IV

"Well. What do you think?" Jess said as he and Adam arranged the sparse furniture in the shop and cleaned up what was left from the previous tenant—a dressmaker. Their business shingle was being printed, the window painter was to work the next day, and the drafting tables and other necessary pieces of their craft would arrive by the end of the week. Their business cards were being printed—Cartwright & Spence, Architects, Ltd.. Their card would also state that they created original designs as well as renovations and gave their business address, all in elegant type. Jess wanted a house in the background but Adam protested; he wanted it to look serious, as a lawyer's card would. Jess capitulated, first, because he had always admired Adam's vision and had acknowledged to himself years ago that Adam was the more talented of the two. The second reason was because it was Adam's money that was paying for all of it.

The two men had gone straight to the property after O'Connor had signed the contract to lease the building with the option to purchase after one year, something which they intended to do if business allowed. O'Connor had handed over the keys to Adam and he liked the weight of them in his hands.

"I feel as if I'm handing over my daughter to you. You will take care?" O'Connor asked.

"Yes, we will be vigilant custodians." Adam tossed the keys gently in his palm. Keys—they gave one great power.

Adam stood up and surveyed the room, looking at its flow and turned to survey the whole room. "I think this place will do fine," he said in response to Jess' query. "Of course, after we become the de riguer architects of Sacramento," Adam said with a touch of self-deprecation, "perhaps even the whole southwest, we'll probably need to take on some apprentices and knock out that storeroom wall—buy the property next to us as well and break that wall down for the storeroom. We won't be able to find a better-located piece of property—smack in the heart of the best part of the business district."

"That's not what I meant." Jess stared at Adam who looked blank. "O'Connor's daughter, Nell. You haven't said one word about her. You two couldn't have been more obvious and the fact that you haven't said anything makes me worry."

Adam laughed. "There's nothing to say. She's a child. How old do you think she is? 18, 19?"

"She's a grown woman—getting married. And she flirted with you—not with me. Gave you a peek under her skirts as she left."

"If I were younger, I'd be interested in her but as it is, she's just a very pretty girl who I liked looking at." Adam surveyed the area, determined to remain nonchalant about Nell. She's off limits, boy. Stop thinking about impossible possibilities. "I think we need to put a partition here to separate the front office from the working area although some people like to see their architect work. Maybe have the top half glass. What do you think?" He turned to Jess.

"I think you're a bull-shitter. I wanted to fuck her and I'm a married man so you can't convince me that you weren't thinking of what she'd be like on her back with her legs spread. Damn, she's like an overripe piece of fruit, all those juices just waiting to be lapped up."

"And," Adam said with a jab of his finger, "that's why you wanted to fuck her—because you are a married man and keep getting the same piece of ass every night." Adam bent down and picked up some dress patterns, tossing them into the barrel used for trash.

Jess smiled. "Well, I'm staying out of trouble and you better as well. Oh, hell. Look who's here? Speak of the devil…the princess arrives."

Adam turned and he saw Nell O'Connor step down from a curricle, a sporty, light buggy, and stand on the sidewalk. She did have an elegant way of holding herself and Adam felt the old familiar longing for a beautiful woman. Snap out of it, boy. She's just a mere slip of a girl. You need to get laid tonight and get over this.

Nell looked through the windows that still were smeared with having been soaped-up for so long and smiled in a self-satisfied way when she saw the two men inside. She said something to her driver who had jumped down from the seat to help her, and then picked up her skirts to enter. Jess hurried to open the door.

"Come in, Miss O'Connor. What a surprise."

"I hope it's a pleasant surprise." Nell smiled graciously as Jess closed the door behind her. Then her smile faded and she took on a look of wonder as she faced Adam; Nell was at a loss as to what to say.

Adam reverted to the casual, offhand persona he assumed when he was unsure. "You look even lovelier than you did a few hours ago, Nell," Adam said, a slight edge of sarcasm in his voice. "How did you manage it?" He walked up to Nell and took one of her hands and she blushed. He carried her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of her gloved hand.

"Oh…" Nell's other hand flew to her throat.

Adam grinned broadly. She was the loveliest thing he had ever seen, her face so pure and open and she was obviously enraptured; he could see the fine vein in her throat pulse rapidly. He knew how easily he could have her-just one kiss and he would be able to bend her to his will. "What can we do for you, Nell? Just ask."

She pulled her hand away and for a moment, Nell thought she would faint. Margery, her lady's maid had needed to tighten the stays at her waist to almost 18 inches so that she could wear her new dress; she wanted to impress Adam and she knew she looked fetching in it. The green fabric complimented her auburn hair and green-gold eyes. The dress was part of her trousseau but she didn't care that she was wearing it now, wearing it for him.

Adam noticed how pale she had turned and quickly pulled a chair for her to sit in. She did.

"Are you all right?" Adam kneeled at her side. "Jess, water." Jess rushed around and found a glass in a cupboard by the sink in the storeroom. He tried to clean out the grime with his fingers but couldn't so instead, he pulled out his handkerchief, wet it and then rushed back to hand it to the pale girl.

"Thank you," she said, pressing the cool, wet cloth against her neck. "I apologize. It's just silly. It's so warm, you know." She looked into Adam's worried eyes. "Really, I'll be fine." They smiled at one another, Adam indulgently, she gratefully, and he stood up.

Nell felt like a fool. She had meant to sweep into the shop, charm Adam Cartwright and win him over despite what Abby had said to her and what her father would think. But here she had almost passed out just from being in close proximity. She had noticed Adam's maleness even more since his jacket was off, his shirt sleeves rolled up and his collar was open showing a mass of black hair that she knew wound down to his navel and past it—she had stopped herself from imagining where it led or she was sure she would pass out. She cautiously stood.

"Actually, I came to invite you to dinner tomorrow night, Adam." Nell handed the handkerchief back to Jess. "Thank you so much." Then she looked back at him after recovering her composure. She smoothed down her skirts. "You will come, won't you?"

Adam looked at Jess who smiled and looked away so he wouldn't laugh.

"Please say you'll be there."

"Of course I will. When would you like me?"

Nell wanted to reply, "Now! I would like you now!" but instead said, "Since my father turns in early, is 7:00 all right with you?"

"I will be there. I look forward to meeting your Mr. Marquand. I want to congratulate him on his good fortune in having won your hand."

"Oh, well…he won't be there. You don't mind if it's just you and my father and me—I'll invite Abby as well." Nell considered that Adam might have said no so she decided that she would ask Abby to come to dinner—beg her if she had to. The extra person would act as a buffer.

"No, of course I don't mind. I look forward to seeing her."

"Oh, well… " Nell wasn't sure how she felt about Adam being pleased that Abby would be there. "Good." She reached up and slightly adjusted her small hat and then smiled. "We'll expect you at the house a bit before 7:00. Father is very punctual and if you arrive at 7:00 on the dot, well, you'll have to be rushed in and seated while the first course is being served." Nell laughed lightly and Adam couldn't help but respond in kind. She was beautiful and charming and lit up the fusty room that had been devoid of sunlight and the sound of women's laughter for so long.

"All right," Adam said. "I can't think of a more pleasant way to spend an evening." Nell took Adam's arm and he walked her outside and helped her into the small buggy. The driver climbed up but before he snapped his whip to start the horse, Nell said, "Tomorrow night—don't disappoint me!"

"Wouldn't dream of it. Wild horses couldn't keep me away from dinner." Adam waved and then chuckled as he turned back to the shop. Jess stood leaning in the doorway, grinning, his arms crossed.

Then Jess stepped away and said in his best falsetto, "Don't disappoint me." He laughed when Adam looked annoyed.

"I couldn't insult her. I have no intention of staying long." Adam pushed past Jess and grabbed the broom leaning against the wall. He began to sweep.

"Well, Miss Nell didn't ask me to dinner. It was as if I was merely an eavesdropper—or an audience."

Adam shoved the broom at Jess. "Sweep. Maybe it'll keep you from talking so much."

"Sure, Adam" Jess said suppressing a grin. "Anything you say!"