Chloe Read online

  Her kiss went straight through him. He forced himself to keep his hands on the wheel, not to reach up and feel the tingling place where her kiss had fallen. This isn’t the way I had planned for your escape, Chloe. But he wouldn’t speak yet. They were still too close to home. So he merely nodded and drove onto the road toward Baltimore.

  Chloe sighed and settled back against the seat beside him. And Roarke enjoyed her profile. His confidence in his power to persuade her to marry him edged up another notch. After all, she’d only met Theran Black twice in her life. He was dashing; but in the end, Roarke depended on Chloe to prefer the known over the unknown. And she obviously wasn’t easy in her mind. She kept fidgeting with her hat and hem.

  In a little town near the county line, Roarke pulled up at a cement-block gas station with one pump. “Why don’t you two freshen up while I fill up with gas?”

  Chloe and Minnie got out of the car and an attendant appeared to pump the gas. “We ain’t got a separate restroom for her,” he announced, nodding toward Minnie. “The gal’ll have to go down the end of the street to the house on the right, the black preacher’s place. He lets his kind use the outhouse in back.”

  Minnie said nothing, but marched away with her chin lifted. Roarke motioned Chloe toward the gas station and then stood by the car watching the gas meter click-click. Soon he was done and the women were back and they were off down the road and across the state line. They drove for another thirty minutes and then, a few miles outside of Baltimore, Roarke slowed and pulled off on the shoulder, where a faint track led away into a grove of maples and willows. The road was deserted and twilight had deepened. Roarke heard a brook trickling faintly nearby and the full and green leaves rustled and whispered overhead in the breeze. He got out.

  “Why are we stopping?” Chloe sat up alert, glancing around.

  “I . . . you and I need to discuss something before we go any farther. Minnie, will you excuse us?”

  The maid nodded, watchful. Roarke wondered if she knew how he felt. He opened Chloe’s door and offered her his hand. The look she gave him was confused, but she allowed him to lead her away from the car farther into the leafy trees where he could talk with her alone.

  “What is it, Roarke?” She touched his dark sleeve, her blue eyes large with worry. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

  “No, when I make up my mind, I rarely change it.” He stopped and leaned back against a broad, gnarled oak trunk. “Are you sure you want to marry this fellow?” he asked without preamble.

  Chloe blinked in surprise. “Of course.”

  “Why?”

  Chloe’s face flushed pink. “Because I love him. Why else would I marry him?” She raised her chin as if daring him to insult her.

  “Maybe to get away from your parents.” Roarke held up a hand to keep her from responding. She’d flushed brighter and her eyes had sparked. “Chloe, we’re all alone and I’ll never repeat what’s said here. I have a pretty good idea of what your parents are like. I don’t have much, if any, respect for them. If I were their son, I’d have left home at eighteen and never returned. So I know what your main goal is.”

  “Why are you bringing all this up?” Chloe didn’t seem able to stand still. She tucked her hands in the folds of her elbows and fidgeted.

  “Because I want to offer you a second option.” Roarke steeled himself, pressing his spine against the rough bark.

  Chloe made patterns in the wild grass and clover with the pointed toe of her white shoe. “What do you mean?”

  “Marry me, Chloe.” He said the words and then felt as if two large hands had grabbed him and were shaking him out like a tablecloth.

  “But, Roarke, I’ve pledged myself to Theran.” She took a step back, looking shocked. “You brought me his letters.”

  He understood her point. “I know, but I still think you’re marrying him less from love and more from your own motive. You want to get away and Theran presented himself and obligingly proposed. How could you resist?” A warbling oriole flitted from one branch to another overhead and a breeze rustled green leaves. Chloe worried her lower lip before she replied, “I don’t think you mean to insult me, Roarke. So I’ll take this as concern. Theran is a good man. You don’t have to worry about me. He’ll take care of me.”

  Roarke stared at her without blinking, imprinting the way she looked in the early dusk. Her starched muslin sleek over her slender, enticing figure and the hat so artfully begging him to come closer, lift it, so he could see her whole face, taste her unrouged lips. “This has nothing whatever to do with Black.”

  “How can you say that? I’m going to marry him.” She swallowed. “Tonight.”

  “Why? In Baltimore, I can leave you and Minnie at a hotel. Nothing could be more proper. Then I’ll go meet him alone. I’ll tell him that you’ve changed your mind. You won’t have to face him. I’ll take care of it.”

  “You make me sound like a coward.” She stared down, still toeing the grass. “You think I’d promise to marry a man and then ask another man—” Her voice gathered momentum and strength. “—to go and tell him I’m not going to marry him. That I’m marrying the man carrying my message. What kind of girl do you think—”

  In one swift move, he abandoned the tree trunk and captured her in his arms. “I love you, Chloe. I love you, your honesty, your bravery. I love you . . . and want you.” He kissed her lips, parted in shock. She tried to pull away, but he encircled her more tightly and kissed her again, nudging up the low brim of her hat. She didn’t struggle further, just remained within his arms, her breathing shallow and rapid.

  “Let me go,” she said, not looking at him. Her voice held no softness or coyness. Her face flamed.

  He released her. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Roarke, you shouldn’t be kissing me,” she insisted, righting her hat. “I’m an engaged woman. I gave Theran my promise.”

  “I admire you for your loyalty.” He’d expected her resistance; she wasn’t a tease. “But it’s mistaken loyalty. You’re marrying a virtual stranger. You’ve only met him twice.”

  “I’m not a jilt.”

  Another car rattled by, unseen but heard. “Engagements are broken all the time and new engagements are made.” The words he held back for so long rushed out. He couldn’t stem the flow. “I have my grandmother’s engagement ring in my pocket. I’m serious, Chloe. We can get married tonight if you wish it. I’ve wanted you as my wife for the past five years or more.”

  She took a few steps away from him over the uneven ground. The evening shadows had lengthened. “Five years? Why didn’t you ever say anything to me?” Her eyes held an uncertain mix of wonder and sorrow at his declaration.

  A mourning dove cooed unseen, echoing his sense of impending loss and his heart constricted. “I was waiting for you to grow up while I finished my education. I would have started calling on you this spring. But Black got the jump on me.”

  Chloe stared at him. “But Kitty brought him home.”

  “Yes, and I wanted to strangle her pretty little neck for that.” Roarke drew near to Chloe again.

  “She didn’t know that you loved me?” Chloe gazed toward him as if studying a stranger. The low light and her hat brim veiled her eyes. What was she thinking?

  “Not too perceptive about her brother,” Roarke said with chagrin. “‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.’ That’s my sister.”

  “Kitty’s my friend,” Chloe said with a lift of her chin.

  “And she’s my sister. I love her, too. I just didn’t need her flashing good-looking strangers in your face. I’m not handsome or a dashing soldier. But I love you, Chloe. I’ll do my best to make you happy.” He claimed her delicate hand, its cotton covering soft in his palm, and waited. The silence between them swelled like a force of its own. He realized he’d stopped breathing and made himself inhale normally—as normally as his speeding heart would permit.

  With a sigh, she withdrew her hand from his. “I’
m sorry, Roarke. I can’t turn back now. I won’t be a jilt,” she repeated. Her voice still held a note of uncertainty.

  “Theran Black isn’t part of our world.” Roarke played his best card. “No one will think less of you. Heck, no one but Kitty, Minnie, and I need ever know about your engagement to Black.”

  “I gave him my promise.” Chloe sounded as if she were working hard to convince herself. The fragments of sky between the trees glowed bronze and violet now.

  “I love you, Chloe. More important,” he said, laying down all his aces, “I won’t let your parents use you anymore. As my wife, you won’t be available to them. I won’t allow you to electioneer for your daddy. I won’t let your mother tell you what to wear and whom you can talk to. I can’t take you away to another state or city, but I can exert my authority as your husband. I’ll protect you from them, you have my word.”

  Chloe took another step backward and then turned away. Shadows from the fluttering leaves flickered over her back. “Please don’t ask me again, Roarke. My mind is made up.”

  Her uncertain tone didn’t convince Roarke. He came up behind her and gripped her slim shoulders with tender regard. She tensed so he didn’t turn her. He began to massage the tight muscles under his fingers. She didn’t pull away and, emboldened, he whispered, “Chloe, kiss me. Turn around and kiss me and then tell me I don’t have a chance.”

  She turned under his hands and looked up into his face. “Roarke, you’re one of my two best friends in the world—”

  He bent and kissed her. Love me, Chloe. I’ll take good care of you always. Love me. For a moment, she remained still within his embrace. And then her lips answered his. The kiss brought her closer to him. His hopes soared.

  But she tugged free, raising her hands to her mouth and shaking her head. “No. Theran will be waiting for us.” She turned and hurried away over the rutted trail.

  Roarke watched her run away. In spite of losing this skirmish, he didn’t allow himself to think defeat yet. It would be a long night before Chloe would come face to face with taking wedding vows with Theran Black.

  “All right for now, Chloe,” he said just loud enough for her to hear. “But I haven’t given up. Any time this evening all you have to say is ‘Roarke, I changed my mind.’ And I’ll take care of everything.”

  Just after nightfall, at the Baltimore Union Station, Chloe walked—outwardly composed—beside Roarke with Minnie just a step behind her. Her insides twirled as she wondered what lay ahead. Would Roarke challenge Theran in some way? Roarke’s declaration had sent her thoughts chasing themselves ’round and ’round. Why hadn’t he kept silent? Wasn’t this hard enough?

  As arranged, Theran was waiting for them under the high arches of the main entrance. He looked like a stranger to Chloe in his khaki doughboy uniform, and she felt suddenly uncertain. Oblivious to her doubt, he hugged her confidently to him and then wrung Roarke’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough, McCaslin. We couldn’t have done this without you.” Minnie hung back, but Theran beamed and thanked her, too.

  “You’re welcome, sir,” the girl murmured, her eyes roving over first him and then the busy train station.

  “Well, McCaslin,” Theran said as he drew Chloe under one arm, “you can leave Chloe and her maid in my charge. We’ll be in New York late tonight. Chloe can stay at my rooming house while I bunk with friends. Then we’ll get a license as soon as City Hall opens and get married there, too.”

  Chloe listened to these plans with relief. All she had to do was follow along. She’d thank Roarke, bid him farewell, and Theran would take care of everything.

  “I’ve decided to come along,” Roarke said in a tone Chloe had rarely heard him use. It was a challenge.

  Unable to believe her ears, Chloe looked up at him. “Come along?”

  Theran’s look turned ugly. “Don’t you trust me? Do you think I’d—”

  Roarke stopped him with a hand. “I might as well ride with you to New York. I can’t very well go home right away. You don’t want me to be available for questioning by your future in-laws, do you? And if they know Miss Chloe’s in my care, they won’t make such a public fuss right away. They’ll be surprised . . . shocked that we’ve apparently eloped, but they won’t call the state police. So I might as well come along as the friend of the bride until Miss Chloe’s legally married.”

  Chloe stared at him, a crease between her brows. Did he expect her to go back on her word? Did he sense that her resolve was paper thin? Her traitorous eyes drifted up to his compressed lips before rising to meet his rock-hard gaze. I’m marrying Theran, Roarke. I am.

  Behind her gloved hand, Chloe stifled an unladylike yawn. The train ride had taken longer than they’d anticipated. It was full morning before they arrived in New York City. Now the four of them waited for City Hall to open. Minnie hung back at the rear while Roarke stood just ahead on Theran’s opposite side. Chloe felt conspicuous in the extreme and couldn’t help fearing her father might appear at any moment. He wouldn’t be pleased.

  Theran put an arm around her. He already held her hand. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’ll belong to me very soon.” He cast an aggressive glance at Roarke.

  Chloe felt as if she were in a trance. She’d never been to New York City before. The tall, grand buildings and noisy streets—crowded with red-and-green-paneled taxis, tall green buses, and hundreds of cars—made her jumpy. Even on Saturday morning, everybody was in a hurry, honking car horns and shouting in strange accents. Foreigners called to each other in languages she’d never heard. Everything felt just too big, too strange, too complicated to settle down in her mind. I’m getting married today. I’m marrying Theran Black. The thought was unreal. The man beside her didn’t even look familiar. The man she’d planned to marry hadn’t worn a doughboy uniform and his hair had been longer. Whenever she tried to look at Theran, it was like peering through binoculars that wouldn’t focus.

  Beside Theran, Roarke McCaslin’s profile was familiar. And Roarke had proposed to her last night. That also didn’t feel real. Why hadn’t Roarke ever said anything, made the least overture? If she hadn’t given her word, Roarke’s suit might have tempted her. But it had only made things harder for her.

  “Hey!” Kitty hurried up the steps, joining them. They’d called her from the restaurant where they’d breakfasted. “Isn’t this thrilling?”

  Chloe didn’t feel thrilled. Daunted and confused, she forced a smile. “Kitty!” She hugged her and they kissed cheeks.

  “My first attempt at matchmaking—and I’m a success!” Kitty hugged her brother and greeted Theran. “You brought your maid along?” she squealed. “How very proper.”

  “Minnie decided to seek employment elsewhere,” Chloe explained, blushing.

  “I don’t blame her.” Kitty gave Minnie a teasing wave of her hand. “Why stay buried at Ivy Manor when you have a chance at New York City?”

  Chloe turned away and caught the expression on Roarke’s face. He was frowning. As she gazed at him, he mouthed, “I still want to marry you, Chloe.”

  She looked away. A kind of panic was brewing in her stomach. Roarke’s words made it churn faster and higher. She looked at Theran, who was teasing Kitty about something. I am marrying this stranger today. She tried to make herself believe these words. She failed. This can’t be happening.

  The imposing double doors before them were officially unlocked with a grating and snapping of the large locks. Roarke led them inside onto the marble floors, polished and gleaming. A few people walked around them up wide steps. Chloe and the rest paused to check a large directory hung on one wall. Then Theran led them to the elevators. Everything moved quickly after that. The formalities of obtaining the license took only a few minutes at a grilled window. They moved to another office where they waited for a judge. Soon, a tall thin man with thinning gray hair stalked in wearing his black robe.

  “License?” Theran handed it to him. The judge read it as if looking for any discrepancies. “Young lady, you
are very young to be making this decision and I don’t see your parents here. Are you sure you want to marry this soldier?”

  Chloe hadn’t expected this. “I’m old enough to marry.”

  “I didn’t ask you if you were legally old enough. I wanted to know if you wish to draw back. Marriage is for life, young woman. In times of war—” The judge looked Theran up and down. “—people sometimes marry in haste and repent at leisure.”

  “This is none of your business,” Theran objected.

  Chloe looked past the judge to Roarke, who stood beside him.

  Roarke mouthed, “It’s not too late.”

  Chloe closed her eyes. Would everything feel more real if she’d accepted Roarke’s proposal? That premise didn’t seem viable either. “I’ve made up my mind to marry Theran Black.” Her voice came out unexpectedly harsh.

  Theran glanced back at her, startled. “Don’t sound so excited about it, honey,” he said, smiling. “Judge, I’m sure you mean well, but we’re in love. I leave Monday for France and we’re getting married before I leave. If you don’t want to do it, another judge will.” Theran took her arm to lead her away.

  “No, I’ll marry you.” The judge glared at Theran. “I always try to impress on the couple what an important, life-altering step marriage is. But I can see your mind is made up. Join your right hands, please.”

  Without looking at them, the judge opened a small black book and began to read the wedding ceremony in a flat, unhurried voice. Chloe tried to keep her eyes on Theran, the man she was marrying. But they insisted on drifting to Roarke. He stood as best man on the opposite side of Theran.

  “Repeat after me,” the judge intoned.

  Chloe breathed in deeply for strength and recited, “I, Chloe Lorraine Kimball, take you, Theran Black, as my lawfully wedded husband.” All the while, her desperate eyes pleaded with Roarke’s. I’m not a jilt. He’s going to war. How could I throw him over? The ceremony raced ahead. Soon, Theran was slipping a cool, gold band on her ring finger and kissing her. The judge shook their hands. Roarke and Kitty signed the certificate as the witnesses.