Chapter Thirteen
Few times in Bert’s life had he been so enraged that his body didn’t seem connected to his mind at all. He rushed into the room to see a trio of very different reactions. Matilda stood with her mouth open, tears filling her eyes. Mr. Bromley’s jaw was clenched so hard Bert knew the man’s teeth must be cracking under the stress. Then, there was the rude dandy who’d put the room into shock. Bert stepped up to him, standing in front Matilda, guarding her. Bert asked, “Who the hell are you to be talking to anyone like that, never mind a respectable lady? Apologize this instant.”
After a surprised expression crossed his face, the man started laughing. “Apologize to whom?” He pointed at Matilda. “Her?”
Matilda took hold of Bert’s arms, pulling him back with her a step or two. “Please, this is a private matter. Just go, we’ll talk later.”
“Yes, boy, run along like the girl said.” The dandy made a waving motion with his hand. “She’ll care for you later.”
Hurt lined Matilda’s face. Bert put an arm around her as she said, “Please, just go before he says anything more.”
Bert pulled her close hissed, “Who is he?”
“My father.”
Cold rage filled him. He stepped back from Matilda, facing the man who sired her. “You need to leave before I do something you’ll regret.”
“Who are you to be telling me anything?” He took a step closer to Bert, raising a fist. “You’re nothing, no one.”
Hands clenched, Bert wanted nothing more than to punch the guy. A second stretched into two, until he said, “No. You’re the one not welcome here, so go back to whatever part of Hell you came from.”
Mr. Bromley cleared his throat. “I have to agree. Mr. Pearson, you’ve overstayed your welcome. Please feel free to leave.”
Pearson’s fist lowered as he scowled. “Fine. I’ll go.” He scowled at Matilda. “But one word from you, I’ll ruin you, ruin everyone you’ve ever known. Understand?”
She nodded. “I don’t know who you are.”
“Good.” He picked up his hat from Bromley’s desk. “Keep it that way.” He strode out of the room, the crowd gathered around the office door parting for him as if he were Moses.
People stood around whispering. Bert said to Matilda, “I don’t mind following him. Beating the stuffing out of him in a back alley would feel good. Say the word it’s done.”
“I’ll help,” Bromley added.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Mrs. Bromley hollered as she swept into the room. In a louder voice, she said, “That poor man was obviously touched in the head. I hope some doctor can tend to him, poor dear, maybe show him the way back to sanity.” She motioned to Matilda. “Go along with me on this. They’ll believe us over a stranger any day.” She stepped over to her husband. “I’m so glad that madman is gone. Are you all right, dearest?”
“Never better, sweetheart.”
Matilda sank into a chair, her elbow on the armrest her face in her hand. She didn’t move. When Bert to her put an arm around her shoulders, she started to cry. He asked Mrs. Bromley, “Ma’am? Could she have a glass of water? I think she’s overwrought.” The woman nodded, motioning at the nearby Mary to carry out the task. Bert held Matilda closer. “He’s a fool doesn’t deserve your tears, I promise.”
Janie hurried in with a small pile of folded cloths. “Mary said Matilda needed a napkin?”
Bert nodded, taking the stack from her. “Thank you,” he said before handing the cloth to Matilda. “I’m inclined to believe no one so disgusting could be your relation.” She wiped her eyes but didn’t move away from him. He hugged her. “You’ll never see him again.”
“Thank you. Gloria had warned me, but I never expected…” She sobbed. “I never expected him to bother coming here for me.” She stared up at Bert. “I didn’t think I was worth his effort.” After sitting up away from him, she gave the Bromleys a wavering smile. “Thank you for being defending me, Mr. Bromley.”
“Tut,” Bromley waved a hand. “Never mind that. I know about your mother’s death from Pearson. Just go on, take the rest of the day for yourself.”
“Maybe tomorrow, too,” Mrs. Bromley added before addressing the few people remaining. “All of you know the devil enjoys gossiping tongues. I expect everyone’s conversation to keep to professional topics only.”
The various people murmured their agreement before sidling off to their jobs. Mrs. Bromley frowned at Bert. He grinned. “I suppose that means me, too.”
“It does.”
Bert knew she was right, but he didn’t want to leave Matilda. “Would you like for me to walk you to your room?”
She gave him a slight grin. “Not yet. First, I’d like Mr. Bromley to allow you to escort me to the bank. I need to deposit the money my father forced me to take before he changes his mind to come back for it.”
Bromley sat at his desk with a smile. “Of course, I’ll allow it. Go on, then, DuBoise. Make sure she doesn’t cross paths with Pearson again.”
“Yes, sir.” Bert helped Matilda to her feet. “I’ll take care of her.”
As he led her out of the office, she said, “I’m able to look after myself, you know. I don’t need to be dependent on anyone.”
“I know.” He put a hand on her back, leaning over to open the front door of the hotel for her. “You’re a strong woman who doesn’t need me to love her.”
“Hmm.” She paused with Bert as a wagon passed on the street in front of them. He led them across the street as she quipped, “Let’s not be so quick to dismiss my needs.”
Before Bert could respond, she was marching on to the bank a few doors down from the hotel. He hurried to catch up with her, managing to reach the bank’s door handle before she did. He opened the door for her. “After you.”
“Thank you, kind sir.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am.” He grinned, following her into the bank foyer. When she stopped in the middle of the large room, he asked, “Is everything all right?”
She glanced at him before nodding at a row of bank teller windows. “Yes. You can stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Content to wait for her, Bert did as she suggested. He wasn’t close enough to hear Matilda’s conversation at the window but saw the teller’s eyebrows rise when she gave him a handful of bills. The teller counted the money twice, scribbling on a piece of paper before going to a large book. After a few moments, the teller came back, giving the receipt to Matilda. She folded the paper, placing it into her apron pocket.
She came back to him, crossing the lobby through a ray of sunlight. Bert couldn’t help but stare at her. She glowed as she approached. Her smile when she saw him brightened his mood so much, the rest of the world dimmed. He needed to hold her, wanting nothing more from Matilda than to dry her tears, hear her laughter. Bert took a few quick steps toward her, unable to bear being away from her for a second more. “Matilda, we need to go back to the hotel for a talk.”
Her smile faded. “It sounds serious. Should I be worried?”
“It is. Serious, I mean.” He wiped his sweaty palm on his pants before taking her hand to lead her out of the bank. “But no, you shouldn’t worry at all.”
Matilda squeezed his hand as he helped her across the street. “Now I’m even more concerned. Are you all right?”
Bert chuckled. “Never better even though I should be scared to death.” They approached the hotel in silence. He could almost hear the gears in her mind working. He held the door open for her.
Once inside the hotel, she asked, “Now can we talk?”
He examined the busy lobby. Lunchtime guests filled the place. He couldn’t have a private conversation with Matilda here among the crowds. “Let’s see if Mr. Bromley will let us borrow his office for a few moments.”
She slipped from his grasp, crossing her arms. “Bert? Why can’t you tell me now? I’m not sure I want anyone to see us alone when we should be working.”
“I’m sure I don’t wan
t an audience during our discussion,” Bert replied, motioning her to follow him into the owner’s office. “Sir?” Bromley glanced up from his paperwork. Bert ignored the older man’s frown. “Could I use this room for a private talk with Matilda?”
He dropped his pen, waving a hand at the chairs sitting across his desk from him. “I suppose so, but make it quick. You’re needed in the stable, you know.”
Bert glanced over at Matilda before replying, “I do. I wanted to talk with her after today’s events before we both go back to work.”
Mrs. Bromley swept into the room in a cloud of expensive perfume. “Jimmy, the stable boys—” She stopped, narrowing her eyes at Bert. “They’re saying they can’t do anything without Bert there. Everything is getting backed up in the stables.”
“I know, dear.” Mr. Bromley rubbed the space between his eyebrows for a few seconds. “He’s in here wanting to talk with Matilda privately.”
“Well, that doesn’t help the—oh. Oh!” She hurried behind the desk to stand by her husband. “Well? Go on, talk to her, young man.”
Bert wasn’t sure about having an audience, but since it was their office, they had the final say so. Plus, he was needed in the stables for the lunch run, so there wasn’t time to find any place else for him to tell Matilda how he felt for her. He squared his shoulders before facing her. “Very well. You need to know, when we were at the bank, I realized something important about my feelings for you.” He ignored how hard his heart thudded. “I’ve never said this to anyone, ever. I’ve also never felt like this for anyone until now.”
“And that is?” she whispered.
Bert’s pulse raced through every part of his body. Despite his fear of her not returning his feelings, he took a deep breath before saying, “I love you more with every moment we’re together. When we’re apart, I’m counting the minutes until I see you again. I want to be your husband. Please say you’ll marry me.”
“Oh.” Matilda bit her lip before saying, “I don’t know what to say except, are you sure? I earned my nickname, after all. They don’t call me the shrew around here because I’m charming.”
Her comments hurt, causing pain in his chest radiating out as far as his toes. She distrusted him even now after he’d given his heart to her? He couldn’t allow her to think of him as anything but her protector and love. “I see. Do you believe I don’t adore you in every way? Or is it because you think you’re unlovable?”
“I…” Tears filled her eyes. “Maybe a little bit of both.”
He gently lifted her chin. “You don’t believe me, Matilda?”
She blinked. “I want to. We’ve known each other for a handful of days. You can’t love anyone in so short a time.”
“Can’t you?” he asked. She shook her head, pulling away from his touch. Bert let her go, but continued, saying, “Are you sure you’ve never fallen so hard, so fast for anyone in your life, darling?”
Matilda swallowed as if fighting a lump in her throat. “Maybe. I might have fallen for someone who seems to like me no matter what I do. But, he can’t truly care for me as I am. I…” She searched the room before continuing. “Well, I have a dubious past. Any man in love with me might be ashamed if anyone else learned what sort of woman he’d married.”
She loved him every bit as much as he loved her. Even better, she wanted to be his wife. Bert crossed his arms as if to hug his happiness into stillness. Instead of letting out whoops of joy, he nodded. “All right. I suppose at some point, you’ll learn that I love you for the person you are. I don’t care where you came from or what you have. I just want you as you are.”
“Me? Just me?” Matilda covered her face, sobbing.
Bert went to her, holding her close. He whispered, “Darling, what’s wrong? Tell me how to fix what’s hurting you.”
She pressed her cheek against his chest. Her voice wavered. “I can’t bear this much happiness. Please tell me this is real. Do you really love me as much as I love you?”
“I do, with all of my heart and soul.” He rested his cheek on the top of her head. Closing his eyes, he said, “Say you’ll marry me. Make me the happiest man in the world. Let me be yours always.”
She drew in a shuddering breath before leaning back far enough to see his face. “Yes, Bert. I’ll marry you. I’ll be the best wife you could hope to have.”
He laughed, picking her up to spin her around. “I know you will,” Bert said, setting her on her feet. “We have plans to make, don’t we?”
“Lots of plans. A wedding, a honeymoon, a new home.” She smiled. “Mr. Bromley, would you mind if a married couple honeymooned here?”
Mrs. Bromley clapped her hands, “Finally! I’ve wanted to add a proper suite to the hotel for ages.” She pointed a finger at her husband while backing out of the office. “No more telling me later because I’m interviewing carpenters this afternoon.”
“Fine,” Mr. Bromley said to the empty space where his wife had been. He shook his head at the young couple. “You’ll have a lengthy engagement, hear me? I don’t want to rush the modifications.”
Bert raised his eyebrows at Matilda, willing to let her answer for them both. She wiped her eyes. “We’ll try to hold out as long as possible, but no guarantees.”
Mr. Bromley headed for the Gilded Swan, sighing. “Well, that settles that. I’d better have lunch before budgeting for the new suite now or the missus will never let me hear the end of it.”
Bert laughed, taking Matilda in his arms again now that they were alone. “Missus? I like the sound of that.”
Matilda kissed his cheek. “So do I, mister.”
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With an overactive imagination and a love for writing, I decided to type out my daydreams and what if's. I currently live in Kansas City with my husband, and a few cats. When not at the computer, I’m supposed to be in the park for a jog and not buying everything in the yarn store's clearance section.
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