Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan (25 page)

No matter what Elena said to try to convince her friend, Jillian refused to stay the night. Tears flowed down Elena’s cheeks as she helped Jillian pack. She wanted to be angry at her mother for forcing Jillian to leave, but she was more angry at the society in which they lived. What was so wrong with Jillian caring for someone above her in status but quite compatible with her in personality and spirit?

Elena’s mother hadn’t been wealthy when she married, and her parents’ marriage had worked. Sort of.

Perhaps it was better for Jillian to leave before both their hearts were broken.

Mama wasn’t around when Elena changed into her old dress, nor did she appear when she and Jillian crept off the back porch like outlaws. Elena didn’t take the bicycle with her this time. In one hand was a lantern, and over her back was strung a makeshift knapsack filled with most of Jillian’s belongings. Her friend carried the rest in a blanket.

Part of her wanted to go straight to the Randolphs’ house and knock on Parker’s door, but what would he do? Give them money, perhaps, so Jillian could stay in a hotel until she returned to Chicago? She suspected that Jillian wouldn’t take his money. And even if Parker did pay for it, all the hotels would be booked for the Independence Day celebrations.

“Where should we go?” Jillian whispered.

“Don’t worry,” Elena told her even though she herself felt terrified.

If Chase wasn’t at the lighthouse, she didn’t know what she would do. She certainly wasn’t going to let Jillian stay out on the island by herself, even at the lighthouse, no matter how safe she knew it to be.

“I have a little money saved,” Jillian said. “Enough to get me back to Chicago.”

“In the morning, my mother will rethink everything. Perhaps she will even ask you to return.”

“It doesn’t matter what she wants. She can’t take me back.”

Elena’s stomach rolled. She understood her mother’s need to protect their family’s reputation, but Jillian hadn’t done anything wrong. If only her mother would take a stand and tell the other ladies that as well. It was exhausting to be driven by what others thought of you.

“Parker’s mother…,” Jillian said. “She was never supposed to find those letters.”

“I know.”

“Parker said we should burn them.”

“But you didn’t.”

Jillian shook her head.

“Apparently he couldn’t burn your letters either.”

They stopped along the road, and Jillian eyed the narrow trail ahead of them. “Where are you taking me?”

“There is a man I met at the lighthouse, a nice man named Chase. He works as a laborer at the Grand Hotel, and he doesn’t know—” She took a deep breath. “He calls me Andy.”

Jillian reached out and stopped her. “I understand.”

Elena sighed. “I suppose we’ve both given our hearts to someone we should not.”

The women hiked through the woods until they came to the lighthouse. A light burned in the window, and Elena’s heart leaped at the sight of it. They found Chase inside the parlor, holding the diary in his hands.

He stood up quickly, smiling when he saw Elena. But his smile quickly faded to worry when he saw Jillian.

“Did something happen?”

“My friend,” Elena began. “She lost her position and needs some place to sleep for the night.”

Chase opened his mouth to speak, but Elena didn’t let him. She was afraid he was going to refuse her. “I was hoping that perhaps she could stay with one of the women you work with at the Grand.”

Chase blinked. “I don’t know….”

“Just for the night,” she insisted. “Tomorrow we can find her a new position, perhaps even at the hotel.”

Jillian shook her head. “I don’t want to be an inconvenience.”

Chase looked at her. “You’re not an inconvenience.”

His words were spoken with such sincerity that Elena wondered if he was flirting with Jillian. The very thought dismayed her. She’d created her own world in her mind, and in this world, Chase was devoted to her. Perhaps he was just as friendly to all women as he had been to her, or he could even be married like Edward, who roamed in spite of his marital vows.

But as Chase turned back to Elena, she realized he was serious. He saw worth in Jillian just as she did.

He tucked the diary into his satchel. “I believe I can find a place for her to stay tonight.”

Elena clasped her hands together. “Thank you.”

“Are you certain, Mr.—” Jillian asked.

He nodded. “Quite.”

Galileo escorted them the mile to the Grand Hotel. As they walked, Chase stole a glance at Elena, and she warmed at his gentle smile.

“Thank you,” she mouthed.

He acknowledged her words with a slight bow of his head. The perfect gentleman.

She looked at the path ahead of them, washed yellow in lantern light. Her mother might have plans for her to marry someone in their society, but there had to be another way to provide for her family. Perhaps her father would find a way to improve their family’s financial situation that didn’t involve her marrying a man she didn’t love. She didn’t know how she could marry another, not when her heart belonged to this man.

As they drew closer to the hotel, Elena stopped, remembering how she was dressed. She looked up at the imposing structure with new eyes.

“I can’t go in there,” she whispered.

Chase reached for her arm, and his touch enflamed her. Part of her wanted to run into his arms, and the other part screamed at her to run away.

Jillian cleared her throat. “I’ll wait over there.” She pointed toward a lamp standing along the wide drive leading to the porch.

Chase leaned toward Elena, his cheek touching her hair. “Why can’t you go into the Grand?”

“I can’t explain it.”

“The people who stay here—they are just like you and me.”

If he only knew how much they were like her…

“I’m not afraid of them. I’m afraid of…” Her voice trailed off. How could she tell him that she was more afraid of him than the people in the hotel, or at least of losing him when her mother found out? Mama wouldn’t make her leave the house as she had Jillian, but the next morning they would be on a boat back to Chicago.

He lifted his finger, and she trembled when he trailed it over her lips. “You don’t have to tell me, Andy.”

“I wish I could.”

“I will take Jillian to a safe place, and then I will walk you home.” He looked down at Galileo. “You keep her safe for me while I’m gone.”

Elena hugged Jillian and watched Chase escort her up the steps, into the beautiful hotel. Elena had visited countless times, but it occurred to her that Jillian had never been inside.

When they disappeared through the doors, Elena bent down to Galileo and scratched behind his ears. “I know what Chase told you, but I can’t possibly allow him to walk me home, and I can’t let you follow me either.”

She stood back up. “Tell that master of yours that I’ve never met a gentleman quite as fine as him.”

“Good night, Chase,” she whispered as she hurried through the back streets and up the eastern bluff to her house. It wasn’t until she got home that she realized she couldn’t help Jillian find a new position without returning to visit Chase at the Grand.

Chase’s gaze kept slipping from the stack of papers on his desk to the lake view outside his window. The visit to Mackinac began out of obligation for him and then became quite practical to test Nelson’s telescope. He thought he’d be counting the days until he could leave for Chicago, to be back in the business world, but now he didn’t want to leave.

He’d peppered Jillian with questions about her friend, but Jillian refused to share Andy’s secrets, and he admired her for it. Most women knew who he was, even if they pretended they did not. They would subtly follow him around a dinner party or a ballroom, but he knew exactly what they were doing.

Andy didn’t follow him around. Last night, she’d even left him at the hotel without a good-bye. He’d met hundreds of debutantes over the years, at dances and dinners and parties, but there had never been a woman like this, a woman who wasn’t feigning to be something she was not or expecting him to propose marriage after their introduction. They could simply enjoy each other’s company.

The women he met at the balls and banquets cared very much about the legacy of S. P. Darrington & Company and the inheritance that would one day be his. Even if they pretended to be enthralled by his every word, they didn’t care one iota about his thoughts or dreams or the secrets he held in his heart. He could say he wanted to live among the headhunters in New Guinea one day, and they would nod their pretty heads and smile and tell him that their dream was to live among the headhunters as well. He could say he’d hung the moon in the sky, and they would probably congratulate him on his success.

It was disturbing, really.

Was Andy the only woman in the world, besides his sister, who dared to disagree with him? Who was confident enough to walk away?

He tapped his palm on the papers and smiled.

Sarah wouldn’t believe him if he told her he wanted to stay longer on Mackinac. She would be pleased at first, until he told her the reason. But if his mother knew there was a young woman who intrigued him, a woman who loved God, she would be happy. She would love Andy’s spirit.

He hadn’t made any promises to Andy, but there was nothing wrong with seeing her again, was there? His only fear was what would happen when she found out he was a Darrington. Hopefully she had never even heard of his family.

There was a knock on his door, and Galileo barked.

When he opened the door, his mother soared into the room, and then she stopped and stared at him. “Why are you smiling?”

He shrugged. “I’m happy.”

She watched him for another moment. “Did something happen?”

He petted Galileo. “Why can’t I just smile?”

“Hmm.” She strolled to the window, looking outside before she turned. “I wish you would attend this tea with me today.”

“I actually have a good excuse not to attend.”

His mother laughed. “You must have put a lot of effort into finding an excuse.”

“I’m meeting with a local man about a fishing pole he’s made.”

“A fishing pole?”

He put on his coat. “A lot of people fish, Mother.”

“You are just like your father.”

“Is he going to this tea?”

She reached out and fixed his collar. “Of course not. He’s working, just like you.”

“Then surely Sarah can accompany you.”

But even as he said it, he realized Sarah wouldn’t be there. First of all, because she disliked Miss Bissette and her family. Secondly, because she’d been doting on Jillian all morning like the poor girl was her new pet.

“I wish you weren’t going to Chicago on Thursday.” His mother sighed. “We’ve only begun to see you.”

“I think—I might return after my trip.”

She studied him again, as if she were trying to determine whether he was teasing. “Why would you return?”

He shrugged. “You’ve been gone for four months, and I would like to see you a little more as well.”

“But we will see you in Detroit in August.”

He crossed his arms, leaning back against the davenport. “Are you trying to talk me out of returning?”

“I’m not, it’s just—” She paused. “You’re not coming back for a fishing pole, are you?”

“Of course not.” He stood up. “Perhaps I want to spend more time on the island.”

“Sarah said the women on the island have become quite enamored with you.”

He glanced out at the lake before looking at his mother again. “I’ve met a few of them.”

She hesitated again. He knew she didn’t want to press him. “And have any of these young ladies caught your attention?”

He smiled. “Perhaps.”

She clasped her hands together but did an admirable job of containing her excitement otherwise. “Are you planning to tell me which one?”

He leaned down and pecked her cheek. “Not yet.”

“Perhaps I shall meet her tomorrow night.”

“I don’t believe she’ll be attending the ball.”

Disappointment flashed across her face.

“But when you do meet her…I promise you that you will like her as much as I do.”

“I’m sure she’s splendid, Chase.”

“She is.”

“Then one day I’ll look forward to making her acquaintance.”

His mother stepped toward the door, and he stopped her. “If Mrs. Bissette or her daughter inquires about my status, please tell her I’m otherwise engaged.”

“Engaged?” his mother asked, a mixture of horrified and pleased.

He sighed, wishing that every young woman on the island thought he was engaged to be married. “Not engaged to be married, Mother. You can tell her, though, that my interests lie elsewhere.”

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely.”

As his mother waved good-bye, he looked back out at the lake.

Galileo slipped up beside him, and he rested his hand on the dog’s head. “She’ll like Andy, won’t she?”

His mother wouldn’t care if Andy didn’t have connections as long as she made him happy.

If only he knew where Andy came from and where she was going.

If only he could go with her.