“It didn’t matter at all. You just looked divine. I was so proud of you.”
Nellie smiled and began placing apple slices on the pastry. “I had a wonderful time.”
“Yes, I know you did. When will you see him again?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes he comes by in the afternoon.” She glanced toward the kitchen door, almost expecting to see him there.
“I’m sure he’ll turn up sooner or later. Nellie, I don’t mean to pry, but you didn’t…I mean, well, last night you seemed to be very free with him. Not that I’d ever be one to criticize, but you kept—well, touching him in a very improper way.”
“I didn’t mean to.” Nellie ate four slices of apple.
“No, of course you didn’t, and only a few people commented on it, and I’m sure they know you’re a woman of good repute. They know you’re not the…well, the loose woman you seemed to be last night.”
On the end of the table there was a large tray covered with freshly baked cookies. Nellie ate two cookies.
“I just wondered,” Terel continued, “if you’d allowed him to do anything to you. You are still a virgin, aren’t you?”
Nellie ate two more cookies. “I am still a virgin,” she whispered.
Terel stood. “Good. I told Father I would ask. He’d heard so much about your behavior last night that he came to me for advice. I assured him that even though you may have looked like a wanton woman I was sure you weren’t. Now I can reassure him and everyone else in town.” She moved around the table to kiss Nellie’s cheek. “You looked so good last night, Nellie. Please remember that and don’t eat so many cookies that you won’t be able to wear that lovely gown again. It would be a shame to insult Mrs. Taggert’s generosity by gaining even more weight.” She smiled. “See you at tea,” she said, then she left the room.
Nellie ate two dozen cookies before she could stop herself. Had she acted like a wanton woman last night? Was the entire town talking about her behavior? She knew how she felt about Jace, but had she actually made a fool of herself before everyone?
When she pulled three
dozen petit fours from the oven she ate a dozen of them before she could get them iced. Now, when she thought of the ball, she saw herself as Terel had described her, “twice as wide as he is,” and she saw the townspeople watching her in disbelief as she acted like a harlot.
She had to make a second batch of icing for the little cakes because she ate the first bowlful.
“Terel, what is it?” Mae asked, watching Terel sniff prettily into her handkerchief.
Eight young women of Chandler were gathered in the Grayson parlor discussing with great enthusiasm the ball of the night before. The main topic of conversation was Nellie and the great change that had taken place.
“I’d never even looked at Nellie before.”
“She was so beautiful, and Mr. Montgomery looked at her with such love in his eyes. He—”
It was at that point that Terel began to sniff delicately. The young ladies were so engrossed in their conversation that it was a while before Mae noticed and asked Terel what was wrong.
“It’s nothing,” Terel said. “At least it’s nothing I can share with anyone outside my family.”
Charlene looked at Louisa. “We’ve known you all your life. We are very close to being family.”
Terel touched her handkerchief to the corner of her eye. “You’ll all know sooner or later anyway.”
“Sooner, preferably,” Mae said, but Charlene elbowed her in the ribs.
“Mr. Montgomery is a…”
They all waited, leaning forward on their chairs, cups suspended in midair.
“He’s a gigolo!”
“No,” three women breathed.
“I’m afraid it’s true,” Terel said, looking very sad. “I was afraid of this from the beginning. It seems that all Mr. Montgomery ever wanted was to buy Grayson Freight.”
“But I heard he was rich,” Mae said.