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Outside, Rhine found her seated in the family carriage with their Chinese driver. “Good morning, Natalie.”
“I’m here to see if you’ve come to your senses. I can’t believe you’d beg off over something so trivial.”
And therein lay the problem, he thought to himself, but he didn’t want to argue. “We don’t suit, Natalie. I’m sorry the engagement didn’t work out the way we’d planned.”
“Then I’m returning your ring. I’ve no desire to keep it.” And she handed him the small velvet box. “I went by Vera’s dress shop and cancelled the wedding costume.”
“Whatever’s needed. As I told your father, you may place the blame squarely on my shoulders.”
“Don’t worry, I will. That little Colored cook you were so quick to champion yesterday was at the dress shop. Maybe I’ll spread the rumor that you’re keeping company with her as my reason.”
His jaw tightened and his voice took on an ominous tone. “Don’t stir waters that might flow back to drown you, Natalie. Just find yourself another fiancé and go on with your life.”
“I don’t need your advice.” She tapped the driver on his arm with her parasol and said imperiously, “Drive on.”
As the carriage moved off, Rhine walked back inside. He’d never been a vindictive person, but if one drop of Natalie’s venom splashed on Eddy Carmichael, she and her family would be living in a tent on the outskirts of town.
“Frankly, I never knew what you saw in her anyway,” Kent confessed after hearing Rhine’s story. “She and I grew up together and she’s never been the nicest person.”
“Beauty can blind you.”
“But it shouldn’t make you stupid. Glad you came to your senses. Now she can be some other man’s problem.”
Rhine smiled. “You really don’t like her, do you?”
“Name me five people in town who do and I’ll buy you a drink.” Kent smiled. “Now that you’re free, how about going over to San Francisco with me sometime soon. I’ll introduce you to a cathouse with the prettiest women you’ve ever seen.”
Rhine found the claim amusing. “I’ll leave the cathouse kittens to you.” Kenton Randolph’s unabashed love for the ladies was yet another point of contention in his ongoing disagreement with his father. Then again, rumor had it that the good doctor had broken his fair share of hearts in his younger days, too.
Kent asked, “Will you be around for the Lincoln Club meeting this afternoon?”
“I will, but only as host. I don’t want my presence to get in the way of an open discussion.” The rift between Black and White Republicans was real. The men in his wing of the party were being lambasted for their perceived indifference to the ongoing bloody assault upon the South’s freedmen. At the club’s last meeting, Rhine had been called upon to explain the reasons for the silence and lack of outrage, but in truth he hadn’t been able to. The party’s choosing political power over supporting the hard-earned rights of the formerly enslaved was indefensible, at least for him, so he’d play host and allow the meeting to progress without his participation.
“We value your support, Rhine.”
“I know, but a one man band is just that. I have no influence over the party’s national agenda and it sticks in my craw as much as it does the people here. Is Jim preparing the food?”
“Yes. Says he needs lemons so he’ll have enough lemonade. I’m on my way to Rossetti’s to get them and save him the trip.”
“How about I go? I need the air.” He wanted to walk off the lingering effects of Natalie’s maddening visit.
“Suit yourself. I’ll help get the chairs and table set up.”
“How many lemons does he need?”
“Two dozen or so.”
Rhine nodded.
Eddy was glad to finally escape all the accidental pinpricks that went with her hour long fittings. She liked the idea of having new clothing, but walking down to Mr.Rossetti’s store she felt like a pin cushion. It was a nice day, however, and the warmth and sunshine felt wonderful. As she made her way down the walk, she garnered a few waves and nods from people she’d met through Sylvia, like the blacksmith, Cecil Roland, and the barber, Edgar Carter, who was sitting on the bench outside his shop. “Mornin’ to you, MissEddy.”
“Good Morning, Mr.Carter. Are you still planning on donating those haircuts for the auction?”
“Sure am, and looking forward to some of your good cooking on Sunday.”
“Looking forward to serving you.”
She’d been talking up the auction during the dinners at the dining room and nearly everyone she’d approached eagerly agreed to either bid or donate something. Because no one in the community could be termed wealthy, she didn’t expect to raise a lot of money, but every penny taken in would benefit Mary and the orphanage.
