they should—and soon. At least then they might give up on the idea of running a hotel.”
Martha took another pan of bread that had been cooling at the window and brought it to the worktable. She turned it onto a cutting board. “You probably won’t have to wait long. There’s nary a bride in this town that had to wait more than a fortnight to be engaged.”
Jude paused, the first glimmer of hope rising. “You’re right.”
“I usually am.”
“If I do a little matchmaking, I could probably have them engaged by the end of this week.”
Martha harrumphed. “If they had attended the ball, they would have had at least a dozen proposals tonight.”
It was true. So true, in fact, the men in town had placed an advertisement in several papers back East seeking brides. They had claimed there were a hundred eligible bachelors for every single woman. To his knowledge, no one had answered the ad—yet—but it only proved how desperate and lonely the men were in Little Falls.
He simply needed to introduce Elizabeth and Grace to the best husband candidates and they could be out of his way in no time.
“Martha, you’re a genius.”
The door opened slowly and Elizabeth Bell poked her head through the opening. She paused when she saw Jude.
For the first time since her arrival, he was happy to see her. Maybe he could still get her into that ballroom tonight and start the introductions. He moved forward and opened the door wider. “Come in.”
She took a tentative step over the threshold as she looked around the kitchen.
Martha wiped her hands on her apron. “What do you need, lovey? Are you hungry? There’s leftover roast beef and fresh cinnamon bread, right out of the oven.”
“Could I have a glass of water for Rose, please?”
“Water, you say?” Martha stood on tiptoe to reach one of the glasses. Her short stature was a constant irritant to her, so Jude reached over her head and grabbed a glass for her. “Thank you.” She straightened her shirtwaist. “How about some warm milk for the little one?”
“Milk would be even better.” Elizabeth’s voice hinted her relief. “She’s had none since we left Rockford a week ago.”
“Then milk it is. I’ll grab some in the cellar and be back in a jiffy.”
Martha exited the kitchen leaving Jude and Elizabeth alone.
She looked at him for a moment and he studied her, perplexed all over again by how Clarence could have such a beautiful daughter. But, more important, how could he convince her to go into the ballroom with him?
She looked away and played with the frayed cuff at her wrist.
“The ballroom is full tonight,” he said. “We have the best orchestra in the territory right here in Little Falls. They’ll play until midnight, at least, maybe longer if the dancers insist.”
“I imagine it’s good for business.”
“It is.” He smiled, trying to draw upon all the charm he’d mastered as a business owner. “Do you enjoy dancing, Miss Elizabeth?”
She lifted her blue-eyed gaze and blinked. “I do enjoy dancing, Mr. Allen.”
Her answer encouraged him. “Would you—?”
“Here we are.” Martha returned much sooner than he would have liked—or expected. “I left the milk on the shelf in the lean-to and thought I’d put it in the cellar later. Good thing I didn’t.” She placed a kettle on the stove. “The milk will be warm in a minute.”
“It isn’t necessary to heat the milk.” Elizabeth took a step toward Martha. “I can take it as it is. Rose won’t mind.”
“Nonsense. Everyone benefits from warm milk before bed.”
“If you enjoy dancing,” Jude said, “would you care to join the others in the ballroom?”
Elizabeth stared at him and Martha turned with the milk in one hand and the kettle in the other. “Look at the lady, Jude. She’s tuckered out.”
Martha wasn’t making this easy for him.
“I thought Miss Elizabeth might enjoy a little entertainment after her long journey.”
“Even if I would, my ball gown is tucked away in my trunk and in need of some updating.” Elizabeth touched her cuff once again. “It’s been years since I’ve gone to a ball.”
“All the more reason to go tonight.”
“I should be with my sisters.”
Martha tossed him a look of disapproval and then went back to the milk.
“They’ll soon be asleep.” Jude tried again. “You can stay for as little or as long as you’d like.”
Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder toward the door that would lead them to the ballroom, and she looked like she might concede—but then she shook her head. “Not tonight. I’ll need all the strength and mental clarity I can muster when we meet with the attorney and go over the books tomorrow. I’m sure there will be a hundred things we’ll need to discuss about the operation of the hotel.”
The thought of talking business with her made him crabby. What did she know of such things? “Fine.” He gave her a curt nod. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He walked past her and out the kitchen door. He might not get her into the ballroom tonight, but he’d be sure to invite every bachelor he knew to come by tomorrow.
He would marry Elizabeth Bell off to the first man who turned her head, and then he’d get on with the work that really mattered.
Elizabeth looked in the mirror the next morning, well before the sun had crested the horizon. Dark circles hung beneath her eyes and weary lines edged the sides of her mouth. Though she hadn’t slept well in weeks, she had tossed and turned all night, trying to think of a way she could earn enough money to buy out Jude Allen.
More than anything, she wanted to be in control—not only of the hotel, but her life. So many decisions had been made for her since Mama had died. It would have been nice to have a say in her future for once. But before she could think of saving money, she needed to know if she had any legal right to the hotel.
Not wanting to wake her sisters, Elizabeth found her father’s letter, put it into a pocket in her skirt and left their rooms. Worries about the legality of the letter had plagued her all night long. Surely it was enough to claim her inheritance—it had to be. She had used every penny they’d made on the sale of their things in Rockford to make the trip to Little Falls. There was nothing left to go elsewhere. They’d be destitute.
Casting aside the troubling thoughts, Elizabeth tiptoed down the dimly lit hall, not wanting to
