The Pursuit of Lucy Banning (32 page)

Will stepped close to Lucy to whisper, “When this is all over, remind me to tell you how wonderful you are. Oh, and I love you.”

She turned her face up for a kiss, not caring that her parents were behind merely a pair of pocket doors.

 35 

T
hrough the window of the train, where Charlotte sat across from Lucy in a private compartment, Charlotte’s eyes feasted on the budding greens as bushes and trees along the track established themselves for a brilliant summer. March had been such a difficult month, the likes of which Charlotte hoped not to see again for a long, long time. By the third week of April, she had been part of the Banning household staff for six months and her position seemed secure. Henry was thriving, and she saw him on Thursdays and every other Sunday. When Lucy rang for her, she felt the warmth of friendship, not the dread of what might go wrong. Finally, only a week ago, she had taken her grandmother’s Bible out of the carpetbag in the closet and laid it, open, on the table next to her bed. Did she dare acknowledge she was beginning to feel safe—even hopeful? This train journey could not have been less like the one that had carried her to Chicago six months ago.

“Mr. Daniel seemed well.” Charlotte searched Lucy’s eyes for confirmation. Only a few minutes ago they had left the sanitarium after a visit of two hours.

Lucy nodded. “I was not sure what to expect after the way we found him three weeks ago. The doctor didn’t think he should have visitors before now, but he seems to be making progress.”

“He seemed glad to see you.”

“I believe he was,” Lucy said.

“Will you visit him again?”

Lucy tilted her head thoughtfully. “I don’t know. I would not want him to misinterpret my attentions. That would only make his recovery more difficult. And I don’t want to draw attention by frequent trips to Wisconsin and have the wrong person discover why I go. So far we’ve managed to keep this out of the papers.”

“Even the rest of the staff don’t know where we went today,” Charlotte assured her. Lucy had kept Charlotte’s secret for six months. Charlotte would guard anything Lucy asked her to, including where Daniel was. The missing ink drawing had turned up in Daniel’s briefcase, just as Charlotte was sure it would. The bag contained assorted other drawings Daniel apparently made himself, though no one was quite sure what they represented.

“They saw what Daniel was like that night,” Lucy said, “so of course they can guess what sort of place he’s in. It’s just better if they don’t know the location.”

“Mr. Penard made it clear to all of us that we would never find another position in service if he discovered any of the staff told a soul about that night.”

“I certainly hope it won’t come to that. The important thing is to recognize he’s ill and pray he gets better. Even Will wants that for him.”

Charlotte smiled slyly. “Mr. and Mrs. Banning seem to be warming to Will.”

Lucy made no effort to disguise her grin. “Yes, they are, and it’s about time.”

“They thought you were marvelous, the way you looked after Daniel,” Charlotte said.

“And they saw that I can be quite stubborn! I love Will, and I’m not giving him up.”

Charlotte nodded, wondering silently why it had taken Lucy’s parents so long to understand how tenacious she was.

Two days later, Lucy’s Friday at the orphanage sped by. Late in the afternoon, Benny, who recently had turned seven, wandered into the volunteers’ office.

“It’s time for Mr. Will,” Benny said. “Why hasn’t he come?”

Lucy glanced at the clock. It was indeed past the time Will usually arrived.

“You’ve learned to tell time so well!” Lucy said to the boy.

He shrugged. “It’s not hard. Where is Mr. Will?”

“I’m not sure,” Lucy said. “Perhaps someone he didn’t expect called for him at his office, or some urgent work came up.”

“But it’s Friday. He’s supposed to be here.”

“I’m sure we’ll hear from him,” Lucy said. As the boy, still grumpy, turned on his heel and walked out, Lucy looked at the clock again.

“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Banning.” Will shook Samuel’s hand in his downtown office. He could not judge from Samuel’s expression what kind of mood the older man was in. Their interactions for the last several weeks had been increasingly congenial, and Will was counting on that foundation for this conversation as he took a seat in an overstuffed chair.

“What can I do for you?” Samuel arranged a blank page in front of him and picked up a fountain pen. “Have you come on a legal matter, some agreement you wish to enter?”

“As a matter of fact, I have,” Will answered. “You know by now that Lucy and I have become quite fond of each other.”

“My daughter has made that plain these last few weeks. What is the legal matter on your mind?”

Will decided he might as well get right to the point. “I love Lucy and I’m sure she loves me. I’ve come to ask for her hand in marriage.”

Samuel’s eyebrows lifted briefly, then fell back into place. “I concede that I am not entirely surprised. I assume you are predisposed to think Lucy would accept this offer?”

“We have not spoken of it directly,” Will said. “I felt I should come to you first. But, yes, I do believe she will accept.”

“So you’ve come to ask me to give you my daughter’s hand in marriage.”

“Yes, sir.”

Samuel turned his head to one side and laughed. “Mr. Edwards, I would have thought that by now you would realize Lucy’s hand is not mine to give you. Goodness knows it took me long enough to figure that out. She has a mind of her own.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You understand she is utterly determined to earn a college degree.”

“I do, and I think it’s a fine idea.”

Samuel nodded. “Yes, it seems less far-fetched to me than it used to. I’m glad to hear you express support. Anyone who is married to Lucy will have to be ready for anything.”

“I want whatever will make Lucy happy.”

“Then I suggest you take this question directly to Lucy.”

“Yes, sir. I presume I have your blessing to do so.”

“If you feel you need it, yes.”

“Thank you, Mr. Banning!” Will jumped out of his chair, grabbed Samuel’s hand again, and pumped it.

Samuel tilted his head toward the door. “If I’m not mistaken, Lucy is expecting you at St. Andrew’s by now. She doesn’t like it when people turn up missing. Not one bit.”

Will shot out the door and ran for the streetcar.

The diamond was small, but Lucy did not care. She wore it only because Will insisted on giving her an engagement ring. If she had her way, they would be married in short order, ring or no ring. Even Flora had not argued when Lucy insisted she wanted no part of an extravagant wedding that took months to plan. She simply wanted to be married to Will Edwards—soon.

Small though it was, the stone glinted in the reluctant sun on the cool, misty morning of opening day of the World’s Columbian Exposition. The Bannings, as well as many of their Prairie Avenue neighbors, had been wrapped up in planning the fair for two years. It hardly seemed real to Lucy that opening day had come at last—months after the dedication ceremonies. Lucy, of course, had seen the progress of the fair during construction because of her involvement with the women’s building. Nevertheless, she was not prepared for the breathless panorama of May 1.

Grandstands on the Court of Honor accommodated dignitaries from around the globe, including the Duke of Veragua, a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus, and Grover Cleveland, recently inaugurated to serve for the second time as the president of the United States. Will, Lucy, and Leo stood together amid a throng of excitement.

“With dignitaries from around the globe sitting up there,” Leo joked, “I wonder who is running the world today.”

Lucy laughed and raised her voice to be heard above the crowd. “It’s time the little people get some credit!”

Will squeezed Lucy’s hand. “There must be a hundred thousand people here. They just keep coming!”

The Court of Honor opened a vision of fourteen stunning buildings covered with the same spectacular white stucco—the White City. Altogether the fair had more than two hundred buildings. Before wandering into the maze of a city within a city, visitors were greeted by a large reflecting pool with an elaborate fountain and an immense gilded statue,
Republic
, rising a hundred feet in the air on its stand and bursting with American spirit.

“It’s unfortunate Sophia Hayden is not well enough for this day,” Will said. “She would have a great deal to be proud of.”

“I will personally make sure she knows how impressive her work is,” Lucy responded. Millions of people would pass through the Court of Honor and into the fair over the next six months. Lucy was confident the women’s exhibit would hold its own against any other, showcasing the aspirations and accomplishments of women around the world, as well as the desperate plight of women in some places.

“Time for the speeches,” Leo said. “I hope they keep them short.”

The director general stood at the front of the grandstand to give a welcoming speech. However, the crowd’s eyes were on the next speaker, President Grover Cleveland. After a short congratulatory speech just before noon, President Cleveland moved a golden lever on the table in front of him and the White City transformed into its glory. Simultaneously, flags from around the world unfurled and flapped in the breeze, water sprang up from fountains and soared into the sky, whistles blew as machines cranked into action, vessels in the nearby harbor fired salutes, bands began to play. The World’s Columbian Exposition was officially opened!