Chapter Thirty-One
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
A FTER OBSERVING REHEARSALS FROM THE DARK SANCTUARY OF THE balcony—and trying his best not to call Evelyn to his office for a quick repeat performance of last night’s pleasures—Thomas knew he had to go about the business of his day. As Evelyn ran her Dancing Dozen through new choreography, Thomas and Andrew left for a meeting with a new potential investor, one whose attention Andrew had encouraged at the party the night before.
They barely made it down bustling 34th Street toward the hotel where their meeting would take place before Andrew began in on the smart remarks.
“I trust I don’t need to inspect your heart this morning. If you were able to keep up with Miss Cross last night, I assume you’re plenty hale.”
Thomas’s steps stuttered. “You knew I was with her? Did anyone else?”
“Your sudden disappearance from the party drew the attention of everyone in attendance, and I was no exception. None of them could understand your departure, but when Miss Matterly informed me that Miss Cross didn’t return to the boarding house last night, I realized I had a piece of the equation they didn’t. It seems your secret is safe for the moment.”
All around them, Manhattan did its dizzying dance. Despite the fact that he and Andrew soldiered on together, Thomas felt very much like the unmoving center.
Secret . That word stuck in his teeth—the Cracker Jack of words.
Andrew adjusted his spectacles. “And you are going to keep it a secret, aren’t you?”
After last night? After realizing he was in love with her? “No. I have no intention of doing any such thing.”
Another block passed them by. So many people in Evelyn’s life had done just that—kept her as if she were some shameful secret. He would not be another one of them.
“I assume you understand the consequences of this decision?” Andrew asked gravely yet not unkindly. “I don’t need to explain them to you?”
Thomas adjusted his collar. Yes, he’d thought through the repercussions last night, and again this morning as he dressed to face the day. He’d never thought he’d be willing to risk it all for anyone, much less a woman.
Yet, here he was. Standing on the brink and more than willing to jump.
“Crossing Nehemiah Alban, particularly where his daughter is concerned, will no doubt have some consequences,” Thomas agreed. “Perhaps very serious ones.”
“And?”
“I have always seen myself as a man thoroughly in control of my own faculties. My own destiny and future. You have seen how I’ve built The Empire. Not a brushstroke has been painted, not a stone laid, not a light affixed, without my approval and oversight. I’ve built my life much the same way. Until this business with the papers. Until this business with Alban. But no more. I’m not going to surrender myself to him.” As he spoke, Thomas felt a swell of conviction. His pride has always rankled at letting Alban tell him what to do, but it was more than that. He was winning back his precious control, but he was also ready not to hold on to it quite so tightly, at least where a certain woman was concerned.
“How do you plan to combat the inevitable complications?” Andrew asked, almost like a teacher leading a student to a complicated problem’s answer.
“Just because I have turned off the path of least resistance doesn’t mean that I cannot reach my destination, Andrew. I have never met a challenge I could not face and conquer. And I’ll have Evelyn at my side. Have you ever met anyone more equipped to handle this sort of risk?” It was true. He had seen it in her face the night before as she emerged from the crowd of cops at the police station, bloodied but uncowed. Alban was a force—no doubt—but they had both reckoned with bullies, and together, they could do it again.
The Hotel Manhattan loomed ahead of them, its red carpet rolling out toward them like a beckoning hand. Andrew relieved himself of his top hat and winced a smile.
“Then it is decided. I wish you the best of luck, my friend.”
“I sense some hesitation. Are you doubting me?”
“Not in business. As you say, you’ve overcome a great deal. I’m sure this will be no different. It’s only … You should be careful of Miss Cross’s heart. And your own. As talented as I am in my chosen profession, there are certain wounds even I cannot stitch up.”