by Lori Wick
Throughout her inspection Rusty continued to eat. Until she tasted the muffin, she hadn’t realized the extent of her hunger. It also helped that the food was delicious. Eating all she could and drinking two cups of chocolate, she then wanted to laugh at herself when a yawn escaped.
You’re just like a baby, Rusty. Give you a little food, and you’re ready for a nap.
Rusty’s scolding didn’t work. Still tired and wrapped in the warm quilt, her stomach nicely filled, she felt her eyes droop. Asking herself why she should fight it, she let her head rest against the back of the chair. She was asleep within ten minutes.
In the office, Chase had forced himself not to look out at Rusty. When he did, she was sound asleep. He had planned to check on her later, but when he saw she was sleeping, he kept his seat. Even so, it was some time before Chase was able to return to his work.
13
“Miss Taggart?” Rusty heard the calling of her name mere moments after she opened her eyes. She looked toward the sound and saw Mrs. Whitley standing nearby. “Does a hot bath sound good to you, dear?”
Rusty smiled at her. “A hot bath sounds heavenly.”
“I thought it might. If you’ll just come with me.”
Rusty rose, noting as she did that the food tray and table were gone. She picked up the quilt that had been lying over her, ignoring Mrs. Whitley’s claim that someone would see to it. Rusty folded it neatly and laid it across the arm of the chair. She then turned to follow Briarly’s housekeeper.
Mrs. Whitley led the way up one flight of stairs and then a shorter set of stairs that took them up a half level. There were several rooms in this part of the mansion, one of which was an elaborate bathing chamber. Rusty’s parents had had an indoor bath for many years, but it didn’t compare with the lovely fittings of this room. Neither did her parents’ bathroom have its own boiler that produced a hot bath at the turn of a spigot.
“Now then, dear, I’ll just start this running for you and explain to you how it works. I’ll slip into your room and find fresh clothing for you. The door does not lock, but I assure you no one will bother you since it will be closed.”
“Thank you,” Rusty said calmly enough, but when the older woman exited, she removed her clothing as swiftly as she could, embarrassed at the thought of being caught standing at the side of the tub in the altogether. The tub wasn’t full yet, but Rusty got in nevertheless. She then learned there was no need to hurry. Mrs. Whitley did not rush back. An array of soaps and bathing bubbles occupied a low shelf above the tub. By the time Mrs. Whitley did slip back in with Rusty’s things, the young woman was surrounded by suds, her hair lathered, and the water so full of bubbles that she couldn’t even see her feet. Adjusting the hot and cold to suit her desire, she spent a delightful hour immersed, the aches floating out of her body with blessed relief.
When Rusty finally left the bathroom, she felt she’d been given a new lease on life. Dressed in her pale lavender day dress with deep violet cording, Rusty went down the half-stairs to the landing with the main bedrooms. There were not many for such a large home, but hers was lovely. She walked across the threshold, not at all surprised to find it in perfect order. Even her clothing, pressed and cleaned, was hung in the wardrobe. She sat on a chair by the fireplace, noting absently that fireplaces seemed to be all over the mansion.
I don’t know if I should stay here, Lord. I feel well enough to travel. I know I could go home tomorrow, but what does all of that do to Mr. McCandles’ schedule? There being no forthcoming answer, Rusty sat for a time in her room and thought about what she should do. She was still sitting, her hair drying in a riot of curls around her face and down her back, when Chase ran her to earth.
“Wool gathering?” he asked from the doorway.
“No, just glad to feel so much better.” She came to her feet. “In fact, I’m trying to decide if I should leave tomorrow or not.”
Chase nodded, his face impassive. “Lunch is served. Maybe talking it over and having a little something to eat will help you decide.”
“Maybe it will. Thank you,” Rusty acknowledged graciously. Having come to the doorway, she preceded him to the landing and down the stairs. Once they were at the bottom, Chase directed her through the first door they came to. The dining room was almost as large as the drawing room. Rusty was again impressed with the lovely furnishings. French doors opened onto a large veranda. The doors were flanked by china cabinets in the same wood as the table. On another wall was a fireplace. A doorway to one side looked as if it led back to the drawing room.
“How is this?” Chase asked as he held a chair for his guest.
“Thank you,” she said as she sat, smoothing her skirt as she looked down the length of the table. They were at one end of a solid cherry dining table that sat 20, or rather Chase was at its end. Rusty was around the corner from him. The moment Chase sat down, a salad was placed in front of Rusty. She looked up to thank the young waiter at her elbow and found his eyes on her, his mouth slightly open.
“Thank you,” she said softly, but he only stood and stared.
“Did you have a salad for me, Rick?” Chase asked quietly, a note of humor in his voice.
“Oh, yes, sir.” Rick moved to do the honors, but it was as if he were in slow motion, his eyes on Rusty as he served Chase. Nothing more was said on the matter. Chase waited for Rick to move from the room and then bowed his head. Rusty followed suit.
“Thank You for this food, Lord. Bless us this day. Amen.”
Rusty raised her head, reached for her napkin, and picked up the first of several forks, one thought on her mind: If this is what lunch is like, I might not have a suitable dress for dinner.
“I’m sorry about Rick’s behavior. He’s young.”
“I take it you don’t have guests often.”
“Not that look like you.”
Rusty finished the bite of salad in her mouth but didn’t reach for more.
“What did you mean by that?”
Chase looked at her. She was not upset, just curious. He decided to be rude and answer her question with a question.
“Do you not find yourself attractive, Katherine?”
Rusty blinked. “What has that got to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it. That’s the reason Rick stared at you,” he informed her calmly. “He’s Mrs. Whitley’s son, by the way.”
Rusty looked over at the door where the young man had disappeared and then back to Chase. He had stopped eating as well and now stared at her. Rusty felt the most incredible rush of emotions. It had almost sounded as though he was complimenting her, but there had been nothing warm or personal about his tone or expression. Rusty wondered why that bothered her. But then understanding hit her.
“Should I apologize to Rick?” Her eyes were rather large.
“For what?” Chase asked in genuine confusion.
“For acting inappropriately.”
Chase was stunned. “Katherine, what did I say that made you think your actions were out of order?”
“Well,” she responded slowly, her face pale, “you said that I thought myself attractive, and I assumed you found my manner flirtatious.”
Chase’s eyes closed. How could she have misunderstood? He opened his eyes to try to make amends, but someone had entered behind him. The way Rusty dropped her eyes and put her hands in her lap, he assumed it had to be Rick.
“Am I too early with your entrées, sir?” Rick asked, noticing that they’d barely touched their salads.
“No, Rick, that’s all right. Just leave them and the salads too. We’ll manage just fine.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rick worked silently and efficiently, but Rusty didn’t witness it. She kept her head down the whole time, chancing a peek up only when she was certain they were alone. With Rick gone she looked back at Chase.
“Should I have said something?”
“No, absolutely not. You’ve done nothing improper, and if I intimated othe
rwise, please forgive me.”
“But he stared,” Rusty began.
“He’s 15, Katherine, going on 16. Girls are quite fascinating to him right now. Added to that I would guess that you’re not much older than he is. You must be what, 17, 18?”
“Nineteen.”
Chase nodded. She was older than he guessed, but that didn’t matter. What did matter was that she appeared to be feeling better about the situation.
“You’re certain I didn’t do anything untoward?”
“Quite certain. Your dress is very becoming on you, and he noticed. That’s all that happened.”
Rusty nodded, feeling a bit uncomfortable that she had made such a scene. That it was Chase’s comment in the first place, and that he had not handled it well, never occurred to her.
They ate for a time in silence, and Rusty had to admit that the food was worth their concentration. A light oil dressing had been sprinkled on her salad, and Rusty knew she’d never had anything like it. It was delicious. The entrée was braised beef, so tender that Rusty didn’t need her knife. Asparagus tips as well as carrots sat on the side, as did a small mound of whipped potatoes that tasted as though they’d been seasoned with garlic. Rusty ate with relish, not at all unhappy that Mr. McCandles was quiet for a time. She was well-satisfied when she sat back, but also pleased to see Rick coming with dessert. He had just refilled their coffee cups and given them pieces of pie when Chase took Rusty back to the subject of her leaving.
“Can you tell me why you wish to leave tomorrow?”
Embarrassed, Rusty’s head dipped to the side. “I feel as if I’ve disrupted your whole life and been such a bother. And I really do feel fine. I’m certain I could get myself home—” Rusty stopped when Chase briefly covered her hand with his own. He wanted to remind her that she was not going home on her own—not under any circumstances—but he took another tack.
“If you’re really feeling all right, I could really use your help.”
“My help?”
“Yes. I have a son,” Chase began.
“I met him briefly.”
“Did you? Good. His nanny, Mrs. Harding, has a dental appointment tomorrow. It’s first thing in the morning, and these appointments usually put her off her feet for several hours, if not the whole day. I know you’re eager to see your family, and if you want to leave tomorrow, I’ll take you. But if I can take advantage of your being here, it would be a great help.” He paused for just a moment. “It’s a long day for Quintin to spend on his own, and I fear he’ll be rather at loose ends by afternoon.”
“And you’d like me to see to him?”
Her voice gave none of her feelings away. Chase had no idea if he’d imposed upon her or not.
“Only if you’re up to it,” he finished quietly and waited.
“I wouldn’t know his schedule.”
Chase shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. He’s only four, well, five next month, but basically he just needs someone to spend time with him and see that he doesn’t come to harm.”
What about you? The question sprang into Rusty’s mind, but it was not her place to ask.
“And then we would leave on Friday as planned?” She saw now that he would come with her no matter what.
“Yes.”
“I’d be happy to spend the day with Quintin tomorrow,” she said simply.
“Thank you,” Chase said sincerely. He had honestly thought they would be leaving in the morning and was pleased that she would be staying another day. Quintin was sure to enjoy her.
They went back to their dessert for a few moments before Chase said, “May I ask you two questions about what happened in Makepeace?”
“Certainly.”
“How did you end up behind the building?”
“I was just taking a shortcut. I never dreamed anyone would be back there.”
Chase nodded, but he was quiet for a moment.
“You said there were two,” Rusty reminded him.
“Oh, yes. You also said something about needing to find a way to get me home. What was that about?”
Rusty’s brow lowered in concentration but then she nodded. “That was about the train holdup. I thought it would be helpful if I could find a way for you to get back here so you could go on with your business. That’s when I dozed off and thought I heard the train whistle.”
Chase nodded and smiled. She really was a remarkably sweet person, but it was also funny.
“Why do I feel as if I’m being laughed at?” Rusty asked, her chin rising slightly in the air.
“You’re not. I just wonder if you ever take time off.”
“Meaning?”
“You feel a need to take care of everyone, and I wondered if you ever take a day off. It must be exhausting work.”
Rusty’s mouth dropped open for a moment, but then she closed it with a snap and tried not to smile at Chase’s still-amused face. With one more little tilt to her chin, she set her napkin on the table and stood.
“Would you please tell me, Mr. McCandles, who made this lovely meal? I would like to thank her.”
Out of propriety, Chase stood, but even as he looked down on Rusty—he was over a foot taller than her small frame—he wanted to laugh. She met his gaze unflinchingly and did not allow the smile in her eyes to go any farther.
“The hallway to the kitchen is through there,” he said, indicating the door behind him. “I’m sure Rick or Mrs. Whitley will be on hand to thank.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a gracious, if not queenlike, nod of her head before she went on her way.
Chase turned to watch her, but Rusty never looked back. He shook his head very slowly, wondering all the while if he’d ever met anyone quite like her.
14
Several hours had passed when Chase found Rusty on the veranda, a book open in her lap. Her eyes were on the window and the greenery outside when she heard his footsteps.
“Why did I think you would be taking a nap just about now?” Chase commented as soon as he had taken a chair opposite her.
“That’s a good question. Why would you think that?”
“You were pretty sick yesterday,” he needlessly reminded her.
Rusty’s brows rose. “Now who’s taking care of whom, Mr. McCandles?”
Chase laughed at being caught out, but he still speared her with his eyes. “I still think it’s a good idea.” His voice was very firm. “You don’t quite have all of your color back.”
“You do know, don’t you, that you like having your own way?”
Chase blinked in surprise, his mouth opening a little.
“I guess you’re right,” he said, his tone telling Rusty he’d never even thought of it.
Rusty looked amused as she watched him open his mouth to say more, perhaps defend himself, but Mrs. Whitley came to the door just then.
“I’m sorry, sir, but there’s a man to see you. He says it’s about the crop land you had listed to rent.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Whitley. Tell him I’ll be right along.
“Very well, sir.”
Chase stood and excused himself, but Rusty kept her seat. She wasn’t tired enough for a nap, although she did feel a bit lazy. The breeze ruffled the pages of the book in her lap, and she went back to her reading. A little later, she told herself, I’ll take a walk around Briarly. That will shake out the webs.
Chase saw his guest out the door and returned to the foyer to find his housekeeper passing through. She had the book in her hand, the one Rusty had been reading. He asked about her.
“I assume Miss Taggart is lying down.”
“No, sir, I don’t believe so. She had a glass of cider and then went out the kitchen door. I told her it was chilly, but she declined a wrap.”
Chase’s brows rose, but he said only, “Thank you.”
Mrs. Whitley was not at all surprised to see him turn and stride toward the kitchen. She kept her place, and just seconds later heard the opening and closing of the back door. Only
then did she make her way upstairs with an armful of linens, a full smile on her face.
Chase exited the house through the kitchen door and took the long drive toward the stable. He didn’t think Rusty had gone inside, so his eyes moved over the smooth acres of grass until he spotted her at the edge of the woods. It was chilly out, so he removed his jacket as he went in order to give it to Rusty. Not wanting to startle her, Chase cleared his throat as he neared, but she didn’t turn until he spoke.
“Here,” he said quietly as he came up behind her. “Take my coat.”
“Now you’ll be cold,” she commented even as she pulled it around her.
“That’s true. Why don’t we go into the barn? At least we’ll escape the wind in there.”
Rusty started to remove the coat to hand it to him, but Chase shifted it back onto her shoulders and guided her with a hand to her back.
“You know you’re doing it again, don’t you?” Her voice was light.
“What’s that?”
“Having your way.”
Chase smiled but didn’t deny it. Once they stepped into the warm confines of the barn, he asked, “Are you always so stubborn about things that are clearly for your own good?”
“Meaning?” She stood looking up at him.
“Meaning that after we spoke on the veranda, I thought you would take a nap, and now I offer you my coat because it’s cold, and you don’t want it.”
“That’s all very simply explained, Mr. McCandles, I assure you,” Rusty said, her look tolerant. “I was saving you from the cold by not wanting to take your jacket, and as for the nap, I simply didn’t need one.”
She looked so matter-of-fact that Chase wanted to laugh again. He watched her eyes narrow and knew that he would be in trouble if he did.
“You must be eager to be home,” he said suddenly and with great kindness. He thought she still looked a little pale. It made him uncertain about having asked her to work tomorrow. “It’s so hard to be sick when you’re away from home.”
For no apparent reason tears rushed to Rusty’s eyes. Seeing them, Chase felt his heart break. He watched as one spilled over and rolled down her cheek. He had to stop himself from taking her in his arms.