CHAPTER 3

THE OTHER WOMAN

Grace Farrell was ready to smack the man standing obdurately before her over the head with her clipboard. Actually, she wanted to smack him twice, once for being thick-headed, and the second for wasting so much of her time. According to Mrs. Edwards, who'd returned only a few moments earlier with Annie, Oliver would be home shortly, and Grace wanted to have as many details of the party worked out before he did so she could at least spend some uninterrupted time with him before guests started arriving.

Throughout the incredibly hectic day of throwing together a celebration involving lights, fireworks and a circus for 200 plus guests, one who just happened to be the president of the United States, Grace had managed to reserve a small part of her mind for Oliver.

He'd changed so much in the last few days, she still wasn't sure if she'd imagined it all. His unexpected warmth the night he, she and Annie attended Radio City Music Hall had taken her by surprise, and he'd floored her the next morning when he agreed to adopt Annie! But it was the tightness of his embrace while they'd endured those terrifying moments before Punjab rescued Annie from the bridge that made her heart soar. She knew she shouldn't give in to the giddiness that had been bubbling under the surface ever since, but she couldn't help but hope that perhaps she would finally be allowed to show the deep affection she'd been secretly harboring for him for years. The mere thought took her breath away.

However Mr. Martin, the caterer, seemed bent on ruining any private plans she might have. In fact, he seemed determined to ruin the party as well.

"I will explain it to you again, Miss Farrell. I simply cannot serve in the area you have detailed to me! The very idea of exposing my incredible delicacies to the rampages of an elephant, of all things, makes me shudder! Do you have any idea of the type of function I am accustomed to? I've served ambassadors, potentates, royalty! I will not allow you to turn Martin's Masterpieces, Incorporated into a three ring circus!" Mr. Martin quivered in outrage.

Grace felt her face tighten as she clenched her jaw. She took a deep, calming breath before she launched into a reprimand that would have singed the hair of any of the staff. "Mr. Martin, to move the location of your serving area would require that I move not only three other vendors, but half the circus as well; a circus, I might add, that has utilized the talents of no fewer than 75 people for the better part of the day in order to get everything ready by 7:00. If you think I am going to inconvenience that many people, including myself, just to cater to your pompous ego, you can pack up your delicacies and conduct yourself off the property, forfeiting the extremely generous salary Mr. Warbucks is paying you. Should you desire to fulfill your end of the contract, you will serve where I tell you to serve. Am. I. CLEAR?!"

Mr. Martin didn't have the good sense to know when to concede. His face actually turned purple as his anger reached the boiling point. "Miss Farrell, that is unacceptable!"

Grace turned to one of the staff who had just entered the kitchen. "Saunders, please escort Mr. Martin to his delivery trucks so he may leave the estate with as little inconvenience as possible." She started scribbling on her notes, completely dismissing Mr. Martin, who now looked apoplectic.

Ignoring Saunders' proffered hand stretched in the direction of the back door, Mr. Martin taunted, "If you discharge me, you will have nothing to feed the guests you've invited; guests who expect to be fed!"

Grace coolly assessed the pretentious man, her blue eyes still flashing. "There are two hours before any guests will arrive. Our staff is perfectly competent to replace the cold cuts and vegetable platters you were hired to provide. I'm sure we will manage nicely. Saunders?"

Before Saunders could more forcefully remove him, the caterer gasped, "Miss Farrell, what am I to do with all the food I've prepared?"

"That's your problem." She began to make her way out of the room, still recording more notes on her clipboard.

The rotund little man squirmed his way in front of her, arresting her movement. "Now, dear lady, let's not be hasty. I'm sure we can come to an agreement. I'm willing to look at the area you set aside again before I make any final judgments."

Grace didn't have the chance to tell him she was no longer open to negotiations. Drake, Mr. Warbucks' butler, entered the kitchen and quietly informed her, "Miss Farrell, Mr. Warbucks has arrived and wishes to see the entire staff in the main hall."

The news of Oliver's return sent a pang of excitement through her stomach, and she couldn't help the smile that blossomed. Drake noticed and raised his extensive eyebrows in silent comment. She ignored his pointed look and said, "Thank you, Drake. Please inform the rest of the staff and I will be there directly." Not wanting to see what other critical thoughts Drake could convey with his eyebrows, she turned back to Mr. Martin. "I will deal with you outside in a few minutes." As Drake left to carry out her order, she directed her attention to the staff in the kitchen. "Everyone, please adjourn to the main hall. Mr. Warbucks wishes to have a few words."

Mrs. Pugh turned the burners under several simmering pots to low to keep them from scorching the contents, and wiped her hands on her apron. Three footmen set down the boxes they were about to deliver outside and exited the kitchen. Mary, a maid, hurriedly smoothed her hair back into a semblance of order. Looking toward Grace, she asked, "Do you know what he's going to say?"

Grace was again writing on her notes, attempting to keep all the little details of the celebration in her memory, so she gave Mary only part of her attention.

"I have no idea; probably about Annie's adoption being official."

"Since the staff is so "perfectly competent," you don't suppose he's giving us all a raise, do you?"

Grace looked up to see Mary smiling mischievously. Giving the maid a smile of her own, she remarked, "I wouldn't count on it."

The two women preceded Mrs. Pugh through the door, making their way to the main hall. Grace instantly spotted Oliver standing on the wide marble stairway leading to the upper floors. He'd been gone virtually all day, ostensibly to get himself and Annie out from underfoot so she could plan the party without interruption. Although extremely thoughtful, especially for him, she found she actually missed him, and her smile broadened in response to seeing him. She glanced down at her clipboard, trying to cover the reaction before anyone noticed. She really was going to have to curb her enthusiasm where he was concerned. Even so, a growing part of her reveled in the developing relationship with him, a part that had her all but giggling the entire day, difficult caterers notwithstanding.

Once she had herself under control, she looked up again to see that most of the staff was already in attendance, and both Annie and Mrs. Edwards were standing next to Oliver. This really stirred her curiosity, and as she took a place at the rear of the group, she wondered what Oliver had on his mind.

For his part, Oliver was studiously looking at everyone besides Grace. He was aware of her the moment she entered the main hall, but feared that if he actually looked at her, he'd lose his resolve and be unable to announce his engagement to Katherine like he planned. The idea was that if he told the staff and then the guests at the party, the public scrutiny would encourage him to set his feelings for Grace aside and obligate him to see the engagement through. He despised backing out of an agreement once he made one, but was forced to admit that he already felt a tug on his heart in Grace's direction. He could only hope the arrangement would get easier with time. He sighed inwardly. Best to get on with it. With a zest he didn't feel, he began.

"Thank you, all, for the exemplary job you've done organizing the celebration this evening," he boomed. "I realize the notice was extremely short, but from what I've seen so far, it's going to be an excellent party!"

Mary elbowed Grace lightly and softly whispered, "Perfectly competent!"

Grace gave her a sidelong glance and rolled her eyes, but quickly returned her attention to Oliver, who was speaking again.

"And I will find out who let the cat out of the bag and told Annie."

Annie shook her head vehemently. "Not from me, you won't!"

Everyone laughed, with the exception of Drake, who never laughed. Even Punjab cracked his mysterious smile.

Regarding his daughter through narrowed eyes, Oliver only muttered, "We'll see." His gaze swept over the crowd gathered before him. "But I really asked you here for a special announcement, one that I will also share with our guests later tonight. As you all know, Annie officially became my daughter this morning, and to make her adoption complete, this afternoon I asked Katherine Allen to marry me, and she accepted."

The news was greeted with wide eyes and gasps from most of the staff, including Cora. She turned to her brother in complete astonishment. "Oliver! What a surprise! This is wonderful news!" She threw her arm around her niece's shoulders. "Oh, Annie, you're going to have a mother!"

Annie, who hadn't quite followed the full implications of her father's announcement, asked in confusion, "I am? Who?"

"Katherine Allen, dear. She and your father are engaged."

Annie turned a questioning look in Oliver's direction. "But I thought…." Her gaze shifted out over the crowd as if looking for someone, but it quickly swung back to her father. "Who's Katherine Allen?"

While Warbucks explained, Cora took a moment to survey Oliver's employees herself. Some were offering her brother heartfelt congratulations, while others murmured amongst themselves. Strangely, a few were casting concerned glances over their shoulders in the direction of Miss Farrell, Oliver's secretary. When she took in Miss Farrell's face, Cora drew in a sharp breath.

She'd never seen anyone go so white so quickly. For a second she thought the poor woman was going to pass out, then she saw Miss Farrell take a shuddering breath and drop her gaze to the floor.

That's odd, Cora thought, I would have predicted Miss Farrell to be happy that Oliver is finally settling down. That is, unless…." The thought skidded to a halt. Cora's eyes widened in despair as it suddenly dawned on her why Grace Farrell chose to spend so much time in her boss' office. Oh, dear God, what have I done? She glanced piercingly at Oliver, but his attention was taken up with telling Annie about Katherine. He hadn't seen anything. When she searched out Miss Farrell again, she was in time to see her set a clipboard down on a side table, back slowly away from the gathering and silently exit through a side entrance. Without further thought, Cora leaned in Oliver's direction and said in a low voice, "Excuse me for a moment. I'll be right back."

Oliver stopped his recitation to Annie long enough to nod, then returned to answering the many questions the child was firing at him. He didn't even notice Grace leave.

Grace charged blindly across the veranda, deftly avoiding the multiple workmen and circus performers putting the finishing touches on the preparations for the party. She didn't see any of them, so intent was she in getting away from the house, desperately trying to distance herself from the reality of Oliver's news.

The noise and confusion of the preparations fell away as she all but ran deeper into the expansive gardens. She finally stopped at a bench set under a large weeping willow. Despite her breath coming in painful gasps, she didn't sit down, but fretfully paced back and forth. Her thoughts raced wildly in twenty directions, chasing each other until she felt like she was going mad. Through it all she understood one truth; she was an incredible fool.

How could she have misread Oliver so horribly? At this point in her career she could practically read his thoughts before he had them, and yet she hadn't seen this coming at all. Her mind flew through every encounter they'd shared in the past few days, looking for any sign of half-hearted intentions on his part. She couldn't recall any. Ever since she'd asked him to adopt Annie, he'd been warm, considerate and open. And she had fallen in love with him all over again. The previous night he'd held her just as he held Annie! Even this morning she hadn't detected anything amiss, certainly nothing that would intimate what he planned to do.

He's marrying Katherine Allen! Grace dropped to the bench as despair flooded through her. Her chest tightened and she couldn't breathe. Leaning over, she braced herself with her hands on the bench, struggling to get enough air into her lungs, feeling like she was being smothered in a nightmare.

"Miss Farrell?"

Grace whipped her head around at the sound. "Mrs. Edwards!" she gasped. "I…didn't hear you coming." A little dizzy, she quickly resumed her pose, still striving to control her breathing.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." Cora hesitated, then said, "I saw you leave the house. You didn't look well."

Eyes closed, sipping small amounts of air through clenched teeth, Grace hedged, "It's been a busy day. I just needed some fresh air."

Cora regarded Grace for a moment, then sat down next to her with a sigh. Looking at the younger woman sympathetically, she asked quietly, "How long have you been in love with my brother?"

Grace shot her a horrified look, then quickly averted her eyes. "I don't know what you mean."

Cora smiled gently. "You turned white as a sheet when Oliver announced his engagement. It was obvious to anyone paying attention."

Grace grimaced but didn't say anything.

"This is all my fault," Cora went on. "If I'd known how you feel, I never would have suggested Katherine to him in the first place."

Grace focused wide eyes on her. "You…?" She drug her gaze away again, feeling the first sting of hot tears. She gripped the bench so tightly her knuckles turned white. "You're not responsible, Mrs. Edwards. Oliver…," she paused and swallowed painfully. "Mr. Warbucks has long been fond of Mrs. Allen. I doubt you had to say much to persuade him."

"But I put the idea into his head."

"He would have drawn the same conclusion eventually."

Cora heaved a sad sigh. "You are going to tell him, aren't you?"

"Tell him what?" Grace asked numbly.

"Why, how you feel!" as if this was the obvious course of action.

For the first time since their conversation began, Grace showed a spark of something besides shock. "Absolutely not!" she stated fiercely.

"But Grace,…."

Grace whirled on Cora, her face drawn in agony. "What am I going to tell him, Mrs. Edwards? That I've been in love with him for years? Then what? Do you honestly think he's going to choose his private secretary over a woman who's his equal in nearly every way? I know Katherine Allen. She's intelligent, attractive and shares many things in common with him. They can talk for hours without visiting the same subject twice. She challenges him in a way few others do. He enjoys being with her. In addition she's a millionairess! Their combined fortunes will truly be a power to be reckoned with." The first tear leaked out of Grace's eye and she agitatedly wiped it away. "He would be a fool to choose me over her, and we both know Oliver Warbucks is no fool." Taking a shaky breath, she concluded softly, "There's simply nothing to tell him."

Cora contemplated the woman before her. She couldn't bear to think that she was the cause of the suffering written so plainly on Miss Farrell's face. "But you love him," she entreated. "Surely that will mean something."

Grace actually snorted in disbelief. "Mrs. Edwards, your brother is so successful because his decisions are guided by everything but emotion. Mine will hardly be meaningful enough to sway him."

Unwilling to let the matter go, Cora continued, "Grace, I really think…."

"I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Edwards," Grace brutally cut her off, "but I have a lot of work to do before any guests begin to arrive. I'm afraid I must return to the house."

With that, Grace rose from the bench and started back the way she'd come, a swipe at a final tear the only outward sign of the distress she was experiencing.