Part 4 (1/2)
FIVE.
Katie was still chuckling when she came down to dinner that night. Every time she pictured Christopher in the water, and his expression when he realized she'd taken his clothes, she couldn't help but laugh. Although she'd never admit it, a part of her had been a little distracted by his very masculine form. No armchair philosopher, he evidently led a vigorous life and it showed. A surge of feminine excitement tingled through her as she envisioned him in the ocean, his lean body only partially concealed by the gray-blue water. Stop it, she told herself. The fool was conceited enough without her admiring him. Still, to see him discomfited was worth any price.
”That dress is lovely, Fan. The blue really sets off your eyes and hair,” Ella said with a fond glance at her niece. She indicated a chair. ”I must say you've enjoyed your outing today. I've never seen you in such high spirits.”
Katie smiled softly as she took the seat. It was getting easier and easier to think of herself as Fan Pemberton, and she found that she responded to that name almost as quickly as she would to her own. ”We had a great time. I saw Mr. Scott today in the ocean. I have to say it was very revealing.”
Eileen brought in the dinner plates, then slammed them out on the table. ”Sounds like a fool notion to me,” she remarked. ”Bathing in that ocean near naked! In my day young ladies wouldn't think of such a thing.”
She emphasized the word ”ladies.” Katie gave her a sharp look while Ella nodded.
”In your day you would have been perfectly correct. But these are modern times, and doctors now approve of exercise. And all of the fas.h.i.+onable young ladies are so engaged. It is a good way to socialize, outside of the formal customs of a dance or a ball.”
Before Eileen could argue, there was a knock on the door. ”I believe that is our dinner companions,” Ella said sweetly, with an absentminded air. ”Would you mind setting out two extra places? I think I forgot to mention that we were having guests.”
Katie looked at Eileen in confusion, but the housekeeper seemed to have no more idea than she about their dinner plans. With a shrug, Eileen left the room to answer the door, then returned a moment later.
”Yes.” Ella nodded, then turned to Katie. ”Mr. Scott is here, with his aunt. Let's join them in the front room, dear, and leave Eileen to her work.”
Katie froze, staring at Ella Pemberton in disbelief. It was he-Christopher Scott! She knew she would run into him again; it was inevitable. But she wasn't quite prepared to meet him the same day she had set him up so admirably.
Swallowing hard, she glanced quickly into the mirror, wondering how Frances would handle this. What she saw didn't help. She was too tall, her hair unfas.h.i.+onably black, her nose sprinkled with freckles. She looked like a poor Irish girl, not the niece of this wealthy woman. And now she had to get through a dinner with Christopher Scott and his aunt seated across the table from her!
”Miss Pemberton.” Christopher gallantly greeted the older woman first, his expression a model of politeness. Dressed in an immaculate dark suit with a sparkling white s.h.i.+rt, he looked every inch the gentleman and entirely too handsome. Katie didn't wonder at the attention he received from the other girls. When he finished greeting Ella, he turned to her and his smile deepened. She could hear the laughter in his voice as he bowed to her, then insisted on taking her hand.
”My dear Miss Pemberton. It has been too long since we've...seen each other.”
Katie fumed, longing to s.n.a.t.c.h back her hand, but there was no way she could object without attracting Ella's attention. She noticed his aunt was looking at her closely, as if curious about her reaction. Katie forced a sweet smile.
”Yes, it has been. Did you enjoy your swim today, Mr. Scott? I noticed you seemed right at home in the water. Much like a shark, or a barracuda, I would think.”
He threw back his head and laughed, while taking a seat beside Ella and Eunice. ”Yes, I am an accomplished swimmer. I must say the tide was very rough today. It carried off just about everything, including some personal articles. Did you have any such problem?”
He wouldn't...he wouldn't tell Ella what she'd done. She could just imagine the older woman's reaction when she heard that her genteel niece had carried off the clothing of this gentleman, just to make him a laughingstock. Somehow Katie was sure Ella wouldn't get the joke. Fighting to keep her composure, she managed another bright smile, though her eyes implored him.
”No, I can't say that I did. Would you like a drink or something, Mr. Scott? Mrs. Scott? Wine before dinner?”
He smiled broadly, then nodded. ”That would be very nice, Miss Pemberton.”
Eunice and Ella declined, and Katie left, glad to escape. She was forced to wait on him, but that was nothing compared with what he could do to her. Grimacing, she envisioned a meal full of his innuendos and barbed comments. She had it coming, that much she knew. But it didn't make the prospect any pleasanter. Christopher apparently intended to retaliate for her prank, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Bringing the gla.s.s back to the parlor, she paused in the doorway, surprised to see him playing cards with Ella and his aunt. Ella turned over a card, then blushed and laughed at her choice while Christopher applauded her strategy. Eunice made a sharp remark, then they all laughed, Christopher obviously enjoying himself. Katie frowned. Somehow his generosity with the older ladies didn't fit the picture she had of him as a heartless rogue, especially when, a few moments later, he let Ella win the hand.
Ella was still blus.h.i.+ng and laughing when Katie reentered with the wine and handed him the gla.s.s. He gave her a grin when he took it, his fingers gently brus.h.i.+ng hers as he accepted the drink.
”I almost thought you weren't returning,” he said, implying that retreat was her first tactic. ”I just got duly trounced by your aunt.”
”You are too generous,” Ella said, though Katie could tell she was pleased. ”I've been practicing, but I've yet to equal your skill.”
”Yes, but you did win. My congratulations.”
Ella couldn't have been happier. Flattered by Christopher's attentions, she was like a young girl again. Katie followed them into dinner, watching thoughtfully as he pulled out the chair for the older women. Yet there was nothing contrived in his actions. Instinctively, she knew that he did this as a matter of respect and genuine affection.
Reluctantly she thought of her own grandfather and her elderly aunt. Patrick O'Connor told endless tales of the old country and his career in the sa.s.senach army. Moira was more than a little daft and didn't care who knew it. Yet they loved Katie and her son unconditionally, and it always hurt her to see them given less attention or respect than they deserved. Christopher, she realized in astonishment, would probably treat them courteously, in spite of their eccentricities.
Katie took the seat farthest away from him. It was just too unnerving to be close to him, especially now when she was forced to change some of her notions about him. She withdrew from the conversation, answering only in monosyllables, but the three of them managed just fine without her. Watching him covertly, Katie had to admit that he was the perfect guest. Ella and Eunice begged him for gossip and spoke at length about everything from tea tables to the Main Line families.
”It is so nice to have a gentleman present for dinner!” Ella said gratefully when the first course was cleared away. ”I always say we are too much alone, just us women in the house. Tell us about your business, Christopher, your investments and such. I am always so interested in such doings, and don't hear nearly enough about them.”
Katie glanced up, aware that she knew very little about him. Christopher shrugged casually. ”I'm...investing in art these days,” he said slowly.
”Art!” Ella turned to Katie enthusiastically. ”Fan once took drawing lessons! She really is quite good, though I haven't been able to prevail upon her to paint for us since she's been back.” When Katie refused to respond, she turned back to her guest. ”What kind of art are you working with?”
”I'm presently in the business of selling some paintings,” Christopher said quickly. ”When I've raised enough capital, I'm thinking of a merger of a.s.sets. Enough to start another enterprise.”
”I see,” Ella said in confusion while Eunice had a coughing attack.
”What he means is, he is thinking of forming a mutually beneficial conglomerate,” Eunice explained. ”Enough about business, though. I find the conversation tiring. I would like to hear more about Fan's painting. Are you fond of the new French Impressionism, dear? I don't quite understand it myself.”
Katie gulped, aware that all eyes were on her. She hadn't the faintest idea of what they were talking about, but she had the feeling that the real Frances would. Seeing Christopher's interested gaze, she shrugged, determined not to let him see her defeated.
”I don't quite care for it myself,” Katie said thoughtfully. ”I think there is something too bold about it.”
”Whatever do you mean?” Eunice questioned bluntly. ”I've always thought Impressionism to be very subtle. The slightest shading of color lends a whole new meaning to the subject. I can't imagine it being described as bold.”
Fl.u.s.tered, Katie glanced at Ella, but even the older woman seemed puzzled. Somehow she had to think of a way out of this one. Amazingly it was Christopher who saved her.
”I think what Fan means is that the idea is bold,” he commented. ”Now that we have photographs, we don't have the same need for realism in painting. The Impressionists, by using only light and color, convey much more than a true-to-life oil.”
”That's it exactly,” Eunice said, delighted with her answer. ”And one is never quite sure what the hues represent. One is simply left with a feeling, an emotion, which is what good art is all about. What a wonderful observation, Fan.”
Katie gave Christopher a look of profound grat.i.tude, which immediately earned her a charming smile, one so dazzling she had to hide behind her gla.s.s. A strange fluttering started in her stomach, which she attributed to the wine. It couldn't be anything else, but when she dared to look again, she couldn't stop the thoughts that entered her mind.
He was so good-looking, perfectly handsome, in fact. She winced as she pictured the dock workers from the city, the boys she'd grown up with who hooted when she walked to her job. None of them, not even the rugged Carey Murphy, whom all the girls drooled over, could hold a candle to Christopher.
All right, so he was handsome. And charming when he wanted to be. Rich. And funny. She had to hold back a giggle as she remembered his proposal on the Drexels' porch. Why was she fighting this? He was, in fact, everything a girl dreamed of. Then why was she so afraid?
Because he might find out. Because he'd hate you if he did. Because you're not Fan Pemberton, but a poor Irish maid who cleans houses and hires out as a ladies' companion. You have a child, you don't have money...you've never even had a husband. My G.o.d-she shook herself. What are you thinking? There was not a happy ending for women like her, and she'd best not forget it.
”Frances, Mr. Scott is speaking to you,” Ella said firmly.
Katie glanced up. ”Oh? I am sorry. What did you say?”