Abiding Love: Banished Saga, Book Eight Read online

  “Didn’t he just purchase a mansion?” Perry asked in confusion.

  “War brings profit, Mr. Hawke. Especially to those without scruples. It’s doubtful such profits will last.” Teddy rose and shook Perry’s hand. “Please visit us again when you are next in Boston.”

  Perry shook both men’s hands and then departed. On the front step of Teddy’s house, he took a deep breath and gave silent thanks for Lucas’s recommendation and for following his own instincts.

  * * *

  Three days later Zylphia joined Sophronia for tea. Zylphia fought a smile as a maid led her into Sophie’s back sitting room. “Hello, Sophie,” she said.

  “No need to be amused,” Sophie said. “I happen to enjoy this room.” She glared at Zylphia when her younger friend burst out giggling. “I’m having the front parlor redecorated, starting next week.”

  “Oh, I hope you are not taking your daughter’s advice again,” Zylphia said as she swallowed the last of her laughter.

  Sophronia gave Zylphia a withering stare. “I am using my own decorator this time. I hate to admit that it will be more like it previously was before my daughter’s designer destroyed my relaxing room with the horrid shades of blue more befitting a funeral parlor than the calm refuge of my sitting room.”

  Zylphia looked around the small rear sitting room with a settee, a lit fireplace, a desk by the window and Sophie’s chair between the desk and the fireplace across from the settee. “I hope we’ll still meet here. This is a comfortable room, and I find I prefer it to the larger more formal front sitting room.” Her gaze turned critical as she stared at her painting of the cliffs near a house Sophie had rented five years ago in Newport, RI, where she had first met her husband, Theodore Goff.

  Sophie shrugged. “If I weren’t expected to host more events, I wouldn’t bother with the front room. But, as it is, I don’t care to have anyone in that room. Thus, I must redecorate.” She waved her hand as though she were tired of discussing her refurbishment plans. “Now, how are things between you and Teddy? There were moments a few nights ago when I thought you were no longer reconciled.” Her aquamarine eyes shone with concern.

  Zylphia let out a huff of air and shook her head. “I don’t know what to do, Sophie. Whenever Washington is mentioned or Alice or the cause, he buttons up. He can’t abide the thought of me returning to Washington.”

  “What do you want to do?” Sophie asked. She motioned for the maid who entered the room to set down the tea tray and to leave. When the door closed, Sophie frowned. “I know Alice wants you back in Washington soon, but Alice has a singular focus on the goal of universal enfranchisement. While I can admire her determination, I can also despair her inability to deem anything else of equal importance in her life.”

  Zylphia shook her head. “I don’t know what I want. I feel like I am finally emerging from a fog.” She looked into the flames, her gaze distant and mournful. “He won’t touch me. Not truly.”

  Sophie sighed. “Do you want him to?” At Zylphia’s nod, Sophie leaned forward and tapped her friend on her knee. “Then you must show him that you do.”

  “I don’t know if I’m that brave, Sophie,” Zylphia whispered. “It took almost everything I had to return to our home for New Year’s.” She swiped at a cheek. “I don’t understand how he can forgive me when I still can’t forgive myself.”

  Sophronia nodded. “That is the true problem, Zee. Not that you’re afraid of his rejection. But that you don’t believe yourself worthy of forgiveness.” She waited until Zylphia gave a subtle nod. Sophie sighed and sat back in her chair, deep in thought. “There is no easy answer. You must take time. Try to paint. Find your way again.”

  Sophie watched as Zylphia battled tears. “I imagine you must be terribly disconcerted as you have always known your path and which way you were charging forward. Now you must be patient with yourself as you learn what you desire while you heal.”

  Zylphia nodded and then sniffled. “Thank you, Sophie. I have this fear of letting everyone down.” She jumped as Sophie grabbed her hand and squeezed it, blanching at the fire in Sophie’s eyes.

  “The only person you should worry about is yourself. And Teddy. If you never went back to Washington, if you never did one more thing for the cause, I could not esteem you any higher than I already do, Zee.” Her eyes glowed with her impassioned truth. “You’ve sacrificed more than I could ever dream of. Do not feel that you must do anything more. Do what you know to be right. For you and for Teddy.”

  Zylphia nodded again and then tried for a smile filled with bravado. “Did you give Parthena the same advice before she decided to travel to Montana?”

  Sophronia harrumphed, then chuckled. “That girl has always been headstrong. She was intent on traveling there and had booked tickets before ever informing me.” She shared a long look with Zylphia. “I’m only thankful her husband showed enough sense to travel with her this time.”

  “What I wouldn’t give to witness that reunion,” Zylphia murmured, a smile hovering on her lips as she and Sophie shared a conspiratorial look.

  “Oh, yes. That would be something to see.”

  Chapter 2

  Butte, Montana, January 1918

  Genevieve Russell sat at the desk in her small parlor, absently rubbing a hand over her belly. She shared a large home in Uptown Butte with her husband, the famous pianist, Lucas Russell. A little over two years ago he had helped her escape her father’s plan to marry her to an aged lecher, and they had settled in the thriving, tumultuous mining town set in Montana’s mountains.

  Genevieve stared out the window but glared at the brick wall of her neighbor’s house. She closed her eyes, envisioning a large green yard with a rose trellis. She smiled at the unlikelihood of roses blooming in Butte, due to the pollution and elevation, and then smiled further when she heard her husband’s chuckle.

  “What has my beautiful wife smiling?” Lucas asked. He entered her room and bent to kiss her nape. “Might I hope it had to do with me?”

  “No,” she said on a breathy exhale as he kissed around to the front of her neck. She tilted her head to allow him easier access. “I was thinking about roses.” She opened her eyes as she saw him still. “Not because you haven’t bought me any. I was imagining a scene outside my window that is other than a brick wall.”

  Lucas chuckled again and moved to a nearby chair. He motioned to the pile of correspondence on her desk. “What is the news?”

  Genevieve took a deep breath. “Savannah writes that she plans to be here by mid-January. She doesn’t want us to be alone as the baby comes.”

  Lucas frowned. “Why should that worry you?”

  Genevieve motioned to the large number of letters on her desk. “Do any of them consider that I might like time alone with my husband and child after our baby arrives?” She flushed as Lucas watched her with gentle rapprochement.

  “I’ll write Sav and let her know that she should wait for an invitation,” Lucas said. When that failed to lift his wife’s mood, his frown turned into a near glower. “Vivie? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Parthena’s coming,” she said in a rush. “By the time I received her letter, they’d already bought their tickets.”

  Lucas nodded. “I’m glad you’ll have your sister with you for support. For too long you’ve had to depend on my family.” He shook his head in confusion and tapped his fingers on his thigh. “I don’t understand why that would worry you.”

  Genevieve flushed and looked away. She sat in dejected silence, her hands gripped together on her lap. She shook her head as though unable to speak.

  Lucas rose and knelt in front of her. “Speak to me, Vivie. Share your fears with me. For whatever bothers you, bothers me.”

  “I’m being foolish,” she burst out. “It’s just that …” She raised a shaky hand, pointing to her body, her curves enhanced from the pregnancy weight, her large belly and swollen ankles. “Look at me. Why would you want me when Parthena’s coming?” She kept h
er head bowed.

  He growled in anger and gripped her chin more harshly than he meant to. “Dammit, Vivie. This is why we’ve never returned to Boston. Have you shared that with your sister?” His hurt expression flit over her vulnerable one. “I love you. My wife. My Vivie. Not her. Never anyone else since we wed.”

  “How can you?” she cried out. “Look at me!” she wailed. When he chuckled, she hit him on his shoulder.

  “I am, and I find you gorgeous,” he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her on each cheek. “You will never see you as I see you. Lush and beautiful with your pregnancy weight. Precious as you carry our child. Fragile as you tire more easily and your balance becomes more precarious.” He traced a finger over her hands before raising one to kiss it. “You are mine to love and protect, as I am yours.”

  “Oh, Lucas,” Genevieve murmured, leaning forward. “I’m terrified of what will happen when you see Parthena again.”

  Lucas rose, easing his wife to a nearby settee. He sat, enfolding his wife in his arms, his fingers plucking out pins from her chignon. “Nothing will take away that fear until you see us together. Until you realize she’s nothing more than a memory for me. And my sister-in-law.”

  Genevieve shuddered in his arms. “Forgive me. I know you love me. I’m feeling vulnerable.”

  He smiled as he held her. “I know, and I hope you will always share how you feel with me. I want to share everything with you, Vivie. The good and the bad.” He ran a hand over her belly, his breath catching as he felt a kick. “I don’t know as you’ll ever understand the extent of my joy, knowing that we are to be parents.” He continued to run soothing hands over her belly, and she relaxed into him.

  “Please invite Savannah. I’d enjoy having her here too.” She turned so he could kiss her neck.

  “She loves you like a sister,” Lucas murmured. “But I don’t know how healthy it is for her to be here at a birth. She’s never fully recovered from the fact she can’t have children.”

  “Do what you deem right,” Genevieve murmured. “I trust you.”

  * * *

  Lucas played a soothing lullaby on the piano while Genevieve attempted to find a comfortable position as she listened. He’d tinkered with the piece for weeks and considered it nearly perfect as their baby was due any day. “That’s lovely, Lucas,” she murmured. “I think the repetition of the melody would calm any colicky baby.”

  He winked at her over his shoulder as he continued to play. “And hopefully an uncomfortable wife.”

  She laughed at his comment. Then, at the knock on the front door, she straightened as much as she could. Lucas approached her and gave her a hand to help her rise. He kissed her on the mouth, nodding to her as he met her worried gaze, waiting for her instinctive panic to ease. He smiled before linking their fingers together to make their slow progression to the front door.

  When he flung it open, he smiled. “Hello! Welcome to our home.” He shook Morgan’s hand and nodded to Parthena. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Parthena pushed past Morgan and threw herself into her sister’s arms. Lucas shut the front door behind them and hung their coats on the coat rack before motioning Morgan into the main living area.

  Morgan seemed to catalogue the details of their rather simple but comfortable home.

  Parthena stood about a half-foot shorter than Lucas and her husband, Morgan Wheeler. Her straw-blond hair was held back in an intricate chignon, while her hazel eyes shone with apparent delight at seeing her sister again after over two years. Morgan, only slightly taller than Lucas, had an eagle-eyed focus on his wife and stood with stiff formality in the face of Lucas’s exuberant welcome.

  “I trust you had an uneventful journey,” Lucas said as he stood next to Morgan near the piano and watched as the sisters prattled, hugged and cried.

  “We did. Parthena was most displeased at the delay in Minneapolis, but I am delighted to see we arrived in time.” Morgan tilted his head toward Genevieve in her pregnant state.

  Lucas nodded. “Yes, travel in winter can be unpredictable. However, we are very happy with your arrival.” He slapped Morgan on the back before approaching his wife. “Vivie, you should sit and get your feet up.” He placed a protective hand around her waist and led her to a chair with an ottoman in front of it. “There, my love.” He stroked her ankle as he helped her raise her feet and then winked at her before rising to play host.

  “Would you like to see your room and freshen up after your journey?” he asked. When they shook their heads, Lucas smiled and waved at them to sit in the comfortable chairs scattered throughout the room. He poured drinks for everyone and then joined the conversation.

  “Were you able to use the tickets I wrangled to see my good friend Perry when you were in Minneapolis?” Lucas asked. “He was there again on tour.”

  Parthena nodded. “We did. Thank you for so generously obtaining them for us.”

  “We even met him, much to Parthena’s delight,” Morgan said with a rare smile among company. “He seemed intrigued with Parthena’s abilities at the piano.”

  Lucas laughed. “I imagine he tried to convince you to tour with him.” At Parthena’s flush and Morgan’s glower, Lucas laughed harder. “Since he is unable to coerce me into joining him, he’s trying to find someone of equal talent.”

  “I thank you for the compliment, but I know I am not near your ability,” Parthena demurred.

  Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Yet, Mrs. Wheeler. Not yet. But you will someday, if you continue to practice.” He smiled at Morgan in a friendly, unchallenging manner. “Your wife could be one of the most sought-after pianists in the country.”

  Parthena shared a quick glance with her husband. “That is a goal I no longer cherish.” At Lucas’s surprised look, she smiled. “I’ve found I enjoy my life as it is. Performing and living with public scrutiny would be a tiresome burden.”

  Lucas watched as Morgan relaxed with Parthena’s words. Lucas turned the topic away from the piano. “I’m surprised it is taking this long for your trunks to arrive.”

  Morgan cleared his throat. “We had no desire to be a burden to you as you are to be new parents. We’ve rented rooms at a nearby hotel.”

  “Oh, Parthena,” Genevieve wailed, flinging her hand out to grasp her husband’s hand. “I wanted you here.”

  “We won’t be far away. We’re staying at the Thornton Hotel.” Parthena attempted a reassuring smile for her sister.

  Lucas watched Morgan closely, their gazes locked for a few moments. “I understand. We’ll have plenty of time together, and you are welcome here anytime. Hopefully you will dine with us daily.”

  “Of course,” Parthena said, rushing over her words. “I didn’t want to intrude in your home after you had the baby. You should have time together, just the two—then the three—of you.”

  Genevieve shook her head in disappointment. “But Lucas’s sister will be here. It’s pointless for you to stay away from us.” She gazed at Lucas, entreating him to intervene. When he shook his head subtly, she huffed out a moan and collapsed against the back of her seat.

  “We’ll be here at least two months, Viv. You’ll be tired of us by the time we leave,” Parthena teased her sister.

  Genevieve reached a hand out to her sister. “I’ll never want you to go.” Both sisters blinked away tears at her avowal.

  * * *

  Morgan sat against a few pillows in the bed he’d share with Parthena in their room in the Thornton Hotel in Butte. He acted as though he were reading, but his gaze rose to the closed bathroom door every few moments. When she finally emerged, he set aside the book to study his wife. “How are you, Hennie?”

  She slipped out of her emerald-green silk robe and climbed under the covers. She lay on her side, and he scooted down so they were at eye level. After a short pause, she met her husband’s gaze and spoke. “I think he truly loves my sister.”

  Morgan frowned at her incredulous tone. “Why should that surprise you? Your sister has been writing
of his devotion since nearly the time of their elopement.”

  Parthena shook her head, her gaze distant.

  “Did you believe he wouldn’t recover from loving you?”

  Parthena’s startled gaze met his. She flushed and nodded. “Yes, I’m embarrassed to admit, I did. I love Viv, but I always knew I was …” She broke off before shrugging. “Smarter, prettier, more sought after.”

  “In my eyes you are, Parthena. However, you must realize how conceited you sound. Your sister has many wonderful attributes, and she and Lucas seem perfectly matched.” He leaned forward and kissed her nose. “Even if I do say so myself, as I conceived of the match.”

  Parthena met his teasing, yet worried gaze. “Why did you agree to come here with me? It can’t have been easy with your multitude of businesses, and I know you’ve never yearned for Lucas’s friendship.”

  Morgan watched her for a few moments. “I knew it would make you happy.” He paused. “And I didn’t want you to travel alone.” He held a finger to her lips before she could sputter a protest. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s more that I’m protective of you.” He kissed her softly. “There is little I wouldn’t do to see you happy.” He caressed her shoulder. “As for my businesses, never fear. I have associates I trust, and I’ve asked Aidan McLeod and Teddy Goff to keep an eye on things in my absence.”

  She kissed his fingers as she studied his gaze a moment. “Why else did you come here?”

  At her whispered question, he flushed. “I dreaded being separated from you. The last time we were apart, you were incarcerated and treated in ways I can’t bear to imagine.” His eyes clouded in agony as he beheld her. “I … I need to be with you.”

  “Oh, Morgan,” she whispered, leaning forward to kiss him. “My … my desire for us to be together isn’t going to fade.” She caressed his cheek as she met his tormented gaze. “You have the right to time away from me, darling.”