A Lady of Secret Devotion

by Tracie Peterson

  Chapter 10

  Well, well. This looks to be a cozy family luncheon,” Sebastian said, eyeing Cassie and his mother. He hobbled into the dining room, with Robbie following behind. “A quiet Sunday dinner it would seem. Am I to be excluded?”

  “I didn’t expect you to join us, but I can have Essie set two more places,” Mrs. Jameston replied with a frown. “Are you certain you are well enough to be out of bed?”

  “I am greatly improved,” Sebastian said as he took his place at the table. “And I needed a change of scenery.” He gave Cassie a seductive wink. “I find this scenery is greatly improved over that in my bedroom.”

  Essie entered the room carrying a tureen of soup. She nearly dropped the fine china piece at the sight of Sebastian. Cassie quickly took the soup from her and placed it on the table.

  “Essie, we need two additional place settings,” Mrs. Jameston instructed.

  Cassie watched as Essie lowered her gaze. “Yes, ma’am.” She hurried from the room.

  “Such a little mouse,” Sebastian commented. “She always has been rather skittish.”

  Robbie took his seat beside Sebastian and laughed. “You seem to have that effect on a lot of women.”

  Sebastian laughed. “Miss Stover, do you feel that way? Do I make you skittish as well?”

  “I have no feelings toward you, skittish or otherwise.” Cassie picked up her linen napkin and placed it on her lap. “Mrs. Jameston, would you like me to offer grace?”

  Just then Essie returned and hurriedly put down two place settings of china and silver. She pulled linen napkins from her apron pocket and offered them to each of the men.

  “Essie, you naughty thing, you haven’t yet come to visit me,” Sebastian said, taking hold of her hand as she extended the napkin.

  Cassie couldn’t help but notice the frightened way Essie looked back and forth from Sebastian to his mother.

  “Sebastian, unhand her. You know better than to act in such a way,” his mother admonished. “Essie has no purpose or reason to visit you. Now leave her alone.”

  “We were once very close,” he told Robbie as he finally dropped Essie’s hand. “Very close.”

  “Not by choice,” Mrs. Jameston interjected. “Now, Cassie, please offer our prayer of thanks.”

  Cassie muttered a quick prayer, but her mind was hardly on the words. She couldn’t help but remember the way Mr. Jameston had handled her when she’d gone to help him. She could still remember the feel of his hands on her body, and it repulsed her greatly.

  She concluded the prayer and looked up to see Sebastian watching her closely. His scrutiny made her feel uncomfortable, but Cassie did her best to disguise it as she removed the lid from the soup tureen.

  “Silas has made us an oyster soup,” Cassie announced.

  “I asked him to,” Mrs. Jameston said. “We’re soon to be into the summer months. April is the last good month for oysters until September.”

  Essie bustled back and forth to the table several times to bring additional dishes of food. She was careful to steer clear of Sebastian, which made an awkward placing of all of the food on one side of the table.

  Mrs. Jameston didn’t admonish her for this, however. She merely dismissed the girl and proceeded to serve herself.

  “I am glad to see you on the road to recovery, Sebastian,” Mrs. Jameston began. She passed a plate of bread to her son and added, “Perhaps it would be a good time to consider moving elsewhere. Say, to a hotel.”

  Sebastian frowned. “Why would you suggest that? This is my home, isn’t it?”

  Mrs. Jameston focused on a platter of roasted lamb. “To be quite honest, it isn’t. You made that choice some time ago. You only return here when you are in need. Otherwise, I scarcely even know if you’re alive or dead.”

  “What a horrible thing to say to your only living child.” Sebastian appeared greatly offended, but Cassie could see the underlying hatred in his eyes. “Would your mother ever treat you so poorly, Robbie?”

  Robbie looked first at Sebastian and then at the bowl of candied sweet potatoes being offered him by Cassie. He took the food and smiled. “She might, if I were remiss in visiting or attending to her needs.”

  “But Mother has no needs. She has hired a complete stranger to share her company and has more than enough money to buy anything else she needs,” Sebastian countered.

  “She has no need of my company. At least that’s what her comment would suggest.”

  “I had great need for your company, at one time. You chose to turn away from me,” his mother replied.

  “You were the one to turn away first, Mother. After my brother died, you scarcely acknowledged having another son in the house. My nanny took more interest.”

  “But it wasn’t always that way,” Mrs. Jameston said in her own defense. “I’ve never been able to understand why you can’t find it in your heart to forgive me my mistakes. I’ve lived these long years with the consequences, grieving the loss of our relationship.”

  “Just as I grieved the loss when a small boy.”

  Cassie felt sorry for the man. For a moment he almost seemed vulnerable, and then she saw him harden again as he watched his mother’s reaction. Was it all just a game?

  “Can you not forgive your father and me?”

  Sebastian’s eyes glinted as they narrowed. “And that would make it all better? Would that ease your conscience, Mother?”

  “Why must you always act with such hostility?” she asked. “I acknowledge that you were wronged, and whether you believe me or not, I am deeply sorry. I regret my actions of long ago.”

  “You should regret your actions now. You treat me like a stranger. You don’t even want me here.”

  “I don’t wish to endure the trouble you cause whenever you are in residence,” Mrs. Jameston said. Her own bright blue eyes narrowed. “You are not respectful of others, and I will not have my household turned topsy-turvy for the sake of your entertainment. Not only that, but you refuse to adhere to my rules. Mrs. Dixon found several bottles of alcohol in your room. You know my feelings on such things.”

  “I’m a grown man who happens to be in a great deal of pain. The liquor was for that purpose. Would you begrudge me relief from my misery?”

  “I offered to get you a doctor, but you wouldn’t hear of it. Why should I feel bad about such a matter when you refuse to take the help offered? If you are in pain, it is of your own doing, not mine.”

  “Such a kind comment from a loving mother, to be sure.”

  Noting that Sebastian’s anger was mounting, Cassie thought perhaps it would behoove her to intercede and change the subject. “I want to thank you again for a lovely birthday party, Mrs. Jameston. I know my mother and sister were delighted.”

  Mrs. Jameston looked away from Sebastian and met Cassie’s eyes. “It was my pleasure. I am sure Mr. Langford enjoyed himself as well.”

  Cassie looked down at her plate. “I certainly hope so.”

  “I would have enjoyed a party,” Sebastian said rather accusingly. “Why was I not invited?”

  His mother helped herself to a portion of sautéed greens before addressing the question. “You stood to benefit more by resting.”

  The answer didn’t set well with Sebastian, but to Cassie’s surprise he turned his attention to the food. They ate in silence for what seemed an eternity. Robbie never even bothered to raise his focus from the plate, while Cassie hardly tasted her food. Mr. Jameston’s anger seemed to hang thick in the air and made her uncomfortable even though she was sitting across from him—out of his reach.

  Cassie felt confused by all that had just taken place. For a moment she had actually felt some sympathy for Sebastian, but there was something about his reaction that seemed less than sincere. Even now watching him, she could see the anger in his expression, but not the pain she might have expected. To Cassie’s way of thinking, he didn’t appear nearly as wounded by his neglect as he let on. Essie came into the room, casting a hesitant glance
in Sebastian’s direction. She checked the platters and asked Mrs. Jameston if they would need more bread.

  “No, Essie. Why don’t you take yourself upstairs for a rest?

  We can see to this.”

  The young woman looked noticeably relieved and nearly ran from the room without another word. Sebastian sat back and wiped his mouth almost ceremonially.

  “You treat the servants better than you treat your own son. Something seems very wrong with that.”

  “Sebastian, if you wish to discuss this matter further, I will see you in private. There is no need to ruin everyone else’s dinner.” She raised a brow as if in question as to what he preferred. When Sebastian didn’t reply, Mrs. Jameston dabbed her lips with her napkin. “Perhaps it would be to our mutual benefit to leave off with this subject altogether.”

  “I do not wish to leave off with it,” Sebastian said, throwing down his napkin. “You treat me abominably. Robbie knows it, and now Miss Stover knows it as well.”

  “I do not wish to further your embarrassment by continuing this conversation.” Mrs. Jameston picked up her teacup and appeared to dismiss her son.

  Sebastian hit the table with his fist. “I am hardly embarrassed by your lack of motherly love and concern. That is your embarrassment, madam.”

  Cassie watched as the older woman continued to sip her tea. Robbie put his hand on Sebastian’s arm and whispered something.

  “I don’t mean to calm down. I’ve been rejected in my own home.” He got to his feet.

  Cassie watched him as he struck an indignant pose. It was almost as if he were an actor playing a part. Something about the entire situation rang false.

  “You put yourself from this house,” his mother said, setting her cup down. “You refuse to accept my apology or my love. You refuse to forgive a past that I clearly admit having handled poorly. You molested my servants and brought shame upon yourself.”

  “Your serving girls threw themselves at me, then cried foul when I took them up on their wanton behavior. Essie parades around here like a wounded soul, but believe me, she was willing enough when I took her to—”

  “Enough! I will not have such talk at my table!”

  Sebastian laughed. “Of course not. We wouldn’t want your dear companion to see the distasteful side of life in the Jameston palace.” He stormed from the room, and Robbie followed silently.

  Mrs. Jameston drew a deep breath and looked to Cassie. “I apologize. That should never have taken place. I will go to him and see if I cannot bring about a truce at least.” She rose from the table and smiled. “Please feel free to continue your meal.”

  Cassie immediately got to her feet. “Let me assist you.”

  “No, please do not leave on my account.”

  Cassie took hold of her arm and walked with her into the foyer. “You’re trembling. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, my dear. Please enjoy your meal in peace.”

  Cassie hesitated but let Mrs. Jameston go her own way. A part of her longed to go with the older woman and give Sebastian further comeuppance for his behavior, but an equally strong part wished to have nothing more to do with the man.

  “How can he be so cruel?” she muttered as she crossed the foyer to find solace in the front sitting room. It’s obvious he was only saying those things to upset his mother. I could see in his eyes that he was playing us all for fools. Of course there was no way to prove that, and Mrs. Jameston was clearly overwhelmed by the guilt she felt for the past.

  Brumley opened the front door as she passed, and Cassie was surprised to find Mark Langford standing on the other side. She knew her expression must surely have suggested her emotional state, for Mark’s face immediately tensed.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, stepping into the house.

  “No. Not in the least,” she admitted.

  “Would you care to walk with me?”

  Cassie drew a deep breath and nodded. “I’d like that very much.”

  Brumley turned. “I will tell Mrs. Jameston that you’ve gone out. Should she need anything, I will attend to the matter.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Brumley.” Cassie didn’t even bother to retrieve her bonnet and gloves. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  She walked in silence beside Mark until they had gone nearly half a block. She barely noticed the scenery around her as she struggled to figure out how to tell Mark all that had happened.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked softly.

  “Mrs. Jameston’s son.”

  Mark stopped her and turned her to face him. “Has he acted inappropriately again?”

  “He’s a dreadful man,” Cassie blurted out. “He treats Mrs. Jameston with great disrespect. He is a cad of the worst kind, and I fear he means her harm. I wish there were some way to put him out of the house and away from her.”

  Mark seemed to struggle for a moment with the news. “There is something I should tell you, Cassie. Something that you cannot speak of to anyone.”

  “Not even Mrs. Jameston?”

  He shook his head. “Especially not Mrs. Jameston.”

  “I don’t want to live with secrets. Mrs. Jameston has been good to me, and I am completely devoted to her.”

  “I promise you, this is not the kind of thing she would desire to know—at least not at this juncture.”

  Cassie considered him for a moment. His eyes seemed to plead with her for understanding. “I don’t pretend to know what this is about, but very well. I will not speak of it with Mrs. Jameston unless the time comes when I feel it is in her best interest.”

  Mark offered a nod. “Fair enough. The truth of the matter is, I need your help. I know that God put us together for just such a reason.”

  “I would like to be helpful to you.” Disappointment edged her tone. She would much rather have heard him declare his affection for her instead of his need of her assistance. “To what does this pertain?”

  “Sebastian Jameston.”

  She shook her head and frowned. “I have no interest in anything that deals with that man.”

  “But that’s exactly why I need your help,” Mark declared, his tone sounding desperate. “I am here in Philadelphia to see Jameston put behind bars—hopefully for the rest of his life.”

  Chapter 11

  The first of May dawned warm and sunny. A slight breeze brought a strange blend of aromas—fish, water, and freshly baked bread—to the boardinghouse. Along the waterfront and up Market Street, Mark watched the bustle of daily activities as people went about their business.

  Mark, too, was about his duties. Earlier he’d received a telegram from Nelson and had ridden to the telegraph office to send his reply. Nelson feared for him, as Jameston had struck again. It wasn’t news to Mark, for Westmoreland had already delivered that information the night before. The fact that a man had been killed trying to protect the insured cargo was the worst of it. Now Nelson Stafford had written to say that he was concerned Mark might be next if he continued to investigate on his own. Nelson even suggested that perhaps Mark should just return to Boston.

  “Well, that’s not going to happen. Not until I accomplish what I came here for.”

  He retrieved Portland from where he’d been tied, all the while contemplating his message to Nelson.

  Have matt ers und er control Stop Wil remain here Stop

  It was short and simple, but Nelson would understand. They had to be very careful about the information conveyed in their messages. There was no telling who might turn out to be a friend of Jameston and share the information.

  Mark’s plan for the morning was to see Cassie and get her answer as to whether or not she would help him. He’d given her very little information regarding Sebastian. He wanted to make certain she would agree to work with him on the investigation before sharing too much. A part of him feared drawing her into the plan, but another part was delighted for the opportunity it would present to see Cassie in his company more often.

  Portland craned his neck toward h
is master as Mark drew the reins and started to mount. Mark pushed the gelding back. “No treats just yet, old boy. You have to earn your keep first.”

  The horse gave a bit of a prance but settled quickly as Mark climbed into the saddle. There was a great deal to consider. Mark wasn’t yet sure how he could utilize Cassie’s situation to his best advantage. Neither one of them wanted Cassie in Jameston’s company any more than she had to be. Still, if Sebastian Jameston was responsible for the men stealing the cargo and killing people, Mark needed to act quickly to see him brought to justice.

  “But she might not like my idea,” he mused. He’d been working on the plan ever since his second visit to the Jameston house. Cassie might be offended by his suggestion, and that would put them back at the starting point.

  One way or another, he had to convince her to play the game his way. He knew what men like Sebastian Jameston were like—what they could do without warning. Cassie had already gotten a taste of the man’s character; given that much, Mark hoped it would give him an edge in convincing the beautiful Miss Stover to see things his way.

  “So it went well?” Sebastian asked Robbie.

  “I believe it went perfectly. The cargo has been secured elsewhere in the city and the police are happy to look the other way, thanks to the contribution we made. The man we killed was a nobody. No family or friends to speak of; just a loner down on his luck.”

  Sebastian nodded and flexed his leg. “Good. Move the cargo as soon as it’s safe.” He really had no concern for or interest in the man they’d killed. He only wanted to send a message to anyone who might yet be investigating the missing cargo.

  Robbie plopped down in a chair opposite Sebastian. The well-worn pieces were placed in front of the fireplace, and Sebastian stared into the empty hearth as though there were flames to watch.

  “I’ve given a great deal of thought to the matter and am convinced it’s time to move on, as well as expand. There’s no reason we cannot set up additional companies along the coast to insure our cargoes through various organizations. Insurance is becoming more and more popular.”