Chapter 18
“Hello.” Francesca greeted her sister. Anxiety filled her but she managed to smile.
Connie looked radiant as she came forward, wearing a lovely pink and ivory striped gown, but her eyes reflected some surprise. “Fran! Is everything all right?” she asked as she quickly embraced her.
Once, before sleuthing had come to take up so much of her time, Francesca had been a frequent, if not daily, visitor at her sister’s home.
She adored not only her sister, but her two nieces as well.
Recently, her visits had become twice weekly, much to Francesca’s chagrin.
There simply did not seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish all that she wished to.
Francesca looked directly at her sister. She had tossed and turned half the night, trying to decipher every word and gesture Hart had made. In the end, when she had fallen asleep, not a single conclusion had been reached. “I don’t think so,” she said. “But frankly, I am not sure.”
Instantly, Connie turned and closed both salon doors, insuring the utmost privacy for them. Then she returned to Francesca, taking both her hands and guiding her to a pair of burgundy chairs. As they sat, she said softly, “I take it this is about Calder?”
Francesca nodded, stabbed with a dreadful combination of dread and fear.
“How did this happen?” she whispered. “How did I fall in love with such a man? My entire life I believed that my husband would be someone exactly like our father. Instead, I am head over heels for the most notorious womanizer to ever grace the city’s halls. ”
Connie inhaled, her blue eyes wide. “Do you think he is pursuing other women?”
“No.” But Francesca bit her lip. “I mean, I know you saw him last night. He hardly spent a moment at my side and he allowed that Darlene Fischer to flirt with him quite endlessly. But no, I do not think he wishes to stray yet. But something is bothering him and he won’t tell me what it is.”
“Then maybe you had better let him be, until he wishes to confide in you.” When Francesca started to object, Connie raised her hand.
“I know that will be incredibly difficult for you! I cannot imagine any feat harder than restraining yourself when it comes to Calder Hart. But trust me, Fran. There is a time to press, and there is a time to stand down.”
Francesca comprehended her sister’s words and meaning, she really did. But how could she let this go? “When I finally accepted his proposal, I instinctively knew that he had the power to completely destroy me. What should I do? I cannot decide what action to take,” she cried.
Connie paused thoughtfully for a moment. “You know I will always be honest with you. Giving your heart to a man like Calder is a dangerous proposition, indeed. I, too, always thought you would find true love with someone like our father—someone like Rick Bragg.”
Francesca sighed. “He would have been so safe.”
“Yes, he would. Why don’t you tell me what really happened last night?” Connie asked.
Francesca met her gaze. Her heart slammed with her entire recollection of the prior evening.
“Yesterday morning everything was as it always was. Hart was completely attentive and extremely affectionate and charming. The moment I arrived here last night, though, I sensed that something was amiss. I could almost see this dark cloud hanging over his head.”
“Did you ask him what was wrong?”
“Yes. He refused to discuss the matter. I pressed and he became very angry with me.” She tensed. “Con, he told me I knew his reputation when I agreed to become his wife, and he would not object if I changed my mind!”
Connie gasped. “He wants you to break off the engagement?”
“Later he denied it. But isn’t that the only conclusion to be had? He has doubts about us and I believe he would not mind if I pushed him away!”
Connie took her hand. “Fran, I am not going to even attempt to comprehend a man like Calder Hart. I mean, I thought my life with Neil was perfect, and look at what happened.”
Francesca studied her sister closely. They had both learned during one of Francesca’s cases that Neil had been having an affair with another woman.
To this day, Francesca could not understand why he had done such a thing when he truly loved her sister.
He, of course, had refused to explain, and it was not her business, anyway.
Her sister’s marriage had barely survived, but now they seemed back on track, if not happier than ever.
“But clearly Calder Hart is having second thoughts about such a monumental decision as a lifelong commitment,” Connie said.
“I cannot agree more,” Francesca said grimly.
Connie squeezed her hand. “Would that really be so odd? He is twenty-six years old and he has never courted any woman before you. He has been a shameless and dissolute rake. Now, apparently, he wishes to reform. Perhaps it would be strange if he didn’t have some doubts?”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Francesca asked.
“And what should I do? In the end, he apologized for his behavior, but he still refused to explain himself. And it hurt me, Con, to see another woman flirting so liberally with him! I was actually green with jealousy watching him with Darlene Fischer.”
Connie sighed. “I don’t know how to make you feel better, but I do have some advice—advice I feel very strongly about.”
Francesca leaned forward, eager to hear her sister’s words. After all, she was an experienced woman. “Please!”
“First, answer this. Do you have any doubts about him?”
Francesca did not hesitate, even as she thought about Rick Bragg.
“No. At first I was uncertain—at first I still loved Rick, but now we are truly friends. And that has allowed me to realize how much I love Calder.” She hesitated and added, “I do not doubt my feelings. I doubt his ability to keep his promise not to ever be unfaithful.”
“Fran, you must take a life with someone else one step at a time. Don’t even think ahead to some faraway future day when he might break his word to you.
” She flushed a little and Francesca knew she was thinking about Neil.
“Even the best marriage with the noblest man will have some difficult moments.”
“I guess I can agree with that. So you advise me to fight for him—to fight for his heart?” she asked, thinking about Bartolla’s words.
“No,” Connie cried in dismay.
Francesca was surprised. “No?”
Connie shook her head. “Do not chase after Hart! That is the worst thing you could do. If he ever sensed you were in pursuit, I feel certain he would lose interest.”
Francesca stiffened with confusion and dread. “So what should I do? Walk away?” She was in some disbelief.
“No. Stand firm in your heart and be yourself.” She smiled then.
“You are so eccentric, Fran, and that is the woman who has turned Calder’s head.
Not some coy debutante like Darlene, but a beautiful, brave and clever sleuth, a woman committed to justice and reform, a woman absolutely selfless.
You are unique—remain that way. Do not even think to compete with women like Darlene.
Because then you would be like the others! ”
Francesca was wide-eyed. “So I should do nothing?”
“No, you should bring all your efforts and all your interest to your current investigation. Do you not have a murderer on the loose?”
Francesca started to relax. “A killer who must be found, and quickly!” she said with some genuine relief.
“Find the Slasher, Francesca. Be yourself. If Hart wants to flirt, let him. Because if this is meant to be—if this will ever work—he will get over his doubts and the marriage will proceed. But he must be the one chasing you. It must never be the other way around.”
Francesca hugged her sister. “You are right! I feel certain. As worried as I am, I must be brave and try to prevent another murder. Either Calder will remain committed to our engagement, or not. In any case, I know that competing with the likes of Darlene is not my strong suit.”
“Your strong suit is who you truly are,” Connie said with vast affection.
Francesca smiled, knowing that Connie was being kind.
Her sister recognized that Francesca should not—and could not—compete with the city’s most beautiful and seductive women.
Hart was clearly having doubts but he still was extremely fond of her, and she would not dwell on what she could not control.
Francesca stood. “You have been so helpful,” she exclaimed.
Connie grinned. “That is what sisters are for. And where are you off to now?”
“I do have a killer to catch,” Francesca said, returning her smile. “But before I interview John Sullivan’s other roommate, I promised Rick I would call on Leigh Anne.”
Connie’s pale eyebrows lifted. “How is she?”
Francesca’s smile faded. “I don’t think she is doing very well.”
It was so odd and so pleasant, Maggie thought, her heart fuzzy with warmth, as she watched two of her sons as they sat on the sofa together.
Mathew was trying to teach Paddy the alphabet and he was being very serious about it.
Paddy was attempting to be as serious, but he could not grasp the concept of the letter A at all.
Both boys were freshly scrubbed and clothed in their Sunday best, and they were dwarfed by the gold velvet sofa they sat on.
Behind them was a huge red wall, an incredible painting of two women and a child from some bygone era, the high, high ceiling above painted red with a gold and cream starburst in its center.
Her sons looked like two little princes.
Almost.
Her heart lurched with sadness then. They would never be princes; the best they could be were honest, hardworking, godly men. Once, that had been enough. Recently, it did not seem enough at all.