The Wedding Dress(34)

“I do take it to heart, Father. I don’t like her, nor her attitude about coloreds.” But in light of Daniel’s insinuation about Phillip, Mrs. Caruthers’s prejudices paled for the moment.

“Careful, Emily, there are laws.”

“I’m aware of the laws.” The very unfair laws. But at the moment, she craved Father’s comfort concerning Phillip. “Father, I’m not here about Mrs. Caruthers. I’m here about Daniel Ludlow.”

Father averted his gaze to his cigar as he took several deep puffs and relaxed in his winged chair. “I’d heard he’d returned.”

“You hid his letters from me.” The sentence warranted no quarrel. Just pure, simple truth.

“That’s a rather grand accusation, Emily.” Father continued to puff on his cigar. Emily went to the window and opened it. The dewy evening breeze, scented with the sunbaked earth, dissipated the tobacco smoke.

“Is it? I found them in the stable.”

“What were you doing in the stable?” Father tapped ashes into the ashtray stand by his desk and peered at her. “Molly gave me up, didn’t she?”

“She did not. You have a loyal confidante in her. Daniel came to see me. He told me about the letters.” Emily held steady with courage—that was the way to converse with Father, head on and confident. “Why did you take them? I believe they belong to me, Father. It’s not like you.”

“Letters that arrive at my home are my property. To do with as I see fit.”

“Not when they are addressed to me. I am not your property. You raised me to be my own person.”

“I did. Yet in matters of the heart, fathers know best. Daniel Ludlow is a fine boy, Emily, but he is not for you.”

“How can you say such a thing?” Emily leaned over his desk, hands gripping the thick edge. “You barely know him.”

“I know him enough, his family and lineage. I watched you two over the last year, and what I hoped was a schoolgirl crush turned into something you considered love.” Father pointed at her with his cigar. “I was glad when he left to play ball.”

“It’s my decision whom I love, Father.”

“Do you not love Phillip?”

“We are not talking about Phillip. We’re talking about Daniel. You didn’t give me a chance to decide for myself between Phillip and Daniel. You manipulated my heart your way by hiding Daniel’s letters.”

“What do you want me to do? Let you return Phillip Saltonstall’s ring? Whether you appreciate it or not, a Saltonstall match is good for you and the whole family, Emily. Your mother is invited to the women’s clubs that formerly snubbed her. I’ve taken a higher position at my own club. Cameron Saltonstall intends to bring some of his banking business to Canton Exchange, as well as give recommendations to his friends. Much more is on the line now than your heart, dear girl. Besides, I didn’t raise you to marry a man with no money, no connections, and no future.”

“You had no money, no connections, and no future when you started out. But you made connections, you made money, and thus your own future, Father. You didn’t fear hard work, and it molded you into a great man of character.” She went around the desk and knelt by his chair, pressing her hands on the smooth wooden arms. “That’s what I saw in Daniel. Those pieces of you that made you great. But you never gave him a chance.”

“Emily dear, years ago, an investor came my way while I was breaking my back to build my company. He offered me a leg up, his financial backing. Do you think I was wise to take it?”

“Certainly”—she brushed ashes from his sleeve—“you’re not a fool.”

“And neither are you.” He regarded her through the swirl of smoke. “Phillip is your offering of a better life, Emily. A leg up in society, a way for your children to have even more than you’ve had.”

“All right, fair enough, but what if . . .” Emily stood, staring down at her hands, a chilly nervousness in her veins. Was this fair to Phillip, to bring up his indiscretion when she’d not confronted him? When she’d not inquired about his side of the story? For all she knew, Daniel lied to her. Though she’d never known him to lie. Not even a little white one. Certainly her own eyes never lied to her. She saw what she saw that day at Loveman’s. So had Daniel.

“Emily? You were asking ‘What if?’”

She glanced at her father. “Nothing, I suppose.” What would Father think if she accused Phillip with such a thing? He’d think she was speculating and foolish, collaborating with her jilted lover. “I just wondered about the letters.”

“So Molly is my trusted confidante?”

“She’s no fool either, Father.”

“Emily, why are you not dressing?” Mother swooped into the library. “Your party begins in an hour. Howard, why are you keeping her?” Mother wore a fitted gown of pale pink chiffon and lace. Her rich brown hair with amber highlights was swept into a thick, full pompadour. Diamond earrings shimmered from the tips of her ears. “Molly has taken your dress upstairs, Emily. Hurry, get changed.” Father stood as she approached and leaned to kiss her. “Your tuxedo awaits you in your quarters, Howard.”

“Are you finished speaking with me, Emily?” Father began to put away his ledger and pen.