heedless of consequences. Bailey, sensible, but adventurous and almost obnoxious in her adherence to her strict moral code.
Gage envied that. His own morality had taken a hard beating years ago, and the tattered rags left of it were like the flag of a defeated nation flapping in the breeze.
"At any rate," he said, "Hayes believed they were going to be married even though his financial prospects are quite unremarkable."
"Really?"
"He's attending Chapel Hill Medical School at the largess of Dr. Whitehead, one of the instructors. Hayes' family has little money and no prestige. If not for his sponsor, he would likely end up scraping a livelihood out of farming, like his father."
"Mr. Carver would never allow Nell to become attached to a poor man," Bailey said with assurance. "He patently disapproves of any man who isn't wealthy and well established. That's probably why Nell sneaked around as she did."
Gage hesitated before divulging the next bit of information, a topic he was quite certain he had no business discussing with a young unmarried woman. Well, in for a penny, he thought. "The coroner's report shows that Nell was not, uh, not – virtuous."
Bailey's eyes grew wide and her bottom lip quavered a bit. "Are you saying she was molested?"
Gage hurried to correct the error. "No, no, not that." He coughed discreetly, unclear how to broach so indelicate a subject. After all, Bailey was naïve and untutored in many ways. Even if he thought of her as an equal with her fine mind and quick wit, he must remember that he was much older than she and more experienced in the ways of the world.
He stumbled around the words like a bloody idiot. "Nell – she – was, uh, not ... " He paused and took a sip of water.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Gage," Bailey said impatiently. "Are you trying to say that Nell was not a virgin? That she was experienced in sexual intimacies?"
Gage choked on the swallow of water. So much for Bailey's delicate sensibilities. "All right, yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Nell was not forced. There are indications of sexual activity, but no signs of physical trauma. As you say, she was not a virgin."
"Well," Bailey murmured taking the news in. "Well, then. I'm not surprised," she added with determination in her voice.
"With Mr. Carver hovering over her, lapping around every man who presented himself to her like an old hound with a bone, you can hardly blame Nell for wanting to experience more from life."
Her voice was thick with unshed tears, and Gage believed defending her friend's propriety caused her further grief. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and continued with firm conviction. "Mr. Carver treated her like a fragile crystal, like one of those Faberge eggs her mother collects."
She waggled a finger at him, gathering steam. "I tell you, Gage, Nell was far sturdier than people made her out to be."
"Tell me more about Nell's relationship with her father."
"Why?" she asked quickly, homing in on the subtle nuances of his voice. "Nell and her father were very close. Do you think there was something amiss between them?"
"What do you think?"
She appeared to ponder the idea seriously, not at all shocked at the implication, although perhaps she did not understand the multiple meanings of the question.
"Do you understand precisely what I mean, Bailey?"
"You are suggesting that Mr. Carver had an inappropriate relationship with his oldest daughter, are you not?" Her expression was both worldly and very innocent.
"Yes."
"Let me contemplate the matter for a while," she said at last. "I shall give you my answer tomorrow."
She placed her hands on her hips and looked at him sternly. "Now, you ought to be asking me about the clue I've found in Nell's bedroom."
In the bustle of the moment, Gage had forgotten all about that. "You must tell me everything," he said, grabbing his hat and jacket, "but I am famished. Mrs. Miller serves stew today and you must join me. Come on."
He took her arm and led
Gage envied that. His own morality had taken a hard beating years ago, and the tattered rags left of it were like the flag of a defeated nation flapping in the breeze.
"At any rate," he said, "Hayes believed they were going to be married even though his financial prospects are quite unremarkable."
"Really?"
"He's attending Chapel Hill Medical School at the largess of Dr. Whitehead, one of the instructors. Hayes' family has little money and no prestige. If not for his sponsor, he would likely end up scraping a livelihood out of farming, like his father."
"Mr. Carver would never allow Nell to become attached to a poor man," Bailey said with assurance. "He patently disapproves of any man who isn't wealthy and well established. That's probably why Nell sneaked around as she did."
Gage hesitated before divulging the next bit of information, a topic he was quite certain he had no business discussing with a young unmarried woman. Well, in for a penny, he thought. "The coroner's report shows that Nell was not, uh, not – virtuous."
Bailey's eyes grew wide and her bottom lip quavered a bit. "Are you saying she was molested?"
Gage hurried to correct the error. "No, no, not that." He coughed discreetly, unclear how to broach so indelicate a subject. After all, Bailey was naïve and untutored in many ways. Even if he thought of her as an equal with her fine mind and quick wit, he must remember that he was much older than she and more experienced in the ways of the world.
He stumbled around the words like a bloody idiot. "Nell – she – was, uh, not ... " He paused and took a sip of water.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Gage," Bailey said impatiently. "Are you trying to say that Nell was not a virgin? That she was experienced in sexual intimacies?"
Gage choked on the swallow of water. So much for Bailey's delicate sensibilities. "All right, yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Nell was not forced. There are indications of sexual activity, but no signs of physical trauma. As you say, she was not a virgin."
"Well," Bailey murmured taking the news in. "Well, then. I'm not surprised," she added with determination in her voice.
"With Mr. Carver hovering over her, lapping around every man who presented himself to her like an old hound with a bone, you can hardly blame Nell for wanting to experience more from life."
Her voice was thick with unshed tears, and Gage believed defending her friend's propriety caused her further grief. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and continued with firm conviction. "Mr. Carver treated her like a fragile crystal, like one of those Faberge eggs her mother collects."
She waggled a finger at him, gathering steam. "I tell you, Gage, Nell was far sturdier than people made her out to be."
"Tell me more about Nell's relationship with her father."
"Why?" she asked quickly, homing in on the subtle nuances of his voice. "Nell and her father were very close. Do you think there was something amiss between them?"
"What do you think?"
She appeared to ponder the idea seriously, not at all shocked at the implication, although perhaps she did not understand the multiple meanings of the question.
"Do you understand precisely what I mean, Bailey?"
"You are suggesting that Mr. Carver had an inappropriate relationship with his oldest daughter, are you not?" Her expression was both worldly and very innocent.
"Yes."
"Let me contemplate the matter for a while," she said at last. "I shall give you my answer tomorrow."
She placed her hands on her hips and looked at him sternly. "Now, you ought to be asking me about the clue I've found in Nell's bedroom."
In the bustle of the moment, Gage had forgotten all about that. "You must tell me everything," he said, grabbing his hat and jacket, "but I am famished. Mrs. Miller serves stew today and you must join me. Come on."
He took her arm and led
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