Chapter Ten
Mark drummed his fingers on his desk at work. He needed to find
out more about Kenneth, and he needed to do it before Annabelle did
something stupid like marry him. He was trouble. Mark just knew it.
But he needed proof.
“Mr. Larson?”
Mark turned his attention to his secretary
who stood in the doorway. “What is it, Eugene?”
“Mr. Gordon wishes to have a moment of your
time.”
Mark gestured for Eugene to let Mr. Gordon in
and rose to his feet. He didn’t know if this was Kenneth or the
uncle. If it was Kenneth, maybe he could dissuade him from courting
his sister. Oh wait. He’d told Natalie that he wouldn’t resort to
lying anymore. That meant he couldn’t give Kenneth some story about
why she’d make a miserable wife.
As it turned out, however, making up such a
story wasn’t an option. The man who came through the door was the
uncle.
“Mr. Gordon,” Mark greeted and went over to
shake his hand. “It’s nice to see you again.” He gestured to the
chair across from his. “Have a seat.”
Mr. Gordon sat down but waited until Mark had
returned to his chair before speaking up. “Mr. Larson, I had the
opportunity to visit some of the buildings you had a hand in
constructing, and I’m pleased with the quality of your work. You
not only show good judgment in picking your materials, but you have
a creative flair for the business as well.”
“Thank you,” Mark replied, glad Mr. Gordon
was satisfied with his past work.
“I didn’t come here to discuss business,
though.”
Mark’s gut tightened. He wasn’t going to
discuss a marriage arrangement between Kenneth and Annabelle, was
he? He’d have to say no. And if he said no, he might lose Mr.
Gordon’s account. Well, if he had to go without Mr. Gordon’s money
and prestige, so be it. It wasn’t worth his sister’s happiness.
“As you know, my family and I are new to
Omaha,” Mr. Gordon began. “My wife is used to socializing with
affluent ladies, and she’d like to get involved in the activities
you have here. I heard you recently married. Do you think your wife
and a couple of her friends would be willing to invite my wife to
their next outing?”
Mark relaxed. Good. He would much rather be
having this conversation than trying to figure out how to tell him
no. “My wife is a lovely person. She’ll be happy to invite your
wife to a lady’s social outing.”
He opted not to tell Mr. Gordon that Natalie
had yet to meet the ladies his sister often associated with.
Natalie, however, would get along with the women just fine. She was
the most likable person he’d ever come across. Everyone who met her
would think the same thing.
“Splendid,” Mr. Gordon said. “My wife’s been
restless. This will be the very thing she needs. Don’t tell your
wife this was my idea. I don’t want word getting back to my wife
about this.”
“You have nothing to worry about. I won’t say
a word about this conversation to anyone.”
And Mark didn’t. During dinner that evening,
he suggested that Natalie go on a social activity with his sister
and a few other women.
Natalie swallowed the veal she’d been eating
then took a sip of her wine. “How many women will be going to this
social engagement?”
“Usually, my sister invites five or six
women. It’s a small, informal affair. I’ll mention it to my sister
tomorrow. All I need is for you to send out the invitations. My
sister will help you through the actual activity.” He put down his
fork and knife so he could pull out the slip of paper he’d written
Mr. Gordon’s address on. “My sister will know where to send the
other invitations, so I’ll have her send over a list of names and
addresses.” He held it out to her.
Though she looked uncertain, she folded the
paper and put it in her pocket.
“You have nothing to worry about,” he said.
“You’re perfect. The women will love being around you.”
“That’s nice of you to say, Mark, but I don’t
know what wealthy women like to discuss.”
He picked his fork and knife up. “Ask my
sister. She’s been doing this for a year now. My mother taught her
everything she needed to say and do. My father says it’s because of
my mother that his business expanded as fast as it did. She not
only did his bookkeeping, but she made important connections to
increase the demand for his services. They make a good team.” He
smiled at her. “Just like you and I do.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t know the
first thing about bookkeeping or establishing connections.”
“You don’t have to worry about the
bookkeeping. My mother and Annabelle oversee all of that. If you’re
interested, I’m sure they’ll teach you. But the main thing you need
to do is socialize. If you keep the women happy, then their
husbands, brothers, and fathers will be happy. The men are the ones
my father and I deal with.”
“Except when everyone gets together for
something like a dinner party.”
“Exactly.”
She took a deep breath then released it.
He offered her a comforting smile. “I think
this will be good for you. It’ll be a way for you to make some new
friends.”
She relaxed. “I guess it will be, won’t
it?”
“It will, and I have no doubt that the others
will be happy to meet you.”
Looking happy, she turned her attention back
to the meal.
It would be good for her to make friendships
with the other influential women in Omaha. He should have thought
of it sooner. Mr. Gordon’s wife wasn’t the only one who could
benefit from social activities. Natalie would, too. Women, after
all, shouldn’t be restricted to just their husbands. They needed
female companionship, too. Natalie was no different. Before long,
she would have women coming by to visit all the time. This upcoming
social engagement was just the beginning of many wonderful things
to come.
***
The following week, Annabelle arrived at
Natalie’s. Natalie, who’d been unable to sit still, since this was
the day of the social activity, was relieved that Annabelle had
arrived before one of the other women did.
“I hope I’m not late,” Annabelle said.
“No, you’re not,” Natalie replied. “In fact,
you’re early.”
“That’s a relief. In light of the emergency,
I couldn’t remember if I was supposed to be here at 2:00 or
2:30.”
Natalie’s eyes widened. “Is someone
hurt?”
“No, it’s nothing as awful as that. The
shipment of lumber didn’t come in this morning. Needless to say the
builders aren’t happy, and my mother and I had to figure out what
caused the delay. Afterwards, we had to smooth things over with
them. I’ve been there when she’s handled such emergencies before,
and she has a way of calming people down that I envy.”
As nervous as Natalie was about meeting seven
new women, she’d much rather do that than handle some irate
builders.
“Anyway,” Annabelle said as she pulled her
gloves up higher, “I’m glad I came here before anyone else did. I’m
sure you’re nervous about this afternoon.”
“I am. Back home, I was in a small town.
Everyone knew everyone else. We mostly had potlucks, barn dances,
and sewing circles.”
“Most of my family enjoys those things. I’ve
gone to a couple.”
“Did you enjoy them?”
“They were fine,” Annabelle said. “It all
depends on who else was there. Most of my female cousins were too
young to play with, and the male cousins preferred to be around
Mark and Tony. They used to think being around girls could give
them some kind of illness.” She rolled her eyes. “Can you believe
that?”
Natalie chuckled. “Some boys thought that in
my hometown, too. But to be fair, girls said the same thing about
the boys. I think it’s how children are.”
“I think so, too.” After a moment, she asked,
“What made you come out here? Weren’t there any young men available
who was your age?”
“There were two, but they chose other young
women.”
“Why?” Annabelle scanned her up and down.
“You’re a very pretty woman.”
“I appreciate you thinking so, but the women
they picked were also pretty, and they were nice. I was happy for
them.”
“You’re the type of person who never says a
bad word about anyone, aren’t you?”
Natalie was surprised by the question. “I
have no reason to hold any ill will for them. Besides, I certainly
can’t complain. I’m very happy here with Mark.”
“You see the best in things. I wish I had
your gift. It is a gift, you know. You can take any situation and
make the best of it. It’s no wonder Mark picked you. He’s a lot
like you. Only,” she hurried to amend, “he has a tendency to
manipulate things like he did with the wedding. However, I suppose
he was right about Velma. I was there when she and Tony came over
for dinner, and it was obvious she was in love with him.”
“I’m glad things worked out for them.”
“I am, too. Although I’m a woman, I don’t
consider myself much of a romantic. I’m much too practical for
that. But it is nice when things work out with that special
someone.”
Natalie wondered if she was thinking of
Kenneth when she said that. But before she could ask if Annabelle
had seen Kenneth lately, someone knocked on the door and the butler
hurried to answer it.
Natalie straightened her hat. She wasn’t used
to wearing hats so large. She kept worrying it might slip off, even
though the maid had secured it to her hair with pins. She glanced
out the window and checked the tree branches to see how windy it
was outside. Fortunately, it didn’t look like it was too windy. The
women were all supposed to go to a park and then have tea at a
local restaurant. The flowers in the park were still in bloom, and
she thought they might enjoy the vibrant colors and pleasant aroma.
Natalie couldn’t speak for the other women, but she was looking
forward to it. She loved walking by flowers.
A woman who looked to be about Natalie’s age
came into the room. She let out an excited squeal when she saw
Annabelle. “I didn’t know you were going to join us today. I
thought your mother might come along since this is Natalie’s first
social engagement.”
Natalie wondered how this woman knew
that.