Unrelenting Love: Banished Saga, Book Five Page 18

  She leaned up and kissed him on his forehead that had furrowed with worry as he spoke. “There’s no need to tell me. It’s all right,” she soothed. She smiled at him, reaching up to run a hand through his locks of sable hair that fell over his forehead. “I love you no matter what happened or what you did.”

  “I know but …”

  “It’s all right, darling,” she whispered, leaning up on an elbow and kissing him deeply. After a while, she pushed him to his back and methodically kissed every one of his scars. “I love you, just as you are.”

  “That’s a miracle, but I still need to tell you …” He sighed as she kissed him and returned her kiss with a desperate fervency. Soon his protests were lost to their passion; any discussion of the war was silenced for another day.

  Teddy ascended the stairs behind the silent butler and was shown into a rear parlor. He nodded to the butler who left him alone. He stared out the rear window at white sheets fluttering on the line in the warm October afternoon. His gaze became distant as he stared at the white sheets, envisioning row after row of sheets billowing in the sharp breeze outside his tent in France. The distant shrieks of children playing transmuted into the cries of agony from the nearby surgical tent.

  “She left some time ago, with other committee members,” Sophie said. “They are busy at work as the march is tomorrow.”

  He jolted at her voice. He shook his head, clearing it of his memories and attempting a smile.

  Sophronia frowned as she beheld him perspiring and nearly gasping for breath. Yet she understood his travails. “I’m grateful you’ve decided to visit me.” She moved toward her chair and nodded toward one near hers for him.

  “I wouldn’t have intruded, but I believed Miss McLeod was to be here today, and I desired to escort her home.”

  Sophie’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “You were hoping to steal a little time with your betrothed, and I do not blame you. However, we had a short meeting today, and she left with Miss Clement. I believe you’d find Zylphia at home by now.”

  Teddy nodded, fidgeting in his chair. “Thank you for all you’ve done for Miss McLeod in my absence.”

  Sophronia harrumphed and batted her hand against the arm of her chair. “She is a dear friend, and I will always provide her counsel. Whether she desires it or not.” At his protracted silence, she reached forward and gripped his hand. “I was never so glad as to hear of your safe return.”

  Teddy exhaled a stuttering breath and squeezed her hand a moment. “I don’t know as I’d call a maimed man who jolts at certain sounds a safe return.”

  Sophie frowned as she beheld him. “Those of us who knew you from before can only rejoice that you are returned to us. That we are not forced to mourn you.” At his confused shake of his head, Sophie asked, “Why are you perplexed by our joy?”

  “There are those who believe it would be better had I not returned rather than to do so as I am.”

  “Then they are fools and not worth mentioning. Only an imbecile would fail to celebrate your continued presence among us.” Sophie’s brows furrowed as she watched his distress. “Are your parents celebrating your return?”

  “My mother has barely registered the change in her household other than the slight uptick in the grocer’s bill. I am again on the third floor, and she takes little notice of me.” His gaze was distant.

  “And your father?” Sophie asked. “I imagine he is delighted you have returned to help his faltering investment business.”

  Teddy snorted. “He’s asked me to refrain from sending any advice as of yet as he doesn’t want his clients to realize my influence.”

  Sophie smiled wickedly. “Then I’d cease providing him aid of any sort. Start your own consulting company and proclaim a concern for a conflict of interest.” She shared a mischievous smile with Teddy before sobering. “Why should he benefit when he refuses to give you credit?”

  Teddy’s gray eyes were dulled as he met Sophie’s fiery aquamarine gaze. “He paid me a consultant’s fee. However, I think I’ll put my energy into a business venture with Aidan McLeod. I’m uncertain as to what, but we’ll determine something.”

  Sophie nearly growled with frustration. “It is their lack, not yours, dear boy. Those of us who care about you celebrate your return.” She tapped him on his arm when he appeared dubious. “Do you doubt your Zylphia’s reaction to you? Do you believe she was disappointed you returned?”

  “No, not at all. I will forever give thanks for her. And my parents are not difficult to understand, Mrs. Chickering.” He shook his head in resignation. “They will never rejoice in me or anything I do. They loathe Zylphia and her common beginnings. They think Aidan is an upstart with too much money. They wish I’d done glorious deeds on the battlefield or, barring that, come to a glorious end.”

  Sophie clasped his hands, now clenched on his lap. “Then they are fools, and I’ve always thought your mother a dithering idiot.” She met his gaze. “Never allow their misconceptions and prejudices to become your own. Or for one minute to believe that others feel the same.”

  Reluctant gratitude shone in his silver eyes. “You are as formidable as Zylphia has proclaimed.”

  “Never doubt it, my boy. Never doubt it,” Sophie said with a self-mocking laugh. She turned the topic to the next day’s march and coaxed a few more smiles and laughs from him before he took his leave.

  16

  Teddy wove in and out of the crowd lining Beacon Street on the sunny Saturday afternoon of October 16. He looked up and saw people on balconies in expectation of the march, while others continued to arrive from the trolley stops. Police lined the sidewalks, and the route remained free for the marchers. He glanced up in consternation as many of the balconies were draped with red banners. He stumbled as a young boy rushed past him, carrying red roses pinned to cards, looking for interested parties to peddle his wares.

  Teddy frowned when he came to a main intersection at Arlington Street and saw a parked car, facing Beacon Street. Festooned in red roses, placards proclaiming Vote no were plastered on all sides of the vehicle. He noted that passersby plucked a rose from it to affix to their buttonholes as they moved to watch the parade. “Where are the yellow roses and pro-vote paraphernalia?” Teddy murmured to himself.

  He smiled at an intrepid youth who navigated the crowd without running into anyone. He handed out sheets of paper with a broad smile and wouldn’t allow a person to turn him away. Teddy sighed, resolved to reading a tirade against suffragism. Instead, he read lyrics to the songs the women would sing, with an invitation for the audience to join in. All the songs were based on popular songs of the day, and the harmony would be readily recognized. He laughed as he read the lyrics replacing the well-known “Yankee Doodle Dandy” with “Votes for Women, Sure to Win.”

  He jostled a few people as he moved through the crowd and was stopped by a strong arm gripping his shoulder. He frowned at the man holding him before smiling in recognition. “Morgan,” Teddy said, holding out his hand.

  “It’s good to see you again, Teddy. It’s been too long.” They shook hands. “I don’t have to ask why you’re here.”

  “Of course not. I’m very proud of what Zylphia is doing. As I am sure you are with Mrs. Wheeler …” He interrupted himself as he stared pointedly at Morgan’s red rose, slipped into his boutonniere.

  “I remain unconvinced that equal suffrage is the correct path for Massachusetts and the United States as a whole. I fear it has not led to the social changes the women thought it would in the West, and I cannot favor chaos.” He nodded at Teddy’s clothes and bit back a smile.

  Teddy smiled, running a hand over his yellow waistcoat and fingered the yellow rose in his lapel pocket. “You’ll never doubt who I’m supporting.”

  Morgan laughed ruefully, and they pushed themselves forward to carve out a space to better watch the parade.

  “Did you receive one of these?” Teddy asked, holding up his sheet with the day’s musical lyrics. At Morgan’s shake of h
is head, Teddy shrugged. “We’ll share. And, if you have any sense, you’ll ensure your wife sees you singing when she passes.”

  Morgan grumbled and refused to agree.

  Teddy stood beside Morgan as the marchers filed past. The suffragist flag, striped in yellow, white, and purple, was proudly paraded past them, and Teddy cheered. “If you hope to gain any favor with your wife, this isn’t how to go about it,” Teddy said with a rueful shake of his head. He stood on his toes as he looked down the street for any sign of Zylphia.

  He clapped loudly as he saw Rowena carrying the next banner. Made of yellow cloth with the words in purple it read, “Forward out of Darkness, Leave Behind the Night, Forward out of Error, Forward into Light.” His enthusiastic cheering earned him curious glances from nearby onlookers, but they did little to dampen his enthusiasm.

  The song “Come Vote, Ladies,” was sung over and over as the women marched past. It was an easy marching song as it had few lyrics and was based off the song “Good Night, Ladies.” Teddy sang along and encouraged those near him to join in.

  “I’m sure you’ll have no difficulty in seeing Miss McLeod. She has a wonderful ability to be in the center of all spectacles,” Morgan said, yet had struck a detached, uninterested pose, even as his keen gaze rove over the marchers.

  “You act disinterested, but I know you’re searching for your wife. You’re as concerned as I am.” When Morgan stared at him with feigned boredom, Teddy said, “I hope it is more peaceful today than two years ago in Washington.”

  “If it isn’t, it will only give the Antis more proof that women should not have the vote. One march with violence will provoke sympathy for the marchers. Two with violence?” He shrugged one shoulder. “That would only cause those with reason to suspect it is a ploy to garner support.”

  Teddy shook his head in exasperation. “I hope what you are saying is truly what you believe and not just something that you espouse to nettle Parthena. For this is no way to earn her trust.” He sighed with disgust.

  Morgan stiffened with indignation next to Teddy. “You’ve been gone a long time, Goff. You know nothing of it.”

  “I know enough.” He turned to glare at Morgan. “Stop baiting your wife, and maybe you’ll find more harmony at home.”

  “I was unaware that my marriage provided such interesting gossip for the likes of Miss McLeod.” His brown eyes shone with fury as he glared at Teddy.

  Teddy rolled his eyes as he looked at the marchers. Zylphia was in the midst of one of the groups. “Zylphia! Way to go!” he yelled, waving his arms about. Her head snapped up, and she broke into a broad smile. She waved back before her arm was whacked by the woman next to her, lowering it to her side. She flushed as she resumed looking straight ahead and marching in perfect solemnity. She snuck a peek at him from the side and gave him another small smile, before recapturing her serious demeanor.

  “Did you see Parthena?” Teddy asked Morgan, exhilarated. He swayed to the lively music played by an approaching band, clapping and cheering them on. He looked at his sheet, singing along to the new lyrics to the harmony of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and laughed as he stumbled through the unfamiliar words.

  The women marching sang proudly and with vigor, the chorus ringing loudly. Although some near him muttered, “Blasphemy,” at the use of a revolutionary song, others laughed and joined in.

  Groups of delegates marched past from counties around Massachusetts, including the Men’s League, plus varying professional groups and organizations. More bands and floats were interspersed, in an attempt to enliven the spectacle.

  “She was in the same group as Miss McLeod.” Morgan glared at their retreating backs.

  “I’ll never understand you, Morgan,” Teddy said, refusing to allow anyone to ruin his joy in the parade’s success. “You are married to the woman you’ve desired for years, and yet you are miserable. You wittingly sabotage your chances for a harmonious relationship with your wife.” He waved his hand at the red rose in Morgan’s lapel again.

  “I wouldn’t expect anyone to understand.”

  Teddy clapped as a float passed with Sophronia sitting proudly on a chair as she waved to those below. Her purple dress had a yellow sash across it, proclaiming Votes for Women. Women walked alongside her float, handing out yellow roses to members of the crowd. “In the end, Wheeler, it doesn’t matter if I understand. There’s only one person who needs to, and that’s your wife.”

  Zylphia moved around the volunteers from the march at the postparade party at Mechanics Hall. The speeches had ended, and now it was time to thank everyone for their hard work, for marching, for their contributions to the cause, and for traveling a great distance to participate. She paused for a moment to arch her foot in her shoe, fighting a grimace as the muscles in her foot and calf spasmed before pasting on a smile when a sponsor approached her. She couldn’t remember his name and hoped she wouldn’t be forced to admit it.

  “Miss McLeod, I can’t believe how successful today was,” the gentleman crowed. “You’d said thousands would be marching, and I thought you were overconfident in your abilities to excite women from around the state to join you.”

  Zylphia maintained a polite smile, although a feral glint had entered her eye. “All women want the opportunity to be heard. I am thankful so many joined us today and that the weather cooperated for our march.”

  “Yes, well, most impressed, Miss McLeod. Most impressed,” he gushed before moving away to partake of punch and pastries.

  Zylphia breathed a sigh of relief and arched her back. She stifled a shriek as she arched into someone, relaxing as she recognized Teddy’s chuckle. He ran a hand down her back before moving to sit by her side.

  “If you can sneak to my place tonight, I’ll give you a back rub,” he murmured as he raised his punch glass for a sip.

  “Oh, don’t tease me like that,” Zylphia whispered. “It’s all I’ll be able to think about now when I have to focus on my role here.” She met his gaze and the sensual promise within, and fought a smile. “I must continue to mingle,” she said and stood.

  He rose too and gripped her hand. “Let others do the busy work for now. You’ve been worked off your feet for days.” He nodded as he saw Florence, Parthena, and Rowena moving through the crowd. “Sit,” he ordered with a cajoling smile, pushing her into a chair and claiming the one next to her. He watched the women celebrate their success as they laughed, told stories, and relaxed after the march.

  “I need to tell you something, Zee. About the march.” He turned to meet her suddenly concerned gaze. “I’ve always been proud of you. Your passion for your art and your causes. But I’ve never been prouder of you than I was today as you marched past me.” His chest puffed out as though he could barely contain his emotions.

  She ran a hand down his yellow waistcoat. “Oh, Teddy,” she whispered, blinking to fight away tears. “Thank you.” She beamed as she focused on his clothes. “I can’t believe you’d wear such a garish thing.”

  He laughed. “I had considered ordering a yellow suit with a purple waistcoat, but I thought that would be a little much.” He raised her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m glad you appreciate my efforts.”

  “I wish more had done what you did. At times, it seemed as though I was staring out at a sea of red.” She scowled as she envisioned the march in her mind again. “The Antis did a very good job of organizing.”

  She and Teddy jolted as Sophie joined them. “You don’t have to seem so surprised by that, my dear. Although we never believed they were capable of such abilities, they proved us wrong. They are a more worthy foe than we gave them credit for.” Sophie sat in the chair next to Zylphia and ran a hand over her sash proclaiming Votes for Women.

  “I fear you’ll never want to take that off,” Zylphia teased, while Teddy grinned.

  “You are correct. However, I already scare away too many of my acquaintances.”

  “I’ve never thought that bothered you,” Teddy said with a chuckle. He reli
nquished Zylphia’s hand as she rose to mingle. He scooted over to sit next to Sophie.

  “You should be out there, young man, not sequestered here with an old woman.” At his amused grin and continued presence, she sighed. “You appear in better spirits today.”

  His smile dimmed but failed to fade away completely. “Today was a good day,” Teddy murmured. He met her frank gaze, flushing slightly at her assessment. “I’m having more and more good days.”

  Her eyes lit with an inner joy. “That’s as it should be, my boy. No one should continue to suffer for things out of their control.”

  Teddy nodded. “I’m trying, Mrs. Chickering.”

  She patted him on the hand. “That’s all any of us can do. I would warn you though. Don’t find your joy only in Zylphia. She is a wonder, I will agree. But you need to find joy in your own pursuits. If you don’t, I fear you may stifle her or become resentful of that which you admire today.”

  Teddy sighed. “I understand. After we return from our honeymoon, I’m entering into a partnership with my father-in-law. I will be busy every day with pursuits that I enjoy.”

  “Excellent. I know I am looking forward to partaking of your excellent consulting advice once again.”

  “How do you believe the march was received?” Teddy asked, smiling unconsciously as he watched Zylphia laugh with a fellow crusader.

  “The number of women and men marching was impressive. I never thought we’d have thousands march as we did, and I’m most grateful for the careful planning of Zylphia’s committee members. However, the Antis were out in force today.” She shook her head in disgust. “The mayor and governor stood and watched us march past them with no evidence of being moved toward our way of thinking. Without endorsement from a high-level politician, I fail to see how we will succeed on November 2.”

  “Don’t give up hope, Sophie,” Teddy chastised gently. He grunted as her cane came down on his foot.

  “One way or the other I will vote before I die. Even if I have to do what Susan did,” she snapped, alluding to Susan B. Anthony voting in 1872, even though women were prohibited from voting in New York. “I’m hopeful I will be seen as a full member of my country and won’t need to take such drastic measures.”