Chapter 29
Rory hadn’t seen Aunt Alva since her birthday party, but it was time to humble herself and make peace with at least part of her family. When she rang at Aunt Alva’s front door, the footman led her to the drawing room, which she took as a good sign. At least she wasn’t being denied entry.
Aunt Alva wore her most imperious and stern look as she came in and sat across from Rory.
“I’ve heard some shocking things about you, young lady, and I expect an explanation of where you’ve disappeared to. I don’t hold with what August did, but I’m deeply disappointed in you.”
“I’m sorry for disappearing, Aunt Alva.” She had to start with an apology, she knew, or Aunt Alva wouldn’t listen to anything else. “I’m engaged to a man Papa doesn’t approve of. He caught us together and threw me out.”
“You should have come to me. I don’t approve of some of the things I’ve heard, but I believe strongly a young woman ought to be free to choose her spouse and ought not to be forced into marriage. I could have helped you.”
Aunt Alva’s disapproval was a terrible weight around her shoulders.
She loved her aunt with all her heart. Somehow, she had to make her understand.
“I know, Aunt Alva. I thought about it, and I nearly came here. But I decided it was time for me to try my wings and see if I could survive on my own. I’ve learned I can.
I have a job and a place to live, and I’m doing just fine. ”
“You aren’t staying with your paramour?” One accusing eyebrow rose as she said the words.
“No, I’m not. And he’s my fiancé. We’re to be married as soon as he’s out of the hospital.”
“Hospital?”
Rory told her aunt the story of Hank’s accident and the police finding evidence of sabotage, as well as their suspicions of her father.
“I need your help, Aunt Alva. I want to go see my father and confront him about this, but I don’t feel safe going alone.
I was hoping you would come with me. I don’t believe he did it, but I need to hear him say it. ”
“I’ve known your father longer than you have, and he is a ruthless businessman. But I cannot believe he would stoop so low. I’ll come with you if you wish because I would like to see you two reconciled. I couldn’t begin to guess who is behind this sabotage, but I’m certain it isn’t him.”
“Thank you, Aunt Alva. That’s all I ask.” Relief flooded her. With Aunt Alva by her side, she would be safe. She needn’t fear her father trying to force her marriage to Edward again.
Half an hour later, she and Aunt Alva were escorted into her father’s study.
He looked to Rory like he was ready to breathe fire when he saw her, but one look from Aunt Alva quelled him.
“I’m a busy man, Aurora. The police have already wasted half of my morning with nonsense.
I won’t have you wasting the other half.
If you’ve come to beg me to relent, you’ve wasted your time. ”
“I’ve come to tell you I’m doing just fine without your money, and I have no intention of asking anything of you ever again.
I also wanted to let you know I’ll be marrying Hank as soon as he’s out of the hospital.
I take it the police told you why he’s there?
” She gave her father a sharp look over his enormous desk, holding his gaze and not looking away.
She needed to see every tiny reaction right now.
Please let him be innocent.
“Yes, yes. Someone sabotaged his airplane. And they think I have something to do with it because I lost my temper when I learned the true identity of Albert Jones. Ridiculous.”
She caught his eye again and held it. “Is it, Papa?”
The silence stretched out as they stared each other down.
“Aurora, I loathe the man for the liberties he’s taken with you, but I’m not a murderer. I swear to you I had nothing to do with this. And I’m deeply distressed you would think such a thing.”
She continued to hold his gaze. “I want to believe you, Papa.”
“When a man is my enemy, I confront him. I don’t hide in the dark and secretly try to do him harm. Sabotage is cowardly. Have you ever known me to be a coward?”
Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. “You aren’t a coward. I know that.”
“Then I ask you to take my word that it wasn’t me.
Ask that young man of yours who his enemies are.
It must be someone else he’s gravely offended.
Hardly a surprise, given his behavior with you.
Now are we done here? I have more important things to attend to than the spurious suspicions of my runaway daughter. ”
“I didn’t run away, Papa. You sent me away.” She took Aunt Alva’s hand for support.
“And you refused to come back. The clock is ticking, young lady. If you don’t come to your senses and marry Edward, then you are no longer my daughter.”
Blood rushed to her cheeks as she clenched her fists. “I have a right to choose who I spend my life with, and I will never ever agree to spend it with Edward.”
Aunt Alva stepped between them. “August, it isn’t right to try to force her to do your bidding.
She’s a grown woman, and she’s proven she can live without your help, or mine for that matter.
I don’t like this pilot of hers any more than you do, but under the circumstances, don’t you think it would be best if he made an honest woman of her and wed her?
If Edward Windham is still after her despite all that’s happened, then he is only after the money.
Do you truly want her married to someone like that? ”
“I think it shows how honorable Edward is that he’s willing to stand by the engagement despite all that has transpired.”
Rory shuddered. “I’m not marrying Edward, no matter what you do to me,” she said, taking Aunt Alva’s hand again.
“August, I think it’s time you let it go,” Aunt Alva said gently but firmly.
He stormed around his desk and towered above Alva, who was undaunted.
“I will not let it go. She’s my daughter, and I don’t appreciate your meddling, Alva.
I will do everything in my power that is legal to put an end to this nonsense with the pilot and to marry her to Edward, as has been planned all along.
I cannot force her, and I cannot murder him, even though at the moment I’d rather like to do both.
But I am not waving the white flag of surrender. Not yet.”
Alva turned to Rory. “I think we’re done here, don’t you?”
Rory nodded, and they swiftly exited the premises, stopping only briefly to find her former maid Kelly, who was working in the kitchen now that Rory was gone. Rory paid her back and thanked her profusely before hurrying out the door.
As they got into Aunt Alva’s car, Rory felt tears starting to roll down her cheeks. Wiping them away, she said, “At least I managed to remain stoic while we were inside.”
To think until a few weeks ago, that had been her home.
It broke her heart to walk those familiar halls again and feel like a stranger.
Standing amid all that opulence, she was surprised to find she didn’t miss it.
She was happier than she’d ever been, living in her modest apartment above a flower shop.
And she was going to marry her pilot, no matter what anyone thought.
“Thank you, Aunt Alva. I don’t think I could have faced him alone.”
Alva patted her hand. “Unreasonable man. I do wish you weren’t marrying so far beneath you, dear, but it’s the only thing to be done at this point.
Too many people know you’ve been carrying on with him.
It’s the only solution. If only your father would come to his senses and realize it!
But enough about him. What about you? Are you going to leave behind that hovel you’re living in and come stay with me, or have you, too, departed from your senses? ”
Wiping away the last of her tears, she answered, “It’s not a hovel. It’s perfectly pleasant, and I’m going back to it this afternoon. I promised Hank I would check on him at the hospital.”
Aunt Alva shook her head in disapproval. “How are you getting back to Mineola?”
“The same way I got here. By train.”
“Saints alive! No, my dear. At the very least, you must let me send you in my car.”
Rory laughed. “You act as if I’m in danger from bandits on the Long Island Railroad.”
Fanning herself, Aunt Alva said, “Well, it is the countryside, dear.”
“All right, I’ll take the car.”
“Percival,” she said to the driver. “Drop me off at home and take Miss Belmont to Mineola, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Soon, Rory was driving through the Long Island countryside with the windows down and the wind in her hair.
Her heart felt lighter with every mile they drove away from Manhattan.
Out here, her father’s threats dwindled in her mind, and her confidence in her own course of action returned.
In a short while, she would see Hank, and everything would be better.
Maybe she could even steal a kiss when no one was looking.
Arriving at the hospital, she thanked the driver and rushed inside. Hank was still in room twelve, and he was sitting up, which was a positive development. Sitting was difficult when she left him this morning. He even managed to turn his head when she came in.
Who cared what the doctor thought? She had to kiss him. Checking quickly that no one was looking, she pressed her lips to his and gave him a proper greeting.
“If this is how you say hello, I’m very much looking forward to getting married,” he said as she released him.
She smiled, cheeks aflame.
“Where did you go this morning?” he asked, concern in his eyes. “I was worried you might go see your father.”
She looked at her hands, unable to meet his gaze. “I did,” she said quietly. “I went to Aunt Alva first, and I brought her with me. She’s the only person I know who intimidates Papa. I had to speak with him. I had to know if…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Did he try to force you to do anything? Because I’ll—”
“You’ll what? You’re lying in a hospital bed.” She laughed incredulously.
“I’d think of something.”
She shook her head. “I was safe with Aunt Alva. Hank, I don’t think it was him.
He said sabotage is cowardly, and he’s right.
My father is many things, but a coward is not one of them.
Did you know he’s one of the oldest men ever to receive a commission from the Army?
He was sixty-four years old when he signed up to fight.
The man relishes confrontation. He always has.
I can’t believe he would do something so underhanded. ”
“Even if he’s innocent, I don’t like that you took the risk of going to see him.”
She put a hand on his. “I choose my risks, Hank. He’s my father. I had to know.”
“I accept that, but I don’t have to like it,” he said, squeezing her hand. “Has he given up yet on getting you to marry Windham?”
She shook her head. “The man is stubborn. Even Aunt Alva thinks you and I should wed, and she’s almost as stuffy about these things as he is. I’d like to invite her to the wedding, by the way. And of course, I’ll invite Evelyn and some of my suffragette friends.”
He smiled. “Anything that makes you happy, princess. You should invite that widow you helped, Ann Prince, too. O’Donnell is sweet on her. I assume the entire O’Donnell family is invited.”
“And you’ll be inviting your fellow pilots?”
“And Major Fleet, and a few of the mechanics.”
“We need to make a list. I’ll go see if I can borrow a pen and paper.”
She went out to the front desk and asked. The attendant obliged, and Rory hurried back.
“All right, let’s see,” she said, settling down by his bedside table to write. “My aunt, Evelyn and my other suffragette friends, the O’Donnells, and who else?”
At that moment, a police inspector knocked on the door. “Excuse me, Lieutenant Hawley? I’d like to ask you a few questions. And, young lady, may I ask your name?”
“Aurora Belmont, his fiancée.”
The inspector nodded. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Belmont. I’m afraid we have some questions for you too.”
Rory swallowed hard. She wanted to help, but she’d rather have dental surgery than answer questions about how she split with Edward. Nonetheless, there was nothing she wouldn’t endure to see justice served to anyone who hurt Hank.