“I understand your pride, but I’m desperate for peace. I don’t know how many days, months, years I have. I must do what’s best for me, which means choosing the family we have right now. Let’s go together and check on more family.”
“What are you talking about?” Her gaze is on her portmanteau.
“Come with me now to visit with Thom. The stairs to the servantquarters are too steep. I can’t make them without you. Let me depend on you.”
“Yes, of course.”
I take her hand, and we stand together.
Staring at her for the longest moment of my life, I feel we’ve almost put the pieces of what we lost back together. If I can pay a few more debts and our unity survives through the ball, then our love will last forever.
Chapter 38
KATHERINE—FINDINGOURWAY
Jahleel and I walk along the corridor, admiring Anya House’s transformation. Now, everything looks like the Winter Palace. The addition of parquet flooring over the pine and marble inlays looks natural and Russian. Urns hold flowers—red roses and pink and white hibiscus. There are no mums anywhere, except for graves.
I hold his arm a little tighter. His grip on his cane seems lighter. Perhaps it’s again for aesthetics. He looks strong, but says he needs help.
“What is that look, Katherine?”
“You fill in nicely.”
“Well, you said you like thick.”
A small smile shows until we reach the tiny staircase to the servant quarters. It’s steep. Part of me wants him to not go up. That part of my soul hasn’t learned how to support him.
He pauses, looking at the direction we need to take. “Thom’s twice my age and blind, and he takes them with ease.”
I bite down every word ofWait, turn around. “Do I support you from the side or hold on from the back?”
“Both positions are appealing, but I think you need to lead.”
That’s not support. I realize that he can do this without me. He just wants me with him. A few weeks ago that would’ve beenenough. I slip past and with slow steps, we ascend. On the landing, he grabs my hand. “To Thom.”
The sunshine from the window hits Thom’s wizened face, shining on deep mahogany wrinkles in his brow, as he sits on his bed. He’s fully dressed in black breeches and a coat like he’s ready for work. His ebony mantle lies folded beside him. The blue lining exposes the patches made by his mother and later by me.
“That sounds like I have company. Who have you brought with you, Duke? What story do you want to hear?”
Jahleel comes deeper into the room. “I wanted to speak with you before the surgery. I’ve brought Lady Hampton.”
“Lady Hampton.” He sniffles and wipes through his bushy gray-and-white hair. “I shoulda fixed myself up a little.”
He stops fussing, and his strong chin turns in my direction. “Thought you’d be driving those wagons or getting new customers to replace those bad ones.”
“You know about the pelting and the garbage?” I ask.
“My boys told me. They come up here every night and give me a report. Just ’cause I’m a little sickly don’t make me useless.”
“You’re an asset, Mr. Thom. Your sons, Master William and Master Donald, do a fine job. I’m letting them run all the routes now.”
His smile fills with pride. Those two young men and working for Wilcox Coal have been his world. His head goes back against the walls, charcoal on white. His lips thin for a minute as they press tightly together. “They love that company. Don’t know what they’ll do next if it closes.”
“Tell her, Thom.” Jahleel looks out the window. The view of his maze and gardens appears lush and vibrant. “Tell her what you told me.”
So he’s been up here with Thom a lot.
“Mr. Palmers,” the driver says, “been trying to run ’em off.Now, he wants them to work for him. He says he’s about to own it all. That he’ll be better to them than a woman.”
