A Path Toward Love (40 page)
“We cannot,” she said, her voice echoing with ache. “You know all the reasons why. You must believe me when I say I've never been so sorry about anything in my life.” She reached up and brushed her lips against his cheek. For a moment, she paused as if she'd lift her head and meet his mouth with her soft, sweet lips.
But instead she gently spun around and swept out of the library, leaving him bereft in the dark, silent room without even a fire to cheer him.
A
t nine o'clock the next morning, Katherine dressed in a plain cocoa brown skirt and a cream-colored shirtwaist, and donned a straw boater with a brown band around the crown. She glanced in the mirror above her dressing table. Finding a young woman staring back at her with anxious eyes, she breathed a deep sigh. She looked exhausted. All night she'd replayed Andrew's declaration in her mind. But at least she appeared presentable. It was time to go.
She opened her cabin door to find her mother striding down the walkway toward the cabin. Katherine's insides twisted. “Good morning, Mama.”
Nodding a greeting, her mother halted. “I came to remind you we're all off to a short shopping trip to town.” Mama's lips pursed. “You are planning on coming, aren't you?”
Katherine nodded. “Of course. I'll get my shawl.” Perfect. She'd stop off at the bank and withdraw the money for Harriet.
Mama's eyes narrowed with suspicion, causing perspiration to seep through Katherine's tight collar. “Why are you carrying a satchel? Where were you planning to go?”
“There's some business I need to attend to.” She angled her gaze away from Mama's probing stare.
“Oh, you mean your orange groves, don't you? I daresay you'll be so much happier with that weight off your shoulders. Now that you and Randy are keeping company, I'm sure you'll soon be ready to sell to Mr. Osborne. Have you written to him yet? Papa said he seemed anxious to hear from you. You really ought to get your business affairs settled.”
“No, I haven't written, but I'm sure it will all be resolved soon.” Katherine smiled sweetly and then stepped into the cabin for her shawl. Shoving the satchel into the chest of drawers, she thrust her hand over her heart and waited for it to calm. Now was not the time to tell Mama about the financial agreement with Harriet; she'd tell her later, when Mama wasn't in a contentious mood.
“Don't tarry, dear.” Mama pulled open the door and poked her head inside. “It's rude to keep others waiting.”
Katherine nodded. Harriet Roles would have to wait until later.
“Andrew, I have news for you.” Mr. Wainwright grinned as he strode into the room, but his cheerfulness seemed forced.
“Yes, sir.” A feeling of foreboding alerted him. Andrew straightened and met Mr. Wainwright's gaze directly.
He took his seat across from him on a comfortable leather chair. “I'd like you to leave for California today. I know this is short notice, and I apologize for the inconvenience. But I've heard we have some additional competition on that California trunk line. It seems the line is more popular than I'd imagined. This new group is a really aggressive bunch of investors. I'm hoping this is merely a rumor, but I need you to be there so we'll be among the first to make an offer when the owners return. We can't pass up this opportunity.”
Shocked at the sudden change of plans, Andrew leaned back in his chair and tried to process the news. “When does my train leave?”
“In two hours. I'll have my valet pack for you so you'll be ready on time. How does this change of plans strike you?”
“Fine, sir,” he said numbly. He'd have to say good-bye to Katherine before he left. Desolation filled him at the thought. Yet she'd turned him aside for his cousin, so there was nothing to keep him here any longer. She'd have to see through her negotiation with Harriet on her own. In fact, it might be less painful for him to leave today than to linger here and watch Randy and Katherine together, pretending a love that didn't exist.
Mr. Wainwright crossed his arms over his barrel chest and beamed. “Perhaps you should wind up what you're doing here.”
Andrew nodded, excused himself, and went to his bedroom to prepare for his departure. He wished he could rewrite the ending to his summer in a much different way. But despite his hopes, winning Katherine's hand had been a futile dream, right from the start. His follyâto sweep the girl off her feet and attain the approval of her parents . . .
His mouth twisted in a grimace. He'd always known better.
When the ladies returned from town, Katherine hurried off to her cabin before Mama could bully her into an afternoon filled with social activities. She grabbed her satchel and glanced at Aunt Letty.
“In case Mama comes looking for me, I'll be back in a few hours.”
Aunt Letty looked up from the album she'd just opened. “Oh, of course, dear.”
She turned her attention back to the pictures with a wistful smile, and Katherine paused a moment. Would she ever have albums full of memories she could look upon fondly? “Enjoy yourself, Aunt. I'll see you at tea.”
Katherine stepped outside her cabin and quickly searched the area for Mama. Finding herself alone, Katherine darted across the yard toward the boats. She tossed her satchel into the rowboat, pushed it off the shore, and boarded.
Sunshine beat down upon her, but a mild breeze kept her comfortable. A gull swooped toward the water; a family of mallards swam by; a canoe crossed her path. A lovely day, but she couldn't enjoy the outdoors when Harriet, Charles, and Zeke were on her mind. The short trip to the Wayside seemed to stretch on and on. She finally reached the beach, disembarked, and strode toward the inn, satchel in hand.
Katherine found Harriet sitting on the porch facing the lake. Anxiety distorted her sculptured features as she rose heavily from the rocker.
“Hello, Mrs. Osborne. I think we should go to my room and talk.”
Katherine nodded and followed Charles's mistress inside, through a spacious center hallway with a reception desk, and up a steep flight of stairs. At the landing they turned right and strode past several closed doors before Harriet paused. “This is my room.” She unlocked the door and pushed it open. “We'll be alone. Zeke is playing in the game room with another little boy.”
The tiny space with its twin beds and dresser looked clean and cheerful with the early afternoon light pouring through the windows. Katherine removed the agreement from her satchel and handed it to Harriet. Taking several seconds to read the terms, Harriet finally nodded. “Thank you.”
Relief flowed through Katherine, draining some of the tension that tightened her muscles and left her nauseous.
“It's not exactly what I asked for, but I'm grateful for your provision. When you left yesterday I realized I wasn't very gracious or thankful. I must've sounded dreadfully demanding. I'm sorry. I can see there are things I didn't know. Charles never told me he lost most of his fortune and yours. I thought he was still a rich man when he died, so of course I assumed you'd have plenty of money to help with his son. We're in such dire straits.” Harriet's voice cracked. “All this money comes from you, doesn't it?”
“Yes.”
“I'm much obliged.”
Katherine cleared the emotion from her throat. “Shall we have this agreement witnessed?”
“Yes, of course. I'm sure the innkeeper and his wife will be glad to help.”
Five minutes later the paper was signed and the cash exchanged.
“Thank you again, Mrs. Osborne.”
Katherine strolled toward the back porch, ready to leave this behind. But at the steps leading across the lawn to the shore, she paused and met Harriet's steady gaze. Before she thought twice, Katherine drew out the question she'd locked inside ever since she learned of Charles's deceit. “Please, tell me why it happened.” Her voice was so low she wondered if Harriet heard her, but the young woman startled and then nodded.
“Let's sit at the end of the porch where we won't be disturbed.”
The long open veranda was empty except for an old couple bundled up near the back door and rocking gently in squeaky rocking chairs. Katherine followed Harriet. They strode to the end of the long porch and sat side by side in matching wicker chairs.
Harriet buried her head in her hands for what seemed like an eternity. When she looked up, her eyes pleaded for compassion. “I know I deceived you, but I was Charles's mistress before he met you. And also later, after your marriage. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Osborne. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I loved Charles and he was all that mattered to me until Zeke came along. Then I fought to make us a family.” Tears trailed down Harriet's cheeks. Fumbling in her pocket for a handkerchief, she sniffed back more.
Katherine felt perspiration soak the tight collar of her shirtwaist and spread into her neck and face. Her heart thumped so loudly she barely heard Harriet's words.
“I met Charles during the summer while he was home from college. We immediately fell deeply in love and he wanted to marry me. I knew his father would never allow him to marry a nanny without money or good family background. But he couldn't see why the difference in our social positions should keep us apart.” Harriet sighed. “I believed Charles when he said he didn't care for society's opinions one little bit. He promised to marry me regardless of his father's objections, regardless of how his friends received me. And I trusted him. He was so sincere.”
Katherine watched Harriet's wet cheeks flush with redness. Sympathy stirred at the center of Katherine's heart, despite the discomfort of hearing about Charles's hidden past and the dislike she felt toward her.
“Just before he returned to college in New York he told his father of our plans to marry. Old Mr. Osborne threatened to disinherit him if he didn't give me up. I was stunned when he caved in to his father's demands. I was so sure of Charles's love and loyalty. But at the end of the summer, he returned to Columbia and I didn't hear from him again.”
“But you must have,” Katherine murmured, her voice hinting at a bitterness she didn't want to feel or express. If only Charles's affair had ended at this point, their marriage might have stood at least a small chance of succeeding.
Harriet nodded. Her face blazed with what Katherine assumed was shame. “Did you tell Charles about your baby?” Katherine asked.