Harley barely left her side all night. He sat opposite her at dinner and made sure her wine glass was never empty. He claimed the first dance and dissuaded other men from dancing with her when they cut in. The few times he danced with other girls, he left Pandora with someone to talk to and a full glass of champagne.
It was the first time Pandora had seen Harley in a top hat, and it suited him perfectly. His wing-tipped shoes were polished to a gleam, and his tuxedo shirt had a wonderful smell of laundry soap and cologne.
During a lull in the dancing, they stood near other couples on the balcony. The sky was thick with stars, and Pandora could hear crickets and frogs.
“I’ll miss all this at Princeton.” Harley sighed, leaning his elbows on the ledge. “There’s nothing like the Hudson Valley. It’s the most beautiful spot in the world.”
“You won’t have time to miss it,” Pandora said lightly. “You’ll be busy with your eating clubs and theater productions.”
Harley fiddled with his pocket handkerchief.
“I’m quitting the Triangle Club; I’m not going to be involved with theater this year.”
Pandora was shocked. Harley had been looking forward to it so much.
“You can’t do that!” she exclaimed. “The Triangle Club is your favorite thing about Princeton.”
“I won’t have time for it and my finance classes,” Harley continued. “Finance is important if I want to join my father at the bank.”
“That’s not what you want. You want to be a director and producer and open your own theater on Broadway,” she reminded him.
Harley’s voice slowed as if he was making an effort to talk.
“I’ve decided that’s not practical. My father is right; someone needs to take over the bank. One day I’ll inherit Blythdale too. I won’t be able to afford its upkeep on ticket sales and newspaper reviews.”
Pandora couldn’t have been more shocked if Harley had said he was taking a ship to Antarctica.
“Theater is your passion,” Pandora said urgently. “You can’t spend your life in an office if that’s not where you want to be.”
Harley turned to Pandora. His green eyes were luminous under the light of the balcony.
“That is where I want to be, especially if . . .” He took her hand. He had never held her hand before. His palm was smooth against her glove.
“We haven’t known each other long, but I feel as if I’ve been looking for a woman like you forever,” Harley began. “You’re lovely and bright, and you accept me as I am. It might be presumptuous to think you share my feelings, but—” He stopped, and it took all of Pandora’s willpower not to press him to continue.
She heard the strains of the band starting up again in the ballroom. The moon was bright and white over the Hudson. Fireflies flickered on the lawn, and the air was thick with the spicy almond scent of hawthorn.
Harley dropped to his knee. He reached into his pocket and drew out a velvet box.
“Pandora, will you marry me?” he said finally.
She gasped at the brilliant round diamond on a gold band.
“It’s my mother’s stone, but I had it reset. If you don’t like it, I could get something else.”
Pandora’s eyes widened, and she could feel her heart pounding. She had been dreaming of this moment. But now that it was happening, somehow it didn’t feel right.
All the plays they had enjoyed this summer, many of the discussions they’d had at Finley’s drugstore, revolved around Harley’s love of the theater. Pandora loved Harley’s passion for the theater. She understood that sort of passion, and it made her feel special that he included her in it.
If Harley worked at his father’s bank, he’d be miserable all the time. What would happen if at some point Harley decided it was Pandora’s fault that he’d had to abandon his dreams of becoming a producer? Could she live with herself if everything Harley did—the dinner parties they would give to entertain clients, the endless hours he would spend in a board room, the private clubs his father would make him join—was because of her?
Pandora was in love with Harley, but she couldn’t let him marry her if it meant giving up his hopes and dreams.
But if she declined his proposal, she’d lose Harley and never be able to repay her father. Willie had put his trust in Pandora, and Pandora had failed. And everything Pandora longed for—the grand estate, the children, the chance to open her own boutique—would disappear as surely as an ice sculpture melting on a summer night. Just like with Owen, Pandora would lose the man she loved. Except this time, it would be her fault.
She looked into his green eyes. Harley was so handsome. She wanted to gaze at him across the breakfast table every morning and go to sleep beside him every night.
Harley made a coughing sound; he squeezed her hand tightly. He was waiting for her to answer. Perhaps he thought the trade-off in careers was worth it if it meant they could be together. His expression was so loving and hopeful she couldn’t turn him down.
They could discuss his career later, once they were married.
“The ring is perfect,” Pandora breathed. It really was perfect. Elegant and timeless and not too large. She held out her finger. “The answer is yes.”
Harley took her in his arms, and his mouth found hers. His kiss was long and deep, and she felt warm and cherished.
“I promise I’ll be a good husband,” Harley said when he released her.
Pandora pushed her fears from her mind. She and Harley were a team now; nothing would get in the way of their happiness. The future was as bright and silvery as the moon shimmering on the Hudson.
“Let’s go inside before it gets chilly.” Harley took Pandora’s arm.
The minute they entered the French doors, Virginia swooped down on them. She glanced from Pandora’s radiant expression to her left hand.
“I wondered where you two went,” Virginia gushed. She pointed at Pandora’s hand. “Is that what I think it is?”
“I asked Pandora to marry me, and she agreed,” Harley answered for both of them.
A champagne flute was pressed into Pandora’s hand. Couples crowded around them. The men thumped Harley on the back and offered their congratulations. Pandora held up the ring for everyone to see, and all the guests clapped.
Only one person held back. Archie stood at the bar, downing a cocktail. His expression was dark and brooding. Instead of coming over to join them, he finished his drink and poured another.
Chapter Nine
March 1927, Hyde Park, New York
Pandora and Harley decided on a June wedding, to be held a few weeks after Harley’s graduation from Princeton. Pandora was so happy she kept pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. She’d be able to pay her father back and take care of him when he was older. Already Willie had almost forgiven her, and he was thrilled about the wedding.
The reception would be held at Blythdale. The wedding would take up the entire weekend. They’d start with a picnic on the lawn on Friday, followed by an intimate dinner for the wedding party. There would be a prewedding breakfast on Saturday, then the church service, and then dinner and dancing in the gardens.
Adele hired the band Paul “Pops” Whiteman and his orchestra. Pandora couldn’t believe it when Adele told her. Pops Whiteman was the most popular band leader in New York. Adele said Harley was her last remaining son, and she already felt like Pandora was her daughter. She wanted them to have the best of everything.