The Mistletoe Kiss
The Mistletoe Kiss
Janet Lee Barton
An Unexpected Match Millicent Faircloud feels her dreams are coming true when she's assigned to photograph the construction of New York's tallest building—until she realizes it means working with fellow boarder Matt Sterling. He's handsome and kind, but the stubborn man doesn't understand her ambition.Matt can't help but admire Millicent's spirit. But he's been hurt by a woman who cared only for her career, and he won't make that mistake again. Is Millicent more of the same, or would she put family first? If Matt can open his mind to new ideas, he may find love to be the best Christmas present of all.
An Unexpected Match
Millicent Faircloud feels her dreams are coming true when she’s assigned to photograph the construction of New York’s tallest building—until she realizes it means working with fellow boarder Matt Sterling. He’s handsome and kind, but the stubborn man doesn’t understand her ambition.
Matt can’t help but admire Millicent’s spirit. But he’s been hurt by a woman who cared only for her career, and he won’t make that mistake again. Is Millicent more of the same, or would she put family first? If Matt can open his mind to new ideas, he may find love to be the best Christmas present of all.
“You want one photograph for yourself?”
Millicent asked as she looked into Matt’s eyes.
“Yes. I do. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
Matt felt as surprised as Millicent looked at his request. The words had just popped out of his mouth, but he didn’t want to take them back. He wanted a photo of them together. But why? And how would having a photo of the two of them help him distance himself from her? And did he even want to do that now?
He picked up another photograph. This one Julia had taken when they’d all gone to Central Park one day. Again, this one was of him and Millicent, and it appeared they were sparring a bit. They were grinning at each other, but Millicent’s eyebrow was raised as if challenging something he’d said. He’d seen that expression on her quite often in the past year and, if truth be told, he’d enjoyed bringing it about.
JANET LEE BARTON loves researching and writing heartwarming romances about faith, family, friends and love. She’s written both historical and contemporary novels, and loves writing for Love Inspired Historical. She and her husband live in Oklahoma and have recently downsized to a condo, which they love. When Janet isn’t writing or reading, she loves to cook for family, work in her small garden, travel and sew. You can visit Janet at janetleebarton.com (http://www.janetleebarton.com).
The Mistletoe Kiss
Janet Lee Barton
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
To my editor, Giselle Regus,
for helping to make my stories better.
To my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray,
for believing in this series.
To my readers who love the series as much as I do.
And as always,
to my family who encourages me,
to my husband, Dan,
who is always supportive of me,
and most of all, to my Lord and Savior
for showing me the way.
Contents
Cover (#ufa2e95eb-61dd-5037-8174-82654c811fea)
Back Cover Text (#ue6177801-9141-5e07-b512-c17a06c2a423)
Introduction (#ub94ffaef-6c72-5966-b4f0-640cac261213)
About the Author (#u9f4f8086-ddd9-52bd-8286-37f3f62889a6)
Title Page (#uebe8893e-f5df-523f-8379-016f7a2356c2)
Bible Verse (#u550b3d13-880b-5f53-bcea-48e8bf5ddfda)
Dedication (#u8af0fa66-15c9-54d7-8dc9-94501c58b4e2)
Chapter One (#ulink_16dfb05e-5c4e-5e69-9897-6868252a8afb)
Chapter Two (#ulink_97f66843-ac7d-5738-bb67-7ee5fbffe76c)
Chapter Three (#ulink_7fb333ce-eae5-5fcf-88d2-2b200111a325)
Chapter Four (#ulink_8ba17907-7e7f-5020-9880-9148438cc678)
Chapter Five (#ulink_44ec56d1-ac68-5135-ae3b-0942b230f948)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ulink_57af22b4-83a5-534e-b6f0-48dcfa21470e)
New York City, Heaton House, September 1897
Mathew Sterling entered the parlor at Heaton House surprised to find only the other male boarders gathered there, having just parted ways after the baseball game to get ready for dinner on time.
“Are we early?” he asked, looking at the clock on the mantel.
“No, we aren’t, but dinner is going to be late. Mrs. Heaton said the ladies should be arriving soon and we’d sit down to eat shortly after they get home,” Joseph Clark said.
“Where are they?” Matt asked. It wasn’t like any of them to be late to a meal unless they were working. “Did they go shopping?”
“Perhaps, but Mrs. Heaton didn’t say,” Stephen Adams explained. “Just that we’d eat when they got back. I hope it’s soon. I’m hungry. I know I had those Cracker Jacks at the game but they don’t hold one forever.”
“No they don’t,” Matt said. He’d enjoyed his day off going to the Giants game with Stephen and Joe. But the weather had been so nice, they’d walked back from the Polo Grounds where the game had been played, and all that walking mixed with the cool crisp air made him even hungrier than normal.
They heard the front door open and the three lady boarders entered—Matt knew because he’d come to recognize Millicent’s tinkling laugh anywhere. They seemed to be quite excited about something, from all the chattering going on between them.
Then suddenly everything went quiet and Julia Olsen, the boarder who’d been there the longest, peeked into the parlor. “We know we’ve kept you waiting for dinner. I’ll go tell Mrs. Heaton we’re here now.”
“Sorry we’re late.” Millicent Faircloud hurried into the parlor. She looked very pretty, her cheeks flushed and her deep blue eyes sparkling. It was evident she’d enjoyed the outing.
“We’re glad you’re finally here. We’re starving,” Stephen said.
“I don’t see any packages—you didn’t go shopping?” Matt smiled, thinking they’d gone to the Ladies’ Mile for the day. Shopping was one of their favorite things to do.
“No,” Emily Jordan answered. She was one of the newest boarders at Heaton House, along with Stephen and Joe. The three of them had moved in at the same time a few months earlier.
“Where’d you go, then?” Joe asked.
“We went to a suffrage meeting,” Emily offered. “First time I’ve even been to one. It was wonderful!”
“You went to one of those meetings?” Joe asked.
“They can be dangerous, Emily!” Stephen said.
“It was in broad daylight, gentlemen. Nothing happened,” Emily said. “I quite enjoyed it. Don’t you think women should have the right to vote?”
“Vote!” Joe exclaimed. “I—”
“How would you feel if we had that right and you didn’t?” Emily asked.
Her questions left both Stephen and Joe speechless for the moment and Matt turned to see Millicent shaking her head at Emily. “So you’ve brought Emily ’round to your way of thinking now, Millie?”
“I don’t control anyone’s thoughts, Mathew. If I did, I’d have changed yours by now.” Millicent came back at him. “Emily found out Julia and I were going to a meeting and wanted to know what they were all about, so we invited her to come with us.”
“Oh, I see and—”
“Dinner is served,” Mrs. Heaton said from the foyer. “Come along, all. I’m sure you must be starving by now.”
They all moved toward the dining room and Matt fell into step beside Millicent. “I don’t know why you—”
“Shush, Matt. No more talk about the meeting,” Millicent whispered. “We’ll never agree about them and we don’t want to upset Mrs. Heaton with our arguing. You know she doesn’t like any of that at her dinner table.”
Matt let out a huge sigh and gave a short nod of agreement. He loved their landlady. She was a mother figure to them all and no one liked seeing her upset. Besides, Millie, as he thought of her, was right, he couldn’t see them ever agreeing on the women’s movement. From what he’d heard about it, it wasn’t all about getting the right to vote; they encouraged women—even married ones—to be more independent. And how much more independent could Millie get—wanting to open up her own business? And why did it matter to him anyway?
Before he could offer Millicent his arm, Stephen beat him to it and Matt’s chest tightened as he watched her put her hand on his arm. He turned to Julia and offered her his, escorted her into the dining room, pulled out her chair and scooted it in closer to the table. He then took his own seat next to Millicent.
When Mrs. Heaton asked him to say the blessing, he had to take a minute to put all thoughts of Millie’s desire for independence and those suffrage meetings out of his mind.
“Dear Lord, we thank You for this day and Your many blessings. We thank You for this meal we are about to partake of, and for Mrs. Heaton, who always takes such good care of us. May we keep that all in mind as we enjoy the meal she planned for us. In Jesus’s name we pray, amen.”
* * *
Millicent breathed a sigh of relief at Matt’s prayer. She hoped his words would serve to remind everyone that some conversations didn’t belong at the dinner table.
To keep peace, and from past experience, the women had decided it best not to mention the meetings or anything about the movement around the men, if possible. But she and Julia evidently forgot to inform Emily when she moved in. It wasn’t that they didn’t want the men to understand; they very much did. But one couldn’t force a man’s comprehension. Millicent sighed inwardly. It seemed impossible that the men living at Heaton House would ever grasp why the women were all so interested in the movement—especially Mathew Sterling. She’d discovered since they both moved into the boardinghouse within days of one another the year before that he was one of the most stubborn men she’d ever met.
As Mrs. Heaton’s maids, Gretchen and Maida, began to serve the meal, Millicent tried to put her and Matt’s differences out of her mind and concentrate on the wonderful dishes being passed around.
“How was the ball game?” their landlady asked, guiding the conversation to a safe subject. Mrs. Heaton seemed to have a way of quieting any disturbance between her boarders almost before it began.
“It was great,” Matt said. “Our Giants won by one point in the last play of the game.”
“They did a bang-up job!” Stephen added.
“Oh, Millicent, I forgot to tell you—Elizabeth telephoned and asked me to remind you about having Sunday night supper with them tomorrow,” Mrs. Heaton said.
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.” Millicent smiled at her landlady. “I’m looking forward to it. She said they want to talk to me about something but didn’t say what.”
“Maybe they want you to take more photos of one of the apartments in the tenements,” Julia suggested.
“They might. It’s been a while since I took any for them.” She’d been blessed when Elizabeth and John, one of the couples who used to live at Heaton House before they married, asked her to take photographs for some articles they were doing. It’d brought her some much-needed business and continued to do so now. But it still wasn’t enough that she felt she could open her shop yet.
Matt handed her a basket of rolls and smiled at her, as if asking, Are we okay now? She sighed, raised an eyebrow and smiled back, trying to let him know that if he didn’t bring up the topic of the meeting again, neither would she.
But as she took the basket from him and their fingers brushed, what she wished for most was to quiet her suddenly racing pulse. Why did this man have the ability to do that to her? He was very nice looking—with his almost black hair, sky-blue eyes and smile that showed even, white teeth. But he also could make her more frustrated than anyone else. She’d felt that way ever since the first night she’d moved in, when he’d made clear he disapproved of any woman wanting to open her own business.
He’d brought Robert Baxter to mind, the man she’d almost become engaged to. That was, until she’d seen his true side and realized all he wanted was someone to take care of his needs. From that time on, she’d decided she’d be better off making a living for herself than giving her heart to a man with no interest in her ideas and opinions. A man who thought his word was law. She was so glad she’d seen through Robert and never accepted his proposal.
Matt’s attitude and that reminder seemed to have set the tone for their relationship from the first—in spite of any fleeting attraction she felt for him. And over time, when the topics they disagreed on weren’t brought up, they managed to get along for the sake of Mrs. Heaton and the other boarders.
Millicent hoped that would continue—but perhaps it was better to be reminded of her resolve to not fall in love, in order to keep on guard when Matt did something to make her heart flutter.
As dinner came to an end, Millicent found she wasn’t in the mood to spend time in the parlor with everyone. She didn’t want to take the chance of another argument. “I think I’m going on up tonight. I’m kind of tired. ’Night, all,” she said as she headed out the door. But Matt stopped her with a hand on her arm before she got to the staircase.
“May I speak with you a moment, Millicent?”
“What about? I don’t—”
“Don’t worry. It’s not about the meeting.”
“Oh? What is it, then?”
“John went to the game with us this afternoon and asked me to come to Sunday night supper at their place, too. Said he might need my help on something.”
“I wonder what they want to talk to us about.”
“I don’t know, but I suppose we’ll find out tomorrow. I thought I’d offer to escort you over. Seems silly not to go together and there’s no need in having Joe or Stephen escort you when we’re both invited.”
Her heart gave a little flip. She didn’t think they’d ever gone anywhere, just the two of them. But someone would have to escort her anyway—it was one of Mrs. Heaton’s hard-and-fast rules. The female boarders must go in a group or have an escort if they went out at night.
At first Millicent thought her rule a bit old-fashioned—it was nearing the turn of the century after all. But then she’d found out Mrs. Heaton’s daughter had gone missing and that was the reason she’d started the boardinghouse to begin with—so young women would have a safe homelike place to live. Thankfully, Mrs. Heaton and her daughter had been reunited, but the edict remained in place. She must have an escort.
“Oh, I... Yes, you’re right. Thank you for your offer.”
“You’re welcome. John said six-thirty, so I’ll meet you in the parlor at six, if that time works for you?”
“That will be fine. Good night.”
“’Night, Millicent.”
Millicent turned and hurried upstairs. What could John and Elizabeth possibly want to talk to the two of them about?
* * *
The next evening Millicent came downstairs and entered the parlor to find most of the boarders gathered waiting to be called to supper. Apparently, Matt hadn’t come up from the men’s quarters yet, and she felt quite proud of herself for being ready before him.
She’d chosen a brown skirt with pleated ruffles on each side, a green-and-brown bodice trimmed in green ribbon and a short green jacket to complete the outfit.
“Millicent, you’re all dressed up. Are you going out?” Emily asked.
“Yes, I am. Remember, I’m going to the Talbots’ tonight.”
“Oh, that’s right. We’ll miss your company,” Stephen said. “Do you need an escort?”
“No she doesn’t,” Matt answered from behind her, something in his tone sending her heart pounding. “I’m escorting Millicent tonight, as I’ve been invited to dinner, too.”
He looked quite striking in a brown suit, cream shirt and brown-and-cream tie. Matt worked as a foreman on a high-rise building that once finished would be the tallest in the city. Normally he hurried home in his work clothes to change into nicer pants and a clean shirt. That attire always seemed to emphasize the broadness of his shoulders—but in his Sunday suit, they seemed wider still, and Millicent fought down the fluttery feeling his presence quite often brought her.
“You ready to go, Millie?”
She’d let him know the first time he ever shortened her name that she wanted to be called Millicent only. But it hadn’t stopped him. In fact, she was certain he did it just to get a reaction out of her.
“I’ve been ready and waiting for several minutes.”
He grinned, as if he knew she was irritated with him, but he didn’t apologize, only crooked his arm and said, “Then let’s get going. We don’t want to be late, do we?”
She fought to keep from showing her vexation. That was exactly what he wanted her to do, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction—not here in front of the new boarders. She took his arm and gave him a smile. “Of course not. Let’s be on our way.”
But as soon as they were out of sight from any of the boardinghouse windows, she disengaged her hand and looked straight ahead as they made their way to the trolley stop.
“Did I say something to upset you, Millie?”
“Why, no, Matty, whatever would make you think that?”
He threw back his head and laughed, causing her to expel a breath of frustration. But his laughter was contagious and Millicent giggled in spite of herself—frustrating her to no end. They had the oddest relationship ever. One minute he had her laughing with him, the next he said something that tempted her to wallop him over the head with her parasol—or anything else within range. They reached their stop a few minutes early and she hoped they could make it through the evening without him irritating her to that point.
Their trolley arrived and Matt motioned Millicent on first, then followed her up the aisle, taking a seat beside her once she’d slid over by the window. She pretended to be looking at the scenery outside while trying to relax before they arrived at the Talbots’. It did no good to let Matt get under her skin—doing so only served to frustrate her further.
It was a beautiful September evening. Not too cool yet, with only a light breeze, making her glad she had a jacket on. If she didn’t already know she and Matt were totally wrong for each other, she’d be thrilled with the opportunity to spend this time with him without the others around.
“How is the quest to open your business going?” Matt asked.
His question surprised her. Matt rarely showed any interest in her profession, and she wasn’t going to pass up the chance to talk about it. She loved being a photographer.
“Actually, quite well. After taking wedding photographs of Luke and Kathleen, John and Elizabeth, and Ben and Rebecca, word is getting around, and I have several weddings booked this month. I’m thankful my business is growing. I’m hoping to find the right place for a studio before long.”
“That’s good news, I suppose. You do take very good pictures.”
What was going on with him? He’d never complimented her about her photographs or anything else she did. “Why, thank you, Matt. It’s something I love to do. I’d be taking photographs even if I never got paid for it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I would. But since I do need to support myself, I might as well be in charge instead of working at a position I don’t like.”
He gave a little nod. “I suppose I can understand that. It’d be awful to have to work at a job I hated.”
“Are you saying we might have something in common after all, Matt?”
Matt laughed. “Oddly enough, I think we might.”
Their trolley came to a stop and they hurried out into the aisle, Matt blocking the people from behind until Millicent made it out in front of him.
He crooked his arm once more and raised an eyebrow as if challenging her to take it. The way she’d felt when they first got on the streetcar would have her ignoring the polite custom, but there was no need to start their visit with friends on bad terms. She took his arm and they headed down the residential street to the Talbots’.
John opened the door wide for them to enter. “Come in, you two. We’ve been watching for you.”
“I hope we aren’t late,” Matt said. “If so, it’s entirely my fault.”
“No, you aren’t late,” Elizabeth said from behind her husband. “You’re right on time. It’s wonderful to see you both.”
She led them into the parlor and Millicent noticed the brass bowl the boarders all had chipped in to buy their friends for their housewarming party. It held a nice fern and sat in the bay window. “Your home is as cozy as Heaton House, Elizabeth.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “I must say I admire how Mrs. Heaton makes it feel like a true home for all who live there. Much of my decorating skills, such that they are, came from seeing how she arranged things and the little touches she added. Let me just go dish things up and we’ll be ready to eat very soon. Come keep me company, Millicent. John, you and Matt can take your seats now if you wish.”
The ladies soon returned and began placing dishes in the dining room.
“We took the table’s leaves out to make it a bit smaller, so that it has a more intimate feel when we’re dining with only a few guests. Most nights John and I take our meals in the kitchen, so it feels like a real event when we eat in here,” Elizabeth said as she took her seat at the end of the table nearest the kitchen. John seated his wife while Matt pulled out a chair for Millicent before taking the one across from her.
John said the blessing and began serving the roast chicken his wife had prepared. Once they were all served, Matt turned to John. “Now tell us, what it is you want to discuss with Milli—cent and me?”
Millicent was surprised at his effort not to call her Millie. Lately he’d begun to use it even more, and she appreciated his restraint at the moment.
“As you know there’s been a couple of near-fatal accidents to others working on your building in the last few months.”
Millicent’s stomach clenched. Matt never mentioned anything about those accidents—at least not in her presence.
“I do. And there were several less serious ones last week. Thankfully, no one was badly hurt, although it could have been disastrous if their harnesses hadn’t held them. Are you doing an article about the accidents for the Tribune?”
Because of the articles he and Elizabeth worked on, him for the New York Tribune and her for the popular ladies magazine the Delineator, describing the appalling conditions of the tenements, John had recently become one of the paper’s top reporters. He shook his head. “Not an investigative piece so much as informative one. Many people aren’t aware of how dangerous it is to build those sky-touching buildings you love to work on. I’m hoping my boss will get your supervisor’s permission for me to do a series of articles on the building. He wants me to write about how these high-rises are built and the danger in working on them. It’d be great publicity.”
“So what is it you’re thinking of doing?”
“I’d like to be able to go floor to floor and interview the workers, see for myself how dangerous it is and—”
“Elizabeth, aren’t you worried about that?” Millicent found herself interrupting.
“About John going up so high? Not really. I feel if they get behind the article, they’ll keep him away from the really dangerous areas.”
“I’m sure we would,” Matt said. “But what do you need me to do? I’m not the boss. I can’t give you permission.”
“I know. But should he bring it up to you, should he want to know what you and the men under you think about it, I’d like you to give me a good word.”
“You’ll have it.”
John nodded. “I appreciate it.”
“But how does any of this have anything to do with me?” Millicent asked. “Or is there something different you want to talk to me about?”
“Not really different,” Elizabeth said. “You take such wonderful photographs—you tell her, John.”
“My editor at the paper asked if we could talk you into being the official photographer for the articles. Elizabeth is going to do a different take for her articles for the Delineator—more of a human-interest piece on what the families of these men think about the work they do. Our articles about the tenements were received so well, our editors love the idea of doing the different kinds of views of the Park Row Building and we’re really excited about it.”
“What kind of photographs will you be wanting me to take?”
“You’d need to take the ones you feel would best illustrate the stories we want to write.”
“What do you think, Millicent?” John asked. “We know you don’t like heights, but you are the best photographer we know and we didn’t even have to bring your name up. You’ve been asked to come in with us. Will you do it?”
Millicent let out a deep breath. There was no doubt in her mind this could be the opportunity she’d been waiting for. But why did the chance of a lifetime have to involve her going to the top of what would be the tallest building in the city—the very thing that paralyzed her with fear?
“Even if you get permission to go up, John, I’m not sure my supervisor would ever agree to letting Elizabeth and Millicent up where the men are working. And with Millicent’s aversion to heights—”
“Oh, surely when he knows she’s the one the Tribune trusts to do the job—”
Matt shrugged.
“We won’t know until he’s asked. I’ll make my decision then,” Millicent said decisively. “At least I have time to think it over.”
“The color drained out of your face at the thought of it now.” Matt glanced over at John. “There’s no need to put her through—”
“It’s Millicent’s decision to make, don’t you think, Matt?” John asked.
“Of course it is.” Matt shrugged again. “It may be a moot point anyway. I just don’t see how having a woman on the job is going to happen.”
Not if he had any say about it, Millicent was sure of that. And that attitude irritated her. If the opportunity to do this photo shoot came about, she’d pray and ask the Lord to ease her fear, at least long enough to get the job done. One thing she knew for sure. She certainly wasn’t going to let Matt’s opinion keep her from trying.
Chapter Two (#ulink_e0567ce7-7407-5a23-b016-57527a9cc971)
By the time Millicent and Matt left Elizabeth and John’s, she had a raging headache. After their friends told them they’d be in touch once John’s editor gave them the go-ahead on the articles, they’d played a few games of charades after dinner. But Millicent could think of little else than what she would do if Matt’s supervisor said yes. Now on the trolley back home, she rubbed her temple and closed her eyes.
“You know,” Matt began, “you don’t have to say yes to this, Millicent. I realize it’s a good opportunity, but I also know how emphatic you’ve been about your fear of heights. If you don’t want to—”
“Matt, John’s articles are probably going to make the front page, and the exposure of my photos could bring in enough business that I could finally open my shop.”
“What if you agree and then find you can’t...do it? What will that do for your reputation?”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence in me.”
“Now, Millie, you know I—”
“I’m hoping no one but you and the Talbots will know that I fear heights. I’m pretty sure John wouldn’t splash that information all across the front page.”
“No. Of course he wouldn’t. But—” Matt shook his head and sighed. “The decision is yours.”
“I’m not pretending this will be an easy choice. I’ll need to think things over and pray about it. And I don’t know if I will accept the offer or not. That’s so high up.”
“You might not want to look down.”
“But isn’t the view the best part?”
“It is for me, seeing the city laid out below, but it might not be for you. You’d probably get dizzy.”
Was he trying to talk her out of even contemplating taking the job? Millicent felt a little queasy just thinking about looking down at the streets below, but she certainly wasn’t going to let Matt know. “I’m sure it’s a sight to see.”
“It is.”
Their trolley stopped and Millicent was thankful for the break in conversation as they got off and hurried to Heaton House. The night air was cooling quickly and she was glad to be inside once more. The boarders were in the parlor with Julia playing the piano as she often did. But she stopped playing as Millicent and Matt joined them, and one of the maids brought in tea for everyone.
“You must be a mind reader, Maida,” Matt said.
“No, sir, I just heard the front door open and knew that at this time of night, you and Miss Millicent must be getting home.”
“How nice of you, Maida.” Millicent took a cup from her and took a sip. She loved living at Heaton House. It’d become home in a short time. And even having boarders come and go hadn’t changed that feeling. For one thing, they still saw all those who’d moved out fairly often, and though there’d been a period of time when Mrs. Heaton’s table felt a bit empty, she’d managed to fill it back up with new people in no time.
As Millicent looked over at Matt, she found his piercing blue gaze on her, and her pulse began to race as it had the first time she saw him. He was very handsome, that lock of dark hair falling over his forehead and with well-cut lips that seemed to want to smile at her, but didn’t. What was he thinking? Probably how to keep her from bothering him and his workmen.
She smiled at him, daring him to smile back, but not prepared when he did. Her heart seemed to dip into her stomach—a reaction she didn’t even want to think about. For while there was much to like about Mathew Sterling, his views were so opposite from hers on so many levels and—
“Millicent?”
She heard Julia call her name and broke her gaze. “I’m sorry. Did you say something, Julia?”
“I asked how dinner with Elizabeth and John went.”
“Very well. She’s a very good cook.”
Julia and Elizabeth were boarders at Heaton House together for several years until Elizabeth and John married. “They wanted to speak to Matt and me about a chance they might have to do some articles on the building he’s working on. They want me to take photos.”
“Oh, I did wonder why they asked just the two of you,” Julia said.
Millicent was glad she’d told her why they’d been invited and that Julia’s feelings hadn’t been hurt. “I’m not sure Matt’s boss will be agreeable to it, but they wanted us to know about the possibility.”
“Would you have to go up high to take your photos?” Julia lowered her voice.
“Yes. But the Tribune editor asked for me specifically and I don’t think I can refuse this kind of exposure.”
“Oh, that is an opportunity, isn’t it?”
Millicent nodded. “One I don’t want to turn down. Nor do I want to accept and not be able to carry through. I’ll be praying for the Lord to guide me in this decision.”
“I’ll pray, too,” Julia said.
“So will I,” Emily added.
“Please do, for I truly am not sure what to do.” She could only hope the Lord would let her know sooner rather than later.
* * *
The next afternoon at quitting time, Matt stretched and gazed out at the view. The taller this building became, the more of the city and surrounding area he could see. He loved looking out to the ocean and the ships that moved in and docked, or eased out into the Atlantic. He turned and picked out Macy’s, where Emily worked, and the huge Siegel-Cooper company on Sixth Avenue where Stephen was employed. He knew right where to look to see the top of Heaton House in Gramercy Park. He loved looking up at the sky and feeling closer to the Lord somehow.
But much as he enjoyed working up here, he couldn’t help remember the fear he’d seen in Millicent’s eyes and the trepidation he’d heard in her voice. But she was also one of the most independent, stubborn women he’d ever met, and he wouldn’t be surprised at all if she took the offer—if it came about.
“Hey, boss.” Burl Callaway, the man Matt counted on to train the newer men on the job, came up to him. “Looks like we’ve almost caught up where we ought to be after Jim and Ned got hurt. Have you heard how they’re doing?”
“I checked in on them Sunday afternoon and they should be back next week,” Matt said.
“That’s good to know.”
“Yeah, it is. How’s that new guy...Ed...doing?”
“He’s a hard worker, just needs to learn a few more things.”
Matt nodded. The kid was young, but they needed the help. “Just make sure he puts his tools where they’re supposed to go. And we need to tie down the tarp over there,” Matt motioned to a tarp flapping in the breeze.
“I’ll see to it.”
Matt watched as Jack Dennison and Tom O’Riley, two of his best workers, finished making sure the area they’d been working in was cleaned up and in order before waving good-night.
Matt waved goodbye to some of his other men as they called it a day, and then made sure everything was secured for the night. As foreman, it was his responsibility and he didn’t take it lightly. Once he was satisfied nothing was amiss, he looked out over the city one more time before calling it a day and heading to the freight elevator that would take him down to street level. He was taking off his work belt to hang in the locker room when he heard footsteps. He turned to see his supervisor approaching.
“Sterling! You’re just the man I want to see.”
“Oh? What’s up, Mr. Johnson?”
“Well, the boss man just told me he’s agreed to give some reporters and a photographer free access to the building to do a series of articles. Says you might know them.”
“Afraid I do. I was hoping he’d say no.”
Johnson chuckled. “I’m glad to hear you think like I do. But we aren’t the ones who make the decisions. He is and we’ve got to ‘help in any way we can.’”
“Yes, sir.”
“I suppose if you know them, you also know one of the reporters and the photographer are women?”
“I do.” He wasn’t going to tell the man about Millicent being petrified of heights, although he wondered if he should.
“Well, it’s going to be up to you to see that none of them get hurt.”
Matt let out a long sigh. “I can’t say that thrills me, but I’ll do my best to keep them out of harm’s way.” Especially Millicent—he knew John would be watching out for his wife.
“I know you will. Not sure when they’ll begin, but I’ll let you know soon as I know. Or, since you’re friends with them, you can let me know if you find out anything first.” The slap on the back Matt received did nothing to calm the frustration he felt over their boss actually agreeing to the crazy idea. No one needed inexperienced people on a building site like this.
But he didn’t have a say, so he just nodded. “Will do.”
“I know I can count on you, Sterling. See you tomorrow.” With that Johnson gave a wave and walked away.
Matt wondered if Millicent had heard the news yet. It truly was a golden opportunity for her and he could understand why she felt she must accept it. But it wouldn’t be easy on her. He shrugged. It wasn’t going to be easy on him, either.
He was attracted to Millicent—more than he was comfortable with and way more than he should be. And she’d looked so pretty the night before, dressed in a blue-and-white summery outfit that made her eyes appear even bluer and her blond hair lighter.
Even when they disagreed on something—and that was often—he felt more alive around Millie than any other woman he knew. Distancing himself seemed to be the only way to counteract it. And trying to do that was difficult enough living in the same place. How could he manage putting distance between them when it’d be his job to watch over her while she took those photographs?
Matt headed to his trolley stop while silently praying, Dear Lord, I don’t know what Your plan is, but if possible, I’d sure appreciate it if You’d nudge Millie to turn down this offer from the Tribune and give her another opportunity to make a name for herself. Please forgive me if I’m being selfish, but only You know what I’m dealing with here. If it’s Your will that she take the offer, I accept it, but oh, Lord, I sure hope it’s not.
Somehow he wasn’t surprised to see John standing at the trolley stop when he got there—they sometimes rode home together, on their way to their respective homes. His friend grinned from ear to ear, alerting Matt to the fact that John must have heard the news.
“We got the assignment,” he said.
He couldn’t help but be happy for John even as he dreaded the weeks to come. “I just heard. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Matt. This means a lot to me and Elizabeth.”
“I know it does. Has Millicent been told?”
John shook his head. “No. I telephoned Elizabeth, though, and she’s going to get in touch with her.”
Matt nodded.
“I thought we could meet tomorrow evening at the ice cream shop to do some planning on when would be best for your crew for us to come to Park Row.”
“Good idea. I’ll check with Millicent when I get to Heaton House. She might need more time to make a decision.”
“We do need an answer by tomorrow evening.”
“I’m sure she’ll have one for you by then.” She didn’t have any choice.
* * *
Millicent checked on the last photos she’d developed that morning. It wasn’t a paying job, wasn’t actually a job at all, but something personal. All the boarders, Mrs. Heaton’s family and the former boarder couples had gone on a picnic to Central Park a couple of weekends earlier, where she’d taken snapshot after snapshot.
She smiled now as she took them down from the drying line strung up in a storage closet on the third floor that Mrs. Heaton let her use for a darkroom. At one time, Mrs. Heaton’s son Michael had allowed her to use a storeroom in his office building. But being able to do her developing at Heaton House made things much easier—at least until she could afford to open her own shop one day. What a dream come true that would be—to have a studio where she could take photos and develop them all in one place. But was she willing to face her fears to make things happen faster?
She’d gone out earlier in the day to look at the Park Row Building John and Elizabeth wanted her to photograph. Her heart had begun to race as she’d looked up shielding her eyes against the sun to see how high the structure climbed into the sky. The actual floors only went a little over halfway up the steel frame, but still, the floored part stood taller than any of the surrounding buildings. When finished, the Park Row would be the tallest in the city. She’d shuddered and swallowed hard, willing her heart to slow down at the very thought of being up so high.
Thinking about it made her queasy now. “Dear Lord, please give me guidance in what to do if John and Elizabeth get the assignment,” she whispered. “I would so like to do this and I think I’d enjoy looking out on the city from that vantage point. Matt’s stories have always made me want to see what he does from up there. I’d really like to get past this fear I don’t understand. Maybe this offer is just what I need to get over it. Lord, I’d appreciate your help in letting me know what to do. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
Millicent turned out the light and closed the door before heading down to her room. While Christmas was still several months away, she’d decided to make Mrs. Heaton a photograph album of the group outings and the photos she’d taken of them at Heaton House.
Letting herself into her room, she laid the photos on the desk that looked out onto Mrs. Heaton’s small garden and then hurried to the bathroom to freshen up for dinner. She’d work on the album when she came back up later that night.
The aroma wafting up the staircase made her tummy rumble and she realized how hungry she was. The telephone rang just as she reached the bottom of the stairs and she hurried to answer it. “Heaton House.”
“Millicent?”
“Yes. You sound excited, Elizabeth, have you heard something?”
“We did. We have the assignment and we’re wondering if you’re going to take the photos for us. Have you decided if you’ll be our photographer?”
Millicent’s stomach did a dive while apprehension warred with excitement. “I wasn’t expecting to have to make up my mind quite this soon. I—”
“I understand. And I’m sorry, but we really need your answer by tomorrow, please.”
“All right, I’ll have one for you by then.”
“Thank you, dear friend. Have a good evening.”
Millicent hung up the receiver and prayed once again, Dear Lord, please help me to know what to do. Then she joined the others in the front parlor to wait for Mrs. Heaton to call them to dinner.
Julia and Joe, along with Stephen and Emily, were there, and just as she wondered if Matt was going to be late, he rushed in. His damp hair told her he’d probably just got home and she hoped there’d been no more accidents at his work.
“You running late again, Matt?” Joe asked.
“A little. But I made it before—”
“Dinner is ready,” Mrs. Heaton said from just outside the dining room, interrupting what he’d been about to say.
They all headed across the foyer and Matt seated their landlady and then held Millicent’s chair out for her before taking his seat beside her. Joe and Stephen performed the same courtesy for Julia and Emily.
Mrs. Heaton asked Matt to say the prayer, and then Gretchen and Maida began to serve the meal of roast beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans and rolls. Meals at Heaton House were always something to look forward to, along with the table conversation.
Their landlady always asked how each of their days went, which helped get conversation started and led to easy rapport among them all. Millicent remembered how welcomed she’d felt from the very first night at Heaton House. It’d meant so much to her that she’d tried to emulate Mrs. Heaton’s example when the new boarders came in. But tonight her attention wasn’t on the conversations going on around her. All she could think of was the decision she needed to make.
Once they’d finished their desert of coconut cake, they all headed toward the parlor once more, and Millicent and Matt both turned to one another.
“May I speak to you for a moment?” Matt asked.
“Of course. I wanted to tell you Elizabeth telephoned—”
“And she told you the news? My boss told me this afternoon and then I ran into John at the trolley stop. Have you made up your mind?”
“Not yet. I was hoping to have more time to make a decision. I told Elizabeth I’d let her know tomorrow. I’m sure they really want an answer now, but—”
“I understand. John wants to meet with us tomorrow evening to make plans.”
“I suppose I’d better do some serious thinking and praying.”
“Might be a good idea. And just so you know, I’ve been assigned to keep you safe while you take your photographs.”
“Oh...well, that does make me feel better, I suppose.” She managed a smile.
“You don’t have to take the offer, Millie.”
“I know.”
They walked toward the foyer. “I’m sure there’ll be another one of these days.”
“Perhaps. I assume you want me to say no.”
“It might make my job easier.” He grinned but then turned serious and surprised her when he said, “Actually, Millie, I want you to do whatever you believe the Lord is leading you to do.”
He sounded so sincere Millicent felt bad for presuming she knew what he was thinking. “Please say a prayer I get some direction soon.”
“I will.”
Millicent nodded. “Thank you. I think I’m going on up. Good night.” She headed upstairs. Oh how she wished she and Matt weren’t so different, that he didn’t disapprove of her starting her own business. Especially now she’d seen a side of him he’d never shown her before—his strong belief in letting the Lord guide them.
* * *
As always, the next day passed fairly fast for Matt. There was always much to do and he loved seeing the progress being made. When they broke for lunch, he told his crew about the upcoming photo shoots and wasn’t surprised by their reaction.
“What? Is the boss crazy? He’s letting women up here?” Burl asked.
“He is. I don’t like it much, either, but we don’t have a say in the matter. We just have to watch out for them, and a few of you men need to watch your language, too. You know who you are.” Some of his men talked as if they’d been raised out on a ship somewhere and he certainly didn’t want them offending Elizabeth or Millicent.
“Yes, sir,” several men murmured.
“I don’t like it, though,” Henry said. “I know all too well how easy it is to lose one’s footing up here.”
He was one of the men who’d had a near accident earlier in the week. “I know you do, Henry. I’ll try to keep them away from the edge. I don’t think it will be too much of a problem.” With Millicent’s fear of heights, he wasn’t very worried. But he wasn’t about to tell his men about that fear—they were already skittish about having women on the job as it was.
The rest of the afternoon, they mumbled and grumbled about the upcoming week, but he knew they were just getting their frustration out. Better they do so now rather than later.
Matt wished he could relieve his stress as easily, but it was his friends who were going to be disrupting their work, and he didn’t know who he could complain to, except the Lord. But He already knew how torn Matt was with wanting to help them and not wanting them in his workplace.
When the work whistle blew letting them know it was time to quit for the day, Matt waved goodbye to his crew and after checking the jobs they’d all done to see where they’d begin the next morning, he took off, too.
The men’s grousing had set them back a bit on getting the day’s work done and by the time Matt arrived home, it was almost dinnertime. He hurried downstairs to wash up and made it back up just in time to hear Mrs. Heaton announce that dinner was ready.
He was burning with curiosity to hear Millicent’s decision. Would she decide against taking the offer or would she face her fear?
At the dinner table, he pulled out her chair and heard her whisper to him, “Elizabeth and John want to meet us at the soda shop around eight so we can talk about a schedule of some kind. Will that work for you?”
“You’ve decided to take the offer, then?”
“I have. I telephoned Elizabeth this afternoon.”
Matt nodded. “Eight will be fine with me, then. I’ll meet you in the foyer around seven forty.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Matt wondered if she really were ready for this assignment. But he knew she wouldn’t want any advice from him. She was aware he knew heights frightened her and that he’d been assigned to keep her safe. Her decision was out of his hands and all he could do now was pray that he could keep her out of harm’s way.
* * *
After dinner, Millicent hurried upstairs to neaten her hair and get a lightweight jacket for the walk to the soda shop where she and Matt would meet Elizabeth and John. As the clock in the foyer chimed the time, she rushed downstairs to find Matt standing in the entry to the big parlor talking to the other boarders while he waited for her. Something about his profile, the way that lock of his hair fell across his brow, made her pulse skitter through her veins.
“Are you ready, Matt?”
He turned with a smile. “I am. Just waiting on you.”
“Let’s go, then.”
Once they were on the sidewalk outside, she said, “I hope we won’t disrupt your workday too much.”
He shrugged. “You all won’t be there every day. We’ll catch up if you do.”
“That’s true. I’m not sure what the scheduling will be or how you and the Talbots want to go about it all. I suppose it’s a good thing they want this meeting.”
“I’m sure we can figure it all out.”
Millicent enjoyed the walk with a star-laden sky overhead and lights appearing in the windows of the homes they passed. They turned the corner and walked down to the next, to get to the soda shop the Heaton House group often frequented in warm weather. They didn’t visit it much when the days and nights became much cooler. Somehow ice cream didn’t sound quite as good when it was cold.
Their timing was good. John and Elizabeth were approaching from the other direction and they all reached the shop at the same time.
Their friends’ excitement was evident on their faces and Millicent prayed once more that the Lord would give her courage to do the job she’d agreed to do. She didn’t want to disappoint them and she badly wanted to conquer the fear that threatened to paralyze her. And if she were honest with herself, she wanted to show Matt that she could.
They all entered the shop and Matt looked down at her. “Do you want a sundae or a shake? Or maybe a cone?”
“A chocolate cone, I think.” Millicent began to dig in her reticule for some change.
Matt stilled her digging hand with his. “This is my treat.”
“No, it’s mine,” John said. “After all, you two are agreeing to this because you’re our friends. Come on, Matt. Elizabeth, I know what you want. Why don’t you and Millicent grab that table there by the window before more customers arrive?”
“All right, dear.”
Seeing the look Elizabeth gave her husband, Millicent felt a small stab of envy. She wanted the kind of relationship they had, but she didn’t think it was in her reach. She’d come to believe that all men were against women being independent and owning their own business.
She sighed and followed Elizabeth across the room and took a seat at the small round table overlooking the street. They watched as the young man behind the counter made their cones and handed them to the men, one at a time.
“John is so happy you’ve agreed to help us, Millicent,” Elizabeth said. “He’s thrilled about these articles and so am I. We do love bringing attention to the needs in the tenements and won’t stop doing that, but we’re glad for the chance to do something different.”
“I understand.” And she did. She’d been along with them to take photos several times. “Reporting about the conditions so many live in must get depressing at times and this will be a nice change for the two of you. I’m excited about it, too.”
“I’m glad to hear you are,” John said as he and Matt approached with a cone in each hand.
Matt handed Millicent hers and took a seat beside her while John sat down next to his wife. Millicent took a lick and closed her eyes. She loved chocolate ice cream.
“Well, I thought we should talk about a schedule of some kind, so we all can plan. Matt has said late morning or early afternoon might be best, as the weather will be getting pretty cool going into fall. He’s used to working up high in changing climates, but we are not. So I think the decision should be left to you women to make.”
Millicent and Elizabeth exchanged glances. Both of them were morning people.
“We’d like mornings,” Elizabeth said.
“Sounds good. How about nine?” Matt asked. “That will give us time to get some work done and know what needs to be taken care of for the rest of the day. Hopefully, I can keep the men working instead of ogling you two lovely ladies.”
Millicent felt her face heat at his compliment. “Nine is fine for me. What about you, Elizabeth?”
“Yes. That time is good.”
“We’ll start there. As it gets cooler, we can change the time if we need to. I do feel the need to warn you—I’ve talked to my men, but there are a few whose language is not appropriate for a lady’s ears. Should you hear anything like that, please let me know and I’ll take care of it.”
It was decided they would begin on Friday afternoon.
“We can be as flexible as you need us to be, Matt. My editor will be happy with an article each week if possible, but if not, then hopefully one every other one.”
“That should work well for us. First time up, we’ll show you what’s been done until now and that might be your longest day. After that, you’ll be able to move floor to floor with us.”
Millicent’s stomach fluttered. But was it with excitement or apprehension? She wasn’t sure. She glanced at Matt and found his gaze on her. He smiled.
She answered with one of her own, hoping he couldn’t see how very nervous she felt about it all. When he winked at her, she almost dropped her cone. Oh, that man!
Chapter Three (#ulink_63cf9e7a-0072-5433-a02c-48f66163e434)
The rest of the week Millicent waffled between being excited about the assignment, and fear that she’d lost her mind in agreeing to take it and wanting to find a way to get out of it. She tossed and turned at night until she finally gave it all over to the Lord, asking for peace about her decision. She’d accepted the job and she didn’t want to let anyone down.
Thankful to keep busy with several requests to take family photographs over the next few days, if Millicent wondered why Matt didn’t mention anything at all about the assignment, she told herself it was because he dreaded having people disturbing his workday as much as she dreaded being there.
She’d worked on the album for Mrs. Heaton after coming up from downstairs each night, and Julia and Emily joined her. Emily had to work the coming Saturday, but Millicent and Julia made plans to go to another suffrage meeting that day and decided to make a quick trip to the Ladies’ Mile afterward, so this time when the men asked they could honestly say they’d gone. No need to listen once again to their negative opinion of their attending another meeting.
Still, busy as she’d kept herself, Friday came way too quickly for Millicent. John and Elizabeth picked her up in a hack to have room for her professional equipment, and Millicent felt more nervous than she’d ever been as they met Matt at the bottom of the Park Row Building.
“Come on, let’s go,” Matt said as he led them into the elevator. “I’m glad John helped you get your equipment. I suppose I thought you’d use your Kodak.”
“I wasn’t sure what I’d need,” Millicent said as the elevator began to move. Her stomach did a little flip before settling back in its place and she took a deep breath. She could do this. The Lord was with her and He would get her through.
“I thought I’d stop at each floor so that you’ll be able to see the progress on each one.”
Millicent grasped the rail a little tighter.
“You all right?” Elizabeth asked, looking at her closely. “You’re a little pale.”
No way was Millicent going to admit to being scared—not with Matt there. “I’ll be fine.”
The elevator lurched before coming to a shuddering stop and Millicent’s stomach did a deep dive, while her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
But when the door opened and she saw a mostly enclosed floor, with window openings instead of open space, she began to relax.
“I think I’ll need my tripod and camera for the inside shots,” Millicent said. Matt helped her set it up while Elizabeth and John explored a bit. After she took a few shots, they went up to the next floor and on to the next. Each floor was in varying degrees of construction. Some had offices already enclosed, and others were only framed. They didn’t tarry too long on any landing—only long enough for her to get a few photos of the differences on each. If it weren’t for that jerky elevator, Millicent could say it wasn’t near as bad as she’d thought it would be—until they got to the higher floors, which were mostly open expanses.
“This one is the last one we’ve got floored,” Matt said as the elevator doors opened. “It’s where my men and I are working.”
He went out first to help her and Elizabeth out. Millicent breathed deeply and briefly closed her eyes while his attention was on her friend, trying to fight her way through the fear of being up so high. She opened them again as Matt said, “There’s no ceiling yet, but the floor is solid. Just watch out for equipment and don’t go near where the men are unless I give you permission.”
He took hold of Millicent’s arm and turned to John, who held his wife close. “Follow me.”
As they walked, she caught her breath. Even from the middle of the wide expanse, Millicent saw out to the ocean. “Oh...” she breathed. “It is beautiful up here, Matt.”
“It is, isn’t it? Once you get a little closer, you’ll be able to see more. But you don’t want to look straight down your first time up. But don’t worry. I’m not about to let you get that close to the edge today.”
While the view was everything Matt ever claimed it to be, Millicent began to tremble at the very thought of being near the edge—even though a solid metal rail surrounded it all, she could imagine leaning out too far and—
Matt grasped her arm and turned to John and Elizabeth, bringing her back from where her thoughts were carrying her. “In fact, I don’t want any of you getting near the edge until I believe you’ll be safe and my men can do their jobs without gawking at Millicent and Elizabeth. You’d think they’d never seen a pretty woman before.”
He turned around and strode closer to his workmen. “You men get back to work or I’ll send you home and you’ll be a day short in your pay!”
The men quickly quit staring and returned to doing what they were hired to do, while Matt shook his head and hurried back to Millicent’s side. “I knew it’d be like this.”
“I’m sorry for the disruption, Matt,” John said. “At least we’ll only be here for a while one day a week. Hopefully, they’ll get used to us before long.”
“Oh, they’ll get used to you or they’ll go home,” Matt said. “Come on. You should be able to see the Statue of Liberty from over here.” Matt led her and Elizabeth farther out onto the floor while John followed with the rest of Millicent’s equipment.
He stopped about ten feet from the edge and pointed to the left. “There she is. Can you see her?”
“I can,” Elizabeth said.
“She’s lovely,” Millicent replied. She took her camera from John and set it on its stand in a position to get the best shot at that time of day, and took several photographs of the statue.
In the meantime, she heard Matt point out a man he called Burl to John and Elizabeth, and tell them that they could go ahead and interview him first, and then when the other workmen took their break, they could speak to them while he stayed with Millicent.
She turned her camera a bit and got shots of ships at sea, and then she turned back to Matt a bit too fast and became quite dizzy. As Millicent tried to focus, seeing all the open sky behind him, a wave of nausea washed over her. She swallowed hard and forced a smile.
“You’re white as a sheet, Millicent.” He moved to her side and gripped her arm as if he thought she might collapse. “Do you need to sit down?”
“No! I’m fine. I—” Dear Lord, please give me strength. I don’t want to embarrass Matt in front of all of his men. And she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of him.
“You aren’t fine. You look like you’re going to...be sick.”
She fought back the notion that he was right and stood straight up. Right now, all she wanted to do was run for the hills—if she could find any. And she wasn’t going to give Matt the satisfaction of thinking he was right all along. She gritted her teeth and whispered, “I am not going to be sick, Matt. I can do this.”
“Millicent, as much as I understand how you want to prove something to yourself, this isn’t the place for a woman, especially one who’s nearly paralyzed with fear being up this high,” Matt said in an exaggerated whisper. “You didn’t have to agree to this... I tried to—”
She looked him in the eye. “Mathew Sterling, I am not going to quit. I’d like to take some photos of Central Park from up here. Can you help me get my equipment to where the best view would be?”
He stared at her for several moments, then let out a deep breath and shook his head. “You are without a doubt the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met!” He picked up her tripod and camera and took off in the opposite direction. “Come on, follow me.”
Millicent made a face at his back and followed. Dear Lord, please help me to do this.
She felt Matt’s frustration with her as she began to work again. It fairly radiated off him. But he’d have to get over it.
Millicent took shot after shot of the park, and anything else she found interesting, before turning to Matt once more. “Will it be all right if I get a few photographs of John and Elizabeth and your men?”
“I suppose so. I’ll move your camera—”
“No, I’ll use my Kodak for those. I don’t want them thinking they need to pose. I’d rather get some more natural shots.”
“Do you want me to bring your tripod and camera?”
She shook her head. What she wanted most was distance from Matt. “No, unless they’re in the way. I’ll just walk around—you don’t need to keep watch over me. I’m not going anywhere close to the edge.”
“Millicent, I’m responsible for your safety—”
“I know. And can assure you, I’m not going to do anything to put myself, or your job, in danger. I just want to get in an inconspicuous place to take photos of your crew at work, and to be truthful, you watching my every move makes me nervous.”
Matt closed his eyes and sighed once more, and Millicent sensed she was pushing his patience to the limit but he did make her nervous. “I’ll just stand right over there and get my shots.” She pointed to a place near the elevator where she’d have a good view of the work going on.
“All right. But don’t move from that spot without my knowing it.”
“I promise.”
* * *
Matt watched as Millicent took her Kodak out of her bag and walked over to where she could get the shots she wanted. The woman pushed his patience like no other. But at least over by where his men were she’d be safely away from the edge and he’d be able to keep an eye on her no matter where he was. He breathed a sigh of relief as she began to take her snapshots.
He really thought she might have been sick there for a minute, but he had to give it to her, the woman had grit. He went about his business, making sure the men who weren’t speaking to John and Elizabeth were doing their jobs. It appeared they were trying, although they did occasionally glance over at Millicent. But if they caught his eye on them, they quickly got back to business.
She was very pretty. She wore a blue skirt and a striped shirtwaist of two shades of blue, and her light blond hair was covered with a white hat trimmed in those same shades of blue, making her eyes the color of the sky. He couldn’t blame his men for looking at her; he found it hard to keep from doing so himself. However, keeping Millicent and the Talbots safe while they were up here was his main job, so he didn’t have to keep from watching Millicent.
But when he looked over at her, he found her taking aim at him and he quickly turned and spoke to one of his men. This was turning out to be one of the longest mornings he’d ever spent up here. After about a half hour more, John came up to him and told him they were leaving for the day.
“I can’t thank you enough for this, Matt. We got enough for our first article from talking to Burl and that new young man he’s training. No need to speak to everyone today—not if we’re coming every week.”
“Good, I’m glad you got what you needed.” They walked over to pick up Millicent’s tripod and large camera and took them over to where Elizabeth stood with her. Matt released a sigh of relief that Millicent wasn’t quite so pale now. Perhaps it’d become easier for her with time.
“Do you need me to help get any of your equipment down?” Matt asked Millicent.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ll take it,” John said. “No need to disrupt your work any longer than we have. We’ll get a hack and make sure Millicent gets home safely with it all.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t see you all down safely.” Matt joined them in the elevator for the trip down. “I think Millicent got some good pictures for you today.”
“Oh, I’m sure she did. That’s why we wanted her to join us. Millicent has a knack for finding the very best shots, some we’d never even think to get,” Elizabeth said.
Matt set the elevator to go to the ground level and as it picked up speed, he looked over at Millicent to find her looking down and grasping the handrail that ran all the way around the elevator. Her knuckles were white, telling him that she wasn’t any more comfortable in the elevator than she’d been on the top floor. Why was she putting herself through all this? If she was as good a photographer as John and Elizabeth claimed, there’d be other opportunities to get her photographs in the paper, to make a name for herself. It must be pure stubbornness on her part.
Still, something in the way she held herself made him want to put his arm around her, hold her up and protect her.
The elevator came to a jerky stop and he couldn’t keep himself from grasping her arm. “Are you all right?”
She looked up at him, her eyes brilliantly blue in a face that’d gone quite white once more. She gave a brief nod. “I am, thank you.”
“I should’ve warned you that going down is a faster ride than going up.” Her eyes were huge and he felt horrible that he’d not told her sooner. Even Elizabeth looked a little pale.
Millicent gently pulled away and followed Elizabeth and John out of the elevator, leaving Matt feeling like a cad for giving her a hard time earlier. “I’ll see you back at Heaton House.”
She only nodded as John hurried to procure a hack for the group. Matt waited until they were on their way before going back up to where his men were working.
He pulled out his pocket watch. Only thirty more minutes and they’d break for lunch, then he’d have to wait the whole afternoon before he could go home and find out how Millicent was doing. He shook his head and sighed. Why hadn’t he tried to talk his boss out of this harebrained idea?
* * *
Millicent went straight to her room when she arrived home, then to the bathroom to get a cool washcloth to put on her head. She lay down on the bed, covered her pounding forehead with the damp cloth and closed her eyes. Dear Lord, thank You for getting me through this morning. Please help this pain disappear and let me not give away how horrible I feel at dinner tonight. I can’t let Matt sense how much I dread going back. Please help me to get past this sick feeling. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Thankfully, she soon dozed off and was able to sleep the afternoon away. By dinnertime the throbbing pain had eased to a dull ache and she felt well enough to freshen up. She gave a little more color to her cheeks by pinching them. At least she didn’t have to go back to Park Row for another week. Surely that would get easier as time went on.
She made it downstairs just as Mrs. Heaton was calling everyone to dinner and she was glad that she didn’t have to join the others in the parlor. But Matt seemed to be at her chair before she was and as he pulled it out, he whispered, “How are you feeling?”
She forced herself to smile at him. “Better. Thank you for helping me find the shots I wanted and for putting up with us.”
He seemed taken back for a moment before he smiled and said, “Only doing my job. I’m glad you’re feeling well.”
He looked as if he truly cared, and Millicent couldn’t resist that smile. “Thank you. So am I.”
Mrs. Heaton asked Stephen to say the blessing, and as Gretchen and Maida began to serve dinner, she turned to Millicent.
“How did your day go, dear? Was the view as wonderful as Matt claims?”
“Oh, the view is magnificent, Mrs. Heaton. It’s all Matt’s said and more.”
“You didn’t get dizzy?” Julia asked.
Dear Julia, she would ask a question Millicent didn’t want to answer. But she couldn’t evade answering—not with Matt sitting next to her. “I did a bit. I bent and turned too fast, but I managed. Barely.”
“She toughed things out,” Matt said. “But I thought for sure she was going to—”
“Matt! Not at the dinner table!”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“Did you let her get too close to the edge, Matt?” Julia asked.
“I did not. Nor will I. But the first time up that high can make a person a little light-headed.”
“I’ll get used to it,” Millicent said. She had to.
“I think it’s very brave of you to face your fears, Millicent dear,” Mrs. Heaton said.
“I don’t know how brave I am, Mrs. Heaton. But it’s the chance of a lifetime for my career. This will enable me to open my own shop much sooner.”
* * *
There it was again—her career, her business and her shop. He’d never met a more independent woman who was so determined to make her own way. His ex-fiancée wouldn’t follow him to New York and wanted to go her own way, but he’d never gotten the impression she didn’t want a man to take care of her, like he did from Millicent. From what he’d heard from back home, Carla had already found a man who owned his own business and was now planning their wedding.
But with Millicent’s plans, there didn’t seem to be any room in her life for a man who might want to make a living with her, take care of her. Not when she was determined to do everything herself.
Matt couldn’t deny she’d been brave today and he admired her for it. She’d also looked very vulnerable and he’d wanted to hold her until the world stopped spinning for her. But she’d pulled away from him and made it clear she didn’t need or want his help.
He sighed as he tried to listen to the conversations going on around the table. But he couldn’t get his mind off the woman beside him. She still didn’t feel well; he could tell because she’d only taken small portions of each dish and now she seemed to be just moving everything around on her plate.
A look of relief came over her face as others began to get up from the table and he pushed his own chair back to help her with hers. Everyone headed to the parlor, but Millicent hung back for a moment.
“You coming, Millicent?” Julia asked. “We could play a game of charades if you do.”
Matt watched Millicent take a deep breath, as she seemed to draw on some inner strength. He was certain she wasn’t going to let anyone know how bad she felt.
“All right. I’ll play for a bit,” she said, confirming his instinct. But that realization both vexed him and saddened him as she followed the others into the parlor. That she’d taken this assignment and was putting herself through unnecessary stress made him want to shake her. But the fact she did and was so resolute about keeping her word—even if it made her lose her appetite—made him want to comfort her. But that seemed to be the last thing she’d want from him—and that saddened him most of all.
Over the next hour she did seem to relax and enjoy herself and for her sake he was glad. Surely the worst was behind her. She’d gone up and faced her fear of heights even though it hadn’t been easy. Maybe by next Friday she’d feel more comfortable. He’d pray she would. And that he wasn’t so...tense when she was there. Perhaps his frustration wasn’t with her at all but with himself.
Chapter Four (#ulink_8d91c367-be55-5dde-a4b1-c03b1dbe6c3d)
The next day Millicent woke up early, dressed and hurried up to the darkroom on the third floor to develop the photographs she’d taken at the Park Row Building. She’d slept better than she thought she would after napping most of the afternoon the day before, but then she and Julia and Emily stayed up late working on the albums for Mrs. Heaton. They’d definitely decided one wouldn’t do—there were too many photos and too many years to put in it. And Millicent looked forward to taking more photographs to put in them over the coming years.
But for now she needed to concentrate on the ones she was developing. She placed the paper in the developer solution and began to grin as the first image became clear. She could tell it was a great shot. Millicent rinsed it, fixed it and washed it, then hung it up before going on to the next plate. By the time she’d hung them all to dry, she was confident Elizabeth and John would be pleased with the outcome.
She especially loved the ones of the Statue of Liberty and the others showing the landscape out from the top of Park Row. After she finished the developing, she cleaned up her equipment and left the photos to dry completely while she went down to breakfast.
Almost everyone was there and she hurried to fix her plate at the sideboard before joining them around the table.
“Slept in, did you?” Stephen teased.
“No, I’ve been working. I wanted to get the Park Row photographs developed before we take off for the day.”
“Take off? Where are you all going today?” Joe asked.
“I have to work but Julia and Millicent are going to the Ladies’ Mile and out and about,” Emily informed him.
Millicent hoped Emily didn’t mention the suffrage meeting she and Julia were going to before they went shopping. But Emily put her fears to rest when she turned the conversation around. “What are you men doing today? Got another ball game lined up?”
“As a matter of fact, we do.” Matt’s gaze caught Millicent’s and his smile made her chest tighten. He seemed to be in a very good mood. “How did your shots turn out? I’d like to see them before you hand them over to John and Elizabeth.”
“I’d be glad to show them to you once they are completely dry. I want to get them to the Talbots before Monday.” And then she could forget about going back to Park Row for a few days at least.
“I’ll be glad to walk you over, if you’d like,” Matt offered.
Why was he being so nice? He didn’t like any of this and it’d been obvious yesterday. “I’ll telephone Elizabeth now to ask if this evening or tomorrow will be better—unless you have plans?”
“No, after dinner or tomorrow will be fine with me.”
Millicent nodded and hurried out of the room and asked the operator to ring through to the Talbots. Elizabeth picked up after only two rings and was quite excited to hear the photos would be ready that evening.
“Oh, please do bring them over tonight, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Matt said he’d walk me over, so we’ll be there after dinner.”
“Wonderful. We look forward to your visit.”
Millicent hung up the receiver and turned around to find Matt standing behind her. She placed a hand over her rapidly beating heart. “Oh! I—”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Emily just left for work and Julia has gone upstairs to get ready for your outing, so thought I’d save you a trip back to the dining room. When did she say would be best?”
“This evening.”
“Good. I’m sure they’re eager to see them.”
“I think so. I’m excited about showing them. You can look at them at the same time since you’re escorting me over.”
“That will be fine, as long as I get to see them.” He grinned. “I’m sure you got some great shots. It was interesting to watch you at work.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
He seemed almost as surprised at his answer as Millicent was at his comments. She shrugged. “Well, I do love what I do and I hope it shows in each photograph I take.”
“I understand. That’s how I feel about what I do, too.”
“Millicent!” Julia called. “Are you down here? I’m ready to go when you are.”
“Yes, I’m right here.” Millicent hurried into the foyer, with Matt right behind her. “I’ll go get my hat and reticule.”
Julia looked surprised to find Matt with her. “Oh good. We don’t want to be late.”
She turned back to Matt. “Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
Millicent started up the stairs as she heard Matt ask Julia, “How can you be late for shopping? The stores are barely open.”
Her steps slowed as she waited for Julia’s answer. “We don’t want to be late for any sales. Things fly off the shelves if it’s a good one, and they usually are on Saturdays.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
Millicent took a deep breath and hurried up the rest of the stairs. At least he didn’t ask if they were going to another one of those meetings.
He’d been so agreeable this morning, she didn’t want to start anything up about the suffrage movement. If she thought he’d listen, she’d gladly have a conversation with him, but Matt and the other men’s minds seemed to be made up about it. And their stubbornness about it all was a reminder of why she needed to guard her heart from any man—and she must keep it in mind at all times. Particularly on those days Matt was so nice to her!
Millicent pinned on her favorite autumn hat, a brown straw trimmed with green-and-blue ribbon and peacock feathers, grabbed her reticule and hurried back downstairs. She breathed a sigh of relief to find only Julia in the parlor waiting for her. “Did the men leave already?” she asked.
“Yes. Although I don’t know where they were all going, only that Stephen went to work and Joe and Matt were going to meet at the Polo Grounds for the ball game later,” Julia said.
“Why is it they don’t seem to think they need to tell us where they are going, but they want to know every little thing we’re doing?” Millicent asked.
“Good question. I’d like to know the same thing.”
“My dears, it could be my fault,” Mrs. Heaton said, entering the foyer.
“Your fault? How could that be, Mrs. Heaton?” Millicent asked.
“Well, you know I opened this boardinghouse in order to give young women a safe place that felt like home away from home, but I wanted you safe when out and about after dark, too. That’s the reason I opened it up to men, too. Julia can probably remember when there were almost no men living here except for my son Michael.”
“Yes, I do. But it didn’t last long, once I told you I was walking to the soda shop that first summer.” Julia chuckled and shook her head.
“That’s when I made the rule that women must be in a group or ask a man to escort them to and from wherever it was they wanted to go at night. Michael was called into service that night.”
“And he was quite gallant about it.” Julia chuckled. “But he was only one man and there were around six ladies living here at the time. Soon thereafter—the next day, I think—you put an ad in the newspapers and that’s when Ben and John and Luke arrived.”
“Quite true, Julia. And I inform the men who live here of my rules when they move in and perhaps they think of themselves as your protectors.”
“Maybe so,” Millicent said, her heart sinking just a bit. If she were going to have a protector, she’d much rather it be because the man cared about her and not because he’d been asked to. But Mrs. Heaton’s explanation made sense. “But we don’t want them to know about the meetings, Mrs. Heaton. They get all riled up when they’re mentioned.”
“I understand, and I support you not telling them about the meetings you’ve been going to, as they are all in the daytime. But should you ever decide to go to one at night...” Mrs. Heaton’s brow wrinkled as she paused. “I think it might be time I spoke to the men about all of this.”
“Oh, Mrs. Heaton,” Millicent said. “The last thing we want is for you to feel you must defend us or—”
Their landlady chuckled. “Dear ones, I think each one of you is capable of taking up for yourselves, but I don’t think the men residing here quite understand your interest in the suffrage movement. Perhaps it’s time for them to learn that even though they do not have to like it, they must learn to accept your interest in aspects of the movement.”
“Would you like to come with us?” Millicent asked.
“Not today, I’m going to visit little Marcus. But I’d like to go soon. Let me know when the next one is.”
“I believe there is another in a few weeks, but we should find out more today. We’ll see you this evening.”
* * *
Stephen took off in one direction and Matt and Joe took off in the opposite one. Then they split up at the next corner. Joe worked for Michael Heaton’s investigative-protection agency and needed to finish up some paperwork. They’d all meet up later at the Polo Field for the last game of the season. For now Matt was off to explore the city. He loved looking at the architecture of the downtown buildings, the mansions on Fifth Avenue and the neighborhoods not far from Gramercy Park.
Much as Matt loved working on the high-rises, lately he’d been wondering what it would be like to work on remodeling the inside of an old structure or building new ones from his own design. He didn’t want to work for someone else for the rest of his life, but he’d wanted to get all the experience he could before striking out on his own.
But with all Millicent’s talk of opening her own business, he’d begun to realize he’d like to do the same thing—to be his own boss and be able to work on his own designs instead of someone else’s. He’d put the dream off, but he’d been giving it more and more thought lately.
He was eager to get a look at the photographs she’d taken from the Park Row Building. The views were spectacular, the building was one of a kind and he wanted to see if she’d done it all justice. He knew Millicent was talented but wished she weren’t so independent—way too much so for him to be thinking about her as much as he’d been doing. He didn’t want to have feelings for such a strong-willed woman.
And yet, his chest tightened as he thought of her. In spite of his resolve not to care about her other than as a friend, her smile seemed to shoot straight through to his heart and just touching her hand to help her out of the elevator sent sparks up his arm.
Something about her made him want to be her protector—when she’d declare that was the last thing she needed. Still, as long as he was responsible for her at his workplace, she’d have to accept that he would be looking out for her. She had no choice. And neither did he.
Chapter Five (#ulink_39516b18-44c4-5dde-8153-9fd7f39c9a8f)
Millicent and Julia left the suffrage meeting more excited and hopeful than ever that one day they might get the vote.
They were in high spirits as they stopped at one of the small cafés, which catered mostly to women who were out shopping. They were given a menu and decided on the lobster salad with rolls and English tea.
Millicent looked around the room and smiled. “We don’t have anything like this back home in Virginia. Most women don’t go out for lunch at all. I think there’s a tearoom, but that’s all. After living in a small town where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, it’s very refreshing to go shopping, even if it’s mostly window-shopping, in so many stores in one trip. To be able take lunch out instead of rushing home.”
“The only time constraints we have are those of Mrs. Heaton and they do make perfect sense when you think about it,” Julia said. “This is a large city and many women do go missing each week. We just don’t hear about all of them. Sometimes it makes the news, but then only if they’re from a well-known family. Others seem to disappear never to be heard from again.”
Millicent shivered at the thought. She knew dangers lurked in this city—there were times when Mrs. Heaton took in women as temporary boarders who had no place to go and paid nothing until they could decide what to do or where to go. And she realized, from talking to others, most boardinghouses were not run like Heaton House.
“I do hope she’ll come to a meeting with us one day,” Julia said.
“So do I. Wonder if any of our married boarders would want to go, too,” Millicent asked.
“They might,” Julia said. “I’d think Kathleen would be very interested and possibly Rebecca. I’m not sure about Violet or Elizabeth, but we could ask them.”
“It will probably depend on how their husbands feel about the suffrage movement. Surely they wouldn’t object to their wives getting the vote. But then, consider how Matt and the other men feel.” Millicent looked at Julia. “They’ve made us very aware they don’t like the movement.”
“But perhaps it’s not the voting they have a problem with. Some of the women want more than that...” Julia sighed. “I can understand why men aren’t thrilled with the movement as a whole, but all we want is the right to vote and I can’t understand why that would upset them so.”
“It would help if they cared to find out what is truly important to us about it. But there’s no sense in stirring up friction at Mrs. Heaton’s. They’re her boarders, too.”
The waiter brought their lunch and after they finished eating they headed out to shop. Millicent loved going to the Ladies’ Mile. Even if one didn’t buy anything, they could find what the latest fashion was and try to adapt their wardrobe in the least expensive way. Sometimes a new accessory or some new trim to put on a hat would do the trick.
They headed for Macy’s, where they spotted Emily from afar. She waved to them and hurried to keep up with the man beside her.
“Wonder who he is,” Julia said.
“Probably her supervisor.”
“Most likely. He’s not bad looking,” Julia replied. “No wonder she never seems to mind putting in long hours every once in a while,” she quipped.
“Now, Julia, Emily is quite good-natured and she seems to truly love her work.”
“That’s true.”
“Emily’s hours will be longer as Christmas nears and they start on the window displays Macy’s is known for,” Millicent said.
“I worked some evenings when I first started at Ellis Island, but thankfully, once I was promoted, I’ve rarely had to work evenings or weekends,” Julia said.
“At least Emily doesn’t have to stay late now. I think she said November would be bad, but she seems to be excited about working on the window displays,” Millicent said. “I’m glad she lives at Heaton House. At least she knows she’ll have a warm meal waiting when she gets home.” Mrs. Heaton always made sure her boarders were taken care of no matter what hours they got home.
As she and Julia visited the ladies department, Millicent realized how blessed she was to be able to set her own hours. But there was a downside, too. She did need a regular income so as not to dip into the money her grandmother had left her. Money she was saving to use to set up her own shop.
“You’ve grown awfully quiet, Millicent. What’s wrong?” Julia asked as the stopped in front of the lace collar display case.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just hoping John and Elizabeth and their boss like the photos I’m taking of the Park Row Building. If I can make enough on this assignment, the extra money will go a long way in helping me be able to open my shop sooner.”
“Do you like the photos you’ve taken so far?”
Millicent grinned. “I do.”
“Then you don’t need to worry. You’re more critical of your work than anyone and their boss asked for you to be in on the assignment. I’m sure they’ll love them.”
“Thanks, Julia. I needed your encouragement.”
Julia handed the salesclerk the lace collar she’d been looking at and paid for it. They waited while the young woman wrapped her purchase and handed the small package to Julia. Then she turned back to Millicent. “You’re a silly goose, you know? How can you not realize what a good photographer you are?”
“I just want to be able to make a living for myself.” They strolled over to the millinery department to browse the newest styles.
“I understand. Believe me, I do,” Julia said. “I want to get married one day, but I don’t know if I ever will and even if I do, I want to be sure I can take care of myself. I’ve seen too many women marry only to have a man to provide for them, and most of them aren’t happy. Nor are their husbands, I’d think. When—if—I ever marry, I want it to be for love and I want the man I marry to respect me as much as I want to respect him.”
“I feel the same way.” But Millicent wasn’t sure finding that kind of man was possible. Suddenly, Matt came to mind, and she was surprised that she thought of him when talking of marriage. They were as opposite as two people could be.
And yet, her heart quickened thinking about Matt taking her to Elizabeth and John’s that evening. Would he like the photographs she’d taken? Why did his opinion matter so much to her? She wished it didn’t, but for some reason only the Lord would understand, it mattered a lot.
“Ready to go back to Heaton House?”
“Mmm, yes, let’s go home.” They hurried to the El, hoping it would be quicker than the trolley.
“We’ll be home long before the men get back from their game. They’ll have no reason to question why we were late getting back for dinner,” Julia said.
And unlike last weekend, there’d be no reason for any tension on the way to the Talbots’ tonight. Millicent settled back in her seat and sighed with relief.
* * *
Matt and Joe came home just in time to freshen up for dinner. They were in high spirits—the Giants had won their game and they’d had a great day.
“How did your shopping go?” Matt asked as he held out Millicent’s chair for her.
“Wonderful. Julia and I bought trim to dress up our Sunday hats for winter after looking at the newest styles in Macy’s.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” Mrs. Heaton said as Maida and Gretchen began to serve dinner.
As always it was quite good. Mrs. Heaton’s menu tonight was fried fillets of halibut, shredded potatoes and slaw, with lemon cake for dessert. Filling, but not too heavy for this time of year.
Conversation covered the shopping trip and the baseball game before Mrs. Heaton said, “We have a new boarder joining us soon. Do any of you remember Georgia? She’s the daughter of a friend of mine.”
“The one who was Michael and Violet’s houseguest?” Matt asked.
“Yes, that’s her. She’s a teacher and wants to find a position here in the city.”
“I remember her,” Millicent said. “She seemed very nice.”
“She’ll be taking Rebecca’s old room. I’m sure you’ll all welcome her.”
“Of course we will. It’s always fun to get to know new boarders,” Julia said. “And it will be good to fill out the table once more. Especially when Emily and Stephen begin working longer hours getting ready for Christmas.”
Millicent couldn’t argue with that. “We’ll do our best to make Georgia feel welcome, Mrs. Heaton. But she’ll feel at home here from the start and that’s because of you.”
“Why, thank you, Millicent dear.”
As everyone finished his or her meal, Matt turned to Millicent. “Let me know when you’re ready to go to the Talbots’.”
“I just need to get the photographs and we can go.”
“So, you two aren’t going to be here, either?” Julia asked as they all headed toward the foyer.
“We won’t be gone long. We’re taking the photos to Elizabeth and John. I’m sure we’ll be back before Emily and Stephen get home. She had a meeting. He’s escorting her home tonight, isn’t he?”
“He’s supposed to. I’m sure he’d telephone if there’s a problem, and I’m needed,” Joe said.
“He would,” Matt assured him.
“I’ll go get the photos and be right back.” Millicent went upstairs, but took a quick moment to neaten her hair and pinch her cheeks before grabbing the photos she’d placed in an envelope earlier. She hurried back down to find Matt waiting for her in the parlor with Julia and Joe.
“Do you two want to go with us?” Millicent found herself asking. “I’m sure Elizabeth and John would be glad to see you.”
“Want to go, Julia?” Joe asked.
Julie shook her head. “Not this time. They want to talk about the articles and if we tag along they might think they need to entertain us.”
“Are you sure?” Millicent didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed that she and Matt would be alone on the way over and back to the Talbots’.
“What about you, Joe?”
“Nah. I’ll stay and keep Julia company.”
“We won’t be long.” Millicent turned back. “You tell Joe about our plan while we’re gone and I’ll tell Matt.”
“That’s a good idea—but they must promise to keep it secret.”
“Secret?” Joe said. “Hmm, now my curiosity is up.”
“I’ll tell you, but maybe we should take a walk, though, so we aren’t overheard.”
“Julia, there’s no one here but us and—” Joe broke off when Julia placed her finger over her lips.
“Shh. I’ll tell you later.”
“Well, I can’t wait to hear what this is all about. Come on, Millicent, let’s get going.” Matt touched Millicent’s elbow, sending a current of electricity flying up her arm as they headed toward the foyer.
“See you after a while,” Julia said.
“Yes, later,” Millicent said, giving a little wave as Matt hurried her out of the house and down the street.
“Now, tell me, what’s all this secrecy about?”
“I will, but I might as well wait until we get to John and Elizabeth’s, because we want their help, too.”
“Their help? What is this all about?” Matt sounded almost impatient.
“You’ll see.” They turned the corner and she continued, “We’re almost there and I’ll only need to tell it once.”
“Oh, all right. I suppose you’re right.”
Millicent giggled. “Why, Matt, did you actually admit I might be right about something?”
“I never said you couldn’t be.”
“No, but—” She shook her head.
“But what?”
“Nothing. It’s not important.” She didn’t want to ruin the evening. He’d told her she was right—there was no need to rub it in. “Let’s hurry so I can let Elizabeth and John in on the secret, too.”
Matt grasped her elbow and did as she asked, causing her to pick up her pace to keep up with him. She was almost breathless when they arrived at the Talbots’, but John opened the door as soon as she knocked and they were quickly welcomed inside.
* * *
Millicent and Matt were shown into the Talbots’ parlor, where Elizabeth had tea ready to serve.
“How did you know when we’d be here?” Millicent asked. “I forgot to telephone and let you know.”
“I took care of the task while you were upstairs.” Matt grinned at Millicent.
“Thank you for minding my manners for me, Matt,” Millicent said.
He chuckled. “My pleasure, I assure you.”
“And I’m glad you put on the kettle, Elizabeth. I think I could use a cup of tea.” Maybe it would calm her nerves. “But first, I want to give you these. I hope they’ll fit your first article.”
She handed the packet of photographs to John and he lost no time in opening it. Millicent watched as he looked at the first one and handed it over to Elizabeth. John did the same thing with each photo, all without saying anything. Then he and Elizabeth both looked up at the same time and grinned.
“These are wonderful, Millicent. It’s going to be hard to choose which ones to use,” John said.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Elizabeth said. “I really like the one you got of Matt talking to his men, and the shot of John and I speaking to Burl—and the ones of Central Park and the Statue of Liberty from up so high. What a view!”
“Oh, I’m glad you like them. I was worried you might not find any that would work.”
“May I see them?” Matt asked.
Millicent’s heart began to hammer in her chest and only then did she realize it was his opinion that mattered most to her.
Elizabeth handed them to Matt and then began to pour their tea and pass around the tea cakes she’d made.
Millicent took her cup with trembling fingers as she watched Matt study each photograph. It was impossible to decipher what he was thinking. He began to nod his head and when he looked at her, there was an expression she couldn’t read. She waited for him to speak.
“Elizabeth and John are right. These are very good. I’m glad I’m not the one having to make the decision on which ones to use.”
His words soothed her jitters and surprised her at the same time. She looked at John and Elizabeth. “Maybe I don’t need to take any more for a while?”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Elizabeth handed her the plate of teacakes to choose from. “You aren’t getting out of this assignment.”
“Besides, there will be changes each time we go. Small or large, we want to capture the progress as it goes,” John said.
Millicent chose a small iced cake, took a bite and sighed. She’d agreed to do this and she wouldn’t back out—no matter how much she might want to.
She watched Matt take two small cakes and pop a whole one into his mouth. He grinned when he caught her gaze on him and this time she had no problem reading his expression. She’d seen it before. The glint in his eyes seemed to be challenging her to say something.
Millicent sat up a little straighter and took another bite of her cake.
“Are you going to tell us your secret before we leave?” Matt asked.
“Secret? What secret?” Elizabeth asked.
Millicent took a sip of tea before answering, “Well, it’s something I and the rest of the ladies of Heaton House thought you might all like to be part of. I started an album for Mrs. Heaton as a Christmas present and then Julia and Emily began to help me with it and we decided this is something everyone could be a part of and we could continue to add albums to the collection through the years.”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Millicent. What do we need to do?”
“Well, between the photos I’ve taken since I’ve been there and those Julia has collected over the years, we thought it would be a good idea to get everyone to comment on the ones they’re in, give a memory to the photo. Emily will write the captions in her beautiful handwriting and we’ll add them throughout the album.”
“How are you going to do all of this without Mrs. Heaton knowing?” Matt asked.
“It won’t be easy—at least not with the first albums we give her. We want to get the photos to those who are in them to comment about and we can put them together upstairs of an evening or on a weekend. After we give them to her the first time, she’ll know what we’re doing and we won’t need to be so secretive.”
Elizabeth got up and freshened their tea. “Did you want the other couples to help?”
“Oh, yes. I’d love for them to.”
“Why don’t you plan on coming over here with the photos one evening—John and I can host an album making party and have you all over to work on them.”
“That would be ideal!”
“Won’t you need album supplies—paper and covers and those kind of things?” Matt asked.
“Yes, we will. We thought everyone could chip in on the supplies.”
“I’d be glad to provide them. You and I moved in about the same time and, well, I’ll only be able to comment on the photos that were taken since then, but I really do want to help with this project.”
“I’ll gladly let you help in that way, Matt. Thank you all. Elizabeth, would you mind letting the other couples know what we’re up to?”
“Of course. And I’ll get back to you soon as I find out what night might work best for everyone.”
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Janet Lee Barton
An Unexpected Match Millicent Faircloud feels her dreams are coming true when she's assigned to photograph the construction of New York's tallest building—until she realizes it means working with fellow boarder Matt Sterling. He's handsome and kind, but the stubborn man doesn't understand her ambition.Matt can't help but admire Millicent's spirit. But he's been hurt by a woman who cared only for her career, and he won't make that mistake again. Is Millicent more of the same, or would she put family first? If Matt can open his mind to new ideas, he may find love to be the best Christmas present of all.
An Unexpected Match
Millicent Faircloud feels her dreams are coming true when she’s assigned to photograph the construction of New York’s tallest building—until she realizes it means working with fellow boarder Matt Sterling. He’s handsome and kind, but the stubborn man doesn’t understand her ambition.
Matt can’t help but admire Millicent’s spirit. But he’s been hurt by a woman who cared only for her career, and he won’t make that mistake again. Is Millicent more of the same, or would she put family first? If Matt can open his mind to new ideas, he may find love to be the best Christmas present of all.
“You want one photograph for yourself?”
Millicent asked as she looked into Matt’s eyes.
“Yes. I do. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
Matt felt as surprised as Millicent looked at his request. The words had just popped out of his mouth, but he didn’t want to take them back. He wanted a photo of them together. But why? And how would having a photo of the two of them help him distance himself from her? And did he even want to do that now?
He picked up another photograph. This one Julia had taken when they’d all gone to Central Park one day. Again, this one was of him and Millicent, and it appeared they were sparring a bit. They were grinning at each other, but Millicent’s eyebrow was raised as if challenging something he’d said. He’d seen that expression on her quite often in the past year and, if truth be told, he’d enjoyed bringing it about.
JANET LEE BARTON loves researching and writing heartwarming romances about faith, family, friends and love. She’s written both historical and contemporary novels, and loves writing for Love Inspired Historical. She and her husband live in Oklahoma and have recently downsized to a condo, which they love. When Janet isn’t writing or reading, she loves to cook for family, work in her small garden, travel and sew. You can visit Janet at janetleebarton.com (http://www.janetleebarton.com).
The Mistletoe Kiss
Janet Lee Barton
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
To my editor, Giselle Regus,
for helping to make my stories better.
To my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray,
for believing in this series.
To my readers who love the series as much as I do.
And as always,
to my family who encourages me,
to my husband, Dan,
who is always supportive of me,
and most of all, to my Lord and Savior
for showing me the way.
Contents
Cover (#ufa2e95eb-61dd-5037-8174-82654c811fea)
Back Cover Text (#ue6177801-9141-5e07-b512-c17a06c2a423)
Introduction (#ub94ffaef-6c72-5966-b4f0-640cac261213)
About the Author (#u9f4f8086-ddd9-52bd-8286-37f3f62889a6)
Title Page (#uebe8893e-f5df-523f-8379-016f7a2356c2)
Bible Verse (#u550b3d13-880b-5f53-bcea-48e8bf5ddfda)
Dedication (#u8af0fa66-15c9-54d7-8dc9-94501c58b4e2)
Chapter One (#ulink_16dfb05e-5c4e-5e69-9897-6868252a8afb)
Chapter Two (#ulink_97f66843-ac7d-5738-bb67-7ee5fbffe76c)
Chapter Three (#ulink_7fb333ce-eae5-5fcf-88d2-2b200111a325)
Chapter Four (#ulink_8ba17907-7e7f-5020-9880-9148438cc678)
Chapter Five (#ulink_44ec56d1-ac68-5135-ae3b-0942b230f948)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ulink_57af22b4-83a5-534e-b6f0-48dcfa21470e)
New York City, Heaton House, September 1897
Mathew Sterling entered the parlor at Heaton House surprised to find only the other male boarders gathered there, having just parted ways after the baseball game to get ready for dinner on time.
“Are we early?” he asked, looking at the clock on the mantel.
“No, we aren’t, but dinner is going to be late. Mrs. Heaton said the ladies should be arriving soon and we’d sit down to eat shortly after they get home,” Joseph Clark said.
“Where are they?” Matt asked. It wasn’t like any of them to be late to a meal unless they were working. “Did they go shopping?”
“Perhaps, but Mrs. Heaton didn’t say,” Stephen Adams explained. “Just that we’d eat when they got back. I hope it’s soon. I’m hungry. I know I had those Cracker Jacks at the game but they don’t hold one forever.”
“No they don’t,” Matt said. He’d enjoyed his day off going to the Giants game with Stephen and Joe. But the weather had been so nice, they’d walked back from the Polo Grounds where the game had been played, and all that walking mixed with the cool crisp air made him even hungrier than normal.
They heard the front door open and the three lady boarders entered—Matt knew because he’d come to recognize Millicent’s tinkling laugh anywhere. They seemed to be quite excited about something, from all the chattering going on between them.
Then suddenly everything went quiet and Julia Olsen, the boarder who’d been there the longest, peeked into the parlor. “We know we’ve kept you waiting for dinner. I’ll go tell Mrs. Heaton we’re here now.”
“Sorry we’re late.” Millicent Faircloud hurried into the parlor. She looked very pretty, her cheeks flushed and her deep blue eyes sparkling. It was evident she’d enjoyed the outing.
“We’re glad you’re finally here. We’re starving,” Stephen said.
“I don’t see any packages—you didn’t go shopping?” Matt smiled, thinking they’d gone to the Ladies’ Mile for the day. Shopping was one of their favorite things to do.
“No,” Emily Jordan answered. She was one of the newest boarders at Heaton House, along with Stephen and Joe. The three of them had moved in at the same time a few months earlier.
“Where’d you go, then?” Joe asked.
“We went to a suffrage meeting,” Emily offered. “First time I’ve even been to one. It was wonderful!”
“You went to one of those meetings?” Joe asked.
“They can be dangerous, Emily!” Stephen said.
“It was in broad daylight, gentlemen. Nothing happened,” Emily said. “I quite enjoyed it. Don’t you think women should have the right to vote?”
“Vote!” Joe exclaimed. “I—”
“How would you feel if we had that right and you didn’t?” Emily asked.
Her questions left both Stephen and Joe speechless for the moment and Matt turned to see Millicent shaking her head at Emily. “So you’ve brought Emily ’round to your way of thinking now, Millie?”
“I don’t control anyone’s thoughts, Mathew. If I did, I’d have changed yours by now.” Millicent came back at him. “Emily found out Julia and I were going to a meeting and wanted to know what they were all about, so we invited her to come with us.”
“Oh, I see and—”
“Dinner is served,” Mrs. Heaton said from the foyer. “Come along, all. I’m sure you must be starving by now.”
They all moved toward the dining room and Matt fell into step beside Millicent. “I don’t know why you—”
“Shush, Matt. No more talk about the meeting,” Millicent whispered. “We’ll never agree about them and we don’t want to upset Mrs. Heaton with our arguing. You know she doesn’t like any of that at her dinner table.”
Matt let out a huge sigh and gave a short nod of agreement. He loved their landlady. She was a mother figure to them all and no one liked seeing her upset. Besides, Millie, as he thought of her, was right, he couldn’t see them ever agreeing on the women’s movement. From what he’d heard about it, it wasn’t all about getting the right to vote; they encouraged women—even married ones—to be more independent. And how much more independent could Millie get—wanting to open up her own business? And why did it matter to him anyway?
Before he could offer Millicent his arm, Stephen beat him to it and Matt’s chest tightened as he watched her put her hand on his arm. He turned to Julia and offered her his, escorted her into the dining room, pulled out her chair and scooted it in closer to the table. He then took his own seat next to Millicent.
When Mrs. Heaton asked him to say the blessing, he had to take a minute to put all thoughts of Millie’s desire for independence and those suffrage meetings out of his mind.
“Dear Lord, we thank You for this day and Your many blessings. We thank You for this meal we are about to partake of, and for Mrs. Heaton, who always takes such good care of us. May we keep that all in mind as we enjoy the meal she planned for us. In Jesus’s name we pray, amen.”
* * *
Millicent breathed a sigh of relief at Matt’s prayer. She hoped his words would serve to remind everyone that some conversations didn’t belong at the dinner table.
To keep peace, and from past experience, the women had decided it best not to mention the meetings or anything about the movement around the men, if possible. But she and Julia evidently forgot to inform Emily when she moved in. It wasn’t that they didn’t want the men to understand; they very much did. But one couldn’t force a man’s comprehension. Millicent sighed inwardly. It seemed impossible that the men living at Heaton House would ever grasp why the women were all so interested in the movement—especially Mathew Sterling. She’d discovered since they both moved into the boardinghouse within days of one another the year before that he was one of the most stubborn men she’d ever met.
As Mrs. Heaton’s maids, Gretchen and Maida, began to serve the meal, Millicent tried to put her and Matt’s differences out of her mind and concentrate on the wonderful dishes being passed around.
“How was the ball game?” their landlady asked, guiding the conversation to a safe subject. Mrs. Heaton seemed to have a way of quieting any disturbance between her boarders almost before it began.
“It was great,” Matt said. “Our Giants won by one point in the last play of the game.”
“They did a bang-up job!” Stephen added.
“Oh, Millicent, I forgot to tell you—Elizabeth telephoned and asked me to remind you about having Sunday night supper with them tomorrow,” Mrs. Heaton said.
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.” Millicent smiled at her landlady. “I’m looking forward to it. She said they want to talk to me about something but didn’t say what.”
“Maybe they want you to take more photos of one of the apartments in the tenements,” Julia suggested.
“They might. It’s been a while since I took any for them.” She’d been blessed when Elizabeth and John, one of the couples who used to live at Heaton House before they married, asked her to take photographs for some articles they were doing. It’d brought her some much-needed business and continued to do so now. But it still wasn’t enough that she felt she could open her shop yet.
Matt handed her a basket of rolls and smiled at her, as if asking, Are we okay now? She sighed, raised an eyebrow and smiled back, trying to let him know that if he didn’t bring up the topic of the meeting again, neither would she.
But as she took the basket from him and their fingers brushed, what she wished for most was to quiet her suddenly racing pulse. Why did this man have the ability to do that to her? He was very nice looking—with his almost black hair, sky-blue eyes and smile that showed even, white teeth. But he also could make her more frustrated than anyone else. She’d felt that way ever since the first night she’d moved in, when he’d made clear he disapproved of any woman wanting to open her own business.
He’d brought Robert Baxter to mind, the man she’d almost become engaged to. That was, until she’d seen his true side and realized all he wanted was someone to take care of his needs. From that time on, she’d decided she’d be better off making a living for herself than giving her heart to a man with no interest in her ideas and opinions. A man who thought his word was law. She was so glad she’d seen through Robert and never accepted his proposal.
Matt’s attitude and that reminder seemed to have set the tone for their relationship from the first—in spite of any fleeting attraction she felt for him. And over time, when the topics they disagreed on weren’t brought up, they managed to get along for the sake of Mrs. Heaton and the other boarders.
Millicent hoped that would continue—but perhaps it was better to be reminded of her resolve to not fall in love, in order to keep on guard when Matt did something to make her heart flutter.
As dinner came to an end, Millicent found she wasn’t in the mood to spend time in the parlor with everyone. She didn’t want to take the chance of another argument. “I think I’m going on up tonight. I’m kind of tired. ’Night, all,” she said as she headed out the door. But Matt stopped her with a hand on her arm before she got to the staircase.
“May I speak with you a moment, Millicent?”
“What about? I don’t—”
“Don’t worry. It’s not about the meeting.”
“Oh? What is it, then?”
“John went to the game with us this afternoon and asked me to come to Sunday night supper at their place, too. Said he might need my help on something.”
“I wonder what they want to talk to us about.”
“I don’t know, but I suppose we’ll find out tomorrow. I thought I’d offer to escort you over. Seems silly not to go together and there’s no need in having Joe or Stephen escort you when we’re both invited.”
Her heart gave a little flip. She didn’t think they’d ever gone anywhere, just the two of them. But someone would have to escort her anyway—it was one of Mrs. Heaton’s hard-and-fast rules. The female boarders must go in a group or have an escort if they went out at night.
At first Millicent thought her rule a bit old-fashioned—it was nearing the turn of the century after all. But then she’d found out Mrs. Heaton’s daughter had gone missing and that was the reason she’d started the boardinghouse to begin with—so young women would have a safe homelike place to live. Thankfully, Mrs. Heaton and her daughter had been reunited, but the edict remained in place. She must have an escort.
“Oh, I... Yes, you’re right. Thank you for your offer.”
“You’re welcome. John said six-thirty, so I’ll meet you in the parlor at six, if that time works for you?”
“That will be fine. Good night.”
“’Night, Millicent.”
Millicent turned and hurried upstairs. What could John and Elizabeth possibly want to talk to the two of them about?
* * *
The next evening Millicent came downstairs and entered the parlor to find most of the boarders gathered waiting to be called to supper. Apparently, Matt hadn’t come up from the men’s quarters yet, and she felt quite proud of herself for being ready before him.
She’d chosen a brown skirt with pleated ruffles on each side, a green-and-brown bodice trimmed in green ribbon and a short green jacket to complete the outfit.
“Millicent, you’re all dressed up. Are you going out?” Emily asked.
“Yes, I am. Remember, I’m going to the Talbots’ tonight.”
“Oh, that’s right. We’ll miss your company,” Stephen said. “Do you need an escort?”
“No she doesn’t,” Matt answered from behind her, something in his tone sending her heart pounding. “I’m escorting Millicent tonight, as I’ve been invited to dinner, too.”
He looked quite striking in a brown suit, cream shirt and brown-and-cream tie. Matt worked as a foreman on a high-rise building that once finished would be the tallest in the city. Normally he hurried home in his work clothes to change into nicer pants and a clean shirt. That attire always seemed to emphasize the broadness of his shoulders—but in his Sunday suit, they seemed wider still, and Millicent fought down the fluttery feeling his presence quite often brought her.
“You ready to go, Millie?”
She’d let him know the first time he ever shortened her name that she wanted to be called Millicent only. But it hadn’t stopped him. In fact, she was certain he did it just to get a reaction out of her.
“I’ve been ready and waiting for several minutes.”
He grinned, as if he knew she was irritated with him, but he didn’t apologize, only crooked his arm and said, “Then let’s get going. We don’t want to be late, do we?”
She fought to keep from showing her vexation. That was exactly what he wanted her to do, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction—not here in front of the new boarders. She took his arm and gave him a smile. “Of course not. Let’s be on our way.”
But as soon as they were out of sight from any of the boardinghouse windows, she disengaged her hand and looked straight ahead as they made their way to the trolley stop.
“Did I say something to upset you, Millie?”
“Why, no, Matty, whatever would make you think that?”
He threw back his head and laughed, causing her to expel a breath of frustration. But his laughter was contagious and Millicent giggled in spite of herself—frustrating her to no end. They had the oddest relationship ever. One minute he had her laughing with him, the next he said something that tempted her to wallop him over the head with her parasol—or anything else within range. They reached their stop a few minutes early and she hoped they could make it through the evening without him irritating her to that point.
Their trolley arrived and Matt motioned Millicent on first, then followed her up the aisle, taking a seat beside her once she’d slid over by the window. She pretended to be looking at the scenery outside while trying to relax before they arrived at the Talbots’. It did no good to let Matt get under her skin—doing so only served to frustrate her further.
It was a beautiful September evening. Not too cool yet, with only a light breeze, making her glad she had a jacket on. If she didn’t already know she and Matt were totally wrong for each other, she’d be thrilled with the opportunity to spend this time with him without the others around.
“How is the quest to open your business going?” Matt asked.
His question surprised her. Matt rarely showed any interest in her profession, and she wasn’t going to pass up the chance to talk about it. She loved being a photographer.
“Actually, quite well. After taking wedding photographs of Luke and Kathleen, John and Elizabeth, and Ben and Rebecca, word is getting around, and I have several weddings booked this month. I’m thankful my business is growing. I’m hoping to find the right place for a studio before long.”
“That’s good news, I suppose. You do take very good pictures.”
What was going on with him? He’d never complimented her about her photographs or anything else she did. “Why, thank you, Matt. It’s something I love to do. I’d be taking photographs even if I never got paid for it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I would. But since I do need to support myself, I might as well be in charge instead of working at a position I don’t like.”
He gave a little nod. “I suppose I can understand that. It’d be awful to have to work at a job I hated.”
“Are you saying we might have something in common after all, Matt?”
Matt laughed. “Oddly enough, I think we might.”
Their trolley came to a stop and they hurried out into the aisle, Matt blocking the people from behind until Millicent made it out in front of him.
He crooked his arm once more and raised an eyebrow as if challenging her to take it. The way she’d felt when they first got on the streetcar would have her ignoring the polite custom, but there was no need to start their visit with friends on bad terms. She took his arm and they headed down the residential street to the Talbots’.
John opened the door wide for them to enter. “Come in, you two. We’ve been watching for you.”
“I hope we aren’t late,” Matt said. “If so, it’s entirely my fault.”
“No, you aren’t late,” Elizabeth said from behind her husband. “You’re right on time. It’s wonderful to see you both.”
She led them into the parlor and Millicent noticed the brass bowl the boarders all had chipped in to buy their friends for their housewarming party. It held a nice fern and sat in the bay window. “Your home is as cozy as Heaton House, Elizabeth.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “I must say I admire how Mrs. Heaton makes it feel like a true home for all who live there. Much of my decorating skills, such that they are, came from seeing how she arranged things and the little touches she added. Let me just go dish things up and we’ll be ready to eat very soon. Come keep me company, Millicent. John, you and Matt can take your seats now if you wish.”
The ladies soon returned and began placing dishes in the dining room.
“We took the table’s leaves out to make it a bit smaller, so that it has a more intimate feel when we’re dining with only a few guests. Most nights John and I take our meals in the kitchen, so it feels like a real event when we eat in here,” Elizabeth said as she took her seat at the end of the table nearest the kitchen. John seated his wife while Matt pulled out a chair for Millicent before taking the one across from her.
John said the blessing and began serving the roast chicken his wife had prepared. Once they were all served, Matt turned to John. “Now tell us, what it is you want to discuss with Milli—cent and me?”
Millicent was surprised at his effort not to call her Millie. Lately he’d begun to use it even more, and she appreciated his restraint at the moment.
“As you know there’s been a couple of near-fatal accidents to others working on your building in the last few months.”
Millicent’s stomach clenched. Matt never mentioned anything about those accidents—at least not in her presence.
“I do. And there were several less serious ones last week. Thankfully, no one was badly hurt, although it could have been disastrous if their harnesses hadn’t held them. Are you doing an article about the accidents for the Tribune?”
Because of the articles he and Elizabeth worked on, him for the New York Tribune and her for the popular ladies magazine the Delineator, describing the appalling conditions of the tenements, John had recently become one of the paper’s top reporters. He shook his head. “Not an investigative piece so much as informative one. Many people aren’t aware of how dangerous it is to build those sky-touching buildings you love to work on. I’m hoping my boss will get your supervisor’s permission for me to do a series of articles on the building. He wants me to write about how these high-rises are built and the danger in working on them. It’d be great publicity.”
“So what is it you’re thinking of doing?”
“I’d like to be able to go floor to floor and interview the workers, see for myself how dangerous it is and—”
“Elizabeth, aren’t you worried about that?” Millicent found herself interrupting.
“About John going up so high? Not really. I feel if they get behind the article, they’ll keep him away from the really dangerous areas.”
“I’m sure we would,” Matt said. “But what do you need me to do? I’m not the boss. I can’t give you permission.”
“I know. But should he bring it up to you, should he want to know what you and the men under you think about it, I’d like you to give me a good word.”
“You’ll have it.”
John nodded. “I appreciate it.”
“But how does any of this have anything to do with me?” Millicent asked. “Or is there something different you want to talk to me about?”
“Not really different,” Elizabeth said. “You take such wonderful photographs—you tell her, John.”
“My editor at the paper asked if we could talk you into being the official photographer for the articles. Elizabeth is going to do a different take for her articles for the Delineator—more of a human-interest piece on what the families of these men think about the work they do. Our articles about the tenements were received so well, our editors love the idea of doing the different kinds of views of the Park Row Building and we’re really excited about it.”
“What kind of photographs will you be wanting me to take?”
“You’d need to take the ones you feel would best illustrate the stories we want to write.”
“What do you think, Millicent?” John asked. “We know you don’t like heights, but you are the best photographer we know and we didn’t even have to bring your name up. You’ve been asked to come in with us. Will you do it?”
Millicent let out a deep breath. There was no doubt in her mind this could be the opportunity she’d been waiting for. But why did the chance of a lifetime have to involve her going to the top of what would be the tallest building in the city—the very thing that paralyzed her with fear?
“Even if you get permission to go up, John, I’m not sure my supervisor would ever agree to letting Elizabeth and Millicent up where the men are working. And with Millicent’s aversion to heights—”
“Oh, surely when he knows she’s the one the Tribune trusts to do the job—”
Matt shrugged.
“We won’t know until he’s asked. I’ll make my decision then,” Millicent said decisively. “At least I have time to think it over.”
“The color drained out of your face at the thought of it now.” Matt glanced over at John. “There’s no need to put her through—”
“It’s Millicent’s decision to make, don’t you think, Matt?” John asked.
“Of course it is.” Matt shrugged again. “It may be a moot point anyway. I just don’t see how having a woman on the job is going to happen.”
Not if he had any say about it, Millicent was sure of that. And that attitude irritated her. If the opportunity to do this photo shoot came about, she’d pray and ask the Lord to ease her fear, at least long enough to get the job done. One thing she knew for sure. She certainly wasn’t going to let Matt’s opinion keep her from trying.
Chapter Two (#ulink_e0567ce7-7407-5a23-b016-57527a9cc971)
By the time Millicent and Matt left Elizabeth and John’s, she had a raging headache. After their friends told them they’d be in touch once John’s editor gave them the go-ahead on the articles, they’d played a few games of charades after dinner. But Millicent could think of little else than what she would do if Matt’s supervisor said yes. Now on the trolley back home, she rubbed her temple and closed her eyes.
“You know,” Matt began, “you don’t have to say yes to this, Millicent. I realize it’s a good opportunity, but I also know how emphatic you’ve been about your fear of heights. If you don’t want to—”
“Matt, John’s articles are probably going to make the front page, and the exposure of my photos could bring in enough business that I could finally open my shop.”
“What if you agree and then find you can’t...do it? What will that do for your reputation?”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence in me.”
“Now, Millie, you know I—”
“I’m hoping no one but you and the Talbots will know that I fear heights. I’m pretty sure John wouldn’t splash that information all across the front page.”
“No. Of course he wouldn’t. But—” Matt shook his head and sighed. “The decision is yours.”
“I’m not pretending this will be an easy choice. I’ll need to think things over and pray about it. And I don’t know if I will accept the offer or not. That’s so high up.”
“You might not want to look down.”
“But isn’t the view the best part?”
“It is for me, seeing the city laid out below, but it might not be for you. You’d probably get dizzy.”
Was he trying to talk her out of even contemplating taking the job? Millicent felt a little queasy just thinking about looking down at the streets below, but she certainly wasn’t going to let Matt know. “I’m sure it’s a sight to see.”
“It is.”
Their trolley stopped and Millicent was thankful for the break in conversation as they got off and hurried to Heaton House. The night air was cooling quickly and she was glad to be inside once more. The boarders were in the parlor with Julia playing the piano as she often did. But she stopped playing as Millicent and Matt joined them, and one of the maids brought in tea for everyone.
“You must be a mind reader, Maida,” Matt said.
“No, sir, I just heard the front door open and knew that at this time of night, you and Miss Millicent must be getting home.”
“How nice of you, Maida.” Millicent took a cup from her and took a sip. She loved living at Heaton House. It’d become home in a short time. And even having boarders come and go hadn’t changed that feeling. For one thing, they still saw all those who’d moved out fairly often, and though there’d been a period of time when Mrs. Heaton’s table felt a bit empty, she’d managed to fill it back up with new people in no time.
As Millicent looked over at Matt, she found his piercing blue gaze on her, and her pulse began to race as it had the first time she saw him. He was very handsome, that lock of dark hair falling over his forehead and with well-cut lips that seemed to want to smile at her, but didn’t. What was he thinking? Probably how to keep her from bothering him and his workmen.
She smiled at him, daring him to smile back, but not prepared when he did. Her heart seemed to dip into her stomach—a reaction she didn’t even want to think about. For while there was much to like about Mathew Sterling, his views were so opposite from hers on so many levels and—
“Millicent?”
She heard Julia call her name and broke her gaze. “I’m sorry. Did you say something, Julia?”
“I asked how dinner with Elizabeth and John went.”
“Very well. She’s a very good cook.”
Julia and Elizabeth were boarders at Heaton House together for several years until Elizabeth and John married. “They wanted to speak to Matt and me about a chance they might have to do some articles on the building he’s working on. They want me to take photos.”
“Oh, I did wonder why they asked just the two of you,” Julia said.
Millicent was glad she’d told her why they’d been invited and that Julia’s feelings hadn’t been hurt. “I’m not sure Matt’s boss will be agreeable to it, but they wanted us to know about the possibility.”
“Would you have to go up high to take your photos?” Julia lowered her voice.
“Yes. But the Tribune editor asked for me specifically and I don’t think I can refuse this kind of exposure.”
“Oh, that is an opportunity, isn’t it?”
Millicent nodded. “One I don’t want to turn down. Nor do I want to accept and not be able to carry through. I’ll be praying for the Lord to guide me in this decision.”
“I’ll pray, too,” Julia said.
“So will I,” Emily added.
“Please do, for I truly am not sure what to do.” She could only hope the Lord would let her know sooner rather than later.
* * *
The next afternoon at quitting time, Matt stretched and gazed out at the view. The taller this building became, the more of the city and surrounding area he could see. He loved looking out to the ocean and the ships that moved in and docked, or eased out into the Atlantic. He turned and picked out Macy’s, where Emily worked, and the huge Siegel-Cooper company on Sixth Avenue where Stephen was employed. He knew right where to look to see the top of Heaton House in Gramercy Park. He loved looking up at the sky and feeling closer to the Lord somehow.
But much as he enjoyed working up here, he couldn’t help remember the fear he’d seen in Millicent’s eyes and the trepidation he’d heard in her voice. But she was also one of the most independent, stubborn women he’d ever met, and he wouldn’t be surprised at all if she took the offer—if it came about.
“Hey, boss.” Burl Callaway, the man Matt counted on to train the newer men on the job, came up to him. “Looks like we’ve almost caught up where we ought to be after Jim and Ned got hurt. Have you heard how they’re doing?”
“I checked in on them Sunday afternoon and they should be back next week,” Matt said.
“That’s good to know.”
“Yeah, it is. How’s that new guy...Ed...doing?”
“He’s a hard worker, just needs to learn a few more things.”
Matt nodded. The kid was young, but they needed the help. “Just make sure he puts his tools where they’re supposed to go. And we need to tie down the tarp over there,” Matt motioned to a tarp flapping in the breeze.
“I’ll see to it.”
Matt watched as Jack Dennison and Tom O’Riley, two of his best workers, finished making sure the area they’d been working in was cleaned up and in order before waving good-night.
Matt waved goodbye to some of his other men as they called it a day, and then made sure everything was secured for the night. As foreman, it was his responsibility and he didn’t take it lightly. Once he was satisfied nothing was amiss, he looked out over the city one more time before calling it a day and heading to the freight elevator that would take him down to street level. He was taking off his work belt to hang in the locker room when he heard footsteps. He turned to see his supervisor approaching.
“Sterling! You’re just the man I want to see.”
“Oh? What’s up, Mr. Johnson?”
“Well, the boss man just told me he’s agreed to give some reporters and a photographer free access to the building to do a series of articles. Says you might know them.”
“Afraid I do. I was hoping he’d say no.”
Johnson chuckled. “I’m glad to hear you think like I do. But we aren’t the ones who make the decisions. He is and we’ve got to ‘help in any way we can.’”
“Yes, sir.”
“I suppose if you know them, you also know one of the reporters and the photographer are women?”
“I do.” He wasn’t going to tell the man about Millicent being petrified of heights, although he wondered if he should.
“Well, it’s going to be up to you to see that none of them get hurt.”
Matt let out a long sigh. “I can’t say that thrills me, but I’ll do my best to keep them out of harm’s way.” Especially Millicent—he knew John would be watching out for his wife.
“I know you will. Not sure when they’ll begin, but I’ll let you know soon as I know. Or, since you’re friends with them, you can let me know if you find out anything first.” The slap on the back Matt received did nothing to calm the frustration he felt over their boss actually agreeing to the crazy idea. No one needed inexperienced people on a building site like this.
But he didn’t have a say, so he just nodded. “Will do.”
“I know I can count on you, Sterling. See you tomorrow.” With that Johnson gave a wave and walked away.
Matt wondered if Millicent had heard the news yet. It truly was a golden opportunity for her and he could understand why she felt she must accept it. But it wouldn’t be easy on her. He shrugged. It wasn’t going to be easy on him, either.
He was attracted to Millicent—more than he was comfortable with and way more than he should be. And she’d looked so pretty the night before, dressed in a blue-and-white summery outfit that made her eyes appear even bluer and her blond hair lighter.
Even when they disagreed on something—and that was often—he felt more alive around Millie than any other woman he knew. Distancing himself seemed to be the only way to counteract it. And trying to do that was difficult enough living in the same place. How could he manage putting distance between them when it’d be his job to watch over her while she took those photographs?
Matt headed to his trolley stop while silently praying, Dear Lord, I don’t know what Your plan is, but if possible, I’d sure appreciate it if You’d nudge Millie to turn down this offer from the Tribune and give her another opportunity to make a name for herself. Please forgive me if I’m being selfish, but only You know what I’m dealing with here. If it’s Your will that she take the offer, I accept it, but oh, Lord, I sure hope it’s not.
Somehow he wasn’t surprised to see John standing at the trolley stop when he got there—they sometimes rode home together, on their way to their respective homes. His friend grinned from ear to ear, alerting Matt to the fact that John must have heard the news.
“We got the assignment,” he said.
He couldn’t help but be happy for John even as he dreaded the weeks to come. “I just heard. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Matt. This means a lot to me and Elizabeth.”
“I know it does. Has Millicent been told?”
John shook his head. “No. I telephoned Elizabeth, though, and she’s going to get in touch with her.”
Matt nodded.
“I thought we could meet tomorrow evening at the ice cream shop to do some planning on when would be best for your crew for us to come to Park Row.”
“Good idea. I’ll check with Millicent when I get to Heaton House. She might need more time to make a decision.”
“We do need an answer by tomorrow evening.”
“I’m sure she’ll have one for you by then.” She didn’t have any choice.
* * *
Millicent checked on the last photos she’d developed that morning. It wasn’t a paying job, wasn’t actually a job at all, but something personal. All the boarders, Mrs. Heaton’s family and the former boarder couples had gone on a picnic to Central Park a couple of weekends earlier, where she’d taken snapshot after snapshot.
She smiled now as she took them down from the drying line strung up in a storage closet on the third floor that Mrs. Heaton let her use for a darkroom. At one time, Mrs. Heaton’s son Michael had allowed her to use a storeroom in his office building. But being able to do her developing at Heaton House made things much easier—at least until she could afford to open her own shop one day. What a dream come true that would be—to have a studio where she could take photos and develop them all in one place. But was she willing to face her fears to make things happen faster?
She’d gone out earlier in the day to look at the Park Row Building John and Elizabeth wanted her to photograph. Her heart had begun to race as she’d looked up shielding her eyes against the sun to see how high the structure climbed into the sky. The actual floors only went a little over halfway up the steel frame, but still, the floored part stood taller than any of the surrounding buildings. When finished, the Park Row would be the tallest in the city. She’d shuddered and swallowed hard, willing her heart to slow down at the very thought of being up so high.
Thinking about it made her queasy now. “Dear Lord, please give me guidance in what to do if John and Elizabeth get the assignment,” she whispered. “I would so like to do this and I think I’d enjoy looking out on the city from that vantage point. Matt’s stories have always made me want to see what he does from up there. I’d really like to get past this fear I don’t understand. Maybe this offer is just what I need to get over it. Lord, I’d appreciate your help in letting me know what to do. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
Millicent turned out the light and closed the door before heading down to her room. While Christmas was still several months away, she’d decided to make Mrs. Heaton a photograph album of the group outings and the photos she’d taken of them at Heaton House.
Letting herself into her room, she laid the photos on the desk that looked out onto Mrs. Heaton’s small garden and then hurried to the bathroom to freshen up for dinner. She’d work on the album when she came back up later that night.
The aroma wafting up the staircase made her tummy rumble and she realized how hungry she was. The telephone rang just as she reached the bottom of the stairs and she hurried to answer it. “Heaton House.”
“Millicent?”
“Yes. You sound excited, Elizabeth, have you heard something?”
“We did. We have the assignment and we’re wondering if you’re going to take the photos for us. Have you decided if you’ll be our photographer?”
Millicent’s stomach did a dive while apprehension warred with excitement. “I wasn’t expecting to have to make up my mind quite this soon. I—”
“I understand. And I’m sorry, but we really need your answer by tomorrow, please.”
“All right, I’ll have one for you by then.”
“Thank you, dear friend. Have a good evening.”
Millicent hung up the receiver and prayed once again, Dear Lord, please help me to know what to do. Then she joined the others in the front parlor to wait for Mrs. Heaton to call them to dinner.
Julia and Joe, along with Stephen and Emily, were there, and just as she wondered if Matt was going to be late, he rushed in. His damp hair told her he’d probably just got home and she hoped there’d been no more accidents at his work.
“You running late again, Matt?” Joe asked.
“A little. But I made it before—”
“Dinner is ready,” Mrs. Heaton said from just outside the dining room, interrupting what he’d been about to say.
They all headed across the foyer and Matt seated their landlady and then held Millicent’s chair out for her before taking his seat beside her. Joe and Stephen performed the same courtesy for Julia and Emily.
Mrs. Heaton asked Matt to say the prayer, and then Gretchen and Maida began to serve the meal of roast beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans and rolls. Meals at Heaton House were always something to look forward to, along with the table conversation.
Their landlady always asked how each of their days went, which helped get conversation started and led to easy rapport among them all. Millicent remembered how welcomed she’d felt from the very first night at Heaton House. It’d meant so much to her that she’d tried to emulate Mrs. Heaton’s example when the new boarders came in. But tonight her attention wasn’t on the conversations going on around her. All she could think of was the decision she needed to make.
Once they’d finished their desert of coconut cake, they all headed toward the parlor once more, and Millicent and Matt both turned to one another.
“May I speak to you for a moment?” Matt asked.
“Of course. I wanted to tell you Elizabeth telephoned—”
“And she told you the news? My boss told me this afternoon and then I ran into John at the trolley stop. Have you made up your mind?”
“Not yet. I was hoping to have more time to make a decision. I told Elizabeth I’d let her know tomorrow. I’m sure they really want an answer now, but—”
“I understand. John wants to meet with us tomorrow evening to make plans.”
“I suppose I’d better do some serious thinking and praying.”
“Might be a good idea. And just so you know, I’ve been assigned to keep you safe while you take your photographs.”
“Oh...well, that does make me feel better, I suppose.” She managed a smile.
“You don’t have to take the offer, Millie.”
“I know.”
They walked toward the foyer. “I’m sure there’ll be another one of these days.”
“Perhaps. I assume you want me to say no.”
“It might make my job easier.” He grinned but then turned serious and surprised her when he said, “Actually, Millie, I want you to do whatever you believe the Lord is leading you to do.”
He sounded so sincere Millicent felt bad for presuming she knew what he was thinking. “Please say a prayer I get some direction soon.”
“I will.”
Millicent nodded. “Thank you. I think I’m going on up. Good night.” She headed upstairs. Oh how she wished she and Matt weren’t so different, that he didn’t disapprove of her starting her own business. Especially now she’d seen a side of him he’d never shown her before—his strong belief in letting the Lord guide them.
* * *
As always, the next day passed fairly fast for Matt. There was always much to do and he loved seeing the progress being made. When they broke for lunch, he told his crew about the upcoming photo shoots and wasn’t surprised by their reaction.
“What? Is the boss crazy? He’s letting women up here?” Burl asked.
“He is. I don’t like it much, either, but we don’t have a say in the matter. We just have to watch out for them, and a few of you men need to watch your language, too. You know who you are.” Some of his men talked as if they’d been raised out on a ship somewhere and he certainly didn’t want them offending Elizabeth or Millicent.
“Yes, sir,” several men murmured.
“I don’t like it, though,” Henry said. “I know all too well how easy it is to lose one’s footing up here.”
He was one of the men who’d had a near accident earlier in the week. “I know you do, Henry. I’ll try to keep them away from the edge. I don’t think it will be too much of a problem.” With Millicent’s fear of heights, he wasn’t very worried. But he wasn’t about to tell his men about that fear—they were already skittish about having women on the job as it was.
The rest of the afternoon, they mumbled and grumbled about the upcoming week, but he knew they were just getting their frustration out. Better they do so now rather than later.
Matt wished he could relieve his stress as easily, but it was his friends who were going to be disrupting their work, and he didn’t know who he could complain to, except the Lord. But He already knew how torn Matt was with wanting to help them and not wanting them in his workplace.
When the work whistle blew letting them know it was time to quit for the day, Matt waved goodbye to his crew and after checking the jobs they’d all done to see where they’d begin the next morning, he took off, too.
The men’s grousing had set them back a bit on getting the day’s work done and by the time Matt arrived home, it was almost dinnertime. He hurried downstairs to wash up and made it back up just in time to hear Mrs. Heaton announce that dinner was ready.
He was burning with curiosity to hear Millicent’s decision. Would she decide against taking the offer or would she face her fear?
At the dinner table, he pulled out her chair and heard her whisper to him, “Elizabeth and John want to meet us at the soda shop around eight so we can talk about a schedule of some kind. Will that work for you?”
“You’ve decided to take the offer, then?”
“I have. I telephoned Elizabeth this afternoon.”
Matt nodded. “Eight will be fine with me, then. I’ll meet you in the foyer around seven forty.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Matt wondered if she really were ready for this assignment. But he knew she wouldn’t want any advice from him. She was aware he knew heights frightened her and that he’d been assigned to keep her safe. Her decision was out of his hands and all he could do now was pray that he could keep her out of harm’s way.
* * *
After dinner, Millicent hurried upstairs to neaten her hair and get a lightweight jacket for the walk to the soda shop where she and Matt would meet Elizabeth and John. As the clock in the foyer chimed the time, she rushed downstairs to find Matt standing in the entry to the big parlor talking to the other boarders while he waited for her. Something about his profile, the way that lock of his hair fell across his brow, made her pulse skitter through her veins.
“Are you ready, Matt?”
He turned with a smile. “I am. Just waiting on you.”
“Let’s go, then.”
Once they were on the sidewalk outside, she said, “I hope we won’t disrupt your workday too much.”
He shrugged. “You all won’t be there every day. We’ll catch up if you do.”
“That’s true. I’m not sure what the scheduling will be or how you and the Talbots want to go about it all. I suppose it’s a good thing they want this meeting.”
“I’m sure we can figure it all out.”
Millicent enjoyed the walk with a star-laden sky overhead and lights appearing in the windows of the homes they passed. They turned the corner and walked down to the next, to get to the soda shop the Heaton House group often frequented in warm weather. They didn’t visit it much when the days and nights became much cooler. Somehow ice cream didn’t sound quite as good when it was cold.
Their timing was good. John and Elizabeth were approaching from the other direction and they all reached the shop at the same time.
Their friends’ excitement was evident on their faces and Millicent prayed once more that the Lord would give her courage to do the job she’d agreed to do. She didn’t want to disappoint them and she badly wanted to conquer the fear that threatened to paralyze her. And if she were honest with herself, she wanted to show Matt that she could.
They all entered the shop and Matt looked down at her. “Do you want a sundae or a shake? Or maybe a cone?”
“A chocolate cone, I think.” Millicent began to dig in her reticule for some change.
Matt stilled her digging hand with his. “This is my treat.”
“No, it’s mine,” John said. “After all, you two are agreeing to this because you’re our friends. Come on, Matt. Elizabeth, I know what you want. Why don’t you and Millicent grab that table there by the window before more customers arrive?”
“All right, dear.”
Seeing the look Elizabeth gave her husband, Millicent felt a small stab of envy. She wanted the kind of relationship they had, but she didn’t think it was in her reach. She’d come to believe that all men were against women being independent and owning their own business.
She sighed and followed Elizabeth across the room and took a seat at the small round table overlooking the street. They watched as the young man behind the counter made their cones and handed them to the men, one at a time.
“John is so happy you’ve agreed to help us, Millicent,” Elizabeth said. “He’s thrilled about these articles and so am I. We do love bringing attention to the needs in the tenements and won’t stop doing that, but we’re glad for the chance to do something different.”
“I understand.” And she did. She’d been along with them to take photos several times. “Reporting about the conditions so many live in must get depressing at times and this will be a nice change for the two of you. I’m excited about it, too.”
“I’m glad to hear you are,” John said as he and Matt approached with a cone in each hand.
Matt handed Millicent hers and took a seat beside her while John sat down next to his wife. Millicent took a lick and closed her eyes. She loved chocolate ice cream.
“Well, I thought we should talk about a schedule of some kind, so we all can plan. Matt has said late morning or early afternoon might be best, as the weather will be getting pretty cool going into fall. He’s used to working up high in changing climates, but we are not. So I think the decision should be left to you women to make.”
Millicent and Elizabeth exchanged glances. Both of them were morning people.
“We’d like mornings,” Elizabeth said.
“Sounds good. How about nine?” Matt asked. “That will give us time to get some work done and know what needs to be taken care of for the rest of the day. Hopefully, I can keep the men working instead of ogling you two lovely ladies.”
Millicent felt her face heat at his compliment. “Nine is fine for me. What about you, Elizabeth?”
“Yes. That time is good.”
“We’ll start there. As it gets cooler, we can change the time if we need to. I do feel the need to warn you—I’ve talked to my men, but there are a few whose language is not appropriate for a lady’s ears. Should you hear anything like that, please let me know and I’ll take care of it.”
It was decided they would begin on Friday afternoon.
“We can be as flexible as you need us to be, Matt. My editor will be happy with an article each week if possible, but if not, then hopefully one every other one.”
“That should work well for us. First time up, we’ll show you what’s been done until now and that might be your longest day. After that, you’ll be able to move floor to floor with us.”
Millicent’s stomach fluttered. But was it with excitement or apprehension? She wasn’t sure. She glanced at Matt and found his gaze on her. He smiled.
She answered with one of her own, hoping he couldn’t see how very nervous she felt about it all. When he winked at her, she almost dropped her cone. Oh, that man!
Chapter Three (#ulink_63cf9e7a-0072-5433-a02c-48f66163e434)
The rest of the week Millicent waffled between being excited about the assignment, and fear that she’d lost her mind in agreeing to take it and wanting to find a way to get out of it. She tossed and turned at night until she finally gave it all over to the Lord, asking for peace about her decision. She’d accepted the job and she didn’t want to let anyone down.
Thankful to keep busy with several requests to take family photographs over the next few days, if Millicent wondered why Matt didn’t mention anything at all about the assignment, she told herself it was because he dreaded having people disturbing his workday as much as she dreaded being there.
She’d worked on the album for Mrs. Heaton after coming up from downstairs each night, and Julia and Emily joined her. Emily had to work the coming Saturday, but Millicent and Julia made plans to go to another suffrage meeting that day and decided to make a quick trip to the Ladies’ Mile afterward, so this time when the men asked they could honestly say they’d gone. No need to listen once again to their negative opinion of their attending another meeting.
Still, busy as she’d kept herself, Friday came way too quickly for Millicent. John and Elizabeth picked her up in a hack to have room for her professional equipment, and Millicent felt more nervous than she’d ever been as they met Matt at the bottom of the Park Row Building.
“Come on, let’s go,” Matt said as he led them into the elevator. “I’m glad John helped you get your equipment. I suppose I thought you’d use your Kodak.”
“I wasn’t sure what I’d need,” Millicent said as the elevator began to move. Her stomach did a little flip before settling back in its place and she took a deep breath. She could do this. The Lord was with her and He would get her through.
“I thought I’d stop at each floor so that you’ll be able to see the progress on each one.”
Millicent grasped the rail a little tighter.
“You all right?” Elizabeth asked, looking at her closely. “You’re a little pale.”
No way was Millicent going to admit to being scared—not with Matt there. “I’ll be fine.”
The elevator lurched before coming to a shuddering stop and Millicent’s stomach did a deep dive, while her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
But when the door opened and she saw a mostly enclosed floor, with window openings instead of open space, she began to relax.
“I think I’ll need my tripod and camera for the inside shots,” Millicent said. Matt helped her set it up while Elizabeth and John explored a bit. After she took a few shots, they went up to the next floor and on to the next. Each floor was in varying degrees of construction. Some had offices already enclosed, and others were only framed. They didn’t tarry too long on any landing—only long enough for her to get a few photos of the differences on each. If it weren’t for that jerky elevator, Millicent could say it wasn’t near as bad as she’d thought it would be—until they got to the higher floors, which were mostly open expanses.
“This one is the last one we’ve got floored,” Matt said as the elevator doors opened. “It’s where my men and I are working.”
He went out first to help her and Elizabeth out. Millicent breathed deeply and briefly closed her eyes while his attention was on her friend, trying to fight her way through the fear of being up so high. She opened them again as Matt said, “There’s no ceiling yet, but the floor is solid. Just watch out for equipment and don’t go near where the men are unless I give you permission.”
He took hold of Millicent’s arm and turned to John, who held his wife close. “Follow me.”
As they walked, she caught her breath. Even from the middle of the wide expanse, Millicent saw out to the ocean. “Oh...” she breathed. “It is beautiful up here, Matt.”
“It is, isn’t it? Once you get a little closer, you’ll be able to see more. But you don’t want to look straight down your first time up. But don’t worry. I’m not about to let you get that close to the edge today.”
While the view was everything Matt ever claimed it to be, Millicent began to tremble at the very thought of being near the edge—even though a solid metal rail surrounded it all, she could imagine leaning out too far and—
Matt grasped her arm and turned to John and Elizabeth, bringing her back from where her thoughts were carrying her. “In fact, I don’t want any of you getting near the edge until I believe you’ll be safe and my men can do their jobs without gawking at Millicent and Elizabeth. You’d think they’d never seen a pretty woman before.”
He turned around and strode closer to his workmen. “You men get back to work or I’ll send you home and you’ll be a day short in your pay!”
The men quickly quit staring and returned to doing what they were hired to do, while Matt shook his head and hurried back to Millicent’s side. “I knew it’d be like this.”
“I’m sorry for the disruption, Matt,” John said. “At least we’ll only be here for a while one day a week. Hopefully, they’ll get used to us before long.”
“Oh, they’ll get used to you or they’ll go home,” Matt said. “Come on. You should be able to see the Statue of Liberty from over here.” Matt led her and Elizabeth farther out onto the floor while John followed with the rest of Millicent’s equipment.
He stopped about ten feet from the edge and pointed to the left. “There she is. Can you see her?”
“I can,” Elizabeth said.
“She’s lovely,” Millicent replied. She took her camera from John and set it on its stand in a position to get the best shot at that time of day, and took several photographs of the statue.
In the meantime, she heard Matt point out a man he called Burl to John and Elizabeth, and tell them that they could go ahead and interview him first, and then when the other workmen took their break, they could speak to them while he stayed with Millicent.
She turned her camera a bit and got shots of ships at sea, and then she turned back to Matt a bit too fast and became quite dizzy. As Millicent tried to focus, seeing all the open sky behind him, a wave of nausea washed over her. She swallowed hard and forced a smile.
“You’re white as a sheet, Millicent.” He moved to her side and gripped her arm as if he thought she might collapse. “Do you need to sit down?”
“No! I’m fine. I—” Dear Lord, please give me strength. I don’t want to embarrass Matt in front of all of his men. And she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of him.
“You aren’t fine. You look like you’re going to...be sick.”
She fought back the notion that he was right and stood straight up. Right now, all she wanted to do was run for the hills—if she could find any. And she wasn’t going to give Matt the satisfaction of thinking he was right all along. She gritted her teeth and whispered, “I am not going to be sick, Matt. I can do this.”
“Millicent, as much as I understand how you want to prove something to yourself, this isn’t the place for a woman, especially one who’s nearly paralyzed with fear being up this high,” Matt said in an exaggerated whisper. “You didn’t have to agree to this... I tried to—”
She looked him in the eye. “Mathew Sterling, I am not going to quit. I’d like to take some photos of Central Park from up here. Can you help me get my equipment to where the best view would be?”
He stared at her for several moments, then let out a deep breath and shook his head. “You are without a doubt the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met!” He picked up her tripod and camera and took off in the opposite direction. “Come on, follow me.”
Millicent made a face at his back and followed. Dear Lord, please help me to do this.
She felt Matt’s frustration with her as she began to work again. It fairly radiated off him. But he’d have to get over it.
Millicent took shot after shot of the park, and anything else she found interesting, before turning to Matt once more. “Will it be all right if I get a few photographs of John and Elizabeth and your men?”
“I suppose so. I’ll move your camera—”
“No, I’ll use my Kodak for those. I don’t want them thinking they need to pose. I’d rather get some more natural shots.”
“Do you want me to bring your tripod and camera?”
She shook her head. What she wanted most was distance from Matt. “No, unless they’re in the way. I’ll just walk around—you don’t need to keep watch over me. I’m not going anywhere close to the edge.”
“Millicent, I’m responsible for your safety—”
“I know. And can assure you, I’m not going to do anything to put myself, or your job, in danger. I just want to get in an inconspicuous place to take photos of your crew at work, and to be truthful, you watching my every move makes me nervous.”
Matt closed his eyes and sighed once more, and Millicent sensed she was pushing his patience to the limit but he did make her nervous. “I’ll just stand right over there and get my shots.” She pointed to a place near the elevator where she’d have a good view of the work going on.
“All right. But don’t move from that spot without my knowing it.”
“I promise.”
* * *
Matt watched as Millicent took her Kodak out of her bag and walked over to where she could get the shots she wanted. The woman pushed his patience like no other. But at least over by where his men were she’d be safely away from the edge and he’d be able to keep an eye on her no matter where he was. He breathed a sigh of relief as she began to take her snapshots.
He really thought she might have been sick there for a minute, but he had to give it to her, the woman had grit. He went about his business, making sure the men who weren’t speaking to John and Elizabeth were doing their jobs. It appeared they were trying, although they did occasionally glance over at Millicent. But if they caught his eye on them, they quickly got back to business.
She was very pretty. She wore a blue skirt and a striped shirtwaist of two shades of blue, and her light blond hair was covered with a white hat trimmed in those same shades of blue, making her eyes the color of the sky. He couldn’t blame his men for looking at her; he found it hard to keep from doing so himself. However, keeping Millicent and the Talbots safe while they were up here was his main job, so he didn’t have to keep from watching Millicent.
But when he looked over at her, he found her taking aim at him and he quickly turned and spoke to one of his men. This was turning out to be one of the longest mornings he’d ever spent up here. After about a half hour more, John came up to him and told him they were leaving for the day.
“I can’t thank you enough for this, Matt. We got enough for our first article from talking to Burl and that new young man he’s training. No need to speak to everyone today—not if we’re coming every week.”
“Good, I’m glad you got what you needed.” They walked over to pick up Millicent’s tripod and large camera and took them over to where Elizabeth stood with her. Matt released a sigh of relief that Millicent wasn’t quite so pale now. Perhaps it’d become easier for her with time.
“Do you need me to help get any of your equipment down?” Matt asked Millicent.
“I don’t think so.”
“I’ll take it,” John said. “No need to disrupt your work any longer than we have. We’ll get a hack and make sure Millicent gets home safely with it all.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t see you all down safely.” Matt joined them in the elevator for the trip down. “I think Millicent got some good pictures for you today.”
“Oh, I’m sure she did. That’s why we wanted her to join us. Millicent has a knack for finding the very best shots, some we’d never even think to get,” Elizabeth said.
Matt set the elevator to go to the ground level and as it picked up speed, he looked over at Millicent to find her looking down and grasping the handrail that ran all the way around the elevator. Her knuckles were white, telling him that she wasn’t any more comfortable in the elevator than she’d been on the top floor. Why was she putting herself through all this? If she was as good a photographer as John and Elizabeth claimed, there’d be other opportunities to get her photographs in the paper, to make a name for herself. It must be pure stubbornness on her part.
Still, something in the way she held herself made him want to put his arm around her, hold her up and protect her.
The elevator came to a jerky stop and he couldn’t keep himself from grasping her arm. “Are you all right?”
She looked up at him, her eyes brilliantly blue in a face that’d gone quite white once more. She gave a brief nod. “I am, thank you.”
“I should’ve warned you that going down is a faster ride than going up.” Her eyes were huge and he felt horrible that he’d not told her sooner. Even Elizabeth looked a little pale.
Millicent gently pulled away and followed Elizabeth and John out of the elevator, leaving Matt feeling like a cad for giving her a hard time earlier. “I’ll see you back at Heaton House.”
She only nodded as John hurried to procure a hack for the group. Matt waited until they were on their way before going back up to where his men were working.
He pulled out his pocket watch. Only thirty more minutes and they’d break for lunch, then he’d have to wait the whole afternoon before he could go home and find out how Millicent was doing. He shook his head and sighed. Why hadn’t he tried to talk his boss out of this harebrained idea?
* * *
Millicent went straight to her room when she arrived home, then to the bathroom to get a cool washcloth to put on her head. She lay down on the bed, covered her pounding forehead with the damp cloth and closed her eyes. Dear Lord, thank You for getting me through this morning. Please help this pain disappear and let me not give away how horrible I feel at dinner tonight. I can’t let Matt sense how much I dread going back. Please help me to get past this sick feeling. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Thankfully, she soon dozed off and was able to sleep the afternoon away. By dinnertime the throbbing pain had eased to a dull ache and she felt well enough to freshen up. She gave a little more color to her cheeks by pinching them. At least she didn’t have to go back to Park Row for another week. Surely that would get easier as time went on.
She made it downstairs just as Mrs. Heaton was calling everyone to dinner and she was glad that she didn’t have to join the others in the parlor. But Matt seemed to be at her chair before she was and as he pulled it out, he whispered, “How are you feeling?”
She forced herself to smile at him. “Better. Thank you for helping me find the shots I wanted and for putting up with us.”
He seemed taken back for a moment before he smiled and said, “Only doing my job. I’m glad you’re feeling well.”
He looked as if he truly cared, and Millicent couldn’t resist that smile. “Thank you. So am I.”
Mrs. Heaton asked Stephen to say the blessing, and as Gretchen and Maida began to serve dinner, she turned to Millicent.
“How did your day go, dear? Was the view as wonderful as Matt claims?”
“Oh, the view is magnificent, Mrs. Heaton. It’s all Matt’s said and more.”
“You didn’t get dizzy?” Julia asked.
Dear Julia, she would ask a question Millicent didn’t want to answer. But she couldn’t evade answering—not with Matt sitting next to her. “I did a bit. I bent and turned too fast, but I managed. Barely.”
“She toughed things out,” Matt said. “But I thought for sure she was going to—”
“Matt! Not at the dinner table!”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“Did you let her get too close to the edge, Matt?” Julia asked.
“I did not. Nor will I. But the first time up that high can make a person a little light-headed.”
“I’ll get used to it,” Millicent said. She had to.
“I think it’s very brave of you to face your fears, Millicent dear,” Mrs. Heaton said.
“I don’t know how brave I am, Mrs. Heaton. But it’s the chance of a lifetime for my career. This will enable me to open my own shop much sooner.”
* * *
There it was again—her career, her business and her shop. He’d never met a more independent woman who was so determined to make her own way. His ex-fiancée wouldn’t follow him to New York and wanted to go her own way, but he’d never gotten the impression she didn’t want a man to take care of her, like he did from Millicent. From what he’d heard from back home, Carla had already found a man who owned his own business and was now planning their wedding.
But with Millicent’s plans, there didn’t seem to be any room in her life for a man who might want to make a living with her, take care of her. Not when she was determined to do everything herself.
Matt couldn’t deny she’d been brave today and he admired her for it. She’d also looked very vulnerable and he’d wanted to hold her until the world stopped spinning for her. But she’d pulled away from him and made it clear she didn’t need or want his help.
He sighed as he tried to listen to the conversations going on around the table. But he couldn’t get his mind off the woman beside him. She still didn’t feel well; he could tell because she’d only taken small portions of each dish and now she seemed to be just moving everything around on her plate.
A look of relief came over her face as others began to get up from the table and he pushed his own chair back to help her with hers. Everyone headed to the parlor, but Millicent hung back for a moment.
“You coming, Millicent?” Julia asked. “We could play a game of charades if you do.”
Matt watched Millicent take a deep breath, as she seemed to draw on some inner strength. He was certain she wasn’t going to let anyone know how bad she felt.
“All right. I’ll play for a bit,” she said, confirming his instinct. But that realization both vexed him and saddened him as she followed the others into the parlor. That she’d taken this assignment and was putting herself through unnecessary stress made him want to shake her. But the fact she did and was so resolute about keeping her word—even if it made her lose her appetite—made him want to comfort her. But that seemed to be the last thing she’d want from him—and that saddened him most of all.
Over the next hour she did seem to relax and enjoy herself and for her sake he was glad. Surely the worst was behind her. She’d gone up and faced her fear of heights even though it hadn’t been easy. Maybe by next Friday she’d feel more comfortable. He’d pray she would. And that he wasn’t so...tense when she was there. Perhaps his frustration wasn’t with her at all but with himself.
Chapter Four (#ulink_8d91c367-be55-5dde-a4b1-c03b1dbe6c3d)
The next day Millicent woke up early, dressed and hurried up to the darkroom on the third floor to develop the photographs she’d taken at the Park Row Building. She’d slept better than she thought she would after napping most of the afternoon the day before, but then she and Julia and Emily stayed up late working on the albums for Mrs. Heaton. They’d definitely decided one wouldn’t do—there were too many photos and too many years to put in it. And Millicent looked forward to taking more photographs to put in them over the coming years.
But for now she needed to concentrate on the ones she was developing. She placed the paper in the developer solution and began to grin as the first image became clear. She could tell it was a great shot. Millicent rinsed it, fixed it and washed it, then hung it up before going on to the next plate. By the time she’d hung them all to dry, she was confident Elizabeth and John would be pleased with the outcome.
She especially loved the ones of the Statue of Liberty and the others showing the landscape out from the top of Park Row. After she finished the developing, she cleaned up her equipment and left the photos to dry completely while she went down to breakfast.
Almost everyone was there and she hurried to fix her plate at the sideboard before joining them around the table.
“Slept in, did you?” Stephen teased.
“No, I’ve been working. I wanted to get the Park Row photographs developed before we take off for the day.”
“Take off? Where are you all going today?” Joe asked.
“I have to work but Julia and Millicent are going to the Ladies’ Mile and out and about,” Emily informed him.
Millicent hoped Emily didn’t mention the suffrage meeting she and Julia were going to before they went shopping. But Emily put her fears to rest when she turned the conversation around. “What are you men doing today? Got another ball game lined up?”
“As a matter of fact, we do.” Matt’s gaze caught Millicent’s and his smile made her chest tighten. He seemed to be in a very good mood. “How did your shots turn out? I’d like to see them before you hand them over to John and Elizabeth.”
“I’d be glad to show them to you once they are completely dry. I want to get them to the Talbots before Monday.” And then she could forget about going back to Park Row for a few days at least.
“I’ll be glad to walk you over, if you’d like,” Matt offered.
Why was he being so nice? He didn’t like any of this and it’d been obvious yesterday. “I’ll telephone Elizabeth now to ask if this evening or tomorrow will be better—unless you have plans?”
“No, after dinner or tomorrow will be fine with me.”
Millicent nodded and hurried out of the room and asked the operator to ring through to the Talbots. Elizabeth picked up after only two rings and was quite excited to hear the photos would be ready that evening.
“Oh, please do bring them over tonight, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Matt said he’d walk me over, so we’ll be there after dinner.”
“Wonderful. We look forward to your visit.”
Millicent hung up the receiver and turned around to find Matt standing behind her. She placed a hand over her rapidly beating heart. “Oh! I—”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Emily just left for work and Julia has gone upstairs to get ready for your outing, so thought I’d save you a trip back to the dining room. When did she say would be best?”
“This evening.”
“Good. I’m sure they’re eager to see them.”
“I think so. I’m excited about showing them. You can look at them at the same time since you’re escorting me over.”
“That will be fine, as long as I get to see them.” He grinned. “I’m sure you got some great shots. It was interesting to watch you at work.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
He seemed almost as surprised at his answer as Millicent was at his comments. She shrugged. “Well, I do love what I do and I hope it shows in each photograph I take.”
“I understand. That’s how I feel about what I do, too.”
“Millicent!” Julia called. “Are you down here? I’m ready to go when you are.”
“Yes, I’m right here.” Millicent hurried into the foyer, with Matt right behind her. “I’ll go get my hat and reticule.”
Julia looked surprised to find Matt with her. “Oh good. We don’t want to be late.”
She turned back to Matt. “Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
Millicent started up the stairs as she heard Matt ask Julia, “How can you be late for shopping? The stores are barely open.”
Her steps slowed as she waited for Julia’s answer. “We don’t want to be late for any sales. Things fly off the shelves if it’s a good one, and they usually are on Saturdays.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
Millicent took a deep breath and hurried up the rest of the stairs. At least he didn’t ask if they were going to another one of those meetings.
He’d been so agreeable this morning, she didn’t want to start anything up about the suffrage movement. If she thought he’d listen, she’d gladly have a conversation with him, but Matt and the other men’s minds seemed to be made up about it. And their stubbornness about it all was a reminder of why she needed to guard her heart from any man—and she must keep it in mind at all times. Particularly on those days Matt was so nice to her!
Millicent pinned on her favorite autumn hat, a brown straw trimmed with green-and-blue ribbon and peacock feathers, grabbed her reticule and hurried back downstairs. She breathed a sigh of relief to find only Julia in the parlor waiting for her. “Did the men leave already?” she asked.
“Yes. Although I don’t know where they were all going, only that Stephen went to work and Joe and Matt were going to meet at the Polo Grounds for the ball game later,” Julia said.
“Why is it they don’t seem to think they need to tell us where they are going, but they want to know every little thing we’re doing?” Millicent asked.
“Good question. I’d like to know the same thing.”
“My dears, it could be my fault,” Mrs. Heaton said, entering the foyer.
“Your fault? How could that be, Mrs. Heaton?” Millicent asked.
“Well, you know I opened this boardinghouse in order to give young women a safe place that felt like home away from home, but I wanted you safe when out and about after dark, too. That’s the reason I opened it up to men, too. Julia can probably remember when there were almost no men living here except for my son Michael.”
“Yes, I do. But it didn’t last long, once I told you I was walking to the soda shop that first summer.” Julia chuckled and shook her head.
“That’s when I made the rule that women must be in a group or ask a man to escort them to and from wherever it was they wanted to go at night. Michael was called into service that night.”
“And he was quite gallant about it.” Julia chuckled. “But he was only one man and there were around six ladies living here at the time. Soon thereafter—the next day, I think—you put an ad in the newspapers and that’s when Ben and John and Luke arrived.”
“Quite true, Julia. And I inform the men who live here of my rules when they move in and perhaps they think of themselves as your protectors.”
“Maybe so,” Millicent said, her heart sinking just a bit. If she were going to have a protector, she’d much rather it be because the man cared about her and not because he’d been asked to. But Mrs. Heaton’s explanation made sense. “But we don’t want them to know about the meetings, Mrs. Heaton. They get all riled up when they’re mentioned.”
“I understand, and I support you not telling them about the meetings you’ve been going to, as they are all in the daytime. But should you ever decide to go to one at night...” Mrs. Heaton’s brow wrinkled as she paused. “I think it might be time I spoke to the men about all of this.”
“Oh, Mrs. Heaton,” Millicent said. “The last thing we want is for you to feel you must defend us or—”
Their landlady chuckled. “Dear ones, I think each one of you is capable of taking up for yourselves, but I don’t think the men residing here quite understand your interest in the suffrage movement. Perhaps it’s time for them to learn that even though they do not have to like it, they must learn to accept your interest in aspects of the movement.”
“Would you like to come with us?” Millicent asked.
“Not today, I’m going to visit little Marcus. But I’d like to go soon. Let me know when the next one is.”
“I believe there is another in a few weeks, but we should find out more today. We’ll see you this evening.”
* * *
Stephen took off in one direction and Matt and Joe took off in the opposite one. Then they split up at the next corner. Joe worked for Michael Heaton’s investigative-protection agency and needed to finish up some paperwork. They’d all meet up later at the Polo Field for the last game of the season. For now Matt was off to explore the city. He loved looking at the architecture of the downtown buildings, the mansions on Fifth Avenue and the neighborhoods not far from Gramercy Park.
Much as Matt loved working on the high-rises, lately he’d been wondering what it would be like to work on remodeling the inside of an old structure or building new ones from his own design. He didn’t want to work for someone else for the rest of his life, but he’d wanted to get all the experience he could before striking out on his own.
But with all Millicent’s talk of opening her own business, he’d begun to realize he’d like to do the same thing—to be his own boss and be able to work on his own designs instead of someone else’s. He’d put the dream off, but he’d been giving it more and more thought lately.
He was eager to get a look at the photographs she’d taken from the Park Row Building. The views were spectacular, the building was one of a kind and he wanted to see if she’d done it all justice. He knew Millicent was talented but wished she weren’t so independent—way too much so for him to be thinking about her as much as he’d been doing. He didn’t want to have feelings for such a strong-willed woman.
And yet, his chest tightened as he thought of her. In spite of his resolve not to care about her other than as a friend, her smile seemed to shoot straight through to his heart and just touching her hand to help her out of the elevator sent sparks up his arm.
Something about her made him want to be her protector—when she’d declare that was the last thing she needed. Still, as long as he was responsible for her at his workplace, she’d have to accept that he would be looking out for her. She had no choice. And neither did he.
Chapter Five (#ulink_39516b18-44c4-5dde-8153-9fd7f39c9a8f)
Millicent and Julia left the suffrage meeting more excited and hopeful than ever that one day they might get the vote.
They were in high spirits as they stopped at one of the small cafés, which catered mostly to women who were out shopping. They were given a menu and decided on the lobster salad with rolls and English tea.
Millicent looked around the room and smiled. “We don’t have anything like this back home in Virginia. Most women don’t go out for lunch at all. I think there’s a tearoom, but that’s all. After living in a small town where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, it’s very refreshing to go shopping, even if it’s mostly window-shopping, in so many stores in one trip. To be able take lunch out instead of rushing home.”
“The only time constraints we have are those of Mrs. Heaton and they do make perfect sense when you think about it,” Julia said. “This is a large city and many women do go missing each week. We just don’t hear about all of them. Sometimes it makes the news, but then only if they’re from a well-known family. Others seem to disappear never to be heard from again.”
Millicent shivered at the thought. She knew dangers lurked in this city—there were times when Mrs. Heaton took in women as temporary boarders who had no place to go and paid nothing until they could decide what to do or where to go. And she realized, from talking to others, most boardinghouses were not run like Heaton House.
“I do hope she’ll come to a meeting with us one day,” Julia said.
“So do I. Wonder if any of our married boarders would want to go, too,” Millicent asked.
“They might,” Julia said. “I’d think Kathleen would be very interested and possibly Rebecca. I’m not sure about Violet or Elizabeth, but we could ask them.”
“It will probably depend on how their husbands feel about the suffrage movement. Surely they wouldn’t object to their wives getting the vote. But then, consider how Matt and the other men feel.” Millicent looked at Julia. “They’ve made us very aware they don’t like the movement.”
“But perhaps it’s not the voting they have a problem with. Some of the women want more than that...” Julia sighed. “I can understand why men aren’t thrilled with the movement as a whole, but all we want is the right to vote and I can’t understand why that would upset them so.”
“It would help if they cared to find out what is truly important to us about it. But there’s no sense in stirring up friction at Mrs. Heaton’s. They’re her boarders, too.”
The waiter brought their lunch and after they finished eating they headed out to shop. Millicent loved going to the Ladies’ Mile. Even if one didn’t buy anything, they could find what the latest fashion was and try to adapt their wardrobe in the least expensive way. Sometimes a new accessory or some new trim to put on a hat would do the trick.
They headed for Macy’s, where they spotted Emily from afar. She waved to them and hurried to keep up with the man beside her.
“Wonder who he is,” Julia said.
“Probably her supervisor.”
“Most likely. He’s not bad looking,” Julia replied. “No wonder she never seems to mind putting in long hours every once in a while,” she quipped.
“Now, Julia, Emily is quite good-natured and she seems to truly love her work.”
“That’s true.”
“Emily’s hours will be longer as Christmas nears and they start on the window displays Macy’s is known for,” Millicent said.
“I worked some evenings when I first started at Ellis Island, but thankfully, once I was promoted, I’ve rarely had to work evenings or weekends,” Julia said.
“At least Emily doesn’t have to stay late now. I think she said November would be bad, but she seems to be excited about working on the window displays,” Millicent said. “I’m glad she lives at Heaton House. At least she knows she’ll have a warm meal waiting when she gets home.” Mrs. Heaton always made sure her boarders were taken care of no matter what hours they got home.
As she and Julia visited the ladies department, Millicent realized how blessed she was to be able to set her own hours. But there was a downside, too. She did need a regular income so as not to dip into the money her grandmother had left her. Money she was saving to use to set up her own shop.
“You’ve grown awfully quiet, Millicent. What’s wrong?” Julia asked as the stopped in front of the lace collar display case.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just hoping John and Elizabeth and their boss like the photos I’m taking of the Park Row Building. If I can make enough on this assignment, the extra money will go a long way in helping me be able to open my shop sooner.”
“Do you like the photos you’ve taken so far?”
Millicent grinned. “I do.”
“Then you don’t need to worry. You’re more critical of your work than anyone and their boss asked for you to be in on the assignment. I’m sure they’ll love them.”
“Thanks, Julia. I needed your encouragement.”
Julia handed the salesclerk the lace collar she’d been looking at and paid for it. They waited while the young woman wrapped her purchase and handed the small package to Julia. Then she turned back to Millicent. “You’re a silly goose, you know? How can you not realize what a good photographer you are?”
“I just want to be able to make a living for myself.” They strolled over to the millinery department to browse the newest styles.
“I understand. Believe me, I do,” Julia said. “I want to get married one day, but I don’t know if I ever will and even if I do, I want to be sure I can take care of myself. I’ve seen too many women marry only to have a man to provide for them, and most of them aren’t happy. Nor are their husbands, I’d think. When—if—I ever marry, I want it to be for love and I want the man I marry to respect me as much as I want to respect him.”
“I feel the same way.” But Millicent wasn’t sure finding that kind of man was possible. Suddenly, Matt came to mind, and she was surprised that she thought of him when talking of marriage. They were as opposite as two people could be.
And yet, her heart quickened thinking about Matt taking her to Elizabeth and John’s that evening. Would he like the photographs she’d taken? Why did his opinion matter so much to her? She wished it didn’t, but for some reason only the Lord would understand, it mattered a lot.
“Ready to go back to Heaton House?”
“Mmm, yes, let’s go home.” They hurried to the El, hoping it would be quicker than the trolley.
“We’ll be home long before the men get back from their game. They’ll have no reason to question why we were late getting back for dinner,” Julia said.
And unlike last weekend, there’d be no reason for any tension on the way to the Talbots’ tonight. Millicent settled back in her seat and sighed with relief.
* * *
Matt and Joe came home just in time to freshen up for dinner. They were in high spirits—the Giants had won their game and they’d had a great day.
“How did your shopping go?” Matt asked as he held out Millicent’s chair for her.
“Wonderful. Julia and I bought trim to dress up our Sunday hats for winter after looking at the newest styles in Macy’s.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” Mrs. Heaton said as Maida and Gretchen began to serve dinner.
As always it was quite good. Mrs. Heaton’s menu tonight was fried fillets of halibut, shredded potatoes and slaw, with lemon cake for dessert. Filling, but not too heavy for this time of year.
Conversation covered the shopping trip and the baseball game before Mrs. Heaton said, “We have a new boarder joining us soon. Do any of you remember Georgia? She’s the daughter of a friend of mine.”
“The one who was Michael and Violet’s houseguest?” Matt asked.
“Yes, that’s her. She’s a teacher and wants to find a position here in the city.”
“I remember her,” Millicent said. “She seemed very nice.”
“She’ll be taking Rebecca’s old room. I’m sure you’ll all welcome her.”
“Of course we will. It’s always fun to get to know new boarders,” Julia said. “And it will be good to fill out the table once more. Especially when Emily and Stephen begin working longer hours getting ready for Christmas.”
Millicent couldn’t argue with that. “We’ll do our best to make Georgia feel welcome, Mrs. Heaton. But she’ll feel at home here from the start and that’s because of you.”
“Why, thank you, Millicent dear.”
As everyone finished his or her meal, Matt turned to Millicent. “Let me know when you’re ready to go to the Talbots’.”
“I just need to get the photographs and we can go.”
“So, you two aren’t going to be here, either?” Julia asked as they all headed toward the foyer.
“We won’t be gone long. We’re taking the photos to Elizabeth and John. I’m sure we’ll be back before Emily and Stephen get home. She had a meeting. He’s escorting her home tonight, isn’t he?”
“He’s supposed to. I’m sure he’d telephone if there’s a problem, and I’m needed,” Joe said.
“He would,” Matt assured him.
“I’ll go get the photos and be right back.” Millicent went upstairs, but took a quick moment to neaten her hair and pinch her cheeks before grabbing the photos she’d placed in an envelope earlier. She hurried back down to find Matt waiting for her in the parlor with Julia and Joe.
“Do you two want to go with us?” Millicent found herself asking. “I’m sure Elizabeth and John would be glad to see you.”
“Want to go, Julia?” Joe asked.
Julie shook her head. “Not this time. They want to talk about the articles and if we tag along they might think they need to entertain us.”
“Are you sure?” Millicent didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed that she and Matt would be alone on the way over and back to the Talbots’.
“What about you, Joe?”
“Nah. I’ll stay and keep Julia company.”
“We won’t be long.” Millicent turned back. “You tell Joe about our plan while we’re gone and I’ll tell Matt.”
“That’s a good idea—but they must promise to keep it secret.”
“Secret?” Joe said. “Hmm, now my curiosity is up.”
“I’ll tell you, but maybe we should take a walk, though, so we aren’t overheard.”
“Julia, there’s no one here but us and—” Joe broke off when Julia placed her finger over her lips.
“Shh. I’ll tell you later.”
“Well, I can’t wait to hear what this is all about. Come on, Millicent, let’s get going.” Matt touched Millicent’s elbow, sending a current of electricity flying up her arm as they headed toward the foyer.
“See you after a while,” Julia said.
“Yes, later,” Millicent said, giving a little wave as Matt hurried her out of the house and down the street.
“Now, tell me, what’s all this secrecy about?”
“I will, but I might as well wait until we get to John and Elizabeth’s, because we want their help, too.”
“Their help? What is this all about?” Matt sounded almost impatient.
“You’ll see.” They turned the corner and she continued, “We’re almost there and I’ll only need to tell it once.”
“Oh, all right. I suppose you’re right.”
Millicent giggled. “Why, Matt, did you actually admit I might be right about something?”
“I never said you couldn’t be.”
“No, but—” She shook her head.
“But what?”
“Nothing. It’s not important.” She didn’t want to ruin the evening. He’d told her she was right—there was no need to rub it in. “Let’s hurry so I can let Elizabeth and John in on the secret, too.”
Matt grasped her elbow and did as she asked, causing her to pick up her pace to keep up with him. She was almost breathless when they arrived at the Talbots’, but John opened the door as soon as she knocked and they were quickly welcomed inside.
* * *
Millicent and Matt were shown into the Talbots’ parlor, where Elizabeth had tea ready to serve.
“How did you know when we’d be here?” Millicent asked. “I forgot to telephone and let you know.”
“I took care of the task while you were upstairs.” Matt grinned at Millicent.
“Thank you for minding my manners for me, Matt,” Millicent said.
He chuckled. “My pleasure, I assure you.”
“And I’m glad you put on the kettle, Elizabeth. I think I could use a cup of tea.” Maybe it would calm her nerves. “But first, I want to give you these. I hope they’ll fit your first article.”
She handed the packet of photographs to John and he lost no time in opening it. Millicent watched as he looked at the first one and handed it over to Elizabeth. John did the same thing with each photo, all without saying anything. Then he and Elizabeth both looked up at the same time and grinned.
“These are wonderful, Millicent. It’s going to be hard to choose which ones to use,” John said.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Elizabeth said. “I really like the one you got of Matt talking to his men, and the shot of John and I speaking to Burl—and the ones of Central Park and the Statue of Liberty from up so high. What a view!”
“Oh, I’m glad you like them. I was worried you might not find any that would work.”
“May I see them?” Matt asked.
Millicent’s heart began to hammer in her chest and only then did she realize it was his opinion that mattered most to her.
Elizabeth handed them to Matt and then began to pour their tea and pass around the tea cakes she’d made.
Millicent took her cup with trembling fingers as she watched Matt study each photograph. It was impossible to decipher what he was thinking. He began to nod his head and when he looked at her, there was an expression she couldn’t read. She waited for him to speak.
“Elizabeth and John are right. These are very good. I’m glad I’m not the one having to make the decision on which ones to use.”
His words soothed her jitters and surprised her at the same time. She looked at John and Elizabeth. “Maybe I don’t need to take any more for a while?”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Elizabeth handed her the plate of teacakes to choose from. “You aren’t getting out of this assignment.”
“Besides, there will be changes each time we go. Small or large, we want to capture the progress as it goes,” John said.
Millicent chose a small iced cake, took a bite and sighed. She’d agreed to do this and she wouldn’t back out—no matter how much she might want to.
She watched Matt take two small cakes and pop a whole one into his mouth. He grinned when he caught her gaze on him and this time she had no problem reading his expression. She’d seen it before. The glint in his eyes seemed to be challenging her to say something.
Millicent sat up a little straighter and took another bite of her cake.
“Are you going to tell us your secret before we leave?” Matt asked.
“Secret? What secret?” Elizabeth asked.
Millicent took a sip of tea before answering, “Well, it’s something I and the rest of the ladies of Heaton House thought you might all like to be part of. I started an album for Mrs. Heaton as a Christmas present and then Julia and Emily began to help me with it and we decided this is something everyone could be a part of and we could continue to add albums to the collection through the years.”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Millicent. What do we need to do?”
“Well, between the photos I’ve taken since I’ve been there and those Julia has collected over the years, we thought it would be a good idea to get everyone to comment on the ones they’re in, give a memory to the photo. Emily will write the captions in her beautiful handwriting and we’ll add them throughout the album.”
“How are you going to do all of this without Mrs. Heaton knowing?” Matt asked.
“It won’t be easy—at least not with the first albums we give her. We want to get the photos to those who are in them to comment about and we can put them together upstairs of an evening or on a weekend. After we give them to her the first time, she’ll know what we’re doing and we won’t need to be so secretive.”
Elizabeth got up and freshened their tea. “Did you want the other couples to help?”
“Oh, yes. I’d love for them to.”
“Why don’t you plan on coming over here with the photos one evening—John and I can host an album making party and have you all over to work on them.”
“That would be ideal!”
“Won’t you need album supplies—paper and covers and those kind of things?” Matt asked.
“Yes, we will. We thought everyone could chip in on the supplies.”
“I’d be glad to provide them. You and I moved in about the same time and, well, I’ll only be able to comment on the photos that were taken since then, but I really do want to help with this project.”
“I’ll gladly let you help in that way, Matt. Thank you all. Elizabeth, would you mind letting the other couples know what we’re up to?”
“Of course. And I’ll get back to you soon as I find out what night might work best for everyone.”
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Janet Barton
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: An Unexpected Match Millicent Faircloud feels her dreams are coming true when she′s assigned to photograph the construction of New York′s tallest building—until she realizes it means working with fellow boarder Matt Sterling. He′s handsome and kind, but the stubborn man doesn′t understand her ambition.Matt can′t help but admire Millicent′s spirit. But he′s been hurt by a woman who cared only for her career, and he won′t make that mistake again. Is Millicent more of the same, or would she put family first? If Matt can open his mind to new ideas, he may find love to be the best Christmas present of all.