A Path Toward Love (31 page)

“I'm not starting off well. But I'll improve, you'll see. At least I'm hopeful. But in the meantime would you like some Saratoga chips?” She opened the bag wide and offered it to him.

“Thank you. They're one of my favorite snacks.” First made locally in Saratoga Springs, he'd heard they were now being sold in New England where they were equally as popular. The thin and crispy potato chip crunched when he bit into it.

Mrs. Benham flung the ball down the alley again and this time knocked down all of the pins except one. It wobbled but didn't tumble. Clapping her hands, she bounced up and down on the toes of her shoes.

After they finished their game, Mrs. Benham plopped on a wooden bench. “Now that I've gotten the hang of it, I believe I'll try again, but not today. Next time I'll beat you, dear boy. Mark my words.” She munched on several chips, then glanced up at him. He leaned against a nearby post.

“Andrew, I'd like to speak to you about a plan I have.” She lowered her voice, even though they were alone.

“Yes, Mrs. Benham?”

“I'll get right to the point. Katherine received a letter today from her Florida bank. They're calling in a loan and appear to not be very forgiving.”

His mouth pressed tight. Would her troubles never end? “If I could, I'd lend her the money, but as you probably know, I'm not from the prosperous side of the Clarke family.”

Letty chuckled. “No, but you're from a very distinguished and honorable side. I knew your father well. He was a wise judge and exceptionally intelligent. You should be very proud of him.”

“I certainly am.” His father had the respect of everyone he encountered except, perhaps, from some of the great industrialists and financiers who esteemed money far more than personal integrity. He had wonderful memories of his parents, though with each passing year his recollections diminished a bit.

“It's very kind of you to want to help my niece. I can see how disappointed you are that you cannot.”

It hurt and even humiliated him to acknowledge his lack of power and fortune, at least at times like these when most likely a relatively small amount would make all the difference in the world. The feeling of helplessness burned his insides. Maybe Mrs. Benham could give Katherine a loan.

“Unfortunately, I'm not rich either,” she said.

His heart sank down to his boots.

“I have adequate means for my own needs, although most of my set considers me rather poor. Of course, I have the Lord in my life, and He makes me the richest one of all. I expect you understand what I'm saying.”

“Yes, I do.”

She nodded. “Good. I have an idea that might help Katherine. Would you like to hear about it?”

“Yes, of course.” He'd consider any plan, even though he doubted anything would work.

She pulled on the gloves she'd removed to bowl. “You'll probably think I'm only a silly old lady without an ounce of business experience, and you'll be right. But since neither of us has managed to come up with a solution for Katherine, I thought we could join together to try to work something out.”

“I'm ready to listen, Mrs. Benham.” He couldn't imagine what she had in mind, but he didn't hold out much hope for a solution.

“Good. And please call me Aunt Letty. If we're going to become partners we should at least be on a first-name basis.”

“I'd be honored to call you Aunt Letty, Aunt Letty,” he said with a smile. He angled his head closer to hers and listened intently. “What is Katherine's most immediate financial need? What would keep the bank at bay?”

She chewed her lower lip. “Oh dear, I don't know. It seemed rude to ask. But we'll need to find out the amount or we won't know if we have enough.”

“Let's return to the cabin and you can take a look.”

Aunt Letty covered her mouth with her hands and giggled like a little girl. “This is rather clandestine, isn't it?”

They strode down the darkening path to the Birchwood complex and headed toward the walkway while a few dozen guests sauntered up from their boats. More entertainment in the lounge or recreation hall, Andrew expected.

“I do hope Katherine isn't in our cabin.” Aunt Letty shoved her key in the lock and pushed open the door to a room lit only by a single oil lamp. Andrew lingered by the doorway.

The young maid, Bridget, emerged from the dressing room with an armful of skirts and shirtwaists. “Good evening, Mrs. Benham, Mr. Townsend. If you'll excuse me, I'm on my way to the laundry. I need to have some of your clothes pressed again, ma'am. They've gotten a bit wrinkled in the wardrobe.”

As soon as she was off, Andrew came inside and followed Aunt Letty to the bureau. He glanced toward the doorway every few seconds to ensure Katherine wouldn't catch them in the act of reading her mail.

“Here it is,” Letty whispered as she read the small print by the light of the lamp. “Forty thousand dollars! My, that's quite a large sum. I can understand why it's difficult for her to repay it. The poor girl. No wonder she's so distraught. But I can afford half. Can you come up with the other half?”

“Why, yes, I believe so.” He'd have to turn over every penny he'd saved working for Mr. Wainwright, as well as the remains of his family inheritance. But Katherine certainly was worth it.

“Fine. We'll put our money together and offer it to meet this pressing need.” Aunt Letty clapped her hands with glee. “Aren't we clever?” She chuckled.

He hesitated. “I don't think we should admit we're her backers, because I doubt she'd accept a loan from us. She'd think we ought to keep our money,” he said.

Aunt Letty nodded. “True. And if William got wind of it, he'd dismiss you in a flash. He surely doesn't want you to work against him when he and Isabelle have tried so hard to get Katherine to come their way. We can't jeopardize your job. So let's just say you found an investor who wants to remain anonymous. We won't be fibbing, and that will keep our consciences clear. Well, clear enough.”

Andrew nodded. “If she accepts our loan, I can send the funds to Katherine's bank in Florida. I do believe this will work. Thanks for coming up with a solution.” He refused to consider what this would do to his career if they were caught.

Aunt Letty squeezed his hand. “I'm happy we can do this for her.”

“As am I. Now I'll have to devise a plausible story that will answer all the questions she's bound to have. Katherine won't be easy to fool.”

“No, indeed. Just be as truthful but as vague as possible and pray she doesn't pose too many questions.”

Andrew nodded. “I'll begin thinking right away. There's really no time to waste. Let's tell her together as soon as we can get her alone. I don't want anyone to overhear us.”

Aunt Letty nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, Andrew, I know we're doing the right thing, helping her.”

“We are.” But what price would be extracted, should they be found out?

Katherine paced in front of the cabin's fireplace before breakfast the following morning. She couldn't continue to hide in her bedroom, nursing a headache just to avoid Randy. She despised herself for causing the bafflement she saw in his eyes. Understanding why she didn't immediately accept his offer of courtship seemed way beyond his comprehension. She doubted a girl had ever turned him down.

She couldn't procrastinate any longer. Her pounding heartbeat sounded in her ears as she swept out of her sitting room in search of Mama. Her mother had laid low these last few days. Katherine's methods of escape were gradually closing, and Mama understood it. She was winning, in a sense, but fortunately had enough tact not to gloat.

She discovered her mother watering her daylilies in the rock garden and humming a tune from
H.M.S. Pinafore
, one of her favorite operas from her younger years. A riot of bright orange, yellow, pink, and red blooms reached toward the blue sky. Birds drank from the birdbath set among the rocks and splashed in the small stone basin. A breeze gusted from the lake only a few yards away, but it wasn't nearly cool enough to lower the heat in Katherine's face. Mama glanced sideways, then straightened and placed the watering can on a small patch of grass.

“Good morning, Katherine. Lovely day, isn't it? Dear me, you look distressed. Is anything the matter?” Clapping the dirt off her gardening gloves, she leveled a penetrating gaze. “Something I can help you with?”

Katherine took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Mama, I'd like to speak to you about Randy's intentions.”

Her mother brightened, though she still had a wary look in her eyes. “Yes? Go right ahead.”

“Why are you and Mrs. Clarke so set on a marriage between Randy and me? It seems we've never had a say in the matter. You and your best friend decided for us years ago.”

Mama would normally reprimand her daughter for impertinence, but this time she resisted. Drawing out a weary sigh, Mama nodded. “We wanted you and Randy to see what we saw—dear friends complementing each other in every way . . . shared backgrounds, similar interests. We always saw you as such an ideal couple. We still do.”

But they'd never been a couple except in their mothers' imaginations. The families wanted grandchildren who belonged to one big happy family, not two, and marriage was their perfect resolution.

“I understand, Mama. But why are you pushing us together right now? Why aren't you content to wait until we're both ready? I don't understand your impatience. It's obvious neither Randy nor I want to rush into things. And please don't disagree, because I can plainly see his reluctance.”

“Perhaps he's just afraid you'll turn him down. For good.”

“But if we're meant to be together, then waiting a year or two will help us be sure we're making the right decision.”

Mama averted her gaze and returned to watering her flowers. Several seconds later she turned back to Katherine and jammed her hands on her hips. “All right. I'll explain why Mrs. Clarke and I are so anxious. We believe Randy is a safe choice for you, and you'll be a steadying influence on him. I don't wish you to make another horrible mistake. And Randy . . . well, he needs a good woman at his side.”

Katherine couldn't believe Mama still didn't trust her judgment to choose well. And to see her as an anchor of some sort? “Mama, you don't honestly fear I'll run off with the first man I find dashing and romantic—”

“Why, yes, I do.”

Katherine stared hard at her. “Do you believe me a simpleton? That I learned nothing from my marriage to Charles?”

Mama looked up at the sky. “I don't know
what
to expect from you, Katherine. You seem to specialize in the unexpected!” Her eyes snapped with all her mounting frustration.

“But who would I run off with? No one besides Randy is even interested in me. Do you think I'll elope with one of the footmen?”

Mama looked disgusted. “Stop talking nonsense. You know perfectly well whom I'm referring to.”

Katherine paused. “A–Andrew?”

The creases in Mama's face deepened, especially around her narrowed eyes. “Of course I mean Andrew! You can't possibly pretend you haven't noticed he's mooning after you. And you seem eager enough to receive his advances. His Aunt Georgia and your father have warned him not to toy with your affections, but he won't listen.”

Her mother continued, but her petulant words sounded like a bee buzzing in Katherine's ears. Of course others had noticed Andrew's attention. How could she have assumed otherwise? She'd disregarded Andrew's apparent fondness because love was too overwhelming to even contemplate. After all the disappointment she'd inflicted upon her parents, she'd not add another wound to the injury. “Andrew is a dear friend, but I have no inclination to marry him now or in the future.”

Mama's skeptical stare caused Katherine to flinch. “Simply promise me you won't elope with him.”

Katherine's throat dried. “Really, Mama. You're being ridiculous.”

“If you don't promise, then I shall continue to worry. Andrew is unsuitable for you. He's a gentleman, but to put it bluntly, he's not of our social set. He's been dependent upon Georgia and Clarence since his parents passed away. If it weren't for the Clarkes' generosity, you wouldn't even know him. He was well brought up, but he has almost no money. What kind of life could you possibly have with him?” Mama's face looked as red as her crimson roses.