Blanche’s unwavering confidence left Leda at a loss, her own voice turning thin and uncertain. “Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy would never agree to this. They still don’t know your background…”
“As long as Ablett knows, that’s enough.”
Blanche couldn’t help but feel as if she and Leda belonged to entirely different eras. Wasn’t this the age of choosing whom you love?
She stepped out of the sitting room.
To Leda, Blanche’s every movement seemed like an act of triumph, a flaunting that made her chest ache with envy and grief.
Tears welled up and slipped down Leda’
s cheeks.
She was so lost in her sorrow that she didn’t even notice someone sitting down beside her until-
“That’s all you’ve got?”
The words cut through the quiet, flat and cold, scraping across her nerves like a rusted blade on stone. Leda immediately stifled her tears and straightened up, as if the chill radiating from the man next to her had frozen her in place. Shadows clung beneath his eyes, his pale skin tinged with an unhealthy gray, and when his gaze swept over her, it felt like shards of ice against her neck.
Even after more than twenty years at his side, Leda never dared meet her older brother’s eyes. She lowered her head and muttered, “Big brother, she isn’t Ablett’s girlfriend. They’re already engaged behind the McCarthy family’s back.”
“People can get divorced after marriage. An engagement means nothing.” Carney Harvey’s voice was low and calm. “I’ve spent years shaping you. Even if the McCarthys don’t want to marry into our family, they’ll have no choice.”
He fixed his icy stare on Blanche’s retreating figure beyond the hall. “Don’t worry. take care of that woman.”
וויר
Leda finally felt her heart/settle at his words.
“You’re staying here tonight. Don’t leave.”
“My mother still has so much to discuss with you.”
Blanche, meanwhile, had work to finish and couldn’t linger. Just as she was about
1/3
09.01
to reply to Rebekah, a housekeeper hurried in to announce the arrival of an important guest–someone had come to see the young lady.
Rebekah’s face lit up with excitement. She could hardly wait to greet the guest at the door.
Blanche, seeing Rebekah nearly glowing with happiness, guessed it must be
someone she liked. She felt a pang of envy for Rebekah’s youthful confidence and energy, but didn’t want to keep her any longer. Saying goodbye to Rebekah’s father and stepmother was just the same.
At the entrance, Rebekah spotted Eddy and hurried over.
“Eddy!”
“Rebekah, are any of tonight’s guests arriving by private car from your family?”
“Yes, several,” she replied, puzzled by his question. “Is there someone in particular you want to meet?”
Loraine had asked her to help Eddy expand his business contacts, and she’d promised to introduce him to as many people as possible.
“The license plate started with NY-” Eddy tried to keep his composure, but apprehension gnawed at him.
“I’m not sure which car exactly. I’ll have to ask the butler.” Rebekah called over the
butler.
“It was a lady in a dress?” Eddy clarified.
The butler nodded. “That car brought two ladies in dresses tonight–our young mistress and Miss Harvey.”
For some reason, Blanche’s image flashed through Rebekah’s mind. Her sister–in–law looked stunning in a dress. “And where are they now?”
“There–the young mistress is over there,” the butler said, gesturing toward the
crowd.
Eddy and Rebekah followed his gaze. Eddy instantly recognized the vintage dr he’d almost bought for his wife from the boutique earlier that day, but hadn’t.
A thrill of fear shot through him–what if this was all just a dream? He had so much to say, so much longing pent up inside him.
He saw her turn to leave and hurried after.
08:04
“Auntie, I still have some work tomorrow. I should get going tonight.”
“I hope you and Uncle like my gift.”
“I still have so much to talk to you about,” Wilhelmina protested. “There’s so much to arrange for the wedding.”
Blanche blinked in surprise at the mention of a wedding–perhaps it was a last–minute decision from Wilhelmina. Ablett had never brought it up. Besides, it wasn’t as if they needed a wedding at all.
Gaylord tugged Wilhelmina’s hand. “All right, let her go home tonight.”
Blanche smiled and said her goodbyes.
She’d just stepped outside when a gentle, achingly familiar voice called out behind her, “Laney.”
08.04
