Page 9 of Leather and Lace
She had secured her way to the fair, but she would not be on time to meet Alex, though at least she knew the woman would wait. She had told her as much, hadn’t she?
“Calm yourself,” she whispered, pressing her hand to her chest. “She will wait, she will wait. She said so.” Mary sucked in a deep breath and rubbed her chest until she was able to take in a solid breath. She lifted her head up and nodded once her heartbeat had slowed enough for her to concentrate.
“She will wait.” Mary picked up her fork and knife and began to cut into her meal again. “She will wait. She will.”
Chapter 4
“You cleaned up nicely. Well done, Mary.” Sarah James gave her an approving nod as she looked her daughter over. “Mr. Rutherford will be impressed by how well the James family presents themselves.”
“Thank you, mama.” Mary hated that she felt the glow of pleasure in her chest. She should not warm to her mother’s praise, but it was difficult for a girl not to want her mother’s approval, no matter how dire or ill the circumstances.
A rap at the door signaled an arrival. Sarah James waved her daughter forward with a flick of her wrist. “Answer the door, dear and remember to smile.’
Mary gave her mother an absent-minded nod and went for the door. She opened it with little ceremony and could practically hear her mother’s sigh of exasperation at her daughter’s lack of fanfare and drama. Even so, she plastered a smile on her face and greeted the man in front of her with an incline of her head.
The man was tall and thin, his lean form clothed in fine bespoke clothing she knew had attracted her mother's attention. He wore his salt and pepper hair neatly combed, shoes polished until they gleamed and when he lifted his hand to his chest in greeting his silver cufflinks shone in the waning light. He smiled at her, and it was not an unkind smile she saw from the soft look in his blue eyes.
Perhaps the man would be a decent match for her mother. It would be a blessing to know he would not treat her unkindly. It would give Mary's nerves a much-needed break if she were able to rest assured in her mother’s future.
“Hello, Miss. I am Reginald Rutherford. You are the younger Miss James, I presume?”
She bobbed her head in acknowledgement. “Yes, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I apologize for my illness keeping me from a lovely lunch this afternoon.”
“Everyone must take time to rest. I am happy you have recovered.” He bent low in a bow and surprised her when he took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. The man was grand in his gestures, her mother would adore it all.
“I have, I have.” She turned her head to look behind her to where her mother stood and opened the door wider. “My mother and I are happy to spend the evening in your company. Aren’t we mother?”
Sarah James swept forward with a smile on her face. “Yes, we are, dear.” She extended a hand towards Mr. Rutherford. “Pleased to see you again, sir.” The smile on her mother’s face was unlike the few Mary was accustomed to seeing. This one was all tender and playful and made her mother appear infinitely younger than she was.
The transformation transfixed Mary to no end.
She forced herself to step aside while her mother and her suitor made their hellos and before long they were off and walking towards the town square. Her mother arm-in-arm with Mr. Rutherford while Mary trailed behind them. She pretended to be interested in the couple’s pleasantries and was able to keep up a constant stream of chatter, but her eyes were sweeping the avenue as they walked.
She told herself it was on account of her taking in her new surroundings, but in truth she scanned the area looking for Alex. As much as she willed herself to believe the other woman would wait for her, she worried Alex would think she was not coming. If Mary saw her in passing she could attempt to catch her eye and be able to stop her from leaving entirely.
At least she hoped so.
“Darling, are you listening to a word I’ve said?”
Mary nearly winced and slowly looked back to her mother. “Pardon, mama?”
“I said, my darling girl, we will take a turn about the festivities and then perhaps meet back here within an hour's time?”
“Oh, only an hour? I was hoping for more?” Mary felt confident in her play for time. There was no way her mother would push back in front of her suitor. It would destroy the carefully crafted image of the good-natured mother she was working to create.
Sarah James raised her eyebrow at her daughter. “And what do you intend to do with such idleness, hmm?”
“I, ah, was hoping to enjoy the fair, of course, mama.” She gestured towards the town square that had been cheerily decorated. Ribbons hung from shop balconies, there were lanterns dotting the space lending their warm light to the dusky sky. There were tables laden with food and drink nearby and at the center of the square a makeshift dance floor was in front of the stage where a band was playing merrily away.
If she wasn’t mistaken, she even glimpsed what looked like a vaudeville strongman act taking place near the church. There was much to see and even without her plans to meet Alex. An hour's time would not be nearly enough to see and enjoy it all.
Sarah James narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “I don’t see why you would--”
“Oh, I think some extra time would do the young lady good, don’t you? There are so many new people to meet, and not to mention,” he gave her mother a warm smile, “it would be lovely to spend more than an hour’s time in your fair company, Sarah James.”
Her mother paused and then blushed before she cleared her throat. “Yes, yes, you are quite right. More than an hour’s time to enjoy the fair would do us all good, I think.” She nodded at Mary. “Enjoy yourself, darling and do return here in, ah, two hours’ time.”
Mr. Rutherford beamed at her mother and then winked at Mary. “Enjoy yourself, young lady.”
