Chapter 6
Spencer helped Carrie take off her coat and then took her bonnet as well.
He was nervous about the day and what they were about to do.
He’d spoken at length with Al. Together they had discussed plans for his finding Eugene Astor.
There were numerous departments in which Astor could work.
Even if he’d taken on his old job of accounting, there were multiple places where he might be.
For all they knew, he could have left the Cheyenne area since the Union Pacific had a lot going on in Laramie and elsewhere along the line.
But Cheyenne seemed the logical place to start.
It was the last place Astor had mentioned to his mother, and his consequent letters said nothing of leaving.
If anything, the bits of information he’d shared about Cheyenne made it clear that Astor must still reside there.
The judge’s clerk took their coats and hats, then directed them to the judge’s office. “Judge Benson is waiting for you.” He smiled at Carrie, seeming momentarily enchanted.
Spencer hadn’t taken the time to really look at Carrie until now. He turned and found her a vision in a blue gown that matched her eyes. Oh, those eyes. He studied her from the top of her carefully coiffed blond hair to the toes of her black boots.
“You’ve forsaken your uniform. That dress suits you very well. You are absolutely beautiful,” he said, taking hold of her arm as she removed her gloves.
“Thank you. It is, after all, my wedding day.” She grinned and glanced over her shoulder to the departing clerk. “After a fashion.” She folded her gloves together.
Spencer noted the way her cheeks flushed. It made him feel a moment of hesitation. Was he asking too much of her? “If you don’t want to do this, I’m not going to force your hand.”
Carrie’s head tilted ever so slightly to the side as she looked into his eyes. “I don’t feel forced. I know this will help your cause. And I want to be a part of helping you. I had no idea of all that was going on in your life. In fact, I have very little knowledge of your life.”
The clerk reappeared. “Go on in. He’s waiting.” He shooed at them like they were wayward children off to encounter a reprimanding father.
Spencer chuckled. “I guess we can talk later.” He noted the gloves again. “Here, let me put those in my pocket.” She handed the gloves over, then squared her shoulders as if readying herself for battle.
Still feeling a little guilty, Spencer opened the door and led Carrie inside, where Judge Benson was seated rather casually by a fireplace.
It was a much homier setting than Spencer had figured on.
The paneled room had a sofa and chairs up against the far windowed wall.
Shelves lined the area beside and above the fireplace, and on these were legal publications that Spencer had seen on many occasions during his years with the Pinkertons.
“Come in, you two. I understand we need to conduct a wedding. Mr. Gable advised me of the details and the purpose of this union. I must say, at first I thought you were making quite the sacrifice, Mr. Duval. However, upon seeing your choice of brides, I can see it’s no sacrifice to wed such a beauty. ”
Carrie lowered her head. “You’re much too kind.”
“I’m much too curious. Please tell me that Mr. Duval didn’t blackmail you or otherwise force you into this marriage.”
She laughed and lifted her gaze. “Not at all. Spencer and I have been dear friends for over a year now. He explained the need for this, and I agreed to help.”
Spencer stepped forward. “And as Mr. Gable no doubt told you, our only stipulation was that we wanted it to be a civil ceremony without the expected vows that might be exchanged in a church service. We’ve agreed to a set of conditions which will see this marriage annulled once I’ve captured my man. ”
Judge Benson sobered and nodded. “I understand completely. Let’s be about it.” He got to his feet and crossed the room to his desk. Taking up his glasses, he glanced around as if in search of something. Finally, he picked up a piece of paper.
“Mr. Gable and I have arranged for all the legalities. I believe you are a doctor of medicine, are you not?” He didn’t wait for Carrie to reply. “Would you like for me to call you Dr. Carrie Vogel in the ceremony?”
“That isn’t necessary. Carrie is sufficient.”
Spencer could see she was anxious, perhaps even unsure that they were doing the right thing. He took hold of her hand and gave it squeeze. She met his gaze and nodded again.
“Carrie, it is my understanding that of your own accord you have come here today to be married to Spencer Duval. Is that true?”
“It is, Your Honor.”
“And Spencer, it is your uncoerced desire to be married to Carrie Vogel?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Do you have a ring for her?” he asked, looking at Spencer.
“I do.” Spencer had managed to buy a ring from a jeweler that morning before their appointment with the judge. It wasn’t anything special, just a gold band, but it seemed appropriate. He fished it out of his vest pocket and held it up.
“Well, place it on her finger, son.”
Carrie held her hand up for him, and Spencer slid the ring on without fuss or ceremony. He was relieved to see it fit perfectly. His skills of observation as a Pinkerton had once again come to his aid.
“By the authority given me, I now declare that you are husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Mr. Duval. After all, you have a great many people to convince that you’re madly in love. You might as well start here.”
Spencer drew Carrie a little closer and lowered his lips to hers before she could protest. He had no problem with kissing her.
They’d done it before in a play they once acted in.
This was just another of those times. At least that’s what he told himself, but as the kiss deepened, and Carrie’s arms went around his neck, Spencer forgot all about the role he was playing.
She felt right in his arms, and her return kiss was something he had not expected. As they pulled away, it was easy to see that she had been just as affected as he was.
The judge gave a laugh. “You two are better actors than any I’ve seen on the stage. Either that, or maybe you’re hiding the way you feel about each other. Either way, it’s too late to turn back now.”
Still chuckling, he signed the papers and then instructed Spencer and Carrie to do likewise. Spencer took up the pen and signed. His stomach still felt as if a hundred butterflies had suddenly been set free.
He turned and handed the pen to Carrie. She looked composed and confident. She took the pen and dipped it in the well before scrawling her name on the paper. She paused and looked up at the judge. “Should I add Duval to my name?”
“That is who you now are, Dr. Duval.”
Carrie seemed to consider this a moment, then looked at Spencer. It was his turn to nod. He hoped his reassurance would settle any doubts that she might have.
She quickly added the name onto her signature, then placed the pen back in its stand. She stepped back and waited as if there were something more.
“I hope you have an easy go of it, Mr. Duval. From what Mr. Gable told me, this man has eluded capture for some years. I will pray for you.” The judge looked at Carrie and smiled. “I’ll pray for you both.”
“Take these, and I’ll get our things,” Spencer said, handing over her gloves and picking up their marriage papers.
Carrie pulled her gloves on as Spencer retrieved their coats and hats.
She felt almost in a state of shock from all that had taken place.
Perhaps shock wasn’t the exact feeling, but given her familiarity with the symptoms of such a state, it fit rather well.
Her skin felt clammy, her breathing was rapid, and her heartbeat felt irregular.
Added to this, she was slightly lightheaded, and her mental state was a mix of anxiety and confusion.
There was also an overall sensation of weakness.
“Here you go.” Spencer helped her into her coat and then handed her the wool bonnet. “Are you hungry?”
“It is lunchtime. I suppose I am hungry.” She added that to her list of symptoms. It didn’t really fit with shock, but it certainly could account for her feeling of weakness.
“I thought we might go to Armand’s. I know you love his pasta.”
“I do. But I’m surprised that you remember that.” She secured her bonnet as Spencer opened the door. “We haven’t been there in months. Not since the troupe went together after rehearsal that one night.”
“I remember a lot of things and know a great deal about you. But right now, I feel we should celebrate.”
“I don’t feel much like celebrating a wedding intended for deception.” She frowned, hoping she hadn’t offended him. They were stuck together now whether she liked it or not.
“Then we won’t celebrate the wedding. We’ll celebrate my birthday. I am thirty-five today.”
She looked up in surprise. “I didn’t know it was your birthday.” She shook her head and felt a rush of despair unleash itself upon her. “I don’t know anything about you. I’m completely in the dark. How in the world did I convince myself that we could fool my parents this way?”
He stopped outside the office and took hold of her shoulders. “Stop fretting. We’ve got time. That’s what we’ll spend the next few days doing. We’ll talk and share information and make certain we know all about each other as we finish packing to leave.”
Carrie shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly learn enough about you to fool my parents. They’ll know, and then your entire investigation will be compromised.”
He took hold of her arm and looped it with his.
With a little pull, he started them down the street.
“It’s going to be all right, Carrie. You’ll see.
We can do this. Starting with my birthday.
I was born February third in 1855. I was born at my grandparents’ house in Philadelphia while my father was away on business. ”