In the Company of Secrets (38 page)
He’d seen the pages she had folded and placed in her recipe box! But how? He couldn’t have seen them—they were in her house. He hadn’t ever been alone in the kitchen. Was he baiting her? Had Charlotte returned and told him something? Her mind whirred as she attempted to sift through his comments. If she denied his accusations, he might reveal more information. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, she hearkened to the sound of the inner voice whispering,
Don’t lie
.
‘‘Exactly what is your question, Fred?’’
‘‘I’ve seen your list. The one inside your recipe box.’’ He curled his lip as though she sickened him.
‘‘Who are you?’’
He held up his hand to stave off her response. ‘‘Don’t say anything, Olivia. You’ll only make matters worse. I don’t want an explanation. I don’t want to know who you are. In fact, I don’t want anything to do with you. Now please go.’’
Tears stung her eyes as she bounded down the porch stairs. She hurried toward home, her footsteps echoing in the cold wind. For a moment she slowed her pace, but his angry words pursued her like a hungry dog nipping at her heels, and she immediately increased her speed. There was no denying she should have revealed the truth long ago. In fact, she should never have lied or agreed to any of the misdeeds. But she couldn’t change the past.
God had granted His absolution, but Fred’s scathing words had been clear. He wouldn’t be quick to forgive, that was certain. She wondered if he’d ever forgive her.
The consequences of sin. She didn’t like them. And right now, she found little solace knowing of God’s forgiveness when Fred hadn’t even been willing to listen to her.
Her cowardly act to hide the lies had failed miserably. She should have confessed everything to Fred when Charlotte departed. Instead, she’d continued to deceive him. A disastrous choice.
Removing one hand from the lamb’s-wool muff, she turned up her collar and bowed her head against the bitter wind. What would Fred tell his mother? Would Olivia ever again be welcome at the older woman’s table? The thought of not having Mrs. DeVault’s companionship added yet another wound. She wouldn’t let that happen. Surely they could remain friends.
‘‘Miss Mott!’’
Someone was calling out to her. Keeping her head bowed, she peeked up only far enough to glance down the street.
Mr.
Howard
. She had nearly made it home. If she’d walked a bit more rapidly, she would already be inside. Of all the people she didn’t want to see right now, he was first on her list. Her shoulders drooped in defeat. She didn’t want to smile and make idle chatter when only moments ago Fred had ended their relationship. The only thing she wanted to do was bury herself beneath the bedcovers until time for work tomorrow. She didn’t acknowledge him. There was no need. He was trotting down the sidewalk and had reached her side before she could think of any response other than
Go away
. But even in her troubled state of mind, she couldn’t be so rude.
Panting slightly, he came to a halt as she approached her house. ‘‘I’m pleased I caught up with you. I was detained after the worship service—a meeting regarding church finances.’’
Apparently Mr. Howard was involved in
every
aspect of the town. If he harbored any curiosity about why she was only now arriving home, he didn’t ask.
Samuel rubbed his gloved hands together. ‘‘Might we step inside for a moment?’’
‘‘Mrs. Rice is watching us from behind her parlor window. She thinks I can’t see her hiding behind the curtain. She is quite the nosey parker.’’ Olivia arched her brows. ‘‘Do you think it would be wise for the two of us to be alone in my apartment?’’
‘‘No, you’re correct. Word would be about town before sunset.’’ He motioned her closer to the door, where they’d be out of the wind. ‘‘Mr. and Mrs. Barnes asked that we join them for dinner.’’
‘‘We? Now?’’
He made it sound as though Mr. and Mrs. Barnes considered them a couple and that she would be available at any given moment. She frowned. ‘‘I spoke to Mrs. Barnes at church, and she didn’t mention—’’
‘‘That unfortunate mistake was my blunder. I asked the dear woman if I could extend the invitation on her behalf. Unfortunately, one of the ushers stopped me with a question immediately after services. You were out of the church before we could speak.’’ A gust of wind swooped down the street, and he moved a step closer. ‘‘If you’ll agree to accompany me, we could begin walking.’’
‘‘Why don’t you go on without me? I don’t believe I’d be good company this afternoon.’’ Anxious to escape into the warmth of the house and try to forget the day’s events, she moved closer to the door.
He grasped her arm and shifted to the left, effectively blocking the door.
‘‘Trust me, Mr. Howard. I would not be good company.’’
His eyes shone with determination. ‘‘Mrs. Barnes will be most disappointed if you decline her invitation. She very much wants you to meet her husband. As for being good company, you need not worry. Even if you remained silent the rest of the day, your beauty would be enough to delight me.’’ He offered his arm. ‘‘I won’t take no for an answer, Olivia.’’
Beleaguered by his persistence, Olivia avoided his piercing stare. The Rices’ lace curtains flickered. Obviously Mrs. Rice remained positioned at her parlor window. Olivia didn’t have the energy to argue. The cold weather, Mrs. Rice’s annoying behavior, Fred’s scathing words, and Mr. Howard’s determination finally wore her down.
They walked in silence, with Olivia secretly wishing she’d been forceful enough to stand her ground and Mr. Howard clutching her arm as though he feared she might bolt and run. The prospect had actually crossed her mind several times before they reached the Barnes’s residence, and she wondered if she had enough energy remaining to put on a cheerful face in front of the couple. Or if she even wanted to.
When they approached the house, Mr. Howard faced Olivia. ‘‘Please promise you’ll address me as Samuel. I’d greatly appreciate this one concession.’’
‘‘I’ll do my best.’’
He stared at her, waiting.
‘‘Samuel.’’
‘‘There, you see. That wasn’t so difficult, was it?’’ He beamed as though she’d achieved a major accomplishment.
She shivered, uncertain whether Mr. Howard’s annoying insistence or the weather had been the cause. ‘‘I’m quite cold. May we go in now?’’
‘‘Yes, of course.’’ He patted her hand and rang the doorbell. ‘‘Remember now—you’re to address me as Samuel.’’
‘‘I’ll do my best,
Samuel
.’’
Mrs. Barnes opened the door and greeted them warmly, then quickly ushered them inside. Her amiable chatter continued while she led Olivia into the parlor.
‘‘Horace, this is our boarder, Miss Olivia Mott.’’
The tall, thin man jumped to his feet and patted down the fringe of hair that circled his balding pate. ‘‘Pleased to meet you, Miss Mott. I want to add my hearty welcome to our house.’’ He affectionately patted his wife’s hand. ‘‘Luella’s been far too lonely since our daughter, Lucinda, married and moved back East. You’re going to add a ray of sunshine to our lives, Miss Mott.’’
Mr. Barnes’s words were kind, yet Olivia thought them somewhat disconcerting. If the man was seeking a companion for his wife, Olivia feared she would prove to be a disappointment. ‘‘Thank you, Mr. Barnes. I, too, am looking forward to the arrangement. However, I do spend long hours at the hotel . . .’’
He bobbed his head. ‘‘Of course, of course. But many’s the evening I return to my office and Luella is left to her own devices. Occasionally the two of you might want to visit the Arcade for some shopping or enjoy a cup of tea together. With the holidays approaching, I’m afraid my wife will be experiencing the loneliness even more.’’
At the mention of the holidays, a glistening tear shone in the woman’s eye. Olivia hastened to respond. ‘‘Yes, of course, shopping and preparing for the holidays would be lovely.’’ Mrs. Barnes sniffled, and Olivia decided a change of topic was in order. She motioned toward the rear of the house. ‘‘Is there some way I could assist you with today’s meal preparations?’’
Mrs. Barnes pulled a lace hankie from her pocket and dabbed her eyes. ‘‘Oh, but you’re our guest. I couldn’t impose.’’
Olivia looped arms with the woman. ‘‘Nonsense. Nothing pleases me more than working in a kitchen. How may I help?’’
Mrs. Barnes sauntered toward the kitchen with Olivia in tow. ‘‘Horace says I should hire a maid when I’m having guests for dinner, but I don’t agree. I think it’s much more hospitable to prepare the meal and serve the guests myself.’’
‘‘There are certainly excellent points for both sides. I enjoy cooking and believe it has a more personal touch if I prepare and serve the food. However, it does take you away from the pleasure of visiting with your guests.’’ Olivia hoped her answer had been diplomatic. She didn’t want to be accused of taking sides with either member of the family on her first visit.
The older woman offered Olivia an apron. ‘‘I suppose you’re correct. There are generally two sides to everything—even this serving platter.’’ She giggled as she turned over the plate in an exaggerated motion and emphasized her point.
Olivia made an effort to join in her laughter and slipped the apron over her head. ‘‘How may I help?’’ She tied the strings around her waist and stepped farther into the kitchen.
‘‘Would you consider making the gravy while I mash the potatoes?’’
‘‘I’d be delighted.’’ Secretly glad to have a task on which to focus her attention, Olivia immediately set to work while Mrs. Barnes drained the potatoes.
‘‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Samuel suggested inviting you to dinner today. Most Sundays it’s just the three of us. This is much more enjoyable.’’
Olivia ceased stirring and turned from the stove. ‘‘Mr. Howard
suggested
you invite me to dinner today?’’
Mrs. Barnes glanced at Olivia while she continued to mash the potatoes. ‘‘Yes. I do believe he’s taken a genuine liking to you, my dear, but don’t tell him I said so. It’s flattering he would go to such lengths in order to spend time with you, don’t you think?’’
A light flush colored the older woman’s cheeks, either from the heat in the kitchen or her careless remark. Olivia couldn’t be certain which. But she
was
certain she didn’t like Mr. Howard’s tactics. Yet she dared not tell Mrs. Barnes, for the woman thought his behavior totally charming.
Well-intentioned or not, the man hadn’t been forthright with her regarding the dinner invitation
or
renting rooms from his neighbors. Though Mrs. Barnes might find Samuel’s behavior flattering, Olivia did not necessarily agree. His honesty would be preferred. Odd she would feel so strongly about the issue after her own behavior with Fred. With a pang, she realized Fred had likely felt
much
more deceived when he’d read her lengthy list than she did now.
After they were all settled at the table, Mr. Barnes offered thanks for their meal and then carved the roasted beef while his wife encouraged all of them to eat their fill. ‘‘Otherwise, my husband will have little variety for his noonday meals next week.’’
Samuel lifted his plate to receive a thick slice of the beef from Mr. Barnes. ‘‘You’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve arranged for several young fellows to move your belongings, Olivia.’’
Mrs. Barnes gave Samuel an approving look as she passed the squash to Olivia. ‘‘How thoughtful of you, Samuel! Isn’t he the most thoughtful man you’ve ever met, Olivia? We’ve found him to be the best neighbor we could ever hope for, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same once you’ve moved into your rooms.’’
Olivia glanced at Mr. Howard as she handed him the vegetable dish. ‘‘He obviously takes great pleasure in planning for others.’’
Mr. Howard’s brow furrowed. She’d likely annoyed him. Nevertheless, he remained cordial throughout the meal.
After dinner, Olivia insisted upon helping with the dishes while the men excused themselves to investigate a problem with Mr. Barnes’s accounts. Slipping into their overcoats, they promised to be at the company offices for only a few minutes.
‘‘You see what I put up with? Even on a Sunday afternoon, he can’t set aside his concerns.’’ Once the dishes had been washed and put away, Olivia removed her apron and followed Mrs. Barnes to the front room. She’d been surprised the men would work on Sunday, but it obviously wasn’t an unusual occurrence for either of them. The two men had been gone for nearly an hour when Olivia decided Mr. Howard’s absence provided a perfect opportunity to depart.
‘‘I do hope you won’t be offended if I hurry off. I must be at work early tomorrow, and I’ve a number of matters needing my attention—not the least of which is packing my belongings so that I may move into your house.’’ She detected the disappointment in her hostess’s eyes.
‘‘I know you’re a busy young lady, and though I’d very much enjoy your company, I won’t attempt to dissuade you.’’ She retrieved Olivia’s coat and hat. ‘‘I do hope Samuel won’t be displeased with me for permitting your departure. I know he’d insist upon escorting you home.’’
Mrs. Barnes held her black wool muff while Olivia peered into the hall mirror and arranged her hat. ‘‘I don’t need an escort, Mrs. Barnes. It would be a poor use of his time to walk me home when he lives next door and has other important matters that require his attention.’’
