XVII

Jess had noticed that Adam was quiet, morose that morning—all Adam had basically said that morning before he took to his drafting table, was that the next day, Saturday, since it was their half day, Nell would start. It would give her time to move slowly into the position. Bee was pleased but worried that she would be just dumping all her work in Nell's lap. That was when Adam said that Billy James Wetherby, their apprentice, should start cleaning up the files. Jess suspected there was more to Adam's mood but didn't ask what was wrong; he knew Adam too well. If Adam wanted to talk, he would, but on his own time.

It was about 11:00 in the morning and Billy James was going through the files, pulling and reorganizing and starting new headings in his neat, square printing. There were so many vendors now that two drawers were needed and then there were the contracts. There was a stack of them on top of the file cabinets as Bee's legs and feet had become so swollen that she couldn't stand long enough to put them away. Then the bell over the door jangled and all the men in the back room glanced up. Adam suddenly felt relief; Nell and Abby were there and his wife was smiling. Even Billy James smiled, not just because any man couldn't help but smile when looking at a beautiful woman such as Mrs. Cartwright but he secretly hoped that she was there to relieve him of the filing, something he hated doing. Billy James felt that he should be working on plans to be later approved by his two bosses, not this thankless work. And Bee was the happiest one to see Nell.

Adam and Jess both went out to the front office with Jess kissing Nell and nodding to Abby and telling them both that Bee saw Nell as her savior. Adam kissed Abby's smooth cheek and then, grinning, kissed Nell, making the kiss a bit longer than a mere peck. Adam felt guilty about having left so early without saying goodbye to her and also for his rough treatment of her the previous evening. He feared that Nell would be cold toward him and although usually when she pouted and was silent, Adam merely teased her or ignored her fit of pique until she decided it was useless and sat on his lap or sidled up to him saying that she had forgiven him his trespasses. Nevertheless, he was glad that she had forgiven him.

"Well, to what do we owe this visit?" Adam asked. "Not able to wait until tomorrow to start work, Nell?"

"Oh," Nell said a bit flirtatiously as she pushed back a lock of Adam's dark hair, "I thought that I would have Bee tell me what I'll need to do. I figured that she would have far more patience with me than either of you."

Bee laughed and Jess feigned hurt feelings but Adam remained skeptical; Nell was a bit too happy, too pleased with herself. He glanced at Abby but she dropped her eyes. After what Nell had told her, Abby found that she felt a blush of shame whenever she looked at Adam as she couldn't get the picture out of her head that Nell had described of Adam in their marriage bed.

'Well," Adam said, "and how did you get here? I don't see the buggy." He glanced again out the shop window.

"Well, Dawson gave me some story about the buggy being out of commission so we walked. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Yes. Yes, it is. Well, find out what you can, Nell. I have work to do so if you ladies will excuse me." Adam returned to the back and Billy James who had been watching, glanced at Adam's stern face and went back to work, stooping over a file drawer.

Nell watched Adam. "I know," Nell said, clapping her hands, "come to lunch with us, Bee—my treat. You can tell me all about my duties there as well as here and give me all the gossip."

Bee looked up at Jess. "Well, we don't close for lunch for another hour and Adam is such a stickler about things like that…"

"Jess," Nell said, "smooth it over with Adam for us, would you? Just close early for lunch—you're not busy. Now get your coat and come with us, Bee. There's the loveliest little restaurant on the next street and it's not going to be crowded yet; we can order and receive our meal before everyone else."

Jess helped his wife into her coat and they exchanged looks; Adam was going to be upset.

"Come on, Bee," Nell said. "Once you have the baby you won't be able to have a girls' afternoon out." Nell slipped her arm through Bee's and the three women left the shop, the bell jangling behind them.

Adam heard and looked out through the glass partition. He glanced at the wall clock and then went to the front where Jess still stood after opening the door for them.

"Where the hell did they go?" Adam demanded.

"Nell and her friend took Bee to lunch. They shouldn't be long." Jess dreaded getting involved so he tried to mitigate the situation. "I think what they have in mind is for Bee and Nell to go over everything while we're closed for lunch—the place will be quiet, no clients."

Adam said nothing, his jaw working. Jess waited, expecting Adam to do something, to say something. Nell was playing with fire and seemed to be intentionally provoking Adam. But Adam said nothing more, just turned and went to the back area to continue his work.

And Bee didn't return for two hours—and alone.

Nell came home and called out for Margery as she entered the main room. The fireplace was going and Nell glanced at the mantel clock—it was almost removed her hat and deftly unbuttoned her fitted suit jacket. She was weary.

Margery came in and picked up the hat and the jacket while Nell dropped down into the chair in which Adam usually sat and pulled off her gloves. "Did you need something, ma'am?"

"Yes. Get me a cup of coffee and a jam sandwich, please and then I'm going to lie down until Mr. Cartwright comes home. I want my blue dress with the ecru lace on the sleeves and bodice laid out for me, please. And clean stockings."

"Yes, Miss." Margery started to leave and Nell called out.

"Have Mrs. Chevy pick out a nice bottle of wine for dinner." Margery acknowledged her and left. Nell considered all that Bee had told her. Adam had been in a black mood the past two days or so and had been working furiously, not talking much. He had been short with the apprentice and Jess had asked him what the problem was. Adam had said that the problem was raising a child and left it at that. Abby had giggled and Bee had looked at her, a small smile on her face as well and then at Nell. Nell knew that it was she who Adam had referred to as the child.

"He meant me," Nell said and broke apart a roll to butter it. She was embarrassed and told Bee about the flowers and the argument she and Adam had had. She knew she shouldn't but it was as if she couldn't stop. It was like a purge of some sort and Bee listened wide-eyed. And now Nell was worried. If Bee mentioned anything to Adam…Nell covered her face. Adam would be furious with her for talking about their problems to Bee and Bee would tell Jess. Her face flushed. Nell was determined to look lovely tonight; Adam wouldn't be so angry if she looked lovely.

Nell paced in her room. She would often pause to admire her reflection in the vanity mirror. He dress was a bit tight and Margery had to pull her stays more than usual in order to hook the back. Nell had decided right then that she would have to cut back on eating—too many jam sandwiches on white bread-although she looked decidedly more curvaceous. There was a sharp rap on the door and Margery peeked in.

"He's home."

"Thank you," Nell said, a flush rising to her cheeks. Margery stepped back, smiling, while Nell walked past her and down the stairs. Adam was about to sit down to wait for dinner when he saw her descend the staircase and he had to smile despite his mood. Nell did look lovely, absolutely beautiful but he also knew that she was trying to mollify him for her behavior that afternoon. And Adam forgave her—she was too lovely to invoke his ire.

"You look beautiful," Adam said, smiling and going to her, taking her hands.

"Well, aren't you going to kiss me?" Nell asked coyly. She looked up at him from beneath her dark lashes.

"That depends; what did you do, that is besides keep Bee away for over two hours and cause Billy James to not be able to talk about anything or anyone but you the rest of the afternoon."

"Maybe Billy James sent me the roses?" Nell said with a mischievous grin.

"Not with what we pay him," Adam replied. "Now, let's have a nice evening, a quiet evening. Mrs. Chevy told me she made a roast chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans and a fine Sauvignon blanc—your idea I believe?"

"Yes," Nell said, moving closer to Adam. She had rouged her lips and cheeks and placed perfume on her neck and behind her ears. "I want to make tonight pleasant for you. I don't like being at odds, Adam." She reached up and toyed with his hair. "How would you like to be seduced and for me to display all those fine talents you have taught me." Nell moved even closer and put her hands around his neck. Adam held her tighter and bent down to kiss her but she ducked her head and then, teasing him, whispered what she would rather do with her mouth than eat dinner. Mrs. Chevy's meal could wait.

Adam grinned and swept a giggling Nell into his arms, laughing that he would most certainly rather see her perform than eat and was about to carry her up the stairs when the front bell rang. Adam put Nell down on her feet.

"Adam, let Margery or Mrs. Chevy get it."

But Adam went to the door and opened it. Nell heard some brief talk and then Adam returned carrying a bouquet of blue hyacinths wrapped in green paper.

"These came for you, my sweet wife—no card."

"Oh, I…" She took the bouquet from Adam and looked at the flowers and then up at Adam. "I have no idea who they're from, Adam. Honestly."

"What message do blue hyacinths send, Nell? I don't think poor, mad Ophelia had hyacinths. If they were columbine, I would think they were meant for me. Isn't columbine a flower of betrayal, cuckoldry? So what about hyacinth? Someone as naively romantic as you, Nell, should be well-versed in the language of flowers."

"Constancy." Nell barely said the words.

"At least you know he'll be waiting for you, that his love is constant." Adam turned to go to the dining room but paused. "Have Margery place them in a vase—we could use a centerpiece tonight." Then he continued on to dinner leaving a confused and upset Nell holding the large bouquet of hyacinths and ferns. Nothing was going as it should and an edge of fear crept into her being. Someone was doing this to her—or to Adam.