The Marriage Mishap

A slow smile spread across his face. “I assure you, having you stand stationary is the furthest thing from my mind. I have other plans.”

She took a step closer. “I have plans of my own, Mr. Harrington.”

“As I said, I don’t feel this marriage should unduly interfere with our lives.”

“You can count on it.” Haley flung the words at him and marched from the room.

Despite her best efforts to exceed her husband’s deadline, Haley was packed and ready to leave within the hour. She looked around the bedchamber that had been her home for only a few days and felt a pang of sorrow at leaving. Or was it remorse? Haley pushed the thought away and slumped down on the pale green coverlet.

“I reckon that’s about it, Miss Haley.”

“Thank you, Chrissy.” She watched the maid close the latches on the trunk. Petite, with a head full of auburn curls always escaping her white cap, the young maid had attended her since her arrival at Aunt Harriet’s. Haley would miss her bubbly personality, marked so strongly by her Georgia accent.

“Lordy-day, Miss Haley, I hope you don’t mind, but I caught me a look at that new husband of yours.” Chrissy shook her head appreciatively. “He’s as handsome as Texas and as big as a bull on an auction block. Marriage to him is gonna be more fun than Christmas morning.”

Haley sprang off the bed. “Thank you, Chrissy. That will be all.”

“Oh, sure.” She turned, but paused with her hand on the doorknob. “I just want to say, Miss Haley, I’m privileged to have looked after you here. I kinda wish you weren’t going. But I hope good things come your way.”

Suddenly Chrissy seemed very dear to her. The thought of going to a strange home, knowing no one, loomed, daunting, in her mind.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Chrissy opened it, and Aunt Harriet stepped inside. She gazed at the trunks, then at Haley. “Mr. Harrington is waiting.”

“I’m ready. No, wait, Chrissy, don’t go yet.” The young maid stopped in the doorway, and Haley turned to her aunt. “I’d like to take Chrissy with me, if you don’t mind. Just until I get settled.”

Aunt Harriet considered the matter for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, that will be fine. Run along, Chrissy, and pack a bag. Mr. Harrington is growing impatient.”

Chrissy squeezed her arms together, holding in a squeal of delight, and hurried away.

Slowly, Aunt Harriet closed the door and turned to Haley. She drew in a deep breath and folded her hands together primly. “Haley, there is something we must discuss. Sit down.”

“What’s wrong?” Haley perched on the edge of the bed.

“Your mother should be speaking with you on the subject, but since she’s not here, I feel I must take matters into my own hands.” She nodded slowly. “I think that’s what she would want me to do.”

Haley had no idea what her aunt was going on about, but if it delayed her departure, it was fine with her. “Yes, I’m sure Mother would agree.”

“It’s about relations.” She pursed her lips meaningfully. Color rose in her cheeks. “Marital relations.”

“Oh. That.” Haley didn’t know how to tell her aunt that she was about twenty-four hours late with this little talk.

She drew herself up, forcing herself to go on. “You are a well-bred lady. Your mother has seen to that. You’re expected to act a certain way, conduct yourself with proper decorum, regardless of the circumstances.”

She’d spent hours in etiquette classes, and many more reading from the volumes of books available on the subject. None of them, however, had mentioned the subject that was causing Aunt Harriet so much distress.

“Husbands, well-bred gentlemen like Mr. Harrington, expect their wives to behave as ladies.” Aunt Harriet’s brows pulled together. “At all times.”

Haley sat up straighter, and her gaze wandered across the bed. “They do?”

She nodded wisely. “They do.”

“But—” Now she was confused. What she could remember of last night, and what she knew of the condition she’d found herself in this morning and Adam’s response to it, she couldn’t have behaved in anything near a ladylike manner. But he’d seemed pleased by it. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. You mustn’t abase yourself in such a manner. Mr. Harrington is expecting to marry a dignified, properly groomed lady, and that is what you must be.”

Certainly, Aunt Harriet would know. Haley’s mother wouldn’t have entrusted her to her aunt’s care had she not been the epitome of gentlewomanhood. After all, it was Aunt Harriet whom her mother had relied on to take Haley out of San Francisco until the Farnsworth scandal died down.

Haley rose from the bed. “All right, Aunt Harriet, if you say so.”

“A lady at all times. Remember that.” She pointed a stern finger at her. “We mustn’t risk falling into disfavor with the Harringtons.”

That was hardly Haley’s highest priority, but she kept the thought to herself as she followed her aunt out the door.

Adam waited in the foyer, consulting his pocket watch as Haley descended the stairs. He looked mildly annoyed as he tucked it in his waistcoat, and that pleased her.

The servants took her trunks to Adam’s carriage, and her aunt made a show of kissing her cheek and wishing her well as Adam assisted her with her cape and ushered her out the door. Chrissy went ahead and climbed up top with the driver.

The spring evening was cool, and the interior of the carriage was dark as they settled into seats facing each other. Light from the street lamps cast dim shadows across the carriage as they made their way through the city. Haley felt Adam’s steady, unnerving gaze upon her as she stared at the passing scenery, pretending not to notice him.

At length he drew a silver case from his inside jacket pocket and took out a cigarette. Sulfur filled the carriage as the match sprang to life, illuminating his features before he tossed it out the window. Smoke coiled around his head.

“Isn’t there anything you want to ask me?”

She jumped at the sound of his deep voice coming out of the darkness. “Such as?”

He shrugged. “Such as…my family, my home.”

“I assume you have both.”

He chuckled. “A new house, actually. I designed it myself. Just moved in a few months ago.” He took a long drag on the cigarette and blew the smoke over his head. “You’ll run the house now, of course…thank goodness.”

And didn’t it occur to him that might interfere with her life?

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to simply hire a competent housekeeper?” She waved away the smoke coiling toward her.

“I have a staff, all quite capable. But you’ll have a vested interest in the place. That’s what I want. Do with it whatever you like. I’m told it needs a woman’s touch.”

So, there it was. Her first assignment in her new life. It didn’t sit well with her, but it was a role she had trained for most of her life.

He stretched out his legs, long, muscular legs that took up most of the space between the seats. Haley scooted sideways to avoid him. Again, she waved away the white, hazy cigarette smoke. “Must you smoke in here? It’s a nasty habit, you know.”

Adam studied the glowing tip of his cigarette, then tossed it out the window. “Don’t you want to know about my family?”

No, she wanted to get out of this carriage and get back to her own family. “Certainly.”

“One brother, one sister. Both younger. They live with my father.” Adam shifted uncomfortably on the leather seat and gazed out the window for the first time. “You’ll meet them…later.”

“You didn’t ask, so I assume you discovered all you care to know about me.”

Adam grinned and gazed at her once more. Oscar routinely worked for Harrington Construction, handling sensitive matters. He was well compensated for his efforts, and so hadn’t minded a rush assignment on a Sunday afternoon.

“Only the basics,” Adam admitted. Enough to know she made the perfect wife.

“But not everything.”

His brows drew together. “No, not everything.”

She shot him a scathing look. “Rethinking the marriage, Mr. Harrington?”

“No.” He leveled his gaze at her across the dim carriage. “But don’t get any ideas. If you’re thinking it’s a way to get out of this marriage, you’re wrong. I won’t tolerate a scandal.”

Her chin crept higher. “And neither will I, Mr. Harrington.”

“Don’t you think it would be all right if we were on a first-name basis now, Haley?”

Hearing him say her name sent a chill up her spine. Recollections of him breathing the word against her ear last night floated up in her mind, along with all sorts of feelings she couldn’t capture and certainly couldn’t name. She looked away. “I suppose… Adam.”

He grinned. “There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

It wasn’t bad at all, but she didn’t say so.

Haley looked out the window. The streetlights had disappeared, and by the sway of the carriage she could tell they had left the city. Presently, Adam sat forward.

“We’re home.”

Haley’s stomach tingled. Home? Her home was in San Francisco, with her mother and grandparents.

The carriage stopped, and Adam helped her to the ground while the driver and Chrissy handled her trunks.

Haley clutched her handbag as she gazed at the house. Every etched and stained-glass pane was lit in the three-story structure, setting it ablaze against the night sky. A large porch wrapped the entire first floor, and an onion dome and a witch’s hat punctuated the roof. Fashionable gingerbread and scrollwork decorated the house, which was blue with white trim, she guessed—it was hard to tell in the dark. Mature trees in the yard and flowers and shrubbery against the house scented the air pleasantly.

The front door opened, and a small, neat man with a carefully trimmed gray mustache stepped outside.

“Good evening, sir,” he droned.

Adam ushered her into the foyer. “Bernard, this is my wife.”

The butler gave her a stiff bow and a cursory glance. “Good evening, Mrs. Harrington.”

“See to her things.” Adam pulled his watch from his pocket and consulted it. He turned to Haley. “If you need anything, ask Bernard.”

And with that, he disappeared down the hall.

“Mr. Harrington is particular about his schedule,” Bernard offered in a monotone.

“Certainly,” she responded, as if that explained being dismissed like yesterday’s news.

“Follow me, please.”

She climbed the sweeping staircase behind the butler. Chrissy stepped alongside her, her eyes wide. “Well, somebody slap me—will you just look at this place? You’ve just got to keep me here, Miss Haley. No offense, but your aunt’s house smells like camphor all the time.”

Haley didn’t answer. She wasn’t certain she’d stay herself.

Chimes from the parlor’s mantel clock echoed up the stairway, causing Adam to stop and pull out his pocket watch. Fast. Two minutes fast. He couldn’t abide an inaccurate timepiece. Bernard would have to be told to see to the clock’s repair.

Adam started up the stairs again, then froze. No, Bernard would not have to handle it. He had a wife now to see to those things. A little smile pulled at his lips, and he climbed the stairs.

In his room, he poured himself a glass of bourbon from the decanter on his bureau and sipped it, his gaze riveted to the connecting door to his new wife’s suite. He’d sat at his desk downstairs for hours, trying to concentrate on the McKettrick plans. He’d set aside that time specifically to work on them, but he hadn’t gotten much accomplished; they hadn’t interested him to. begin with.

Adam crossed the room and passed through the sitting area to stare at Haley’s closed bedroom door. No light shone beneath it. No sound emanated from within. Surely she was sleeping by now; she’d looked exhausted when he picked her up—beautiful, but exhausted.

Quietly he opened the door and light from behind him beamed into the room. She was a bulge under the coverlet, curled on her side facing him. He heard the light, even breathing of her slumbers and wished to hell he’d tossed the McKettrick plans aside and come upstairs as he wanted to. But Haley represented an important element of a long-range plan. No need to rush with her; she’d be here forever.

Adam leaned his shoulder against the door casing and took another sip of the bourbon. He wished he could remember actually marrying her, or at least what had led up to his doing such a rash thing. He remembered being quite captivated by the sight of her, and asking friends if anyone knew her. The Olivers’ wedding ceremony had been stoic, as expected, and the reception predictable until the old guard left. Things had gotten completely out of hand after that. Vaguely he recalled reciting vows, images of Harry Oliver and Judge Williams fading in and out.

Adam looked down at the bourbon and swirled it in the glass. He must have had more than his usual too much last night.

He might have kept her regardless of her background, after spending last night rolling around in bed with her. That much of the evening he remembered with great clarity. But after Oscar informed him of her social standing, he could hardly believe his luck. No more women throwing their eligible daughters and nieces at him. No more teas, receptions or piano recitals to sit through in his search for an acceptable wife. Now he had her. And without the bother of the endless engagement parties, the wedding preparations, the ceremony and all the silly hoopla that went with it.

And no chance that the bride would change her mind.

Adam tossed back the last of the bourbon and drew in a deep, satisfying breath. He had it all. His new home and his wife. He was on his way. What could possibly go wrong now?

Chapter Four

Haley pushed her hair off her shoulder and peered over the thick coverlet. Morning sunlight sifted through the white gossamer drapes across the room. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. Another strange room.

She fell back on the pillow and lifted her arm. At least this morning she had on her own nightgown.

“Morning, Miss Haley.”

She pushed herself up higher on the pillows and saw Chrissy sorting through her clothing at the bureau. “Is it?”

She smiled brightly. “I know you slept like a hound in the shade. Would you just look at this place? I talked to the other servants this morning and learned that Mr. Harrington designed this whole place himself and had it built just like he wanted it. Marble all the way from Italy, paintings from France. Why, those stained-glass windows downstairs came all the way from England. The whole other end of this floor is the nursery. And there’s four bathrooms—four! Can you believe it?”

Haley gazed at the lace canopy over her head and the pristine white eyelet quilt covering her. A delicate blue-and-white print paper covered the walls, and a deep blue carpet stretched the length of the large room. The furniture was cherry. A new scent clung to everything, as if the room had been waiting for her.

“You’d better get up, if you’re wanting to have breakfast with your new mister.” Chrissy approached the bed. “Everybody says he’s as fussy as a hen with one chick when it comes to his schedule. That Bernard fella? He’s got the mister’s whole day written down on paper—carries it around with him all the time.”

“Lovely…” Haley got out of bed and stretched.

“Over there, that’s a bathroom.” Chrissy pointed across the room. “And the other door is a sitting room. It’s got a big ol’ desk in it, and chairs softer than goose down. Your mister’s bedroom is on the other side.” She giggled. “But you probably know that already, huh.”

Haley headed toward the bathroom door, ignoring the maid’s insinuation. She knew nothing more of her husband than she had when he abandoned her in the foyer with Bernard. If he’d come to her room with romantic notions during the night, she’d slept through them.

Her feet slowed on the thick carpet. What if he had come? She remembered little of the night before, at the Madison. Had he been here last night and she’d forgotten that too? Haley shook her head. Surely, one of these nights she would remain alert and aware of his overtures.

She stepped onto the cold tile of the bathroom floor grinding her fists in her eyes. She yawned loudly and stretched, rising on her toes, reaching toward the ceiling.

“Good morning.”

She squealed and spun around. Adam. He stood before the mirror at the sink, his shoulders twisted so that he could look at her. A white towel wrapped his hips; long, muscular legs showed below it, bulging arms above it. Foamy shaving soap covered half his face.

The breath went out of her. “I—I didn’t know…”

A shudder passed through Adam, reverberating until it slammed low in his belly. Oh, God, she was beautiful, all tousled and rumpled and disheveled. Just the sight of her made him want to—

He grabbed another towel from the rack by the sink and held it in front of him, trying to look casual. He gestured with the razor in his hand. “The bath joins our rooms.”

She glanced through the open door and saw the same rich blue carpet as in her own room, and a heavy cherry four-poster bed made neatly with a blue quilt. Adam’s bedroom. She felt her knees weaken.

“I designed it that way. I designed this whole end of the house as a suite for my wife.”

He gestured with the razor again, and she saw the dark hair beneath his arm, the curls across his chest, the line that arrowed into the towel below his navel.

“It’s…magnificent,” she breathed.

“That tub?” He pointed to the claw-footed white porcelain bathtub. “I had it specially made in Philadelphia. It’s seven feet long—the only one like it in the country. The whole house is wired for electricity. As soon as Sacramento Electric Power and Light figures how to generate current more than five miles at a stretch, we’ll have it.”

“Sir, it is now 6:42.” Bernard appeared in the doorway to Adam’s bedroom. “Oh, begging your pardon, sir.”

“I’m going to work,” he explained to Haley.

“I see.” She thought she might actually explode at any second from the extreme heat boiling inside her.

“I’ll be finished here in—”

“Seven minutes, sir,” Bernard intoned.

“Seven minutes.” Adam gestured toward the tub. “Unless you’d like to go ahead and…”

Her skin tingled, and parts of her felt suddenly heavy. “No, no, I’ll wait.” She backed toward the door.

He took a step forward, clutching the towel. “I’ll have Bernard work out a morning schedule for us.”

“Fine.” Haley escaped into her own room. As she closed the door, she caught sight of Chrissy craning her neck.

“He’s quite the looker, if I can say so, ma’am.”

Haley frantically fanned herself with her palms. Why was it so hot in here? “Open a window, Chrissy.”

“I’m going over to your aunt’s house this afternoon to get the rest of your things.” Chrissy hoisted the window and gave Haley a look over her shoulder. “Edward is taking me.”

“Edward?”

“Mr. Harrington’s driver, the one who brought us over here last night.” She smiled. “We got to talking and all. He lives right here, got a place all to himself over the carriage house. Well, now, let’s get you ready. I know you don’t want to keep your new mister waiting.”

But he didn’t wait. Haley found Adam in the foyer, talking with Bernard, readying to leave.

“Have the gardener continue on the rose beds.”

Bernard nodded sedately as he assisted Adam into his jacket. “Yes, sir.”

“And notify the staff that all decisions concerning the house should be directed to Mrs. Harrington.” He nodded toward Haley as she joined them.

“Of course, sir.” Bernard cleared his throat quietly. “Today is the twelfth, sir.”

Adam tugged down on his starched cuffs. “Yes.”

“Tomorrow, sir? Master Kip?”

He nodded. “Of course. Take funds from the household account, Bernard, and get him something. Have it sent over.”

“Suggestions, sir?” He passed him his leather valise.

“Whatever you think is appropriate. How old is he now?”

“Thirteen, sir.”

Haley felt like an intruder eavesdropping on an old ritual. “Somebody’s birthday?” she ventured.

Adam and Bernard both looked at her, unaccustomed to the interruption in their routine.

“My brother, Kip. His birthday is tomorrow.”

Haley brightened. “Really? Is your family having a party for him?”

Adam paled slightly. “No.”

“Well then, let’s have a party for him here.” Haley warmed to the idea. “We’ll have your family—isn’t that what you want, Adam?—and…some friends. I’ll have the cook bake a large…”

Her words died when Bernard turned away, as if embarrassed for her, and Adam drew in a deep, steadying breath.

“We don’t celebrate Kip’s birthday,” he said quietly.

Haley clasped her hands together. “Why not?”

He eyed her sharply. “Because our mother died when he was born.” Adam pulled the pocket watch from his waistcoat. “Two minutes behind schedule,” he mumbled, and looked at Haley. “See that the parlor clock is repaired today. If you need anything, consult with Bernard. He is always apprised of my schedule.”

And with that, Adam left her standing in the foyer.

“Would madam care for breakfast?”

Bernard had a way of looking at her without seeming to actually see her. “Whatever Mr. Harrington had.”

“Including the spirits, madam? Mr. Harrington has a Bloody Mary with his breakfast.”

She frowned. “No.”

Bernard bowed slightly and silently left the foyer.

Haley exhaled heavily in the still, silent house. Sitting in Adam’s monstrous bathtub this morning, she’d mulled her situation over and, try as she might, Haley could think of no good reason to leave, and several good reasons to stay. For one, it would put the Farnsworth incident behind her, and for another, this marriage would appease her mother, and might even bring her back into favor.

Haley walked into the dining room. But, more than anything, marriage to Adam was just the excuse she needed to stay in Sacramento, which was what she’d wanted all along.

Seated alone at the dining room table, listening to the ticking of a clock somewhere in the house, Haley thought that perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad. After all, Adam had kept his word.

She certainly hadn’t interfered a bit in his life, just as he’d promised.

Leather creaked beneath him as he eased into the chair across from his father’s massive desk, and smoke from his cigar coiled in front of him. Adam blew out a gray, hazy cloud. “Trouble this weekend?”

Martin Harrington reared back, puffing. “Damn vandals. I’d like to get my hands around their necks.”

“What happened?”

Martin sat forward and dragged his hands through his silvery hair. “Spilled paint, nail kegs overturned. Nuisance stuff again.”

Adam shrugged. “Probably just kids.”

“It better not be the trade unions. If I find out it is, they’ll sure as hell be sorry.” Martin clamped the cigar between his teeth. “How are the McKettrick plans coming?”

Adam blew out a heavy breath. “Fine.”

“I want to get there first. I don’t want McKettrick looking at anybody else’s ideas. I want this bid to—”

“I know. I know.” Adam sat straighter in the chair. “You know I don’t want to do this project.”

“It’s money in the bank. Big money. I want it.”

They’d discussed it a half-dozen times already; it wasn’t the first time Adam and his father had disagreed. “We’ll get it, Martin.”

He hadn’t called his father by anything but his first name for years, since he came to work at the firm. It suited them both.

“We’d better.” Martin rose and walked to the window, his footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor. Folding his hands at his back, he stared down at the street below; the view from his private office on the second floor of the Harrington Building allowed him to look down at much of the city, the docks and the Sacramento River. A long moment dragged by. Finally he said, “Well, who is she?”