Something Borrowed (Borrowed Brides 3)

Chapter Seventeen

Mary put on a good front later that afternoon as she, Judah, and Maddy all lined up at the front door to see Lee off. Judah wore a black suit, brocade waistcoat, and silver watch, while Madeline wore a dress of robin's-egg blue and a sparkling white pinafore, white ribbed tights, and shiny black patent leather shoes. Maddy held her doll in the crook of her elbow as she sucked her thumb. And Lee noticed that someone, probably Mary, had tied a matching blue ribbon around Mama

's curls while Madeline's dark baby-fine curls remained ribbonless.

In his traveling suit and canvas duster, Lee felt positively underdressed. He smiled at the picture Judah and Madeline made in their best Sunday clothes. But Mary… Mary simply took his breath away. She wore a red day dress. The neckline was heart-shaped, which emphasized the elegant lines of her slender neck. And the front of the dress molded against her, accentuating her willowy figure and the length of her legs. In the back, the fabric covered a small bustle, then cascaded, like a waterfall, into layers of ruby red down to the floor.

"You look lovely, Mary," Lee breathed at last. "What's the occasion? My leaving?"

"No." She shook her head. "We're dressed in our best clothes, and lined up on parade, to cheer our hero in one last adventure.'" She nodded toward the stained-glass panels above and beside the front door depicting a jousting tournament. "As we live in a castle," she said, trying very hard to show Lee that she really didn't mind his leaving her alone on their honeymoon, "and are surrounded by images of Excalibur, Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere, it somehow seemed appropriate."

Lee followed her gaze to the stained glass, then turned his attention back to his wife and raised his right eyebrow in question, "Are we surrounded by reminders of Camelot?"

"In every room," she told him.

"Then I guess it only fitting that I ask for favors from my two ladies."

Mary leaned over and whispered into Maddy's ear. "Give Papa his favor."

Maddy held out her hand to Lee, then opened her palm to show him a blue hair ribbon.

Lee took the ribbon and handed it to Mary. "Would you tie it on for me?" He turned so that Mary could tie the blue ribbon around his upper arm over the canvas duster.

Maddy clapped her hands together and giggled in delight.

"I have something for you, too," Mary said.

Lee watched as she reached into the pocket of her skirt. "That reminds me." He searched the inside breast pocket of his suit coat until he located Mary's little silver derringer. He pulled it out and offer it to her. "Don't forget about this. I won't be needing it just yet." He grinned at her. "I think it would be better if you kept it while I'm gone. In your skirt pocket where it belongs."

Mary looked up at him. "Thank you." She took the gun from him and slipped it into her pocket.

Lee turned to Judah and gently gripped his gnarled hand. "Good-bye, Judah. Take care of our ladies until I return."

Judah nodded gravely. "You can count on me, young man."

SOMETHING BORROW'!)

"I know." Lee knelt on one knee to hug Maddy. "You be a good little girl while I'm gone. Mind Mary and help Judah and Louisa. Okay?"

" 'Kay." Maddy nodded.

Lee kissed her on the cheek.

Maddy hugged him tightly, then planted several wet kisses on his face. "Mama!" she demanded shoving the doll at Lee's mouth.

He kissed the doll as instructed by Maddy, then rose to his full height and grabbed his hat from its resting place on the newel post.

"I shouldn't be gone more than three weeks," Lee said to Mary. "I'm going to Chicago first, then on to Washington. I left a man there working on the case, so with any luck…" He let his words trail off.

"I understand," Mary told him.

"I hate leaving you alone," Lee admitted, fiddling with the brim of his hat. "Are you sure you want me to do this?"

"Yes." She bit her lip to hide its trembling. Lee had a job to do—a job she wanted him to do—and Mary couldn't let herself interfere with its completion, no matter how much she wanted him to stay.

"Well," Lee said, "the train leaves in fifteen minutes. I'd better be going." He picked up his leather satchel. "You know if you need me, you can telegraph the Agency. William Pinkerton knows how to contact me."

"I know."