Flora's Wish (15 page)

“I…” He thought a moment. “You see…” No, he couldn't let her know too much or he would be giving information out that was best not shared.

“Exactly. You do not.” She turned her attention on her granddaughter, giving Lucas a chance to once again draw an unhurried breath. “Were you two conspiring to fool an old lady? Did you not recall that I myself caught you and this man in conversation out on the grounds when you were pretending to paint?”

“Believe what you wish, Grandmama,” Flora said, her tone even despite the crimson climbing into her cheeks.

“I shall. Now as for you.” She returned her attention to Lucas. “What did you say your name was?”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. The last time he'd been questioned under such terms, he'd been on the witness stand in a particularly nasty political corruption trial. That defense attorney had nothing on Millicent Brimm.

“McMinn, ma'am. Lucas McMinn.”

“Pinkerton agent Lucas McMinn,” Flora added.

“Pinkerton agent Lucas McMinn,” Mrs. Brimm echoed. “How nice. We'll have a lawman in the family. We've had our share of lawyers but never a lawman.”

“Grandmama, I believe you need to use your hearing device. You seem to be missing the point. We are not—”

“I am missing nothing, Flora Brimm. I see what's going on here, even if you two don't think I do. Now, is there or is there not going to be a wedding?”

Flora opened her mouth. Whether it was to answer her grandmother or just in surprise, Lucas couldn't say. Apparently, neither could Miss Brimm.

“Yes, ma'am,” he supplied. “A wedding is scheduled for tomorrow morning.” As soon as the words were out, he wondered how she'd gotten the information out of him.

“What time?”

Rather than respond, he turned to Miss Brimm, who was regarding him with an I-can't-believe-you-said-that glare. Of course, he ignored her. Or at least he hoped he gave her a reasonable impression of being ignored.

“Nine,” Flora said under her breath.

Mrs. Brimm offered a satisfied nod. “There now. A wedding at nine tomorrow. Doesn't it feel good to get the truth out?” She reached for her teacup and once more took a sip.

Lucas braved a sideways look at Flora, who appeared to have given up any effort of polite conversation. Rather, she was studying the trim on her sleeve with far too much interest to actually be seeing buttons and lace.

He rose. “Well, now that we have that handled, maybe I ought to leave you two ladies to—”

“Sit.”

Millicent Brimm's demand had Lucas back in his chair before he realized he'd complied. “Yes, ma'am,” he added before he could stop himself.

“Flora, dear,” she said sharply, “are you certain of this marriage?”

She glanced over at Lucas and then back at her grandmother. “Yes, I'm certain.”

“And the agreement?” her grandmother asked. “Is it a sound one with airtight terms and no room for unfortunate surprises?”

Flora avoided her grandmother's steady gaze as she nodded. From where Lucas sat, he could see the difference in how the old lady looked at her granddaughter and how she regarded the rest of the world. He would stake good money on the fact that no matter what Flora Brimm thought, the Brimm matriarch believed Flora could do no wrong.

“And you used a good attorney?”

When Flora told her the man's name, the old lady's iron-gray brows rose, though the name meant nothing to Lucas. “Well done. Using the family attorney would have been an awful risk. I'm very glad you picked one of the young men I've chosen to assist with their political aspirations instead.” She paused. “One wonders, however, if the gentleman in question was led to believe I am in agreement with this endeavor.”

Her granddaughter's smile was faint and fleeting. “He might have been under that assumption.”

Another nod. “Very well done indeed.” Mrs. Brimm paused to allow her regal gaze to sweep over Lucas before returning her attention to Flora. “Fetch it.”

“It?” Flora looked to Lucas. He shrugged.

“The papers our mutual friend drew up. I'll need a look at them.”

“But they're legal gibberish, Grandmama. I can't see why you would—”

“Fetch them now, please. As to the fact you cannot imagine I would want to see them? Darling, didn't your grandfather ever tell you who used to write all his legal briefs for him?” She turned her attention to Lucas. “Until the late Judge Brimm was elected to political office, that is. Once he attained that sort of status, he had no need of lawyering anymore. I'm sure you understand.”

“Well, sure. A man has better things to do than lawyering when he's elected to office.” He was jabbering. Talking like a fool. Lucas closed his lips and did his best to stop himself from saying anything else that would make him sound any more like an idiot.

Why in the world did this woman cause him to feel like a boy headed for the woodshed every time she looked at him?

Miss Brimm returned, papers in hand, to offer him an I-told-you-so look. She handed the document over to her grandmother and returned to her seat.

“You understand you're not just joining forces with this woman, do you not, Pinkerton McMinn?”

“I believe I was the one who explained the terms to her,” Lucas said as he marveled at the woman's ability to change the subject so swiftly.

“Did you now?” She studied him intently. “And you're willing to complete all the terms? All of them?”

“Grandmama, please. He isn't the candidate, so if you're trying to be funny, you're not.”

“Funny?” Mrs. Brimm gave Lucas an inquiring look. “Were you amused by my question?”

He looked to Flora, who cheeks were now flaming red. What in the world was wrong with her? They were still talking about the personal custody agreement he'd struck with her, weren't they? The one where Will Tucker got caught.

Or were they?

“Actually, I'm confused,” he finally said.

Silence fell as Mrs. Brimm began to read. Lucas glanced over at Flora, who appeared nervous as she watched her grandmother. The clatter of hoofbeats outside drew Lucas's attention, and he rose to walk to the window.

The railroad transport had rolled into place in front of the hotel again, its occupants spilling out to wait for the driver to remove their luggage. He watched the process, a smooth transition from emptying out the transport to readying it for the next trip, with detached interest until he spied a man conversing with the driver. Lucas leaned a little further out the window to catch a better look at the fellow.

Will Tucker.

If it wasn't him, the man was his twin. And if Lucas hurried, he just might catch him before the transport left.

“Miss Brimm, ring the front desk and tell the clerk I want him to hold the depot transport until I can get down there and inspect the passenger list.”

Thankfully, she rose to carry out the request without questioning him as to why.

Lucas rushed from the room. “Carry on without me, ladies,” he called just before the door shut behind him.

He had no doubt they would.

F
lora completed the call and then moved to the window to see what sent Lucas running off in such a hurry. Other than the Frisco transport's driver loading up to leave, there appeared to be nothing exciting happening.

With no indication that Mr. Tucker might be downstairs, perhaps the lawman had an adverse reaction to a recent meal. Or, more likely, he'd had it with Grandmama's elegant but obvious abuse. In either case, he was gone. Both a blessing and a curse. For much as she enjoyed watching her grandmother's ire being directed elsewhere, she knew much of it was not deserved.

Turning her back on the events unfolding downstairs, Flora leaned against the window frame and crossed her arms around her waist. Grandmama's attention was still focused on the agreement with no indication in her expression of her thoughts on the quality of the terms.

It was a good deal for both her and Mr. Tucker, and that's all Flora cared about. She was able to keep everything she wanted, and she gave away far less than she might have should her husband-to-be have requested it.

She was about to say just that when her grandmother set the contract aside to once again reach for her teacup.

“Well?” Flora asked.

Making a show of sipping slowly, her grandmother finally put the cup aside. “If this marital agreement is acceptable to you and your candidate, who am I to say otherwise?”

A smile began. There was only one reason Millicent Brimm would not offer an opinion on something with this measure of importance. “You approve.” A statement, not a question.

Grandmama was far too regal to show any emotion in excess, so her chuckle was a nice surprise. “I do, though I must wonder why your young man would be willing to sign this.”

Flora moved away from the window to return to her chair. “All that matters is that he and I get on nicely and he is willing to sign.”

“I suppose that's enough for some. Now this fellow McMinn, the Pinkerton agent.” She settled back against the settee cushions and fixed Flora with a stare. “Suppose you explain your association with him in more detail. Are you really helping him with a case?”

“In a manner of speaking. Mr. McMinn is under the mistaken belief that my fiancé is the man he's searching for. I've agreed to help him only so I can disprove his theory.”

“I see.” Grandmama paused. “As to Mr. McMinn? I didn't figure that one for a man who could be this easily taken.” She shook her head. “No, that's a poor choice of words. I believe I should have said bought.”

“Yes,” Flora said quietly. “I don't mind admitting I'm buying a husband. Is that awful?”

Grandmama waved away any thought of it with a sweep of her hand, the precious stones in the jewelry encircling her wrist and fingers catching the sun to cause glints of light to dance around the parlor. “Don't be ridiculous. Our people have been buying and selling spouses for generations.” She paused to lean slightly forward. “Though we would never be so crass as to admit it, now would we?”

Flora shared her grandmother's smile. “I wonder what Father will think when I bring home a groom.”

“He will think whatever we tell him, dear.” Grandmama shrugged. “He's a man. Yes, he cares for your welfare and, when it suits him, for your happiness. Tell him both are assured in this marriage and he'll be fine.”

Of course Grandmama was right. Father was far too knowledgeable of the affairs of business and ignorant of the affairs of women to bother challenging any statement she might make on the topic.

“And to be certain of it, I'll be sure to arrive back in Natchez before you and your groom to smooth the way. I'll have the maids begin packing tonight so we can leave on the first train tomorrow.” Grandmama paused. “If you're certain, that is.”

“I am.”

“And your father? Have you written him?”

“Yes, I posted a letter today.” At least she hoped the urchin had actually completed his mission. Only time would tell, though now that Grandmama was in on the plan, at least partially, she would write again and post it downstairs.