you?”
“Cornelia?” Leila gaped at her friend. She and Cornelia Hancock had attended boarding school together for eight years.
“I haven’t seen you in ages,” she bubbled, taking Leila’s arm. “Oh, do give me a hug.”
Leila rose and was enveloped in perfumed arms. “How wonderful to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too, my friend.” Cornelia dropped into the opposite seat, smiling broadly. “Where are you going? What are you doing in Albany? Last I heard you were in Florida.”
“Yes, well, we’re back in New York, and now we’re on our way west for business with my husband and his partner,” Leila said, eyeing her warily. Cornelia was part of the social circle and would have heard the latest news. Leila suspected she still corresponded with everyone from their class.
“I’m stopping in New York City to meet a Doctor Brown, who works with orphans, then I’m going on to St. Louis to pursue a nursing career.”
“Cornelia, how wonderful!” Leila was happy to have companionship, and her melancholy dissipated with the news from her friend.
Rork left Hank pawing Sissy and stepped into the crowded dining car. His eyes sought Leila. Her laughter curled around his heart, and her smile enslaved him. Lord, this is the first time I’ve seen her so radiant—and that yellow dress fits her to perfection . Her being married nagged at him in the deepest recess of his mind. It was the sense of not having what he thought he wanted, but couldn’t because she belonged to another. Leila’s smile lit her face while she chatted.
She looked up, and their eyes met. Her smile faded.
“Is everyone ready for dinner?” He hoped no one noticed the slur that slid off his thick tongue.
Hank entered the dining car, clearly inebriated, and plopped down next to Cornelia. “Why, hello, darlin’. Didn’t realize you were on the train. What a delightful surprise.” He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes flirting with her. “Haven’t seen you since our wedding. You’re gorgeous.”
A flush crept into Cornelia’s cheeks. She glanced apologetically at Leila.
Rork hesitated. He had no choice but to sit with Leila. Hank did say to entertain her .
Hank raised his chin and lifted his open hand toward Rork. “Cornelia, this is my traveling friend, Rork Millburn. Rork, this lovely lady is my wife’s friend, Miss Hancock. Watch out for him, darlin.’” Hank winked. “He’s an artist, and you know what they say about artists.”
Cornelia held out her hand. “Pleased, Mr. Millburn.”
Rork nodded and raised her hand to his lips. “Charmed, Miss Hancock.”
“Cornelia is headed for St. Louis to pursue a nursing career,” Leila said, her eyes alight with admiration.
Hank took a swig from his hip flask. “Seems a waste of a lovely woman.”
Rork’s eyebrows rose. “I admire your courage, Miss Hancock.”
“Thank you, Mr. Millburn.”
“St. Louis is a dangerous and divided city. I’m sure there will be scores of nursing opportunities. I hear casualties are increasing.”
Cornelia canted her head. “I take it you don’t feel inclined to join our brave soldiers in the fight.”
He shrugged. “I expect to portray the war on canvas. In a way, I will be in the heat of battle.” His eyes shifted to Leila. “I’m sure Mrs. Dempsey will enjoy having a friend on the trip.”
A flush worked its way up her cheeks. “Yes, I will.”
Hank waved his hand. “Sit, Rork. My wife won’t bite.”
Rork met Leila’s eyes. He found her reaction endearing. It was a wonder seeing her blush with just a look. He slid onto the narrow bench. He only had to shift his knee a fraction and they would touch. Shaking licentious thoughts from his head, Rork reminded himself she was married. What kind of man fantasizes about his friend’s wife? He cleared his throat. “I gather you and Miss Hancock are close friends?”
Leila nodded and took Cornelia’s hand. “Yes, we were school mates.”
“Ah, so before you
“Cornelia?” Leila gaped at her friend. She and Cornelia Hancock had attended boarding school together for eight years.
“I haven’t seen you in ages,” she bubbled, taking Leila’s arm. “Oh, do give me a hug.”
Leila rose and was enveloped in perfumed arms. “How wonderful to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too, my friend.” Cornelia dropped into the opposite seat, smiling broadly. “Where are you going? What are you doing in Albany? Last I heard you were in Florida.”
“Yes, well, we’re back in New York, and now we’re on our way west for business with my husband and his partner,” Leila said, eyeing her warily. Cornelia was part of the social circle and would have heard the latest news. Leila suspected she still corresponded with everyone from their class.
“I’m stopping in New York City to meet a Doctor Brown, who works with orphans, then I’m going on to St. Louis to pursue a nursing career.”
“Cornelia, how wonderful!” Leila was happy to have companionship, and her melancholy dissipated with the news from her friend.
Rork left Hank pawing Sissy and stepped into the crowded dining car. His eyes sought Leila. Her laughter curled around his heart, and her smile enslaved him. Lord, this is the first time I’ve seen her so radiant—and that yellow dress fits her to perfection . Her being married nagged at him in the deepest recess of his mind. It was the sense of not having what he thought he wanted, but couldn’t because she belonged to another. Leila’s smile lit her face while she chatted.
She looked up, and their eyes met. Her smile faded.
“Is everyone ready for dinner?” He hoped no one noticed the slur that slid off his thick tongue.
Hank entered the dining car, clearly inebriated, and plopped down next to Cornelia. “Why, hello, darlin’. Didn’t realize you were on the train. What a delightful surprise.” He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes flirting with her. “Haven’t seen you since our wedding. You’re gorgeous.”
A flush crept into Cornelia’s cheeks. She glanced apologetically at Leila.
Rork hesitated. He had no choice but to sit with Leila. Hank did say to entertain her .
Hank raised his chin and lifted his open hand toward Rork. “Cornelia, this is my traveling friend, Rork Millburn. Rork, this lovely lady is my wife’s friend, Miss Hancock. Watch out for him, darlin.’” Hank winked. “He’s an artist, and you know what they say about artists.”
Cornelia held out her hand. “Pleased, Mr. Millburn.”
Rork nodded and raised her hand to his lips. “Charmed, Miss Hancock.”
“Cornelia is headed for St. Louis to pursue a nursing career,” Leila said, her eyes alight with admiration.
Hank took a swig from his hip flask. “Seems a waste of a lovely woman.”
Rork’s eyebrows rose. “I admire your courage, Miss Hancock.”
“Thank you, Mr. Millburn.”
“St. Louis is a dangerous and divided city. I’m sure there will be scores of nursing opportunities. I hear casualties are increasing.”
Cornelia canted her head. “I take it you don’t feel inclined to join our brave soldiers in the fight.”
He shrugged. “I expect to portray the war on canvas. In a way, I will be in the heat of battle.” His eyes shifted to Leila. “I’m sure Mrs. Dempsey will enjoy having a friend on the trip.”
A flush worked its way up her cheeks. “Yes, I will.”
Hank waved his hand. “Sit, Rork. My wife won’t bite.”
Rork met Leila’s eyes. He found her reaction endearing. It was a wonder seeing her blush with just a look. He slid onto the narrow bench. He only had to shift his knee a fraction and they would touch. Shaking licentious thoughts from his head, Rork reminded himself she was married. What kind of man fantasizes about his friend’s wife? He cleared his throat. “I gather you and Miss Hancock are close friends?”
Leila nodded and took Cornelia’s hand. “Yes, we were school mates.”
“Ah, so before you
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