Elizabeth gasped. “What are you saying?”
“I do not remember you being such an enchantress. But you caught my eye the moment I spied you sitting in your box.”
“Oh, Mr. Wilcox… surely…” Elizabeth waved her hand, dismissing Wilcox’s foolishness.
“You were wearing that enchanting deep maroon gown with the emeralds and your hair was so ingeniously woven with… what were they?
“Pearls,” Elizabeth said modestly.
“A vision of loveliness I said to myself. I thought at first you were perhaps visiting royalty—from France, Russia, or Italy. One is not often struck so profoundly.”
“Now, My Lord, I know you are teasing me,” she said, opening her fan and peering over the top to heighten the impact of her eyes.
Wilcox decided to pull back a bit. “I would not be sincere if I did not express my admiration. Take it or leave it.”
Placing her fan on the tea table, Elizabeth offered, “Another cup of tea, Your Lordship?”
“Thank you, but I have had quite enough.” He stood and walked about the room, examining the many fine works of art that were displayed. “What a delightful collection of artworks—very international.”
“My husband collected from Southeast Asia where we were stationed for many years.”
He sat down again. “What an extraordinary life you must have led, Elizabeth—you do not mind me calling you Elizabeth, do you? I feel we have known each other forever.”
“You may, Wilcox,” she said blushing.
“And I was thinking, with so little fine weather left in the summer, I was hoping you might agree to take a turn with me in Hyde Park. I have an open carriage and we might enjoy a tour of the park and then perhaps have luncheon at my club.”
“That might be acceptable. And I am going to be having a small dinner next Thursday. Perhaps you should like to join us—as my evening companion.”
“I should be delighted,” Wilcox said, rejoicing that he had maneuvered himself into her good graces.
* * *
The Barnett household was in chaos. Mama hovered as Dr. Springfield examined Claudia’s ankle. Jenny was anxiously awaiting the Doctor’s verdict knowing it could affect her job at Pemberton. The brother and other sister hovered at the bedroom door, and Papa paced the hallway outside the children’s bedroom.
“Is it broken?” Mama asked as she fussed with her apron peering from behind the doctor.
“Yes, I am afraid it is,” the Doctor said. “I shall need to set it and construct a cast.” He turned to his patient and said, “Miss Claudia, you are going to need to be off this foot for a good many weeks.”
Claudia cast a look at Jenny and then said to the Doctor, “But I am to replace Jenny in the bakery. I cannot be disabled.”
A stab of anxiety shot through Jenny as she realized the gravity of the situation.
“I am afraid that is not going to be possible. You must rest in bed for at least a week and then you will only be able to get around on crutches. You are absolutely forbidden to use this leg until the break has completely healed, and that should take, at the very least, six weeks.”
Jenny put her hands to her face in anguish. How could she possibly take the job at Pemberton now? She must stay with the family. The bakery and the family’s very livelihood depended on it.
Mama could see that Jenny was distraught. She went over to her daughter and took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes.
“Maybe there is someone else who could fill in for you?” she suggested.
“Oh, Mama, you know there is not.”
“Perhaps Robert could step up.”
“No, Mama, there is no time to train him. And even if there was, he is still too small to manage the rigors of the job. The kneading, the lifting, the shopping—it is just not possible.”
Claudia began to cry. “Oh, Jenny, I am so sorry. I was so foolish to climb around on those wet rocks. Can you forgive me?”
