by Meghan Sloan
“Allen.” He sucked his thumb with a wince. “Did you get Miss Gibson back to her chaperone?”
“I did. The young lady was frantic on the main road trying to find her.” Allen frowned. “Did she slip away again?”
“Miss Gibson is very good at that. She is…” Gabriel tried to find the words, but couldn’t. “She’s something.”
A slight smile twitched at the older man’s mouth.
“I won’t argue with that, sir.”
At least he had a loyal manservant. Allen had been in Viscount Tattershall’s employ since before Gabriel was born as a boot boy. He had worked his way up and now he was Gabriel’s personal valet of three years. Gabriel valued the man more than he realised, especially after a few weeks living with just Allen at the cottage.
He was never lonely with his servant, who he was nowconsidering more of a friend than anything else. If he had to live out his days here with just Allen for company, Gabriel could handle that.
“I’m going to have to have a word with her parents about her behaviour.” Gabriel moved towards the table nearby, fishing his handkerchief out of his pocket. His thumb would not stop bleeding. “She can’t keep doing this, and I won’t be accused of leading her on any further.”
“They don’t want you on their premises, Mr. Gabriel.” Allen pointed out. “Mr. Gibson has threatened to castrate you if you went near his daughter.”
“What if his daughter comes near me? I won’t be seen as the bad one here. Not this time.” Gabriel frowned at him. “Anyway, what’s wrong with you? You were breathless and red-faced when you came back earlier.”
“I’ve just heard some news. It’s all over the village now. Probably all over Ipswich by the evening.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Thomas Montgomery.” Allen’s eyes were bright now. “He’s dead.”
Gabriel froze. Thomas Montgomery was dead? He could hardly believe it.
“What?”
“He was found dead in his bed this morning. Ice cold.”
Gabriel felt the ground tilt and he reached out for the chair, sagging onto it heavily. Thomas was gone. The owner of Montgomery Hall was a close friend. Even after Gabriel had been forced to stop going to the gambling hall due to lack of funds, Thomas still kept in touch. They spent a lot of time sitting in the cottage just talking and swapping stories.
He was a supporter of Gabriel, even though he had lost a frequent customer. He was a good man, and he had been suffering from some health problems lately. After the influenza epidemic two years before, Thomas Montgomery had been struggling a little with his breathing. His physician had warned him to take it easy.
But he was dead? Gabriel couldn’t get that to sink in. It felt like a void had opened up and he was flailing. His friend was gone, and Gabriel was feeling cold.
“Mr. Gabriel?”
Gabriel looked up. Allen had been watching him closely with a worried expression. Gabriel blinked and rubbed at his eyes. God, that news had hit him hard.
“Will you send a message to Mr. Gibson that I want to see him tomorrow after he’s finished work? You know the place I prefer.”
“Of course.”
Gabriel was going to get his things in order. Thomas had told him that he should have done that a long time ago. Maybe now he would take the old man’s advice.
#
Cassandra could feel the atmosphere building as she and Alice entered the house. She had been looking forward to getting home and telling her father all about the holiday she and her aunt hadspent on the Norfolk coast. It was just the tonic the two of them needed. After both women had fallen unwell with pneumonia, Ernest Seton had told them to head up to Hunstanton to recover and take time for themselves. Cassandra had complained about leaving when her father needed her at the gambling house, but Ernest had been insistent.
Now Cassandra was glad she had gone. It had been a little over two weeks of recovering in the lovely weather with the smell of the salty sea in their nostrils. Aunt Alice had certainly improved immensely. Cassandra felt like she could breathe properly for the first time in over a month.
A break was just what they had needed. Cassandra was ready to get back into helping out at Seton Hall. Her father could take care of things, but Cassandra didn’t want to be kept out of the loop. She loved helping out, putting her own touch on things. It had certainly made sure they were successful in their own right.
Cassandra loved going to Hunstanton, but she was glad to be back in Ipswich.
But the atmosphere was odd. The servants were somewhat subdued, barely smiling as Cassandra greeted them. Now Cassandra was scared. Was something wrong with her father? Had Ernest taken ill himself? His health hadn’t been the best lately, which had made Cassandra fuss over him. Was he unwell?
Leaving the servants to take her bags upstairs with Alice supervising, Cassandra hurried to her father’s study. Ernest Seton was there, sitting in his favourite chair by the fire, staring into the flames. He was alive, but he wasn’t his usual self. There was a tinge of sadness around him.
“Father?”
Ernest looked up. He blinked and straightened up when he saw her.
“Cassie. I didn’t realise you had returned.”
“We’ve just walked through the door.” Cassandra hurried to him, pressing a kiss to his iron-grey head before kneeling and taking his hand. “The servants were very quiet. What’s happened? You’re not getting worse, are you?”
“No, it’s not me.” Ernest rubbed his free hand over his face with a heavy sigh. “I’ve had some bad news today and I’m still coming to terms with it.”
“Bad news?” Cassandra nudged his knee. “Please, Father, talk to me. You’re scaring me.”
“Thomas Montgomery is dead.”
Cassandra gasped. Old Man Montgomery was dead? She had never expected that. He had been unwell, but the man had the strength of an ox. He couldn’t be dead.
“When?”
“Died in his sleep last night. The poor maid who was bringing his breakfast found him.”
Cassandra’s heart ached for the girl who had found the body. That wasn’t something anyone should have to find. She swallowed back the hard lump building in her throat.
“I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. He has been unwell for some time.”
“But he was barely sixty,” Ernest protested. He pulled his hand away from his daughter. “I know he wasn’t the best when it came to looking after himself, but he had plenty of life left in him. So many years. And now…”
He broke off, and Cassandra was sure that the sound that came out of his mouth was a sob.
“Father?”
It took a moment for Ernest to recover. He rubbed a hand over his face, his hand trembling.
“Forgive me, Cassie. I was going all morbid. Just losing a friend…”
“It’s fine, Father.” Cassandra reached for his hand again. “You know you can always talk to me.”
Especially now Ernest didn’t have Thomas to talk to. Even though they were rivals and had gambling halls that were in competition, they were friends. Thomas always took the time to come over once a week to play cards with Ernest and have dinner. He made Cassandra laugh.
It was a strange relationship they had with someone who had initially tried to put them out of business when Cassandra was a little girl, but Thomas had shown himself to be a good businessman who looked after everyone, even those who were supposed to be rivals. It was hard not to like him or his son Norman.
Norman. Cassandra wondered how he was coping with all this. He loved his father, but he spent almost all his time in Great Yarmouth. Had he heard about this yet?
“I suppose Thomas’ death is making me think of my own mortality,” Ernest went on. “People around me are dropping like flies. Your mother dies, then my parents, and now Thomas. I’m just beginning to think what will happen to me if I end up succumbing.”
“Don’t talk like that,” Cassandra pleaded. “You’re not go
ing anywhere.”
She was still suffering from losing her mother and her grandparents in the space of two months. They had all suffered in the influenza outbreak. It had made Cassandra feel lost. Very lost. It was only recently that Cassandra had managed to find a better footing.
“How do we know that?” Ernest shot back. “Death doesn’t discriminate, Cassie. And I know I’ll be nearer the top of the list.”
That just made Cassandra feel cold. She huffed and rose to her feet.
“Would you stop it? You’ve got so much more life left in you. You’ll be here when you’re nearly a hundred, I know it.”
“A hundred?” Ernest grunted. “You’re very optimistic.”
“I have to be. Who’s going to keep me in line if you’re not around?”
Ernest stared at her. Then he threw back his head and laughed, just as Cassandra wanted him to. She knew how much her father was suffering from losing a friend, but having him talk so openly about his numbered days wasn’t going to do either of them any good.
“When have I ever kept you in line?” Ernest rose to his feet, pressing a kiss to Cassandra’s forehead. “Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be able to manage. You’ll have Aunt Alice with you, and I know you’re strong enough to take care of things. Hopefully, by the time I pass you’ll be married and I won’t have to worry about you so much.”
That had Cassandra stiffened. Marriage again. Ernest had been mentioning it quite a bit lately. Not pushing her, just saying it in passing. Now was not the time.
“We’ve been over this before, Father.”
“I know, but we also need to think practically, Cassie. You’re three-and-twenty now. Marriage needs to be thought about. Otherwise you’re going to be considered too old and life will pass you by.” Ernest sighed. “You won’t be able to live your life as you should.”
He had said these things before, but now they were sad. Thomas’ passing had affected Ernest more than Cassandra realised. She sighed and stepped away. She didn’t have it in her heart to be angry at him.
“I’m living my life absolutely fine. Things are as I want them to be, Father. I don’t need a husband telling me what to do, making me stay at home having children and keeping the house clean.”
Ernest chuckled.
“I can’t see you allowing any man to tell you what to do, or keeping house. But it’s not all about having children. It’s having someone to look after you.” He reached out and chucked her chin. “I won’t be around forever.”
“You will be.” Cassandra took his hand and squeezed it. “You’re not going anywhere, and you don’t have to worry about anything. The house, the gambling hall, me - I’ll look after it all. Things will be as you want them to be.”
And she meant it. Cassandra would take over if anything happened to her father, and she would work hard to make sure it was the same as Ernest wished. Even better than that. Ernest had worked hard ever since he was a small boy, and Seton Hall was like a child he had grown and nurtured. Cassandra knew she could make Ernest proud.
Ernest sighed and hugged her gently. The sound of his sigh still came across as sad.
“I know, darling. Now, you’d better head off. I’ve got to head over to Seton Hall and check in on things. I know you and Alice are due a meal. It’s a long journey from Hunstanton.”
“I can skip dinner and come with you.”
Ernest smiled.
“No, you can’t. I know what you’re like when you skip meals.”
“You’re the same, Father.”
“But I’ve already eaten. You haven’t. Now, off you go.”
Cassandra knew she wouldn’t be able to win. And Ernest was right; she was hungry. Her stomach was growling, and she needed to get some food inside her. Sighing, she nodded.
“All right. But I’ll come by later. Make sure things are fine.”
Ernest sighed.
“You just won’t give in, will you?”
“You told me never to give in, remember? I’m just doing what you raised me to do.”
Chapter 2
Gabriel didn’t often venture into Ipswich now. It hadn’t been too far when they had a carriage, but Gabriel’s ability to get a carriage was limited now. It involved a lot of conversation with the owner of the stagecoach in the village.
He often went into Ipswich, and he would take people in on his regular runs. But Gabriel knew he wouldn’t be going into town at the time he needed, so he had to ask for a special dispensation.
Thankfully, he was seen as a valued customer, and the owner had allowed his son to take Gabriel down with a horse and cart. It was only half an hour, so the bumpy roads and the rickety cart weren’t that bad. Gabriel could manage it - he had to, although he would prefer to go in his own carriage.
However, that option was not open to him, and Gabriel had used the stagecoach a lotbefore his parents banned him from using their carriages. This was three months before he had been disowned and cut off. Gabriel had learned to improvise.
And he would have to improvise now. He didn’t want to be accused of leading Jessica on again. If he rejected her too much, Jessica would go to her parents and lie about what was going on before Gabriel could get a word in. With his reputation already ruined, he was going to need to get things straight first.
That meant approaching the one man who had threatened to make sure he couldn’t carry on the family line even if he was accepted back. Gabriel was intimidated by Jethro Gibson, but it had to be done. He had a firm hand over his daughter, which Jessica kept ignoring. Maybe he needed to bring the hand down a little harder.
Montgomery’s Hall was right next to Gabriel’s favourite public house. Gabriel often went in there before and after a session at gambling. The landlord, Barrington, was a good man, and his daughter Emily was bright and sweet. Gabriel always got a smile out of her, and he liked to make her smile in return. But she was out of bounds, Gabriel knew that. If he tried any further than simple banter with Emily Barrington, her father would come down on him so hard Gabriel wouldn’t be able to see straight for weeks.
Barrington was there behind the bar when Gabriel arrived. He raised his eyebrows at Gabriel’s entry, but then gave him a short nod. Gabriel nodded back and then went over to his usual table by the window. He checked his watch. Mr. Gibson would be here in ten minutes. The man was known to be very punctual, so Gabriel knew he wouldn’t have to wait long.
He settled down, looking around him. The public house was just picking up on its customers, most of who would be going into the gambling hall next door to spend their wages in one evening. A lot of them did well with their winnings, but most of them lost almost all of it, waving away Montgomery’s concerns that they were going to put themselves into debt they couldn’t get out of.
For someone who had been in charge of people playing with their money, he did try to look out for people.
Gabriel had been one of those people. And he had been one of those who thought he didn’t need someone to watch over him. He didn’t have a problem.
Then all his money was gone. And Gabriel wanted to get it back, and that resulted in losing more money. He had gone into a downward spiral and he had been too arrogant to realise that he was digging a hole that he couldn’t get out of on his own.
Now he was paying the price.
“Here you go, Mr. Tattershall.”
