He held her up, but she pushed from him, unable to feel the lie of his comfort. “You want me to leave? I’ll leave. I hope I didn’t ruin anything with the Millers last night. If I did, I promise to make things better at the party.”
Ed moved in like a wolf hunting. She retreated, her back pinned to the wall. “You did everything right last night. Because of you, Mr. Miller will most likely provide a huge amount of cash that I’ll be able to use to cover the outstanding debts and invest for future growth. With you at the party, I know all of them will believe in my shipping company.”
Cora struggled between the elation of his praise and the torment of his rejection. “I’m pleased I could help. I better get to work.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing. I’ve got it handled. Thank you.”
“Not about the party. To get you to stay,” Ed blurted, as if the words scorched his throat on the way out. “Marry me”
Silence.
She forced herself to remember the life she’d survived so far and knew she’d survive this. “I won’t be a kept woman. I’ll find my own way. You can’t have me, Ed. Not like that.”
“I didn’t mean—”
She wanted to smack him to wake him up from his ignorance. “What do you mean? You won’t marry me, but you want me to stay? You say you want to save me from scandal, but you want me to function as your prostitute.”
“No. I won’t require sex, just companionship. You can help with my business.”
His words mule-kicked her in the stomach. She couldn’t see Ed daily, work by his side, knowing he didn’t love her. God had a plan. She just needed to figure out what it was. “You’ve given me choices, and I’ve chosen to head back to New York. It’ll make the breaking of our engagement easier. Feel free to tell the Millers and everyone else whatever is necessary to help your business. I know it’s the most important thing in your life.” She fled to the kitchen and out the back door to the garden, fighting back the tears that threatened to flow and never stop.
It was a warm day, the kind Ed had told her was normal this time of year. She strolled through the garden Ghost and the boy had planted. The gravel skittered with each step. The aroma of something familiar drew her attention. She looked up to find the most beautiful, perfect white magnolia resting like a baby in a cradle at the center of an evergreen tree. She knew the tree had to have been shipped in and probably recently planted since southern magnolias didn’t bloom in autumn, but there it was like a snow-white miracle. Her fingers brushed the soft petals.
“He brought it in for you because he said it would make you smile. That’s not a man who is free. That’s a man in love.”
Ghost’s words offered false hope.
“You’re wrong. He isn’t capable of love because his heart is too damaged.” Cora retreated from the overwhelming scent of home and hope. “I better get to work. There isn’t much time.”
“Miss McKinnie, don’t give up. I see a change in him. Last night he looked lost and broken, but more than that, he had a glint of want in his eyes.”
She blushed at the realization she’d caused his physical need. That’s all Ghost had seen. “I’m sure you’re mistaken.”
“Next time you enter a room, watch him and you’ll see. He can’t look anywhere but you.”
“That’s physical attraction. My ma warned me that men can have that for any woman but that doesn’t mean anything real exists.”
Ghost chuckled. “You’re right, which is why a man can look to any woman for that. How come he only looks at you? Trust me, he’s not searching for any woman, because he foundthewoman.”
Cora didn’t know how to respond or feel or act. Thank goodness Ghost didn’t stick around for an answer.
For the rest of the day, she threw herself into work, avoiding Ed by taking meals in the kitchen or in her room. On Friday, he joined in with the hanging of the material and with the placement of the large wooden beasts while Cora remained in the kitchen and in the garden near the children she knew he’d never want to be around.
She’d enlisted more help than they needed but knew it would be good for the people from the streets to be fed if only for a time.
Mrs. Wilkins pulled Cora to the side when they were cleaning up and heading to bed. “Thank you, dear child. You’ve not just given us food but a reason to live. My husband hasn’t had that for a long time. He now speaks about sculpting for a living, but with Mr. Neal willing to sponsor him and with the enlistment of Jacob Stiles as his person to sell—so no one has to see his missing limbs—that takes two families off the streets. This’ll allow us to have a living.”
“Mr. Neal?” Cora’s heart soared to heaven at the thought he’d given to another instead of taking for his own need.
“Yes, it was his idea.” Mrs. Wilkins clamped a cold, bony hand around Cora’s. “I think we were mistaken about Mr. Neal. He’s a giving, Christian man.”
Cora didn’t know how to respond to that statement. Even if he were, it didn’t change the situation. “I’m so glad. After the party, I know your husband will be so busy with orders.”
Ed opened the back door and stepped out onto the terrace. “Beds are made up in the servant quarters. I hope you will all stay the night.” He about-faced and returned to the house.
She stood awestruck at his offer. A hint of pride twitched inside her, but a random act of kindness didn’t make him open to the idea of anything more than a bed for a night.
