Regina thanked the man and carefully made her way to the door, stopping to pick up a drink from a passing server’s tray. She nodded to several partygoers along the way trying to portray a calm, unhurried façade, but the truth was she wanted to rush across the floor and hide behind the plant against the wall.
When she was within a few yards of the door, her nerves were pulsating in anticipation of her next move. She tried to force her racing heart to relax.
She had never done something so bold in all her days. And once she called John Kingston out of that room in front of all those men, it was sure to get back to her father and then there would be hell to pay. If this didn’t work, her father would ship her off to Kansas or some other godforsaken place. She quickly sent up another silent prayer that John would not disappoint her.
She could hear the raucous laughter of men behind the door and cigar smoke filled her lungs. She had to move quickly to avoid detection from the partygoers in the ballroom. It was now or never.
She took a sip of her drink and tried to look nonchalant as she hesitated just outside the door. There was still time to change her mind, but if she did, what was her recourse? Marry a stranger? She shuddered at the thought.
She knew if it wasn’t Martin Scott, her father would just find someone else to pawn her off on. Anything to further his own agenda. Previously, he had even brought up the elderly gentleman who owns the town’s newspaper, The Herald. She couldn’t recall the man’s name, but he was at least eighty-years-old. She was certain of it.
At the time, her father had thought it would be satisfying to have control of the newspaper. His plan was to marry her off to the old gentleman, then when he passed away, her father would step in and take over the running of the newspaper. Control of the written word would give him the power and prestige he craved.
That thought put courage back into her weakening spine. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, set her glass on a table to the side, and rubbed her damp palms against her gown. Her mother would have a fit if she knew what Regina had done to the expensive dress she had chosen with such care.
She inhaled one more deep breath for courage and reached for the doorknob with trembling fingers, just as a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
"Regina? What are you doing? Have you suddenly taken up gaming? I'm surprised your father allows it."
She whirled around to see the man she had been searching for standing just behind her. "John. I…" Suddenly, Regina couldn’t get words past her lips, so she did the only thing she could think of. She bent her head and curtsied.
"Nicely done, but to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure? Surely, your father isn't inside playing poker. That wouldn’t bode well for anyone. Especially if I were to insist on joining them considering my propensity for winning. I’m sure he would make it quite unpleasant for all those within the sound of his voice.” His attempt at nonchalance didn't hide his pain from her. She had known him far too long for that.
"No. Father wouldn't be caught dead inside the poker room. After all, what would people say?" Regina mocked her father's words. The same words she had heard him speak over and over and over again. She was sick to death of living her life based upon his self-righteous condemnations of others.
She watched John's brows raise in surprise at her unexpected comment. "I see." He leaned against the wall and pushed his hands into his pants pockets. It was a common thing that men did, but to see John do it, well, it was quite appealing.
He looked down at her with those deep brown eyes, which combined with his dark beard and mustache gave him a dangerous, rakish appearance. His hair fell in soft curls against the stark white collar of his shirt. For a moment, Regina was mesmerized by the man's good looks. Her friend’s good looks, she reminded herself.
Suddenly, she remembered where she was and sent a panicked look around the ballroom. Fortunately, her parents were still occupied.
"So, if it wasn't poker that pulled you away from the party, what was it?" A frown creased his face. "A gentleman, perhaps? Regina, is there a specific gentleman in that room you were searching for?"
Regina watched the good-natured countenance of her friend change. He appeared angry, but she had said nothing to anger him. And she certainly couldn't risk making him that way if she had any hope of convincing him to agree to her plan.
"No, John. Certainly not. I mean, I was looking for someone, but he isn't in that room," she explained. He didn't look any less angry, so she tried again. "John, I was searching for you. And now that I have found you, I have a most pressing question to ask you. Can we go somewhere less public and talk?"
John thought he was dreaming when he saw Regina standing outside the poker room. But when she asked him to go with her somewhere more private, he thought surely he must be hearing things.
“John? Are you listening? I must talk to you, but we can’t be seen. Can we go to your office?” she pleaded.
The misery in Regina's voice tore at his heart. "Of course. But I think it prudent, for your sake, if you meet me outside my office, or at the very least not be seen entering it together.” Without hesitation, he turned and headed straight for his office.
John waited; his mind awhirl with possibilities as to what she could possibly need to talk to him about amidst all these people where they were almost certain to be seen.
He looked at his pocket watch again. What could be keeping her? She seemed so distressed. Was someone bothering her? The thought kicked up his pulse. Could she be in trouble right this minute while he waited in his office like a fool? He stood and paced for another minute and then he headed for the door.
At that moment, Regina rushed in and closed the door behind her. Leaning against it for a moment to catch her breath, he watched her breasts rise and fall against the fabric of her dress.
When she turned to lock the door, he shook off his attraction and focused on Regina. So he had been right. Someone was pursuing her. He’d strangle them with his bare hands.
He rushed to her side. “Regina, tell me what’s wrong. Is someone bothering you? If that’s the case, I’ll make them wish they were never—”
“No, it’s nothing like that, but I do need your help. I have a favor to ask you, John. A really big favor.”
She peered up at him with those soulful eyes of hers. If he had the power to grant her wishes, he would give her anything she asked for. Anything at all.
“Of course, I'll help you any way I can. Now, sit and tell me what has you so upset and how I can help.”
John offered her his arm and she wrapped her fingers around his forearm allowing him to lead her to the chair in front of his desk. He sat in the chair beside her and turned his full attention to the beautiful woman sitting next to him. “Now, tell me. What is it that has you so upset this evening?"
Regina turned toward him and touched his arm again with her hand. John ignored the pull of attraction between them. They were friends, he reminded himself—again—and she had come to him for help. He refocused his attention when she let out a long sigh.
"John, you and I have been friends for a long time, haven't we? At least twelve years. Maybe longer. And in all that time, have I ever asked you for a favor? Any favor at all?" The desperation in her voice worried him.
"No, you haven't. Not once," he admitted. And in all those years, he would have granted her any request, no matter the cost to himself, personal or financial. She had only to ask.
"Well, I'm asking you for a favor now. I'm taking all those years of friendship, all those unasked favors, and I’m rolling them into this one really big favor. Do you know what I mean? No. Probably not.” Regina shook her head, “I’m not making much sense, am I?" He could hear the tears in her voice.
"Please don’t cry, Regina. Just take your time. You know you can tell me anything. And I can deny you nothing. My dear friend.” He added to keep his feelings hidden. He stood and pulled her to him. She snuggled deep into his arms and leaned her head against his chest. He wou
ld treasure this moment forever. Content to just hold her, he didn't push her for an answer. She would get to her point when she was ready. In the meantime, he would commit this moment to memory, and on those lonely nights when he lay in his bed and sleep refused to come, he would remember how it felt to hold her.
All too soon, she stepped back and turned away from him. He felt bereft of her presence, but when she wiped a tear from her cheek, he felt guilty for having such feelings about her when she had come to him for help.
"John, you must think me a horrid person. I haven't spoken to you in weeks, and here I am asking for a huge favor." She turned toward him, and her eyes searched his face for something, but he had no idea what she was hoping to see. All he could do was reassure her and hopefully solve whatever problem that was troubling her.
"Regina. I understand how hard it is for you at home. Your father is a beast and I won't apologize to you for saying so. Whatever is troubling you, whatever you need from me, rest assured it is already yours. All you need to do is ask." He reached out a hand and pushed a curl off her face and tucked it behind her ear. The feel of her skin against his fingertips sent shivers of delight through his body. If only things could be different for them.
"Perhaps you should wait until I ask my favor before you make promises you may not be able to keep." A sad smile appeared, pulling his attention to her lips. Another jolt of desire for all the things he wanted, but knew could never have, hit him hard.
"Regina, I have resources now that I didn't have when we were younger. Money is no longer a problem. And if money doesn’t solve your problem, then I have quite a few friends in high places. And all of them have lost to me over a poker table at one time or another and owe me a favor. Or two." He tried for humor, but he could see she wasn't in the mood for his dry wit. He lifted her chin with his index finger and the desperation in her eyes punched him in the gut.
"Just tell me, Regina. Tell me what it is, and I will fix it," he promised.
He watched her pull a deep breath into her lungs. The soft round swells of her breasts rose just above the neckline of her gown again, and he felt the tug of his attraction to Regina once more. But that wasn’t why she was here.
"Well, you have already promised to honor my request, and I know you won't go back on your word, will you John? Honor is very important to you, isn’t it? I’ve always liked that about you."
"Yes. It is very important to me. Now tell me. No more hesitation. Out with it. What can I do?"
She nodded. "Very well. What I'm trying to say…rather the favor I wanted to ask you is…would you consider…will you marry me?"
John had considered the possibility of a lot of things that could be troubling her, but this request was certainly not one of them. He studied her face expecting to see humor there, but there was none. Not a trace.
His brain somersaulted inside his skull and he said the first thing that came into his head.
"You’re joking."
Chapter Three
Regina knew her request was outrageous, but she never thought John would be so…shocked. Tears burned and she turned to hide her face from him.
"Regina, what are you saying? What has happened that makes you think you must marry someone? Has someone compromised you and refused to be accountable? Does your father know? Of course he doesn’t know. He would have already killed them himself. Who is it? Tell me who it is and I will kill him with my bare hands—tonight."
"No. It's nothing like that. And yes, my father would have already had them drawn and quartered if something like that had happened to his prized pony. No, it's more…complicated than that."
"More complicated than being compromised? You must tell me what is going on," John demanded. He pulled her to him and held her in place, his fingers grasping her upper arms. She owed him an explanation, but would he understand what motivated her to make this unheard-of request? She was embarrassed to be used in such a degrading way by her own father, but if anyone could understand how her father could ruin her life without a second thought, it would be John.
"Sorry. Before I blurted out a proposal, I should have started with the more mundane explanation of the fact that my father wants to arrange a marriage for me and Benjamin Scott’s son whether I like it or not.”
She saw John’s eyes close for a moment. When he opened them again, they were filled with sadness. A sadness aimed at her. He felt sorry for her, and she didn’t need or want his pity. It was too humiliating.
John nodded as if he understood. "Is that all? Regina, surely your father is aware that every other father who has a daughter in that ballroom tonight is aiming for the exact same thing. They all want to be related to one of the wealthiest men in America,” he teased. When she gave him a look that said she was not amused by his humor, he wiped the teasing grin off his face and sobered. "Okay, so perhaps we should start with how this all started and what it is you really want me to help you with." He placed his hands on her shoulders.
A single tear of frustration slid down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away. "What I want is for you to help me undermine my father's plans. I refuse to marry someone I have never met before. And that is why I came to you.”
“But, Regina. Although you are a beautiful woman, breathtakingly so, the odds of you garnering a marriage proposal from Martin Scott before he leaves Durango is astronomical. You must realize that just because your father is hell-bent on gaining Ben Scott as a relative, doesn’t make it so.”
“You don’t understand, John. If not Martin Scott, then it will be someone else. He’s determined to use me to get what he thinks he’s entitled to, and that is wealth and respect. The kinds of things that with his temper, he can’t get on his own merit. Whether it’s Martin or Rip Van Winkle, he’s going to marry me off.
“The only way out of this mess is if I get married before he has a chance to pawn me off. That’s why you must marry me, John. You have to. It’s the only choice I have," she pleaded.
"Regina, think about what you are saying. You and I have been friends a long time, but you aren’t in love with me any more than you are with Martin. How would marrying me be any different?"
Her determination slipped as she considered John’s question. "I suppose that's a fair question." How could she explain how she felt about John? There was just so many things about him she admired. He was kind. And so handsome. Just to look at him made her weak in the knees.
And he was solid. Not his physical stature, although he was quite fit for a man who made his living indoors. He was solid in that she never had to wonder what was behind his words.
His friendship was steady. Just like now. She hadn't seen him in weeks, but still he answered her call for help without hesitation. He was reliable. And he was honorable. He valued his word like no other man she had ever known. He would never lie to her. And the part of her plan she had yet to reveal to John would depend on his honor. She didn't want a real marriage. She only wanted to pretend to be married so she could escape her father's tyranny and start making decisions for herself.
"Well, there are lots of differences. First, you are my friend, and I know what kind of man you are. Secondly, I know I can trust you to keep your word. And lastly, this would not be a real marriage. I only want to pretend to marry you. After enough time has passed, I will quietly leave Durango and you can tell everyone that I was a horrible wife and ran off to live somewhere else.”
Understanding darkened his eyes. "I see."
"I know there will be retribution from my father for a time, but we can weather it together. My father cannot hurt you, John. People in Durango respect you. Most people around these parts abhor my father so he can cry foul all he wants, but I will be here to tell the whole world that I married you willingly and without coercion. After a while, he’ll get tired of trying to convince everyone that you are the villain in this story.”
Regina shrugged her shoulders. “And other than that, I promise not to upend your life any more than necessary. I will do eve
rything in my power not to be a burden and to be out of your way as soon as I possibly can. I’ll leave Durango and never ask another thing from you. Please, John. Please say you’ll do this for me," Regina pleaded, hoping he wouldn’t say no.
She watched his face, but he wasn't giving anything away.
"If we do this Regina, if we go through with your plan, you will be considered a divorced woman in Colorado. You’ll be a divorced woman anywhere you go. Are you sure you can live with that? It would also make you unappealing to most men who would want to marry you for reasons other than the betterment of their situation. And what about money to live on when you leave Durango? Will your father give you an allowance to care for yourself? Not if he’s still the same bastard I’ve always known him to be. And considering he’s trying to sell you to the person who can best promote his own interest then he appears to be exactly the same. I mean no offense to you, Regina.”
She bit back her momentary anxiety at the thought of living penniless. Her father had threatened to disown her many times when she balked at succumbing to his wishes, but she would never ask John to give her money. She would figure it out. Somehow.
She had saved a little bit of money throughout her life. Maybe she could send a letter to her grandparents. Surely, they would take her in even if it did mean moving to Kansas.
"Don't worry about my financial situation, John. I can take care of myself. Besides, I have put back some money over the years and it will be sufficient," she lied. "Just say you will think about it. I know this is all so shocking and it will take some time for you to process all I have said. Promise me you won't say no tonight and you will take some time to really think about my request," she pleaded once more, hoping his friendship was as strong as she believed it to be.
He pulled her into his arms and for a moment she stood motionless at the thought he might kiss her. She realized she wouldn't mind it at all if he did.
The Debutantes of Durango Box Set Books 1-3 Page 3