Part 15 (1/2)
He rose and stepped to one side. ”Would you play something, Miss Arlington?”
”Me?” Her pulse quickened again.
”Please.” His voice was warm, almost like a caress. It was also irresistible.
With a nod of acquiescence, she returned to the keyboard and settled onto the bench. The smooth wood was still warm from his body heat.
Concentrate. Concentrate.
She chose to play a more difficult version of the same Viennese waltz, and it wasn't long before she was lost in the melody. The instrument was a wonder, every note so clean and pure. The music swirled around her and filled every corner of the room. When she reached the end of the song, it was hard not to return to the beginning a second time. She was reluctant to stop.
Morgan cried, ”Bravo!” and applauded.
Pleasure swept through Gwen. ”Thank you.”
”You've given me something to aspire to.”
”I suspect the day will come when you surpa.s.s my playing, if you are diligent with your practice.”
”I'll be diligent.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the side of the piano. ”I can be very single minded when I have a goal in mind.”
A frisson of expectation s.h.i.+vered along her spine.
Morgan straightened. ”Have you something new for me to work on this week?”
Sanity returned, and she reached for the sheet music she'd brought with her. ”Yes, I do. I brought several songs for you to learn.” She opened the first one and played it for him. Afterward, she rose and offered him the bench. ”Now you try it.”
It was like an intricate dance, Morgan thought, the way they moved around each other. One moment Gwen drew near. The next she moved away. One moment she smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. The next her expression was cool and distant.
She beguiled him.
She confused him.
He was almost relieved when Inez Cheevers entered the front parlor. Perhaps he could get his thoughts in order if he had a moment or two away from Gwen.
”I'm sorry, sir, but there's a telegram for you. I thought it might be important or else I would have waited.”
”Yes. Of course.” He nodded at the housekeeper, then said to Gwen, ”I won't be long. Please excuse me.”
Morgan had expected the telegram to be from one of his suppliers for New Hope. Instead, he found a message from William Rudyard: ARRIVING BETHLEHEM SPRINGS THURSDAY. BRINGING TWO FELLOW SENATORS INTERESTED IN YOUR RESORT. STAYING UNTIL SUNDAY. WILL FIND WAY TO RESOLVE ISSUES.
BILLY.
Morgan chuckled softly. Gra.s.s didn't grow under the feet of William Rudyard. He'd known that. But he hadn't expected such a quick response. Nor had he expected William to come to Bethlehem Springs in person. At least, not this soon.
He glanced toward the parlor.
The three senators would be here for his dinner party. Perfect!
He set the telegram on the table in the center of the entry before returning to the front parlor. Gwen stood at the large windows that overlooked the town. He crossed the room to join her there.
”You can see the roof of my home from here,” she said softly.
”Which one is it?” As if he hadn't discovered that on his own. Was his question the same as a lie?
She pointed. ”There. The one with the tall weeping willow in the backyard.”
”Ah, yes. I see it.”
She looked at him, concern in her eyes. ”I pray the telegram wasn't bad news.”
”No.” He shook his head. ”Not bad news. In fact, it was good news. I'm to have some visitors from the state capital. Three senators who are coming to see New Hope.”
”Word of your health resort is spreading already. That's good.”
This seemed the perfect opportunity, and Morgan took it. ”I'm going to have a dinner party on Friday night. I'd like it if you came.” To ensure her agreement, he added, ”If you become the mayor of Bethlehem Springs, it wouldn't hurt for you to know some of the men in state government.”
Gwen Arlington would never make a good poker player, Morgan thought, for he would swear her eyes revealed each and every thought as she weighed his invitation. He knew the precise moment she decided to accept.
But to be on the safe side, he said, ”I would be very honored to have you here.”
”Thank you. I accept your kind invitation.”
Relief flooded through him and he smiled, not trying to disguise how pleased he was.
Gwen smiled too. ”You are a rather strange political opponent, Mr. McKinley. Asking me to give you piano lessons. Giving me a private tour of your resort. Inviting me to your dinner parties. Aren't you concerned how I might use the things I learn about you to my own advantage?”
”Miss Arlington, if you should learn something that makes me unworthy or unsuitable to serve as mayor, then it would be your right and your duty to inform the voters of it. I expect nothing else.”
Her smile faded as he spoke, replaced by a frown that pinched the skin above the bridge of her nose. ”I don't understand you.”
Morgan wanted to kiss away the frown, but he wisely took a step backward, out of temptation's reach. ”Shall we continue my lesson before our time is up?”
”Yes.” Her cheeks grew flushed. ”Of course.”
He would kiss her. One day he would kiss her. He hoped that day came soon - before the waiting drove him crazy.
TWENTY.
When the dust-covered Cadillac rolled into the turn-around in front of the McKinley house on Thursday afternoon, Morgan stepped onto the veranda and waited for the vehicle's pa.s.sengers to disembark. The household had been in a general uproar for the past two days as guest bedrooms were cleaned and aired and everything made ready for William and his fellow senators. Now they were here.
Senator William Rudyard - Billy to his friends - was a large man, both in height and weight. His complexion was naturally ruddy, but his love for the outdoors made it even more so. Though not yet sixty, his hair was pure white.
”By George! We're here at last, Morgan.” William strode toward the front steps. ”I hope we haven't come at an inopportune time. I gathered from your message that you want these troublesome matters resolved as quickly as possible.” He climbed the steps to where Morgan stood.
”You're welcome in my home anytime, sir. You must know that.” Morgan shook the senator's hand.