The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(130)

Table Of Contents

Chapter 1: Nervous Upon Arrival

Chapter 2: A Party Gone Wrong

Chapter 3: Vicksburg Living

Chapter 4: Sometimes You Need A Second Chance

Chapter 5: A Walk In The Moonlight

Chapter 6: A Promise of Love

Chapter 1

Nervous Upon Arrival

Belle Trotter knew as soon as she stepped down from the train that she was in way over her head. The noonday heat blasted her in the face as she looked around. She was used to the hustle and bustle of the big city, but she could see from end to end of the town as she stood at the bottom of the steps.

For one crazy second, every part of her mind told her to turn around, jump back on the train, and ride it as far away from the little town of Vicksburg as she could, but she didn’t. Summoning every ounce of will she had, she gathered up her small floral valise that held everything she owned in this world and stepped away from the train so others could depart. A glance about the station proved to her that she knew not a soul around.

A tall, whip-thin man raised a hand and began to walk toward her. Belle’s heart leapt in her chest as she looked the man over. She decided that this must be the man whom she was to marry.

My Lord, she thought, how did I ever get myself into this? The man looked something like what he said he would over the telegraph. At least he didn’t lie about that, she thought. It was a small comfort.

For now, her mind was overrun with thoughts that she wished she would have had before. Thoughts about who this man was. He claimed to be a sheriff, but she had no idea if that was true. For all she knew, he could be an outlaw and just wanted a woman for a few nights.

Sweat broke out on her forehead, so she pulled out her handkerchief and wiped it away as casually as she could. Her hands wrung the kerchief as she waited for the man to get to her. He stepped up and swept his hat from his head. It was all she could do not to laugh out of nervousness when he sketched a bow over his extended right leg. As was customary she held out her hand. He took it and gently kissed the back before he spoke.

His voice was gruff, but held no anger. This close she could see that he had a walrus mustache. It had once been black, but now it was flecked with gray, as was his hair. He smelt fine. Not like an outlaw at all. What an odd thing to notice, she thought to herself as he replaced his hat on his head.

“You must be Belle Trotter.”

“I am.”

“Nice to meet you Belle. My name is Matt Thorn.”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“If you don’t mind me saying, Ma’am. I’d say you about the prettiest thing I’ve seen in my life. Your beauty rivals that of the desert flower when the rains come after a long drought.”

“Thank you.” She blushed despite herself. Suddenly, everything began to take its toll. The new town, people talking all around her, the man before her, and the noises of the train were all more than she could stand. Her head began to swim. “Could we step in the shade? I am beginning to feel lightheaded.”

“Of course.”

Taking her valise, he linked her hand through his elbow and led her toward a bench near the train station that was in the shade, but all of the sudden her dress seemed like it was much too tight. I can’t get any air, she thought. Darkness seeped into her vision. I hope I’m not dying was her last thought before she fainted. As she fell, strong arms wrapped around her and kept her from hitting the ground.

Belle had no sensation of being moved from the station and to a stranger’s bed. She was off in another time. In her mind, she was back in Chicago and her parents were still alive. The memory was one from more than three years ago, when she was just fourteen.

Chapter 2

A Party Gone Wrong

Her father called to her from downstairs and told her to hurry up. The play would be starting soon and they would miss the opening act if she didn’t come down now. She yelled to him and told him she was coming down as she fixed the last pin in her hair to keep it up in an elegant, yet graceful bun. Her mother had taught her how to put her hair up last year and ever since then she hadn’t gone anywhere without it done up properly.

She ran out of her room and down the stairs in a flash. Her father and mother waited at the bottom of the stairs with the front door open. Through the open door, Belle could see the carriage driver as he stood beside the carriage, waiting politely. Her father spun his hat in his hands by the brim and motioned for her to hurry. She leapt the last two steps and landed in front of her parents in a skid. The floor was slick from a recent waxing and she could not stop her slide. With quick hands her mother reached out and grabbed her by the arms. She waved a gloved finger under Belle’s nose.

“This is not the behavior of a lady. A lady does not run or jump down the stairs. A lady has poise and dignity.” The grip of her mother was like iron as she pulled her down the front steps. “You must learn to be a lady, Belle. If you do not, then you will never find a good husband as I did and you will be forced to live your life out as a spinster and die alone.”

“Oh, Mother. You are so melodramatic.” Belle sighed.

“Don’t use that tone of voice with your mother.” Her father was a good man in his own way, but even at the age of fourteen Belle could see that he did nothing unless he consulted with her mother first, and then he would only continue if she gave him a yes.

I hope that the man I marry isn’t like my father, Belle thought. She felt bad for thinking that way, but she thought that a man and woman should be equals in a marriage, not one ruling the other.