Chapter Ten

“T his is the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen,” Dori whispered to Sarah as they stepped into the dining room.

Christmas decorations filled the background, but the magnificent table deserved all the attention. Draped in crisp white linens, evergreen garlands scalloped down the table’s center from one end to the other. Interspersed among the greens were roses in hues of pink, pale yellow, and burgundy. Five tall topiaries of ivy and roses were placed along the middle of the table with candelabras adding a warm glow. Hudson House china—exquisite white plates edged in dark-blue damask and a silver band, with a smattering of pink rosebuds—rested on silver chargers. Small white gift boxes tied with pink satin ribbons and festooned with a single burgundy rosebud sat at each place setting. Dori knew the boxes held a special blend of tea that Brant custom ordered, as well as four decadent pieces of Belgian chocolate.

Although Sarah had never mentioned it to Dori, Holland hosted an annual afternoon tea three days after Christmas for all of the female relatives in her family. She hired a chef from Silver Bluff to oversee the kitchen for the event so Dulcie was free to enjoy the afternoon without worrying about the food.

“Look!” Sarah said, discreetly motioning to a young woman playing a harp that filled the room with soft music. “Mama wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it. She grew up in Silver Bluff, but lives in Portland now. She wasn’t certain she’d be home for the holidays.”

“I’m glad she could be here. The music is divine.” Dori tried to take in the romantic atmosphere, then glanced down at her gown. Part of the fun of the tea party was Holland’s insistence on everyone dressing as if it were the 1890s.

Sarah and Dori had been invited to raid the trunks up in the attic full of Holland’s clothes from almost thirty years ago. They’d had a grand time going through the fabulous gowns, and choosing hats, gloves, and accessories. Dori was pleased to have found a dress that didn’t require her to wear a corset. However, the gown Sarah had selected left her no choice but to don one. She didn’t seem to mind her inability to take deep breaths overly much once Brant commented on how lovely she looked.

Holland was beautiful in a fawn-colored gown thick with lace that just skimmed her shoulders. Her hair was fashioned in ringlets of curls that fell in a waterfall from the back of her crown where they were pinned.

“Your mother is breathtaking,” Dori said as Holland strode across the room to greet Savannah and her daughter-in-law.

“She truly is. Dad says it’s because the beauty on the inside outshines anything on the outside.”

“What a wonderful sentiment. I agree. Holland is such a happy, joyful person, it’s hard not to feel uplifted in her presence.”

Sarah hugged Dori’s shoulders. “I’ll tell her you said that. Mama adores you every bit as much as I do.”

Dori smiled, then lifted the camera she’d brought with her and began taking photos.

Ten minutes later, the room was filled with women related to the Drake family in one form or another. Dori sat at the table between Sarah and Dulcie, amused by the conversation and thoroughly impressed with the party. Everyone arrived dressed in their Victorian-era finery, adding to the fun of the afternoon.

Men dressed in black tuxedoes with white shirts, black bow ties, and white gloves carried in tiered trays of delicate sandwiches filled with chicken salad, egg salad, cucumbers and cream cheese, and thin slices of tender beef. Platters held deviled eggs, stuffed cherry tomatoes, and celery sticks filled with cream cheese and pimentos. Relish dishes held tiny pickles and assorted olives. Three kinds of tea were offered, and the servers were quick to step in to fill a plate or pour a cup of steaming fragrant brew.

Holland had invited the preacher’s wife to join them, and she offered a heartfelt prayer that nearly brought them all to tears.

Dori listened to the conversation flow around her, observing the women who had helped shape Kase’s childhood. She knew he was incredibly fond of his aunts— Dulcie and Savannah in particular. He spoke well of his female cousins—both those by birth and by marriage.

Overall, Dori found the women to be upright, encouraging, polite, and caring. No wonder Holland made it a point to celebrate them each year. Dori thought it was a fabulous idea and hoped the tradition would always continue.

Once they’d eaten their fill of the sandwiches and savory samplings, the servers carried away the dishes and returned with trays full of petit fours decorated with tiny pink and red rosebuds, miniature berry and apple tarts, and delicate vanilla cookie horns stuffed with chocolate cream.

Dori sampled one of everything, grateful all over again she hadn’t needed to wear a corset to fit into the dress. Poor Sarah was only able to eat a nibble from one petit four before she couldn’t hold another bite. As it was, Dori felt stuffed and doubted she’d be able to eat anything else the rest of the day.

One of Austin’s daughters, Emily, rose from her seat and recited a poem about fairies that made everyone smile. Dulcie’s youngest, Greta, sang a beautiful rendition of “Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland.”

When the girl was seated after a resounding applause, Holland stood.

“My deepest, heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for being here today, and for all you do throughout the year to keep the estate running smoothly. We need each other, and I’m incredibly grateful we can encourage one another through hard challenges and celebrate our happy times. As this year comes to a close, may we look back with fondness and ahead with thankfulness for whatever joys and blessings await us.” Holland held a teacup up in toast, and everyone took a final sip of tea, then rose to leave.

Dori hopped up and retrieved the camera she’d left on a side table and took several photographs. She caught Greta before she left with Austin’s two girls.

“You sang like an angel, Greta. How come we haven’t heard you sing a solo at church?” she asked.

Greta blushed. “I would be violently ill if I had to sing in front of everyone at church. It’s hard enough singing here with just our family.”

“Well, your voice is lovely.” Dori turned to Emily. “I so enjoyed your poem. You did a wonderful job reciting it.”

“Thank you, Dori,” Emily said, then the girls hurried off.

Dori returned to the dining room and took photos of Holland hugging her sister, of Sarah chatting with the wife of her cousin Taylor, and Dulcie laughing at a look of exasperation on the face of Austin’s wife.

As soon as all the guests left, Dori hurried upstairs to change and almost ran into Kase when he stepped out of his bedroom looking ruggedly handsome in a pair of worn jeans, boots, and one of the soft flannel shirts that made her want to reach out and touch his arm, or let her hand linger on the curve of his broad shoulder.

“Where are you off to, pretty miss?” he asked, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “You are so beautiful, Dori. That dress was made for you.”

She grinned. “Actually, I believe it was made for your mother, but I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to wear it.”

“That shade of peacock blue quite suits you. The hat is nice too,” he said, reaching up to touch the brim of the hat that was wider than some of the serving platters downstairs.

Dori had felt so elegant pinning it on. She and Sarah had curled their bobbed hair and pinned it up, leaving a few tendrils to frame their faces. With the big hats, no one had been able to tell what length of hair they had. For an afternoon, it had been fun to pretend she was a woman from a past era where grace and elegance were the order of the day.

“Did you have fun?” Kase asked, walking with her to her bedroom door.

“I had a grand time, Kase. It’s wonderful your mother hosts the tea every year. I could see from the faces of those attending that everyone enjoys it. Even Dulcie relaxed and sat back as the servers waited on her.”

“Really? Aunt Dulcie who can barely let anyone into her kitchen?” Kase grinned. “It is a fabulous thing Mama does, and she loves planning it. She’s probably already thinking about what she’ll serve next year, what the gift will be at each place setting, and what predominant colors she’ll choose for the flowers. Last year they were all white and yellow. I liked the touch of pink and burgundy this year.”

“So you were spying on us?” Dori asked as she pushed open the bedroom door and set her camera on the table just inside the room.

“Only for a minute or two. I wanted to see if you were having a good time, and it looked like you were.” He shrugged. “And I wanted to hear Greta sing because that girl is an expert at hiding her talent under a bushel basket.”

“It’s too bad. She really has a lovely singing voice.”

“She does. Mavis reminds me of her a little when Greta was that age. When she was small, she sang all the time, but as she got older, she sang less around others. Uncle Denver says she sings all the time at home.” Kase took a step back, although he looked as though he wanted to linger. “I heard Mavis loves her ukelele and has mastered the first few bars of ‘Jingle Bells,’ although the lyrics are still questionable.”

“I can’t wait to hear her.” Dori was pleased by that bit of news. “I’ll have to go visit her tomorrow and listen to a performance.”

“She would love that.” Kase backed up a few more steps. “I’ll see you later, delightful Dorthea.”

Although he looked like he wanted to kiss her, he headed to the elevator and stepped inside.

Dori turned and saw Brant standing at the other end of the hall, watching. He smiled at her and offered what appeared to be an approving nod.

She waved to him, then hurried into her room to change into an older dress she often wore in the darkroom. If she spilled any chemicals on it, it wouldn’t matter. Eager to see what she’d captured on film at the afternoon tea, she rushed to the darkroom to develop the film. She was shocked to discover someone had taken several photos of her as she laughed at something Sarah said, leaned over to tell Dulcie she looked stunning in her silk gown, and smiled as Greta sang. Who had taken the photographs? One of the staff? Someone attending the event?

Kase.

Dori was sure Kase was the one who’d taken them. She might have been upset at anyone else touching her camera, but with Kase she didn’t mind. She’d shown him how to take photos with it, and he’d used it a few times when they’d been together during the past weeks.

As she worked on the photos, she studied one he’d taken of her that looked like a portrait. Her head was tilted just so. A smile barely touched her lips. And she looked past the camera as though she hoped to see someone special.

She couldn’t explain it, but perhaps part of her had known Kase was there, so she’d searched for his face among the guests. The connection they shared was something neither of them could deny.

Dori wondered what Kase thought when he looked at her. Did he see her dreams in her eyes, the spark of adventure in her spirit, the longing to belong somewhere—to someone?

Or did he merely see his sister’s silly little friend?

Dori didn’t think that was true. Kase had made it clear he cared for her, at least she thought he had with his attentiveness, his tendency to seek her out. Even the little camera ornament he’d made for her, an exact replica of her box camera down to the carrying handle on top of it, showed he cared.

Then there were his kisses. Oh, mercy! That man certainly knew how to turn her knees to jelly and her brain to feathers with his kisses. It was more than that, though. When he put his arms around her and held her close, Dori felt excited and exhilarated, but also experienced such a feeling of rightness. Of being exactly where she was always meant to be.

She hated the thought of leaving and returning to San Francisco, but her life was there, and Kase’s was here.

Besides, Kase would marry some lovely girl who could step into the role of one day being the grand hostess of Hudson House. Dori didn’t have the training nor natural skill to know how to do the things Holland did with such ease.

Not that Kase had proposed or even hinted that there was more to their budding relationship than a few weeks of fun.

Dori finished with the photographs and left them hanging to dry on lines she’d strung across the room.

She hurried back to her room, washed her hands and face, then changed into a fresh gown. A glance at the clock made her rush out the door and downstairs before she was late for dinner. Although she thought she wouldn’t be hungry after the delicious things she’d enjoyed at the tea, she discovered she was starving.

Dinner featured some of Brant’s excellent cured ham, creamed corn, fresh bread, and an ambrosia salad made with oranges left from Christmas.

After another evening of games and family time in the sitting room, Kase waited until his parents and Sarah had bid them good night before he took Dori’s hand in his and led her to the elevator. The moment the doors closed, he kissed her all the way to the second floor.

He could have gone on kissing her for eternity, and she would not have complained.

“We better say good night,” Kase said in a husky voice as they stepped off the elevator and slowly made their way to her bedroom door.

Dori noticed Holland lingering in Sarah’s doorway just down the hall and had a feeling she was there to keep an eye on them.

“Have sweet dreams, Kase.” Dori kissed his cheek and went into her room.

After writing in her journal, she curled on her side and thought about the strange effect Kase seemed to have on her. One minute in his presence, and she began to feel like a melting snowball. His smile could shake her up and turn her world upside down. Each kiss was a precious gift that made her feel as though the blood in her veins might begin to shimmer and glow with love.

She wondered how Kase would react if she were brave and bold enough to tell him how he made her feel. How important he’d become to her.

As her eyes drifted closed, Dori sighed, ready to lose herself in dreams of the man she loved.