A maid entered the dining room and said, “Mrs. Miller sends her apology, but she awoke this morning with a headache. She asked if you would mind postponing going to finalize the menu for the reception but asked if you would mind terribly going to the fitting without her.”
“Please tell her there is no concern. Everything is in hand.” Cora took a sip of coffee. “And Mr. Miller and Mr. Neal, will they be joining me?”
“No, madam. They left early for an out-of-town meeting and won’t be home until late this evening.”
Disappointment flooded in, but Cora knew she’d have Ed to herself come Saturday, so she ate a piece of toast then returned to her room to find Grace.
“Would you mind going with me to my fitting today? I’d love your opinion on my dress.”
“I’d be delighted.”
Grace ran off to change, and then they rode down the hill in the bouncing carriage. Cora had grown more used to bracing her foot to the other side so she didn’t slide off the seat. She’d learned a lot since her arrival in San Francisco, and it had started to feel like home.
They arrived in front of the dressmaker’s, and she hurried inside because as much as she was excited to see her dress, this was her first opportunity to check on Captain and Mrs. Wilkins and the other people from the party to make sure they weren’t on the street and to drop food off to the homeless.
The gown was pieced together, and although Cora hated to admit it to herself since she’d imagined making her own dress, the woman had done an excellent job and created an exquisite garment.
“We’ll need to take it in here and of course extend the train.”
“It’s perfect. You’re so beautiful,” Grace said. “Mr. Neal is going to swoon like a girl when he sees you in that dress. Not that you’re not always beautiful, because you are, but this dress makes you look like royalty.”
“Thank you for working so fast,” Cora said, saving Grace from a runaway conversation.
“With the new machine, I can make a dress in a few days. It’s a wonder.” The nice, petite lady in a gown with puffy sleeves and thin arms gathered and pinned layers of fabric together in the back and marked the bodice. I’ll bring it to the house on Friday once it’s finished.”
“Thank you so much.” Cora turned to Grace. “Could you take care of the errand we discussed while I change?”
“Yes, I’ll go right now.”
Cora changed and hurried to the carriage to wait for Grace, who’d gone to purchase some dry goods and food on Ed’s account. When she returned with an armload of stuff, they set off up the street, where they found some people sitting near a construction site. Cora passed out some food, and then they continued on.
“I heards stories ’bout the fire-haired angel. I thoughts Captain made it up, but it’s true. You a gift from God himself.”
“No, sir. I’m just a person.” Cora handed over some food and headed back to the carriage, but when she turned, Mr. Grous stood in her way.
He tipped his hat up with that blasted cane. “I see you’re out making Ed look good again.”
Cora didn’t answer. She tried to rush past him, but he caught hold of her arm. She thought to scream but refused to let him know he frightened her. Even he wouldn’t be so bold as to harm her on the street. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the Miller residence to work on wedding plans.”
“That wedding isn’t going to happen.” Mr. Grous released her and pulled papers from his jacket. “I have all the proof I need to bring Ed Neal down.”
A terror infested her. “I don’t believe you.” Cora held tight to her purse in an attempt to hide her trembling.
Mr. Grous held out the documents to her, so she snatched them from him and shuffled through them. One page showed Neal Shipping Company’s debt to several major factories back east. Another page showed Ed’s bad investment in a rail company that went under, and the other pages were letters from distributors about their delay in merchandise being delivered.
Cora studied them for any clues as to a way to help Ed. “How did you get these?”
“So you knew.” His oversized chest expanded further, and he laughed. That eerie, I’m-going-to-ruin-you laugh.
“There’s nothing to know.”
“Then you don’t mind if I go show these to Mr. Miller.” Mr. Grous reached for the papers, but she held them tight to her chest.
She knew she needed to ask the one question he was waiting for, but every muscle in her body told her to run and never look back. “What do you want?”
“You.”
Cora never knew one word could cause so much disgust. “No. I won’t marry you.”
