Chapter Twenty-Two

T he drive to pick up Caleb and Colleen was short, but long enough for Brad to regale her with stories of some of the people who would probably be in attendance, making her laugh and ease some of the nerves rampaging through her.

Since her name hadn't been on the invitation, would Belinda have her thrown out? Would she remember all the dance steps? What if someone else asked her to dance and she stepped on his toes? What if she spilled punch on herself or someone else? What if she couldn't lift her dress to use the bathroom?

Brad patted her hand. "Quit worrying. You'll be fine."

"How did you know I was worrying?"

He chuckled. "Those two little lines in the middle of your forehead are a dead giveaway."

Great, now she had to worry about worry lines in her forehead.

"Don't fret. No matter what, you are beautiful. The men are all going to want to dance with you, and the women will be jealous."

"Do you think Belinda will be jealous?"

"Oh. Most definitely."

"Do you think she'll do anything to me?"

Brad shrugged. "She'd better not. The only thing I can visualize is her trying to occupy my time. Maybe say some sarcastic remarks to you." He squeezed her fingers. "I am fully confident you will be able to handle her. The best thing is to not be alone with her."

Great. Add another thing she needed to agonize over. The list was getting longer and longer.

Joshua pulled behind a line of buggies waiting to discharge its passengers. As each buggy moved out of line and theirs came closer to the entrance of the massive two-story structure, her nerves grew. Finally, it was their turn. Brad exited first and held out his hand to her.

Getting into the carriage hadn't been too bad, but getting out was going to be a challenge. How did one hold onto a dress with a bustle, her small handbag, and Brad's hand without toppling head over heels to the ground? She took a peek out the door. Thankfully, it seemed no one was paying attention to her.

"You can do it, Libby."

"Easy for you to say. You don't have this stupid bustle to deal with."

"Drag it behind you. It shouldn't catch on anything."

"Shouldn't? That's reassuring." She was taking too long. If the carriages behind them were cars, the air would be filled with their horns telling her to get a move on. With a deep breath, she took Brad's hand, felt for the small step with her right foot, and stuck out her left one. In a matter of seconds, Brad had his hands around her waist and was setting her on the ground.

"Whew. Thank you. I thought for sure I was going to fall."

"I wouldn't have let you." He winged out his arm. "Madame, shall we?"

There were only three steps to maneuver up. She shivered.

"Cold?"

"No. Nervous."

"Nothing to be nervous about. All you have to do is follow my lead."

Colleen patted her arm. "You'll be fine. Remember, we'll be by your side."

The blast of warm air, loud voices, a string quartet, and perfumed bodies struck her like a semi hitting a wall. How was she going to survive this? In the past nine months, she'd become accustomed to the country's quiet.

A tall man in black tails took their wraps. "You may go right in. Refreshments are to your left." He sniffed, then turned away.

"Butler?"

Brad shrugged. "Probably. I never saw the need for one, but I guess Belinda is trying to impress everyone."

They walked down a long, dim hallway before entering the ballroom. "Do you see her?"

Brad guided her toward the refreshment table and tipped his head to the right. "She's greeting people over there."

Brad took two crystal glasses of champagne and handed one to Libby. Over her glass, she watched the swirl of dancers moving with precision across the dance floor. The various, bright colors of the women's dresses reminded her of a rainbow as opposed to her black as night dress. How was she ever going to be able to keep up?

"If you'll excuse us, we see some people we haven't see in a while." With their champagne glasses in hand, Caleb and Colleen crossed the room.

A petite, dark-haired woman stood at the door shaking hands and smiling at guests. Was this Belinda? Resembling Elizabeth Taylor, she was beautiful; one of the most gorgeous women Libby had ever seen. How could any man not fall for her? Were her eyes the same dark blue as Taylor's? She certainly had her figure. Narrow waist. Her low-cut dress showed breasts any woman would dream of having, and men of getting their hands on. Even her smile was radiant.

She didn't feel the need to, but how was someone like her going to compete with a woman like Belinda?

Brad leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Don't let her outward beauty fool you. She's like a barracuda. Sharp teeth ready to attack."

"Thanks for the warning."

"Good evening, Bradley." A man, slightly shorter than Brad, approached. If his bulging stomach was any indication, he enjoyed his food. "And who is this lovely woman? I don't believe I've met her before." Without her permission, he took her hand and kissed the back of it. "I heard you had a woman living with you." He eyed her from her head to her feet, stopping briefly at her chest before nudging Brad and giving him a wink. "I can understand why you've kept her hidden."

Thank goodness, she was wearing gloves. She repressed a shudder, but inside her stomach rolled. Yuck. The way he was looking at her, he must think she was good for a roll in the hay.

"Good evening, Frances. This is Mrs. Daniels. After her husband died in a buggy accident, she and her children are staying with us for a bit."

"Oh, I'm sure that's the story." He bowed to Libby. "Please save me a dance."

"By the way, Frances. Where is your wife tonight?"

Frances scowled at Brad. "She's here somewhere. I guess I must find her."

After he left, Libby shuddered. "What a disgusting little man."

"You don't know the half of it. Right after I married Lucinda, he had the audacity to try to seduce her."

"What did you do?"

Brad chuckled. "It wasn't what I did, but what Lucinda did. I have a strong feeling he wasn't able to walk for at least a week."

"Good for her."

"He stayed away after that." Brad had their glasses refilled and gave one back to Libby. "I'm not sure why he believes he's a ladies' man."

Libby tipped her glass toward the other side of the room. Belinda was bearing down on them like a heat-seeking missile. "Don't look now, but I believe Belinda is about to join us."

Brad groaned. "Great. I suppose it's too late to ask you to dance, isn't it?"

"Bradley, my dear." Pointedly ignoring his scarred side, she kissed him on his good cheek. "It's been so long since we've been together." She clutched his free arm and pressed it to the side of her breast making him spill a bit of his champagne on Libby's dress. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

As if Libby didn't know better, the woman had insinuated she and Brad had once shared a bed. She had also deliberately made Brad spill his drink. Ignoring the temptation to empty her glass down the front of the woman's overly exposed chest, Libby set down her glass, removed a hanky from her purse, and dabbed at the droplets. "No worries. I'm sure it won't stain."

How could a woman several inches shorter than her, manage to look down her nose at Libby? With her fan, Belinda tapped Brad on his chest. "You naughty boy, Bradley. Didn't you notice yours was the only name on your invitation, yet you brought a guest? I so wanted to spend some time alone. Maybe we can meet later in my library?"

Brad removed her hand from his elbow. "I don't think so, Belinda."

As Frances had done, Belinda eyed Libby from her head to her toes, then sniffed as if there was a foul odor in the air. "And who is this, Bradley?"

"As I'm sure you and everyone else here already knows, this is my houseguest, Mrs. Daniels. Mrs. Daniels, this is Belinda Carlisle."

"Oh, yes. I've heard about her." She sniffed again. "Didn't you show up at Bradley's house with a son and with child or some such thing? I would never press myself into a widower's home. That is so..." She flapped a hand in the air. "I don't know. So inappropriate." Her grin at Libby didn't reach her eyes. "Wouldn't you say, Mrs. Daniels ?"

Brad coughed into his hand and nudged Libby's dress with his foot.

Having heard about Belinda's attempt at coming upstairs when Libby was recuperating from Lucy's birth, and how she showed up wherever Brad happened to be, the woman's comments were laughable. From where she stood and the few minutes she'd spent with Belinda, Libby already knew her to be cold, calculating, and a bitch.

"I don't know, Miss Carlisle. Mr. Kemble has been nothing but a gentleman, helping me after my husband died. I'm not one to chase after a man. You know, like showing up at his farm without an invitation or accosting him in stores or at church. With Cora and my children, we are never alone together."

Libby bit back a grin when Belinda's face turned an unbecoming shade of pink. Her words must have struck a chord—an off-key, minor one.

"Well, I for one, would never ever stay at an unmarried man's house for an extended period of time. It is simply beyond the pale." She gave Libby a stink eye. "I also would never attend a ball before my full year of mourning was over."

"Well, Miss Carlisle. When and if you ever have a husband and he passes away, you'll never know what you'd do. Until then, you shouldn't tell others what they should do."

Belinda opened her mouth to probably give her another scathing remark when Caleb and Colleen reappeared.

Colleen bussed Libby on the cheek. "Sorry we were gone so long, but it isn't often we get to see our friends."

"No prob—"

"Why, Caleb and Colleen. So, kind of you to make it to my party. I was telling Bradley and," she nodded at Libby, "this woman how I'd invited only Bradley. Evidently, Mrs. Daniels invited herself along simply to meet the competition."

Colleen raised an eyebrow. "Competition? Are we going to play games tonight? What are we playing?"

Belinda frowned. "Games? What are you talking about?"

Colleen was surely pulling Belinda's leg. Wasn't she? Libby bit her bottom lip while Brad coughed into his hand. At this rate people were going to think he had a cold.

Before anyone could answer, a tall, rather nice-looking man came up behind Belinda and whispered in her ear. "Excuse me, I need to take care of something." She kissed Brad on the cheek. "I'll see you later, Bradley."

"Not if I see you first," he muttered at her retreating back.

Colleen wiped a smudge of red from Brad's cheek. "Well, how interesting."

"I can't believe you pretended not to know what Belinda meant by competition." Libby couldn't hold back a laugh. "It was priceless. And to think I'm her competition."

"Quite ridiculous when you are far more beautiful than she'll ever be."

Libby frowned when Caleb and Colleen exchanged grins. "What?"

"Oh, nothing." Colleen took Caleb's arm. "Nothing at all. Let's dance, dear."

"I'll talk to you later." Caleb led his wife to the dance floor.

"Would you care to dance?"

The string group was playing a lovely waltz. Something she could handle with ease. "Of course."

Libby couldn't ignore the whispers from people staring at them as Caleb maneuvered her around the dance floor.

"I believe we are the talk of the evening."

His warm breath against her cheek sent her senses spiraling. "I think they're talking about me, not you. After all, I'm the hussy staying at a bachelor's home."

"Too bad, because without you, there is no me."

What did he mean? Was it a way of saying he was in love with her? Impossible. She was sure he still loved Lucinda. But then again, she still loved Ben, but was wildly attracted to Brad. "Umm."

"Maybe it's too soon, but I can't imagine you going back to your time. If there were a way to keep you here, I'd use it. You and Charlie and Lucy have brought me back to life."

Why did he have to say those words as they were dancing? How should she respond? She raised her head to stare into his eyes. The heat in them nearly melted her into a puddle on the floor. "You have to quit looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you want to devour me."

Brad tipped his head and grinned down at her. "Sounds like a plan to me."

Before she had a chance to respond, Caleb interrupted. "Hey, you two. If you want to be more obvious about your feelings for each other, keep dancing. But if you haven't noticed, the music has stopped."

Crap. Talk about being the center of attention, or in the center of an empty dance floor.

"There are no..."

Caleb didn't give her a chance to finish. He shook his head and chuckled. "Save it for someone who might believe you. Right now, I believe no one in this room would believe any denials you might profess."

Brad led her to the side of the room. If it were possible, every eye was on them. Whispers of the women were made behind fans. Men eyed her as if she were a piece of candy. Could they leave right now? She spotted Belinda standing by the refreshment table, downing a glass of champagne. If looks could kill, she'd have an arrow through her heart and lie prostrate on the floor.

The music started again. This time the song playing was for a quadrille.

"Do you think you remember the steps?" Brad took her elbow and followed Caleb and Colleen to the dance floor.

"I certainly hope so." Thankfully, it was a dance they'd practiced several times and managed to follow along as they switched partners, do-si-doed, and moved in circles. Relieved when the music stopped and she hadn't messed up, her stomach dropped when everyone remained on the floor.

"What's happening?" she whispered to Brad.

"I'm afraid to think." The group struck up several chords, then stopped. Brad groaned.

"What?"

"We have to dance with the two couples next to us."

Libby tried not to panic. "But we didn't practice anything with other people."

"I know. But the worst thing is who is part of the other couples."

She didn't want to look. She looked. "Tell me it isn't so."

"I wish I could." Brad nodded to the other group, which included Belinda. "I'll try to tell you what to do. Caleb and Colleen will, too."

After their side did their swirls and crossovers, it was time to include the other two couples. It wasn't an issue until the women had to take each other's hands and cross over. The first woman gently took Libby's and passed her. Then...

"You're a witch." Belinda's voice came out sounding like she was a witch as she dug her nails into the back of Libby's hand.

If Libby hadn't been wearing gloves, she'd have claw marks on her skin and would probably be bleeding. "Thank you." Probably a stupid thing to say, but it happened so quickly, nothing else came to mind.

Belinda stutter stepped as she passed her. Guess her response wasn't what Belinda expected. There was no way she could ignore her, but at least now she knew what to expect from the woman. Each time they touched hands, Belinda spouted another nasty term for her, until Libby's head was ready to explode by not responding to her digs. The less she said, the angrier Belinda became.

Finally, the tortuous dance was over. Brad guided her to the refreshment table and picked up two glasses of champagne. He handed one each to Caleb and Colleen and picked up two more.

Colleen took a sip of her drink. "What was going on between you and Belinda? I thought she was going to stab you or something."

"She was calling me names, some of which I didn't understand."

Brad frowned. "She called you names like a little kid at school? What did you say?"

"Thank you?"

Caleb spit out his champagne, dampening Brad's coat. "You what?"

"I was so surprised; it just came out of my mouth." Libby held out her hand. "Every time we had to take hands; she dug her nails into my glove."

Brad took her hand. "What on Earth? There are gouges in your gloves. If you hadn't been wearing them, she would have cut the back of your hand." He handed his glass to Libby. "I'm going to go talk to her."

"No, Brad." Libby handed the glass back to him. "Leave it be. I think she's simply looking for attention."

"If you say so." Brad stared at someone across the room. "Caleb. There's that man again. The one I saw Belinda with at the restaurant."

Caleb nodded. "I see him. I've been trying to figure out where I've seen him before, but I can't figure it out."

"Me, too. For some reason I believe it has to do with the war. I'm pretty sure he wasn't in our company, but I've encountered him somewhere." Brad shook his head and closed his eyes. "It's simply not coming to me."

Libby tried to picture Brad and Caleb fighting in the awful war. Reenacting battles was totally different from actually being in them. Cora had alluded to Brad's bad dreams. PTSD? Wouldn't be surprising. What those men saw had to have been horrific. Maybe someday, if she were to stay in the past, she could get him to open up about it. But only if he wanted to.

"Maybe if we both went over and joined in the conversation something would click."

Colleen patted her husband's arm. "Go ahead. Libby and I will be fine. We'll find a couple of chairs and wait for you."

Libby couldn't help admiring Brad's tall, slim form as he and Caleb wove their way around people to the other side of the room. In a matter of seconds, the men had insinuated themselves into the conversation. "Colleen, let's find somewhere to sit."

****

B rad nodded to the men he knew and struck out his hand to those he didn't. Although the only one he didn't know was the one he thought he should. "Good evening. I'm Bradley Kemble and this is my brother, Caleb. Are you new to the area?"

"Taylor Cobban. I grew up in what is now Virginia. I've known Belinda since she was a child and decided to pay a visit."

Strange. If he'd known Belinda since she was a child, why hadn't he ever met him? After all, their families had been friends forever. "And what it is you do, Mr. Cobban?"

"Please call me Taylor." He took a puff on his cigar. "A little bit of this. A little bit of that."

Which didn't explain much. He glanced at Caleb, who was studying his shoes. "Caleb and I each own farms in the area. In fact, I purchased the Castlewood place after Belinda's father passed."

Taylor raised an eyebrow and looked at his cigar. "Oh? I'm surprised she didn't say anything to me about it. But then, I'm not always easy to locate."

Something was fishy. If they'd been friends, he certainly would have known this house they were standing in wasn't Belinda's childhood home. "So, what are you planning to do while in our neck of the woods?"

"You ask an awful lot of questions, Mr. Kemble."

"Simply being neighborly." Brad gave the man a forced smile. "Thought maybe if you needed help with anything, I could offer my services."

"I doubt I would need the help of a farm boy ."

"You'd be surprised what us farmers can do, Mr. Cobban." Where did he know this guy from? Even his voice was familiar. "I feel like I've met you before, but I can't think of where."

Cobban stared first at Brad the Caleb. "I don't think so." He tapped his chin. "Although, I tend to forget the lesser class of people. Too boorish."

Caleb put a hand on Brad's fist. "Not now," he whispered.

"Well, I'll figure out where I know you from." Brad bowed at the waist. "Have a good evening."

****

"L et's sit here, Libby ." Colleen led the way to a set of chairs placed in front of a closed door.

Like trying to sit in the carriage, sitting on a chair was difficult. Sitting while holding a glass of champagne even more so.

"Sit on the edge of the chair and move your bustle aside with your foot." Colleen demonstrated. "Everyone does it."

After sitting precariously on the chair, Libby spotted Brad and Caleb speaking with a man. From Brad's clenched fists, it seemed it wasn't going well. "Who is the man Brad is talking to?"

"I don't know." Colleen took a sip of her drink. "I've never seen him before, but from the looks of it, the boys don't care for him."

Boys? There was no way Brad or Caleb could be construed as boys. They were both men through and through. "Yeah. It looks as if Brad would like to punch him."

"He wouldn't, though. Caleb would keep him in check."

"But who will keep Caleb in check?"

Colleen shrugged. "Brad?" She chuckled. "They're in trouble, aren't they?"

Brad bowed at the man, then he and Caleb wandered to another group of men. "The man is leaving."

"Good. The men Brad and Caleb are talking with are neighbors and friends of ours. They are safe."

They sat quietly, taking in the dancers and sipping their champagne. Thankfully, no one asked her to dance. A voice behind her took her attention away from the boys . "Shh. Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I thought I heard my name."

"It's coming from behind us."

Libby glanced over her shoulder. The door she had thought was closed, was open a crack. She put a finger to her lips. "Listen."

"I tell you we need to get rid of that woman."

"What woman?"

"The one staying at Bradley's. The hussy, Libby, whatever her last name is."

"Why do you want to get rid of her?"

"Taylor, use your head. While she's at his farm, there is no hope for me to insinuate myself into his life. I've seen the way he looks at her. As he was with Lucinda, he's in love with her. At least Lucinda had the sense to die."

"My, my, Belinda. You do have your claws out tonight, don't you?"

"Why can't Bradley fall in love with me? I'm beautiful. Have a great figure. We've known each other since we were children."

"Maybe that's the problem. He sees you as one would see an old friend."

"Are you calling me old?"

Taylor's sigh was loud and long. "Of course not. I meant it as you two have known each other for a long time. Maybe he can't see you as a desirable woman like I do."

The was a brief moment of silence. Were they kissing? How could she profess to want one man while at the same time kissing another?

"I need to get into his house. What I left there is worth a lot of money to both of us."

"We have plenty for our needs. What could be worth getting caught breaking into his house? We have the plates to make all the money we want."

"Oh, you don't understand at all. I have to figure out a way to get into his house."

"Well, you can't do anything tonight, so let's go back to your guests. You still have the evening to try your wiles on Mr. Kemble."

"You're right, Taylor. You're absolutely right. I'll show him who's the better woman. Me or the witch. I'll get her somehow."

Their voices drifted off.

"They must be coming back to the ballroom." Colleen took Libby's glass. "Let's move away from here in case they realize the door was open."

Getting up from the chair was as difficult as sitting. Especially since her shoe had caught on the hem at the front of her dress. "Damn." She reached down and released her shoe.

"Shh. Don't let anyone hear you cuss."

"Sorry. It tends to slip out when I'm not with the children. Besides, my being here before my year of mourning is up, is scandalous enough."

Colleen laughed. "Sometimes I have a hard time not cussing when the children act up."

"Ladies." Bradley held out his hand to help Libby stand. "Care to dance?"

"Of course."

Brad held her in a way society considered proper. There was something to be said about the way people did a slow dance in her time. The woman's arms around the man's neck. The man's arms around the woman's waist. Chest to chest. Hip to hip. Didn't leave much to the imagination, but so much more pleasant than being so far apart, you could stick another person between them.

"Did you learn anything about the man you were talking with?"

Brad shook his head. "No. But I still can't shake the feeling I know him. Plus, he was rather rude to Caleb and me as if we'd had some type of interaction with him." He spun her as they waltzed around the dance floor. "Did you enjoy talking with Colleen?"

Libby smiled. "I always enjoy spending time with her, but we heard an interesting conversation while we were sitting in our chairs."

"Really?"

"See the door behind the chairs we were sitting on?"

Brad glanced over her shoulder. "Yes."

"While we were waiting for you and Caleb, we overhead a conversation between Belinda and someone she called Taylor."

"He's the man we were speaking with. What did he say?"

"Besides wanting to get rid of me so Belinda can have you, she said there was something she'd left in your house. Something worth a lot of money."

Brad raised an eyebrow. "What did Taylor say?"

"He told her it wasn't worth getting caught breaking into your house, and they have plates to make lots of money. And we heard them kissing. Or at least it sounded as if they were kissing."

The music stopped and Brad led her to a corner of the ballroom. Caleb and Colleen joined them.

"Did Colleen tell you what they overheard?"

Caleb nodded. I think we know who the counterfeiters are."

"I agree, but what did Belinda leave in my house worth a lot of money?"

Libby tapped his arm. "I don't know but heads up. She's heading this way with the man you were talking with."

"Great. Is there somewhere I can hide?"

Caleb chuckled. "Afraid not. I know what Belinda wants, but why is Taylor heading this way?" He took his wife's arm. "C'mon, dear. Let's dance. If I have to listen to Belinda's simpering at Brad, I may... I'm not sure what I'd do, but it wouldn't be nice."

"Oh, Bradley, I finally found you. Would you do a woman a favor and dance with her?"

"I can't leave Libby by herself."

Belinda flapped a hand in the air. "Oh, pishaw. Taylor would love to dance with her, wouldn't you?" Without another word, she tugged Brad toward the dance floor.

Brad gave Libby a beseeching look over his shoulder. "I...uh..."

Taylor chuckled. "No one says no to Belinda Carlisle."

"I guess not."

"Do you want to dance? I'm not very good and don't really care for these country soirees."

Could the man get any more snobbish?

"I would rather have a glass of champagne." Where was he from to think a ball in their small town was something to look down on? There was only one way to find out. She followed him to the refreshment table. "So where are you from, Mr. Cobban?"

"How did you know my last name?"

"I saw you talking with Mr. Kemble earlier. He told me your name."

"I'm from New York."

He said it as if it were the most important place on Earth. Rather like people felt about the city in her time. Personally, she didn't care for the place. Too many people. Too much noise.

"So, what is it you like about New York?"

Taylor handed her a glass of champagne, stuck his nose in the air, and sniffed. "Oh, my dear. I guess you've never been out of this backwater town. You must visit it sometime. The music. The theatre. The food. All are simply the best."

If she hadn't heard him kissing Belinda earlier, she would have thought the man was gay. Or was it an act? "Well, Mr. Cobban. I've actually been to New York several times. I find it to be noisy, overcrowded, and dirty. And don't forget the crime. Why, when my husband and I were there for our honeymoon, we saw several cases of pickpockets, starving children, and, in one case, a shooting."

He sniffed again. "Well, I must say you must have been in the poorer parts of the city. I only stay at the best places. Like the Astor and the Grand Hotel on Broadway or the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Why," he leaned into her as if he were going to impart a secret. "I even got to ride on one of those elevators taking one up to the floor you want without having to use stairs. It was amazing."

Libby bit back a chuckle. If the man only knew about elevators whisking people within seconds up skyscrapers. How she wished to tell him about cars, planes, and movies. Being the ass he was, he probably wouldn't believe her. "I'm sure it was."

"Now. You must tell me all about your stay at Bradley's." He waggled his eyebrows. "I'm sure it must be most stimulating."

"I'm not sure what you mean by ‘stimulating.' Mr. Kemble saved my son and myself from an accident. Unfortunately, my husband perished. My daughter was born shortly after. He and Cora have been wonderful to us."

"But when are you going home? I mean how long can you take advantage of Mr. Kemble before people start talking?"

Ooh. She'd love to dump her champagne over his pompous head. "It's no one's business how long I stay. But I must tell you, he's been gracious in letting me recover from my daughter's birth and keeping us during these cold, winter months. Traveling to Wisconsin in the winter months is not advised. Why, one could easily get stuck in a snowstorm and perish. I would never put my children through such a trip."

He raised an eyebrow. "Wisconsin, you say? So, when the weather gets better, you'll return to your family?"

Libby shrugged. "I'm not sure why it matters to you, Mr. Cobban. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to find a place to sit." She nodded at him. "Thank you for the lovely visit." Asshole. Now, how was Brad faring with Belinda?