It Happened One Christmas (17 page)
Read It Happened One Christmas Online
Authors: Kaitlin O'Riley
19
Love and Joy Come to You
Saturday, December 13, 1873
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Jubilant and full of excitement, Quinton left a special meeting of the board of directors of the housing commission, who had deemed his plans satisfactory and had just given him their approval. Everything was coming together perfectly and he couldn't be more pleased with the fact that his houses would finally be built for the people who needed them the most. Oh, he designed houses for the wealthy, of course, because they paid well, but these other houses meant more to him. These were homes that would make a real impact in the lives of people. He would be creating a whole neighborhood, an entire new way of life for dozens of poor families who would otherwise be spending their lives in miserable squalor.
And this was just the start. Eventually he could get more homes built, and when he could get elected to Parliament he could make a real difference. He would be able to make sweeping changes and reforms then.
Walking along the crowded street toward his waiting carriage, he noted the heavy gray sky threatening to snow once again. There was a definite chill in the air and he increased his pace. Pulling his scarf up around his neck to ward off the cold, he rounded the corner of the street. Distracted, he did not watch where he was walking. He crashed into someone, a woman. He grabbed her delicate shoulders to keep her from falling down.
“Lisette!” he cried in surprise when he realized it was she. “Miss Hamilton.” He amended as an afterthought. “Forgive me. Are you all right?”
Her sweet laughter warmed his heart as he held her by her arms, her hands tucked into a white ermine muff. She gazed up at him with wide eyes full of amusement.
“Mr. Roxbury,” she continued to laugh. “We really
must
stop meeting this way!”
must
stop meeting this way!”
“We do tend to run into each other unexpectedly, don't we?” He smiled at her, joy surging through him at the sight of her. Her face was so beautiful it almost took his breath away. Her green eyes sparkled with an inner light, as if she were brimming with a most delicious secret. The hood of her black cloak trimmed with white fur framed her face prettily.
“It's beginning to feel ridiculous how we meet like this.” She laughed again.
“Yes, I suppose it is.” It was now the fourth time they had met by utter chance. He wondered at the odds of such coincidence. Or good fortune. Or fate. Whatever it was called, he was grateful for their crossing paths. He was simply happy to see her.
People brushed by them as they stood immobile in the middle of the walkway. He realized he still held her. With great reluctance, Quinton released her shoulders from his grasp, his gloved hands sliding slowly down the length of her arms. They stared at each other.
“It is good to see you, Miss Hamilton.”
“It is good to see you, too, Mr. Roxbury.”
“May I ask where you are headed this afternoon?”
A cloud crossed her face and she seemed flustered and a little embarrassed. “Oh . . . I . . . that is,” she stammered awkwardly, her eyelids fluttering. “I am meeting Henry.”
Quinton forced a smile he did not feel. “That's wonderful. Where are you meeting him?”
Surprised by his response, she answered slowly, “I was on my way there just now. It's Bradbury's Jewelry Shop, just around the corner.”
“I would be honored to meet your fiancé.” He added with a sly smile, “And to be fair, you met my fiancée.” Honestly he was interested in finally seeing the solicitor who had claimed Lisette's heart to the dismay of her mother. “May I walk with you?”
Lisette seemed to answer without thinking. “Yes, of course, if you wish.”
He extended his arm to her. “Then shall we?”
She took his arm. A sudden gust of wind swooshed by, causing her black velvet cloak to swirl around her. Neither shivered from the wintry blast, so busy were they basking in the warm glow of each other's company. They walked the brief distance in the direction of the jeweler's shop. When they reached the storefront, Lisette hesitated.
“Shall we go in?” she whispered.
Her nervousness at his intention to meet her fiancé intrigued him. What had she to be so anxious about? Was the man disfigured in some way? Was he old and decrepit? Quinton had no idea what to expect as he opened the door to the jewelry shop and held it for her.
“Miss Hamilton! Miss Hamilton!”
They both turned at the sound of her name. A young boy hurried along the pavement toward them. Lisette seemed to recognize him and moved in his direction. Pausing to watch, Quinton closed the door to the shop.
“What is it, Jeremy?” she asked, her face concerned.
The youth took a big gulp of air to catch his breath. “I have a message for you from Mr. Brooks.” Reaching into his pocket, he produced a folded paper and handed it to Lisette.
Lisette read the note quickly, her expression revealing nothing. She shoved the paper into her reticule and pulled out a coin. Giving it to the boy, she said, “Thank you, Jeremy.”
He grinned happily at the tip he received. “No message in return?”
“Please tell Mr. Brooks that everything is fine.”
The boy tipped his cap to her. “Thank you. Good afternoon, miss.” He raced off in the direction he'd come from.
Quinton gave her a quizzical look but had a feeling he already knew what the message contained. “Not bad news, I hope?”
She sighed and answered in a matter-of-fact tone, “It seems Henry has been unexpectedly detained by an emergency with a client and must travel to Portsmouth this evening.”
“And he will not be able to meet you here,” Quinton stated the obvious.
“Apparently not.” She squared her petite shoulders.
“Well, then. I suppose I shall return home.”
“I will take you in my carriage.”
She protested politely, her nervousness returning again. “Oh, that won't be necessary, Mr. Roxbury.”
“I insist. It has grown colder and the wind is picking up. I won't take no for an answer, Miss Hamilton. Besides . . .” He offered her a cryptic smile. “I have an ulterior motive for wanting you to accompany me.”
He watched her green eyes widen.
“I have some news to share about my building project and would also like your opinion of some of the new plans I have in mind.”
She relaxed visibly at his words and nodded in agreement. “Then it would be my pleasure.”
Another strong gust of wind whipped around them, almost knocking Lisette's slight frame over and blowing her fur-trimmed hood off her head. Instinctively he reached out to steady her and she grabbed hold of him. The weather was becoming decidedly worse. He drew her near him in protection.
“We should hurry,” he said.
He held on to her hand and guided her quickly back up the street toward his waiting carriage. Once they were safely ensconced within the well-appointed vehicle, he instructed his coachman to take them to the planned site for his houses, just outside the city. In spite of the dreary weather, Quinton was not quite ready to take Lisette home now that he had her to himself.
“How would you like to see where we're going to build the houses before I take you home?” he asked her.
“Oh, that would be wonderful!” she exclaimed.
“Good, because that is where we are headed.” He settled back in the opposing seat, facing Lisette. “Are you disappointed that your fiancé could not meet you?”
Lisette inclined her head slightly. “A little.” She paused before adding, “We were to have my engagement ring fitted properly this afternoon.”
He did not like to think of Lisette wearing this Henry Brooks's ring and was oddly satisfied that even now she still could not wear it. “Although I am pleased by this unexpected chance to see you, I am sorry that you have been let down.”
She did not meet his eyes. “Thank you.”
“I have good news that I think you shall be glad to hear,” he began in an attempt to brighten her mood. “I have raised enough capital for construction to begin on the new housing development. Building will definitely start in the spring.”
Her entire expression transformed into one of absolute delight. “Oh, how wonderful! That is exciting news!” She clapped her hands together.
“Isn't it?” Thrilled by her response to his news, he had known instinctively that she would share in his enthusiasm. It was the reason he had wanted to tell her. Now having told her, he fought the impulse to embrace her. Instead he described to her the details of his meeting with the housing commission that afternoon. “And I took to heart your ideas about education. I've designed a schoolhouse for the neighborhood as well.”
“You are going to vastly change people's lives for the better, Mr. Roxbury. Do you realize that?” Her voice was incredulous and tinged with awe.
“That is the point. The poor need to have their lives changed in a dramatic way; otherwise nothing would ever change. A real house gives a person a sense of dignity and comfort and makes for a better community overall and benefits everyone in the long run. But the change needs to occur. It doesn't matter who does it as long as it gets done. The credit does not belong to me.”
“But it was your idea to build these houses in the first place,” she insisted. “I think what you are doing is quite inspirational. I would be proud to help you in any way I could.”
Quinton remained quiet. Lisette's reaction to his work pleased him. In such a short time Lisette had taken an interest in what he did and found his work commendable, even laudable. It was one of the reasons he found her so attractive. Whereas Emmeline . . . Emmeline had no interest in anyone other than herself.
“I would love to have your assistance. We are about to form a committee to help with finalizing the details and selecting the families that will be the first inhabitants of this neighborhood. I think you would be an asset to such a cause, Miss Hamilton.”
She shook her head and a soft color suffused her cheeks. “Oh, no. Not me. I've never done anything like that. I couldn't possibly.”
“You would be the perfect person for such an endeavor,” he insisted. “You are intelligent and caring and you have common sense. Besides, you are already part of a committee.”
“What are you talking about?” She gazed at him quizzically.
“Your family. Do you or do you not decide things together with your sisters about what you will do as a group or what you will do at the bookshop?”
“Well . . . yes we do,” she admitted with a bit of reluctance. “But that is completely different.”
“No, it isn't really. It's the same principle, only more official. On the housing committee there would be other people working with you, coming up with ideas, solving problems, and making decisions. That's how it works. You have well-formed ideas and would be a wonderful addition. You inspired me with the idea of creating a neighborhood, not just homes. Adding a school and a church. Besides, you do such remarkable service already by teaching those boys in the shop how to read. I think you should consider it.”
A look of intrigue came over her pretty face, and he knew he was winning her over.
“Do you truly think so?”
“Absolutely.”
“I shall give the matter some thought,” she promised with a smile.
He admitted, “I've already submitted your name.”
“You have?” her voice squeaked a bit in surprise.
“Yes.”
The carriage came to a stop, and Quinton glanced out the curtained window. “We're here.” He extended his hand to her. “Come with me.”
Lisette took his hand and he helped her down from the carriage. Being a gentleman had its advantages because he loved that he had such a good excuse to touch her. Braving the cold, together they walked hand in hand across the hard ground. The sky above was heavy with thick gray clouds, and the wind continued to whip around them in unexpected bursts. This area of undeveloped land on the western edge of the city was covered with many large trees and encompassed empty fields and meadows.
“It's so pretty here,” she said, taking in the expansive view from atop a small rise they climbed.
“Isn't it?” A feeling of contentment filled him being there with her, simply holding her hand on a cold afternoon.
“Is all of this land yours?”
“Well, it's not mine exactly, but yes. There are about twenty or so acres that we will use to construct the houses and other buildings on.” He could easily picture the houses there already and it filled him with satisfaction.
“How good it will be to move some of those families out of the city, to live here, in their own homes.”
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