The Glittering Life of Evie Mckenzie Read online

  ‘Things have been better.’ Chuck waved her to the living room. ‘Come in. Tea?’

  ‘Sure.’

  Tug nearly laughed out loud when Chuck seated himself and rang a bell. A short squat woman in an apron appeared with a smile, and Chuck asked her for tea. She disappeared into the back of the house. Tug knew that servants were common, and that her family had once had them, too. She was so used to seeing Evie with Buck that she’d forgotten that he was technically her family’s houseman.

  In Chuck’s case, though, seeing his maid doing simple things for him just served to remind her how different they were. She was, quite literally, in a class apart. And while Tug believed she was an upwardly mobile type of girl, she knew there was no bridging a gap like that. She simply didn’t have the right blood running through her veins, and no societal credentials that might stand in its place.

  ‘How are you, Tug? What have you been doing?’

  ‘I’ve been worried about you and Roger,’ Tug said. ‘That’s taken up most of my time. That and the searing guilt that eats me alive any time I close my eyes.’

  Chuck laughed, but there was no mirth in the low chuckle.

  ‘I’ve been a little lost, I guess. I went to see Ms Guinan.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘She has a job for me. I go back tomorrow to find out what it is.’

  ‘Sounds sinister.’

  ‘I hope not.’ Tug watched Chuck as she spoke. His eyes were on her face as she talked. He smiled and leaned in. He really listened to her. It was a nice feeling.

  ‘You sure you’re ready to jump right back in, Tug? There are so many other things you could do. You’re so smart.’ Chuck looked down for a second, as if he was thinking about what he was going to say next. ‘Are you really okay with the idea of being at a club again?’

  ‘You think I shouldn’t be?’

  ‘No, I think you should do what you want to do. I just want to make sure you know you have other options.’

  Tug wondered what he meant. She saw very few other options. ‘I’m fine with it,’ she lied, the guilt over the injuries she’d caused roaring up inside her again.

  ‘Your cop seems to have it out for me and Roger, Tug. Any chance you could call him off?’

  ‘Oh,’ Tug said, happy for a change of subject. ‘No, he’s not very happy with me, I’m afraid.’

  ‘That would explain it then,’ Chuck said.

  ‘What’s he doing?’

  ‘He’s dragging in everyone he can find to point fingers and tell the judge how we intentionally poisoned people to make a buck.’

  Tug felt guilt wind its way around her stomach once again. ‘This is all my fault, and now I’ve made it worse my making him angry.’

  ‘It’ll be okay, Tug,’ Chuck said, dropping a hand on her arm. ‘Don’t worry.’

  ‘Why hasn’t he hauled me in, I wonder?’ Tug said.

  ‘Because Roger and I have insisted that you didn’t know anything.’

  Tug looked up, surprised. Chuck’s bright eyes shone, and he smiled a small smile at her. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘You don’t deserve to get caught up in this mess.’ Chuck’s voice was soft.

  ‘But Derek’s the one who involved me in the first place. He knows I’m not innocent here.’

  ‘But if you come in and they start asking questions, it won’t be long before Derek isn’t so squeaky clean himself.’

  ‘You have a point.’

  The tea arrived, ending the quiet moment. They sipped tea and ate cookies and talked of other things. Chuck and Roger were both beginning work at Chuck’s father’s investment firm as soon as the investigation blew over. Roger had two more courses to complete at school, and Chuck told her that the University was allowing him to take his finals at home, with a proctor, so that he could graduate with his class.

  ‘Will there be a trial?’ Tug asked.

  ‘Yes, soon I think.’

  ‘Well, please let me know.’ Tug rose to go, putting her teacup down on the shining porcelain tray.

  ‘It was good to see you, Tug.’ Chuck smiled, a sadness in the expression that pulled at Tug’s heart.

  ‘You too,’ she returned, reaching to hug her old friend.

  Their embrace was warm and familiar, and Tug was almost embarrassed at the comfort she took from it. In so many ways she felt quite alone in the world, but she knew that she could always rely on Chuck to stand next to her if she needed him. She felt something else as she stood in his arms, too. A connection that pulled at something deep within her, and a spark of the fire that Derek had brought to life as she’d sat on his lap in the club that night. What would something like that be like with Chuck, she wondered?

  His arms tightened around her and she felt his breath along the side of her face, sending a shiver down her spine.

  Tug stiffened. She dropped her arms to her sides and stepped backward, wondering if she’d misinterpreted something. It certainly seemed like Chuck held her closer than their platonic friendship would dictate. Could it be possible that he’d seen what had happened between her and Derek at the club that night? Could he think she might be willing to spend time with him in some similarly compromising position?

  She stared up at him for a moment as he opened the door for her. There was no guile in his expression. The bright blue eyes were as clear and sincere as ever. She doubted her own instincts and wasn’t sure what was real. But her instincts had caused several people to be seriously hurt very recently. She decided to act only on what was right in front of her. And her friend Chuck was right in front of her. Standing at the door of his fancy townhouse, with his maid clearing their cups behind him.

  ‘Toodles, Chuck,’ she said, walking down the steps.

  ‘See you soon,’ he called after her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Evie

  Evie spent a week in a state of excited turmoil. She was going on a date with Jack. She could not find the appropriate place to file that event in her head, and so it rested there, top of mind, at all times. She tried to study, but found herself examining the fact over and over again, a warmth flooding her as she thought about her last few minutes with him.

  She was in this state of low-grade excitement when Roger appeared on her doorstep. Buck ushered him in and then knocked at Evie’s door to let her know.

  When she descended the stairs, Roger was there, tall and tan and perfect as always. And a tiny flutter of happiness jumped to attention in Evie’s stomach as he pulled her roughly into his arms.

  ‘I’ve missed you,’ he said, his breath hot in her ear.

  ‘Are you all right?’ she asked, leaning her head back to study his face.

  ‘Fine, now.’

  ‘Come sit,’ she said, pulling his hand behind her as she walked to the living room. ‘What is happening? Are you and Chuck going to get out from under this thing?’

  Roger looked grim, but he nodded. ‘I think so. Dad is pulling every string he has. That crooked cop, Mulroney, isn’t making it easy. He set us up in the first place, so he could turn us in and then pat himself on the back. That harp got a promotion, if you can believe it.’

  Evie shook her head slowly. She needed to check in on Tug, she knew. She must be feeling awful – she’d thought she was in love with Derek. ‘That’s terrible.’

  ‘I’m sorry about all this, honey,’ Roger said, taking her hand. ‘It’s not the engagement I imagined.’

  Evie looked at her hand in Roger’s. His hands were smooth and tanned, and his touch was warm and comforting. Roger was familiar, and so he wasn’t exciting, exactly. But as guilt darkened her mind, Evie found that she did love Roger. He was a very different man than Jack, she thought as she sat near him, breathing in the warmth and comfort of his familiar scent of soap and leather. Her heart swelled with affection and familiarity and she did her best to push away the guilt she felt at having just been in Jack’s arms.

  Roger would be a good husband, a good father. She had no doubt about those things,
and some part of her wanted that very much. ‘It’s fine,’ she said, smiling at him with genuine affection.

  ‘I’ve been thinking, sweetheart.’ Roger’s eyes were dark, troubled. ‘Maybe you should join Janie in Paris? Get away from all the trouble for a while? I would hate for this to hurt you, or your family. Wouldn’t you like to take a trip?’

  Evie stared at him. ‘I … No, Roger. It would be the wrong time to go, with everything that’s going on …’ The idea surprised her, but it was tempting to think of running away.

  ‘It was just an idea. I worry about you.’

  When Roger had gone, Evie paced the front room. She did love him, she was sure of it. But what she felt for Jack was completely different – exciting, and a little bit scary. She knew that she couldn’t have both for very long, but she also couldn’t bring herself to walk away from either one. Not yet.

  It wasn’t right, she knew. And yet, she couldn’t help herself.

  *****

  As Evie rode in the car with Buck toward Maison, she fought her warring emotions. She was nervous – seeing Jack in any kind of official capacity was completely new territory. And tonight, she’d be on his arm, in front of lots of people. It had occurred to her that she might run into people who knew Roger, and she had been working on an excuse. After all, this was a work event. And Roger couldn’t get away. Or at least, probably not. She hadn’t actually asked him, after all. And that was the reason for the other feeling brewing within her – guilt. Allowing Jack to escort her – having asked him in the first place – was wrong.

  But her excitement won out. Especially when they pulled up along the side of the street to find Jack Taylor standing, waiting for her. He was dressed in a tuxedo and tails, a top hat on his head. He held a single red rose in his hand, and he was leaning casually against the building, as if being dressed to the nines was as normal for him as breathing.

  Buck came around to open the door for her, helping her out. Evie wore a beaded gown with a long string of pearls that was knotted just above her navel. The silvery dress flashed and glinted as she moved, falling just below her knees in a hem of dangling beads. She wore a small cloche that hugged her head, also beaded, and her lips were rouged brightly. She’d spent time curling and dyeing her eyelashes, and darkening her brows, and she knew she looked different than usual.

  Jack confirmed this. He glanced remotely at her, and then his expression immediately changed. He straightened up, and a brilliance lit his eyes for a shimmering second.

  Surprise, Evie thought.

  ‘Miss McKenzie,’ Jack said, regaining his smooth elegance. ‘You look stunning.’

  ‘Thank you, Jack. Please call me Evie tonight.’

  ‘Of course.’ Jack took her arm, and nodded to Buck. ‘Hello, Buck. I’ll take good care of her.’

  Evie watched Buck’s face as he lifted an eyebrow and his lips made a hard line. He didn’t like Jack, but he was sweet enough not to say anything to her about it.

  ‘You take care, Miss Evie,’ Buck said. ‘And call home if you want me to come get you.’

  ‘I’ll be fine, Bucky. Thanks.’ Evie smiled and watched Buck climb back into the jalopy, and then dared a glance up into Jack’s face.

  Her heart jumped and twisted. He looked more glorious than ever, a thinly veiled lust sizzling just beneath his heavy lids as he looked down at her.

  ‘I believe I might be the luckiest man alive tonight,’ Jack said. ‘You look simply beautiful.’

  Evie blushed and thanked Jack, unable to tell him how amazing he looked. Instead, she clung tightly to his arm as they walked toward his car.

  Jack drove a Cadillac, a gorgeous long red car with a tan top, and he pulled the passenger side door open for Evie with a flourish.

  She accepted his help climbing in, and gazed admiringly at the beautiful interior. ‘This is a fine car,’ she said.

  ‘Then it suits you,’ Jack told her.

  They drove to the Waldorf Astoria where Jack helped Evie to the curb and into the hotel. Evie had been to the posh uptown hotel several times before. She’d had her debut ball there, and she’d accompanied her mother many times for tea. This was the first time, however, that she arrived and felt like something had changed. She was an adult, attending a social gala full of important people – celebrities and politicos. She was on the arm of a handsome man who was unquestionably an adult, and she felt suddenly grown up as the people around her smiled and nodded, accepted her as one of them.

  Evie marveled at the feeling, at the change she felt in herself. In a small way, she felt as if she were just pretending to be a full-fledged adult. She half expected to see her parents wandering toward her through the crowd.

  Jack squeezed her arm and smiled at her as they found their way to their table. ‘Shall I get us some drinks?’ he asked.

  Evie looked up at Jack, surprised. ‘I’m fairly certain they won’t be serving any drinks here tonight,’ she whispered.

  ‘I meant some punch. Or juice?’ Jack pointed to the bars set up around the room, where people were picking up glasses of fruit juice and soda.

  ‘Oh, of course,’ Evie smiled. ‘Punch would be lovely.’ She watched Jack move through the crowd and was surprised to see him stop to greet many of those he passed. He was at home among these important people, Evie realized, and then it occurred to her that Jack Taylor might be at home almost anywhere.

  ‘It’s nice to see you again, Miss McKenzie,’ a voice boomed over Evie’s shoulder, making her jump.

  Governor Smith stood at her side, leaning down to greet her. ‘Governor, you startled me!’

  ‘I have that effect on women,’ the ruddy-faced man joked. ‘I just wanted to say hello before this thing gets going.’

  ‘Well I’m glad you did,’ Evie said. ‘It’s wonderful to see you again.’

  ‘Likewise.’ The governor moved off through the crowd, leaning down to shake hands with people and pausing to laugh. It seemed Al Smith had many friends, though it made sense that he’d know most of the people attending a fundraiser for his cause.

  ‘Here you go.’ Jack set the drink down in front of Evie. ‘Would you like me to sweeten it?’ Jack pulled his coat aside and Evie caught a glimpse of a small silver flask in his vest pocket.

  ‘Sure,’ she said, though she felt a bit giddy already, just being close to Jack, and in the midst of such an esteemed crowd.

  *****

  Evie knew that her purpose at the fundraising dinner was to circulate and get people talking, but she couldn’t tear herself from Jack’s side. They sat close together and talked in low voices most of the evening, their chairs remaining close even as dinner was served.

  With Jack’s first bite of the meal he sighed, and Evie looked up at him, concerned. ‘What is it?’

  ‘The steak,’ Jack said. ‘I am always optimistic, and always disappointed.’

  ‘It’s wonderful,’ Evie said, savoring her own cut. ‘Is yours overcooked?’ She peered down at his food.

  ‘No, it’s not that. I’m sure it’s fine. But I can’t eat beef without remembering dinners at home when I was a boy. My father was a butcher, and he brought the very best cuts home. He let folks pay him in trade. He’d butcher their livestock; they’d give him the choice cuts.’

  Evie watched Jack talk about his childhood and felt a sense of wonder. ‘I don’t know anything about you, Jack Taylor.’

  ‘You’ve never asked.’ He smiled at her and touched a fingertip to her nose softly. ‘What do you want to know?’

  ‘Where are you from?’

  ‘We lived in a farming town in South Dakota.’

  ‘South Dakota?’ Evie laughed.

  ‘Is that an amusing state?’

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘I just, I don’t know. I picture you as part of the city. It’s hard to imagine you in a place like that.’

  ‘Maybe it was hard for me to imagine, too. That’s why I’m here.’

  She watched Jack for a few seconds, until he gave her a look that seemed
to suggest she should return her interest to her food.

  At that moment, the evening program began, with Governor Smith introduced by Senator Jimmy Walker, who was a staunch opponent to Prohibition in Washington. He talked about the impropriety of the attempts of government to legislate morality, and painted a picture of Governor Smith that made him out to be the sole savior of the country’s freedom. It was a charismatic and moving introduction, and the crowd rose to their feet, ignoring their dessert and coffee, to cheer.

  As the anti-Prohibition speeches moved into full gear, people seemed to feel liberated to bring out their flasks and season their punch and coffee in full view of anyone who cared to see. It was a strong statement about the desires of most wealthy New Yorkers, Evie thought.

  The evening brought discussion of several other hot topics: the repeal of blue laws, which kept baseball from being played on Sundays, the legalization of boxing, and the growth of social welfare – the one topic Evie felt strongly about.

  ‘What about baseball and boxing?’ Jack asked, when Evie told him that she’d been largely bored during the speeches.

  ‘I guess it’s hard to see those things as important political issues,’ she said.

  ‘Boxing is very important,’ Jack said, arguing with a twinkle in his eye as they moved around the dance floor. ‘Gives men with too much money something to bet on.’

  As they danced, Evie was very conscious of Jack’s hand on the small of her back. Her gown draped low in the back, and she could almost feel Jack’s fingers on her bare skin. Despite the thin cloth between them, she couldn’t stop herself imagining what would happen if his hand were to slip inside her dress, and she found herself having to force her mind to consider other things to keep her wits about her.

  Jack, for his part, played the dapper gentleman perfectly. He didn’t say or do anything particularly suggestive, and Evie found herself feeling almost disappointed. As the band picked up speed and many of those around them were beginning to look fairly tipsy, Evie pulled Jack back to their seats.

  ‘These shoes aren’t really made for dancing,’ she complained. ‘I think they’re meant to be worn by people who are carted around all day and never have to actually put any weight onto them. They’re pinching.’