Chapter Twenty-Five
EVEN WITH EZEKIEL’S STEADYING PRESENCE, Nora’s fear screamed that not even he could save her. Either she was losing her mind or Winston had found her. The sad truth was no one could save her from herself, and the Winston of her fears would go to any length to hurt her and anyone in his way.
A fist slammed against the front door with the power of an enraged beast. Nora shot to her feet and shrieked. He’d found her. But was this real or imagined?
Tristan hissed with his back arched on the windowsill that faced the street.
Ezekiel scrambled to his feet and shifted her behind him.
So this was real. Did Winston stand on the other side, ready to take his eye for an eye, or worse, her life?
The pounding continued, growing in intensity.
Ezekiel pushed her toward the kitchen. “Go to Mrs. Jerden. No one who knocks like that has good intentions.”
“You’re not answering it, are you?”
Before he could respond, an all-too-familiar face appeared at the window and called through the glass. “Nora Davis, you let me in right now.”
Father. He must have peeked through the window to see if she was visiting with Mrs. Jerden and saw her with Ezekiel instead.
Ezekiel clasped her elbow and guided her to the piano bench before she sank completely to the floor. “Nora, who is it?”
Relief warred with panic. Father might not harm her like Winston, but he’d caught her at a piano with Ezekiel’s arm wrapped around her before she’d had the opportunity to introduce even the idea of Ezekiel to him.
Music and cuddling a strange man definitely broke his rules.
The storm beating against the door was nothing to the lashing words that would pelt them next.
She regained her feet and pushed Ezekiel toward the kitchen. “You have to leave. Now. Out the back.” He remained rooted in place. “Please. My father’s home. He can’t know you exist.”
Ezekiel glanced at the window where Father scowled. “I think it’s a little late for that.”
“Please leave. I’m not ready for him to meet you yet. He’ll hate you without even giving you a chance.”
“Nora, I’m not running away, and the longer we leave him outside, the angrier he’ll be. We’re all adults capable of civil conversation.”
“Capable might be overly generous.”
He gave her a scolding grimace before striding to the front door.
Nora had never been one for fainting, but she wished she were. Blacking out had to be better than this nightmare of Father finding her like she hadn’t a care for his rules. “You can’t tell him you have any connection or interest in opera. No matter what he says or asks, don’t tell him.”
“I’m not going to lie.” Ezekiel flipped the lock.
“Then don’t speak, but please—”
The door flew open.
If Ezekiel hadn’t caught it with his hand, he’d have met Father with a bloody nose.
Father stormed in, all fire and brimstone.
Tristan must have been part guard dog, because he launched into an attack on Father’s leg. By the howls that ensued, claws were involved. Father shook his leg, attempting to dislodge the beast. Unrelenting, Tristan propelled himself upward. Father tried to pull him off but failed.
“Fish, Tristan! F-i-s-h!” Nora called, but not even the promise of his favorite treat deterred him.
Ezekiel grabbed Tristan around the middle and took the brunt of the next attack.
“Tristan, no!” Nora yanked the lap quilt from a nearby chair and wrapped it around the cat as she pulled him away from Ezekiel.
Tristan hissed, not at all pleased to be restrained, but at least he settled and merely grumbled at her for interfering.
“Not quite the welcome home you were expecting, eh, Mark?” Mrs. Jerden cackled from behind them. “Come to the kitchen. Coffee’s brewing.”
“What is going on here?” Father barked.
Nora did her best to erase all emotion from her face, but as cold as she felt, she doubted any color remained to give her the unaffected air she desired.
“There’s no need to be such an ogre.” Mrs. Jerden folded her arms. “Just because I wasn’t in the room doesn’t mean I wasn’t a good chaperone. Nora and Mr. Beaumont were perfectly well-behaved during their visit. Their entire courtship has been above reproach.”
“Courtship?” The single strained word escaped.
Ezekiel stepped forward with a hand extended. “Ezekiel Beaumont, sir. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Father pivoted to the wall hooks, snatched the only men’s coat and hat, and shoved them at Ezekiel. “Leave and don’t ever come near my daughter again.”
“But you don’t even know me yet.”
“Exactly.”
“If you will but give me the chance—”
“You should leave, Mr. Beaumont.” Nora didn’t dare use his given name.
Ezekiel regarded her, then nodded. “Thank you for the pleasurable afternoon, Miss Davis. You know where to find me should you need anything.” Father growled, but Ezekiel faced him like a knight squaring off with a dragon.
“Mr. Davis, should you be willing, I’d be honored if you and Miss Davis joined me for Sunday lunch so we can become properly acquainted. ”
“Properly now, is it? A proper man wouldn’t conduct secret meetings with my daughter.”
“There was no secret behind our meetings,” Nora argued. “Mrs. Jerden has been with us each time.”
“We will discuss this after we are home.”
Ezekiel finished shrugging on his coat and then opened the door. “I would be happy to address any concerns you have on Sunday after church. Good day, sir. Mrs. Jerden. Miss Davis.” After a nod to each, he strode outside.
Father slammed the door.
Mrs. Jerden dared to wag a finger in Father’s face. “That is no way to treat a man who has been a perfect gentleman to your daughter. I expect you to go to lunch and give him the opportunity to explain the way of things.”
“Frankly, Mrs. Jerden, this is none of your concern.” He shoved Nora’s coat at her, but with Tristan still in her arms, she could do nothing about it.
He grunted and opened the door again. After a quick, overly formal bow to Mrs. Jerden, he added, “Thank you for ensuring the maintenance of my daughter’s reputation, but your services will no longer be required. ”
What kind of man was Nora’s father? Should Ezekiel have stayed and ensured Mr. Davis’s anger didn’t lead to harm?
Nora hadn’t exactly spoken of him in a gentle and loving light, yet neither had she indicated he was abusive.
Thunderation. Ezekiel had promised he would protect her, and here he’d left her to face the consequences alone.
This cowardice could not stand. He doubled back the two blocks he’d walked.
Nora needn’t stay under the same roof as an abusive father.
If Mrs. Jerden was too close to give her safe shelter, he’d pay for a hotel until he could determine some other arrangement.
Detective Hall had said her friends were protective to a fault. Maybe he could enlist them.
When he knocked on Mrs. Jerden’s door, she informed him Nora and Mr. Davis had gone directly home. After sending up a prayer for wisdom and favor, he knocked on Nora’s door. Seconds later, Nora cracked it open.
Her eyes widened, and she looked over her shoulder before hissing, “What are you doing here? Father will lose his temper if he sees you now.”
“That wasn’t losing his temper?” She was definitely not staying here. “Come with me. I’m not leaving you where you aren’t safe.”
“What?” She glanced up and down the street. “Did you see someone suspicious watching the house?”
That wasn’t what he’d meant. He did a quick check to be sure before he answered. The only commotion was men moving trunks into a house a few doors down. “No, I mean your father. You’re not safe with him.”
“Of course I am.”
“Who’s at the door?” Mr. Davis called from inside. Fierce anger hung thick in his tone.
“A friend. Give me a minute, and they’ll be on their way.” She turned back to Ezekiel.
“I can’t leave you here alone if there is any risk of his touching you. Please, allow me to put you up in a hotel or escort you to a friend’s.”
Her whole demeanor melted into soft admiration. “I promise you, I am perfectly safe with Father. Yes, he’s in a bit of a temper, but he would never harm me in any manner.”
That was a bit of a temper? What must his unrestrained temper be like? Still, the fear Ezekiel had seen in her upon her father’s arrival had disappeared.
“He’s just afraid you are a danger to me. Don’t worry though, I’ll set him to rights.”
Ezekiel winced. He had been an unintentional danger, but Adler would never come near Nora again. “I’d rather speak to him myself and ensure he knows that if you have one cut, one bruise, or even one hair missing, I will remove you from the house and have the police intervene.”
“Please, don’t. I need you to trust me. I know how to manage Father’s fears and tempers. If you want any chance of being accepted, let me prepare the way.”
“I don’t like it.”
She squeezed his hand. “I know, but please?”
He held on, searching for any sign he should toss her over his shoulder and carry her to safety, but she did seem confident. “Fine, but keep Tristan with you. He’s no guard dog, but he’s a fierce guardian.”
“And apparently so is his servant.” Her soft tease did little to ease the tension in his shoulders.
He kissed her hand before dropping it. “Please, take care of yourself.”
“Quit being such a mother hen.” She checked over her shoulder again, then lowered her voice. “Come for lunch tomorrow. He’ll be at work, and we can plan how to convince him to accept you. Now go, see what you can compose before you return to work. You don’t have time to lose.”
As if he could compose music with all the concern for her filling his mind. But she was right. At a minimum, he could review what they’d created. “Until tomorrow then.”
“Until then, Don Ottavio. Or is it Captain Alaric?” Her full, dazzling smile disappeared behind the closed door.
He didn’t like leaving her, but he had no choice.
Not if he wanted to maintain her trust in him.
Nora’s assumption that his concern stemmed from having seen something suspicious on the street unsettled him further.
Speaking of her kidnapper would naturally bring old fears to the surface, but Ezekiel’s suspicion about the true identities of Adler and Mrs. Reed lent credence to the concern.
If he couldn’t shield her from her father, he could at least figure out where the pair were located.
The Soldene Opera Company had stayed at the Gibson House while in town.
He’d check there first. Too bad he couldn’t do anything even if they were there.
He didn’t have enough information or proof to go to the police, and he couldn’t exactly ask the duo to confirm his suspicions directly.
Maybe he could ask Detective Hall or the Guardians to keep an eye on the pair’s whereabouts while he confronted Graham with his newfound knowledge.
As it turned out, there was no need to contact Nora’s friends.
Mrs. Reed had checked out of the hotel that morning without leaving a forwarding address.
The guest book indicated Adler had left with the rest of the Soldene Opera Company, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t stayed with Mrs. Reed afterward.
The snide desk clerk declared it a busy hotel and not his business who visited the woman so long as she paid for the room.
When Ezekiel stopped at Graham’s house, Mrs. Linville informed him that Graham told her not to expect him home until after supper.
With no other recourse, Ezekiel returned almost late to the opera house and sent a callboy to the telegram office.
Hopefully Miss Soldene would promptly reply with affirmation that Adler had continued on to Chicago with the Soldene Opera Company.
Then, all Ezekiel would have to worry about was keeping Mrs. Reed from Nora.