To his credit, his friend never once brought up that incident. But Reid knew it was always between them, as bright as a blazing red cloth, binding Reid to Douglass.
But today, even for all that, Reid had been eager to leave Douglass’s presence that morning. Perhaps it had something to do with the pretty maid they’d practically run into. Unaccountably, his pulse had beat a little faster when she’d looked his way. Her eyes had been wide and innocent. Her manner as scared as a hare near a den of wolves.
He’d felt the need to make her day a little easier, since she was so obviously hard at work.
And since both Douglass and Veronica had seemed to enjoy their power over her.
The interaction had left Reid feeling vaguely disturbed. He was from proud, working stock. His grandparents had been little more than skilled laborers. In many ways, it was those people with whom he felt an affinity. He understood the working man’s mind. There was something to be said for caring about God, country, and an honest day’s wage.
Now that his status had risen and his parents were hoping he’d help to guide their way into high society, he was doing his best to concentrate only on the other people in his social circle. But it was a difficult undertaking. Much of the time he found himself following his parents’ steps and treating the servants in their home as friends.
As he sipped his tea, he said, “Douglass invited me to accompany him to the fair next week.”
“And?”
“And . . . I imagine I’ll go,” he said with a smile.
“I’ve visited the Women’s Pavilion but only a few other buildings. Your father has refused to let me visit the fair without him. He says it’s a dangerous place for a woman on her own.”
“He’s right, Mother. Ladies of good reputation don’t frequent the fair unaccompanied.”
“I know. But with your father doing poorly at the moment . . .” She wrinkled her nose. “And I do believe he’s exaggerating things. Not that I would know. He’s refused to let me read the majority of the newspaper too.”
Reid knew why. The papers were filled with stories of debauchery and ribald accounts of the many tourists who had descended on the city. More than once, he’d read stories detailing the rise in crime. Pickpockets were having a fine business at the fair, as were rapists and robbers in the dark alleyways of the city. “I’ve heard more than a few . . . rumors circulating about women going missing. One can never be too careful, Mama.”
Instead of looking shocked, she merely nodded. “I realize single women are at risk in our city. But those are women of the lower class, don’t you think?”
Reid wasn’t so sure. Just the other day he’d heard a story about a well-to-do father combing the streets, asking questions of anyone and everyone about his missing daughter. But he certainly didn’t want to alarm his mother with that bit of information. He sufficed with merely saying, “No good will come of you worrying about things you can’t control. That’s what the police are for.”
“I suppose.” She sighed as she sipped from her teacup. “Before we know it, the Exposition will be a thing of the past. It’s hard to believe.”
Yes, it was. Though danger surrounded the amusement, the world’s most entertaining destination was already in its fourth month and becoming more popular each week. But like a tulip blooming in spring, the fair would only last a short time, closing at the end of October. All that would remain of the beautiful White City would be the stories told and the memories made.
Reid hoped there would be as many good ones as bad.
Now that they’d discussed his mother’s callers and the fair, Reid knew he couldn’t delay his most important reason for wanting to talk with her. “So . . . how is Papa doing today?”
His mother’s hand shook a little as she hastily set her cup back on its saucer. “Not so well, I’m afraid. The tuberculosis doesn’t care for this city’s harsh climate. The doctor came today, but he doesn’t hold out much hope for improvement.”
As always, the knowledge that his father’s health was declining rapidly hit him hard. “Perhaps we should think about taking Papa to Arkansas? I heard the spring there does wonders.”
“You know your father would never leave Chicago. He’d see leaving as a sign of weakness. This great city is our home now. For better or worse.”
For better or worse indeed. One day in the near future, his father would meet his Maker. Reid hoped he’d be man enough to cope with the loss the way he was expected to. “I . . . I think I’ll go visit Papa for a few moments. We’ve been reading the book of Luke together, you know.”