The Wedding Dress(85)

On the half hour, when Father and Phillip had been gone a good twenty minutes, Molly appeared to clear the dishes. “Shall I cut the cake, ma’am?”

“No, we’ll wait for Mr. Canton. But do bring the coffee, Molly.”

Mr. Saltonstall shoved away from the table and started toward the door. “I wonder if I ought to see what’s going on in there.”

“Howard is dealing with this, Cam,” Henrietta said. “Please don’t pace.”

Ten more minutes ticked off. Then Father entered the room with a serious, brooding countenance. “Emily, may I speak with you, please.”

She gazed at him, hesitating, trying to ascertain what was going on. Then she, too, pushed away from the table.

“Certainly, Father.” What could he possibly want with her? Her stomach knotted and cramped. Was she to be arrested again?

“In the library.” Father stood aside to let Emily go first.

“Father, is everything all right?”

He halted her, lightly holding her arm. “You know your own mind, Emily. You always have. You’re a smart girl, and your mother and I have taught you to be wise. To seek the good Lord for wisdom.”

“Father, what is it? You’re scaring me.” Emily pressed her hand to her waist.

“Steady your heart. Listen. Don’t respond until you’ve thought. Ask questions like I taught you.”

“Yes, Father, I will.” Emily entered the library, planning to remain at ease until she saw Daniel with his cap in hand. “What are you doing here?” He wore a thick, high-collared sweater and a Norfolk jacket. His eyes narrowed at her, shadowed with concern. But his smile warmed her through to her backbone.

“I came to speak to your father. I didn’t realize you had guests. I’m sorry to intrude.”

“But yet you did. What is the meaning of this?” She smoothed her hand over her silk gown embroidered with gold and trimmed in fur. The three of them, Father, Daniel, and Emily, stood in a loose circle. “You didn’t answer my question.” She flipped her gaze to Phillip, pacing and smoking along the back length of the library.

“I needed to speak to your father.”

“So you said.”

“He came to accuse me, that’s what he came to do.” Phillip hammered out his cigarette in Father’s ashtray and joined the circle.

“Accuse you of what?” Emily glared at Phillip. He could be so dramatic and comical.

“He’s got his cap set for you.” Phillip waved his hand in Daniel’s direction. “He’s a liar. Howard, I believe I’ve had enough of this tomfoolery.”

Phillip took two steps back before Father moved around to block him, his broad hand against Phillip’s shoulders.

“Let’s just sort this out. Daniel, why don’t you tell Emily your story.”

“Story is exactly what it is. A woman’s novel. Full of foolishness.” Phillip huffed and puffed like he was still smoking one of his cigarillos. “I think the innocent accused should be allowed to speak first.”

“Phillip, you’ll have plenty of chance for rebuttal once Emily hears the details.” Father spread his hand as if to calm the air. “You both agreed to this method. Now, let’s act like gentlemen. Emily, Daniel came tonight with news that concerned him. He asked to speak to me rather than you so he could obtain my counsel. Once I heard his dilemma, I asked Phillip to come and address him.” Father scowled at the men. Though noticeably longer at Phillip. Emily eased down into a wingback chair. Her dinner churned in her belly. “I asked for them to tell their tales to you. You are of age. You can decide the truth for yourself.”

“Then I am listening.” She squared her shoulders and angled toward Daniel.

“When I came to see you in jail, Emily, the officers ignored me, refused to look at me when they talked to me. So I got suspicious. I know a good many of those chaps and their behavior struck an odd chord with me. I asked Dad to see if anything unusual happened the night of your arrest.”

Phillip lit another cigarillo and blew smoke at Daniel. “This story is far more entertaining the second time around.”

Daniel hesitated but went on. “It took Dad a few weeks, but here’s what he’s figured. Your fiancé was sick of you embarrassing him by going to the colored part of town, and there was some mess about who was making your wedding dress. He claimed you were ruining the family’s reputation. Other society folk were claiming the Cantons were friends of the coloreds. Somehow it got suggested that the separate-but-equal law goes both ways. A little cash to grease a few palms down at the police station, and he had you charged and arrested.”

“Do you think I would throw down good, hard-earned money to have my girl arrested? What kind of nimble-minded fool are you, Ludlow?”

“Not as big a nimble-minded fool as you.”

Phillip exploded, threw his lit cigarillo to Mother’s Persian carpet, and charged Daniel.

“Phillip.” He ran into Father’s tree-trunk chest. “Pick up your smoke, son.”

“But you heard him, Howard.”

“Pick up your smoke before you burn Maggie’s good rug. I won’t be able to help you if she finds a burn mark in it.”

Huffing and red-faced, Phillip bent to retrieve the burning cigarette. Then he whirled around to Daniel. He pointed at Daniel with the lighted stick between his fingers. “Get out. If I ever see you near Emily again, I will have you arrested. And there’ll be no mistake about whose name is on the warrant.”