All the Blue of Heaven (18 page)

           
He turned into the cobbled street that led to his home. It was possible that
she would learn to love him, but if she did not, he would never be able to live
in the same house. The torture would be immense, her very presence a reminder
that his heart was hers, and she did not love him. He could not trap her that
way, could not force his love on her. Until she was at peace with the tragedy,
until she could find consolation in divine providence, Thomas could not be sure
that she would accept his proposal for the right reasons.

           
Thomas parked the car before the large, stately home he had purchased. A light
shone in the parlor and he was certain his mother would be waiting to hear
details of his day. He never held anything back and would not today, but he
knew she would not approve. There was altogether far too much time being spent
with Miss Hathaway. Mrs. Bradford was proud, but Thomas also knew that his mother
would welcome Allie if she became his wife. She would be determined to make her
son happy, and if that meant getting along with the girl who had once broken
his heart, she would do
so.                

 
      
Lord, it is up to You. I leave it all in Your hands.
Thomas welcomed the
fact it was either going to happen God’s way, or not at all.

                                               
***

           
Allie stared out of the carriage window at the stately homes. Her mother was
still angry about Allie offering a position to Maggie’s younger sister and had
continued to argue the point during the ride to the picnic.

            “Alberta, I understand
that you believed you were doing right by this man– ”

           
“No, Mama. I wasn’t doing right by Mr. McGovern. I was thinking only of his
wife and children. I do not think it is right for us to turn our backs on such
a situation.” Allie interrupted with an exasperated twitch to her skirts. The
silk was a powdery blue with yards of delicate lace mesh overlay and Allie
couldn’t help but admire the artistry of it.  She just wished she could be
as happy with the prospect of the afternoon ahead. The road to the executive
mansion was crowded with carriages and Allie had never felt less like attending
a society picnic. She had spent the night turning from side to side, front to
back, until she swore she was wearing the mattress thin.

           
“Charity is a lovely virtue, Alberta, but what if the girl is unsuitable? What
then? And Jane, please sit still.”

           
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose,” Allie said, laying a
hand on her niece, smiling kindly in a no-nonsense way. Janey bounced up and
down as if she had springs. Her party frock was covered with more ruffles than
Allie thought was really necessary but Mr. Morton had assured them it was a
very popular style for little girls that year. Janey nodded and tried to sit
quietly, although her wide blue eyes flickered with excitement.

           
Allie stared out at the passing scenery. The stately homes grew larger and
larger, while the street also widened considerably. The carriage finally rolled
to a stop and Mrs. Leeds gave one final pat to her hair. “Please, be sociable.
I know you would rather have stayed home, but it’s really in your best
interests to attend this picnic.”

            “I know, Mama.” Allie
had a concrete understanding of how important it was to be ‘sociable’. The
longer she stayed unmarried, season after season, the less likely she would
find a husband. She was already older than most new brides, and with an exotic
history that wasn’t a plus. The only people who cared about her success as a
painter were gallery owners and museums. And kind Mr. Morton, of course. She
had to try because it was just possible that there was a husband here who might
accept Janey, too. She was determined to give this a chance. That was only
fair. Her future husband might be right around the corner.

           
Allie couldn’t help reaching out to stroke the hair of the little girl who was
like her own child. She would do anything for her, even marry a man she did not
love. Thomas’s words of warning drifted back to her but she shrugged them off.
It was easy for him to say she should marry for love only. He could not
possibly understand that her heart was only large enough for one man, and it
seemed he was ready to marry another.

           
Allie straightened her back and waited for the carriage man to open the door.
She could do this. She had walked through fire and watching Thomas squire
Louise Lloyd around a society picnic would be nothing in comparison.

           
The Georgian style mansion’s red bricks glowed in the late summer sun and Allie
was thankful to see several large tents on the side lawn, ready to provide
shade to the picnickers. Many guests wouldn’t find the sun oppressive, with
their parasols for protection and the large oak trees giving dappled shade, but
Allie still avoided the chance of irritating her sensitive skin. Mrs. Leeds
walked sedately toward the entrance, Janey hopping like a rabbit in her glee,
and Allie wished she could muster a little more excitement.

           
“There you are, my dear!” As they entered the garden area, Sarah Dean rushed
forward, grabbed Allie by both hands and kissed her soundly on the cheek. Her
bright blue eyes sparkled and her cheeks were glowing with health. Sarah had
only become more beautiful with the years of marriage and motherhood. “I was
hoping you would come early so we can walk through the garden. The servants are
passing around the most delicious lemonade with crushed raspberries. Or, if you
prefer, there are tall glasses of sweet mint tea?”

           
Allie grinned at Sarah’s excited chatter and let herself be tugged along, Janey
holding her other hand. Her mother was enveloped in a large group of society
women and lost to sight almost immediately. “Oh, lemonade sounds wonderful. Are
your boys here? Janey would love to play with them again.”

           
“Of course, and there are games set up for the children. The governor always
has entertainments ready.” Sarah fairly dragged Allie toward a well-dressed
group, and slipped her free hand into the elbow of her husband, Nathan Dean.
“Darling, you remember my friend?”

           
“Miss Hathaway,” he turned and tipped his hat to Allie, smiling down at Janey.
“And Miss Leeds. Joshua and Joseph will be glad to hear you have arrived. They
promised to win you at lawn bowling or give up their lives in the effort.”

           
Janey clapped her hands. “Auntie, may I go play? I see them just there.” She
pointed out the small boys, who had paused their game to wave to their new
friend.

           
“Of course, but please remember your manners.” Allie felt a weight lift from
her heart as she watched her niece bound away. Janey had missed her friends
back home in San Francisco and Allie resolved to find her more playmates before
winter came.

           
“Miss Hathaway,” a young woman drawled just behind Allie’s right shoulder. She
knew the owner of that nasal tone before she even turned her head. And
whose arm she would be gripping.

                                               
***

           
Thomas thought the afternoon would never end. Between the carriage ride and the
first hour of the picnic, he was ready to pretend he had ingested spoiled food,
just to have an excuse to leave. Louise seemed blessed with the ability to
speak without stopping for breath. And although the topics of her opinion
varied, they never altered in their theme of irritation and dissatisfaction. He
was beginning to suspect Louise could find fault with God Himself.

           
Thomas caught his mother’s eye across the crowded grass lawn. Even at a
distance he could see her delight at the picture of the mayor’s daughter with
her son. Thomas mentioned once, during dinner, how Louise seemed very young to
be marrying, even though she was of age. Mrs. Bradford’s eyes had widened in
alarm at the very idea that Thomas was not happy with Louise. He decided not to
say another word about it. But after today, there wouldn’t be another social
outing with Louise, whether his mother liked it or not.

           
They stopped for brief moments here and there, speaking the lightest and most
inconsequential things to person after person. Thomas thought it very possible
they would go the entire day without having any kind of intelligent
conversation.

           
As he greeted Mr. Grimshaw, the owner of the largest mill in Chicago, he
couldn’t help wondering how many times could one man remark on the weather
without going mad.

           
“Mr. Bradford, what do you think of the new railroad they’re building?”
Grimshaw tilted his hat back on his head and fixed his gaze on Thomas.

           Thomas
thought he just might enjoy the afternoon after all. “Jeremiah Bascomb is
mistaken if he believes the city will be better for it. The plans– ”

           
“Mr. Bradford, we must visit with the Deans.” Louise tugged him in yet another
direction, not seeming to care in the slightest that she had interrupted Thomas
in the middle of a sentence.

           
He gritted his teeth and nodded curtly to Grimshaw, who responded with a sly
grin, his expression that said he would be glad to be ordered around by such a
beautiful young woman. Thomas wished Louise had a little less beauty and a
little more gentleness, especially when it came to his poor arm. Her fingers
were like pincers to the inside of his elbow.

           
They passed a servant bearing tall glasses of what looked like tea with mint
sprigs. “Miss Lloyd, would you care for some refreshment? I am happy to– ”

           
“No, I’m fine.” Louise was scanning the crowd like a cat searching for prey.
Thomas fought down a sigh at being interrupted for the thirtieth time that
morning. “There they are, and what a horrible dress Sarah is wearing. Clearly
from last season. I never liked the pale shades and it is even less attractive
on someone with her coloring.”

           
Thomas tried his best to tune out the relentless drone of complaints but it was
like an icy cold drip down his back. Impossible to ignore and difficult to
pretend it wasn’t causing him irritation.
Lord, please help me direct her
kindly to something other than faults.

           
“Miss Hathaway.” He barely registered Louise’s drawling voice, he was so intent
on his conversation with God. One moment he was thinking of a way to keep
Louise from eating away at every strand of positive feeling he had, and the
next he was gazing into the eyes of the woman he loved. It was if the sun was
shining just for him. He felt the earth tilt a little on its axis and he drew a
sharp breath.

           
Allie looked stunning. She gave the impression of angelic beauty, all she
needed was a pair of wings. A delicate silk dress complemented her pale skin
and large eyes. A large white silk hat with a matching blue ribbon covered the
light chestnut curls which framed her face. Her bright eyes darted toward his
and then away. He caught a hint of what was going on behind that pretty face
and it made him grin like a fool. Bright spots of pink appeared in her cheeks
and she studiously focused on Louise. If Thomas didn’t know better, he would
have bet money that Allie was blushing for him.

           
“– a new dress, I see. Morton’s? But of course it would be. He is quite an
admirer of your painting, is he not?”

           
Thomas fought to focus on the conversation. Allie seemed to be choosing her
words carefully.

           
“Yes, I suppose you could say that. And I am just as devoted to his dress
making.” Allie’s lips twitched a little and Thomas wondered if she was holding
back a smile, or if she was forcing herself to be civil. Probably a little of
both.

           
“You both have that rare talent of bringing out the greatest beauty in your
subjects.” Thomas said the words lightly, but gave Allie the tiniest wink. He
wanted to laugh out loud as her cheeks flamed. She understood his compliment
perfectly, and it wasn’t directed at her portraiture.

           
Louise’s nails dug into his arm through his light summer jacket and he winced.
The woman had talons like a dragon.

           
“Mr. Dean, I hear you have voiced opposition to the East Tooms railroad
project,” Allie said. 

           
Thomas almost hooted in surprise. Perhaps they could sneak a little real
conversation into the afternoon.

           
Nathan nodded. “The mayor is right that Chicago needs another railroad line to
the ports. The merchants are struggling to run goods to the ships and the
existing railway is overloaded. But the plan is flawed.”

           
Allie lifted her head, expression full of interest. “How flawed, Mr. Dean? Mr.
Bascomb seems to think the neighborhood of East Tooms can only benefit.”

           
Sarah looked to her husband, the smallest smile touching her lips. She
obviously adored the man. Thomas wondered what it would be like to be loved
like that.

           
“If you visit the area, you can witness for yourself the dire poverty of the
residents. A railway line could be beneficial, if the plans gave consideration
to the existing neighborhoods. As it is, the path includes an orphanage, a
school, and a hospital that cares for charity cases. Add in the shanty
buildings so many families call home, and the railway is a morally
objectionable project.”

           
Thomas felt his eyebrows rise. “Well said, Mr. Dean. There is a need for a new
railroad, but not at the expense of the poor.”

           
Louise waved a hand.“If we sat down and thought about it, everything we did
would be at the expense of the poor. This whole picnic could be better spent on
feeding the poor, starving Italian babies in East Tooms.”