A Home for Her Heart (18 page)

“You look as if you’re in a lot of pain,” Elizabeth said. “Your eye is swollen shut and your lip is—”

“I’ll be fine,” John assured her.

“You look awful,” Luke stated. “I hope you at least got some answers from the man.”

John pulled his gaze away from Elizabeth to answer Luke. “I’ve not come up with anything concrete and thought it was time to ask for help. Michael and Violet were kind enough to ask me to stay for dinner.”

“And we’re going to talk things over while you ladies are talking weddings. Maybe you’d like to join us, Luke?”

“Certainly. I was planning on taking up your evening anyway.”

John looked back at Elizabeth and smiled. Only when she smiled back did the tightness in his chest ease up. “If you let me walk you back to Heaton House, I’ll fill you in on what we come up with.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“And Luke can fill me in,” Kathleen added. “But for now—”

“We have some fittings to do,” Violet interjected. “We won’t take any longer than necessary.”

“Yes, we know, dear,” Michael said to his wife. Then he turned to John and Luke. “We have a good hour and a half.”

Everyone chuckled as the ladies made their way upstairs and Michael led the way into the parlor.

John followed him and Luke, feeling at peace for the first time in days. He’d avoided Elizabeth all he could and he certainly didn’t want to avoid her tonight—not when she would be meeting the man her father wanted her to meet this weekend. He’d have all that time to convince himself he wasn’t falling in love with her.

They’d be talking about the investigation tonight, so he should be on safe ground.
Dear Lord, please help me to keep from showing what a struggle I’m having with my feelings for Elizabeth. Help me to quit longing for what can’t be and accept that friendship is all there can be between us. I promised her we’d always be friends. Please help me to keep that promise—no matter how hard it might become. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

* * *

Once upstairs, Elizabeth had a difficult time keeping up with the conversation, her mind was on John and his injuries. What had he been thinking to confront a manager like that? Still, bad as he looked, she was glad to see him. She’d been afraid she wouldn’t see him before leaving for her aunt’s—and that he’d planned it that way. But obviously he’d been working hard
and
putting himself in danger.

She’d missed him more than she thought possible. She missed sharing her day, their talks about the investigation and the direction they were taking with their articles. She missed his presence at the dinner table and in the parlor or going out for ice cream.

After hearing how he’d vowed not to give his heart to another and especially not someone wealthy like her, though, she’d realized it was probably for the best that she didn’t see so much of him.

But when she’d spotted him here tonight, she thanked the Lord above. She’d planned on staying up until he came in that night just so she could have a few minutes with him before she left for her aunt’s the next day. He’d been leaving Heaton House early and not getting home until after she’d gone up for the night. She had the feeling he was drawing away from her as fast as he could.

“Okay, ladies.” Violet broke into her thoughts. “I think we’re going to make it back down earlier than Luke thought we would,” Violet said.

Elizabeth’s heartbeat drummed with each step she took back down the stairs and into the parlor. The men stopped talking and stood as they entered.

“We’re done.” Violet grinned at her husband.

“And in record time.” He smiled and put an arm about her as she reached him.

“Are you and John ready to walk Elizabeth and I home?” Kathleen asked Luke.

“We are.”

They all thanked Violet and Michael for their hospitality and headed out the door.

Elizabeth’s pulse began to race as John fell into step beside her. Kathleen and Luke were up ahead and she had to admit she was glad.

“How has your week gone?” John asked.

“I’ve been busy with work and helping Kathleen this week.” But it hadn’t stopped her from missing him. “I guess your week hasn’t been great since you haven’t been able to find anything. And well...” she said, pointing at his injured face.

“It hasn’t been. I should have called Michael in before now. He does this kind of thing for a living after all.”

“I’m sure you’ve done your best. But hopefully he’ll be able to help find out quicker.”

“That’s what I’m hoping. When are you leaving to go to your aunt’s?”

“Tomorrow after work.”

“And you’ll be back when?”

She wondered if he wanted to know so that he would be sure to be gone. “Sunday evening or Monday. It depends on when Papa decides to leave, I suppose.”

“Well, I’ll be glad when the weekend is over. It’s never the same at Heaton House when you aren’t there.”

“Nor is it the same when you’re out late or on assignment.” Oh! Why had she said that? She’d been determined not to let him know she’d missed him.

“In what way?” He stopped in the middle of the walk and the expression in his good eye had Elizabeth catching her breath. His gaze dropped to her lips and her pulse raced.

“You two stop dawdling back there,” Luke said. “Or we’ll have to start chaperoning
you.
”

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to answer John’s question.

“We’re just giving you plenty of room for those private talks you insist on,” John teased as they began to walk again.

They reached Heaton House much sooner than Elizabeth would have liked, but perhaps it was best that way. She and John both seemed not to know what to say to each other. She did dread being away over the weekend, but it might be for the best, as well. By the time she got back, maybe she’d be able to hide the fact that she cared deeply for this man from him and the others.

Kathleen and Luke slipped into the parlor and there was no way Elizabeth was going to interrupt their good-nights to each other, especially as everyone else had scattered off to their rooms. Elizabeth was surprised to find that she and John were the only ones in the foyer, suddenly all alone again.

He took a step nearer to her and she could see clearly how the bruise on his cheek was turning purple, while his battered eye was swollen black and blue, and his lip was nearly twice the usual size. Her hand went up of its own accord to gently touch a spot on his face that wasn’t bruised. “I’m so sorry you got hurt. You won’t be going back there while I’m gone, will you?”

“No.”

“Good. You take it easy this weekend.” She looked into his eyes and wanted nothing more than to kiss his swollen lips, but that would only bring him more pain. She lifted her hand but John caught it in his and gave it a squeeze.

“If I don’t see you before you leave tomorrow, enjoy your visit, but watch your heart around that young man your father is bringing.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “After all I’ve told you, you should know that I will.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.” John dipped his head and she thought he was going to kiss her even in spite of his injuries. But he only looked from her lips to her eyes and back again. Time seemed to stand still for the next few moments and Elizabeth wondered if his heart was beating as hard as hers was.

He raised his head, reached out and cupped her cheek instead. “You’re a special woman, Elizabeth Anderson. You take care.”

“I will. You, too.”

John took his hand away but continued to look into her eyes. “We need to talk when you get back.”

“I—” She nodded. “Yes, we do.”

He broke their gaze and turned to go downstairs, leaving her pulse racing. The look he’d given her had been... Earlier he’d said things weren’t the same with her gone—could his feelings for her be as strong as hers were for him? And if so, could they ever learn to trust enough to find out?

Chapter Eighteen

J
ohn took the coward’s way out and left for work without going in to breakfast the next morning. He didn’t want to run into Elizabeth—didn’t want to have to tell her goodbye again—at least not without kissing her as he wished he’d done the night before.

He couldn’t stand the idea that she would be gone—would be meeting a man her father deemed acceptable as a son-in-law. Couldn’t bring himself to even consider the fact that the man might be acceptable to Elizabeth, as well. It didn’t seem to matter that she’d told him she couldn’t trust that a man might not be after her wealth. She’d been fooled by one before, wasn’t it possible she might be again?

She’d said things weren’t the same when he wasn’t there and that had given him hope once more that she might have growing feelings for him, too. But even if she did, it didn’t mean she would trust her heart to him. But if that was so, it also meant she wouldn’t trust someone she’d just met, right?

John expelled a huge sigh of relief. No, she wouldn’t. And it was that thought that carried him through the next few days.

On Saturday, he was still feeling optimistic, but he couldn’t help but wonder what this man was like—what Elizabeth’s father was like, for that matter. Wonder what they were going to be doing over the weekend. Would they enjoy a picnic like everyone at Heaton House planned to or would they be watching the fireworks from her aunt’s apartment windows? He wished he’d asked to take her to her aunt’s, now that they all knew about her, but Elizabeth needed time to let her know she’d told everyone about her, too.

But now that he knew her aunt’s name... John hurried to the alcove where the telephone sat. Underneath it was the city telephone directory. He quickly flipped through the pages until he found a Mrs. Beatrice Watson, whose address was an apartment at the Osborne, one of the apartment buildings on Fifth Avenue not far from Central Park. He let out a light whistle. It took some money to rent that kind of apartment.

Elizabeth had to be used to a very different life than the kind she lived at Heaton House. And yet she seemed to have no desire to leave. He knew she was happy here and that told him what kind of woman she was. She didn’t pick her friends by how much money they had or might have one day. In fact most of her friends now would never have what she did, even if her father did disinherit her.

She was special in every kind of way he could think of and he’d never known a woman like her. And if she truly didn’t care about the money...

He shook his head. She still would be suspect of any man who showed interest, whether they had money or not. And he couldn’t blame her. But was there a way a man could convince her that he cared only about her? That he wanted to make it on his own and not from his wife’s wealth? What would it take to get her to believe it was possible? John didn’t know, but he hoped to figure it out, because if any woman was trustworthy, it was Elizabeth Anderson. Of that he had no doubt.

* * *

By Saturday evening, Elizabeth was more than ready to get back to Heaton House—back to see how John was doing. He’d filled her thoughts off and on each hour since they’d parted. But her father wasn’t leaving until the next afternoon and there was still tonight and tomorrow to get through.

The man he’d brought with him—Richard Thomas III—was nice-looking—a little too much so in her opinion. He kept looking at himself in every mirror he passed and it had gotten to the point that she and her aunt were having a hard time not dissolving into laughter when they caught him at it. He, of course, was oblivious to anything but himself.

And to say that he was cocky was an understatement to say the least. He bragged about all his holdings and where he lived and the last trip he took to Europe and all the money he stood to inherit. Over and over again. She couldn’t help but compare him to John, and Richard Thomas III came up short each time she did.

Elizabeth could tell her aunt wasn’t impressed with him, either, and even her father seemed to realize he was a bore. Still, she’d been raised with manners and she wouldn’t embarrass her father or her aunt by taking her leave—much as she wanted to.

They’d been invited to her aunt’s friend’s penthouse suite to watch the fireworks. Elizabeth was pleased that they would be with others. Richard kept trying to get her to himself, but it was easier to stay one step ahead of him in a crowd of people. And that was exactly what she did.

The fireworks were impressive to see from so high up and she did enjoy them as much as she could without being in the company of John and the others from Heaton House. But she couldn’t help but think of them all and wonder what they were doing. Had they enjoyed their picnic today? Had John made it home for dinner last night?

She’d mentioned going on a picnic earlier in the day with the hope that she might run into them all, but Richard wasn’t a fan of picnics and so they’d eaten at Delmonico’s for lunch instead.

It seemed Richard liked to see and be seen by anyone at all who was of the upper class, as he called them. He didn’t realize that many of them were gone to the seashore for the summer and was a bit disappointed in the evening.

She had given him no indication that she was interested in him in any way and yet he still seemed to think she was attracted to him. She was thankful he was trying to impress more people than just her tonight and quickly made her escape to one of the windows.

Her aunt came to stand by her, and as they looked out they saw fireworks going up all over the city. “I’m sorry this has turned out to be a taxing weekend for you, dear. Had I known what kind of man he was, I’d have insisted your father leave him back in Boston. The good thing is, I think even he realizes this man is not for you.”

“I’m sure that’s been with your help, Aunt Bea. And I thank you for it. I wish Papa would just let me do my own choosing and—” Elizabeth stopped midsentence as she realized what she’d just said. For several years, there’d been no thought of choosing a mate at all. She’d been convinced that she could never trust another man ever again. And yet...

“Your father has mellowed in the past few years, dear. He wants you to be happy. He’ll come around. You’ll see.”

Her father approached them with almost an apologetic look on his face. “Are you two ready to go? Richard is boring everyone with how wonderful he is. If you’re to remain friends with these people, Bea, I think we need to get him out of here.”

“I’m ready,” Elizabeth said.

“So am I.”

“I am sorry, Elizabeth. I’d never seen this side of him before. I wouldn’t wish him on anyone’s daughter—much less my own.”

Elizabeth kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Papa. I’m so glad you feel the same way I do.”

“Well, let’s go, then. We’ll be leaving first thing in the morning. No need to subject you two to him any longer than necessary.”

“Oh, Charles, you can surely wait until after church and Sunday dinner. There’s no need to deprive us of visiting with you.”

“That’s true, Papa. Stay and leave after that.”

“Are you sure? I know he’s hard to take.”

Elizabeth laced her arm through her father’s. “We’re sure.”

“Well, then, that’s what we’ll do, if you think you can put up with his behavior for that much longer.”

“Just knowing you aren’t going to try to force him on me is worth that much, Papa.” She felt closer to him than she had in years. Perhaps Aunt Bea was right. Was it possible that her father had changed after all this time?

They’d all retired earlier than normal that evening but Elizabeth was not surprised when her aunt knocked on her door shortly after she’d gone to her room. Amanda was right behind her with a tea tray.

“You’d mentioned you had some news to share and I want to hear it before I head to bed. I never go to sleep this early, but I’d had about all I could take of Richard.”

Elizabeth laughed. “So have I. And I would like to share some news with you. I would have before now but...”

“I know. We haven’t had a moment to ourselves.” She sat down on the couch set in front of a fireplace, much like the one at Heaton House, only on a grander scale. “Come tell me. Is it good news or bad?”

“I’ll let you decide.” But Elizabeth was sure her smile gave her away as she took a seat beside her aunt.

“I can’t wait to hear. Let me pour us some tea first.”

Amanda left the room and Elizabeth turned to her aunt. “I’ve told everyone who I really am.”

“And how did they take it?” her aunt asked, as if she wasn’t sure what kind of reaction to give until she knew.

“They were all wonderful. Truly.”

A huge smile broke across her aunt’s face. “Oh, Elizabeth, I am so glad. Now you don’t have to worry about them finding out on their own. Or what they would think. I’m so pleased.”

“So am I.” Or at least she was for the most part. She still wasn’t sure how it all would affect her and John’s relationship, but at least she no longer had to worry about him finding out from someone besides her.

“And now you can meet them all. I’d love nothing better than for you to come to Heaton House with me tomorrow afternoon and meet whoever is around.”

“I would love to. I can’t wait to meet your friends. I hope they like me.”

“Oh, Aunt Bea. It’s impossible not to like you, just as it is Mrs. Heaton. You two are very much alike in many ways. I can’t wait for you to meet everyone. I know they will love you and you’ll feel the same way about them.”

“Oh, I have no doubt of that!”

They talked for a while longer before her aunt left and after Elizabeth prepared for bed, she went to the window and looked out. There were still a few fireworks being shot off around the city. She would have loved watching them with John and the others. She hoped the group had a wonderful time even if she hoped John missed her as much as she’d missed him.

She said her prayers before she went to bed, thanking the Lord that her father had seen through Richard and put no pressure at all on her to consider him as a suitor. Perhaps he had mellowed as Aunt Bea said.

Maybe one day she’d be able to introduce him to John and the others.

* * *

Elizabeth was most relieved to say goodbye to Richard and her father after Sunday dinner the next day.

“I’d like to call on you again when I’m in the city, if I might,” Richard said. He seemed quite confident she’d agree and she almost felt bad about letting him down.

“I don’t think so, Richard. I live a different life than you—we aren’t interested in the same things.” Which so far seemed to be only him.

“But we’d make a good match and with our fortunes combined, you know—”

“That is where we differ, Richard. I won’t be marrying because of looks and fortunes. Life is much more than those things.”

“But they make life much easier, don’t you think?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m sorry. But you’d be wasting your time. I do hope you find someone just right for you, however.”

He seemed quite indignant that she wasn’t interested in seeing him again. “You aren’t at all what your father described.”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him. “Nor are you what he described to me.”

“Well, then. I’ll just go thank your aunt for her hospitality.”

“That would be very nice of you.” As he turned and walked away, the relief Elizabeth felt escaped in a long sigh. Hopefully her father wouldn’t be bringing anyone else to the city for her to meet for a very long time.

As they left, her father insisted they didn’t need to accompany them to Grand Central. “I’ve told your aunt it’s not necessary. You’ve had enough stress for one weekend. I am sorry, my dear. But I’m glad I got to spend some time with you. I know it would have been better had I come alone and that’s what I’ll do next time.”

“Thank you, Papa. That would be wonderful.”

Richard and her aunt joined them in the foyer and they said their goodbyes. Elizabeth had to laugh when her aunt leaned against the door and let out a huge breath.

“I am so glad that visit is over. Perhaps the young man just hasn’t been raised to think of anything other than himself, but I can’t abide that kind of person for too long.”

“Thankfully, neither can Papa. Hopefully he’ll think long and hard before trying to matchmake again.”

“Oh, I’ve told him to leave me out of those plans from now on. He did seem quite contrite about it all.”

“Yes, he did.” For once. But would it last? Only time would tell. She hugged her aunt. “Are you ready to go meet my friends?”

“I certainly am. Let’s freshen up, gather our things and be on our way.”

In little under an hour they were in a hack and on their way. Elizabeth had called Mrs. Heaton to let her know she was bringing her aunt with her and to please let the others know so that if they wanted to meet her, they’d be there.

She knew Aunt Bea would get a warm welcome from Mrs. Heaton and hoped the others were around to add to it. Especially John. Between his working all last week and her being gone over the weekend, it felt like weeks instead of days since she’d seen him.

The hack pulled up at Heaton House and the driver helped them out. But Mrs. Heaton was out of the house before they’d even taken a step.

“Elizabeth, dear, it’s good to have you home, and, Mrs. Watson, I’m so pleased to invite you in. I hope you’ll feel welcomed to come see your niece anytime at all.”

“Why, thank you, Mrs. Heaton. I know Elizabeth loves it here and I’m very pleased that we can all get together.”

Elizabeth relaxed as they walked inside and into the parlor where most everyone had gathered to meet her aunt. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. No one could have better friends than these. The only ones missing were John and Luke.

“I’m sorry we’re late. I lost track of time and Luke came down to let me know we had company.”

Elizabeth’s pulse fluttered as John dashed into the parlor, his gaze seeking hers. His bruises had faded somewhat and the swelling had gone down on his eye and his lip.

“It’s all right. You’re all here now,” Mrs. Heaton said as she poured the tea.

“I feel I know you all, as Elizabeth has told me so much about you,” Aunt Bea said. “I am thrilled to meet you all in person and put a face to each name. And let’s see if I can guess who these two latecomers are.” As Luke had hurried to stand by Kathleen, Elizabeth knew she’d get him right. And the only one left was John.