Chapter 9
“I’m not going to marry him, Papa. Nothing you’re going to say will change my mind.” Rory fought to keep her voice even and hold back the tears that prickled the corners of her eyes.
She paced on the lush floral carpet of the drawing room.
Deep reds and golds, in a modern style, showcased the latest furniture imported from Paris.
A gentleman named Ruhlmann designed them all, and her stepmother, Eleanor, thought he was a genius.
Everything had clean angles and sleek lines, a bold aesthetic that spoke of progress and innovation.
Though her stepmother wasn’t exactly young anymore, she insisted on keeping up with the latest trends as if she was still in her twenties.
Eleanor lounged on the sofa, her irritatingly pretty face filled with feigned concern. Her dark hair was swept into a loose, elegant bun, a long string of pearls dripping down her front. Her father stood and lectured, twisting his mustache every so often, as he always did when worked up.
“Be reasonable,” he said. “The man made a mistake. I don’t approve of his activities any more than you do, and I gave him a piece of my mind.
But you must understand it isn’t uncommon.
Men have… Well, they have…needs. And Edward was a widower for many years before he met you.
It’s hardly surprising he found a way to have his needs met prior to you. ”
“This wasn’t prior to me, Papa. He’s still seeing her and planned to continue seeing her after we were married. He talked about her being a regular guest in our home.”
Her father put a placating hand on her shoulder, and she shook him off.
“Darling, I know you’re angry,” Eleanor said. “And you have every right to be. You’ve lived a very sheltered life, and this must all be very shocking.”
Rory laughed bitterly. Suggesting she was na?ve in these matters was absurd.
“All we’re asking is that you give him another chance,” her father said. “He’s sworn to me that he is parting ways with the singer and that he will be faithful to you. I told him I would cut off all financial support if I ever found out he strayed.”
“So you see, my dear, you have nothing to fear,” her stepmother said, her eyes full of reassurance.
Rory shook her head slowly. “And you think I should marry a man that requires a bribe to uphold his vows?”
“I insist you give him a chance. Let him demonstrate his change of heart to you. This match would benefit both of our families tremendously. You know we need friends in Congress to keep the regulators in check. I always thought you were a practical girl, that you understood these things. I’d rather not force the issue, but I will if I must.”
Her stomach plummeted. She’d been bracing herself for this, but hearing her father say it aloud destroyed her last, slender hope that he would see reason.
Nonetheless, she wasn’t giving up. “I am a practical girl, and I do understand. But there are limits. And even if he has had a change of heart, I still don’t want to marry him.
He doesn’t care about me. All he wants is your money.
At best, he’s putting up with me. He made that clear. ”
Her father began pacing. “That’s not what he told me. He swears he’s in love with you.”
“Of course, he would tell you that. It’s in his interest to tell you whatever you want to hear. Papa, I don’t love him, and I’m not going to marry him.”
Her father stopped his pacing and pinned her with a look that made her shiver. “Is there someone else? Edward said he thought there was, but I didn’t believe it.”
Was there someone else? She thought of yesterday morning with Hank. Though the kisses were delicious, he refused her in the end.
“No, there’s no one else. Edward saw me with an acquaintance and misunderstood the situation. I think his guilty conscience led him to jump to conclusions.”
“Good,” he said, clenching his fist by his side. “Because if I ever find out you’ve been sneaking around behind his back, then I will disown you.”
She looked at her shoes, unable to withstand the intensity of his glare. “I understand.”
Her stepmother’s gaze was all concern. Rory had to resist the urge to yank on her hair. “We’re only trying to do what’s best for you, dear.”
“I honestly can’t see how this is what’s best for me.
And frankly, it’s insulting to be told by the two of you I don’t know my own mind and heart.
” Her father’s decision to marry a stage actress had been widely considered unwise when they wed.
Some of his former friends refused to do business with him anymore.
The Vanderbilts tried to freeze him out of society entirely, though they came around eventually.
They might never have done so if it hadn’t been for Aunt Alva.
Rory, for her part, had been appalled to learn at age twelve that she was going to have a “new mother.” She didn’t begrudge her father the right to remarry after over a decade as a widower, but the disruption Eleanor had caused in Rory’s young life was immense.
After years of being teased by her school mates for having a “floozy” for a stepmother, Rory didn’t care to be lectured on the virtues of a proper society marriage by either of them.
“Aurora June Belmont,” her father said. “I will have none of your lip. We’re done with this conversation until you’re ready to discuss this like an adult instead of an obstinate child. Go.” He pointed to the door.
She left with all the dignity she could summon, but as soon as she was out of the room, she ran.
Up in her room, she collapsed on her Louis XV canopy bed, whose curtains and coverlet matched the blue rococo wallpaper.
Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and went over to her ornately gilded and inlaid desk, taking out a silver fountain pen and thick, ivory paper.
She was a practical girl, and she had a practical problem.
What could she say to Edward that would convince him to give up?
There had to be some way to end this once and for all.
“Dear Edward,
I have been infected with rabies.
I have recently learned I am barren.
My father’s money is a myth.
The President ordered
I do not wish to marry you.”
It was no use. There was no magic formula that would make him beg off. She threw away the paper.
Her mind wandered momentarily to Hank, to the way he’d kissed her right after they landed in that field. Oh Lord, she wanted him so badly. Why didn’t he give in? He was clearly attracted to her. She would swear he wanted her as ferociously as she wanted him. But then why would he stop short?
Hank Hawley was not her current problem, however.
Edward Windham needed to be out of the picture before she could entertain any thoughts of Hank.
Her father was quite serious about disowning her, she was certain.
While she was willing to face those consequences if all else failed, she didn’t want to invite them.
She pulled out a clean sheet of paper. Time to end this once and for all.
“Dear Edward,
I know that you have been in touch with Papa about our engagement. He has taken your side and tried to convince me to relent. I want you to know I am certain that I will not change my mind, no matter what either of you threatens. Please consider our engagement terminated.
Sincerely,
Rory”
Thank heavens she never let that marriage contract go out, not that she would have gone through with it even with a signed contract.
Papa would have been furious about paying the penalties for a broken engagement, though, not to mention the scandal.
As it was, the only damage was to her reputation, and she hardly cared about that.
There was a knock on her door. “Just a moment,” she called out.
“Miss, I just wanted to let you know that Evelyn is here. She wanted me to ask if you wanted to go for a drive,” her maid, Kelly, said through the door.
“You can come in.”
Kelly tucked a wisp of red hair behind her ear as she entered and closed the door behind her.
Rory had a special place in her heart for her maid.
The two of them were nearly the same age, and on more than one occasion, Kelly had helped her out of sticky situations.
It was good to have a friend in this big, cold household.
Offering a sympathetic smile, Kelly said, “I heard you and your father had words.”
“I’m afraid so,” Rory admitted. “I refuse to marry Edward after what he did to me, but Father refuses to take no for an answer. It’s put me in quite a foul mood.”
Kelly patted her shoulder. “You know, you always feel better after spending time with your friends.”
It was true. A drive with Evelyn would be just the thing. “Tell her I’ll be down in a minute,” she said. She finished addressing her letter and put a Jenny stamp on it. “Would you mind posting this?”
“Of course, Miss.”
“Thank you, Kelly. You’re a doll.”
There. Now she was free.
Kelly hurried off with the letter, and Rory checked herself briefly in the mirror, powdering her face and putting on fresh lipstick. Even with her friend, she wanted to put on a brave face.
Downstairs, she found Evelyn in the front parlor, staring out the window.
“Come to take me for a drive?” Rory put her hand on Evelyn’s shoulder, and her friend turned and folded her in a hug.
“I heard through the grapevine how things have gone off with Edward. I thought you could use some cheering up.”
“Smashing,” she said, a wide grin on her face.
“I was thinking we could drive out to the racetrack and put a few of the horses through their paces. What do you say?”
Even better. Riding meant going out to Belmont Park. Maybe she would see Hank. Her heart sped at the thought. Not that she could do so much as say hello with Evelyn in tow. Much as she trusted her friend, she wasn’t ready to share the secret of Hank with anyone yet.
“You are my favorite person in the whole wide world. Did you know that? I’m not dressed for riding. Give me a moment.”