Arthur raised his arm to punch the reporter senseless, but Ester clutched it, as if she didn’t want to see him violent. “Leave my wife out of your columns and out of your mouth.”
The reporter sobered. “It’ll be hard to do, but perhaps an interview given by you, Bex, could sway me. Your story has just become even richer with this shy wife. If she’s what you’ve been hiding, you should’ve said so.”
“I’ve nothing to say to a nosy reporter, but ‘leave.’”
“You’re hiding a secret, and I’m close to exposing the truth.”
Fury ripping through him, Arthur took a step toward Phineas, but Ester held on to his tailcoat.
“Please, Bex. Don’t.” Her whisper was soft, smothering the fire in him, at least the one to pummel Phineas. “He’s not worth it.”
The reporter clapped his hands. “When you change your mind about an exclusive story, Bex, send for me. Same for you, Mrs. Bex. I love informants equally. See you tonight, if you can bear to get away.Bang.Bang. Gunpowder.”
Phineas marched away, all while almost singing, “Exclusive: Arthur Bex is married to a bashful Blackamoor bride. Will the sham last beyond the rallies? The ones he feels are worthy of his presence.”
Arthur’s anger raged again. “He better not put you in the papers.”
“Bex, you said it yourself. We can’t hide if we are to create change. I suppose that also includes from the reporters who want to do you harm.”
With a sigh, he turned to unlock the door but caught her big, wide eyes. The pique Arthur had felt over her not defending him subsided. She was fearful…for him. Again, that protective nature of hers had come out and made a play for his heart. “Phineas is a nuisance, but harmless.”
“He’s not harmless. He’s out to hurt you. He’s baiting you to go to that rally where you could be hurt.”
There were no words to comfort her. He had to go to the rally. He’d promised to be there, had encouraged others to go. Slipping his other hand in his pocket, he dug for his key. “I still think you are much bolder when you think our lives are at imminent risk.”
“I don’t want to be at risk. I want to be happy. I want you safe. Don’t go to the rally.”
No pleading or soft lilting voice would deter him, not from his calling. He jiggled the fob, metal clicked against metal, and the door opened. “Welcome.”
With her chin high, his bride entered. Her head turned from side to side as she took a lap about the freshly papered pale-yellow walls that he’d helped the widowed boardinghouse owner finish a few weeks ago. “Very clean for a bachelor.”
The scent of pine soap wafted as he lugged her bag inside and closed the door. “The landlady must’ve come through this morning. But you are right, I like a clean house.” He took off his tall-crowned felt hat and set it on his desk. “Saturday morning chores to swab my decks are not out of the question.”
“You sound like a sailor.” She took a full circle about the sitting room. “Papa likes a clean warehouse, but some of his workers don’t seem to know what clean is. This is very nice,” she said in a tone that reeked ofis-this-it?before she sat on his sofa.
“I’m a simple man. I live within my means.”
Ester stood and came toward him. “This isn’t my father’s house. I didn’t marry him or the rich man he hand-picked.” She put a hand to Arthur’s cheek. “I could learn to be happy here. I like clean and honest, too. I like safe more.”
“Safe is fine. But risk made you jump out a window and into my arms. Taking a risk made me come to Nineteen Fournier to catch you. Taking a risk can be worthy.”
Her bright topaz eyes were light and filled with hope among the ribbon flecks of gold. “You are worthy.”
If he could dip into those molten pools and come out dripping of virtue, he would, for he wanted to be what she saw. He kissed her palm. “You believe I can make you happy?”
“You already do.”
She tugged him to a chair and stood upon it. They were now eye to eye. “I’m happy, Bex.” With arms about his neck, she kissed his jaw. “Bex, I know you want to go to the rally tonight, but we just made it here. I want you home and safe. Is that too much to ask on our first night in Cheapside?”
Her lips went to his, and she kissed him. Soft, tentative, encouraging. “Choose me, Bex. Let’s begin our life tonight.”
Arthur slipped off her shawl and stepped closer to the little woman, fingering the lace and buttons that separated them. He wanted his wife. He wanted to love and care for her. With his blood pumping faster, swooshing in his ears, he needed to draw near the woman who had risked everything for him.
But the rally needed him, too.
He broke from her kiss and sat his chin on her head. “Ester, this rally is of my making. I have to go.”
“You’ve birthed it, Bex, but it can happen without you.”
