Judith Stacy - The Marriage Mishap

Haley would have collapsed onto the floor long ago, had it not been for Adam’s strong arms around her. She felt the hot glare of her aunt, the nosy exchange of her friends, who must be dying to spread this juicy piece of gossip unfolding before them. But which was the worst scandal? Marrying a stranger in a drunken stupor, or getting caught sleeping with one?

Haley lifted her chin, collecting her pride as best she could. “Aunt Harriet, Mr. Harrington and I got…married last night.”

Aunt Harriet gasped in a most unladylike fashion. Her three friends circled her, whispering and offering congratulations. Several moments passed before Haley realized they were all pleased with the news.

“Well, well.” Aunt Harriet’s cheeks had pinkened. “This is quite exciting, Mr. Harrington. Quite exciting.”

Haley didn’t understand it, but at least no one was mad at her or would spread unsavory gossip. She didn’t want to linger, though, to hear the questions about the wedding details that were sure to follow.

“I’ll see you later, Aunt Harriet, and we’ll talk more then.”

“Certainly, dear, of course.” She gave her a proud smile. “And Mr. Harrington, we’ll want to have you over for supper very soon—your father, as well, of course. We should all get to know one another better, now that we’re related.”

Adam nodded cordially. “Good afternoon, ladies.”

Arm anchored around Haley, he crossed the lobby, leaving the women to stare after them. He looked down at Haley. “See? I told you not everyone considered marriage to me a horrible prospect.”

She would have slapped that smug grin from his face, had she not been certain Aunt Harriet and her friends were still watching. Haley clamped her mouth shut and went out onto the street in front of the hotel, the bright sun stabbing her eyes. Adam hailed a hansom cab. The driver jumped down and opened the door for her.

“Well, Mr. Harrington, it was nice…meeting you.”

He closed his hand around her elbow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I told you already.” She eased her arm from his grasp and sighed heavily. “Surely you’re not thinking we should stay married?”

He shrugged. “Now that your aunt knows the truth, what else can we do? The news will be all over the city by nightfall.”

That much was true. Haley pressed her lips together. “But I don’t know a thing about you.”

Adam stood a little straighter and tugged at his waistcoat. “Adam Oren Harrington. I own a business, which, I’m proud to say, is quite profitable. I’m thirty-four years old, in good health, have few vices, and all my teeth.” He stretched out his lips, displaying two rows of even white teeth. A little grin tugged at his mouth. “Well? Does that meet your expectations for a husband?”

He looked so comical, Haley couldn’t help giggling. “On the surface, yes.”

“And what else would the lady like to know?”

Haley studied him for a moment. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

Adam took her hand in his. Slowly he brushed his thumb over her palm and captured her gaze. “I’ll be at your aunt’s after supper tonight. We’ll discuss everything then.”

Ripples of warmth radiated up her arm. She ignored them and pulled her hand away. “I’ve already told you, Mr. Harrington, I have plans that do not include you. Plans that—” Could cause a worse scandal? Haley held her tongue.

Adam folded his arms across his chest and watched as her bustle disappeared into the cab. He passed money to the driver, and the cab pulled out into the street.

One thing he’d learned long ago was to keep his options open. Snap decisions were often regrettable decisions. Uninformed decisions were disasters. True, he knew nothing about his new wife now. But by the time he arrived at her aunt’s home tonight, he’d know everything he needed to know about Miss Haley Carissa Caufield.

“Oh, thank God it’s you.”

Haley plopped down on her aunt’s mauve settee and touched her hand to her forehead.

Seated across the marble-topped coffee table from her, Jay Caufield settled deeper into the wing-backed chair. “Who were you expecting? Your new husband, maybe?”

Her gaze came up quickly. “How did you find out so soon?” She’d left her aunt at the Madison only hours ago.

“Good news travels fast,” he said, though his tone indicated that he considered it anything but.

“Please, Jay, don’t play games with me.” She’d taken a bath and tried to nap, but she hadn’t been able to sleep, images of her mother, her aunt and her new husband tormenting her.

“It’s all over town. Your aunt was at the Madison for one of those ladies’ club luncheons, spewing the news like a champagne bottle just uncorked.” Jay rose, his slender frame rigid. He threaded his fingers through the pale blond hair at his temple. “How could you have done this? Look, cousin, don’t you realize who Adam Harrington is?”

Haley offered him a weak smile. “Aunt Harriet and her friends were quite pleased by the news.”

He laughed bitterly. “I’m sure they were. But she’s your aunt on your mother’s side. Social position is what they live for. I’m your real relative, Haley. Our fathers were brothers. You should have discussed it with me before you up and married a Harrington.”

“Well, where were you last night, anyway?” Haley sat up straighter. “Maybe none of this would have happened if you’d been with me.”

He shifted and looked contrite. “I had to leave. Elizabeth was getting all goo-goo-eyed, talking about bridesmaids and gowns, jockeying to catch the bouquet. I had to get her out of there.”

“You coward. Elizabeth is a wonderful girl. You should marry her.”

Jay held up his palms. “We’re not discussing me. We’re discussing you and your fiasco.”

“My latest fiasco, don’t you mean?”

Jay just stared at her. Aside from Aunt Harriet, only Jay knew the reasons behind the Farnsworth incident. Though her mother had taken her from Sacramento when she was only thirteen, Haley and Jay had corresponded regularly. He was three years older than she, and they’d been fast friends growing up together. Jay was as close as a brother would have been, had her mother tolerated her father long enough to produce other siblings.

Jay sank into the chair again. “I didn’t think you even knew the Harringtons.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know them. I just…woke up with one.”

Stunned, Jay’s eyes bulged. “You mean, you two got married—” he snapped his fingers “—just like that?”

She nodded. “I don’t even remember the ceremony. Neither does he.”

“But…how?”

She sighed resolutely. “Something to do with the punch, I think.”

He chuckled lightly, then laughed, and laughed harder, until he grabbed his belly and threw back his head. “This is too much, Haley, too much!”

She sat forward on the settee. “What’s so funny?”

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. “When old Martin Harrington finds out what his son has done, he’ll hit the roof. I tell you, it’s almost worth it to have you married to that family.”

Haley flung out her hands. “What’s wrong with the Harringtons, anyway?”

Jay sniffed and got himself under control. “Nothing. Unless you’re trying to compete with their construction company for work in this town.”

She gasped. “The Harringtons own a construction company? But you and I—”

“Exactly. You don’t remember, since you were so young, but our fathers had a devil of a time holding their business together in the face of the Harringtons’ stiff competition—every construction firm in the area had a tough go of it. The Harringtons finally rolled over most everybody. Only a few firms, like ours, remain.”