A Good Woman (6 page)

All eyes were on Hortie, and her father had never looked prouder. It was then that Annabelle realized that on her own wedding day there would be no one to walk her down the aisle, neither her father, nor her brother. Thinking about it brought tears to her eyes, and seeing that, Josiah gently patted her arm. He had a feeling that was what she was thinking. He was developing good instincts about her, and getting to know her well. And although he hadn’t been in her life for long, he was beginning to love her. He enjoyed sitting through the church service with her. Everything went smoothly, and when the bride and groom walked back down the aisle after the ceremony, to Mendelssohn, everyone was beaming. All sixteen bridesmaids and an equal number of groomsmen walked out solemnly behind them, including a five-year-old ring bearer, and a three-year-old flower girl in a white organdy dress, who forgot to strew the rose petals and just clutched them in her hand.

Annabelle and Josiah greeted friends in the throng of people in the vestibule of the church. They passed through the receiving line to congratulate the bride and groom and both sets of parents, and finally, an hour after the ceremony, everyone left the church for the reception. Annabelle wished she could go with them, she knew it was going to be a fabulous party that would go on all night, but there was no question of it for her. Josiah rode home with her in the car, and walked her into the house, as Annabelle thanked him for going with her.

“I had a wonderful time,” she said, looking ecstatic. It had been fun to catch a glimpse of all her friends, and even meet some of Josiah’s who were, of course, much older than she was, but seemed very nice.

“So did I,” he said honestly. He had been so proud to be with her. She was such a beautiful young woman.

“You should hurry, so you’re not late to the reception,” she said, as she took off her hat, kissed his cheek, and shooed him toward the door. She looked even prettier without the veil, and her mother’s earrings were blinding.

“I’m in no rush,” he said easily. “I declined the reception.” He was smiling at her.

“You did?” She looked startled. “Why? It’s going to be the wedding of the year.” Hortie’s parents had gone all out, and she didn’t want Josiah to miss it. It didn’t occur to her why he had declined.

“I’ve been to a lot of weddings of the year.” He laughed, and added, “For a lot of years. There are always others. Why would I go to the reception, when you can’t? That doesn’t seem right to me. The church service was fine. We saw lots of people. I can go to parties anytime. Why don’t we go down to the kitchen and make something to eat? I make a terrific sandwich and a mean omelette.” Neither of them had eaten dinner. The staff had disappeared for the night, and her mother was upstairs in her room, probably asleep.

“Are you serious? Don’t you think you should go to the reception?” she pressed. She felt guilty for keeping him from going.

“It would be pretty strange if I showed up after I declined.” He laughed again. “They’d think I was out of my mind, and I wouldn’t have a seat. So let’s check out what’s in your icebox, and I’ll dazzle you with my culinary skills.”

“In that suit?” He was wearing white tie and tails, with handsome mother of pearl and diamond studs and cuff links.

“I might take off the jacket, if you won’t be too shocked.” He had on the traditional white piqué tie and vest, also with studs in the vest, all of which he’d had made in Paris with the top hat. He was a very handsome vision, and a perfect match for her.

“I won’t be shocked. I’ll take off my jacket too,” she said, taking off the sable-trimmed velvet jacket that matched her dress, and exposing creamy white shoulders, and a well-shaped bosom that he glanced at discreetly.

“That’s quite a dress,” he said, smiling at her in admiration.

“I’m glad you like it,” she said shyly. The evening suddenly felt very grown-up to her. Her debut ball was the only event of its kind she had ever attended. And she had very much enjoyed going to the wedding with Josiah at her side.

Annabelle led him down to the kitchen and turned on the lights. Everything was immaculate and had been left in perfect order. They checked the icebox and found eggs, butter, cooked vegetables, half a turkey, and some ham. She took most of it out and set it on the kitchen table. And then she found lettuce, and some fresh vegetables in the larder.

She set the table with the kitchen plates, in her evening gown, as Josiah took off his tailcoat and made dinner. He sliced the ham and turkey finely, made a salad, and cooked an excellent cheese omelette in a skillet. It was a delicious meal, as they sat at the kitchen table and chatted, and commented on who they’d seen. He told her little bits of gossip about some of the people she’d met, and she filled him in on some of her friends. It was a lively exchange, and they sat talking long after they finished the meal. She didn’t have the key to the wine cellar, and he said he was delighted with a glass of milk. It was the nicest evening Annabelle had had in years.

They talked about the holidays, and he said he was going to Boston to be with his family for Thanksgiving, but said he would be in New York for Christmas. She reminded herself to ask her mother if they could invite him to Christmas dinner. It was going to be a tough one for them that year. It was hard to believe that a year after her ball their life had changed so dramatically, and she said as much to him.

“You never know in life,” he said quietly. “You have to be grateful for what you have, for as long as you have it. Fate is unpredictable, and sometimes we don’t know how blessed we are until things change.”

She nodded and looked at him sadly. “I knew how blessed we were, and so did my mother. We all did. I always felt lucky to have the parents and brother that I did. I just can’t believe they’re gone,” she said quietly, and as he looked at her, he gently put a hand over hers.

“Sometimes Fate ushers some people out, and when we least expect it, others enter. You just have to believe that things will continue to be good from now on. Your life is just beginning.”

She nodded again. “But for my mother, it’s over. I don’t think she’ll ever recover.” Annabelle worried about her a great deal.

“You don’t know that,” he said gently. “Good things can happen to her too.”

“I hope so,” Annabelle said softly, and thanked him for the meal. It had been a lovely evening. He helped her put the dishes in the sink, and then she turned to him with a smile, their friendship blossoming between them. “You’re a pretty good cook.”

“Wait until you taste my soufflés. I also make the stuffing at Thanksgiving,” he said proudly.

“How did you ever learn to cook?” She looked amused. None of the men in her family had ever cooked, she wasn’t even sure they knew how to find the kitchen.

He laughed in answer. “If you stay single as long as I have, you either starve or learn to feed yourself. Or go out every night, which gets exhausting. A lot of the time, I’d rather stay home and cook.”

“Me too, about the stay-at-home part. But I’m not much of a cook.”

“You don’t need to be,” he reminded her, and she looked momentarily embarrassed. She had been waited on all her life. But so had he.

“I should still learn one of these days. Maybe I will.” She had been impressed by how competent and organized he was in the kitchen.

“I can teach you a few tricks,” he volunteered, and she liked the idea.

“That sounds like fun,” she said, looking enthusiastic. She always had a good time with him.

“Just think of it as science, that will make it easier for you.” She laughed as she turned off the lights and he followed her back up the stairs. They went through two doors, and came back out in the main hall, under the chandelier. He was carrying his tailcoat, and his top hat and gloves were on the hall table. He picked them up, slipped into his tailcoat, and put the hat back on his head. He looked as elegant as ever, and no one would have suspected that he had cooked dinner.

“You look very dashing, Mr. Millbank. I had a wonderful time with you tonight.”

“Me too,” he said, and kissed her chastely on the cheek. He didn’t want to rush her, they had months still ahead of them as just friends, despite her mother’s blessing. “I’ll see you soon. Thank you for going to Hortie’s wedding with me, Annabelle. Those things can be deadly boring, unless you have someone fun to go with.”

“I think so too,” she agreed. “And the best part was talking about it in the kitchen afterward.” She giggled, and he smiled too.

“Goodnight, Annabelle,” he said, opening the door, and turned to look at her before he closed it behind him. She picked her jacket up off the chair, stuck her hat back on her head at a crazy angle, and walked up the stairs to her bedroom with a smile and an enormous yawn. She had had an excellent time, and was so glad that she and Josiah were friends.

Chapter 6

M
uch to Consuelo’s delight, at Annabelle’s urging, they invited Josiah to dinner on Christmas Eve. It wasn’t a romantic move on Annabelle’s part, she just felt that he had been so nice to them that they should do something for him in return, since he was alone for Christmas. As they always did, they had Christmas Eve dinner in white tie. Annabelle and her mother wore evening gowns, and as directed, Josiah arrived in a well-cut tailcoat with an immaculately starched shirt and vest, with beautiful old pearl and diamond studs and cuff links that had been his grandfather’s. And he touched them both by bringing presents.

Annabelle had bought a cashmere scarf for Josiah, and a cookbook partly as a joke, but he said he loved it. And Annabelle was embarrassed to discover that he had bought her a beautiful gold bracelet at Tiffany, and a handsome black silk scarf for her mother.

They shared a lovely, warm evening together, and sat in front of the fireplace after dinner. Josiah drank brandy, while the two ladies drank eggnog laced with rum, from a recipe Arthur had always made, and they admired the tree that Consuelo and Annabelle had decorated. It was a difficult Christmas for them that year, understandably, and Josiah avoided the topic of the current hearings that were in the news about the
Titanic.
He knew that whatever happened, they wouldn’t want to hear it. It would change nothing for them now.

Annabelle announced to them that Hortie had gotten back from their honeymoon that afternoon, and had rushed over to tell her she was already pregnant. Hortie was certain of it and said that she and James were thrilled, although she found the prospect a little scary. She had just barely become a wife, and now was going to be a mother, sometime in late August, as closely as she could figure it. Hortie said the baby had been conceived in Paris, and then she had giggled mysteriously, like the little girl she still was despite her new status, and made all kinds of innuendoes about their sex life that Annabelle didn’t want to hear. Hortie said that sex was fabulous, and James was incredible in bed, not that she had any frame of reference, but she had never had so much fun in all her life. Annabelle didn’t mention any of that to her mother or Josiah, but just said that Hortie was having a baby and was very excited about it. Listening to the news, Consuelo hoped that the following Christmas Annabelle and Josiah would have the same kind of news to share, providing they were married by then, which she hoped fervently they would be. Consuelo couldn’t see the point of a long engagement once they announced it.

Before he left that night Josiah said he was going skiing in Vermont over New Year’s with his old classmate, Henry Orson. As they were the last single men left at their age, according to him, he said it was nice to still have someone to do things with. Their New Year ski trip to Woodstock was a tradition they engaged in every year, and he was particularly looking forward to it this year, with a new ski jump recently added to the toboggan run. Josiah asked if Annabelle knew how to ski or snowshoe. She said she didn’t, but would love to learn. A veiled look passed between him and Consuelo, and he promised to teach her sometime. He suggested that maybe he, Annabelle, and her mother could take a trip to Vermont together. Annabelle’s eyes lit up, and she said it sounded like a lot of fun. He said they had wonderful sleigh rides in Woodstock too.

Josiah stayed till after midnight, and after he thanked them again for the presents and the delicious meal, Consuelo mysteriously disappeared while the two young people said goodnight. Annabelle thanked him profusely again for her bracelet, which she loved, and which was already on her arm.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said warmly. “I know you’re not supposed to wear jewelry right now, but if your mother objects, maybe you can wear it later.” He hadn’t wanted to offend Consuelo by giving Annabelle a bracelet while they were in mourning, but he had wanted to give her something that she’d enjoy for a long time. And he didn’t want to give her anything too lavish, or she might suspect what he had in mind. He thought the simple gold bracelet was discreet, and Annabelle was thrilled with it.

“Have a good time skiing,” she said as she walked him to the door. He was wearing an impeccably cut black coat and a white silk scarf over his tuxedo, with a homburg. As always, he looked extremely elegant. And Annabelle looked pretty and young in her simple black evening gown.

“I’ll call you when I get back,” he promised. “It will be after the first.” He kissed her chastely on the cheek, and she did the same, as they said good-bye.

Annabelle found her mother in the library, thumbing through a book. It was one of her father’s that Annabelle had read before.

“Why did you come in here?” Annabelle asked, looking surprised. Her mother wasn’t much of a reader, and she turned to her daughter with a gentle smile.

“I thought you and Josiah might like to be alone to say goodnight.” There was a deeper meaning in her eyes, and Annabelle looked momentarily annoyed.

“Josiah? Don’t be silly, Mama. We’re just friends. Don’t start getting ideas about him. It would spoil everything. I love the friendship that we have.”

“What if he wanted more?” Consuelo asked cryptically, and her daughter frowned.

“He doesn’t. And neither do I. We like it just the way it is. Just because Hortie got married and is having a baby doesn’t mean I have to. I can’t even go out for another four months. So I’m not going to meet anyone for a while, and who knows if I’ll ever meet someone I like and want to marry.” She sighed and put her arms around her mother. “Are you trying to get rid of me, Mama?” she asked gently.