Katie Rose (42 page)

“James, I am honored, deeply honored. But I cannot be your wife. I’m sorry if I gave you cause to think otherwise. I will remember this day always with fondest memories, and only pray that you won’t think too badly of me, for I very much treasure our friendship.”

The Irishman looked stunned, and it was a full moment before he could object. “Why, then? I know I’m not a very handsome man, but surely …”

“Don’t, please. It has nothing to do with any of that. I realize now that I need to love and be loved. We Appletons have everything we’ve ever struggled for now: money, position, acceptance. I thought that was what I was looking for, what I needed to be happy. But I feel this emptiness, this ache inside of me that needs to be filled, and my heart tells me that only loving the right man will do that.”

James rose from the seat, a wry smile crossing his face. His eyes looked pained, but he didn’t seem very surprised. “Well, well, my dear, I can’t say I’m not disappointed. I do hope you meant the part about the friendship, for as surely as Erin is green, I’d like to remain a friend of yours. And one day, when you find the man you love, he’d better be worthy of you or he’ll have me to reckon with!”

Thrusting a fist into the air, his ruddy face took on a deeper hue as Penelope stood up and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”

He departed, closing the door of the patio behind him. As soon as he was gone, Penelope sat down in her
chair and sighed. It wasn’t every day one passed up the opportunity to be a millionairess.

Yet she didn’t regret it at all.

“May I have the next dance?”

Jennifer’s heart pounded as Gabriel stepped into their circle just as the music ended. Her partner seemed loath to let her go, but manners dictated his actions for him and he reluctantly conceded. As a waltz began, Jennifer felt the tingly excitement of Gabriel’s hand slipping around her waist. He held her more closely than any of her other partners, and she could only sigh, admitting silently at how right it felt to be in his arms.

“You have been quite a success tonight. I must congratulate you,” Gabriel said softly. “Even if it is under false pretenses.”

“What do you mean?” Jennifer asked, surprised. She had expected disapproval, but the cold resignation in his voice made her shiver.

“Come on now, Jennifer, this is me. I of all people know you put on an act. How you managed to convince Mildred Adams that she’d seen a ghost must have been quite a stunt. Did you have Penelope appear dressed in a sheet, or did Winnie pop up in a corpse’s shroud?”

“Gabriel, you can’t really think—!” At his disbelieving smirk, Jennifer felt her happiness at being with him dissolve into fury. She stamped her foot, halting the waltz, looking at him incredulously. “My heavens, you must take us for the biggest con artists ever, to be able to pull off something like that! As it happens, a ghost did appear. Everything Mildred said is the absolute truth!”

“Sure it is,” Gabriel said sardonically, yet his eyes were furious. “Just as leprechauns hide pots of gold. You know, Jennifer, I don’t know why I’m surprised by all this, but I am. Somehow, I’d come to think better of you, but taking
advantage of old ladies’ grief is your forte after all, isn’t it? I suggest you keep dancing, Miss Appleton, or your well-deserved fame is about to become questionable. Everyone is looking at you.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that he spoke the truth. Forcing a bright smile, she swirled to the music, hiding the fact that she gritted her teeth. Why did this man have the power to infuriate her over all others? And why, for heaven’s sake, did his approval still matter so much?

“What a wonderful actress you are!” Gabriel continued, dancing perfectly. “I can see how Mildred thought you conjured a ghost after all. You could make a man believe just about anything, Jennifer. You are that powerful.”

Jennifer squeezed back the tears that threatened, determined not to give him that satisfaction. When she looked up at him, her eyes were shining and hard. “Gabriel, I’m telling you the truth. We really did conjure a ghost, my father’s spirit. I have never lied to you. I don’t know how it happened, just that it did. I don’t expect you to be happy about our success, but I care about what you think and I want you to know the truth.”

Gabriel stopped as the music ended and clapped along with everyone else. When he glanced down at her, Jennifer saw uncertainty and apprehension in his gaze. “If that is so, then I am really worried. Jennifer, the occult is not something you want to fool around with. No one completely understands this business, least of all you and I. It could be dangerous.”

Jennifer smiled in relief. “You still care about me, don’t you? I knew it!” She beamed, feeling a warm flood of emotion fill her, but her hopes were dashed with his next words.

“You misunderstand me. I am concerned for you, and want you to be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. It seems that you have a line of swains waiting for the next dance
with the notorious Miss Appleton. Good-bye, Jennifer.” Then he was gone.

Jennifer managed to smile as the next man took her hand, wondering why no one else seemed to see that her heart was breaking.

“I assume you know why I’m here.”

“Actually, I don’t.” Gabriel glanced down in confusion at the card he still held. “Mildred Adams” was scrawled across the elegant stiff paper, which he noted was devoid of the pretty flowers and birds that adorned most of the younger women’s calling cards. The New York matron had never been known to call on a middle-class gentleman, and Gabriel was curious as to her reasons today.

Mildred’s voice cracked like a whip. “Are you or aren’t you Gabriel Forester, of the Forester Marble Company?”

“Yes, I am.” Gabriel answered, surprised. “Why? Are you interested in marble?”

“I might be,” Mildred said, tapping her finger thoughtfully. She drew out her spectacles, and to his astonishment, appeared to examine him from head to toe. When she finished, he assumed he must have passed some kind of inspection, for she nodded her head. “Yes, you’ll do. In fact, I think you’ll do nicely.”

Fortunately, Benton brought the tea at that moment, giving Gabriel a chance to collect his thoughts. Mildred, he recalled, had been to the Appletons for a séance. The session had reportedly impressed her to the point that she
thought she’d seen a ghost. This much Gabriel knew. That she was a known eccentric he also knew. But her reasons for this visit perplexed him completely. He had no choice but to wait patiently, as he watched her add a second dollop of cream to her cup.

“You are aware that I have taken a special interest in the Appleton girls?” Mildred eyed him intently, watching every move and every reaction like a physician trying to discern the health of an individual.

“I’d heard as much,” Gabriel admitted awkwardly.

“Then you should be aware that I am very concerned with the girls’ social activities, who they see, what their prospects are.”

“I see, but what has that to do with me—”

“Young man, do not be obtuse! You are aware, I’m certain, that Jennifer Appleton is in love with you, and is pining away because of it?”

“Jennifer!” Gabriel snorted. “Yes, I am well acquainted with Miss Appleton and her antics. I saw her at the Belmonts’ ball. Not only is she not pining away, but she looked uncommonly happy and well to me. She certainly seemed to be enjoying herself.”

Mildred shook her head as if speaking to someone of the lowest possible intellect. “Mr. Forester, you certainly know very little about women. I assure you that what I’m telling you is the truth, and what I’d like to know is, what do you intend to do about it?”

Gabriel stood up, his face red. “Madam,” he said between clenched teeth, “this is quite extraordinary. I am not accustomed to being questioned in such a manner.”

“Maybe it’s time you were,” Mildred said, completely unruffled by his outburst. “I understand from my good friend Eve that you have compromised this girl. Mr. Forester, in my day, my father would have taken a horsewhip to your shoulders for such actions. The least you can do is make good.”

“Madam, please!” Gabriel turned to her, his eyes blazing. “I am well aware of what transpired between Jennifer and myself. I have proposed to her, but she declined. There really isn’t anything else I can do.”

“I see.” Mildred speculated on this last remark, and sipped her tea quietly. “You proposed, you say? And, of course, assured Jennifer of your love and understanding for her … unusual occupation?”

Gabriel threw up his hands in resignation. “I told Jennifer that I forbade her to continue performing séances. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for a husband to insist that his wife not perform charlatan activities—”

“Young man, she is no charlatan!” Mildred put her teacup aside and faced him directly. Her old, razor-sharp eyes locked intensely with his. “I had a séance with Miss Appleton, and when I tell you a ghost appeared, you may take my word for it. Do you understand?”

Gabriel stared at her, and for the first time, the import of what Jennifer had tried to tell him sank in. “But that’s impossible! There are no such things as ghosts—”

“I assure you, sir, that there are. What happened that night was a miracle. Surely you can’t keep Jennifer from allowing the world to benefit from her talent. And surely, if you loved her, you wouldn’t even try.”

Everything that was once clear became muddled. Gabriel tried to sort out his thoughts, but found himself helpless to do so. He sank into his chair, shaking his head, desperately trying to compose himself. Jennifer really had conjured a ghost! It was incredible, to say the least. Although he knew Jennifer was convinced that such a thing had happened, he really hadn’t believed it in his soul. But for a martinet like Mildred to testify that it did happen … He glanced up and saw Mildred watching him with a strange sort of understanding on her face.

“Young man, think about what I’ve said. Miss Appleton may have been reluctant to wed you because of your
stance, but it is your duty to show her the error of her ways. She needs you, and if I am not very much mistaken, I think you need her. You don’t know me, but I have wasted a considerable part of my life pining for a man I couldn’t have. I let others interfere, you see, and as a result, lost the man I truly loved. Do not continue this foolishness any longer.”

She rose to take her leave. When Gabriel started to rise with her, she shook her head, slipping into her coat. Her hat, a monstrous creation of dried fruit, birds, and butterflies, dipped precariously, but she straightened it instantly and gave him a piercing look.

“I will see myself out. I trust you to do the right thing. After all, I knew your father and, as a gentleman, he would insist on it also.”

She strode from the room and was gone.

Gabriel shook his head in bewilderment, but he couldn’t get past the truth of what she’d said. As outrageous as Mildred’s delivery was, it didn’t alter the fact that she was right. Shame coursed through Gabriel as he recalled accusing Jennifer of lying, when all the while she was telling him the truth. More important was Mildred’s assurance that Jennifer did, indeed, still love him.

That thought burned like a spark in his breast. Gabriel realized that he’d been ten times a fool, and had allowed his own pride, his own outrage at Jennifer’s refusal to obey him, to goad him into stupidity. He’d kept away from her in order to win the battle, and in doing so, had almost lost the war.

Sitting alone in his town house, Gabriel could finally admit the truth: He loved Jennifer and wanted her, no matter what. Even if it meant séances. Even if it meant ghosts. No matter what she brought into the relationship, it would be uniquely her own, and that he couldn’t live without. She had been right in denying him, he realized with stunning clarity, for he hadn’t been able to accept her.
Acceptance and love really were the same thing, and if it wasn’t for an old society dowager, he might not have realized it even now.

Gabriel poured himself a brandy, hoping that tonight, at least, he could sleep. It would be the first night since he’d left her at the jail that he would be able to do so. Relief already coursed through him now that he’d made his decision. On the morrow, he would go see Jennifer, and try to explain.

He only prayed he wasn’t too late.

Jennifer entered twin Gables, her bags stuffed under one of her arms, accolades under the other. She had just returned from her speaking engagement, and she smiled wanly as she surveyed the house. Goodness, it felt good to be home.

Collapsing into a chair, she realized she’d been gone since the day after the Christmas Ball. She was surprised to learn that since the ball, she’d become a spectacular success. Her innocence and directness were charming to the world-weary New Yorkers, while her burnished blond beauty was considered ethereal. She wasn’t a sophisticate like the bored married women who summered in Europe when their husbands became too tedious, and she wasn’t a giggling debutante who swooned at the first bawdy suggestion. She had an air of sexual sophistication, as if she’d taken a lover or two; yet, besides Gabriel, her name was linked with no one. Jennifer Appleton had become the apple of New York’s eye.