Lily turned. “It can’t be. He is in New York on business.”

  “Perhaps he came back early.”

  Lily squinted her eyes to see through the sun’s glare. “It does look remarkably like him. I wonder who he is with?”

  “I don’t recognize her from this distance. I need to return home. Remember what I said.” With a slight wave, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

  Lily looked again at the couple in the distance. The man appeared to be about Nicholai’s height and coloring, but Lily knew that he said he was going to New York and not returning until the next day. Perhaps it was just someone that looked similar.

  Lily moved closer to get a better look.

  As she approached, Lily could ascertain that the woman was very familiar with the man. They were standing close together. The man was facing away from her, so she couldn’t see his face, but the woman was familiar, as if she had seen her before, but couldn’t place where.

  The man stepped closer to his confidant, lifting his hand to caress her cheek with tenderness. The woman turned her head and kissed his palm before taking his hand and placing it along the underside of her breast. Lily took a deep swallow and wiped her hands on her skirt. She was embarrassed to be seeing something so intimate, yet completely fascinated at the same time.

  Before she could turn her eyes, she saw the couple head towards the alley way between two shops. As they entered the shadows, the woman turned and looked directly at Lily. Lily gave a little gasp and placed her hand on her chest. She knew exactly who that woman was, and that man she was with most definitely was not her husband! The lady smiled as if she and Lily now shared a secret and continued in after her mysterious lover.

  Lily felt ill. Her skin began to tingle, and her heart started pounding as if it was going to come out of her chest. She needed to get back to the office as quickly as possible. She darted back through the park, holding her hand over her mouth. She bobbed and weaved her way through the crowd that suddenly appeared. Where did all these people come from?

  She didn’t stop until she reached the office, where she retched into a waste basket until there was nothing left in her belly. Once she was done, she cleaned up the mess and placed the trash out for disposal. No one must ever find out what she witnessed. No one.

  Nicholai returned the following evening and called for Lily at her apartment. When he arrived, he swept her up in his embrace and kissed her on the cheek.

  “I missed you so while I was gone,” he said, handing her flowers he picked up from one of the corner children selling them out of baskets.

  “I missed you too.” Lily remembered the man she saw in the park yesterday. It couldn’t have been Nicholai. He was too much of a gentleman to put himself in a position like that. He was concerned about the slightest appearance of impropriety and was too smart to enjoy another woman’s charms, especially one that could ruin his family’s name and so many other’s. Lily shook her shoulders, shrugging off the memory from yesterday. “It was lonely without you. I’m very happy you are home.”

  “That is what I like to hear. What would you like to do this evening? Dinner? Theater? A walk in the moonlight?”

  “How about dinner and a stroll around the park?”

  “I’d like to you get dressed up for tonight. I’ll wait here.”

  Lily looked down at what she was wearing – a cotton blouse and a long blue skirt. There was nothing wrong with it, but if Nicholai wanted her to dress fancier, she could definitely do that.

  She returned a little while later in a white silk blouse with a long black skirt and her hair flowing down her back, tied in a ribbon at her nape. She had pinched her cheeks and applied a bit of rouge to her lips. A dab of lavender and vanilla behind each lobe completed her ensemble.

  “You look absolutely stunning. I will be the envy of every man in the square.”

  “Why thank you, kind sir,” Lily laughed, accepting his elbow and allowing him to lead her down the road towards the park.

  The walked in silence until they came to the alley where Lily saw the couple from the day before. She paused for a moment and Nicholai was stopped short as he was still holding her hand.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  Lily looked down the alley. There were shadows on both sides and about half way down a large receptacle that someone could easily hide behind. There was no easy way to exit the alley as bushes blocked the end onto the street behind.

  Nicholai grabbed her elbow. “What in heavens name are you looking at?”

  Lily shook her head. “I don’t know. Something caught my attention.” She smiled at Nicholai who looked concerned. Lily placed her hand on his cheek and he sucked in a breath before turning to take her hand in his and kissing the palm. Realizing what she did, Lily quickly pulled her hand away. “I must be imagining things.”

  “Let’s continue to dinner then. It is just a few blocks more and it is a lovely night.”

  Lily stopped again.

  “What is going on Lily?” Nicholai said, looking exasperated at her stopping.

  “When did you arrive home?”

  Nicholai looked startled. “This afternoon. Why?”

  Lily looked relieved and gave a nervous laugh. “I was in the park yesterday and I could have sworn I saw you.”

  “Hmmmm. Did you get a good look?”

  “No. I could only see the back. But the similarity was uncanny. The way the person walked, I honestly thought it was you for a moment.”

  Nicholai placed his arm around her shoulders and led her away from the shops. “What time was this?”

  Lily thought. It was after lunch but before Colin returned from court. “I want to say around 3. The park was starting to fill.”

  “Lily, my love. It was most likely the heat. I know it was extremely hot out yesterday. Perhaps you were a bit touched and just thought you saw me based on how much you missed me?” he asked hopefully.

  Lily nodded. “You are right.” She sighed. “I honestly thought I was losing my mind. The heat was rather dreadful yesterday. It actually made me sick.”

  “Now, dear, nothing to worry about. I’m home now, here with you. Let’s head to dinner, shall we? I’ve been waiting for this all day.”

  Nicholai led her to one of the fancier restaurants in town. Lily balked before going in, as she knew how expensive it was. It was a restaurant Iva had been wanting to go to, but even Martin winced at the price.

  The ambiance was divine. Gas lamps were positioned evenly throughout the interior. Just enough so you could see, but enough to be discrete. Servers stood at the ready to replenish wine glasses or coffee cups. The tables were decorated with exquisite linens and Lily could tell the silverware was real silver and not the stainless steel used at the quick lunch counters.

  “If it is monogrammed, it is the real deal and most likely to disappear,” Nicholai explained. “I learned that on one of my trips to Boston.”

  Lily laughed and placed the fork back down.

  The waiter came and took their order. Nicholai insisted on ordering a succulent appetizer of oysters baked in butter with watercress and cheese, followed by entrees of fresh salmon and lamb chops, with a decedent Tarte Tatin to finish off the meal. The waiter said that dessert was all the rage in France and had just recently made it to Philadelphia.

  Lily put her fork down not able to take another bite. She had sampled everything. Nicholai insisted on her trying his salmon and laughed with delight when she exclaimed how good it was.

  “I swear, Nicholai, you are going to have to carry me out of here, I can barely move that dinner was so good.”

  “I can arrange that, Lily. You are more than a mite, it wouldn’t cause me concern at all.”

  Lily took a sip of her coffee, allowing the bitter brew to blend with the sweetness of her dessert. “I can’t believe you brought me here.”

  “Nothing but the best for my future wife. And tonight, we are celebrating.”

  “We are?”

  “Yes. I was able to secure that loan I needed, so I will be able to expand production and take on a new shop early next Spring.”

  Lily jumped up and ran to put her arms around him. “That is absolutely wonderful! I am so happy for you.”

  “For us, my love. For us. Perhaps we can set a date soon?”

  Lily straightened up as the pressure built back up inside her. She absently rubbed his shoulder as she looked out the window into the street. The silhouette of a man caught her attention as he walked by. As he turned to look in the window, a pair of familiar ice-cold eyes pierced hers as she whispered, “Yes, Nicholai. Soon.”

  Chapter 6

  Lily strolled towards Nicholai’s factory on the outskirts of town. She dragged her feet to make the walk longer, as the weather was still lovely for late summer and she wanted to be outside to enjoy as much of it as possible. She chatted with a few people along the way, purchased an apple from the grocers and chewed happily as she people watched on her journey.

  Iva insisted that she and Nicholai attend a dinner at their house that evening. It was the last place Lily wanted to be, but apparently some important contributors to Martin’s political campaign were going to be there. Lily couldn’t find a way to respectfully decline so she was taking her break to deliver the invitation in person to Nicholai.

  His factory ran seven days a week. If Nicholai wasn’t there, then his brother Michael oversaw operations.

  When Lily arrived, she placed her apple core in one of the waste barrels the city had recently put on every corner and let herself into the main area of the factory. A pungent odor met her nose and she wrinkled her face.

  “What a lovely surprise, but a terrible expression,” Nicholai said coming from the back room. He opened his arms and enveloped her in a hug. Lily quickly hugged back, then released him to dig through her reticule for a handkerchief she placed delicately over her nose.

  “What is that? It smells like rotten eggs,” she said, waving her hand in the air.

  “You get used to it after a while. That is the varnishes for the wood.” They walked to a doorway that appeared to lead into the work area. “Would you like to take a tour?”

  “No. It is burning my lungs. I don’t know you how you can stand to be here daily.”

  “This area doesn’t have much ventilation, but there is more in the work area. Let’s go outside and you can tell me why you stopped by.”

  Lily allowed him to lead her down the street to a bench where she sat until the burning sensation left her lungs.

  “Iva and Martin have invited you, I mean us, for dinner.”

  “Really? I just saw Martin yesterday and he didn’t mention it.”

  “Iva came by the office this morning to talk about that and other things.”

  “Other things?”

  “She wants us to set a date.”

  Nicholai lifted Lily’s hand and kissed the palm before placing it back on her lap. “I would like that too, my dear. Nothing would make me happier to know we have a date settled.”

  Lily looked at her fiancé. How could he be so patient with her? “I know. I promise to settle on a date before Thanksgiving.”

  “We will get married before Thanksgiving or you will give me a date before Thanksgiving?”

  Lily giggled, “I promise I will give you a date before Thanksgiving. I was thinking maybe next year but I don’t know when. I need to figure out what needs to be done and plan backwards.” She didn’t mention trying to delay as long as possible in hopes that Colin came to his senses and declared his love for her before she actually got married.

  Nicholai gave Lily a quick kiss. “I can live with that. It is only a few months away.”

  “I beg you, please, Nicholai, do not say anything about it tonight. Iva is relentless.”

  Nicholai thought for a moment and scratched his chin. “I will not bring it up at all. If she says anything I will politely deflect all questions. Does that sound reasonable?”

  “Thank you,” she said, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. Nicholai nodded.

  “Now, who is going to be at this dinner tonight?”

  “I honestly don’t know. Iva is doing it for some of Martin’s constituents. I guess one of his big political donors is in town and the dinner is for him. I am not sure who it is. I don’t follow politics, so I don’t ask too many questions.”

  “Of course, you don’t. So many other things to follow other than politics.” Before Lily could inquire as to what he meant, he stood and gave her a kiss on the back of the hand. “Tell your sister I will be delighted to attend dinner tonight. What time shall I pick you up?”

  “Seven-thirty? Cocktails are at eight o’clock.”

  Nicholai nodded and returned to the factory, whistling while he walked. Lily watched him retreat before heading back to the office to finish up for the afternoon.

  They arrived at the Coates’ residence promptly at a quarter of eight. Not too late, not too early. A man greeted them at the doorway. He was not anyone Lily recognized. He took Nicholai’s hat and outer coat, along with Lily’s wrap and disappeared into a back room.

  “I’m going to go have a cigar with Martin and meet the mysterious benefactor. Are you alright without me, love?” Nicholai inquired, placing his arm around Lily’s shoulders.

  Lily saw Iva coming their way and nodded. “You go and enjoy. If things get harried, I’ll go and be upstairs with the children.”

  Nicholai laughed and nodded to Iva before disappearing into the study.

  Iva took her sister’s arm and wrapped it in her own, leading towards the sitting area.

  “When did you get a manservant?” Lily whispered.

  “He came yesterday to assist with tonight. I couldn’t very well give the appearance that we don’t have servants. Not with Mr. Montgomery here tonight. He has just been validated as the party boss for Philadelphia.”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “He, my dear sister, provides for all the factories and workers in our township and they in turn vote accordingly.”

  “Provides?”

  “You know, money, housing, food, doctors if someone gets sick.”

  “And they in turn vote for who he says to vote for?”

  “Yes! Isn’t it wonderful. And he has decided to invite Martin to be a part of this newly founded political machine. It practically guarantees he will remain in office and we will finally have the livelihood that we deserve.”

  Lily could almost see her sister salivating money.

  “That doesn’t sound very ethical. What does the law say about that?”

  “Law-schmaw. And don’t you dare say a word of this to that Colin Sullivan.”

  Lily paused her walking. “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “I don’t know, Lily. You and he are very chummy. A little too chummy if you ask me.”

  Lily pushed her sister’s arm away and turned so she was facing Iva eye-to-eye. Her sister’s eyes were almost gleeful as she looked into the dark pools. “Why, exactly, did you invite us here tonight?”

  “It really wasn’t for you; but Nicholai needed to be here. He is going to be one of the election captains when the time comes to gather votes.”

  Lily was shocked. Nicholai being a political henchman is what it sounded like. She couldn’t imagine that gentle man doing anything of the sort.

  “Has he agreed to this?”

  Iva picked up Lily’s hand again and continued her walk to the sitting area. “Not yet, but there is no doubt he will.”

  “Why?”

  “His father was in the position and now it will go to the son. It is just how it works.”

  They walked into Iva’s sitting room where a half-dozen ladies were sitting, sipping claret and speaking in muted tones. Lily recognized most of them. She was good with faces, terrible with names. She had seen them on her many excursions with Iva into the market and then again as she sat in the park on many warm afternoons.

  She pushed Lily into an overstuffed sofa and sat down beside her.

  “Ladies, this is my sister, Lilian Fisher. She is marrying Nicholai Gagarin, but she hasn’t set a date yet.”

  “Iva,” Lily hissed through clenched teeth. “I thought we weren’t going to discuss that tonight.”

  “We aren’t,” she hissed back with a forced smile on her face and waved her arm towards her guests. “They are.”

  How Lily managed to get through the interrogation without strangling her sister she would never know. Iva sat there beaming like a cat with a canary as Lily was subjected to questions and opinions from every woman in the room.

  How wonderful marriage is, especially certain parts.

  Ladies shouldn’t have employment.

  Was Colin Sullivan as much of grump as people said?

  As Nicholai’s wife she wouldn’t need to be employed.

  Marriage stifles temptation.

  He certainly was handsome. Colin that is.

  A quick engagement is best.

  An engagement should be just over a year.

  Someone thought he was a cranky old buzzard. Colin, again.

  She should set a date for the early spring; perhaps the summer.

  She should give Nicholai a son right away.

  No, next Autumn would be best. It would allow the elections to be over and then they could really celebrate the wedding.

  Inside Lily was pulling her hair out and stomping her feet. Outside she listened intently with her hands crossed in her lap. She forced her lips into a smile so tight her cheeks hurt but didn’t say a word or respond to any of the comments or questions.

  Finally, it was time for dinner.

  “I apologize for the late start, but our guests were held up,” Iva said, following the servant that took her covering earlier.

  She met Nicholai in the hallway and he took her arm to lead her to the dining area.

  Lily wrinkled her nose. He smelled of stale tobacco and old brandy. His eyes had a glassy sheen, almost as if he couldn’t focus.

  “How did your visit go?”

  “Rather interesting, I must say. Montgomery hadn’t arrived, so most of it was hearsay, but there is an interesting political committee coming to our little township.” Lily could hear him slurring his words.