Lillian glared at her. “This does not concern you.”
“Why, you—”
The Irishman caught the girl’s arm. “Now Sadie, there’s been a big misunderstandin’ here. “Miss Primm, I think we need to retire to my office and—”
“You’ve been drinking,” Lillian snapped as she took a sniff. She was acutely aware that she was surrounded by the type of people she’d never met before in her very sheltered life. They looked like rowdies. “Worse yet, you reek of cheap perfume.”
“That ain’t cheap perfume!” The blonde put her hand on her hip. A customer brung that to me all the way from St. Louie.”
“Brought,” Lillian corrected.
“What?” Sadie looked bewildered.
She had had enough of this nonsense. “Mr. O’Neal, I will see you in the lawyer’s office in the morning.”
“What?” He scratched his head.
“You heard me.” She turned to go.
“Tomorrow’s Sunday.” He gave her the most devilish grin.
The crowd laughed and Lillian felt foolish. “Then I shall return Monday with the lawyer.” Lillian said and then she wheeled, her head high as she marched out of the Texas Lily. She was close to tears, but of course a person of good background did not give way to emotion. Hadn’t her dour, cold mother taught her that? Yet she was shocked, horrified, and downright exhausted after her long trip. All her dreams about Texas and a fine hotel and then to discover what she’d inherited was evidently a—a—she couldn’t even say the word. And from her own aunt. She blinked and swallowed hard as she went out the door and down the steps into the darkness.
Lieutenant Fortenbury hurried to meet her. “I am so sorry, Miss Primm. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“I’ll be fine.” She managed to keep her voice steady, but inside, she was a wreck. She imagined that pretty Sadie creature was snickering at her even now. For this, she had given up a safe, secure job in faraway Boston. “Take me to the hotel. I’ll decide what to do later.”
He helped her up into the buggy, his delicate hands moist. “I’m sorry, Miss, but there is no hotel. It burned down last month.”
“What? Where do visitors stay then?”
“Well, if they don’t have relatives in town, they’ve been sleeping under a tree or staying at the fort until someone builds a new hotel. I’ll take you there.”
As they drove away, she looked back over her shoulder at the lights and music streaming from the fine mansion. “I had no idea. I was told it was a hotel.”
“I didn’t know how to warn you, Miss Primm. I never go in there myself—it’s full of rough louts, typical Texans.”
She warmed to the gentleman as they drove past the big white birdbath and the goat raised its head, bleating at them. “I should have accepted the offer, I suppose. No wonder my mother disapproved of Aunt Lillian. And her partner, why, he looks like a rascal of the worst sort.”
“Low-class Texas trash,” Lieutenant Fortenbury agreed. “No one knew you were coming, I presume?”
She shook her head. “Lawyer Cheatum wrote that it was a hotel, and that Aunt Lil had left me her half, but that rascal, O’Neal, wanted to buy me out.”
“So do you intend to sell?”
“I—I don’t know. Certainly I’m not one to run from a fight.”
“Perhaps you could buy that gambler out,” the young officer suggested as they drove along the quiet street.
“And own a—a bordello? I think not. Besides, I only have a small sum. I couldn’t afford to buy him out.”
“Well, said the officer, “there’s always been a legend that Miss Lil hid a lot of money inside the house somewhere. If you owned the place and found that, you could certainly afford to buy the place and do whatever you wanted with it.”
“I am not one to chase after pie in the sky,” she answered sternly. “I am a realist.”
“Still it was a shame to make such a startling discovery for one of such fine lineage. If there’s anything I can do to help you, Miss Primm, I am at your service.”
She smiled at him and felt better already. “Thank you, Lieutenant. But I could expect no less from a member of Sons of British Nobility.”
“Of course not.” He smiled back at her. “Here’s the fort straight ahead. There’s a social and dance tonight. I’ll take you to the major’s wife. She’ll be very sympathetic, I’m sure.”
They drove past the parade grounds and the barracks. The scent of roses drifted on the hot Texas air.
“Roses at a fort?” She asked.
He nodded. “Major Bottoms’ passion—along with parades. Why, he wanted to bring out the marching band for Lil McGinty’s funeral, but the respectable ladies of the fort would have….” He let his voice trail off and cleared his throat in the awkward silence. “Well, here we are.”
He drew up before a large building. Lights and sedate music drifted from inside. He stepped down and handed his reins to an orderly. “See to the lady’s luggage and the horse.”
“Yes, sir.” The young private snapped a salute and took the reins.
The lieutenant came around to help Lillian from the buggy.
She hesitated as she stepped down. “I’m not really dressed for a ball.”
“Nonsense.” He let her take his arm and they strode toward the building. “You are lovely, although it’s presumptuous of me to say so.”
She felt a rare blush. “My, you are very kind.” Lillian was confused and a little uncertain. Men had never noticed her before and yet tonight, here the lieutenant actually seemed to be flirting with her.
Inside, a sparse crowd danced to the sedate music or stood around the room with cups of punch. The ladies seemed to be visiting while most of the men looked bored.
Lieutenant Fortenbury led her up to an older, plump couple. “Major and Mrs. Bottoms, I have the honor to present Miss Primm, lately of Boston.”
Lillian curtsied, although she was awkward at it.
“Delighted, my dear,” said the major. “Did you see my roses as you drove in?”
“Now, Gilbert,” his gray-haired wife scolded. Then to Lillian she said, “Don’t pay any attention to my husband, my dear, he has only two interests in life, his roses and his parades. Are you visiting someone in town?”
Lillian took a deep breath, wondering how to explain.
Lieutenant Fortenbury said, “Miss Primm is a teacher from Boston and is joining the Sisters Noble of British Society, the elite S.N.O.B.S.”
“Snobs?” Mrs Bottoms looked puzzled.
Lillian took a deep breath. “This is a bit humiliating but I’m in town to inherit a hotel.”
“Hotel?” The major said, “we have no hotel.”
Lillian bit her lip and the Lieutenant rushed in. “Miss Primm is the late Lil McGinty’s niece.”
“Oh, dear me.” The lady’s mouth dropped open.
The major cleared his throat in the awkward silence. “Of course, family resemblance, and all that, I mean, so I hear…” he sputtered into confused silence.
“Red hair