A Gilded Grave Read Online Free PDF Page A

really isn’t safe to be out on your own.” Especially if she were planning to walk to the Fifth Ward, the denizen of working class families and angry Irish men who after too many beers spoiled for a fight and would think nothing of having their way with an unprotected young girl.
    “I know Mr. Ballard, but there’s something I—something that—” She choked back a sob.
    Joe touched her arm. “There now, Daisy. It can’t be so bad. Can’t you tell me?”
    “It’s—I don’t know. You won’t—please let me—”
    She was cut off by raucous laughter coming toward them. Two young bucks leaving the party early, as Joe had done. Probably seeking more exciting entertainment.
    Daisy shrank back into the shadows. Joe stepped in front of her.
    The men slowed down. “Is that Joe Ballard?”
    Joe recognized them as Cokey Featheringham, a dissolute younger son of a steel-mill baron, and his equally dissolute cousin Nathaniel.
    Cokey stuck his neck out of his evening wear like a turtle out of its shell. “I do believe it is. What’cha doing lurking in the shadows, Joe, my boy?” He attempted to peer around Joe’s shoulder and nearly fell over. “Ah. I see. Not ’nuff ladies in the ballroom for you?” He laughed. “Oh, that’s right, heard you were taking up with the common folk down in the Fifth Ward.”
    Nathaniel grabbed Cokey’s shoulder and pulled him away. “Sorry, Ballard. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
    “S’what happens when men start fraternizing with the ‘footies,’ meeting the help on dark street corners. Think he’ll take her up against the wall?”
    “Shut up, Cokey,” Nathaniel said.
    “No, no. If Joe here doesn’t treat you right, just tell Cokey. I’ll show you a good time.”
    They staggered off.
    Joe turned back to Daisy. “Sorry about them. A couple of drunks with no manners and half a brain between them. And you stay away from both of them.”
    Daisy stepped away from the wall. “I know the likes of them. But they should’na talked to you like that, Mr. Ballard.”
    “They shouldn’t have talked about either of us that way,Daisy. Pay them no mind. Now go back inside. And don’t walk out by yourself again. I’ll send Orrin down in the morning.”
    “Mr. Ballard . . . ?” She bit her lip. “No. I’d best be getting back, I have to lay the fire for Mr. Woodruff’s room. He’s not well, Mr. Ballard. Nothing’s going right in that house.”
    Joe studied the girl’s worried countenance. “I noticed he was looking pale tonight, but what else is wrong?”
    “Yes, sir, he—he . . .” Daisy shook her head. “I can’t.” She dropped an abrupt curtsey. “G’night, sir.”
    “Daisy.”
    “I can’t,” she said, and slipped back into the grounds and closed the gate.
    Joe stood for a moment to make sure she didn’t try to sneak out again. Had he missed an opportunity to find out what was going on with Francis Woodruff? Servants saw and heard a lot more than their employers realized. . . . Joe dismissed the thought. It was more likely that Daisy had problems of her own. He just hoped it wasn’t the usual problem. First thing in the morning, he would have a little talk with Orrin—assuming it wasn’t already too late.

    D eanna’s evening sped by. She was claimed for every dance, which made her feet ache but her mother happy. In between she’d slip away to gossip with Cassie while they cooled their flushed countenances with lemonade in the lady’s parlor, while Elspeth and Cassie’s maid neatened their hair and straightened out their skirts. Then it would all begin again.
    Twice Deanna shared scintillating waltzes with Lord David. He quite literally took her breath away. During the rest of the evening, she hardly saw the Manchesters except to watchMadeline float by first with Mr. Woodruff, then with Charles, and after that on the arm of one gentleman after another.
    She didn’t see Joe at all, and by midnight, when supper was served, she’d forgotten