Page 36 of The Harvey Girls
Twenty-Seven
Billie felt a little unsteady, went to put her cup down on the table, and met only air. She tried again, but she couldn’t get the cup to land on anything solid.
Suddenly it was being lifted from her hand, and she heard a familiar voice hiss, “What kind of man gets a young girl drunk? You should be ashamed of yourself!”
Billie would know that high-and-mighty tone anywhere. She turned toward the voice and Charlotte’s face looked slightly wavery. Billie closed her eyes.
“I didn’t!” she heard Robert say. “I had no idea that she’d have so little tolerance for the stuff. She’s like a drunken Indian.”
“It tastes like candy!” said Billie.
“Oh, for the love of…” Charlotte again. So bossy.
“I’ve got her.” This voice was low and soft and very kind. Like a nice warm blanket.
Billie opened her eyes. “Will! How are you?”
“I’m just fine, thanks,” he said, taking her arm. “Now, let’s get a little fresh air before anyone catches on.”
“We could go for a ride in your car!” said Billie.
“Something like that,” he said.
“Whatever you do, don’t let Nora see her!” The Queen of Sheba was giving orders again.
“Henny,” said Will, “why don’t you strike up a conversation with Nora.” He tucked Billie’s arm tightly into his and said, “Hang on tight, okay?”
“Okay!” said Billie. He smelled good. But not as good as that candy drink. “Wait a minute, where are my manners. Robert?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for teashing me t’dance. I hope we can do it again sometime!”
“All right, Emily Post,” murmured Will. “Let’s get while the gettin’s good.”
“You’d better go,” Charlotte said after she and Will had taken off Billie’s shoes and tucked her under the covers. “If Mrs. Parnell sees you, I’ll lose my job.”
Will chuckled.
“Is that funny?” After the disappointment of learning that their dance had been at Henny’s behest and the guilt of having let herself be distracted from Billie’s descent into sot-hood, Charlotte was on her last nerve.
“It is a bit,” said Will.
“I’m glad you can find humor in a night that mainly consisted of errands of mercy,” she grumbled, “even if it is at the expense of my livelihood.”
“Mae Parnell isn’t going to get you fired. She’s too busy managing her own herd of suitors to pay much attention to the comings and goings around here.”
Charlotte frowned. “But it’s precisely her job to pay attention to—” She blinked several times. “What herd of suitors?”
Billie made a mewling sound like a kitten and rolled over.
Will walked quietly from the room and waited in the hallway.
Charlotte thought he was leaving until he tipped his head, beckoning her to follow.
She sighed and followed him down the hall.
After all, he had saved her not once but twice this evening. It was the least she could do.
Will descended the stairs to the parlor and sat in one of the overstuffed armchairs. Charlotte wasn’t sure what was happening. Were they to have a visit now? She thumped down onto the couch.
“What errands of mercy are we talking about?” Will asked. He certainly was a plainspoken sort.
“Rescuing me from that oaf and Billie from the punch bowl. I’m sure you would rather have had a relaxing evening.”
“Did it seem like I found dancing with you to be a chore?”
“Henny said she asked you to do it.”
“Only because she saw him manhandling you before I did. I would’ve gone on my own.”
“You’re a gentleman,” Charlotte said sullenly. “Gentlemen do that sort of thing.”
“It was no chore.”
She met his gaze. He really was very… honest.
“Was it a chore for you?” he asked.
She thought of how gently he’d held her, and of those finger taps letting her know that it was safe to stand up to a bully, and she felt herself soften. “No,” she said. “It was nice.”
“I thought so, too.” His gaze was warm.
Simeon could gaze warmly, too, though, couldn’t he? He’d so often made her feel appreciated and interesting and loved. Safe in the embrace of that warmth. It wasn’t all a lie. Only the most important part.
Charlotte decided that the best approach to a plain-spoken sort was to speak plainly.
“You seem like a good man, and I believe you are. However, I think I should make it clear that the only thing we will ever be is friends. I don’t intend to be here long, and I certainly don’t intend to participate in any… entanglements.”
She watched him absorb this information for a moment before he nodded and said, “I would be very happy to be your friend.”
“And I would be happy to be yours. As long as you don’t try to prevail upon me for more.”
His eyebrows went up. “I’m not in the habit of prevailing upon women for anything, much less… entanglements.” He stood to go, and Charlotte rose, too.
“Thank you for all of your help tonight,” she said. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”
“You would’ve managed. I imagine you’ve seen your fair share of predicaments and lived to tell the tale.”
Lived to tell the tale , Charlotte mused as she lay in bed a short time later with Billie snoring noisily in the other bed. With any luck, it would be chiseled on her headstone.