Golden Chances (Borrowed Brides 1)

She wore the same burgundy silk dress she’d had worn to Senator Darcy’s New Year’s Eve reception. It fit her perfectly once Madame LeClerc’s earlier seam adjustments were carefully snipped, allowing an extra inch on each side for her expanding waist and bust. Reese had even laced her into her corset himself, to prevent someone else from lacing her too tightly.

She sneaked a peek at him from beneath the cover of her long lashes, “And I had my heart set on making a grand entrance wearing something new and daring.”

“Believe me, sweetheart,” Reese teased, “In that dress, your entrance can’t be anything but grand. And daring. You do fill it out quite nicely.” He ogled the display of her creamy white breasts from his enviable vantage point above her. The dark crevice separating them beckoned to him. His tongue tingled from the need to test its depths. He felt his body tighten in response to the view.

Reese forced himself to think of his guests and the party. He lifted one of Faith’s gloved hands to his lips and kissed it. “Let’s make that grand entrance.”

Faith took a deep, calming, breath, then allowed Reese to lead her down the stairs. “I don’t understand why we had to have such a large party,” she whispered. “Wouldn’t a private family celebration have been enough?”

“Afraid not, Faith,” Reese said. “I didn’t want to risk snubbing any one right now. I have a lot of business interests in the territory and a lot of money at stake. Politics being what they are in Washington right now, I don’t need new enemies.” There was a major push to build Wyoming population, to expand the business interests there and Reese was one of its largest businessmen and main supporters of statehood.

Reese introduced Faith to the guests. “Ladies, and gentlemen, may I introduce my…” he hesitated, “my cherished helpmate, companion, and mother of my child, Faith Collins…Jordan.”

Faith stared up at him. She barely heard the clamor of congratulations or the scattered applause when he led her onto the dance floor. Her attention was solely focused on the man beside her.

He had called her his cherished helpmate. She wanted it to be reality. Her most fervent hope, was to have him ask her to stand beside him in a church. She hated the half-truths she wrote in her letters home and allowed his family to believe, and she knew Reese hated them even more.

She hated the gold ring she wore on her left hand. It wasn’t hers. It belonged to someone else. She hated that everyone believed Reese had slipped it on her finger. But most of all, Faith hated the contract. Hated her signature at the bottom, hated everything it stood for. Sometimes, she even wished she hadn’t conceived. It hurt too much to live a lie.

The party progressed at a normal rate, but to Faith it seemed to drag on for days, even weeks. The pleasure she found in Reese’s words faded with each private introduction, each dance. Faith wondered each time she shook someone’s hand, or smiled into their face, what they would think when she abandoned her husband and child. What would they say about her then? What malicious gossip would they spread?

What would Reese tell them about her? She wished with all her heart Reese hadn’t insisted on having this party. She didn’t want to know these people or remember their kindnesses. She pulled away from him, stumbling in her haste to leave the dance floor.

“Faith, what is it?” He gazed down at her, alarmed by the sudden pallor of her face. “Are you sick?” She hadn’t been eating well. The bouts of nausea persisted. He had noticed that she hadn’t eaten a thing tonight.

“No,” She shook her head, panting for breath. Bright spots began to dance before her eyes. She panicked. “I c-can’t…breathe…”

Reese caught her as she slipped toward the floor. He swung Faith up into his arms. “Somebody find Kevin! He’s here somewhere!” Reese shouted as he headed up the stairs.

* * *

Faith opened her eyes. She was in bed. She pushed herself up against the pillows, glancing around, automatically searching for Reese.

“Here I am.” Reese spoke from a straight-backed chair next to the head of the bed. Her burgundy dress was draped over the back of the chair. Reese was leaning against it, crushing the silk.

“What happened?” Faith asked.

“You fainted.” He held up her frilly, white corset. The laces, neatly sliced in two. “I suspect this had something to do with it. I knew better than to let you wear it.”

Faith smiled, “I had to wear it. I couldn’t fasten your favorite dress if I didn’t.”

Reese’s face darkened a bit. He was the one who had asked her to wear the damned dress. “Well, since you won’t be wearing this…” He tossed the corset aside, “anytime soon, I’ll just have to order you another burgundy dress in a larger size.”

“Maybe, even two or three.” Dr. Kevin McMurphy leaned against the doorway smiling at the couple. He walked to the bed and sat down on the edge. He lifted Faith’s

wrist and looked down at his pocket watch, counting heartbeats. When he finished, he looked at Faith. “It must have been a boring party. I understand you fainted to get out of staying to the end. I hear you gave Reese an excuse to leave as well. Sorry I missed it. But I was called out to treat a gunshot wound.” This time the doctor lifted Faith’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I’m Kevin McMurphy. Dr. Kevin to friends and patients.”

“Damn it, Kevin, quit flirting.” Reese ordered. “She’s not impressed.”

The doctor looked so wounded at Reese’s remark that Faith giggled.

“That’s better.” Kevin pronounced, “Nothing like a little laughter to stain a lass’s cheeks.” His voice was a musical Irish lilt. “Now, lass, what happened?”

“She fainted.” Reese replied, shortly.

Doctor McMurphy shot Reese an annoyed look. He turned back to Faith and addressed his questions to her. “Were you lightheaded? Seeing spots? Having trouble catching your breath?”

“Yes.” Reese said anxiously, looking at the doctor. “What’s wrong with her?”