Love By The Book (5 page)

Chapter 9

I resolved not to touch
Noble Hearts
that night. A long day of doing nothing had left me feeling too tired to crack the cover. Besides, as I crawled beneath the sheets I found myself feeling oddly irritated at the book’s hero. He’d been downright supercilious to the heroine in the last chapter, and I had the ridiculous notion of punishing him by refusing to further the story. A good night’s sleep would do me more good than a long read anyway, I told myself.

Unfortunately my body wasn’t in agreement with my mind on the subject. Tossing and turning into the gray hours of the morning, I finally gave in to restless curiosity. Flicking on my bedside lamp and snatching up the book with a blend of annoyance and eagerness, I plunged back into the world of the duke and his lady.

During the passage of the next hour I learned that the noble duke was more than he seemed, that his love interest was just starting to puzzle out his secret…and that my own stomach was not capable of going a full eight hours without food. Reluctantly, I closed the book and dropped it into the drawer of my nightstand. Making my way to the kitchen, I fixed myself a quick bowl of cereal—my poor stomach didn’t have the patience to wait for anything else—and flipped on the TV, keeping the volume low so as not to wake Carlita.

The morning news was depressing—so full of murders and disasters I felt a little guilty that I could calmly keep shoveling down my oat and bran flakes while watching the sordid stories and teary faces on the screen.

Why couldn’t I live in a simpler time? Maybe bad things happened in the days of
Noble Hearts
, but they didn’t have a TV or a radio, so they didn’t have to know so much about them.

I turned my thoughts to what all was going on in my life. Deliberately avoiding sensitive topics like my joblessness and the failure of my artistic career to launch, I thought about my new friend—should I call him that?—down at the hospital. The real Duke. I smiled. What was he doing right now? Had his memory returned? Had anyone been to see him? Maybe by now his family had realized his disappearance and tracked him down.

I felt oddly antsy at the thought. What if they came and took him away and I never got a chance to talk with him again? Not that that would be so world shattering, I quickly told myself, but I didn’t want him to step out of my life before I’d had the chance to uncover his mystery and discover who he really was. I tossed my dishes into the sink, fed Frigga, and went to my room to dress. Maybe I’d just drop in on Duke for a quick moment. I had promised to come back, hadn’t I?

All the while I defended my logical reasons for going, in a quiet corner of my mind I asked myself why I felt this sudden urgency to rush to his side. Would it be the end of the world if he did check out of the hospital today and I didn’t get to say goodbye? Absolutely not. I gave a firm nod.

Now, what to wear? I threw open the door of my closet and surveyed my wardrobe. Strangely, my collection of clothes looked small and inadequate today. I had never noticed before how few nice things I had. Maybe I’d borrow something from Carlita’s closet. Certainly my friend had plenty enough to spare. Creeping on tiptoe around the corner and into her room, I pushed open the creaky door. Carlita’s sleeping form, sprawled facedown across the mattress, never stirred. An earthquake couldn’t wake her.

The room was a pigsty, but fortunately I didn’t have to wade through the piles of shoes and dirty laundry to reach the closet. Carlita’s wardrobe was too massive for the tiny closets in the apartment. Instead, she had hooks and racks of clothes lining the walls. Fashion was Carlita’s hobby and entering her world was like stepping into a clothing store. Quietly, I dug through the nearest rack until I had gathered the beginnings of a decent outfit and then slipped back out of the dim room. As I went, I snagging a pair of gold colored wedge sandals that I was pretty sure were genuine Jimmy Choos.

Back in my room, I stepped into a pair of white cuffed capris and pulled on a cream-colored sleeveless top with beaded trim. I slipped on the sandals, donned a pair of golden hoops, and put on even more makeup than usual before deciding I looked presentable enough to go out.

Pausing to study my reflection in the mirror, I thought I didn’t look like a woman of twenty-eight with no career and no relationships in sight. Good. After Duke’s condescending attitude yesterday, that wasn’t exactly the face I wanted to show to him. Today I would be confident, independent, and in control of my destiny.

Nodding at myself in the mirror, I snatched up my purse and made for the door.

***

Occasional sprinkles splattered against the window of the cab carrying me toward the hospital and I thought regretfully that it was a ridiculous day for wearing white capris. At any moment an incredible storm was about to let loose over the city and I hadn’t so much as an umbrella on me. I had also forgotten to pick up the promised coffee and doughnuts.

The cab turned into the entrance to the hospital parking lot, and the large gray building loomed in the distance. I was peering out the window at the thick, dark clouds floating overhead and wondering if I could make it into the hospital before the downpour began, when a moving blur caught my eye as my cab rolled past. I did a double take. A man was crossing the parking lot, dressed only in a pale hospital gown and a pair of green pants that looked like doctor’s scrubs.

“Duke?” I said. Then I shouted, “Stop here!” at the startled cab driver. The car had no sooner screeched to a halt than my feet hit the pavement.

“Hey, what about my money?” the driver called as I slammed the door.

Quickly, I dug a wad of cash out of my billfold—I had no idea how much it was—and threw it at him. Then, whirling around, I made off across the parking lot.

Duke was just leaving the hospital grounds and setting foot to the city sidewalk when I caught up to him.

“Hey! What are you doing? Where are you going?” I demanded, stepping in front of him.

Apparently startled by my sudden appearance, Duke jumped a little but quickly regained himself. “Miss Hurst. What an unexpected pleasure, our meeting up like this.”

My eyes narrowed. “If it’s such a pleasure why were you sneaking off?”

“Sneaking?” He looked perplexed. “I am strolling down a public street beneath the broad light of day.”

I sighed. “Never mind that. Just where is it you think you’re going? You shouldn’t be walking around yet. You have no decent clothes on and, in case you haven’t noticed, you’re about to find yourself in the middle of a downpour.”

Thunder rumbled overhead, emphasizing my point.

Duke merely smiled as if in a cheerful mood this morning. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I always liked a walk in the rain. Besides, I thought I’d wander on down and have a look at that marvelous underground train we were speaking of.”

Now it was my turn to be perplexed. “What? You can’t just up and leave the hospital like this without a word to anyone.”

“I never intended to. I’ve left a detailed note explaining my circumstances and promising repayment for their services immediately on my procurement of the sum. All is now happily settled.”

I raised my eyebrows. “It might be happily settled for you, but I doubt it’s settled as far as the hospital’s concerned.”

“Nonsense. You worry too much. I’m sure the rest of us are content all the way around. Now come. You’re just in time to show me around this amazing city of yours. I confess I don’t know one street from the next.”

He was walking again and I had no choice but to begin walking backward myself or be collided into. “Are you serious?” I demanded. “You’re just going to stroll right out of the hospital and onto the street with no money, no friends to go to, and no destination in mind?”

“There goes your natural pessimism again. I have a destination. I’ve told you I’m going to the subway.” He was beginning to look peeved.

“Oh, and are you going to be living in the subway too?”

He looked surprised. “Do people do that?”

“Actually, yes,” I admitted. “But that’s not the point. You need to stand still and listen to me.”

He stood still. That was a start.

I tried to sound reasonable. “Look, I understand you’re tired of sitting in a tiny bed in a white room all day. But you can’t take off like this without making a plan first. You have to realize that you have no money in your pockets and nowhere to go. Do you have any friends nearby you could go to?”

“I have you,” he said winningly.

I refused to be mollified. “I mean someone who can put you up. Someone who can take care of you until you’re feeling…more like yourself.” I didn’t want to say
saner
but I was certainly beginning to question his mental condition at this point. Who did things like this?

He broke into my thoughts. “I’ve told you before I haven’t a soul that I know of. But don’t let that concern you. As you can see, it doesn’t concern me. You know your trouble—”

“I know, I know. Again with the negativity.” I suddenly realized tiny cold drops were spattering down all around us and had been doing so for some minutes. “Oh, great,” I muttered. “It’s started.”

He followed my gaze heavenward. “Ah, there’s nothing like an invigorating walk in a spring rain.”

He sounded so content I could’ve punched him.

“Right,” I snapped. “Except this isn’t spring, it’s autumn.”

Really, where had he been that he didn’t even know the season?

“Now we’re going to be wet and freezing,” I added testily.

Nearby on the street, a car whizzed past, splashing up a newly formed puddle that sprayed a muddy line across my white capris. I squeaked and jumped at the cold spray. “And my borrowed clothes are ruined!” I shouted at no one in particular.

“Good. Now you won’t spend the afternoon worrying about them,” he said matter-of-factly. “Come now. Let us get moving and warm ourselves. On our way to the subway you can show me the sights of this fantastic city. I’ve never seen buildings so immense…”

Having stepped around me, he was already moving away so that the last of his words were lost to me.

I gritted my teeth and stared longingly at the bright yellow cabs zipping by on the street. I could just leave him here. I could flag down a ride and go straight back home to change my clothes and huddle under a warm blanket with
Noble Hearts
for the rest of the afternoon…And worry about him. I would never find him again if he became lost in this city. There was no telling what would become of him as he wandered the streets like a crazy man.

I sighed, threw my already damp hair out of my face, and hurried after him.

Chapter 10

The rain stayed light but I was drenched just the same by the time I caught up to Duke. “Couldn’t we take a cab?” I panted breathlessly after him. “One of those,” I added, pointing for emphasis to the passing taxis. He did profess, after all, never to have heard of a subway before yesterday.

“And deprive ourselves of this refreshing exercise?” He seemed to be truly enjoying himself as he strode down the sidewalk in his weird, wet outfit.

I became uncomfortably aware we were not alone. Dozens of pedestrians pushed past us on the sidewalk, umbrellas open, hurrying to get out of the rain. Even distracted as people were by the storm, Duke’s strange appearance was still collecting a number of odd glances. Did I really want to be seen with him in the subway?

We reached a busy intersection and I suddenly came out of my damp, gloomy shell to realize the “Don’t Walk” sign was lit at the crosswalk. Simultaneously, I saw that my companion had no intention of stopping.

“Duke, wait!” I cried, catching his arm and dragging him back onto the sidewalk as soon as he had set his first foot to the street. “Are you crazy? You can’t just walk out into the middle of the road!”

“Why ever not?”

On the street, the light turned and a stream of vehicles sped past.

“That’s why not.” I gestured toward the passing cars. “I don’t wonder now how you got yourself creamed the other day. You wait for the light to change to ‘Walk’ before you step into the street.”

“Really? How clever of you to know such things,” he said without irony. I couldn’t decide whether he was making fun of me or not.

The light changed and we crossed over. We were coming into a busier part of the city now. Even in the rain the sidewalks grew crowded with men and women jostling us on all sides. One woman bumped Duke as I passed.

“I beg your pardon, Madame,” he tried to say but she hurried on without letting him finish.

Duke scowled after me. “Where are all these people coming from?” he demanded quietly.

“Museums, restaurants, work. Who knows?” I wrapped my arms around myself to stave off the chill. I was shivering under my wet clothing but Duke seemed unaffected by wind or rain.

“Astonishing,” he said to my statement. “How many people live in this city?”

“I don’t know. Around half a million, I think. Close to three million if you count the greater metropolitan area.”

“Incredible.”

“No,” I said. “I’ll tell you what’s incredible. Incredible is me walking down the sidewalk with you in the middle of a rainstorm when there are perfectly good shops and restaurants all around where we could wait out the weather. Incredible is you not being ashamed to be seen walking down a busy street in the broad light of day wearing nothing but a short dress and some thin scrubs. That’s what’s incredible.”

Even as I spoke, I seized his elbow and dragged him, protesting, out of the stream of pedestrians.

“What…Where…” he exclaimed, but I ignored his questions and pulled him through the doorway of the nearest clothing shop.

“I’m not wandering the rainy streets another minute with you in that getup. We’re buying you an ordinary set of clothes.”

I led the way to the men’s department, ignoring the pointed stares of the store’s clerks as we left a trail of wet footprints across the carpet. In a few minutes, I had gathered the first men’s T-shirt I saw and a pair of denim jeans that looked the right size and had shoved both him and the clothes into a dressing room.

“Throw the clothes over the door if you need a different size,” I called through the door. There was no answer from within. I didn’t know if his old world type sensibilities were offended by such a suggestion or if he simply didn’t hear me.

I was amazed at how fast I had gotten over my initial awkwardness with this man. Was it only two days ago I had been stuttering and clumsy over him? Now, after only a few meetings, I was already taking over him with the same confident assurance that had made me the best manicurist in Lucy Lu’s nail salon for the past two years.

When Duke stepped out of the dressing room outfitted in everyday clothes, it was a shock to see him suddenly looking like a perfectly normal person. No more scrubs. No more crazy man in a hospital gown. Aside from his impressive shoulders and chest, shown off admirably in the well-fitting T-shirt, and the attractiveness of his features, which would have drawn a second glance from any woman, he could actually have passed as just an ordinary guy.

“Is it that bad?” he asked into the silence. I didn’t realize until then I’d been staring. Maybe he could still make me gape once in a while. He ruined it by continuing with, “I feel like a workman. These clothes are quite ill tailored. Are you sure they haven’t any nicer gentleman’s apparel?”

“We can’t afford anything nicer.” I snatched the bundle of his former wet clothing from under his arm. “We’ll get a plastic bag for these at the register. Come on.”

There was an embarrassing scene at the cash register when he refused to let me pay for his purchases, until I reminded him he had no choice. The girl ringing us up made matters worse by openly eyeing Duke up and down.

“Nervy little bleached brat,” I muttered as we left the store.

“Who? The shop girl? She seemed perfectly nice to me.”

“I’m sure she did. She was going out of her way to flirt with you right in front of me.”

“Was she? Really?” He seemed amused. “Is there some reason why she shouldn’t?”

“No, of course not. It’s just that…Oh, never mind.”

Just that it didn’t even occur to her we might be a couple. Did I really look like I couldn’t possibly be with someone like him?

I said, “The rain has stopped at least. Let’s get you to your precious subway.”

Fifteen minutes later, we were descending the steps into the underground station. Duke’s awe both of the location and of my knowledge of it was gratifying enough to make me forget about the irritating shop girl. The tunnel interested him immensely, but when an actual train pulled in he was childishly enthused and eager to board one.

“Where do you want to go then?” I asked, smiling despite myself. We were out of the weather, my clothes were drying out, and my companion’s enthusiasm was contagious.

“Anywhere,” he said, a spark of excitement in his jewel colored eyes. “What are the most important sights to visit in this city?”

“Well, we’ve got the National Aquarium, the Baltimore Basilica, the Phoenix Shot Tower…”

By chance, my eye caught on a brightly colored bit of paper littering the floor—a pamphlet. “But I think I might know a better place to start,” I said, laughing. He reminded me of a boy at the moment, so I would treat him like one. “What do you say to the city zoo?”

“The zoo? It sounds marvelous!” he exclaimed. Then he added more quietly, “Er, what is the zoo exactly and what does one do there?”

I tried to put it into words he might understand. Since he seemed fond of old-fashioned references I told him it was something like a large menagerie of wild animals from all over the world locked up together in big cages.

“I would give up my very estate to visit such a place,” he said seriously.

I took that as assent. I purchased the tokens, we boarded the train, and I spent the entirety of the ride trying to prepare him for the visit by explaining a few of the rules and regulations most people took for granted at a zoo. I had horrible visions of him leaping into a pool to swim with the sea lions or bolting a wall to get a closer view of the tiger’s den.

Just as my imagination had played out a million horrible scenarios and had firmly convinced me that the last place in the world where I should be taking this man was a zoo, we arrived. Leaving the station and climbing the steps, I had hoped to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin outside. Instead, I ascended into the gray light of an overcast afternoon. The streets and sidewalks were full of puddles and dark clouds still lowered overhead, threatening another drenching at any time.

“Maybe we should save this trip for another day,” I tried to suggest. “The animals are really at their best on a sunny—”

But he would have no talk of postponing the visit and to my regret we found ourselves standing outside the fence of the city zoo in no time. With continuing reservations, I purchased two passes and then we were within the gates.

“What first?” But by the time the words had left my mouth my companion was no longer at my side, instead already hurrying off to the first display—the gorilla habitat. It was like that most of the afternoon. I had always considered myself in decent enough shape, but chasing from one arena to another after the untiring Duke was like trying to keep up with an energetic child or a wild puppy that had escaped his leash.

Finally, somewhere between the kangaroo pen and the emu habitat, he began to slow down. “Do you suppose we could get something to drink somewhere?” he asked. “I’m parched.”

I bought us each a soda pop from a machine and we sat side by side on a wooden bench, sipping our sodas and trying to fend off a herd of wandering geese that seemed to think we had something to eat.

I chose this relatively quiet moment to ask, “So, how’s your head today? Has any place we’ve been or anything we’ve done jogged old memories loose?”

“No.” He sounded unconcerned. “I remain in a fog. But let’s not let that trouble us on such a pleasant day as this.”

“And when should it start to trouble us?” I asked, unwilling to change the subject. “You can’t sleep at the zoo, you can’t work in the zoo, and you sure won’t find any free food here.”

“No. But it seems to me I won’t need to lie down to sleep for some hours yet. I’m not currently in need of work, and I haven’t even begun to feel hungry. All this makes your questions worries for another day—or for the end of this day at least.”

I let it go. “How about your shoulder?” I questioned, eyeing the sling he wore over his new clothes.

“Couldn’t feel better. I’m thinking of taking this thing off—”

“Don’t you dare!” I ordered. “That sling’s staying put until a doctor says it’s ready to be removed.”

“If you command it,” he said, seemingly untroubled by my forceful tone. I was rather surprised at myself.

“I’m not usually this domineering,” I forced myself to say. “I guess something in you brings out the bossy side of me.”

“It’s all right,” he said, unperturbed. “I’m not usually this willing to be bossed, but something in you brings out my submissive side.”

I laughed, and then felt a tiny droplet of rain patter down on my face.

“No,” I complained. “Not again!” The first drop was swiftly followed by another and then the sprinkles were hailing down in earnest.

“If we run I think we could make it to that pavilion over there before it lets loose,” I suggested.

“Why? We’ve already been soaked to the bone once today.”

I tugged him up from his seat. “Come on. I didn’t buy you a new set of clothes so you could get them all soggy again.” Even as I spoke, the light sprinkles started coming harder and faster. “Let’s go,” I called over the wind and the rain. “I’ll beat you there.”

Not waiting to see whether he followed, I took off running across the pebbled path. The pavilion was a small, open-sided structure across from the tortoise habitat and bordering the duck pond. By the time Duke and I reached, it we were both out of breath and dripping wet, but we were laughing as we ducked beneath the shelter of the low-hanging roof.

So much for escaping a soaking. My hair was sleeked to the sides of my face and my shoes made squishing noises when I walked. As I stood at the edge of the pavilion, wringing out my soggy clothes, a pool of water collected around my feet. “We may as well have swum with the sea lions after all,” I said.

“I’m sorry about your borrowed clothes.”

“Don’t worry about it. My friend won’t mind…much. Anyway, it’s just a little water, right?” I was surprised to find I meant it. In the happy mood I suddenly found myself in, the wet weather I’d thought very miserable this morning no longer seemed so bad.

Under his scrutiny I abruptly felt very aware of my appearance. Tendrils of damp hair clung to my face and neck. My top was sticking wetly to my skin. I imagined my makeup must be smeared and running. I felt myself color at the thought. What I wouldn’t give for five minutes alone with a mirror and a comb.

He appeared unaware of my embarrassment as he came to stand at my side. “Look.” He pointed out over the pond to where a pair of swans, disturbed by the drizzling rain, waddled down to the bank and slipped into the rippling water, becoming suddenly graceful the moment their clumsy feet left the shore.

“Isn’t it funny,” I said, “how beautiful they are on the water when they’re so ugly on land?”

“Hmm,” he said. “People are the same way though, I think.”

“What?” I laughed. “We’re ugly on land?”

“No. We’re clumsy when we’re out of our element. But put us under the right conditions and even the worst of us can shine.”

I quickly sobered. “Wow, I would never have suspected it.”

“What?”

“That you had such deep thoughts. Somehow I’ve been kind of thinking of you as—”

“Stupid?” he finished for me.

“No, no,” I protested. “Not stupid. Exactly. But maybe more impressive outside than in. A pretty face with an empty head, if you know what I mean.” Instantly I was kicking myself. In a single sentence I’d just admitted to thinking him gorgeous and an idiot.

Fortunately, he offered a reassuring chuckle. “That’s a first. Young ladies don’t often refer to me as ‘pretty.’ My father always told me I had the face of a scholar, so I would do better to apply my efforts to my education than chasing women.”

I laughed. “Strangely, my mother used to have similar advice for me. ‘You’ll never make a living off your face, sweetheart,’ she used to tell me, ‘so you’d best start sharpening those wits.’”

“Your mother said that? It seems a little harsh.”

I shrugged. “Maybe. But my mom had a tough life after my dad left. I guess there wasn’t much room left in her for softness. Even for her kids.”

“Your father left?”

“When I was eight. Never heard from him again. But we don’t talk about it. Even when I visit home for the holidays, my sisters and I go out of our way not to dig out the old photos or reminisce about seasons past.”