As Love Blooms (16 page)

Yep, that ought to make Tessa’s aunt think the world of him.

Maybe he’d better head home tonight and hope the woman wouldn’t recognize him later.

“Excuse me, young man.”

He jolted and turned to find Tessa’s aunt standing next to his motorcar.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re the young man who brought Tessa home the other night. Would you care to tell me why you were watching me?”

“I didn’t mean to, ma’am. It was an accident. I mean, that’s not why I came tonight. ”

Her eyebrows lifted, and she placed her hands on the car door. “Keep going.”

He swallowed hard. How was he going to explain his presence? “I came because I hoped to speak to you about Tessa, your niece.”

“I’m aware that Tessa is my niece.” She drummed her fingers impatiently on the automobile’s door. “And what has Tessa done now that made you drive all the way to my home? Surely, whatever her transgression, it can’t be as bad as spying on someone.”

“Ma’am, I didn’t mean to spy on you and your—your friend.”
His mouth, as dry as clay, didn’t seem to want to form words. “And I certainly didn’t come to tell you anything bad about Tessa. In fact, it’s the opposite. I wanted to ask you for your permission to see her.”

Tessa’s aunt didn’t answer. Instead, she began to laugh.

Reese gripped the steering wheel. If she’d said no, he would have offered to prove this first impression wrong. If she’d said yes, he’d have thanked her profusely, but to laugh? It stung him to his core. How insensitive could a woman be?

“Does Tessa know you’re here?” the older woman finally asked.

“No, ma’am.”

“And does she know your intentions? Have you made them clear at any time?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then you don’t know Tessa very well. Do you realize how angry she’ll be that you spoke to me without allowing her to make the decision for herself? Yes, it’s noble of you and all that, but Tessa should be the first to know you care about her, not the last. After all, it’s her heart you want to win. Not mine.”

Reese moaned inwardly. Tessa’s aunt was right.

She chuckled again and shook her head. “I believe you and I, Mr. . . .”

“King, Reese King.”

“You and I, Mr. King, need to strike a deal.”

“A deal?” Reese’s voice cracked.

“Yes. It will be most advantageous to us both.” She leaned in close. “If you forget what you saw tonight, then I’ll forget what I saw. Tessa doesn’t need to know about either situation. Agreed?”

He scratched the side of his head. Why would Tessa’s aunt want to keep her guest a secret? But did it really make a difference? She was giving him a way out of a situation that could ruin everything.

“Well?” The tapping began again.

He gripped the steering wheel and nodded. “Agreed. My lips are—”

“Hopefully going to be put to good use soon.” She patted his shoulder and winked. “Good luck with my niece. You’re going to need it.”

Exhaustion grabbed hold of Tessa and hung on like a sand burr. Her head throbbed and her body ached. As soon as she told Aunt Sam good night, she was going to draw a bath, then head to bed. Maybe her dreams would star someone extra special tonight.

The butler took her wrap. “Miss Gregory, you had a telephone call while you were out—a Mr. Edward Ferrell. He said he was looking forward to Saturday and would pick you up at eleven.”

The news sucked the last remaining shred of energy out of her. Why had she agreed to help Edward? Oh, she knew the reason, all right. The only problem was she didn’t want to spend a Saturday with him, even if it helped her cause. She wanted to spend the day with Reese doing something fun.

But that wasn’t going to happen.

With a sigh, she trudged into the parlor, and Aunt Sam looked up from her book. “Hello, Tessa, did you enjoy the time with your sisters? How did the beautification project go?”

“Very well, thanks to Catherine Chattingworth. She’s quite a champion of horticulture. Did you know she grows chrysanthemums for the annual show?”

“No, I didn’t.” Aunt Sam stood. “You look like you’re ready to drop. Why don’t you head to bed and we’ll speak in the morning?”

Tessa agreed and hugged her aunt good night. Upstairs, she drew a bath and slipped into the tub full of bubbles. It was heaven to be in one of the modern homes where hot water came right from the tap. Her bathroom even had a wall-mounted shower ring, a rubber curtain, and a hand shower if she chose to use them. She, however, preferred a long, soaking bath.

She tipped her head back and let the water ease the tension in
her muscles, but her head continued to ache. Sleep would be the only cure.

Half an hour later, she crawled into bed and rang for the maid. She seldom summoned her, but tonight she requested two Bayer aspirins. Aunt Sam often touted the medicine as a miracle drug, and Tessa could sure use a miracle of her own tonight.

While she waited, she considered what her sisters had said about Reese and her plan. Could it backfire? She could deal with it if Mr. Nussbaumer still turned her down. She’d be sorely disappointed, and she might have to confess to her family about what happened at college, but she’d land on her feet somehow. But what if Mr. Nussbaumer punished Reese for their plan? She hadn’t even considered this could cost Reese his job.

Reese. Why had he come to help today? He’d seemed different. Tessa couldn’t put her finger on it, but she liked it.

Who was she kidding? She liked
him
. A lot more than she should.

And then there was Edward. Being seen with him on Saturday at such a public affair might cement her in society, but was she leading him on? No, it was a business deal. They both knew that.

The maid finally brought a glass of water and the aspirin, but the headache drummed on. With a cold cloth pressed against her eyes, Tessa finally succumbed to a fitful sleep.

In the morning, she threw on a periwinkle housedress and wandered into the breakfast room. The French doors opened into the garden, and she prayed that being there would refresh her.

“You look horrible.” Aunt Sam set her coffee cup down and studied Tessa. “Mary said you had a headache last night. Is it still there?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then back to bed with you.” Aunt Sam shooed her with the back of her hand. “I’ll have Mary bring up your breakfast. You’ve been working too hard and need more rest.”

So Tessa did something completely out of character. She did exactly as she was told.

Reese surveyed the area as he walked toward the superintendent’s office. Como Park would be in fine form by the time the Memorial Day crowds arrived next week. If he were lucky, he’d be able to enjoy the festivities along with everyone else, or at least with a special
someone
else. He’d already planned to ask Tessa to accompany him, and if things went as he hoped, he’d ask her today.

He tugged off his work gloves and opened the door to the office. The hallway smelled of soil, but didn’t everything at the park? He knocked on Mr. Nussbaumer’s door.

“Reese,
gut
, you’re here.” He rolled up a set of plans and tied them with a string. “The mother of your young apprentice called—a Mrs. Gregory. She said he wouldn’t be here today. He was ill and didn’t want you to be worried about him.”

Tessa was sick? He fought the urge to go to her aunt’s house and check on her. If she had made the telephone call, which she would have had to, then she wasn’t that ill. Reese swallowed. “Did she say what was wrong?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Mr. Nussbaumer tucked the plans under his arm. “I hope such a responsible fellow shows some promise for horticulture.”

“He certainly does.”

“When you believe the time is right, bring your young apprentice to me, and I’m sure we can find a place for him.” He walked to the office door. “Come. We can talk as we go. I have some things I’d like to discuss with you.”

Reese trailed his boss out of the office, his mind still on Tessa.

“So,” the German began, his accent thick and his voice deep, “I’ve been corresponding with your father.”

Reese paused midstep. “Is there a problem with my work?”

Mr. Nussbaumer laughed. “Why would you think that? I wrote him because we have similar positions. I wanted to know how he persuaded the Chicago park board to build the conservatory.”

Air whooshed from Reese’s lungs.

“Some of the park board members are not in favor of the venture. They feel it’s too expensive, and I thought your father might have some ideas.”

“Did he?”

“Nothing that will work here.” Mr. Nussbaumer stopped and pulled a weed along the sidewalk. “He asked how you were doing.”

“Oh?”

“He wanted to know if your vision had improved. Are you having eye troubles, Reese?”

“No, sir.” A weight settled on Reese’s chest. Nothing like having your father point out your flaws to your mentor. “My father was referring to my lack of creativity.”

“You?” Mr. Nussbaumer’s eyebrows rose. “I guess you don’t have a flair for the dramatic in your gardening approach, but that Arts and Crafts garden you’re creating shows strokes of genius.”

It did, but it wasn’t his genius. It was Tessa’s.

“I didn’t realize you were a student of Gertrude Jekyll’s work. I myself have found her work quite inspired.”

“But she’s a woman.”

Mr. Nussbaumer’s belly shook with laughter. “That she is. A woman who’s been commissioned to design gardens all over England. She paints gardens like an artist paints portraits.”

“But I thought you didn’t approve of lady gardeners.”

“Ah, you must have overheard me turning down that young lady who came to visit me,
ja
?”

Reese nodded.

“Our garden requires men like you who can do the work and have the vision. I’m afraid the work is too taxing here, but I think working in private gardens is a
gut
place for a woman. That’s
what I told that young lady. We all must find our place in the world.”

“That’s not so easy.”

“No, but you are getting there. Your greatest strength seems to lie in your horticultural skills. Everything you touch blossoms under your care.”

“My father doesn’t see it that way.”

“At some point, a man must decide for himself who he is.” Mr. Nussbaumer thumped his own chest. “I am a gardener. All that I am is played out in this park for everyone to see.”

Reese glanced at the whimsical elephant on the island of Lake Como. He recalled the vast areas Mr. Nussbaumer had devoted to natural trees and shrubs, the formal gardens, the Banana Walk, the Japanese Garden, the aquarium, and even the lavish floral displays. All of these reflected something else about this brilliant man—another layer to who he was. Nature under man’s control.

Tessa had those facets too. The whimsy and the grasp of beauty mingled with drive and determination. But what about him?

“My predecessor, Horace Cleveland, hated theatricality in landscape gardening. He felt all should be in harmony with the climate and sky.” Mr. Nussbaumer chuckled. “He would be sorely disappointed in parts of this park, but I am not him. I believe the park must balance what the people love and what we must learn to love. You will decide your own path.”

They walked for several more minutes with Mr. Nussbaumer pointing out a few areas he’d like Reese to address. They stopped by the Palm Dome. Mr. Nussbaumer’s own two-story house was attached to this greenhouse where the banana plants and other palms wintered.

Reese followed him around to the other eight greenhouses. All nine of them were in need of repair and severely overcrowded.

“You may or may not be aware that at its May meeting, the park board agreed to allocate fifty dollars for a general set of plans for new greenhouses.”

“You mean the conservatory? That’s wonderful.”

Mr. Nussbaumer smiled. “That is not what the board voted on. Not everyone sees a conservatory as a
gut
thing, but the plan I’m going to present to the park board would include destroying all of these greenhouses in favor of a new conservatory and a large production greenhouse. It will be hard to convince everyone, but since you have a vested interest in the project’s success, I value your input.”