Chapters (50)
- Cover
- Half Title Page
- Books by Elizabeth Camden
- Title Page
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Historical Note
- Questions for Discussion
- In 2021, look for Luke Delacroix’s story in
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
Preparations for Thanksgiving celebrations meant it took a maddening two days before she was able to find a few hours to escape to the Capitol. She wandered the halls of the grand building in search of Congressman Arthur Blanchard from Evansville, Indiana, the man in charge of the congressional committee for education.
Ordinary congressmen weren’t afforded personal offices, and in the long hours between meetings, they retreated to the congressional retiring rooms draped in velvet, stuffed with comfortable seating, and filled with cigar smoke. It was a masculine retreat into which no lobbyists, visitors, and certainly no women were allowed. Congressman Blanchard was heading down the white marble corridor toward the retiring rooms with a folded newspaper in one hand and an unlit cigar in the other when she found him. She grabbed his arm just before he passed through the door.
“Congressman,” she said a little breathlessly, “can you tell me how the school for immigrant girls came to your attention?”
He perused her from the top of her head all the way down to her silk-encased feet. Masculine appreciation was nothing new to her, and if it snagged this man’s attention, she didn’t mind using it.
“And you are?” he asked.
“Caroline Delacroix, secretary to the first lady.”
Recognition dawned. “Oh yes! Your brother Luke tracked me down last summer. He brought the school to my attention. It seems a worthy cause.”
Luke had been arrested in June, so it must have been shortly before. It was hard to stand here and discuss her brother with a perfect stranger, but the congressman didn’t notice as he launched into a monologue.
“I told him it was a losing proposition, as the federal government rarely tackles one-off schools like this, but he gave me good advice on how to pull a few strings and make it a surefire win. Very clever young man; it worked like a charm. Where is he, by the way? I haven’t seen him in ages.”
Caroline hesitated. Although Luke’s arrest had been leaked to the press almost a month ago, she’d done some fancy footwork, and the newspaper had issued a complete retraction, for the army was still dithering about filing charges. The story never caught traction.
She evaded the question. “Knowing Luke, he’s probably off courting some Russian princess or exploring the North Pole.”
The congressman laughed. “Ha! Of the two, I’d vote for the North Pole. Everyone always underestimates that young man. Now, I’m off to review these proposals and indulge in a smoke. Best of luck to you with the school.”
The school would be Petra’s responsibility, and now Caroline could move on to planning the inaugural ball. She was good at being a hostess, but the inauguration would be the largest party in the nation, and it was going to be a daunting challenge.
Seventeen
