Which was also perfectly true. David Vanderslice had certainly never met a grifter before. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
“Oh, it is. The more I learn about you, the more I want to know.”
He wouldn’t like a lot of what he’d learn if he really got to know her, of course. “Knowing me would take a long time, I’m afraid.”
“I’m prepared to make the effort. Didn’t I tell you I’d like you to stay here forever?”
“And I’m sure you know I couldn’t possibly do that.”
“Why not?”
She shook her head at his teasing. “Because my home and my family is in South Dakota. An unmarried woman can’t just go to a strange city and start a new life.” Although that’s exactly what she was planning to do if she could escape Thornton, she realized.
“You’re right, an unmarried woman could not. Are you opposed to marriage, Miss Miles?”
“Why would I be?” she asked.
“Many of the suffragists are. They don’t like the idea of being under a man’s control.”
Of course they didn’t, but she couldn’t tell him she disapproved of marriage. “When you put it like that, I’m not fond of the idea. But not all men look upon marriage like that.”
“No, we don’t,” he said, clearly putting himself into that winning category.
“Does your mother approve of rights for women? I haven’t heard her express an opinion.”
“She isn’t as outspoken as Mrs. Bates, of course, but I think she supports the cause in her own way.”
“Even after Anna was arrested?”
David winced a little. “She wasn’t too pleased about that, as I’m sure you can understand, and that may have tempered her enthusiasm a bit.”
“Enough so she’ll forbid Anna to participate in any more protests?”
“I’m hoping Anna herself will decide that. She isn’t strong, as you know, and no one expects her to give her life for the cause.”
Elizabeth thought about the hunger strike and how none of them had hesitated to join it, especially Anna. No one had died, but many had been close to it. She only hoped the men in Congress came to their senses before someone did. But as the Old Man would undoubtedly remind her, she had a more urgent problem. “I have a feeling Anna won’t be sensible about her dedication to the cause.”
“Which is why she needs friends like you to advise her.”
“I’ll continue to advise her as long as I’m here.” She sighed. “But I don’t know how much longer that will be.”
“Miss Miles, if you don’t mind my asking, is there any reason you need to return to your home?”
“You mean besides the fact that it is my home?”
“Yes. For example, do you have any, uh, attachments there?”
Elizabeth feigned innocence. “My aunt, of course.”
“Uh, no, I mean any, uh, romantic attachments, for example. Is there someone special in your life?”
“Oh no, not at all. I’ve never . . . Well, if you’d ever been to South Dakota, you’d understand.” Of course, Elizabeth had never been to South Dakota, either, but she had no trouble imagining. “And to answer your question, no, I have no romantic attachments.”
“I’m sorry, that’s really none of my business, is it?” David said, color blooming in his face.
“Isn’t it?” she asked coyly. “I wouldn’t have answered if I thought so.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We hardly know each other, but even in the short time since I’ve met you, I’ve come to respect and admire you.”
And he’d continue simply admiring her for weeks if she didn’t take matters into her own hands. “Why, Mr. Vanderslice, is this a proposal?”
“Oh, uh, I didn’t mean—”
“Because I’ve come to admire and respect you, too,” she hurried on before he could deny it. “But I never dreamed my feelings would be returned. I’m just a simple girl, and I’m not familiar with the way things are done in the city. I’m very glad you had the courage to make a declaration first, so I didn’t embarrass myself.”
“You are?” He looked shocked but, mercifully, he also looked pleased.
She looked down demurely. “Of course I am. No matter how she feels, a woman must wait for the man to speak first, and if he never does, well, she has to return to South Dakota brokenhearted.”
“I wouldn’t want that. Oh no, I’d never want that,” he said, growing more confident by the second.
“So was it? A proposal, I mean? I know it’s forward of me to ask, but I have to be sure . . .”
“Yes! I mean, Miss Miles, you would do me the greatest honor if you would agree to become my wife.”
She managed not to sigh with relief. “And you do me the greatest honor by asking. How could I refuse? Yes, Mr. Vanderslice, I would be delighted.”
He looked so pleased, she almost felt guilty, but she knew he couldn’t possibly be in love with her, at least not yet. And he wouldn’t like the way she was going to conduct herself over the next few weeks, either. She’d give him more than enough reason to rue his hasty engagement and to be relieved when his fiancée disappeared. In the meantime, however . . .
“You have made me the happiest man alive, Miss Miles.”
“I think you may call me Elizabeth now that we are engaged.”
“And you must call me David. I can’t wait to tell Mother and Anna. Anna will be so pleased! Now you really will stay here forever.”
Anna wouldn’t be pleased when Elizabeth deserted all of them. Elizabeth wouldn’t be pleased, either. She’d never had a friend before and probably never would again. “Do you really think your mother will approve? I don’t know anything about New York society, and I don’t have much of a dowry.”
“Everyone will want to know you. The old families get a little stuffy, so we need some new blood every now and then to freshen us up.”
“I hope you’re right, but you haven’t said what your mother will think.”
“She’ll just be relieved that I’m finally getting married. She’s been wanting grandchildren for ever so long.”
Elizabeth ducked her head at that. Hopefully, he’d think it was modesty, when in reality it was horror at the thought of bearing David’s children. If she ever did have children, she’d want their father to be someone who hadn’t needed to be tricked into a proposal.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Miss . . . I mean Elizabeth.”
She managed a shy smile. “That’s all right. It’s just . . . The idea of marriage is a bit overwhelming.”
“Yes, indeed, and we should make some plans. We’ll live in my house, of course. What about your aunt? Do you think she’ll want to come here to live as well?”
Since her aunt did not exist, Elizabeth doubted it. “I have no idea. I’ll have to ask her. But first things first. How shall we announce it?”
“We’ll send a notice to the newspapers, of course.”
“And I’ll write to my aunt, of course. Oh, and we can tell the Bateses tomorrow when they come for Thanksgiving dinner.”