An Unexpected Love (7 page)

Snodgrass bobbed his head, causing several tufts of white hair to dance in a slow-motion waltz. “I suggest Wednesday. And I’ll expect a full report about this new investment opportunity and what the judge has to say.”

Jonas touched his index finger to his pursed lips. “Not so loud, William. I will meet you here at the club on Wednesday. Shall we say one o’clock?” He knew any attempt to depart without setting a time and date would be futile. If need be, Jonas could have his clerk cancel the appointment.

Separating Mortimer from his chair proved nearly as difficult as his own attempt to escape William. Jonas finally braced his hand beneath Mortimer’s arm and hoisted him out of the chair. He hoped a dose of brisk autumn air would prove enough to clear Mortimer’s mind. The carriage driver approached, but Jonas waved him on. “We’ll walk. Please follow. In the event we need you, I’ll wave you forward.”

“I’d rather ride, Jonas. I’m somewhat weary.”

“You’ve had too much to drink. The walk and fresh air will do you good. You need to regain your senses or this meeting with the judge will be for naught. Now breathe deeply.” Jonas held tightly to Mortimer’s arm and led him down the street. “And the next time we have a meeting, do
not
indulge in alcoholic beverages beforehand. Do I make myself clear?”

Although Jonas had his doubts the lawyer would keep his word, Mortimer mumbled agreement. If Mortimer muddled today’s meeting with the judge, Jonas would have no choice but to discharge him.

“If you hadn’t been late, I wouldn’t have had my second glass, or my third, or—”

“Don’t blame your bad habit on me. Right now we need to concentrate on winning over Judge Webster. If I’m to gain his allegiance, he will want assurance his name and position will be protected. Otherwise, I doubt he’ll agree to sign off on the paper work.”

The fresh air appeared to have a restorative effect upon Mortimer. “You let me worry about the judge. We go way back, and I don’t expect any problem from him. As long as you’re willing to line his pockets and keep your lips sealed, he’ll agree to whatever I propose. He’ll make certain you’ll be able to manipulate your niece’s inheritance without interference while the records will give every appearance of legality.” The lawyer stopped midstep and waved at the carriage driver. “And now, if you have no objection, I would prefer to ride the remainder of the distance to Judge Webster’s home.”

Jonas followed Mortimer into the carriage, and the two of them rode in silence. Mortimer appeared thankful for the opportunity to rest, so Jonas dwelled upon how he planned to benefit from Fanny’s inheritance. He’d invest it, of course, and reap himself a fine profit while doing so—and the foolish girl would be none the wiser. The fact that his father had bequeathed a full one-third of his estate to Fanny continued to rankle Jonas, but knowing he would soon gain complete control of her inheritance helped assuage his anger.

Before long, he could make a large investment in George Fulford’s patent medicine business. And along with his previous investment in the company, he would soon be the largest stockholder—next to Fulford himself, of course. If all went according to plan, Jonas would be making a fortune from George Fulford’s Pink Pills for Pale People. Of course he’d not limit himself to Fulford. There were many investment opportunities, some safer than others. But he need not spend his nights worrying over poor investments now that he would have Fanny’s money. Should he make poor investment choices, he would make certain his records were carefully adjusted to show that it was Fanny who suffered the losses.

England

Sophie sighed and stared despondently out the window as they approached Illiff Manor. Despite the grandeur of the limestone manor house, the isolation of the English countryside was far from what Sophie longed for.

“Is it not glorious, girls? Just as I told you?” Amanda’s mother questioned. She pressed a gloved hand to her throat. “It is too wondrous for words. We have beautiful estates in America, but there is something captured here in the ancientness of England that speaks to my soul.”

“It is charming, Mother.”

Sophie frowned. “And ancient.”

Fanny tried without luck to suppress a giggle. Victoria seemed not to notice. “The house dates back to the fourteenth or fifteenth century, I can never remember which. It has been in the family for all those generations. There are over eighty rooms and some four hundred acres upon which you’ll find terraced gardens, streams, ponds, and wonderful trails for riding.”

Sophie sighed louder than she’d meant to. The very sound of such drudgery only served to make her tired.

Her aunt lifted the brim of her hat and studied Sophie. “Whatever is the matter, dear? Are you not feeling well?”

Sophie rested her chin in her palm. “I do wish we would have gone directly to London. Why must we spend time out here in the country, where there is absolutely nothing to occupy our time? We didn’t come to England to sit in a garden with our needlework. If Lady Illiff were truly interested in entertaining us, she should have offered her London town house.” The carriage came to a stop, but Sophie did not look forward to stepping out, no matter how sore she was after the jostling ride from the train station.

“I truly do not know how to please you, Sophie. Paul’s presence on board the ship caused you to grumble and complain, and now that he and his mother have departed, you remain unhappy.” Aunt Victoria frowned and shook her head. “I hope that will not be the case indefinitely. Lady Illiff is a dear friend. You may console yourself with the knowledge that we won’t be here for long, for she has requested we accompany her to London next week. Lord and Lady Illiff are generously hosting our visit. I trust you will treat them with respect and not embarrass me.”

Before Sophie could utter her response, the driver opened the carriage door. In truth, Aunt Victoria was correct: Sophie should have been thankful Paul had taken his leave and gone to tend his ailing grandmother. Mrs. Medford’s company had proved to be much more pleasing than that of her son, which was quite a compliment considering Sophie had never been one to enjoy associating with older women.

Daniel maneuvered between Fanny and Aunt Victoria as they ascended the steps of the manor house, and Sophie felt a wave of pity for her cousin. The reminder that Fanny would be forced to tolerate Daniel’s unwelcome advances and overbearing manner throughout the remainder of their journey eased her own self-pity for the moment.

“Look at the ivy,” Fanny remarked. “I’d love to know more about it. It looks quite delicate yet so very intricate.”

Sophie looked at the greenery climbing the manor house walls and shook her head. “Who cares about ivy? I can see ivy at home.”

“Yes, but this is English ivy gracing a wealthy English home,” Amanda whispered. “Perhaps it is admired by wealthy Englishmen— single men who are enthralled with ivy only because they have no beautiful women with which to occupy their time.” She smiled and raised a brow as if to suggest Sophie ponder all the possibilities.

Lady Illiff greeted them in the entry hall and bid the servants deliver the baggage to their rooms. “I am delighted you’ve arrived. We’re going to have a wonderful visit, Victoria.” She turned toward Daniel and the girls. “I trust you young people will enjoy yourselves here in the country. Though the gardens aren’t quite as lovely as in the springtime, I still believe you’ll find them to your liking.” She seemed to hardly draw breath.

Sophie thought her reminiscent of a chattering parrot and just as colorful. The woman wore a wide sweeping gown of lavender with shades of blue and green running in a rather disorderly pattern throughout the weave of material. Thick gatherings of yellow and pink lace trimmed the sleeves. It was a riot of color, to be sure.

Lady Illiff turned toward the wide staircase. “I’m certain you’d like to rest before you dress for supper. The servants will show you to your rooms.”

Sophie gazed heavenward. It was just as she’d thought: they’d be relegated to sitting in the garden with their needlework. If she was going to spend her time in England visiting gardens, she’d prefer a stroll along the pathways of Kew Gardens near the River Thames. At least she might encounter an eligible man or two along the way.

Lady Illiff’s personal maid escorted Aunt Victoria to her bedchamber while another servant led Sophie and her cousins to a connecting suite at the end of the hall. The butler had been charged with escorting Daniel to his room. For Fanny’s sake, Sophie hoped his room would be in a different wing of the house. Surely with eighty rooms they could arrange at least a good dozen or more between the two.

However boring, it was evident that Illiff Manor clearly spoke of a wealth and elegance that brought to mind kings and queens. The ceilings were at least thirty feet high. The structure bore intricate plaster work and wood carvings on the banisters, railings, and crown molding, suggesting hundreds of years of labor. Sophie was not blind to the riches displayed for all to see. Nor was she ignorant of the money it would cost to maintain such an estate. She bit her lower lip and tried to remember if the Illiffs had any unmarried sons.

The maid ushered the girls into their room and stood stiffly at the door. “Madam will expect you to dine this evening in formal attire.” She said nothing more before turning to go.

The moment the servant took her leave, Sophie plopped into one of the overstuffed chairs in a most unladylike fashion. The rooms were lovely, with a small balcony overlooking Lady Illiff’s beloved gardens, yet Sophie longed to be in the city. “I hope madam won’t expect us to play a game of charades or whist after the meal.”

“Perhaps if she does, you can pretend to be overcome by the closeness of the room,” Amanda said with a grin. “After all, it worked on the ship.”

“But Paul won’t be available to escort you from the room,” Fannie added.

“Speaking of which, I don’t understand why your mother informed Paul of our traveling plans. I daresay he knows more about where we’ll be traveling than the three of us.” Sophie barely managed to stifle a yawn. Perhaps a brief rest wasn’t such a bad idea.

Amanda sat in front of the dressing table and rearranged several locks of hair. “Do cease your complaints, Sophie. It’s quite unbecoming. Mother is doing her best. From what Mother has told me, Paul’s grandmother is critically ill. I doubt you need give him further thought.”

“I suppose you’re right, but it doesn’t change the fact that I was required to abide his constant attention on the ship. I would now like the opportunity to enjoy myself.”

“You worry overmuch about your own pleasure,” Amanda said.

“That’s easy enough for you to say, dear cousin. You weren’t forced to spend the entire voyage with Paul hovering over your shoulder at every turn. And now that Paul is gone, we’re out here in the country with no men at all.”

“You succeeded in avoiding Paul much more frequently than I escaped Daniel’s unwanted attention,” Fanny said. “If you desire an escort, please take Daniel. I would be most thankful.”

Sophie shuddered. “No, thank you! Perhaps we should devise a plan to lose him while we’re in London. Better yet, we should leave him here. There must be someplace where he could be held hostage until we leave for the city. Or we could bribe one of the servants to keep him locked up!”

“Sophie Broadmoor! What a horrid idea,” Amanda declared. “How could you even consider asking the servants to take him prisoner?”

“Then perhaps we could convince Veda and Minnie.” Sophie called the two maids, who were busy unpacking their belongings in one of the adjoining bedrooms.

Veda, the younger of the two, peeked into the sitting room, and Sophie motioned her forward. “If we locate a garden shed or some other confined space, would you help us secure Mr. Daniel inside until we’ve left for London?”

A look of fear registered in the girl’s eyes. “Oh no, ma’am, I could never do such a horrid thing as that. Miss Victoria wouldn’t approve.” She glanced at Amanda. “Would she, Miss Amanda?”

“Go and finish unpacking our trunks, Veda. Miss Sophie is teasing,” Amanda said.

The maid peered at Sophie, who nodded her agreement. Once Veda was out of earshot, Sophie folded her arms across her waist. “I still think the plan has merit. I’d wager there is some sort of structure where the gardeners store their tools.” She walked to the French doors leading onto the balcony and stared down at the perfectly sculpted hedges and terraced lawns. “Of course, the gardeners would likely discover Daniel before we left.”

“I certainly want to rid myself of his company, but I’m not convinced we should do anything to cause him bodily harm,” Fanny said. “And I doubt Aunt Victoria would leave for London if Daniel turned up missing.”

Sophie shrugged. “We’d simply devise some story and say that he’d become bored with the journey and decided to visit London on his own. Aunt Victoria would believe us if the two of you didn’t act suspicious. You must be careful to speak with authority and keep your story straight. My father believes whatever I tell him.”

“I’m not at all sure you should be particularly proud of that,” Amanda replied. “And I, for one, do not intend to participate in any plan to abduct Daniel.”