The Wedding Dress(30)

So Emily had seen Phillip’s intimate kiss on the woman’s neck. Daniel burned with embarrassment as he recalled the scene. In the middle of city commerce, Saltonstall carried on with another woman like one would do with his wife in private.

Now Daniel found he had to defend his rival in order to comfort the woman he loved. He refused to wound her further.

“But you know something, Daniel Ludlow, don’t you dare lie to me. Otherwise you’d have not intimated as much. I won’t be trifled with, hear me?” Emily slapped the table with her palm. The other Newman’s patrons lifted their heads, looking their way. “You know people. Your father is a police captain. Your chum is a reporter on the paper. Why, you know the old man Woodward yourself. He recruited you for his mighty Birmingham Barons.”

“So I might know a thing or two.” Daniel adjusted his hat, the scent of Emily’s skin seeping into him, stirring his affections. “You shouldn’t ask questions you don’t really want answered, Emily.”

“I asked because I want to know. Daniel—”

“Fine, then ask me a specific question. What is it you want to know?”

“Does Phillip keep a . . .” Her question faltered.

“A mistress?”

She nodded. Fast. Short.

“Emily, listen to me—”

“There you are, my dear, I thought you’d left the diner.” Mrs. Canton slid into the booth across from Daniel and Emily. “I’m sorry it took me so long, but Mrs. Caruthers cornered me and went on and on about her dressmaking qualifications. Daniel Ludlow, good afternoon.” Mrs. Canton tugged off her gloves. “What are you doing here?”

“Ma’am, it’s good to see you. I saw Emily enter the diner and thought I’d offer my congratulations on becoming engaged.” Daniel slid out of the booth, tipping his hat. “You and Miss Canton are two of the loveliest women in Birmingham.”

“Thank you. You are most kind.” Mrs. Canton set her hat on the table and tucked her gloves under the wide brim with a sigh. “Did you order my cold milk? It’s so warm out today.”

“I was waiting for you, Mother.” Emily peeked at Daniel. “I didn’t want your milk to get warm.”

“Well, there’s a good girl. Excuse me—waiter.”

“Have a good day, ladies.” Daniel backed toward the door. “Emily, best of everything.” Their staccato conversation left him uneasy.

“Excuse me, Mother.” Emily slid out of the booth, stepped around the waiter, and followed Daniel to the front of the diner. “Tell me,” she whispered. “Does he?”

“Have a mistress?”

She gazed into his eyes. He couldn’t . . . it would crush her. Her fingernails dug into his arm.

“Daniel.”

“Yes. So goes the word around town. But you should find out the truth yourself, Emily. You know how gossip gets all twisted and maligned.”

“No, no.” She jutted backward, shaking her head, her dark eyes narrowing. “You’re a liar, Daniel Ludlow. I don’t believe you.” Her accusation stung and Daniel regretted yielding to her desire for the truth. But he couldn’t change his path now. She snarled at him. “You’re just jealous, spiteful, and petty.”

“If only it were true. I’d be a liar ten times over if it meant Saltonstall didn’t cheat on you. I warned you not to ask if you didn’t want to know, Emily.” Daniel eyed her, hard, then jerked open Newman’s door so the bells rang out.

Emily stepped after him. “What did you hope to gain by lying to me?”

“What did you hope to gain by asking me if your fiancé had a mistress? You’ve made me hurt you, and I don’t like it.”

He stepped outside without looking back and stormed toward Loveman’s, heat rising in his chest. So this was it. His last encounter with Emily.

But then Daniel turned on his heel. He refused to let her last memory of him be when he cast shadows on the man she planned to marry. At Newman’s, he reached for the door but let his fingers slip from the handle.

Standing in front of the pane glass window, right beside the “Apple Pie 25￠” sign, he watched her speaking with her mother, no doubt telling her what a cad Daniel Ludlow was.

Look up, Emily. His heart quickened when she reached for her lemonade. She caught him staring, so he raised his hand in greeting, mustering his best sympathetic expression. Are you okay?

Emily’s weak and slight head tip relieved his heart. She sipped her lemonade, peering at him over the rim of her glass. Should he go inside? Speak with her? Demand a private audience and explain how he knew such a thing about her fiancé?

No, best to leave well enough alone. He’d done enough damage. Two women approached Emily and Mrs. Canton from another table. Daniel watched their exclamations, hands to their cheeks, bending to gaze at Emily’s ring.

Saltonstall was a louse. He’d bought that ring for another woman. Daniel knew it. He just couldn’t prove it. But whatever the price, it wasn’t enough to win a woman like Emily Canton.





Chapter Eight



Charlotte





Charlotte crossed her living room, phone pressed to her ear, when a knock on the door beckoned.

“Thank you, Tawny. I’ll see you then.” Charlotte motioned Dixie into the loft, crossing back across the living room to her dining room table desk. “Lunch on Thursday, one thirty, at Bellini’s.” She hung up and tapped on her iPad, entering lunch on her calendar.