Eugenia's Embrace

Eugenia's mind drew a blank. She had been inside this hotel, working so long, she had forgotten what she had seen outside its walls earlier. "No, I don't think so," she murmured.

Frederick's eyes shot up in surprise. "You haven't noticed it?" he said.

Eugenia lowered her eyes. "No, I'm afraid not," she answered softly.

"You'd love it there. I know it," he said proudly.

"I just don't know," Eugenia said, turning to look out of the window. Looking downward, she watched the women walking by in a gliding fashion, with their long-skirted dresses swirling around their legs. They were so beautiful and appeared not to have a care in the world. How she dreamed of becoming one of those ladies, to be admired by all, attired in silken gowns, green satin gowns. She turned back to face Frederick. "I just don't have any clothes that are fittin' to wear to visit your house," she said, her full pouting lips trembling visibly.

"If you agree to come and live in my house, I'll see that you'll have the finest gowns from Europe," he said, wiping some beaded perspiration from his brow with a neatly folded handkerchief.

"You will?" Eugenia gasped, hardly able to believe what was happening. She had worked night and day for weeks, hating her existence, and now this.

"The finest of silks and satins," Frederick repeated, leaning his full weight on his cane, his cheek twitching nervously beneath her constant stare.

Eugenia pulled her apron in front of her, hating it and what it represented. "Okay," she answered quickly. "If you're sure it'll be all right."

Frederick went to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek, leaving a wetness sparkling in the dim lighting of the room. "I've thought of this constantly since I last saw you," he said. "You won't be sorry for having made this decision," he added thickly, his eyes twinkling from anticipation. "You get your things together and I shall send a carriage for you by seven o'clock this evening. Be down in front."

"Yes sir," Eugenia said, swallowing hard, suppressing an urge to cry, so happy that she was having a chance at a different way of life. Something deep inside tugged at her, telling her to be on her guard, but she was able to brush these thoughts aside. Instead she remembered that he was one of the most respected men in Cripple Creek. He owned the Heinmarch Opera House. She watched his shadow fill the space in the hallway and disappear down the staircase.

Eugenia glanced quickly at a clock on the nightstand next to her bed. She had only one hour and then she could leave this place… forever. She wasn't even going to say good-bye to Hannah. She had grown to almost hate her. She had known for some time now that Hannah only showed the sweet side of her nature when she wanted something of her. Other than that, she completely ignored Eugenia.

Going to the window once again, Eugenia watched the early September sun begin to disappear behind the highest peak of Mount Pisgah. She had to wonder if her parents and sister were watching this same sunset. But for some strange reason, for the first time since she had left her parents' homestead, she didn't have a deep feeling of longing for her home and family. She knew that her luck had just changed. She was to be taken care of by a man—but not as his wife. She could only think of him treating her as a daughter.

Eugenia's eyes began to follow a carriage below her. It was carrying a bulk of a man away from her. She smiled and pulled her travel bag from beneath her bed and began to fill it once again—maybe for the last time. At least until she found Drew. But no, when Drew heard that she was living with such a well-known person, he would seek her out.

* * *

Chapter Seven

Having lost her shawl in the confusion of her first day in Cripple Creek, Eugenia stood shivering, grasping onto her filled travel bag. Her eyes traveled up and down the darkness of Bennett Avenue, watching men on their horses, and shadows' settling on the street around them. She continued to watch through the darkness for a carriage to pull up in front of her. Frederick Heinmarch had said to wait in front of the hotel and that he would send a carriage at seven o'clock. So where was it? She couldn't control the trembling of her hands. Even her teeth were chattering in the evening breeze.

The lights from the buildings on all sides of her blinked back at her. The rush of the people on the sidewalk hadn't seemed to subside this night. Both men and women were still busying along the sidewalks, stopping, gaping into the store windows. Some went in, then came out with bags filling the crooks of their arms. There seemed to be an air of cheerfulness, as though it was a special night somehow. Eugenia smiled, knowing that it was a special night for her. She had been paid special attention by what seemed to be a special person in this thriving town. She only hoped she could be worthy of this special honor.

Peering down the street once again, her heart seemed to stop when she saw a black carriage working its way toward her. The air was filled with the clattering of hoofs from a single roan pulling the carriage. When it pulled up in front of her, Eugenia stood waiting. She had to be sure it was the right carriage. She eyed the driver anxiously, waiting, silently waiting.

"Are you Eugenia Marie Scott?" the driver asked, removing a tall hat from his head, cradling it in his arms. Eugenia laughed to herself at the appearance of the hat. The hat's top looked like a stovepipe. The first of its kind that she had ever seen.

The man continued to sit straightbacked in his solid-black attire, eyeing Eugenia with an impatient frown.

Sensing this, Eugenia hurriedly answered, "Yes, sir. I be Eugenia Marie Scott."

"Mr. Heinmarch is requesting your presence at The Towers tonight, ma'am," this man said in a monotone voice. "Do you need assistance in boarding the carriage?"

Lifting her skirt, Eugenia climbed in. "No, sir," she answered, settling herself onto the softness of the cushions beneath her. One flick of the wrist from this gentleman, landing a whip's leather against the back of the horse, and Eugenia found herself being pulled in grand style along Bennett Avenue. Her heart pounded with anticipation, knowing that she had to be a true picture of a lady as she sat in such a carriage.

The carriage swung around cable cars, other carriages, and men on horseback. Then a large white house loomed before Eugenia with so many lights on inside it it appeared to be alive. It was then that she remembered having seen this white house, and how she had marveled at it. Could it be that this was the house called The Towers? Was this truly where Frederick Heinmarch lived? Was this truly where she was going to live? No. She had to be wrong. It was all too marvelous. Too much of a dream come true—too soon. Things like this just didn't happen. Then her eyes shot upward, seeing the many towers on the different angles of the roof. It was the only house in town that she had seen towers on. It had to be the one. That's surely how this particular house had acquired the name of The Towers.

Hardly able to suppress the anxiety building up inside her, Eugenia scooted more to the edge of the seat, breathless when the carriage pulled around a circle drive and stopped in front of a wide porch that lined the entire mansion. One glance toward the double doors of the house and she could see him standing there; Frederick Heinmarch, almost filling out the space that both doors made. With a pounding heart, she climbed from the carriage and

made her way up the front steps. Her eyes darted all around her, capturing the greatness of it all.

"So you did come," Frederick said, moving toward her. He took one of her hands in his and bowed to kiss it. Not having had this ever happen before, Eugenia covered her mouth with her other hand, completely awe struck.

"Come inside, my dear," Frederick then said, motioning with his hand toward the opened doors.

Eugenia picked up her full skirt and walked beside him. When she entered, her mouth dropped open. She had had many dreams of beautiful houses before, having read about them so often in books. But what lay before her eyes now was unbelievably, breathtakingly beautiful. In one quick sweep, her eyes had captured it all. The spaciousness of it. Why, she even knew that her parents' house could be fit into it, it was so large.