Daylight Comes (20 page)

“Mr. and Mrs. Ditmore—you remember them from the dance, don’t you? The older couple who sat at our table and visited toward the end of the evening?”

Grace bobbed her head. “Oh yes. They were nice. Mr. Ditmore said he was involved with the railroads. Who else?”

Truth dipped a ladle of stew into her bowl. “John.”

“John Rockley? That’s all? The Ditmores and John Rockley?”

Truth passed the steaming bowl of stew to her sister. “I didn’t want to invite eight or ten guests the first time I hosted a supper party.

It would be rather unfair to Dovie, don’t you think?” She raised an eyebrow and met her sister’s inquiring stare. “She hasn’t been required to prepare and serve a large dinner for over a year. In addition, there are only a few days to organize a menu and shop.”

“Oh. I wasn’t thinking of the trouble it might create for Dovie.”

Grace gave her sister a sidelong glance. “I thought you were . . . well, trying to bring John and me . . . well . . .” She ate a spoonful of stew as she collected her thoughts. “I should quit thinking everything that occurs has something to do with me. Pappy would say I need to get my mind off myself and start thinking about others.”

Guilt pricked Truth’s conscience, but she remained silent. Even her husband’s raised eyebrows weren’t enough to force an admission that Grace’s assumption had been correct. Instead, she suggested she and Grace sit down and plan the menu later in the afternoon—a meal that would be elegant yet simple.

Grace giggled. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be ’cause I’m not sure what ‘elegant but simple’ means. Between your spending time in New York and living with a cultured husband, you know more about elegant meals than I do.” Grace finished her final bite of stew. “As far as I’m concerned, this stew is simply elegant.”

Moses pushed his chair away from the table and smiled at his sister-in-law. “I believe the Ditmores may expect something a little more lavish. John, on the other hand, probably won’t care what we serve for supper, as long as you’re seated next to him.”

Grace swiveled around to face her sister. Truth forced herself to remain a model of control as she carefully masked her surprise. Why had Moses stirred things up? Grace had already stated her suspicions. Surely he knew such a comment would only fuel her concern.

Truth forced a laugh. “That’s a relief. I would be alarmed if he desired to sit next to one of the married women.”

Grace’s frown disappeared and her shoulders relaxed. “Yes, I suppose that would cause quite a stir.”

Whether Truth had completely convinced Grace remained to be seen, but she looked as though she believed the dinner party was not just a ploy to force her to spend more time with John.

As her husband leaned down to kiss her good-bye, Truth turned to whisper in his ear. “We need to have a talk about your unnecessary comments to my sister.”

Moses’s breath tickled her ear as he replied, “You need to stop meddling, my dear.”With that, he kissed her lips soundly, donned his coat, and bid the two women good-day.

CHAPTER
24

P
lans for the supper party progressed more smoothly than Truth had imagined they would, and thus far, Dovie had followed through on all of her instructions. Hopefully, she would also remember to keep her interactions with John to a minimum— Truth planned to admonish her shortly before the guests arrived. If Dovie followed all of the protocol and etiquette she’d been taught by her former employer’s wife and by Truth and Moses, the evening should prove a success.

Grace seemed a bit despondent the night of the party, and Truth wondered if it was because she had received no letters from Silas.

Secretly, Truth celebrated each day that passed without an envelope bearing Grace’s name, for it might work to give John the advantage.

Truth still wondered how much Silas actually cared for her sister. Why didn’t he answer at least one of her frequent letters?

As Grace assisted her with the fawn velvet dress and carefully arranged the silk overlay, Truth considered the cost of the gown. It was an extravagance Moses had insisted upon, stating he expected she would have future use for the gown as their family increased.

“This is truly a lovely dress.” Grace drew a circle in the air with her index finger. “Turn around and let me see that the back of the gown is in order.”

Once Grace gave her approval, Truth held out a necklace. After her sister clasped it around her neck, she retrieved the matching ear-bobs. “You can borrow the gown when you’re expecting a child of your own.”

Grace smiled into the mirror and locked eyes with her sister in the oval glass. “I think I best have a husband before we speak of children.”

Truth chuckled and gave her sister a hug. “I suppose you’re correct. I’m going downstairs to give Dovie her last-minute instructions and inspect the dining room. Please join me downstairs as soon as you’ve dressed.” She glanced at the porcelain clock sitting on her dresser. “I do hope Moses comes home soon.”

“We have plenty of time until the guests are scheduled to arrive,” Grace reminded her.

Truth assumed she would need the time to ensure everything was prepared according to her exacting requirements. And to be certain Dovie understood she must avoid interacting with any of the guests, especially John Rockley. Descending the stairway, she made a brief stop in the dining room. The table had been set with the best china, and large gold candelabra flanked both ends of the table. A third ornate candelabrum had been centered on the buffet. A large mirror hanging above the buffet would reflect light from all three, providing a luminescent glow—at least that was Truth’s plan. She would remind Dovie to light the candles before announcing supper.

Setting off toward the kitchen, she did her best to walk with a refined sashay. She feared her endeavor more closely resembled the lumbering gait of an old workhorse. She had never realized the difficulties expectant mothers were required to overcome each day. It was still hard to believe she’d be holding her own child in such a short time.

“The dining room looks marvelous, Dovie,” she said as a greeting.

“Are the meal preparations going smoothly?”

Dovie was concentrating on her work at the chopping table, where she was pressing potatoes through a sieve. “I think so. I hope this souffle
turns out like the one I made fer supper las’ week. If it don’t, it’s gonna look more like a potato pancake.” She looked up long enough to grin at Truth.

“It will be wonderful.” Truth didn’t want to interrupt Dovie’s duties, but she needed to make sure they had reached a clear understanding. “You do remember what I said about conversing with the guests?”

“I understand.” She added salt, pepper, and a dollop of cream to the potatoes before she stirred the mixture. “What you want is clear as a sun-filled Kansas sky, Truth.”

The tone of Dovie’s voice belied the innocuous response. Choosing to ignore the remark, Truth started to leave. When her curiosity overruled her better judgment, she turned back into the kitchen. “Just what is it you think I want, Dovie?”

“You think you’s hiding it real good, but you’re not.” Dovie carefully separated six eggs and added the yolks to the potato mixture.

Then she added a pinch of salt to the egg whites and whipped them into a stiff froth with more vehemence than Truth thought necessary.

“You want yer sister to marry John Rockley.” As she folded the beaten egg whites into the potato mixture, she gave a mirthless chuckle. “I always did know when you was scheming, Truth.”

Truth silently chastised herself. She should have left before getting ensnared in this conversation. Well, she would leave now. Without a word, she lifted her chin and walked toward the parlor. Her stomach lurched when she realized talkative Dovie might tell someone else what Truth was up to.
Please don’t let Dovie share her suspicions with Grace
.

“Not feeling well?”

She startled at Moses’s question. Where had he come from and what had he heard from the kitchen? “No, I’m fine.Why do you ask?”

He shrugged. “You seem a bit tired, although you certainly look beautiful in that gown. I’m glad I insisted upon having it made.”

She touched a palm to his cheek. “So am I.” She glanced at his suit and gave her approval. “I didn’t realize you’d been home long enough to change clothes.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t want to give you cause for concern. However, it looks as if all is in order and there’s nothing for me to do except await our guests.”

When she heard a carriage pull up outside, Truth fingered one of the combs she’d tucked into her hair and gave it a firm shove. She hoped it would remain secure throughout the evening. “I told Dovie you would see to the door,” she told Moses. “Running back and forth while she’s attempting to finalize the meal would be asking far too much of her.”

“And would increase her opportunities to speak with John?” There was a teasing lilt to his voice.

Truth took his hand as they walked to the door. “You wouldn’t believe me if I denied your claim, so I may as well agree.”

His laughter echoed in the hallway as Moses opened the front door. “Good evening, John. Do come in.”

As Truth hung up John’s coat, Grace joined them in the foyer. Her honey-brown skin glowed against the pale yellow of the cashmere gown, and Truth marveled at her sister’s transformation. Grace had blossomed since her arrival in Topeka. However, it was John’s undeniable look of approval that delighted Truth. The man was obviously smitten with Grace.

The foursome hadn’t yet moved from the foyer when Mr. and Mrs. Ditmore arrived. They had little time to visit before Dovie announced supper. As the group dined on thin slices of succulent beef roast and the potato soufflé, Mr. Ditmore quizzed each of them about Nicodemus. Truth let her sister take the lead. She wanted Grace to gain John’s attention, and what better way than conversing about the town they’d grown to love?

Grace took a sip of water from her crystal goblet. After regaling their guests with tales of their arrival and the settling of Nicodemus, Grace grew more somber. “Now the greatest concern in Nicodemus is that the railroad will pass us by. We’ve heard such an occurrence can mean death for a small community.”

Nodding his head, Mr. Ditmore helped himself to the creamed spinach. “You are absolutely correct, my dear.”

“Surely you could help them, Edward.” Mrs. Ditmore’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She looked across the table at Grace. “My husband has a degree of influence with some of the railroads, don’t you, dear?”

Picking up his napkin, Mr. Ditmore wiped his lips. His lengthy pause caused Truth to wonder if their guest hoped to avoid the question or perhaps thought his wife had placed him in an embarrassing situation. Finally his wife nudged him and he sparked to attention.

“I’m sorry. I was attempting to decide who might be of greatest assistance.” He glanced at John. “John has handled many legal issues regarding the railroads, so he could lend some insight. I prefer to visit a location before I promote it to my colleagues. We’re all heavily invested in the railroads, along with mining and several other ventures. Capital is needed for all of these new business enterprises.

Money represents power to these companies. And because my group of investors has money, I can sometimes influence decisions. Of course, there’s never a guarantee of success, right, John?”

John agreed and then explained that a while back both of them had strongly suggested a railroad route pass through a particular town that they thought held much promise. “We thought the matter had been settled and suddenly one of the railroad officials pushed for another route. Of course, he won and the town was bypassed. To this day, I still believe our suggestion was the better, more cost-effective solution, but someone likely received a more lucrative monetary enticement.”

Mr. Ditmore eyed the piece of applesauce cake Dovie set before him. “Exactly. And I fear that greedy attitude will be the ruination of many a good business—railroads included.”

Truth didn’t see how Mr. Ditmore’s attitude differed from that of the other wealthy investors he’d vilified, but she remained silent.

Mrs. Ditmore patted her husband’s arm. “Now, now, my dear. No need for talk of gloom and doom—especially during such a fine meal.”

Mrs. Ditmore leaned forward and good-humoredly shook her finger at Truth. “If you’re not careful, I’ll attempt to steal your cook away from you. This applesauce cake is divine. I especially like the burnt sugar glaze. Do tell me you’ll share the recipe.”

Truth swelled with pride at the compliment. “I would be delighted. It’s one of our family’s favorites, isn’t it, Grace?”

“Indeed.” Without further comment on the recipe, Grace turned her attention back to Mr. Ditmore. “Do you think you might be willing to travel to Nicodemus, Mr. Ditmore—to help folks learn what will make the town more appealing to the railroads and to take a look at the town to see if you might recommend us for a route?”

The older gentleman thoughtfully tugged on his vest before speaking. Truth decided that if he ate one more bite of food, his buttons would pop off and go sailing in all directions. She could picture the ornate silver studs flying about the room like a scatter of buckshot.

He leaned back in his chair. “I’d be willing to consider making the journey so long as the weather cooperates and both Grace and John are willing to accompany me.” He tilted his head toward Moses. “In addition, there’s the possibility that your brother-in-law’s political power may aid in the cause, also.”

“I doubt my position will be of much help in this matter,” Moses said, “though I will do all in my power to see Nicodemus is on the route of one of the railroad companies.”

“Then you’ll join us when we visit the town?” Grace inquired.

Wait!
Truth didn’t like the turn the conversation had taken. She didn’t want Moses traveling to Nicodemus before the baby’s birth— especially if she couldn’t go along. Who could say when a snowstorm would strike and keep him stranded for longer than anticipated?

What was Grace thinking? Surely she realized the unpredictable weather meant travel would be unwise for several months. Perhaps she longed to visit Silas and determine why he hadn’t yet written to her. . . .
Uh-oh
.

“Certainly you aren’t planning to go until spring,” Truth put in.

Grace’s shoulders collapsed in exasperation. “There’s more than sufficient time before the baby is due.”

Truth drew in a deep breath and focused her attention on Mr. Ditmore. “You
do
realize that a portion of the journey to Nicodemus must be traveled by horse and wagon.”

Mrs. Ditmore looked surprised, then she tapped a finger on the table. “Truth is correct. No sense taking undue risks, my dear. Imagine trying to survive a snowstorm with nothing more than a horse and wagon. And it isn’t as if this matter can’t wait until spring.”

Mr. Ditmore reached out and patted his wife’s hand. “I suppose you’re correct on that account. I’ll talk to some of my acquaintances. If all goes well, we can plan to make the journey at winter’s end.”

Grace avoided the frown Truth directed her way, but she dutifully agreed they should wait until the weather was better. Pushing away from the table, Moses beckoned the guests into the parlor, where they could continue their conversation in comfort.

Mrs. Ditmore clung to her husband’s arm as though she planned to walk several miles rather than a few steps into the adjoining room. She settled beside him and waved her fan in rapid fashion.

Her husband frowned at the accessory and his wife snapped the fan together with a flourish. “Edward surprised me with tickets to the theater for next Saturday night. I understand an excellent new play is opening. What was the name, my dear?”

Her husband shrugged and directed a bemused look at his wife. “I have no idea, Ruth. I merely know that when a new play comes to town, I’m expected to purchase tickets.”

Mrs. Ditmore laughed but she didn’t dispute her husband’s statement. Instead, she shook a finger at Moses and instructed him he should learn to do the same.

When the older woman turned toward John, he reached into his pocket and held up two tickets. “Before you set your sights upon me, let me assure you that I’ve already purchased mine.” He settled into a chair beside Grace. “And if I can convince Grace to accompany me, all the better.”