“You really are clever.” He obviously hated her for it, too.
“And in return, you forget we ever met.”
“I don’t think I will ever forget you, Miss Perkins, but I’ll be happy never to see you again.”
At least they agreed on something. “Then we have a deal?”
“Yes, but don’t think for a minute you can trick me again. If you even try, you know what I’ll do.”
“Throw me down the stairs?” she said before she could think better of it.
But he only raised his eyebrows at her. “You’ve been listening to gossip.”
“Isn’t that the way you killed your wife?”
This time his smile made her skin crawl. “No, it isn’t. I choked the life out of her after I’d beaten her nearly to death. I enjoyed it, too, Miss Perkins, and she hadn’t even done a thing to deserve it.”
And, of course, Elizabeth had. His message was plain. She swallowed the terror clogging her throat and wrapped her arms around herself to keep from shaking. “I need to get back to the Vanderslice house before they miss me.”
“And how do I know you won’t just hop on a train and disappear?”
“Because I give you my word.”
He actually laughed at that, an odd bark that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. “And because my boys will be watching you, so don’t get any ideas.”
“Yeah,” Fletch said. “We followed you today, didn’t we? Even though you tried to lose us.”
She didn’t bother to reply. “Fine. You’ll know I’m keeping my end of the bargain when David contacts you. I’m ready to leave now. Where’s my purse?” she asked, suddenly realizing she’d lost track of it during the ordeal of the taxicab ride. If they’d left it in the taxi . . .
Neither of the goons replied, and Thornton frowned. “Which one of you has it?”
Fletch reluctantly pulled the small drawstring bag she’d been carrying out of his pocket. She reached for it, but Thornton snatched it away. To her dismay, he pulled it open.
“What’s this?” he demanded, snatching out the wad of bills. “I thought you didn’t have any money.”
“I didn’t until today. I went to see an old family friend and borrowed it.”
“What family friend is that?”
She sighed as if put upon. “Dan Kelly, also known as Dan the Dude.”
“That’s the fellow who owns the saloon where she went this afternoon,” Lester said. “He claimed he’d never heard of her when we asked him, though, and then he threw us out.”
Of course he did. Dan wouldn’t give Thornton or his goons the time of day, so they’d never know if she was telling the truth or not.
“Your family has interesting friends,” Thornton said, stuffing the money into his own pocket.
“What are you doing? That’s mine!” she cried.
“And if I let you keep it, you could very easily leave the city. You’re more reliable when you’re penniless, Miss Perkins.” He dropped the empty purse into her lap. “Take her back to the Vanderslice house and make sure she stays there,” he told his goons.
“David wants to take me around to see the sights,” she said.
He gave her a murderous glare, but he said, “Just make sure she doesn’t leave the city.”
? ? ?
“I couldn’t fall asleep, so I thought I’d just go for a little walk,” Elizabeth explained to David and Anna. “I wanted to send my aunt a telegram to tell her where I am, but then I couldn’t find my way back. I was hopelessly lost, and everyone here is so unfriendly, I was afraid to ask for help.”
“You poor thing,” Anna said, taking both her hands. They were sitting in the parlor where Anna had taken her after she arrived back on the front doorstep, disheveled and unnerved from her encounter with Thornton.
“You should never have gone out alone,” David said.
“I know that now,” Elizabeth said, not even having to force the tears that flooded her eyes. “Back home, I walked out alone all the time.”
“You’re not at home now,” David said, “and New York can be a dangerous place for a female alone.”
How well she knew. “I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m so sorry I worried you.”
“I was terrified when I woke up from my nap and you weren’t here,” Anna said. “You should have at least told one of the servants where you were going. We didn’t have the slightest idea even where to look for you.”
“I think Miss Miles has been chastened enough, Anna,” David said. “I blame myself. I should have stayed at home so I’d be available. If I had, I could have sent your telegram for you.”
“I’d hate to take you away from your work, Mr. Vanderslice, but I certainly would have appreciated your help today.” Elizabeth gave him her best smile and wondered if she could really get him to propose to her in the next day or two. He already seemed smitten, but that was still a long way from a marriage proposal.
“It’s settled then. I promised to show you the city, and that’s what I’ll do.”
“And I’ll go with you,” Anna said a little petulantly. “We have to make you fall in love with New York so you’ll stay here forever.”
David smiled. “Yes, forever.”
Maybe a marriage proposal wasn’t entirely impossible.
At supper, Mrs. Vanderslice said, “I’ve invited Hazel and Gideon Bates for dinner on Thanksgiving. I felt we all had much for which to be thankful this year, so we should celebrate together.”
“Oh my, I’d forgotten all about Thanksgiving,” Anna said. “I guess I lost track of the time when we were in prison.”
Elizabeth hadn’t given it a thought, either. In her world, holidays weren’t very important. She refused to analyze too closely why her heart had lurched a bit at the thought of seeing the Bates mother and son, though. She’d missed Mrs. Bates, but Gideon could only cause trouble. He’d probably remind David of his promise not to do business with Thornton, and he’d also try to flirt with her. She’d have to make sure to be engaged by Thursday to put an end to Gideon’s interest in her. She managed not to groan out loud.
“What do you think, Elizabeth?” Anna asked.
“I’m sorry. I was woolgathering.”
“David suggested we go to the Museum of Natural History tomorrow.”
“That sounds lovely.” It really sounded awful, but Elizabeth needed to spend some time with David. Having Anna along would be a distraction, but she couldn’t break the poor girl’s heart by saying she didn’t want her to come. In truth, she was better company than David.
“You’ll have to be careful, girls,” Mrs. Vanderslice said. “You don’t want to exert yourselves. Remember what the doctor said.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. We’ll be home in time for our naps,” Anna said. “And this time, I’m sure Elizabeth will take hers.”
Elizabeth wasn’t so sure. She had a lot to do before Thursday.
? ? ?