Page 38 of The Gilded Lady
“That’s good.” If he hadn’t left yet then they would likely be able to intercept him, but they’d have to cross that bridge when they had more information. She felt confident that they could handle this, so this time when she smiled it was a little more genuine. “In the meantime I think we need to start the process of closing the boardinghouse.”
“What?” Able’s surprise wasn’t unexpected. She’d never have wanted to do that in a million years.
“I think we have to do it temporarily. If he shows up here, I don’t put it past him to try to use the children or women there to get to us. We have to send them away for their own safety.” The very thought of sending Emily and Edward away tore at her heart, but it would be so much worse if Justin got to them. He had no regard for human life. He’d proven that to her over and over again.
“It’s the smart thing to do.” Zane agreed.
“I already have a couple of positions in Seattle lined up for the two women staying there. I’d hoped to give them more time, but I think we need to put them on a train as soon as possible.” She’d settle extra money on them to help them get situated in a room before having to start their new jobs in their new town.
“What about Emily and Edward?” Able asked. He knew what the twins had come to mean to her.
She swallowed thickly. “I’ll have to telegram their mother and let her know to expect them.” Pain welled in her chest and she had to blink past the prickling of tears. She didn’t want to losethem, and especially not if their mother didn’t want them. But what else could she do? She couldn’t keep them here and submit them to facing down Justin with her.
Zane reached across the table and took her other hand. She nearly sobbed from the tenderness of that touch. “Do you know if she wants them?”
She shook her head. She hadn’t had time to write to her.
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll talk to Hunter and Emmaline. The kids would be safe out at the Jameson ranch. I’m sure they’d be happy to have them there for a little while.”
Tears of gratitude filled her eyes nearly spilling down her cheeks before she could blink them back. “Do you really think they’d agree to that?” Keeping them near—keeping them safe—while avoiding sending them to a mother and stepfather, who may very well not want them, would be the perfect solution.
“I do.” He gave her a comforting smile.
Able cleared his throat. “Do you think they’d be willing to have Clara come along?”
Zane nodded, none of the previous ill will between them evident in the exchange. “I think they’d like that.”
Able nodded and she squeezed his hand again. With Clara so close to giving birth, she could only imagine how it must hurt to send her away.
“Let’s pay a call after breakfast. I’d rather ask Hunter and Emmy in person,” she said. In that moment she realized exactly how lucky she was. Justin might be coming, but she had Able and now she had Zane. It was almost scary how quickly Zane had come to mean so much to her, but he had. What she felt for him was real and one day soon they were going to have to talk about what the future might have in store for them. But for right now, she was simply going to appreciate what she had while she still had it.
Chapter Sixteen
The carriage ride to the Jameson town home was mercifully quick, because it had been one of the stranger trips she’d ever taken. Able sat next to her, his brawn leaving her very little room in her corner. Zane sat across from her to give Able room to stretch out his long legs, which meant that Zane’s long legs practically caged her in. There was one on either side of her two. That’s not to say that she minded him caging her in, precisely. She rather liked that each jolt of the carriage had her legs bumping into him. It was just that it was so awkward with Able looking down on him like a disapproving older brother.
It reminded her that she needed to talk to him and figure out what his problem was with Zane. If things were going to go as she hoped, then she’d need Able’s cooperation.
The carriage rolled to a stop and the driver came down to help her out. Zane dutifully moved his legs out of the way and she left him and Able to fight out which of them would follow first.
The house was a lavish affair, built within the last decade in the fashionable part of town. Glory had specified that theyshould use the back door, because she knew gossip would spread should she use the front door, and she was conscious of protecting the reputations of both Emmy and Caroline. Rumors were likely to spread anyway, but her carriage was inconspicuous and it was midmorning, hardly the usual time for people to be out calling. She hoped they’d get lucky and no one would notice them. Although she’d taken the precaution of dressing in black and had a long veil covering her face and hair.
The door was opened by an elderly woman as soon as she reached the stoop.
“Good morning, Miss Winters. You’re expected in the parlor.” The kindly woman waited for them all to come inside before leading them to the front of the house and opening a pair of tall French doors. The room was tastefully done in shades of rich brown and amber.
The two couples were already waiting inside. Castillo and Caroline were settled on a settee next to the window. His color had returned, and he looked much better than the last time she’d seen him. She couldn’t see any hint of his bandage, but he sat awkwardly and seemed to favor his side. It was one of the clues that he was injured; the other being that Caroline kept her hand in his, as if even now she was afraid that he could be taken from her.
When he made to stand, Glory waved him back down. “Please don’t stand on my account.”
Caroline flashed her a grateful smile when he sank back down. “He keeps trying to behave as if he doesn’t have a hole in his side.”
He grinned and pulled her hand to his mouth to place a kiss on the back. Glory wasn’t quite prepared for the pang of jealousy that knifed through her at the scene of such domestic bliss. She stood there staggered with longing at the obvious affection between the two of them.
It wasn’t that she coveted Castillo for herself, it was that she wanted that sort of relationship in her life, that easygoing affection, that absolute certainty that the other person was going to be there for the rest of their days. She had longed for that for a while now and had forced herself not to admit it, but the urge had been there needling her when she retired to her room alone at night with only her books for company. It was there when she woke up in the morning and drank her coffee alone at the window. The truth was that she had a very fulfilling life. She took care of a lot of people. She had a successful business. Not only the brothel and club, but she’d bought enough property over the past few years to be one of the wealthiest landowners in town. She had no reason to be discontent with her life.
Or she hadn’t until Zane had come into her life. The past days had shown her how fulfilling it could be to have someone. Last night had shown her how fulfilling intimacy could be. Opening herself up to Zane and having him hold her while she’d slept had been so much more than she could’ve anticipated. It left her craving more.
“Welcome, Glory.” Emmy had been standing next to Hunter at the cold fireplace, but she hurried over and embraced her.
