Katie Rose (14 page)

Jennifer smiled and nodded, filled with curiosity. There was something about Gabriel’s voice when he said he was occupied that made her think it wasn’t a business meeting that had him so engaged.

Gripping her basket, she wondered if Allison was in the office with him. Her presence would ruin everything. Jennifer recalled from his calendar that Allison wasn’t scheduled to visit, but then, no one had been. Whoever his caller was, it was a surprise visit. Much like her own.

Edward frowned, then jumped up from his chair in exasperation as his pencil broke. “Excuse me, miss, but I’ve got to run out for another.” He tugged on his coat.

Jennifer shrugged in agreement, then waited for the man to quit the room. As soon as he was safely gone, she went to stand beside the door to Gabriel’s office.

Her instincts had been correct—partly. Jennifer heard a distinctly feminine voice on the other side of the door, but to her relief, it wasn’t Allison’s. Overcome by curiosity, she knelt down to the keyhole and listened to the conversation.

“I must plead with you, sir, to forgive my husband’s debts. I know I was wrong in coming here, but I felt I had no other choice.”

Jennifer’s eyes widened as she struggled to hear Gabriel’s reply. Part of her admonished herself that this was his private business, that she should be above listening at keyholes, but the rest of her couldn’t resist. Besides, she was still sort of spying on him, and as espionage went, listening at keyholes was part of the job.

“I am familiar with your account,” Gabriel said, so softly Jennifer had to strain to catch his words. “But your husband owes me for several jobs, none of which he’s paid.”

“I know, sir.” The woman spoke with a thick brogue.
“Mr. Forester, I am going to confess the truth. My Paddy has a thirst for gin. He’s a good man when he works, but the devil himself when he’s drinking. If you complain about his debts, he will go to prison, and there will be no money for myself and our wee one.”

The woman began to sob softly. Jennifer winced, waiting to hear Gabriel abruptly dismiss the woman. She had heard about Gabriel’s taking over the family business, and that he was a stern taskmaster with anyone who owed him. To her surprise, she heard his voice, comforting, and full of understanding.

“Mrs. Murphy, please don’t upset yourself so. You’ve done nothing wrong. I understand your problem, so here’s what I shall do. Tell Paddy to come see me at promptly seven
A.M
. on Saturday. I will allow him to work his debt off. That will benefit both of us. I’ll collect some kind of payment, and hopefully, keep him out of the tavern for a few weeks.”

“Bless your kind heart, sir! How will I ever thank you?”

“There is no thanks necessary, Mrs. Murphy. This is a business decision that is best for everyone. My clerk will see you out.”

“May God watch over you, sir!”

Jennifer scooted back from the doorway not a moment too soon. A tearful Mrs. Murphy emerged, holding a handkerchief to her face. She barely nodded to Jennifer, rushing past her to the street.

Jennifer stared at the door in amazement. Gabriel, stern forbidding Gabriel who never forgot a debt, had a heart. Recalling the gossip she’d heard about him and his father, Jennifer had assumed that Gabriel scrounged for every dime. She was further impressed by the genius of his solution, for to let the man off easily would be doing him no favor in the long run. She nearly beamed at Edward, who had just returned. Giving her a frown, he put his
newly acquired pencil on the desk, then popped his head inside the office once more.

“Excuse me, sir, but you have another visitor.”

Gabriel glanced up, obviously irritated at the interruption. “Take care of it, Pershing. I’m putting together a large bid and want to finish it today.”

Edward stood at the doorway, rubbing his hands together in bewilderment. “But, sir, I really think you should see her yourself.”

“Dammit, Pershing, the last thing I need is another surprise—” Before he could continue his diatribe, Jennifer peeped in just below Edward’s arm, giving Gabriel a lovely smile.

Gabriel groaned, resigned. “Let her in. Pershing, you may go.” Gabriel watched as Jennifer stepped into the room. The clerk seemed loath to depart. Curiosity twitched in the man’s mustache, and it was with great reluctance that he closed the door.

“Miss Appleton.” Gabriel deliberately lowered his voice, hoping to give his clerk less entertainment. “What in God’s name are you doing here?”

Jennifer smiled, looking exceptionally pretty in a violet-sprigged dress and pert bonnet. Lace gloves covered her hands, and dainty amethyst earrings danced from her earlobes. She shyly displayed the hamper she’d brought with her. “I wanted to thank you for what you did on Friday at the stock market. I thought about it later and realized that you are a friend, and that you really did help us. I am grateful.”

She looked so fresh and adorable that it was difficult to maintain his stern demeanor. “Miss Appleton, I don’t know if we could qualify our relationship as a friendship, and you are well aware of the reasons why. In any case, no such display is necessary. I accept your thanks, but I have a lot of work to do today. Pershing will see you out.”

Jennifer looked crushed. Her bottom lip quivered as if she would cry, then she bit it, fighting to keep her composure. Her huge gray eyes, normally glimmering with mirth, now looked pained, and he swore he saw a soft sheen of moisture there. His suspicions were confirmed a moment later when she withdrew her handkerchief from her sleeve, hiding her face in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, I just thought …” Her words came out in a confused rush. “I’m always saying or doing the wrong thing! I just wanted to be friends, to make up with you, but you really don’t like me at all, do you? Don’t worry, I’ll get out of your way. I’m sorry if I bothered you.”

Gabriel swore, coming to his feet. Every ounce of gentlemanly conditioning prodded him, and his conscience pricked him unmercifully. He felt as if he’d just stepped on a baby chick, especially when he saw the way her shoulders slumped, the picture of dejection. Sighing, he realized he couldn’t refuse her, no matter how noble his intentions or morals.

“Miss Appleton, wait.”

She turned immediately. In spite of her emotional state, she looked at him dry-eyed and expectant. He quickly dismissed his sudden suspicions, reminding himself that she had used her handkerchief. Capturing her hand with his, he attempted to smooth away the hurt.

“Look, I’m sorry. I appreciate your gesture. It’s just that I have a lot of work to do, and it really isn’t proper for you to come here. A lady does not drop into a man’s offices unescorted unless they are all but engaged, as I’m sure you know.”

“Then you’ll come for lunch?” Jennifer asked hopefully.

He had to laugh. She was maddening, irritating as hell, but utterly enchanting when she wanted to be. He could almost understand how people thought she could heal them, or that they thought they saw the dead in her presence.

“I can’t. I was going to send for the boy at the restaurant around the corner.”

Her mouth drooped in disappointment. “But you always walk in the park. This way, you could eat there, too, and it would take less time.” She brightened, opening the hamper and displaying the food inside. “Aunt Eve made us chicken and potato salad, fruit and cake. There’s even some wine.” Proudly, she indicated the bottle.

“But—”

Her lashes fluttered artlessly. “I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. If you truly meant what you said, then please come. Besides, it will do you good to get out for a few minutes. Then you can come back, fresh.”

Once again, his resistance evaporated. He stared at her for a full minute, then nodded. “I’ll get my hat.”

Jennifer beamed at him. He snatched up his hat, wondering just what had happened in the last few minutes, and why he always seemed to lose control around this woman. He pushed open the door, and Edward scrambled to get back to his desk. He gave the clerk a stern look.

“Finish those reports by the time I get back. Miss Appleton and I have a business meeting.”

Edward nodded, then stared curiously at Jennifer, who smiled back at him. Gabriel ushered her out the door, and down to the street. He held her arm as he would any woman he was escorting, but he saw by her look of pleasure that she obviously enjoyed the attention. Distracted, he glanced down at her hamper, then took the heavy bundle from her.

“I’ll call for my carriage since we have all this food.”

“Oh, we can take mine,” Jennifer offered. “It’s still there.”

He nodded, then followed her to a gleaming carriage that waited near the curb. Two glossy black horses stood before the vehicle, tossing their heads impatiently, while a
jaunty driver winked at Jennifer. She directed the man to the park, then climbed in beside Gabriel.

“Miss Appleton, this is a rather nice carriage,” Gabriel commented, settling the hamper on the floor and glancing at the supple leather seats and polished brass fittings. “Surely you don’t own this? Your financial situation must be improving dramatically.”

“Well.” Jennifer looked nonplussed. “We did do rather well on Friday, with the magnetic healing. Now, don’t scowl like that,” she continued quickly. “And then there were the stock tips.”

“What do you mean, ‘stock tips’?” Outrage began to well up inside him again. He had a pretty good idea of what she meant, but he wasn’t any happier about it when she confirmed his belief.

“Vanderbilt and some of the others gave us some advice. The Union Pacific stock turned around very quickly, and we made a handsome profit.”

“Miss Appleton.” Gabriel gritted his teeth. “Do you mean to tell me that you refused my help but accepted the commodore’s?”

Jennifer rustled her dress, looking down at the floor of the carriage, then out the open window, then back. Trapped, she finally confessed. “Yes.” At his thunderous expression, she rushed to explain. “I had no other choice! Your offer was conditional upon a promise I couldn’t make. The commodore’s was—”

“In exchange for services rendered.” He glared at her, and when she gave him a sheepish smile, he couldn’t contain his fury. “Miss Appleton, why is it I’m always torn between wanting to beat you, and …”

“And?” She picked up, brightening.

“And wanting never to see you again,” he finished quickly—damned if she’d catch him like that. “So you seem to have done very well for yourself. I apologize for my foolishness in thinking that I might have been able to
assist you. Now that you have such powerful friends, my offer must have seemed really ridiculous.”

Why her relationship with Vanderbilt and the rest of them should bother him, he couldn’t explain. All he knew was that his masculine ego was crushed. He didn’t want the Appletons dependent on him in any way … did he? Why then did he feel so outraged and betrayed?

“It was nothing of the sort,” Jennifer pleaded. “I appreciated your offer, you know that. I just couldn’t promise what you wanted. Even now, with the investments, we are not financially sound. We still need the income from the séances.” When he refused to look at her, Jennifer laid her hand on his arm. “Please, Mr. Forester, let’s not quarrel. I wanted to treat you today, to thank you. I don’t want to upset you.”

“It’s a little late for that, miss,” Gabriel said coldly, but he found the sting subsiding.

The carriage rolled to a stop and they disembarked. Gabriel was forced to help Jennifer down, slipping his hands around her as he swung her from the step. This time, she was suitably shod for the park, with new little leather boots, he noted. Once more he was aware of her small feet and dainty ankles. He had to let her go quickly, and even then he was still physically affected by her nearness.

She pointed out the spot she’d found and playfully spread out the picnic cloth, letting it puff into the air like a sail before settling down to the grass. It was a beautiful place, and a perfect day. Autumn was coming, and there was a bite in the air, and the normally hazy sky was clear and breathtakingly blue.

Jennifer peeped at Gabriel, aware that he was still furious with her. It seemed he always was, no matter what she said or did. This romance stuff wasn’t nearly as easy as Penelope described it, though she had to admit, her sister’s
tactics worked. Why they did remained a mystery to Jennifer.

She unpacked the basket, enticing him with food and gay chatter. He seemed detached, as if fighting off her spell, wanting to keep her at a distance. He ate the food, responded politely enough, but some of the brightness seemed to have gone away. Jennifer knew he was angry about the stocks, but what should she have done? Refused what she knew was a reasonable way to make money? Sometimes, she just didn’t understand men at all.

A street urchin wandered by with a basket, then stopped beside Gabriel and Jennifer. His face was smudged with chimney dust, and his hands were blistered and covered with dirt. Jennifer shuddered, thinking there but for the grace of God went she. She gave the boy a bright smile, which he answered immediately.

“Afternoon, miss. Would you be interested in buying a wee kitten? I have a basket full.”

He opened the lid, and Jennifer glanced inside. Three beautiful kittens tumbled about, playing with a leaf that had fallen into the basket. Her heart melted as she lifted a calico from the litter and held it aloft for Gabriel to see.

“Oh, isn’t he cute? Gabriel, look! He looks like a little tiger!”

The boy, sensing a soft touch, went for the kill. “Can you spare a dollar, miss? If I don’t sell ’em, we’ll have to drown them, for there ain’t enough milk in the house for all.”

“Drown them! Why, you couldn’t! Let me see if I have any money …” She rifled through her reticule, counting out pennies, looking forlorn as the boy ingeniously held up the doomed kitten.

Gabriel sighed, then reached into his own pocket. “Here’s three dollars, and that’s highway robbery. Give the others away.”

The boy nodded, snatching up the money, then depositing the kitten in Jennifer’s lap. Jennifer smiled at Gabriel, giving him a look so full of longing that he had to swallow hard.

What in the hell was he doing? One minute he swore to have nothing to do with her again, the next minute, he was buying her presents. Worse yet, when she rose a moment later and placed her hand on his shoulder, he was nearly overcome.