Finding Grace: A Novel (31 page)

Now she heard Alice telling him what a big
foolish idiot he was, but it was clear that she didn’t mean a word
of it. The sound of laughter and whispering was now distinct, and
Grace knew that the two of them had made up. She smiled with
delight at the thought of it. She turned and went back upstairs,
closing the door to give them their privacy. They had made up, so
now she could think of other dilemmas that needed solving.

She drew a hot bath and relaxed in it,
thinking for the longest time about Henry’s offer, and at long last
she decided she would take him up on it.

It wasn’t just the idea of being him more
often...although, that thought had made her smile to herself with
pleasure. It was the idea of doing something that no one thought
she would do, or should do. Jack would hate the idea, simply
because of Henry. Had they known of it, her parents would have
deemed her a devilish child indeed, for women were not suppose to
work outside the home. And the idea of her working in a club…a den
of evil, they would have no doubt called it…would be their
equivalent of their daughter giving herself to Satan.

The more she thought of it, the more she
found herself excited by the idea of working for him. What she
would be doing there, she was not for certain. Maybe she would be
helping with costumes, or something else in the backstage area. It
had certainly looked exciting and interesting when she had seen it
that night a while back. How wonderful it might be to be a part of
the whole working of things, to be useful and important, and not
confined to a house as she was now. As much as she loved living
here with Jack, and much as she adored Alice, she knew there was a
loftier purpose awaiting her out there. Perhaps this was her chance
to find it.

Henry looked at his
watch.
Twelve Forty-Five,
it read. He clicked the lid of the watch shut,
feeling a knot of frustration tighten in his belly.

He had told her noon sharp, and that was
what he had meant. But she was not here, and he began to fear that
she might not show. He had left her house yesterday, feeling a
great sense of triumph along with the spring in his step. It had
all fallen into place so easily…much more easily than he would have
imagined, or could have planned. Charlie Hillard, as much of a
worthless dog as he was, had provided the perfect means for him to
get just what he wanted from Grace. There had been no need to make
a fool of himself in asking her to come and work for him. He had
worried about that, for he was almost certain that she would have
refused him, for one reason or another. But with his sudden
declaration of being her “employer” in order to give her a front of
protection, it had all been done in one quick moment. His method
was unorthodox, it was true. But now he might have her, in his own
little way. The only question now was, would she come to work for
him or not?

What a
woman
, he thought, as he remembered the
sight of Charlie on the floor, holding his jaw. Her passion and
intensity were all there, and he could not deny that it thrilled
him to think of her fiery nature, and how it might be put to good
use in other ways. Ways that were not at all polite and pure, and
he felt his blood warm and stir at the thought. He had felt that
same torrent of feeling yesterday, when he had examined her slender
hand for injuries. How soft her skin had felt beneath his fingers.
How difficult it had been not to press his lips to the tender place
on her upturned wrist, where he knew he would have felt her pulse
throbbing. He had seen the warmth in her eyes, and knew that if he
had taken his time and done things slowly, he might have nearly had
his way with her. Of course, he might well have ended up with a
swollen jaw. But behind the want in her eyes, he had also read
fear. She was an innocent…a thing of purity and goodness, despite
the fact that she had been kissed before, and by him. That had been
his doing, not hers. He was fairly certain that she didn’t know
much about sexuality, despite the fact that she had probably seen
more pregnant women and babies than he ever would in a lifetime. He
would take his time with her… make her trust in him, for what was a
relationship without trust?

He had once vowed never again to fall in
love, or to engage in a real relationship with any woman. But there
was something about her that was breaking down that barrier he had
built around his heart. And much to his own surprise, he wasn’t
afraid of it. Truthfully, he welcomed the thought of such a change,
for it had been far too long since he had known love. And wasn’t it
the right of every man…or woman…to be loved?

He only half-listened to the rehearsal of
the band and some of the singers and actors working on the stage.
He sighed, taking out his watch again to check the time. As he did,
one of the crew members called out from the hall behind him.

"Anybody know this kid?" he shouted, his
voice echoing in the empty hall. "She says she works here. Did
somebody hire her?"

Henry turned in his seat, and saw her
standing there. So she had come, after all. A surge of delight went
through his frame, and he did his best to suppress the smile that
threatened his expression. He rose from his seat, straightening his
collar…and made his way towards her.

Chapter 16

“
With the Band”

She stood at the entrance to the ballroom,
looking around at the activity...the juggler doing repetitions, the
magician practicing his tricks, the dancers each stepping in time
to their own beats. And as she watched them she wondered…

What place do I have with these people?

She'd made the trip all on
her own. Jack and Alice had both asked several times if they could
take her. But she had declined.
I can
manage on my own, but thank you all the same,
she'd told them. To which Jack had grumbled, saying how tired
he was of hearing that turn of phrase. But before he left for work,
he came around and told her they would all go out to dinner that
night...maybe go to a movie, to celebrate her first day on the job.
She had smiled at him, kissing his cheek, and he had muttered
something utterly childish and grumpy in response...which only made
her smile all the more.

Now she stood, watching as
Henry came towards her. He was smiling slightly. Gloating,
actually. Clearly he enjoyed the idea that she’d come to work for
him.
Men
, she
thought.
How they love being right.
But his smug expression was becoming too familiar.
And she found that her reaction now wasn’t what it was before. At
one time, she would have found it infuriating. Now, that smirk was
one of the little things she was beginning to love. But she wasn't
about to tell him so. His pride was beastly enough as it was, and
there was no need to make it worse. When he came near, he nodded at
the worker to send him on his way. Then he looked at
her.

"You're late.”

She shrugged. "So sue me, then."

Now he smiled in that cheeky way of his. "I
knew you couldn't stay away."

When he was being this way, she found it
much easier talking to him. His love of himself was easy to battle,
and she had to say she rather enjoyed taking him down a notch or
two. She stepped close to him, pointing at his neck. "What’s that
swelled up thing between your shoulders?"

He looked a bit worried. "What swelled up
thing?"

"Oh, never mind, I know what it is…It's just
your head." She smirked, mimicking his impish trademark, and she
liked the look that came to his face. It was like a balloon
deflating. And yet, he seemed gracious in his defeat, giving her a
kind of sheepish look.

"You are a cold, cold woman," he replied,
and he sighed. “So how’s the hand?”

“
Kind of sore, but
otherwise fine. I can take a little pain.” She saw him smile as
they began to walk together towards the stage, and she couldn’t
help but smile a little too. How different the place was now, so
calm and quiet, except for the sounds of the band playing low in
practice, and the light hum of voices from the stage and all
around. "So what am I doing here?" she asked. "Sewing? Washing
windows? What?"

He only chuckled in response. "Not exactly.
No, I think you’re of more use working with the band. Singing with
the band, actually.”

She stopped. So did he, turning to look at
her. She waited for him to say he was only joking. A long moment
went by as she waited for him to say it. But he didn’t, and she
felt a nervous little laugh bubble up from inside.

“
You want me to
sing?”

"What did you think I wanted you for?" he
asked. Then he scoffed. "Sewing and cleaning - please."

She took a slight step back, shaking her
head. "I can't sing in front of crowds like yours. I just can't."
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand and started pulling
her along.

"You can do anything you set your mind
to."

She tried to pull away, head still shaking.
"No, I can't."

He stopped, but retained her hand, looking
at her intently. "Yes you can, and you will. You're here, and I've
already told my people about you. They want to meet you. And
besides, I don't have the time to look for someone else. You're all
I've got."

She tried to speak, to give further fight,
but couldn’t find words for aid.

You're all I've got,
he’d said. How could she refuse, without seeming
selfish and petty? She couldn’t, and she knew it. But she wanted
to, and she would’ve done anything if he would just let her out of
it. Just the thought of standing there, in front of whole room of
people with their judging ears and eyes on her, was terrifying. But
looking at his face, she knew he wasn’t about to give up, and her
shoulders sank in defeat. She groaned slightly, and he seemed to
take pity on her, for he gave her hand a little pat.

"Before you curl up on the floor in a ball,
why don't you come over and introduce yourself? You should meet
everyone."

He let go of her hand, gently taking her by
the arm. He led her across the floor and up to the stage. She felt
her stomach knot up a little as everyone turned to look at her.
Meeting new people was not one of her strong points. In her life,
there had been few strangers who crossed her path, and the rare
occasion of meeting someone new was something she still hadn’t
mastered. The tension beat strong in her veins, but she did her
best not to show it, raising her chin in an attempt at confidence.
Henry called for everyone’s attention.

“
People, this is Grace
Langdon. For today, she’s here to observe. And if you’re nice
enough to her, maybe she’ll consider staying.”

While the men in the band started
chattering, pushing forward in an attempt to introduce themselves,
Henry introduced her to the ladies and gentleman around them on the
stage. They were pleasant, but their words were brief, as they were
more interested in getting back to their work. The band seemed more
eager to meet her, and as Henry led her down to them, she felt his
hand holding her arm a little tighter…his body moving a little
closer, as if he were trying to protect her. The men were certainly
a rowdy bunch, all trying to talk over each other. It wasn’t until
Henry raised his voice that they finally quieted.

“
Settle down, you bunch of
monkeys. I know that respectable women aren’t the kind you’re used
to, but try and control yourselves.”

That sent them into another outburst of
noise, many of them playing at being offended by their boss’s
insult. Henry led her through the crowd, bringing her to the piano,
where a white-haired gentleman rose to greet them with a kind
smile. Henry introduced her to him…the leader of the band.

“
This is Thomas.
Bandleader, piano player, and all around good egg. If you need
anything, he’s the one to go to.”

They shook hands, and she smiled shyly.

"I have a brother named Thomas," she said.
"But he can't carry a tune in a five gallon bucket."

Thomas chuckled. So did the other men, and
one pushed his way to the front of the crowd. He was a baby-faced
trumpet player, ginger-haired and hazel-eyed, and she recognized
him from that first night she’d been to the club. As he took her
hand, she smiled.

“
I remember you. You were
in the show, dancing and singing. You play in the band,
too?”

He nodded, a boyish grin on his face. “Call
me Toby.” He raised her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly, his
eyes twinkling with playfulness. "Let me say, Miss Grace, that you
are aptly named.”

She wanted to be skeptical about all of the
attention. They were just men being men, after all. But they were
all so charming. Toby in particular. He had just a little bit of
the devil behind his eyes. But his face was so angelic, his way so
endearing, she couldn’t help but be charmed by him. Still, she
tried to keep a bit of sense about her. She shook her head, giving
him a sly little smile…and the first remark that came into her
head.

“
I ain’t seen so much ham
since I left Virginia.”

The men all laughed again, and even Henry
managed a chuckle. But then he was suddenly called away on a matter
of business. He seemed reluctant to leave her there, and she felt a
little nervous at the prospect of his going. But Thomas kindly
offered to watch after her.

“
Don’t worry boss. I’ll
protect her from these hounds.” His smile was gentle…his way almost
grandfatherly, and when he asked her to take a seat at the piano,
she only hesitated for a moment before accepting his invitation. He
leaned on the piano’s closed top, looking kindly at her.