CHAPTER one Being married had advantages that attorney gideon Bates had never even considered during his bachelor days. For example, he no longer had to think of polite excuses when a client offered to introduce him to a marriageable daughter, as he was starting to suspect Mr. Sebastian Nolan was working his way up to doing. "I''d like to arrange for a sum of money to be settled on my daughter, Irene," Nolan was saying. He was a large man, tall and substantial without being fat, and his weathered face indicated he had worked very hard for his fortune, although Gideon happened to know Nolan just spent a lot of time on the training track with his Thoroughbred horses. "Not so much money that she would draw the attention of fortune hunters but enough to ensure her a comfortable income and to sweeten the pot." "Sweeten the pot?" Gideon echoed in confusion. "I guess that''s a poor choice of words, but I''d like to provide any potential suitors with a little incentive.
You see, Irene is . Well, don''t get me wrong. No man could want a finer daughter. She''s smart as a whip and has the disposition of an angel, but a girl needs something more. We''re both men of the world, Mr. Bates, so I know you understand." "I''m not sure I do, Mr. Nolan," Gideon hedged, afraid he understood only too well.
Nolan sighed. "A man wants a woman who''s at least a bit . attractive. It shouldn''t matter, of course, but we both know it does, at least to most men, and Irene . Poor Irene took after me when it comes to looks, instead of her sainted mother, God rest her soul. She''s a wonderful girl but not one a man would look at twice, if you know what I mean." Oh dear, poor Irene indeed if that''s what her own father thought of her. Gideon didn''t even have to imagine what his mother would say on the subject of females being judged on their appearance, and his wife, Elizabeth, would agree with her wholeheartedly.
For his part, Gideon wanted to argue with Mr. Nolan, but he couldn''t exactly take the high ground on this subject since his own wife was quite lovely. He also had to admit that it had been her beauty that originally attracted him before he fell in love with her spirit. Still, he didn''t want to confirm such a shallow quality in his gender as a whole. "I''m sure your daughter will have many suitors who find her quite appealing." "I admire your optimism, young man, but she''s twenty-three and hasn''t had a suitor yet, which is why I want to give her a dowry of sorts. It''s an old-fashioned idea, but it used to do the trick, and I don''t see why it couldn''t do so again." "Perhaps we shouldn''t call it a dowry," Gideon suggested.
"I like the word you used, ''settle.'' Perhaps we could call it a settlement." "So, you can fix that up for me?" "I have a few ideas on the subject, but I''d like to discuss them with my partners who have a lot more experience with things like this." Was that really true? He hoped so. "They may have some even better suggestions. If you give me a week, I can prepare a proposal for you." Nolan actually clapped his hands together with satisfaction. "That''s the ticket! I knew you''d figure something out.
" "Please wait until I''ve actually done it to compliment me, Mr. Nolan," Gideon begged him good-naturedly. "Of course, of course. I appreciate your attitude, Mr. Bates. You''re married, aren''t you?" Gideon blinked at the abruptness of the question. "Why, yes, I am." So, his fears that Nolan wanted to fix him up with Irene had been unfounded.
Nolan fingered his luxurious beard thoughtfully. "I''m wondering if you and your missus might enjoy a day at the races. The Belmont Stakes are next Wednesday, and it should be a good show. Sir Barton is running. They say he''s the best horse of this year, maybe of this century." "Yes, I''ve read a lot about him." "I''d love to have you and your missus join me. I''ve got a box reserved since I have two horses running that day.
" "In the Belmont?" Gideon asked in surprise. "Oh no, in other races. I don''t have a horse that good yet, but I''m still building my stable." "I knew you raised horses, but I didn''t know you raced them." Nolan shrugged modestly. "I took up raising them as a hobby when I first made some money, but I finally started racing seriously the past few years. How about it? Do you think your wife would enjoy a day at Belmont Park or is she one of those folks who don''t believe in gambling?" Gideon was pretty sure Elizabeth had nothing against gambling, and she might very well enjoy a day at the track. "I''m sure she''d be happy to accompany me," Gideon said with confidence, "but I''ll need to check with her in case she has other plans.
" "I understand. And how about your mother? Would she join us, too, do you think?" "She very well might. That''s nice of you to include her, Mr. Nolan." "Nonsense. I''ve got to fill up my box, and I''ve been thinking Irene should meet some society ladies. You see, her mother died when she was born, so she spent way too much time running wild at the stables growing up, and I''m afraid she knows more about horses than she does about etiquette." Gideon bit back a smile.
He should probably admit that his wife wasn''t exactly a "society lady," but she was quickly becoming one, and, in any case, her background was certainly none of Nolan''s business. For her part, Elizabeth would probably love the idea of being a role model for Irene Nolan, and his mother would like nothing better than helping Irene polish her social skills. "I''m sure my wife and mother will be delighted to meet your daughter at Belmont Park next Wednesday." Elizabeth loved greeting gideon at the front door when he returned home from work at the end of each day. He was always as happy to see her as she was to see him, and they shared a few moments alone in the front hallway to demonstrate that happiness before removing to the parlor, where GideonÕs mother waited. "Have you seen the newspapers?" his mother asked the moment he entered the parlor. His smile matched hers. "Of course I did.
Newsboys were hawking extras on every street corner. Congratulations!" "I hardly deserve congratulations," Mother Bates demurred. "I''m not solely responsible for the passage of the Woman Suffrage Amendment." "You certainly did your part, though," Elizabeth said, and turned to Gideon. "We''ve been remembering our days in the workhouse and how many women made such important sacrifices to get this passed." Elizabeth had never thought being sentenced to six months of hard labor for demonstrating outside the White House would result in meeting the love of her life-or more accurately, his mother-but she would always be grateful. "I suppose you''ll be planning some kind of celebration," Gideon said. His mother shook her head.
"Probably not until it''s been ratified. We''ve been disappointed too many times over the past eighty years, and ratification is far from certain." "But surely, we can''t fail now, and it won''t take long," Elizabeth said. "We only need thirty-six states to approve it." "I hope you''re right," Mother Bates said. "But it will certainly take some work." "If work is all it takes, I have every confidence it will be approved," Gideon said. "I''ve never seen people work harder for anything in my life.
" Elizabeth drew Gideon down beside her on the sofa. "Now, what is your big news?" "What makes you think I have big news?" he asked, obviously surprised and probably a little peeved that she''d noticed. She sighed like a good wife who has been underestimated yet again. "You always get that little gleam in your eye when you have something exciting to tell us." He narrowed that eye and pretended to glare at her. "Maybe that little gleam means something else entirely." Elizabeth fluttered her lashes in mock innocence. "Oh no, when you mean something else, it is a completely different gleam.
" Mother Bates cleared her throat to remind them they weren''t alone. "Why don''t you just tell us, dear?" Gideon shook his head in mock despair. "How would you both like to go to Belmont Park with me next Wednesday to watch the Belmont Stakes?" "Are you serious?" Elizabeth cried in delight. "Mother Bates, Sir Barton is running in the Belmont. He''s the most fabulous horse." "How do you know that?" Gideon asked, a bit surprised. "I read the newspapers, and they''ve been full of reports of his victories this past month." "Indeed," Gideon confirmed.
"He''s already won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Withers. They''re calling him the horse of the century." "My goodness, Gideon, I had no idea you knew anything about horse racing," his mother said with a smile. Gideon gave her a pitying look. "No young gentleman''s education is complete until he has lost his entire monthly allowance at the track, Mother." She was absolutely delighted to learn this fascinating fact about her son. "I had no idea." "Which was the whole point," Gideon said.
"And did you lose your entire monthly allowance?" Elizabeth asked, equally delighted. "Sadly, more than once, which is why I no longer frequent the racetrack." "Then what has kindled your suddenly renewed interest?" Mother Bates asked. "Is it this horse, Sir What''s His Name?" "A client has inspired it, Mother. He.