’s mother speaking for her daughter. No, the hurt in Flora’s eyes was real, and George hated that he was the man responsible. Hopefully someday he’d find a way to make it right.

  Chapter Twelve

  Flora’s mother bustled around the house, preparing for guests like she hadn’t done since before Flora’s fall from grace. On one hand, it made Flora happy to see her mother in such a good mood. Her father had asked her to invite all the important ladies of Leadville to tea to share the news about George Bellingham’s impending arrival. It had been far too long since her mother had had the joy of entertaining like this. Yet Flora knew she was the one responsible for the lack of entertaining in their home these past few months.

  “Flora, find me that lace tablecloth Mrs. Crowley admires so much. Agnes can’t remember which one it was, and I know you do, so please go and get it.”

  Then her mother turned and looked at little Pierre. “And do change his tie. I know you like the blue, but I’ve been told the green is all the rage. Marie is going to take him after we’ve made all the introductions, yes? It’s not proper, including the child like he’s one of the family, but everyone’s heard about him, and has been praising you for doing your Christian duty by the boy, so I think he ought to be introduced.”

  Before Flora could respond to any of her mother’s requests, her mother continued. “And please change your dress. I didn’t have that silk brought in just so it could gather dust in the closet and you go around wearing rags. You have one of the finest wardrobes in all of Leadville, and I’m quite disappointed that you haven’t been showing it off since you’ve been back. I know it wasn’t right to dress so fine at the mining camp, but here, we have an obligation as pillars of society.”

  Only a few short months ago, Flora would have been inclined to agree with her mother. After all, she’d spent much of her time just like her mother, fussing over details that she thought would most impress everyone else. But she hadn’t once given thought to what was the most important example to those around her—the kind of character she showed to others.

  But that wasn’t something to discuss now, not with her mother frantically preparing for what would appear to be an effortlessly flawless tea with many of the leading matrons of society. The ladies were all coming to discuss the situation at the mine now that word was out that Flora’s father was going to purchase it and that George Bellingham himself was coming to stay with them to finalize the deal.

  Though rumor had it that the Bellingham fortune was in trouble, rumor also had it that Mr. Montgomery was prepared to pay a great deal of money for the mine, making the Bellinghams very wealthy, indeed.

  Gossip. The very thing that had gotten Flora into trouble, and yet both George and her father were doing their best to spread all kinds of false information. She’d have liked to discuss this with George, to understand why they felt the need for this course of action, because he always had a way of explaining things to her that made her feel a part of everything going on around them.

  Flora shook her head. She wasn’t part of anything. He’d made that clear when he’d failed to take her into his confidence.

  She grabbed the tablecloth her mother wanted and set it where her mother would easily see it, then took Pierre by the hand.

  “Let’s get you ready for the tea,” she told him in French. As they climbed the stairs, they passed Marie, who greeted them warmly in her own language.

  It was such a difference to see how friendly things could be with the staff once you took the time to get to know them. She’d always thought Marie standoffish, and Flora supposed she hadn’t been nice to the girl, either. Why should she? Marie had just been the help to her. But now Flora saw her as a human being, in need of compassion just like anyone else.

  “Are you still going to watch Pierre during the tea?” Flora asked, giving the other woman a smile.

  “Oui. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I brought Pierre with me to my cousin’s. They are having a small party for his son’s birthday, and it would be good for Pierre to have a chance to speak with children in his language. And I will have a chance to ask my father if he knows Pierre’s family. He has been so busy with work, I have not seen him.”

  Though Flora agreed it would be good for Pierre, she wished she could be there to see the sweet boy getting to play with others and finally be around his own people. Not that there was anything wrong with the people Pierre had been spending time with, but she recognized a longing in him that she couldn’t fill. The poor child had lost so much, and Flora wished she could somehow give it back to him.

  “I think that would be good for him,” Flora said, ruffling Pierre’s hair. “Mother wants to introduce him to her friends, and then he’ll be free to go.”

  Marie made a noise. “Like a trained monkey. You rich people, showing off your children but not letting them be children. Pierre will have more fun with me.”

  In the past, Flora would have been insulted by Marie’s words and chastised her for not knowing her place. But now, she could recognize the truth in the other woman’s words. At least in part.

  “I agree that children need to play. But it’s also good for them to know how to act according to society. Whether we like it or not, there are rules of deportment, and you must follow them to live in our world.”

  “I do not like your world,” Marie said, switching to French. “You might have the fine houses and beautiful gowns, but you lose sight of the important things in trying to maintain them. It is an illusion, and you are foolish to think it is anything but temporary.”

  Sometimes, Flora thought the other woman didn’t realize how good Flora’s French was, because the woman spoke rapidly in her own lang
uage, like she needed to say it, but was afraid Flora wouldn’t like what she had to say.

  “I agree,” Flora said in French, smiling. “You are right that much of what we hold dear is an illusion, though you are wrong that I have lost sight of that. I believe for the first time in my life, I am learning what is important, which is why I have devoted myself to Pierre’s care.”

  Marie gave a nod. “Perhaps. But I remember what a spoiled girl you were. Only time will tell if you have changed, or if this is merely another of your whims.”

  Then, in English, Marie said, “Just remember that you are playing with a little boy’s fragile heart. Do not abandon him when he becomes inconvenient.”

  Flora stared at Marie, then looked at the child standing between them. Though Pierre understood most of their conversation, at least in terms of the words, they were adult concepts he would know nothing about.

  With a smile, Flora answered in English. “I will forgive you the insult because I know you care about him, as well. Rest assured that I am fully committed to being there for Pierre, whatever it takes.”

  “Flora!” her mother called from downstairs.

  “Come, Pierre,” Flora said, giving the little boy a warm look.

  She helped Pierre with his tie, then got him settled playing with a toy train her father had brought home for him. Her mother might still not be sure about Pierre’s place in their home, but Flora’s father had already taken to spoiling the boy.

  Once Flora had changed into something more suitable, she heard voices in the corridor.

  “I’d like to accompany you to your cousin’s,” George was saying.

  George. Flora tried not to sigh at the thought of him. She couldn’t hear Marie’s response, so she leaned in closer to the door to try to hear the conversation. She’d once excelled at listening on the other side of doors to overhear other people’s conversations.

  “Flora.” Pierre tugged at her skirt. “Open door? See George?”