The Wedding Dress(46)

“But you didn’t think, Phillip said.”

Emily snapped her eyes to him. He must stop insulting her. One more time and she’d—

“Tell them the rest, Emily,” he said, taking a cigarillo from his waistcoat pocket. “Tell them you didn’t go alone.”

“Indeed I didn’t.” Emily stood as Phillip prepared to strike his match. Gently she cupped her hands around his, took the match, and lit it for him. Smiling, gazing into his eyes, she touched the flame to his cigarillo. “I had an escort.”

“A male escort.” Phillip lowered his lit cigarillo, holding on to the cold glint in his eyes. Emily blew out the match, squeezing his hand. She didn’t know much about men, but she’d learned a few things about Phillip. Without fail, he responded to her touch. To her batting eyelashes. “Y-you worsened the situation, Emily.” Phillip’s handsome features softened. “When you travel with a man we do not know.”

“Who was your escort?” Father asked, his tone low and steady.

“A kind old man I met on the street corner after Mother took the trolley. I called him Mr. Oddfellow because he never gave me his name.” Because his name was divine. Something beyond earth. At least that’s what Emily surmised on the ride home.

“Emily, what has gotten into you?” Mother’s tone sounded exasperated. “It must be the stress of the wedding.” She slipped her arms around Emily’s shoulders. “Maybe you should go lie down. I’ll have Molly bring up a cold cloth for your head.”

“I don’t need to lie down, Mother.” Emily turned to Phillip. “How did you know I went to the colored district? How did you know about Mr. Oddfellow?”

“I have my ways.” Phillip dragged on his cigarillo so the ashes on the end burned a bright orange. “But if you must know, I saw you with my own eyes.”

“Were you following me?” Emily gently pushed him around to face her. “For what reason?”

Father stepped close. “Phillip?”

“I have people, friends of the Saltonstalls, employees and workers. They watch out for us.”

“But you said your eyes saw me.” Emily narrowed into him.

He grinned, a cocky, sideways grin that caused bubbles to rise in Emily’s middle. “I saw you enter the cab, alone, with your Mr. Oddfellow. He wore a hideous purple ascot.”

“What were you doing downtown at two o’clock in the afternoon?” Emily said.

“I was on an errand.”

Mother sighed and collapsed into her chair. “Was everyone on errands this afternoon that took them to another part of town? Howard?”

“Not me, Maggie. I was in my office as usual.”

“Phillip, what kind of errand?” An image of Emmeline filled her thoughts. “There’s nothing in that part of town but a print shop and furniture store. You send your people to do menial tasks.”

“I occasionally do my own bidding. Do you think I just sit in my office and make demands of others?” He planted the cigarillo between his lips, smoke puffing about his face, his chest rising and falling with each shallow puff.

“If you saw me, then why didn’t you call out to me?”

“It was too late.”

“Emily, stop badgering the man.” Mother stood, smoothing her hand over her skirt, plumping her hair. “I don’t know why you have to be so defensive.”

“And I don’t know why you have to defend him instead of your own daughter.”

“All right now.” Father stepped between Emily and Phillip. “This sounds like a young couple’s quarrel. Phillip, Emily is a fine, levelheaded girl. Even more so than some men I know.”

Thank you, Father. Emily glared at Phillip. He was hiding something. Something deviant.

“Phillip, I’m sorry for the trouble Emily may have caused you.”

“Not to worry, Mrs. Canton. We have connections. We’ll make sure any rumors are squelched.” Phillip sauced up his grin and Emily felt weak. When he shot her a brown-eyed wink, she breathed deep, tucking in her shirtwaist and smoothing a wild hair away from her face.

“Good, good.” Mother patted Phillip’s arm. “Now, Emily, I want to settle the issue of the dress. You will wear the gown Mrs. Caruthers made. As will your bridesmaids, I don’t care the cost. That is the end of it.” Mother started for the door, hitting the carpet hard with her thick heels. “Howard, I’ll see to supper. Phillip, you’ll dine with us, of course.”

“Thank you, but not tonight, Mrs. Canton. I’m otherwise engaged. Perhaps tomorrow.”

“Otherwise engaged? On a Thursday evening?” Emily watched as Father closed the library door behind him and Mother. “Are you going to the Phoenix Club?”

Hues of the pink and orange sunset broke through the shade tree limbs and settled in the tense pockets of the library. The breeze snuck through the open window and inspected Father’s papers, lifting them from his desk, then back down again.

“I’ve made arrangements with some friends. Wainscot and Powell. We’re having a gentlemen’s night. I’ll not have many once we’re married. We’re coming up on the social season, then the holidays, and our wedding will be here before we know it. This might be my last chance.”