Liza said that she was going up to spend some time with the boys and that she would see Jamie at dinner. She said that she was really looking forward to having dinner that evening without the floor moving under her feet.
When she had left the room Jamie asked Patrick how Liza really was.
“Her head seems to have cleared. I did wonder for a while if there was something more than just a bump or two as she didn’t sound coherent on occasions, but that seems to have passed. Our walk in the grounds did her the world of good, she loves gardens and gardening,” said Patrick.
“Yes, she worked miracles with the gardens in Belfast when she was first there. She and that old gardener there were always rummaging amongst plants, bulbs, leaves and earth. She was known to have come rushing into the house to see James covered in dirt and bits and pieces,” said Jamie.
“Yes, I can imagine that,” said Patrick quietly.
“I’m sorry, that was very tactless of me, Patrick. I don’t mean to be tactless, I seem to achieve it without even trying,” said Jamie.
“Don’t worry about it, Jamie. I know that her first husband still has a very special place in her heart but I also know that I have an equal, if not bigger place in her heart. I’m very lucky to have her as my wife and every day she surprises me a little more with what she does for me and what she has and what she achieves,” said Patrick.
“She does a great deal for other people. She does put her money to good use and she seems to enjoy doing it,” said Jamie.
“She does worry me considerably as she goes head long into situations with no thought for her own welfare and so often she gets hurt. But that’s what I’m there for, I suppose. That’s also what the Cherokees tell me, apparently I’m her protector and that’s why I don’t get harmed by them,” said Patrick.
“Don’t they think she’s dead? I thought that was her means of protection,” said Jamie.
“The old chief and the medicine man know that she’s alive; in fact they were the ones who spirited her out of the camp. They had to protect her from the chief’s son; a very nasty piece of work and the one that she hit over the head with a spade, which he never forgave her for. Anyway, that’s all in the past, thank God,” said Patrick.
“I remember hearing what she said about her time with the Indians when she had to go through that stupid Wyley trial. You’re right, it’s all in the past and best forgotten. Hopefully Liza will never again have to bring it back to mind,” said Jamie.
They both then went to their respective rooms to dress ready for dinner, with Jamie enjoying the process and Patrick wishing he was in Benson when all he had to do was make sure he was clean enough to eat his food.
Liza was soaking in a hot bath in the wet room within their dressing room when Patrick came to change; he eyed her longingly and they both gave one another the look that promised good things to come. Neither of them felt comfortable as they knew that the staff knocked and immediately walked in at any time they thought they were needed. Tonight would be a different matter though; they would be left completely alone once their clothes had been dealt with.
Patrick helped her out of the bath and wrapped her in a big fluffy towel and held her close to him. She loved these moments of closeness with him and she would have liked to have stayed like that for some time, but time for changing was getting short and Patrick decided that he would also make good use of the hot water in the bath.
Dinner was very pleasant but neither Liza nor Patrick had mastered talking in front of the servants as if they weren’t there. Jamie took it all in his stride and Liza was determined to get used to it again. She knew that Patrick would never get used to being waited on so conscientiously. She ordered coffee to be served in the drawing room and was about to leave the men to their port but Patrick just shook his head and said he was coming with her and Jamie agreed and the three of them had a good time chatting without feeling that they were being listened to.
Finally, they all made their way to bed and Bridget was waiting to help Liza out of her dress but first both she and Patrick checked on the boys who were fast asleep.
Patrick soon changed into his nightclothes in the dressing room; he had made it clear that he needed no help. He came into their bedroom and Bridget could tell that she wasn’t wanted and she took the hint and disappeared.
Liza was sitting at her dressing table watching Patrick in the mirror; he looked undecided for a short while and then he came across to her and took her hand and led her to their bed. “Is something worrying you, Patrick?” she asked.
“I find this place much too big for me to feel comfortable in, but I’m sure I’ll be used to it by the time I leave,” said Patrick.
“Don’t you mean by the time we leave?” said Liza.
“Yes, of course I do,” he said but it had stuck in Liza’s mind and unnerved her slightly. However, she soon forgot all about this seeming slip of the tongue as he held her and kissed her and finally made love to her. She was his Liza again; as always warm, loving and very responsive to whatever he did to her. In every way she showed how much she loved him and it wasn’t long before they were again lost in each other.
Myra called around after breakfast the next morning and gave Liza a list of functions that were taking place over the next few weeks. Liza, Patrick and Jamie were invited to them all but Myra had arranged that it was up to them to attend as they had so much to do in preparation for their own function which was a week on Saturday. She did inform them that the patrons would be disappointed but understanding. Liza said that as that was the case, Lord Edgeworth could choose what functions he wished to attend, but it could give offence if she and Patrick turned up to some of them and not others, so it would probably be better if they attended none until after their own function.
“Very wise, Liza,” said Myra, “but disappointing.”
Their mission for that day was to see Henry at the offices and ask him about the company’s client who had tricked the O’Rourke’s and the Cavanaugh’s into signing their lives and the lives of their children away.
Henry was shocked to see the documents that Liza and Patrick had brought with them and sent a clerk to bring the company solicitor to the offices to examine them in detail.
“Unfortunately,” said Henry, “it looks as if your friends signed these documents and they are binding, but our solicitor will know more than I do.”
Liza nodded, “That’s how I see it also, but if they signed having been told that it was a different type of agreement then they should be able to get out of it.”
“I take it that your friends couldn’t read,” asked Henry.
“No,” said Liza, “but they can now.”
“Obviously, Patrick, your wife has been busy on the voyage here,” laughed Henry.
“Whilst we wait for the solicitor, tell me something about this client of ours,” said Liza.
“He’s Charles Enderby, a very Southern gentleman who owns and runs a very large plantation on the borders of South Carolina. It’s been in his family for generations. He was sent to England to be educated and has made his plantation much more successful than many others. He gets all his supplies from us and to lose his business would be quite a blow to this company.”
“So, blackmailing him may not be the answer then,” said Liza.
“Do you think appealing to his better nature could do the trick?” asked Patrick.
Henry laughed, “Well, not you, Patrick, but Liza could and probably would be able to achieve what you want.”
Liza frowned, “Do I know him then, Henry?” And she was beginning to remember an extremely good looking Southern gentleman who had attended her first function in New York years ago and a fleeting glimpse of him at the function that she held before going to Belfast last year.
“I think he would be most hurt if you have no memory of him. Whenever I see him, he always asks after you and was most concerned when you were nowhere to be found a few years ago. He also has a house in New York and you’ll
be seeing him at your function a week on Saturday,” said Henry.
Liza grinned from ear to ear, “Of course, I now remember who he is. A really, really good looking gentleman with the most superb southern accent and manners to match. I remember dancing with him several times, and I also met him at other functions all those years ago. I saw him briefly last year, I think he was travelling the next day so didn’t stay long. How could I not remember him? He isn’t somebody easily forgotten.”
When the solicitor arrived and looked at the documents, he agreed that legally they were in order, but morally was a very different matter and if the employer couldn’t be persuaded to change the terms then there was nothing that could be done.
“So, what are we going to do then, Liza?” asked Patrick. “I suppose we will have to see this gentleman and appeal to his better nature, which will probably do no good whatsoever.”
“I’ll send a note to him asking him to call on us tomorrow. Can I have his address please, Henry? I presume he’s in New York at the moment.”
“Yes, he’s here waiting for his goods to arrive; although he has staff who would normally deal with that. Every now and again he likes to make the trip himself. You could use one of the rooms here if you prefer,” said Henry.
“No, I think that it isn’t really a business matter, although we have transported these people to him on our shipping line. I’ll just have to see what powers of persuasion I have,” said Liza.
“Well, if anyone can persuade Charles Enderby it’s you, Liza. I can tell you he is really looking forward to your function next week. He enjoys being part of the New York social scene. You may see him at several other gatherings this week,” said Henry.
“I doubt it, Henry; we have decided to be boring and stay away from any functions this week. We don’t want to turn up to some and not others, it would only upset people,” said Liza.
Liza quickly wrote her invitation to Mr Enderby and it was taken to be delivered by one of the clerks.
They took a carriage back to the house and Patrick started to question Liza about Charles Enderby.
“Yes, he’s a very good looking man with lots of money. He’s very tall with bright blue eyes and golden hair. I suppose he’s around thirty-five years old. I have no idea whether he’s married or not. It would be interesting to see his plantation. If he likes being invited to the various functions on the New York social scene, he had better make sure that all his business dealings are handled cleanly,” said Liza happily.
Liza looked at Patrick and saw his jealousy turn to amusement. “So you are going to blackmail him then, only not with business. You’re going to knock him off the New York social lists if he doesn’t do the right thing for the O’Rourke’s and the Cavanaugh’s and it would seem apparent that it would really hurt him.”
“Yes. What a gift to be handed! Henry’s a really shrewd person,” said Liza.
“Do you mean that Henry was giving you the ammunition to fight your battle with,” said Patrick.
Liza smiled and nodded. “It’s going to be an interesting meeting tomorrow.”
Jamie was in the sitting room when they got back. “Do you know a Charles Enderby, Jamie?” asked Liza.
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“No special reason. He’ll be calling on us tomorrow and I believe he’ll be at our function next week. He’s a southern gentleman with plenty of money to give to our charity,” said Liza.
“I’ve probably met him at some event or other. Do you need me to meet him tomorrow?” asked Jamie.
“No, next week will be soon enough,” said Liza. “There’s a list of functions here, Jamie, you have been invited to them all. We won’t be going to them, but it’s up to you if you want to.”
With that, Liza went to find the boys. They hadn’t had any lessons for a few days so with a groan from them, they settled down to writing and reading for a couple of hours. Although both Matthew and John tried to get out of their lessons, they did enjoy them once they began.
Liza was quite prepared to meet Charles Enderby the following afternoon. Patrick was not going to leave her alone in the house whilst she ‘blackmailed’ Mr Enderby. Bridget took Matthew and John to Myra’s for the afternoon as it was felt that it would be better if they were away from the house during the visit. Jamie had been told what was happening and said that he would be calling that afternoon on some people that he knew from previous visits.
Charles Enderby arrived on time and was shown into the sitting room by the butler. Liza introduced him to Patrick and what could only be described as small talk took place for a while, until Patrick said that he would leave them to their discussions and he would be in the library if he was needed. He left the room leaving the door open and also left the library door wide open. He was taking no chances just in case Liza got into difficulties when telling Mr Enderby the wrongs that had been done to the O’Rourke’s and the Cavanaugh’s.
“Well, Mrs Kelly, I am delighted to see you again and looking so much fitter than last year. Your note has intrigued me and I would never turn down an invitation from such a beautiful lady but what is it that I can do for you. I am attending your function on Saturday and I have already promised to help your charity financially,” he said.
“I know, Mr Enderby, and I thank you for that but it is an entirely different matter that I wanted to talk to you about.”
“I’m getting more and more intrigued, and you seem to be very serious,” he said.
“Oh, believe me, Mr Enderby, I am quite serious. I do not wish to interfere with how you employ your staff, but I was in contact with two Irish families on their way to you, and what truly concerns me is that your agent in Ireland appears to have misled them over the terms of their employment. I know that you would never condone taking advantage of poor, illiterate people who have already come upon hard times. I have, in my possession, the terms of their indenture and even I can see that they appear to have enslaved themselves and their families virtually for life, whereas the parents alone were told that they would have a seven-year indenture time and that is what they believed they made their mark for,” said Liza.
Liza could see that Charles Enderby was not happy with being caught out in sharp practice. “I really don’t get involved with the terms and conditions of indentured servants, Mrs Kelly.”
“I know you don’t, Mr Enderby and that is what worries me. These two families have yet to arrive in New York, but I can tell you that they are complaining very loudly about the fact that they made their mark for one set of conditions and find that they have bonded themselves to you for another. Anyway, Mr Enderby, this really has nothing to do with me, but it would be very unfair if you get the blame for something that your agent has perpetrated in your name. You know how people like to believe the worst in others and New York has a great many Irish bonded servants and word spreads even in such a large place as this.”
“If these families are illiterate, how do they know what their documents say?” he asked.
“They are no longer illiterate, Mr Enderby; it was a very long voyage,” said Liza.
“Well, Mrs Kelly, or may I call you Liza, are you suggesting that I draw up the correct terms and conditions for these two families and if I don’t then the New York society will consider that I am not a person to be trusted,” he said.
“Good Heavens, Mr Enderby; far be it from me to tell you what to do. All I have done is warn you that it would appear that you have an agent who misinterprets your instructions and something like that can have far reaching consequences,” said Liza.
“I’ll get the correct documents drawn up tomorrow. You’re very good at what you do, aren’t you, Liza?” said Charles Enderby.
“I’m sorry, Charles, I don’t know what you mean,” said Liza smiling very sweetly.
“I believe it is called blackmail; but carried out so very beautifully,” he said.
“I would never stoop to blackmail. All I want is for everyone to be happy. I have no problem w
ith anyone having bonded servants as long as those bonded servants know exactly what they are getting themselves into and as I said, it really has nothing to do with me.”
“I’ll let you see the documents when they are ready,” he said.
“That won’t be necessary; I’m sure you’re very trustworthy. How are they getting to your plantation? They are very late in getting here, but they should arrive in the next couple of days.”
“They were meant to be on a ship from here to the south days ago, with all my stores, but there won’t be another running that way for two weeks. So, the answer to your question is that I haven’t thought that far ahead. I suppose I will have to find somewhere for them all. Have you any suggestions?”
“Yes, I’ll sort them out, but it will cost you,” said Liza. “It will be good for them to have a short while on land; they have been at sea a very long and uncomfortable time.”
“Of course, I had forgotten that you were hurt when you were on board. I see you have the remnants of a bruise which I presume happened to you then,” said Charles Enderby.
“Yes, but I was not the only one hurt; one of the passengers had some broken bones and Mrs Cavanaugh a dislocated shoulder. I was knocked unconscious as was my husband, so I really didn’t know a great deal about what was happening on board, but apparently, it was quite frightening. We all survived though, thank God,” said Liza.
“Well, Liza, I have found our discussions very entertaining. I will send the new documents around to you for your approval as soon as they are ready and may I say that I am looking forward to your forthcoming function even more than I was prior to our meeting. I have always admired you and seen how you laugh in the face of adversity. I do hope that I will be lucky enough to stand up with you at your event next week and I will then be deemed most fortunate by all those around having the most beautiful woman in all New York in my arms,” said Charles Enderby.
“Thank you for the compliment, Charles, but as you must be aware when one is the hostess of such a function, it isn’t always possible to make such promises. I do, however, look forward to seeing you there and thank you so much for visiting today,” said Liza.
Against All Odds Page 7
