Chapter 24

twenty-four

“ M other? Father?”

Trudy’s voice rang out with joy as she walked into Breezy’s suite and discovered her parents sitting, just as casually as you please, on the settee. Her heart leapt with emotion and she all but squeaked with excitement, her normally pragmatic manner discarded as she dashed across the room to fling herself against them.

“Good heavens, girl,” her father said with laughter, standing up just in time for her to nearly knock him over. They managed to remain upright, and she reveled in his hug. “I missed you, too,” he said.

She moved from his embrace into her mother’s, forgetting for the moment her annoyance about the husband hunting. They could discuss that later. For now, the moment was all about a long-awaited reunion. Trudy breathed in deeply, absorbing the comforting and familiar scent of her mother’s rose perfume.

“My goodness,” Trudy said, dabbing an unexpected tear from her eye as she sat down between her parents. “I had no idea you were arriving today. I’m so happy you’re here. I have so much to tell you.”

But before she could share any of it, Jo and Daisy burst in, followed seconds later by Asher and Poppy, and soon the room was filled with voices as each of Trudy’s siblings vied for their parents’ attention.

“One at a time. One at a time,” Samuel admonished tenderly. “You’re like a flock of geese and I cannot hear for all the honking!”

Although Trudy longed to have her parents all to herself, she rose from the couch, letting her siblings take their turns. Basking in the sweet, warm glow of being together once again, she realized just how deeply she’d missed them both.

Her days were normally spent with her father at the clinic, and in the evenings, she’d be with her mother, sharing her thoughts and worries. But for the past several weeks, Trudy had been an island onto herself, with no one to confide in. She’d done her best to ensure her brother and sisters were managing well and staying out of trouble while at the hotel, but now she could—with immense gratitude—hand the reins back to her parents and focus on her own trials and tribulations.

Namely… Alexander Bostwick… whom she’d just boldly kissed without an ounce of hesitation.

She couldn’t help it. He’d looked so despondent and forlorn, standing there in a hotel room full of shredded gardenias. She’d only meant to comfort him, but the moment her lips touched his, she’d forgotten everything else. Ghosts and psychics and pranks and riddles all flew from her mind as she’d melted into his strong embrace. His kiss left her breathless and desperately wanting more. She’d very nearly started pulling at his buttons, but some quiet voice of reason stopped her. She wished it hadn’t …

And then she’d said something silly about his hair, and wished she hadn’t…

But perhaps it was for the best. They’d been surrounded by destruction and while Trudy still wanted to believe there were no spectral shenanigans at play, her encounters with the mystics this morning, especially Madame Moyen had left her with more questions than answers. Her skepticism had given way to a cautious willingness to consider the possibility of something supernatural involved in all of this. Especially since Lorna had been with Daisy all day and could not have put those gardenias in his room. So, if not Lorna, then who … or what …

But for now, Trudy would set aside all thoughts of Alex and ghosts and rejoice in her parents’ arrival, instead.

“How is Calvin,” Trudy finally asked, when the din of her siblings’ excitement had quieted.

Poppy was now sitting on their father’s lap ( with Chester in hers), Coco was next to their mother, resting her head on Ada’s shoulder, and Trudy’s brother and Lucy were in the other settee while, for once, Asher was behaving himself. She wondered how long that would last.

“Calvin is fine,” her father said quickly. “Just fine. He sends his love.”

Trudy thought she saw a flicker of something in her mother’s eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

“Yes, Cal sends his love,” Ada repeated. “And he wishes he could have come with us to see you all, but he looks forward to coming home for a visit as soon as he is able.”

“My, oh, my! Mr. Plank, you have surpassed yourself yet again,” Lucy’s voice held a note of admiration as she surveyed the hotel’s front lawn from the slope above.

“I will pass along your sentiments to Mr. Tippett,” Mr. Plank replied. “He’s the steward of tonight’s Celestial Soiree. And we have Mrs. Bostwick to thank for the fine artwork, of course. She painted the constellations on canvases for those of us with less knowledge of the night sky.” He gestured toward the edge of the lawn where five polished brass telescopes stood with Jo’s handiwork resting on easels in between.

“Those will come in handy,” Trudy agreed. She might know every bone inside the human body, but her knowledge of astronomy was as lacking as her ability to paint a fruit bowl.

“Your Imperial Hotel is quite the spectacle, Mr. Plank,” Trudy’s father commented as his gaze swept over the unfolding festivities. “My wife and I are captivated.”

Trudy watched as her father exchanged a tender smile with her mother, a poignant reminder of their enduring love, and yet, something sad still lingered in her mother’s eyes, and Trudy wondered at its meaning.

“It is a beautiful setting, indeed,” Ada agreed. “Especially after dark. How long did it take to string up all those lanterns?”

“A bit,” Hugo said with a broad smile. “Fortunately for me, the Callaghan brothers lost a bet and had to set this all up free of charge.”

As he chuckled, Trudy stole a glance at Lucy who was tamping down a smile at the mention of Harlan’s name. Trudy wondered how long it would be before their mother pulled that secret from Lucy. Then she shuddered inwardly, wondering how long she could face their intuitive mother herself before Alex became the focal point of a conversation. She hoped to put that off as long as possible and turned her focus to the soiree just getting underway.

Across the lawn, pierced metal lanterns hung from ropes strung between posts casting glowing mosaics onto a modestly sized dance floor. Off to the side of that was a small stage where an ensemble of musicians was currently tuning their instrument, as well as a collection of tables for guests wanting to sit down to enjoy a beverage or hors d’oeuvres. As usual, Mr. Plank and Mr. Tippett had thought of everything.

“Honestly, Mr. Plank,” Coco chimed in, “If I didn’t know better I’d think you’d arranged to have extra stars hung in the sky.”

“No extra stars, Miss Hart,” he replied good-naturedly. “But I did pray for clear weather, and it seems the Almighty favored us with this perfect evening.”

“I believe He has,” Lucy agreed, her excitement palpable. “Is there anything in particular we should know about the telescopes?”

“Only that they are there for your enjoyment.”

With a quick questioning glance towards Samuel and Ada, and an encouraging nod from her father, Lucy dashed down the hill alongside Coco and Asher.

“Well done, sir,” Trudy complimented Mr. Plank as she watched her siblings disappear into the crowd.

“You are most welcome, Dr. Hart. I hope your evening shines as brightly as the stars. And may I say to you, Dr. and Mrs. Hart, your daughter is both a delight and a blessing. I owe her an immense debt of gratitude since she willingly stepped in to be of service while the hotel seeks a new physician. I can only hope to find a replacement as capable as she is.”

“Is that so, Mr. Plank?” Her father smiled. “I’m pleased to hear that and not at all surprised.”

Trudy warmed at both Mr. Plank’s compliment and her father’s apparent pride. Neither was something she’d encountered very often, and both felt very pleasant.

As the evening progressed, and Trudy introduced her parents to other guests, she received even more compliments for her skillful care. She hadn’t realized until then just how many people she’d assisted and having them share their gratitude in front of her parents filled her with professional gratification.

But all the while, she wondered when Alex would arrive. Since kissing him yesterday, she’d thought of almost nothing else. Even her parents’ surprise arrival had not dimmed her memory of that brief moment in his arms, nor had it cooled her ardor. But she’d been so busy with her family, she hadn’t seen him. In fact, none of the Bostwicks had been at dinner last evening and that worried her.

But at last, they arrived with a stoic, unapproachable Constance Bostwick leading the charge, her arm looped through Alex’s. Daisy, Ellis, and Finn were behind them, with Chase and Jo trailing along at a much slower pace. All seemed well and she realized then just how worried she’d been about his safety given the state of his room yesterday.

She stood next to her parents, watching him as his gaze searched the crowd, and when he found her, his expression weakened her knees. He’d missed her, too, and she realized this was about to become the longest night of her life. Because all she wanted to do was kiss him again, and more, but they were surrounded by her parents and his mother, and by all their eagle-eyed siblings, not to mention every guest of the hotel. How was she to maintain her composure and be discreet when he was so damn handsome?

“There you are,” Daisy said excitedly, bounding up to them with no regard for propriety. “You must be Dr. and Mrs. Hart. I’ve heard ever so much about you.”

As greetings were exchanged and Constance sized up her parents, Trudy tried not to stare at Alex, but his proximity charged the atmosphere all around her. As their eyes met, a moment of understanding passed between them, along with an undercurrent of longing.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Alex said as he shook hands with Trudy’s father. “I look forward to getting better acquainted.”

Alex’s mother looked at him askance, as if wondering why he’d want to form a friendship with a country doctor from Springfield, but Alex’s demeanor remained as smooth as silk. As always. And when the musicians began to play, it took only a moment before he turned to Trudy.

“I do believe you owe me a dance, Dr. Hart,” he said, his voice as velvety as nighttime sky as he held out his hand.

Trudy hesitated, taking note of her parents’ surprise and Daisy’s eager grin. And his mother’s frown. The attention made her want to say no, but she could hardly turn him down without claiming a sprained ankle or a previous appointment—neither of which she had.

Reluctantly she accepted his hand, and as their eyes locked, a wave of reassurance flowed through her. She was with Alex and all would be well. But fast on its heels was a tremor of nervous excitement. To be in his arms again, even just for a dance was sure to set her ablaze.

Damn you, biology!

With a tentative smile, she followed him onto the makeshift dance floor where a few other couples were—thankfully—already in place. He pulled her toward him, resting a hand on her waist as she lifted hers to his shoulder. Their other hands were clasped, and he squeezed her fingers.

“Breathe, Trudy,” Alex murmured, a hint of amusement in his voice. “It’s just me.”

“That’s precisely the problem,” she quipped, making him chuckle. “Suddenly you make me nervous.”

“I’m the one who should be nervous,” he whispered as the music started and they began to sway to the rhythm of a waltz.

“Why would you be nervous?” she asked.

“I’ve just encountered your father for the first time. What if he doesn’t approve of me?”

“My father approves of everyone,” she responded, before she had the chance to ponder his underlying implication. “Why are you concerned that he won’t?”

His smile turned enigmatic. “No reason. Stop stepping on my toes.”

“I am not stepping on your toes. You are putting your feet under mine,” she responded with feigned annoyance.

He chuckled and pulled her closer than propriety allowed. As they moved in tandem, each graceful movement drawing them closer, Trudy lost her sense of time staring into his eyes and the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

She hadn’t danced in far too long. And she had never danced with anyone as enticing as Alexander Bostwick. She was diving into depths far above her head. It wasn’t sensible. It wasn’t safe. But, oh, the water was fine.

When the last notes of Strauss’ Voices of Spring faded into silence, she felt bereft. She wanted more. Then Alex leaned forward, his warm breath tickling her ear as he murmured, “You’re not too tall, you know.”

“I’m not?” she replied absently as they walked toward the grass.

“No,” he answered softly, his voice full of mischief. “You’re perfect. I could kiss you right now without straining my neck in the slightest.”

She laughed at his playfulness, thankful she was not the only one longing for kisses. “In front of all these people? I think not.”

“Then perhaps we should seek out somewhere more secluded.”

She glanced his way, knowing as he said it, it wasn’t a question. It was a challenge. A challenge that hung in the air between them, like an unspoken promise. But she stepped back from him with a smile full of regret. “The evening has only just begun, sir, and I’m here with my parents,” she replied. “However, I think we might be able to slip away at some point.”

His eyes lit up. “You do?”

“Perhaps,” she replied, her voice laced with amusement. “I suppose you’ll have to wait and see.”

The next hour was a dance of its own as they navigated their way around each other—chatting with other guests, taking turns at the telescopes, their tentative fingers brushing against each other in passing. Trudy spent time with her parents, and siblings, and even complimented Aunt Breezy on her new gown. But throughout it all, Alex was never far from her thoughts. Then again, when was he?

Is this how it felt to be infatuated?

It was annoying.

But wonderful.

But also… annoying.

“Lucy,” she whispered to her sister some time later, “Can you wait a while and then tell Mother and Father I went to bed with a mild headache?”

Lucy regarded her carefully, and then a smile spread across her face as she looked past her sister. “Of course. I do hope you find a cure for what ails you.”

Trudy turned to see what Lucy had seen, and there, of course, was Alex. His gentleman’s smile disguising some very ungentlemanly intentions. Trudy turned back to her sister.

“It’s just a headache. I’ll see you at breakfast,” Trudy said, but her own smile betrayed her.

“Of course it is. I hope I have a headache like that one day.”

There was no defending herself without telling a lie, and so she shrugged a self-satisfied shrug. She was progressive modern woman after all. She could do what she wanted. Then she turned again, caught Alex’s eye, and walked away from the party, slipping around the corner of the greenhouse.

He was beside her in mere seconds, his rapid arrival making her laugh. Reaching out, he caught her by the waist and pulled her close. His other hand caressed her neck, his thumb tracing along her jaw as he leaned in close.

“I had no idea you were such a delightful tease, Dr. Hart. I’ve been chasing you all evening and yet you keep evading me.”

His gaze was dark, his expression hidden in shadows created by the moonlight, but she knew what he wanted—because she wanted it too.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I am caught,” she whispered.

“I’m the one who is caught,” he whispered against her cheek. “You have me spellbound.”

“Perhaps there’s magic in the moonlight,” she replied on a sigh. “For I am equally transfixed.”

“No,” he chuckled, nuzzling her neck. “The magic comes from you. I’ve felt it from the start. I tried to deny it, but this pull between us is stronger than I am. I need you, Trudy.”

Her limbs went weak at his words, and the earnest way he said them, and she could not wait another moment. She tugged at his hair, and he lifted his face, gazing down at her with wonder.

“Kiss me,” she murmured, her entreaty instantly silenced by his compliance. As his lips captured her own, she melted into his embrace, reveling in the heat of his kiss. The textures and the taste of him, the scent of his cologne and his skin, and the sounds of their breath merging together.

He was careful with her but not gentle and she could not get enough of him. What little restraint she’d brought with her around the back of greenhouse was already gone as she gave way to the heady sensations he stirred within her.

This was more than infatuation. More than biology. More than lust. Everything about him intrigued her. Captivated her. Compelled her to be bold. His kiss was too much to bear and yet not enough. She wanted more. She wanted everything. She wanted all of him.

She pulled back a moment later, her breathing shallow.

“You know,” she said quietly. “My parents have taken over my suite on the third floor, but Mr. Plank was kind enough to provide me with a smaller room on the first floor. All to myself.”

Alex's paused, his eyes dark and mysterious. “Is that so?” he murmured, his hands now resting on her waist.

“Mmhmm,” Trudy nodded, her fingers toying with the lapels of his jacket. “It is… private. We could... go there, if you’d like.”

His paused was long and weighty.

“Trudy, I would like that more than anything in this world, but are you certain? What I said to you on the porch was too forward, and although I meant every word of it, I don’t want you to think it’s what I expect from you. We can take this slow. We can be… proper. The last thing I’d ever want to do is sully your reputation or make you think I don’t hold your virtue in the highest regard.”

“Are you finished?” she asked, her voice laced with sassy impatience. “Because I make my own decisions, Mr. Bostwick. I do what I want, and I was hoping we might… engage in some sexual congress.”

His own laughter seemed to catch him off guard.

“By God, Trudy Hart. You are the most unusual, remarkable, wonderful woman I think I’ve ever met. Lead the way.”

“I suspect we should traverse the lawn independently, but I’ll meet you near Jo’s studio. My room is near there. Don’t dawdle.” She kissed him quickly, then walked back around the greenhouse heading straight for the lobby, her heart pounding, her blood racing, and her soul full of joy.

Moments later, they stood just inside her room, and Trudy knew her life was on the verge of change. She and Alex were two souls converging, and whatever tomorrow might bring, tonight was theirs to cherish.

She crossed to the nightstand and lit the lamp. She wanted to see him, as well as touch and explore him. His face was enigmatic as he shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it on the nearby chair. Then his hand went to his tie, and Trudy crossed back over to him and started working the buttons on his shirt with unsteady fingers, her determination giving way to nervous energy.

He traced his fingertips over her bare shoulders, following his touch with tiny butterfly kisses that sent ripples of pleasure through her body.

“Have I mentioned how beautiful you are in this dress,” he murmured huskily.

“A number of times,” she whispered tilting her head to the left so he might continue those tender ministrations to that sensitive spot just beneath her ear while she fussed with his shirt.

“Have I mentioned yet how beautiful you are out of that dress?” he teased.

Her soft laughter sounded sensual even to her. It was interesting to realize she could still surprise herself, and yet this whole night had been full of revelations. And it had only just begun.

“You’re making assumptions, Mr. Bostwick. You don’t know what I look like out of this dress.”

“Mm,” he said, pressing a kiss to the upper curve of her breast. “I am entirely confident that you are beautiful out of this dress, but I know you do love your evidence so, therefore, we must remove this lovely garment so I may prove to you that you are, indeed, even more beautiful without it.”

His words aroused her as much as his touch, and she kissed him, trying to put all of her feelings into the exchange, but it wasn’t enough. A frantic sort of energy took hold as they divested one another of their layers, so many layers, stopping for a kiss every heated moment, until, at last, all of their garments were tossed about the room, a stocking here, a waistcoat there, and they were free from the constraints of clothing and pretense.

Now it was just them, with nowhere and nothing to hide, and Trudy realized Alex was right. She was beautiful without her dress. She’d never felt that way before, but she found assurance in the reverence of his gaze. But then he paused as a shadow of doubt crossed his features.

“Trudy,” he whispered solemnly, staring at her as if trying to see into her soul. “You are perfection and too fine. I don’t deserve you. I fear I haven’t earned this privilege.”

“No, you haven’t,” she answered with a throaty chuckle. “But I have.”

And then she kissed him again, erasing all their doubts.

They were past the point of words now, but his touch and kiss spoke volumes. She marveled at each sensation, giving as she received, and savoring each whispered breath and heartfelt sigh. He pressed her down onto the bed and wove an invisible thread around them, linking them together irrevocably. Her heart beat in rhythm with his as he set her skin aflame and soothed it with more kisses. And when she thought she might die from the exquisite torment, he set her free and she soared.