“Indeed you may, for it’s the whole reason I had Neily’s driver bring me here this morning rather than sleep it off at The Breakers. I knew you’d want to hear right away. Grace Wilson—she’s a lovely young society girl—needs a lady’s maid. Are you interested ?”
He might as well have told Marianne an English duke had just arrived in town and wished to marry her. Her face lit up with such joy I felt the echo of it in my own heart, and for a moment I thought she was going to hug Brady. She didn’t, but turned and caught Katie in her arms and the two cried out happily. It was at that moment Nanny shuffled into the room.
“What’s all this fuss about?”
“Oh, Mrs. O’Neal, I’ve got employment!” Marianne’s face turned somber as she regarded Brady. “It’s true, isn’t it, Mr. Gale? What if this young woman meets me and doesn’t care for me? She might not offer me the job. I’ve never actually been a lady’s maid before, although before we . . . we left the Duke’s employment I’d been training to—”
Brady held up a hand. “The job is yours if you want it.” He glanced a bit sheepishly at me. “Once I said it was a favor for you, Em, Neily and Grace didn’t hesitate. Miss Wilson would like to see you later this morning, Marianne. She said around ten.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gale. Thank you.” She said it several more times before Katie whisked her away to prepare her for her interview.
I pulled up a chair beside Brady. “Thank you. That was well done.”
“Proud of me?”
I leaned closer as if to kiss him, and instead delivered a playful slap to his cheek. “Don’t be haughty. But, yes, dear brother, I’m proud of you.”
“I suppose you’ll be moving back to town soon, Brady.” After filling a bowl with porridge, Nanny sat down across from us. “Now that you’ve got your job back and all.”
“It is about time I returned to the old digs. I’m horribly outnumbered here, what with all you ladies. Rather like a buck trampling the flowers. What do you think, Em? Sick of me yet?”
“No one feels trampled, Brady. Stay here as long as you like. But if you’re longing for your privacy, that’s fine, too. Just do try to stay out of trouble.”
He seemed about to retort when the telephone rang. I jumped up and made my way to the alcove beneath the stairs.
“Hello, Emma?”
The voice at the other end sent a little jolt through me. “Yes, Derrick. Good morning. How are you feeling?”
We hadn’t spoken in a couple of weeks—not since escorting Consuelo home. I’d driven Derrick back to his hotel, saw him into the lobby, and thanked him fervently. He’d waved off my gratitude with a gallant nod, shook my hand, and wished me well. He told me he’d remain in Newport a few more days until his doctor thought it safe for him to travel, and then he’d return to Providence. Then we’d lingered, silent and awkward, until he’d said, “Well, then,” and I’d responded with, “Yes,” and watched as he climbed the stairs to his room. Our parting bore the stamp of finality, and I hadn’t expected to hear from him again, at least not so soon.
It was better that way; it was time for both of us to move on.
“The head’s still a bit tender,” his voice said now into my ear, “but the dizziness is gone.”
“I’m glad to hear it. So, I suppose you must be home now?”
“Ah, you could say that, yes.”
In spite of all my convictions, that “yes” made my heart sink just a little, and I struggled to keep the disappointment from my voice. “That’s good. I hope you had an enjoyable trip. Your family must be very pleased to have you back.”
“Emma, I’m not in Providence. I’m still in Newport. Can you meet me in town in a little while? At my hotel? There’s something I need to show you . . . and discuss with you.”
Oh, dear. Was he going to propose again? He was, wasn’t he? Why else would he still be in town? And after all we’d been through, after he’d nearly lost his life because of me, how could I bear to hurt him?
I had no wish to. Yet, however much affection I felt for him, I couldn’t but admit that part of me had been relieved to see life return to normal, to be able to carry on with my days in a calm, rational manner. To feel in control and wholly myself again, which simply wasn’t the case when Derrick was near. Consuelo’s words echoed inside me.
There are realities that cannot be ignored and rules that cannot be broken, or chaos results.... I can’t pretend I’m something I’m not any more than you can.