Page 67 of Air Affair

They stared each other down for a long moment. “Fine. If you must.”

Hank sagged back in his chair with relief.

Mr. Portman turned another page. “You would need an updated will in addition to this marriage agreement.”

“Of course.” Hank looked at his hands, folded in his lap. Wills. How had his marriage proposal ended up in a discussion of wills? But he supposed this was how it had to be. She needed assurance of her freedom, and this was the only way he could think of to do it. “How quickly can you put it together?”

“Two, maybe three days.”

He looked up at Mr. Portman. “Do it. Send me a copy and send one to her as soon as it’s done. Here are the addresses,” he said, writing them down on a notepad.

“Very good, and you are all set. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Lieutenant Hawley and Miss Bemont. And I wish you luck. If you’re crossing August Belmont, you’re going to need it.”

Yes, they would, but that wasn’t going to stop Hank. They said goodbye to Mr. Portman and headed out.

As soon as they were out on the street, he paused. “Did I convince you?”

She reached up and caressed his cheek. “I’m very moved by your gesture. I still need some time to think it through, but you certainly are making it harder and harder to say no.”

“Take all the time you need, princess. I’ll be right here as soon as you’re ready.”

She looped her arm through his, and they strolled along Main Street like they’d been doing it all their lives.

When they arrived at the florist shop, Mrs. O’Donnell was outside, fussing with the flower arrangements on display.

“You two look happy,” she said with a sharp look but a kind smile. “Do you have good news to share?”

Rory flushed pink at the question, and Hank cleared his throat and stared at his toes.

Mrs. O’Donnell nodded knowingly. “Won’t be long before there are wedding bells for you two. Mark my words.”

Under the watchful gaze of Mrs. O’Donnell, Hank squeezed Rory’s hand and let her go. “I’ll see you soon,” he said, not daring any more with an audience.

“I’ll see you soon, Hank.”

He watched her disappear up the stairs. Just a little bit longer to wait, then—if all went well—she would finally say yes.

25

Rory followed the Carnegies’ butler down the long hall to the conservatory, seeing the parquet wood floors and the decorative plasterwork on the ceiling as if for the first time. How many workers toiled away for how long to build it all? The opulence she used to take for granted now seemed so excessive and extravagant compared to her simple life in Mineola. Plaster acorns and oak leaves were certainly pretty, but how could one justify the expense when so many city residents struggled for their daily bread?

The scent of the conservatory reached Rory before she entered it—floral notes mixed with rich soil. And there was a freshness to the air that only came from a profusion of growing greenery. As they entered, sunlight filtered through arching glass and then tall branches, leaving dappled patches of shade on the green-tiled floor. The butler led her to an ornate ironwork table shaded by several tall palms and an orange tree laden with ripening fruit, all in terracotta pots large enough to bathe in.

“If you’ll pardon me, I’ll go fetch Miss Evelyn,” the butler said with a bow and left.

Thankfully, the windows were open, and electric ceiling fans created a gentle breeze. Otherwise, the summer heat would have been unbearable. Rory sat back and fanned herself as she waited for her friend. After a long, hot journey on the Long Island Railroad, followed by a taxi ride all the way up to 91st Street, she felt positively wilted.

Evelyn arrived squealing a moment later, and Rory forgot all about her exhaustion.

“My God, darling, I’ve missed you so!” Evelyn hugged Rory with all her might, and Rory hugged her right back. After all her travails, it was a balm to her soul to see her best friend.

“I’ve missed you too! It’s only been a few weeks, but it feels like an eternity!” In fact, she felt like a completely different person after everything that had transpired. It was a wonder the Carnegies’ butler even let her in. “Do your parents know about me? I half thought I would be turned away when I rang the doorbell.”

“My parents are in Newport for the season. Papa has a new yacht he’s showing off. It’s made my life ever so much easier in the meantime. But even if they were here, I wouldn’t let them turn you away! You are my dearest friend, and I’m standing by you no matter what.”

Her friend’s staunch support moved her more than she could say. “Thank you. I know it can’t be easy being my friend. I can only imagine what everyone must be saying about me now. I haven’t so much as looked at a gossip column since I left. How bad is it?” She bit her lip and braced herself.

“Not as bad as you’d think. Fortunately for you, no one seems to know yet. There’s no hiding that you and Edward are on the rocks, but your father seems to have convinced the papers that you’re in Europe, visiting friends.”