Independent Brake (The Dominion Falls Series) Read online

  She wondered if they still were as eager for the acceptance of high society. Or if they’d ever bothered to look for her, or still did. She sank onto the stool, her mind drifting back to the day she’d left home. Her ideas to send a letter to her father had never come to fruition, and as it often did, her guilt gnawed her belly.

  The touch of a hand to her shoulder startled her out of her reverie, and she grasped Patrick’s wrist. He squeezed her shoulder, and she noticed he was fully dressed. “You were quiet for so long I became concerned.”

  Kat frowned. Once she’d released his hand, she turned toward him. “I haven’t been in here that long.”

  “Fifteen minutes.” He held out her chemise. “You won’t have time to eat at this rate. I’ll help you get dressed, on my best behavior, I promise.”

  She tried to ignore how his brow remained puckered in concern, and instead snatched the chemise away and threw it on. They worked together to set her corset in place, and she re-tied the laces while he dug through her clothes for her petticoats and crinoline. By the time they’d set all her layers in place, she hoped his concern had passed, but it lingered in a tiny wrinkle between his brows.

  “As always, you are dashing.” He flashed a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Although your hair is more unruly than usual. Why don’t I have Loren bring your food up while you try to tame it?”

  “Could you?” Kat sank back onto the stool in relief.

  “Gladly. You get started, I’ll take care of things, and of course you will use my carriage to get to work. I won’t have you late, no matter how much I might tease you otherwise. It would do you no good to lose your job.”

  “Thank you.” She turned her attention to her hair, glad for the distraction from his worried gaze. By the time he reappeared with a tray, she had almost managed to pin her hair in place. “I thought you were having Loren bring the tray?”

  “I changed my mind.” He set the tray down on the vanity. “Care to tell me what’s troubling you?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “I...”

  He lifted a brow and met her gaze.

  “Not particularly.”

  “You held the expression of one who was missing something. Or perhaps, someone.” He’d blocked her view of herself the moment she’d lifted her hands from her hair. Although, she didn’t need to see her face to know the heat of a blush lit her cheeks. He didn’t mock her in any fashion, only set his hand on hers. “I know because I’ve felt the same myself.”

  “Patrick. This isn’t remaining acquaintances.”

  “I believe we gave that up when you, Delphine, and I went to the Madam Levine’s Burlesque three weeks ago.”

  Right though he may be, she didn’t dare enter that discussion. Not yet.

  “Go on and eat. We’ll enjoy lunch together and discuss things then.”

  Rather than answer, she sipped her tea. “I should be off. I don’t have time to eat.”

  “You do. Eat.” He left the washroom with little more than another squeeze to her shoulder.

  Kat did as instructed and scarfed down the eggs on her plate. On her way out of the room and downstairs she was still eating bacon. Luckily, she saw no sign of Patrick, but his carriage waited for her outside.

  She made it to work with minutes to spare, and dove into work gratefully. For some reason the memories were painfully prevalent, almost as much as they had been when she’d first left home.

  There were few things in her current life she was discontented about, but the occasional bouts of melancholy and homesickness were at the top of the list. Maybe she just needed more to do, to occupy her time, and to keep her free from these bouts.

  Just when she’d determined to ask Delphie if there was something more to do with the suffrage league, her friend strode into the bank. For a woman never late, Delphie seemed appropriately uncomfortable with her current state.

  Kat had never seen her friend so downtrodden. Delphie’s head hung, and she slipped into her seat at her desk without even a wave in Kat’s direction.

  When Delphie finally lifted her head, Kat saw why. Powders didn’t completely cover the bruise around Delphine’s eye. Kat’s stomach churned in disgust for her friend. Without a doubt, she knew just how the bruise had happened.

  Katherine stood with papers in her hand and carried them to Delphine’s desk. She set down the blank papers and whispered, “Charles?”

  Delphine’s lips tightened and she sucked them between her teeth. When Kat didn’t move, Delphie finally nodded.

  “Join Patrick and I for lunch.” Kat didn’t give her time to protest, only squeezed her friends hand before rushing back to her own desk.

  At least now she had something else to focus on.

  * * * *

  “Don’t think I’ve forgotten what the original plan was,” Patrick muttered in her ear when he held out her chair for her.

  Kat had the decency to duck her head in embarrassment she didn’t wholly feel. After a moment she nodded. “I know. However, Delphie’s matter is more pressing.”

  Patrick took the seat beside her, his attention effectively turned to the other woman at the table. “Delphine. I’m glad you could join us.”

  “No you aren’t.” Though her wit was not as biting as usual, Delphine sat with her back straight, her pride evident. “Though I appreciate the attempt.”

  Patrick set his hand on hers. “Would it offend you if I asked why you remain?”

  “Where would I go?” Delphine sipped her water delicately. “Besides, Charles has never done this before. It’s an unprecedented event. I have no reason to believe it’s going to occur again. He much prefers gambling and whores to violence.”

  Kat frowned. “Delphie. I don’t like this. What if he does beat you again?”

  “He won’t.” She sighed and leaned closer. “If you must know, he was upset that I’d been hiding money from him so he wouldn’t drink it away. He’s gone and cleaned out one of my secret accounts, using his status as my husband to do so. I’ve not got enough of my newest account to leave.”

  “I could help you.” Katherine set her hand on Delphie’s. “I would miss you terribly if you left, but sometimes you must. You just must.”

  “It won’t happen again. I’ll be more careful.” Delphie shook her head, stubborn as ever. “If I leave it will not be under debt to others.”

  “That is a foolish choice. Men like Charles Finney don’t change.” Patrick leaned back in his chair. “And when you have offers of assistance from friends such as Kat and I, than you should accept it.”

  “You as well? You hardly know me, Mr. Warner.” Delphine adjusted the napkin on her lap. Pink hues darkened her cheeks and she shook her head. “It would be inappropriate. Besides, I am my own woman, and I make my own choices, and my own way.”

  “I know enough.” Patrick sat back in his chair, his hands folded on the table. “You are a strong and independent woman, who encourages Kat to be the same. You are both women I’m proud to call friends. You are more the type of woman I’d ever entertain marrying than any of the obedient meek women I court.”

  Kat and Delphine snorted at the same time, and Kat kicked Patrick’s shin under the table. “You’d best be careful. Someone might think you were thinking of marriage as a viable option if you continue talk like that.”

  “You understand my meaning, and that’s all that matters. I respect women such as the two of you, and I’d hate for Delphine to lose my respect. I do rather enjoy her company on the occasion I’ve been in it.” Patrick winked at Delphine.

  Delphine pursed her lips. “All flattery aside, I will make my own way. Charles will not strike me again; if he does I swear that I will accept your offer of assistance. I promise I will not remain.”

  “That’s the best we can hope for, isn’t it?” Kat sighed when Delphine nodded. “You are a stubborn woman.”

  “So are you,” Delphine chuckled. “It’s why we like each oth
er.”

  Patrick leaned forward again, this time his focus returned to Kat. “Your turn.”

  “No. There’s no need,” Kat protested. “It was a moment.”

  “It was twenty minutes.” Patrick quirked a brow. At Delphine’s obvious confusion, he whispered an aside, “Kat locked herself in my washroom this morning, and when she was gone for twenty minutes I found her melancholy and the pain of loss, missing someone, etched into her features like tears.”

  “Your eloquent and overly dramatic poetic rendering of my state of mind is inaccurate and embarrassing.” Kat tried to focus on the soup in front of her, but Delphine ruined any hope of changing the subject.

  “I’ve seen that once or twice myself. Plus, she seemed quite adamant about needing to get away sometimes.” Delphine leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. Clearly glad to have the focus off her, she wagged her brows. “I’ve known you for months and don’t know your story.”

  “Thank you for not helping,” Kat muttered.

  “Even Delphie has been kept in the dark. It must be scandalous, indeed.” Patrick grinned. “Gossip is good for the soul.”

  “It is not. You’re just nosy.” Kat pushed her soup around her bowl with her spoon. “Can’t we just enjoy the rest of our meal in peace?”

  “That wouldn’t be any fun.” Delphine tapped Kat’s arm. “Out with it.”

  “There isn’t much to tell. My parents wanted me to marry up. I was fifteen and quite ferociously opposed.” Kat chewed her lip, unsure how much to divulge. “So I, with the help of a...”

  “A what?” Patrick leaned in, apparently intrigued by the way Kat became incapable of finishing her sentence. “A friend, an enemy, a lover?”

  “I was fifteen, and you know of my innocence!” Kat grew indignant at the triumphant grin on his features. “I just don’t know what to call the person that helped me. Not a friend, not an enemy, definitely not a lover. Just someone I knew. I left town, and was taken in by Mrs. Stapleton.”

  “Did you change your name?” Her own troubles clearly forgotten, Delphine was actually eating her soup, rather than picking at it.

  That gave Kat enough courage to continue her story. “Yes. My last one, at least. I didn’t wish to be dragged back to face the fate I’d run from. I changed my name, and began teaching, learning a new trade. When I turned eighteen I was turned out on my own, and here I am.”

  “But you miss them,” Patrick said quietly.

  “Sometimes.” Kat shrugged as she met his gaze. “That’s to be expected. That doesn’t mean I regret anything.”

  “Regret and loss are different things.” Patrick squeezed her hand. “But pain is pain.”

  “I think we all know what that’s like.” Kat held his hand, and reached out to grab Delphine’s. When Delphine completed the circle by taking Patrick’s hand, Kat smiled. “At least none of us are alone any longer.”

  * * * *

  A few seats down, Kat heard Melanie whisper, “Like clockwork.”

  Kat tried not to snort, but had to cough to cover her reaction. For one so ashamed of what she’d done with Patrick, Melanie sure liked to draw all the new employees attention to him. Maybe she wanted company in the misery of not managing to capture the elusive man into marriage proposal.

  Patrick strode right to Kat’s window, one brow already perked. He hadn’t even made it there when Delphine was at her shoulder. In the two months since they’d formed a solid round-about friendship, more often than not when Patrick arrived, Delphie was close at hand.

  He leaned on the counter and spoke low. “I see new faces.”

  “Pearl and Vivian,” Delphie supplied in a hushed tone. “Pearl is the blond, Vivian the brunette.”

  “I’d set my sights on Pearl.” Kat leaned closer. “Vivian wouldn’t be worth your time. Word is she has already played the innocent for any number of men looking for a wife. She keeps turning herself out for the right amount of wealth. Took this job to find it.”

  “Information much appreciated. If you’ll excuse me.” Patrick tipped his hat and moved right on past Vivian to Pearl’s window.

  “I’ll never get used to that.” Delphine gathered Kat’s reports together. “You really don’t care that you are setting him on a new conquest?”

  “He is my friend. If we stop that aspect of our relationship for a short time or a long one, that won’t change.” Kat shrugged. “Nothing to be jealous of.”

  “Just making sure you’re still in your right mind. I don’t want you falling in love with the man out of turn.” Delphie nudged her. “Or worse, setting your sights on something like marriage.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, Delphie.” Kat winked and returned to her work. She had to admit that she was surprised that even now she felt no spark of jealousy that Patrick flirted with Pearl. Then again, that was probably well-suited to her situation.

  Kat tuned out the interaction several windows down and went about her business. When Patrick left a short while later, she offered him a parting wave. The rest of the afternoon passed quick enough, and she was on her way home after a parting hug to Delphine.

  As she approached the boarding house, her good mood began to fail. For standing outside was Miss Crumbly, and what Kat was convinced was her own trunk and satchel. Her heart rate picked up, and she jogged the final steps to the door. “Miss Crumbly.”

  “I don’t ask much of my boarders, Miss Wells.” Crumbly’s Irish accent grew thick in her fit of temper. “But I won’t have women such as you sullying the good name of my boarding house.”

  “Sullying? Miss Crumbly!” Katherine stepped closer. “What have I done?”

  “The way you come and go at all hours of the night and day. You’ve taken up with that rake, Patrick Warner. I have heard the gossip and talk of the unseemly ways you’re carrying on.” She lifted her chin. “I won’t have my boarding house associated with such things. I gave you fair warning last week when you returned before church and dared to attend services right after. You should be ashamed.”

  “I’m not ashamed.” Despite her terror at not having a place to live, Kat refused to give Crumbly the pleasure of seeing her tears. If nothing else, she was honest about not being ashamed. “I have no designs to marry, but I also have no wish to be a boring old spinster such as you. I’m proud of my life.”

  “Then be proud of it elsewhere.” Crumbly turned on her heel and slammed the door behind her.

  Kat wanted nothing more than to collapse right there, but she knew nosey girls were peeking out of the curtains. So instead she grabbed the handle of her trunk and her satchel, and started down the street.

  Once she was far enough away to avoid being seen, she hailed a cab. Without anywhere else to go, she gave them Patrick’s address. The red hot heat of embarrassment flamed her cheeks, but she still didn’t cry.

  The whole ride there, she stayed crouched down in the seat. They city passed in a dimming tableau of normality. When the carriage slowed, she sat up straight as possible, and tried to push aside her embarrassment.

  She accepted the driver’s help out of the cab and strolled up the walk to the door. Before the driver had caught up to her, she knocked on the door, and forced a smile as the butler opened the door. “Hello, Loren. I know I’m not expected. Might Mr. Warner be home? I’m afraid I have a favor to ask.”

  “Mr. Warner is out, but has left express word that the Misses Wells and Finney are to be let in at any time.” Loren smiled and held open the door. When the driver appeared with her trunk, to Loren’s credit, he didn’t’ even raise a brow. “Leave the trunk there, I’ll take care of it.”

  Kat paid the driver, but said nothing else until he was gone, or even after.

  “Would you care for tea, Miss Wells?” Loren took her elbow to guide her toward the kitchen. “While you drink, I could have Tillie draw you a bath.”

  “Oh. That sounds lovely.” Kat was more than relieved Patrick had been kind enough to leave word that she and Delphie were
welcome at any time. If nothing else, it eased her nerves some to know she’d been welcomed.

  Without another word, Loren had her settled in a chair in the parlor, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. Though he’d disappeared from view, she could hear him giving orders to Tillie and also to Constance, the cook Kat had found for him.

  Kat relaxed more, and smiled. While in most proper households the staff were to be unheard, silent, like magical creatures that did their duty with no one in proper society the wiser to their presence; Patrick had a different view. She imagined his loneliness aided in his tendency to treat his staff a mere level below family. He’d once said if he didn’t have to pay them, even that level below would be ignored in favor of treating them as equals.

  Loren appeared in the doorway again. After a low bow, he gestured to the stairs. “Your supper will be ready after your bath. I’ve put your things in your usual room.”

  “Thank you, Loren. That’s more than you needed to do. I’m afraid I’m just still in shock.” She rose to follow him, and fell into step beside him on the steps. “Miss Crumbly has decided she doesn’t care to have a woman of my ilk in her establishment any longer.”

  “Your ilk? Miss Wells, you are of the highest class of people.”

  “Ah yes, but I consort with Patrick, and rumors of my deviancy have reached her crotchety old ears.”

  “Then it would seem that she does not understand kindness and decency are above all.” Loren held open the door to the washroom. “If Mr. Warner arrives before you’ve completed your bath, I will let him know you’re here.”

  “Thank you.” Kat waited until the door closed before letting go of the façade. Her legs wobbled and she sank to the floor, the first tear falling. Where would she go now? Crumbly might be a bitter old woman, but she had a reach quite wide when it came to spreading word. No other boarding house would take her. While she certainly could afford to live in a hotel, it would drain her savings faster than she could replenish it.