Golden Chances (Jordan-Alexander Family 1)

“What did you say?” Faith demanded as soon as she was able to speak.

“I said you and I are going to a New Year’s Eve ball at Senator Darcy’s residence.” He walked over to Faith and lifted her chin with the tip of his finger. His chocolate-brown eyes bored into hers.

Faith thought he was going to kiss her right there in front of Tempy, Joy, and the hired maid. Her eyes closed of their own volition, while her face tilted up a bit more.

“Your bathwater is getting cold.” He let go of her chin and stepped back. “Hurry up. I don’t like to be late.”

Reese turned and walked back to the door.

“I don’t care what you like,” Faith shot back at him, angry at herself for thinking he had feelings. “I haven’t signed any contract. You don’t own me.”

He stopped dead in his tracks.

Faith stood her ground.

The tension was so thick she could feel it. It hung like a storm cloud in the air, energy crackling. Joy bit her lip at the sound of Faith’s angry voice and started to cry. Tempy took Joy’s hand and beat a hasty retreat into the bedroom. The hired maid followed closely behind her.

Reese turned to face Faith, his right eyebrow raised in disbelief. “You’ve signed one. And in addition to that, there is the tiny matter of Christmas and a bank draft.”

“I didn’t ask you to send Christmas gifts.”

“But you did ask me to send money to the Bank of Virginia in your name, if I recall correctly. I have your telegram on my desk.” His normally husky voice was clipped and cutting. He was every inch an aristocrat. As aristocratic as any Virginia planter. “How long do you think it will take you to pay back a salary advance of three thousand dollars? Nine months? A year?”

Faith’s eyes widened with shock at his words. He would be cruel enough to remind her of the job she’d been hired to do.

“Unless, you have three thousand dollars to spare, Mrs. Collins, I suggest you hop into the bath.”

Faith hated him then, for forcing her to face her obligation. She glared up at him, her clear gray eyes as sharp as steel.

Reese gave her his most charming, endearing smile. The smile guaranteed to melt the heart of any number of hostile women. “It’s a party, Faith, we’ll enjoy ourselves.” He felt like a heel for forcing her to attend the ball with him, but how was he going to get someone else at this late date? He wasn’t about to change his plans. “How long has it been since you’ve been to a party?” He opened the door, then checked his watch. “Y

ou have exactly one hour.”

Chapter Ten

One hour. She cursed him under her breath as she stepped into the hot water. She cursed him as she quickly bathed when she would rather have soaked out the aches and pains of the long train ride. And she cursed him for making her attend a New Year’s Eve party when she only had one night left to spend with Tempy. Faith rubbed the sponge over her body with vicious force. He wanted her to attend a party in Washington—a Yankee party in the home of a Yankee senator.

She would stick out like a sore thumb, and she wasn’t in the mood for further embarrassment or humiliation. She didn’t have anything to wear except the black dress she’d just taken off. Was he planning on conjuring up a dress out of thin air? She rinsed the soap from her skin. Leave it to a man like Reese Jordan to overlook such important details—like wedding bands and evening gowns.

“Have the fireworks ended?” Tempy peeked inside the dressing room in time to catch her niece wrapping a towel around her damp body.

Faith nodded, but didn’t answer, nor did she look at Temperance.

“I gave Joy her supper and left her playing in our bedroom. I thought I would take a hot bath when you finish dressing, then crawl into bed. Such luxury!” Tempy sighed dramatically. “I’d forgotten how good it felt to have a maid do everything for me. I could get used to it. I guess it’s a good thing I’m going home tomorrow.”

Faith raised her head and met Tempy’s smiling gray eyes. Her own eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She felt very fragile all of the sudden, very alone. “I wanted to spend this evening with you, Aunt Tempy. Our last evening together.”

“I know you did, my dear, but perhaps, it’s better this way. I don’t want you to go to Wyoming with swollen eyes because we sat up all night crying. Go to this party and tell me all about it in the morning.”

“I don’t want to be humiliated. What am I supposed to wear, Aunt Tempy, my shift?” The words came out in a rush.

“Oh, no, Faith.” Tempy’s soft voice quavered with excitement. “Wait until you see it. It’s beautiful! You’ll look just like a princess. I’ll be able to keep the girls entertained for months by telling them about it.”

“About what, Aunt Tempy?”

“Your ball gown. Faith, darling, Mr. Jordan bought you a ball gown. It’s lying across the bed in your room and it’s perfect for you. The dressmaker had one made up. She’s in the sitting room waiting for alterations. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to come in and get you!” Tempy couldn’t contain her enthusiasm. She handed Faith a cotton robe. “Hurry.”

Faith shivered in the cool air as she followed her aunt into the sitting room.