A blush colored Mrs. Nelson’s pale skin. “Truly? It’s nice to know he pays me compliments outside of my hearing. Our life here in Kansas has been more difficult than I had anticipated. I find little time for myself. But now that you’ve arrived to help with the house and children, life is going to be much easier.”
“Perhaps,” Lilly replied. “Now then, why don’t we go downstairs so I can taste some of that fine food your husband has been praising since we departed Nicodemus?”
“Indeed. And I can point out where things are kept in the kitchen so you’ll have no difficulty preparing breakfast in the morning. The children are fond of eggs and griddle cakes with warm molasses.”
“That’s good to know. However, I didn’t plan to begin my duties just yet. I believe I’ll need at least a day or two to acclimate myself. I’ve discovered that children don’t adjust well when someone new arrives and immediately steps in. It upsets both their appetites and their behavior. It will be best if I slowly enter into their routine. Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t know . . . I suppose . . . well, if you think . . .”
Lilly patted the woman’s shoulder. “Absolutely! You know, I believe we’re going to get on quite well, Mrs. Nelson. And if you’d ever like me to assist you with your wardrobe, I do consider myself an expert where fashion is concerned.”
Embarrassment filled Katherine’s eyes as she brushed her fingers across one of the many stains that soiled her dress. Lilly knew she’d struck a chord with the woman. This new position in the Nelson household might require a number of distasteful tasks, but Lilly now realized that Mrs. Nelson would be easily manipulated. And that fact pleased Lilly very much!
“Supper ready?” Ezekiel asked as he walked through the door of the soddy that evening, stopping only long enough to rinse his hands in the washbowl.
Grace bounded forward like a puppy ready to play. She bounced back and forth from foot to foot as she told her father that Lilly had gone off to Hill City to live with the banker and his family.
Ezekiel dropped his bulky body onto one of the wooden chairs. He’d longed for Lilly’s departure. Hadn’t he daily hoped to send her packing? But to Hill City? Off to spread her wily ways among good, honest folks not far from his home. That wasn’t what he had prayed for, nor was it what he wanted. He wanted Lilly back in New Orleans, or at least some other faraway place. No telling what kind of trouble she’d be conjuring up over in Hill City. “That woman ain’ never been nothin’ but trouble!” The tin dinner plates danced across the tabletop as he slammed down his fist.
Startled, Grace stood before him, all evidence of her earlier excitement wiped away by his angry outburst. “I thought you’d be pleased. You said you wanted her to leave.”
Ezekiel rubbed his beefy hand back and forth across his brow before lifting his head to meet Grace’s doe-eyed gaze. “That I did. But Hill City weren’t what I had in mind. I was hopin’ she’d skedaddle a lot farther away than that.”
Hill City , Kansas
E
ager for the sensation of freshly laundered linens beneath her body and the shelter of a shingled roof over her head, Lilly undressed and donned an expensive silk nightgown—one of Bentley Cummings’s many gifts. She’d slept little during her stay at Ezekiel’s farm. The thought of snakes or other undesirable creatures descending through the roof or crawling between the sod bricks to take up residence in the uncomfortable bed had been enough to keep her wide-awake most nights. If luck was with her, the Nelson children would sleep late and she would be able to enjoy a hearty breakfast before making a swift escape. She could easily fill a portion of her day visiting with Truth and Moses. Then, too, a few introductions about town might prove interesting.
Though the crisp sheets beckoned, Lilly sat down at the narrow writing table. She must write a note to Claire before she slept this night. With single-minded determination, Lilly hastily scribbled a message advising her friend of her welfare and whereabouts. Tomorrow she would mail the missive to New Orleans. Pushing away from the table, Lilly extinguished the bedside lamp and slipped into bed.
The muffled sounds of the sleeping children seeped through the bedroom wall and served as an immediate reminder of the duties she must eventually fulfill. The notion was disconcerting. She wasn’t good with children. No, that wasn’t exactly correct, for she had no true way to gauge her abilities with youngsters. After all, her life had revolved solely around adults—mostly men. But surely if she could manipulate the influential men of New Orleans, she could handle three small children. Nestling between the sweet-scented linens, Lilly wondered what Ezekiel had said when he returned home and discovered she had departed for Hill City. Likely he had danced for joy—or at the very least, burst into song. She had expected a cool reception from her brother-in-law. And though his accusations had stung, more often than not they’d been accurate. There was no denying she had refused his request years ago. He’d asked for her help caring for Jennie and the children, and she’d turned him down. Oh, she should have helped. No doubt about that. Unfortunately, Ezekiel had been right. By law, she was a free woman, but in truth, she had remained a slave to the wishes of Bentley Cummings, the man who provided her living quarters and attired her in the dresses and jewels that had persuaded her to remain his courtesan for years.
Bentley! If it hadn’t been for his philandering ways, she’d still be living in New Orleans. She’d heard stories through the years that Bentley had other women, but she’d ignored the remarks, choosing to believe it was mere jealousy that had delivered the unwelcome news to her doorstep on numerous occasions. However, it had been impossible to retain her aloof countenance when Sephra had knocked on her door and announced she was Bentley’s favored woman. A sudden fury had embraced Lilly as the young, beautiful woman stood before her, attired in the latest fashion and holding her young son by the hand—a tawny-skinned boy, though Lilly refused to admit any noticeable resemblance to Bentley Cummings.
When Bentley arrived the next day and exhibited no remorse, Lilly angrily informed him a curse had been placed upon the woman. Oh, how she wished she had never uttered those words! For when Sephra’s body was discovered in a nearby swamp one week later, Bentley immediately placed all blame upon Lilly, threatening to have her thrown into an alligator-ridden bayou if she didn’t tell him what had happened to his young son.
Though she had no idea where to locate the child, Lilly promised to produce him by first light. And although convincing Bentley required her to draw upon all of her womanly wiles, Lilly finally succeeded in her ruse. By the time he finally departed her bungalow, she was exhausted. However, there was no time for rest. If she was to survive the ordeal, a hasty exodus would be required. She bribed the coachman who delivered her to the train station, though she was afraid he would be most pleased to take a few extra coins and divulge any information if Bentley might inquire.
As she shifted her weight, seeking a more comfortable position in her new bed, Lilly continued to hope Bentley and the coachman would never cross paths.
The night was warm, and the smell of honeysuckle clung to the light breeze wafting through the small window near her bed, yet she pulled on the crisp white sheet until it completely covered her head. For the moment, Lilly felt invisible, even a bit safe. Wouldn’t the folks back home be amused to find her hiding under the covers?
Down in New Orleans, people believed she possessed the special powers of a fearsome witch or voodoo queen, but Lilly knew the truth and she could admit it—at least to herself. Why, she was as frightened by life and its mysteries as anyone else. Yet it had been the fear of those special powers that had earned her a measure of control and respect among her peers. That, and the fact that she was Bentley Cummings’s courtesan.
And now what was she? Even more, who was she? An aging woman with no true identity, self-exiled to this vast wasteland called Kansas—but for what? To be tracked down and returned to New Orleans? To be made the fool by Bentley Cummings? Or to be forced into servitude to reimburse him for the years of upkeep he’d so willingly paid throughout the years? He would enjoy such an ending. That prospect alone would undoubtedly fuel his resolve to leave no stone unturned in his quest to find her and make her pay.
“Who is she?” a teeny voice whispered.
“How do you expect me to know? Maybe she’s here to help Mama clean the house and cook our food.” The second voice was slightly deeper and more authoritative—likely the older brother, Lilly decided.
“That can’t be right, ’cause she’s still in bed and Mama’s cooking breakfast,” the hushed girlish voice argued.
Lilly remained perfectly still with her eyes pinched together while the children’s whispers floated overhead. With a scrap of luck, the Nelson children would soon depart her room. Otherwise, she might be forced to frighten them away from her bedside. Several ideas immediately came to mind, but she forced the notions aside. She had better not test Mrs. Nelson’s forbearance just yet. The lady of the house might not tolerate such behavior from a newly employed housekeeper. Lilly inwardly cringed at the title.
“Come on, before Mama finds out we’re in here.”
Lilly forced herself to remain motionless until she heard the sound of feet clattering down the back stairway. With a sigh of relief, she opened her eyes and shifted to the side of the bed. Her feet had barely touched the floor when Lilly spied a pair of cornflower-blue eyes peering from behind the door.
She leaned forward and pointed at the child. “What are you doing in my room?”
With a muffled squeal, the girl skittered sideways and moved toward the doorway. Lilly leapt forward and encircled the child’s thin arm with one hand. “Why are you running off now? Why didn’t you leave with your sibling?”
The child stared at Lilly’s painted fingernails. “What’s a sibling?”
Lilly’s laughter filled the room. “Your brother. Why didn’t you go downstairs with him?”
The girl’s eyes were wide with wonder as she looked up and down, taking in the length of Lilly’s form. “I wanted to see you.”
“Well, now that you’ve seen me, I think you had best leave while I dress.” The child moved toward the door. “What’s your name, little girl?”
“Alma.” The child raced out the door and down the back stairway.
Alma would be easily enough handled—that much was obvious. But the boys. If they were like most of the little boys she’d encountered in her day, they would need to be infused with a smidgen of fear before they’d behave in proper fashion. And Lilly possessed the necessary tactics to instill apprehension in most anyone. After all, she didn’t intend to spend her days racing about after miscreant children. There would be better ways to fill her time, even in this remote setting. She would either teach them respect or scare them out of their wits.With her plan set, Lilly decided upon a pale yellow print dress and a hat with yellow ribbons for her stroll about town.
When she finally walked down the front stairway, she knew she’d made the proper choice. Her clothing would be a unique complement to the bright summer day. She stopped at the oak-framed mirror in the lower hallway, admiring herself for a moment.
“Is that you, Lilly?” Mrs. Nelson held a bowl in the crook of her arm and was stirring the contents as she walked down the hallway. At the sight of her new housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson stopped and pointed her wooden spoon at Lilly. “You aren’t planning on wearing
that
to do chores and care for the children, are you?” A dollop of batter dripped from the spoon as Mrs. Nelson awaited Lilly’s answer.
“You don’t like this dress?” Lilly turned her attention back to the mirror and smoothed the lace-filled square neckline.
“Of course, it’s lovely. However, it’s not what I’d expect anyone to wear while performing chores.”
Lilly’s gown rustled softly as she approached Mrs. Nelson and placed a light pat on the woman’s shoulder. “You’ve forgotten that I don’t plan to begin my position just yet. I intend to spend the day visiting my niece and becoming acquainted with the town. In truth, I was thinking it might be best if I waited until the first of the week to actually commence working. Breakfast would be most welcome, though, before I depart.”
Mrs. Nelson handed the mixing bowl to Lilly before stooping down to clean the batter from the wood floor. “I find your plan unsatisfactory. You’ll begin work tomorrow. And if you want breakfast, I suggest you come into the kitchen and fix it yourself.”
Lilly silently chastised herself. She had misread Mrs. Nelson and pushed her too far. “You misconstrued my comment regarding breakfast. Why, I would never expect you to fix my meal. I merely thought that if there was a cup of coffee and a cold biscuit, I’d help myself. I don’t know if Mr. Nelson told you, but this is the first time I’ve met my nieces, and I’m anxious to spend time with them. I wouldn’t have accepted this position but for the fact that Truth lives in Hill City. You see, they’re my only family.”
Mrs. Nelson’s features softened. “I didn’t realize. No, of course I understand.”
Lilly followed Mrs. Nelson into the kitchen. “From the moment I met you, I knew you’d understand. A woman who has children of her own values the importance of family.”
“Let me introduce you to the children. Alma, Georgie, and this is Joey.” Mrs. Nelson placed a hand atop each child’s head as she introduced them.
None of them mentioned having been in Lilly’s bedroom earlier, though Lilly guessed it was Georgie, the older boy, who had accompanied little Alma into her room. He had a devilish gleam in his eyes. He would likely cause the most trouble. Lilly offered a brief greeting and then renewed her discussion with Mrs. Nelson.
After listening to Lilly’s tale of woe, Mrs. Nelson scurried about the kitchen, now seemingly anxious to prepare the new housekeeper a hot breakfast. The food was edible, though not the fine fare Lilly had enjoyed in New Orleans. And Lilly was somewhat surprised at how easily she’d been able to bring Mrs. Nelson around simply by sprinkling in a few words about familial ties and misfortune. A short time later, Lilly departed, leaving a frazzled Mrs. Nelson and her children to fend for themselves.