A Victorian New York Romance Read Free Page A

was
a true scoundrel and player in every sense of the word. I felt like an idiot. I
was grateful that my New York reputation was not ruined, as we seemed to have
got away with our little erotic carriage ride.
    Then it happed. I felt sick to my
stomach. I panicked and grabbed my diary. I was late on my period, very late. I
was pregnant. I cried realizing the full extent of what I had done. Now I would
have to go back to St. Louis in more shame than I had left.
    “Let’s go, we’ll be late!” my aunt
yelled at me.
    “We were off to a winter party at one of
her social elite acquaintances. I would enjoy it as it would be my last.”
    The carriage pulled in front of the
grand fifth avenue townhouse. We were escorted inside. As soon as I walked in a
lovely young man with blonde hair and blue eyes was staring at me. After a few
moments he walked over with an older woman.
    “Mrs. Swanson, my son here would like to
be acquainted with you and your charge.”
    “Oh yes, Mr. Doughty, that is good of
you. This is my niece, Ms. Margaret Trumown .”
    “My pleasure, may I have the next dance Ms. Trumown ?” he asked.
    “Yes, thank you.”
    He grabbed my hand and led me on to the
floor. All the women stared at him and I could not blame him, he was gorgeous
and elegant. I would learn later from my aunt that he was very rich and
belonged to an old English family. He looked at me with a smile and lust in his
eyes. I knew that look and it often got me in trouble. He talked and talked but
then I saw him. I saw Bailey. He was staring at me from across the room. He
narrowed his eyes in anger. I looked away. How dare he be mad at me? I should
be mad at him. The next time I saw him he raised his glass to me. I was so
infuriated.
    When the dance was over Mr. Doughty led
me back to my aunt. I made my excuses that I needed air and went out onto the
vast veranda.
    “Why were you dancing with that man?”
    I turned to see Bailey standing next to
me.
    “How dare you talk to me?” I turned to
walk away.
    He grabbed my arm, “I have thought of
nothing else since our carriage ride.”
    “I’m pregnant,” I whispered to him.
    His eyes grew wide and he was stunned. I
walked away wanting to leave.
    The next day something happened that I
was not expecting at all.
    The maid knocked on my door and informed
me that my aunt wanted me in the parlor.
    I went down to the parlor and opened the
door where my aunt shouted, “You’re pregnant? How could you Margaret! What
would your mother say?”
    She was in a severe panic. It scared me.
    Then she calmed and said, “Fortunately
Mr. Wilcox is willing to do the right thing and this scandal will go
unnoticed.”
    “What?” I yelled.
    Just then Bailey stood up from a large
chair. I had not seen him sitting there as the back of the chair was too me and
quite large.
    “Bailey?”
    He looked at me and smiled. He held a
very large diamond ring toward me. “Will you do me the honor and be my wife?”
    I gasped, then I said, “No.”
    My aunt screamed. “Oh yes you will!” She
stood up and grabbed the ring and placed it on my finger.
    “It is official. It is happening. You
got yourself into this mess and both of you will pay the consequences, like it
or not.”
    I sighed. She was right. It was better
than being alone and raising a child on my own in poverty and as an outcast.
    “Now go for a walk so that all of
society can see you and it will be official.”
    I wanted to cry, once again I was in
another engagement I did not want.
    “I want to show you more, more of New
York, if you’ll let me,” he said.
    “I would like that,” I replied dryly.
    He arched his elbow out, and I wrapped
my arm under his. He then led me outside onto the busy sidewalks of New York.
    “Where are we going first?” I asked.
    “It’s a surprise. I think you will like
it.” He said with a smirk.
    My, this man loved surprising me, and I
loved being surprised.   It was a
good match. The anticipation and build up of a