Steadfast Heart (27 page)

“Don't make it sound like you're being asked to give your life for the cause,” Thane said, chuckling.

“She knows how to make a man feel special,” Wade commented. “Special in a way I could do without.”

“Oh, bother with the both of you.” She pulled on Wade's arm and all but forced him to follow. “Let's get this over with.”

Wade hadn't expected the strange feelings that seemed to grip his chest like a vise. What was happening to him, anyway? It seemed Abrianna had a way about her that could expose any and all emotions in him. The way she looked and her frank way of speaking were both things he had come to appreciate, but now with Abrianna in his arms, Wade found his thoughts to be more than appreciation.

“You dance like someone who really doesn't enjoy this any more than I do,” Abrianna said.

“I'll admit it's not my favorite, either. Still, your aunts do expect it of both of us. When Mrs. Madison invited me, she explicitly told me I would have to dance no fewer than ten times.”

“She told me the same thing,” Abrianna said in a rather defeated way. “I've given serious thought to either lying about it and telling her I did so, or getting sick. Of course I'd have to do something quite bold to convince her that I'd fallen ill.”

“Such as?” Wade was intrigued.

“Expel my supper or faint,” Abrianna said matter-of-factly. “Neither really appeals to me, but they remain options, just in case.”

He laughed. She could always find a way to amuse him with
her candid thoughts on everything from ways to escape her aunts' insistence that she learn to keep a household to her firm political beliefs that the Democrats had done a great deal to shake the foundations of the American Republic.

Perhaps it was her intellect that most amazed him. Wade knew her to be quite learned. She could hold her own in most any discussion, be it religion, social quandaries, or the price of fish. Once she had even given him a detailed account of how a particular piece of music had come to be. She never lacked for topics of conversation.

The music ended and Abrianna seemed most relieved. Wade understood. He gave her a wink. “Just nine more times,” he told her.

Her shoulders slumped. “Nine. What a perfectly awful number.”

Lenore had never known greater happiness than to be in the arms of the man she would marry on the morrow. Kolbein was an excellent dancer and a man of social etiquette, which would please her parents almost as much as his financial status did. He had won them over with his wit and intelligence, as well as his generosity. Twice he had taken her family out for expensive dinners, and both times her father had marveled at the money spent and the enjoyable company.

“You seem quite deep in thought, Miss Fulcher,” Kolbein said. “Could it be that you are reconsidering our wedding tomorrow?”

“I am,” she said with a most serious expression.

“What?”

She had taken him completely off guard, and the expression on his face was one of grave concern. “I'm thinking perhaps we
should elope tonight.” She grinned. “Of course Mother would take to her bed for a month, and Father would be beside himself over money already spent, so I suppose we shall have to wait until morning.”

He gave her a wicked grin. “We could always marry with the justice tonight and then again in the morning. We could marry and then slip away for the evening—perhaps even the night. What scandal that would cause.”

Lenore giggled. “Mother would never leave her bed again. She'd declare for all to hear that her social standing had been hopelessly altered by her daughter's thoughtlessness.”

“I suppose we can't have that,” Kolbein replied, leading Lenore from the dance floor. He maneuvered them through the open pocket doors into a small room where several couples were visiting before turning her to face him. “But I would do it in a minute if you told me that was what you wanted.”

She sighed. “I want a great many things, but my wedding is the last thing I can truly give my mother. As an only child, I feel I am obligated. I wouldn't want to disappoint her after all the trouble she's gone to. My father would be disappointed, too. I don't want to hurt them after all they've done for me.”

“Nothing is too good for you, Lenore. I intend to see you happy for the rest of your life. God had a plan in bringing the two of us together. I can see that now, where before I was blind to it and to God. Your influence has been good for me in more ways than I can tell.”

She reached up to touch his cheek with her gloved hand. “And your influence has been good for me. I think I shall rather enjoy being Mrs. Kolbein Booth.”

He laughed. “And I intend to see that you do.”

I
believe the ball is a great success,” Miss Poisie declared.

“But of course it is,” Wade said, smiling at the room of dancing couples. “Your dances are always successful.”

The older woman nodded wistfully. “I do wish my Captain Jonathan could have lived to see this. I think he would have appreciated the nautical motif. He was always such a deep thinker when it came to the sea.”

Wade felt sorry for the woman. Her ongoing love for the dead sea captain was something that he couldn't begin to understand, having never loved someone in such a manner, yet he held great tenderness for Miss Poisie. Even so, he didn't want her to dwell on her loss. Seeing Priam Welby had captured Abrianna for yet another dance, he turned to Miss Poisie. “What say we do something in honor of your captain. Would you care to dance?”

The woman's face lit up. “I would be delighted. I haven't danced at all this past year, and I believe Jonathan would heartily approve.”

He led the old woman to the floor and swept her into a gentle waltz. They moved much slower than the others, but Miss Poisie didn't seem to notice. As she closed her eyes, the look on her
face seemed more youthful. Perhaps in her thoughts she was young again and dancing with her beloved captain.

Wade kept his steps slow and steady, all the while keeping his eyes on Priam Welby. The man seemed far too familiar with Abrianna. He held her much too close, and the impropriety of it bothered him. Wade had certainly not been raised to concern himself with such rules, but his time spent at the school had taught him about the social etiquette of such affairs. Clearly Welby hadn't been taught or simply didn't care.

Welby momentarily let go his hold around Abrianna's waist and brushed back a stray curl. He let his fingers linger on her cheek longer than necessary before reclaiming his partner. Wade tried not to let his feelings control him. Making a scene was out of the question. Not only would it hurt the old ladies, but he'd promised himself he would allow Abrianna to manage her own affairs that evening. Still, it wasn't easy.

She can't
understand that there are a great many people like Welby
who seem destined to take advantage of others. Abrianna just
assumes that everyone has goodness inside them, and no matter
how deep that might be hidden, she is determined to
find it. Even in the case of Mr. Welby.

The music ended and the orchestra took a brief intermission. Wade led Miss Poisie back to the refreshment table and gave her a slight bow. “Would you care for refreshments, Miss Poisie? Perhaps some punch?”

“Yes, that would be quite satisfying,” she replied. Wade quickly took up a cup offered by one of the newer bridal students and handed it to Miss Poisie.

“Oh look,” she declared, “Miss Fulcher's parents have arrived. I believe I will go and greet them.” She padded off across the room, punch in hand, to welcome the newcomers.

Wade watched as Lenore quickly crossed the room to hug her mother. She beamed smiles upon each person as she introduced her parents to Kolbein's sister and brother-in-law.

“Doesn't she look absolutely radiant?” Abrianna asked, coming alongside him.

“She does, but then so do you.”

For once Abrianna didn't correct him. “Thank you. You look nicely done up yourself.”

Wade touched the collar of his suit coat. “Thanks to the secondhand store.”

“You look quite fine,” she said, turning her attention back to Lenore. “You will look perfect tomorrow at the wedding.”

“I must say I didn't expect Kolbein to ask me to stand up with him.”

“It isn't so strange,” Abrianna countered. “You have been a good friend to him here in Seattle. I think he appreciates all you did to help look for Greta. I know I do. At first you feared he was a scallywag. It was a relief to see that even a man from Chicago could turn out to be an asset and a friend.”

Wade started to comment, but just then Priam Welby interrupted their conversation. “I do hope you won't keep her all to yourself, Mr. Ackerman. I find that Miss Cunningham is the best dancer here.”

“Oh, hardly that,” Abrianna protested. “It's true I've had a great deal of practice in all my years of living in the bridal school. It would have been impossible to avoid dancing lessons. However, my skills are minimal, at best. There are far better dancers in this company. Not only that, but Mr. Ackerman is not keeping me. Keeping me would suggest I'm unable to keep myself, and that simply isn't the case. I am, of course, influenced
by Mr. Ackerman's suggestions for my welfare, but no more so than I am of my aunts' directions.”

“Which often is very little,” Wade said with a chuckle. “I doubt anyone will ever ‘keep' Abrianna.”

“Perhaps she's not met the right man to do the job,” Welby said, further irritating Wade with a suggestive smirk.

Wade wasn't to be outdone, however. He fixed Welby with a knowing look. “I don't believe Miss Cunningham has yet met a man who deserves her.”

The musicians started tuning up again, and Wade offered Abrianna his hand. “Would you care to join me on the floor?”

She surprised him by refusing. “I believe I'm done with dancing.” She fanned herself for a moment. “Oh, look. Lenore is going to dance with her father.”

Wade heard something akin to longing, perhaps regret, in Abrianna's voice. Was she once again missing the father she'd never known? He wanted to say something to encourage her, but what could he offer as solace?

Miss Poisie rejoined them and offered her thoughts. “I find that it's always touching to watch a father and daughter share a dance. I remember once dancing with my beloved father.” She didn't seem to notice the change in Abrianna's countenance, but Wade did.

Reaching over, Wade gave Abrianna's hand a squeeze. “Would you care for something to drink? You seem to have gotten overly warm.”

She looked at him with an expression of appreciation. “Perhaps we could get some air.”

Wade nodded. “I think I can arrange that.” In that moment he would have done most anything Abrianna asked of him. He hated that she was once again reminded of all she did not have.

“I'm so glad that you and Mother came to the ball,” Lenore told her father as they danced.

“Well, it hardly seemed I could refuse your request. After all, you will wed tomorrow and then be my little girl no longer.”

“Oh, Father, I will always be your little girl,” Lenore said, beaming at him. “Have you and Mother given any more thought to taking a trip to Europe?”

“We have discussed it at length,” he replied, “but nothing will be decided until after we get you wed.” He faltered in his step but corrected it before causing them both to misstep. “I'm afraid it's been a while since I danced.”

“You're doing fine, Father.” Lenore could see Kolbein dancing with her mother. “And Mother and Kolbein seem to be in perfect step.”

Father smiled. “They do seem quite adept. It would seem your young man has won her over.”

Lenore couldn't contain her glee. “Once Mother realized that I wouldn't live in poverty, she could find nothing with which to condemn him. Not that she would. Mother has always been very supportive of my finding true love just as she did.”

“And of course she was right. I only wanted to see you safely cared for. The future isn't always something we can make plans for. I know . . .” He paused, panting. “I'm afraid I may not be up to this.”

“We don't need to continue,” Lenore told him. “It was wonderful that you could be here, and that we could share this moment.” Her father slowed their steps and then without warning stopped altogether in the midst of the swirling dancers.

“Oh dear,” he gasped.

“What's wrong?” Lenore could see the strange look on his face as his color drained. “Father?”

People around them slowed and then stopped as Lenore's father clutched his chest and collapsed on the floor.

“Father!” Even the music stopped when Lenore let out a scream.

Kolbein was at her side almost immediately, bringing Lenore's mother with him. “What happened?” He knelt beside the now unconscious man.

“He just stopped and then fell.” She took hold of her mother's arm. “He just dropped to the floor.”

Her mother nodded, fearful, but not looking overly shocked. “It's his heart,” she said matter-of-factly.

Lenore looked at her in stunned confusion. “What are you saying?”

By now several people were attending her father. She looked to her mother for answers. “Mother, why do you say it's his heart? Is something wrong with Father's heart?”

“The doctor told him that his heart is weak.”

“Then why . . . why did he dance with me?” Lenore looked back to her stricken father. “This is all my fault.”

Her mother took hold of her. “No. It's not your fault. He knew the risk. He wanted very much to dance with you. It was all he could speak of prior to our arrival.”

“Let me through,” a man declared from the onlooking crowd. “I'm a physician.”

It seemed to take forever, when in fact it was only minutes. The man spoke momentarily to Lenore's mother before kneeling beside the now still man. “We need to get him to the hospital. It would seem he's had some sort of attack.” The doctor straightened and looked at the crowd. “I need some men to carry him downstairs to a carriage.”

Wade, Thane, and Kolbein quickly stepped up, as well as several other men, and lifted Lenore's father. Nothing felt real and Lenore could only watch after them as they worked to maneuver out of the ballroom. Her mother trailed after them, but Lenore felt as if she were nailed to the floor.

Abrianna was quickly at her side, taking hold of her arm. “I heard you scream, and now I see that the reason was sound. How can I help you, my dear friend?”

Mrs. Madison took hold of her on one side, while Abrianna continued to support her on the other. “Help me walk her downstairs to join her mother,” the older woman commanded.

Lenore looked to Mrs. Madison. “I . . . don't know what to do.”

“Dear, you must not worry about anything. Your father is a sick man, and you must attend him.”

“But the ball . . . our wedding . . .” She shook her head. “Someone will need to contact people . . . to cancel the wedding.”

“You needn't worry about such things. We can take care of everything,” Mrs. Madison soothed.

“I'm surprised you could even manage a rational thought about it,” Abrianna offered. “In times of great stress one is often given over to a muddled mind.” She looked at Lenore and nodded. “I can see that you are a much stronger woman than I gave you credit for.”

“Abrianna, get the door,” Mrs. Madison said as they reached the front room. “Now, Lenore, you do have one responsibility. You must see to your mother. She will need you at a time like this.”

Lenore found rational thought difficult. Nothing seemed real, and for several minutes she wondered if this was a nightmare. Abrianna patted her arm, but Lenore felt no comfort. Her father might well die, and all from straining his heart by dancing.

“Might I go with them to the hospital, Aunt Miriam?” Abrianna asked. “In times like these, a trusted friend would surely be a fitting companion, even if one does have the support of a fiancé.”

“I don't know,” Mrs. Madison replied. “I suppose someone should.”

Lenore heard the exchange but said nothing. When Mrs. Madison finally agreed to let Abrianna go with her, they had reached the bottom step. Just then Wade was making his way back into the building.

“Abrianna wishes to go with Lenore,” Mrs. Madison declared. “Would you stay with her and see her home?”

Wade nodded. “Of course. I was just coming back to tell Lenore that her father is in his carriage. Her mother, too. I'm sure they have already left. One of the other men offered his carriage to transport you and Kolbein. I'm sure there's room for us all.”