II
Adam Cartwright and Jess Spence, an old college friend, sat in the parlor of Mr. Clancy O'Connor finalizing the business of renting a vacant shop he owned to start their architecture business. They each held a glass of golden whiskey. Mr. O'Connor was impressed with the two young men, both in their 30's; they were energetic and personable and O'Connor was particularly impressed with Cartwright's business acumen.
"You must be Irish," O'Connor said with a wry smile. "Your name may originate from England but that mind of yours—the quickness and the knowin' full well the value of a dollar, well, it's Irish. So tell me true, boy—do you have Irish blood pumping through those veins of yours or no?"
With a grin to Jess, Adam answered, "My grandfather was a Stoddard and my mother, from the picture my father showed me, was as beautiful as any rose of Tralee but the name, from what I've found, is Scotch-Irish or perhaps English going all the way back to the Norman Conquest."
"Bah," O'Connor said. "Unless you hold onto a penny like it's the Holy Grail, you're no Scotchman. And the way you appreciate this good Irish whiskey…well, you have to be Irish. My daughter now, she's marryin' a Frenchman—a damnable frog. His last name is Marquand. Now, I ask you, what kind of name is that for a man to sign with? A damnable embarrassment and I'm handing over my most precious treasure to him." O'Connor made a sound of disgust and Jess shot an amused look to Adam.
Jess cleared his throat. "Love is the most important thing in a marriage, sir."
O'Connor looked quizzically at the two of them and then, in a definitive voice said, "Love's an ass. It takes a man's mind off the most important things in life. You aren't married are you, Mr. Cartwright?" It was obvious by the band on Jess' left hand that he was.
"No, I'm not."
O'Connor raised his glass. "Good for you, boy. Women—they ruin a man. All he can think of if he's got a willin' wife is the night to come and the slit that lies between her legs. Interferes with everything. Better to marry a woman who's meek and none too pretty; easier to live with them and then, when thy run to fat in later years, it's not such a loss."
"A woman may be a diversion from life's business," Adam said grinning, "but I can think of nothing better to distract me. Give me a pretty face, nice tits and a shapely arse any day."
The three men laughed together and O'Connor raised his glass again. "To a nice set of tits," he said and they drank their toast to womankind.
"Now, tomorrow…" O'Connor said as he reached for the bottle and poured himself more whiskey. "Oh, pardon me. A refill, gentlemen?"
Both Jess and Adam declined and then they heard the sound of female laughter along with the sound of the front door opening. The chatter of two different voices, both lovely and youthful drifted into the parlor from the foyer. "Murray," Adam heard a musical voice say, "get my parcels from the hack outside." He heard the butler respond, "Yes, Miss O'Connor. Right away."
O'Connor quickly put his glass done and pushed it out of view. "That's my daughter come home. She disapproves of my drinking and since my beloved wife passed away, may she rest in peace since now I finally have some peace, my daughter has taken up the gauntlet of keeping me overly sober. She stringly disapproves of my drinking spirits."
Adam laughed and rose from his chair as a lovely young woman, her hair a golden color and with snapping blue eyes came into the room.
"Gentlemen, let me present to you Miss Abigail Weems. She is my daughter's closest friend—and partner in crime." She laughed delightedly at his description of her and glanced at the two men who stood before her in their well-cut suits.
"Oh, Mr. O'Connor." She playfully took his arm and kissed him on his cheek. "You are such a tease."
"Abby here is like my other daughter." He patted her hand on his arm.
Adam and Jess both smiled and greeted her and then O'Connor introduced Adam and Jess.
Adam thought Abigail was lovely and charming and considered that she might be an interesting woman to pursue until another young woman walked into the room with auburn hair and eyes the color of the greenest ocean and for Adam, suddenly no one else was in the room but the two of them. He was entranced by her.
"And this is my daughter Helen." She smiled but when she saw Adam, her mouth dropped slightly open.
Jess introduced himself but Adam found himself at a loss for words. Jess stepped in. "This is my business partner, Adam Cartwright, Miss O'Connor. Obviously, he is the 'silent partner'."
O'Connor, the girls and Jess laughed and Adam felt himself heat up with embarrassment. "Miss O'Connor," he said taking her hand, "may I call you Helen?"
"No," she said. Adam's face dropped but Helen smiled and said coyly, "but you can call me Nell."
"Nell," he said quietly. "It doesn't quite fit you. Nell sounds like a mischievous little girl but you, well, you are as lovely as Helen of Troy."
"Perhaps I'm a bit of both, Mr. Cartwright." She tossed her head flirtatiously. "May I call you Adam?"
"Yes." Adam looked at her and took in everything about her. She had obviously removed her hat in the foyer and Adam noticed the loose tendrils about her face and her cheeks were flushed—whether with the heat of the day or from meeting him was unclear but Adam could visualize her underneath him, looking up at him with her deep green eyes and her lips parted with sated passion. And despite Mr. Marquand and his claim to Nell, Adam wanted to have her.
"Now, Nell," Mr. O'Connor said, "behave yourself, child. Abby, you take my daughter and give her a lesson on how an engaged girl should behave around a bachelor. Now off with you two. I can see Murray there waiting to take your many packages upstairs. You've been buying more clothes, haven't you, Nell?'
"Oh, Papa, you said I could buy what I wanted." She clung to his other arm and pouted.
"A mistake on my part, I'm sure." He kissed his daughter's forehead. "Now go and leave me to conclude my business with these gentlemen."
Both Abby and Nell said how very nice it was to meet Adam and Jess. As the two young women walked out, Nell turned to look back at Adam. "Perhaps we'll see each other again…Adam." And she intentionally hiked up one side of her skirts to reveal a well-shaped ankle and calf. Nell gave Adam a side-long glance, smiling at him and then left the room arm in arm with Abby.
O'Connor shook his head. "That child. I have spoiled her but that's what money is for, to indulge those you love. Now, shall we sign the papers, gentlemen?"