The Potter's Lady

by Judith Miller

  “Would you relate to me exactly what happened regarding your entry in this contest, from the time your design supposedly went missing in your home until now?” He turned a hard stare upon Beatrice and his son. “No interruptions. Let her tell me without either of you interjecting so much as one word. Am I clear?”

  They both nodded their heads, and Mr. Harkness motioned for her to begin. Without prolonging the story, Rose quietly detailed the events as they had unfolded. “This evening Beatrice admitted to me that she had taken the drawing to Joshua so that he could copy it. The similarities are too great for the design to have been submitted by two separate entrants, Mr. Harkness, and that design is not your son’s work. It is mine. The judges have reached the same conclusion. There was far too much evidence for Joshua to prevail.”

  “And did you know of his marriage plans with Miss Murphy? She tells me the two of them intend to wed.” He sputtered and shook his head. “Not that we would ever give our blessing to such a marriage.”

  “I didn’t know of any marriage plans between them, and I don’t believe that has any bearing on this matter, except that I believe Joshua had convinced Beatrice to furnish him with contract bidding information from my brother’s desk in our home. That information caused us to lose all but a few small contracts while Harkness Pottery won the bids. I believe he also convinced her to steal the design so that he could win the contest. With the Franklin Hotels contract in hand, he would finally be able to prove to you he was worthy of a position in your Pittsburgh office. Whether he convinced her to help by offering marriage, money, or both, I can’t say. Your son would be the one who should answer that question.”

  Joshua glowered at Beatrice. “Why’d you tell about the bids? There was no need to tell her everything. They would never have found out about the bids, you fool.”

  Beatrice winced and drew back as though she’d been slapped. “I told her ’cause I knew you’d be lookin’ out for yourself instead of me. And I was right, wasn’t I? You denied we had plans to marry, and ya would have let me take all the blame for everything whilst you went on with yar fancy life. Well, I ain’t gonna sit back and let everyone think y’er such a fine fellow, when all of this was your idea. I had nothing to gain by any of it, now, did I?”

  Deep crimson climbed up Joshua’s neck and spread across his cheeks. “And did you also tell Rose about how you’ve been scheming with Margaret Crothers and carrying tales to her, as well?” His eyes flashed with satisfaction as he revealed her secret.

  Beatrice squeezed her hands into tight fists. “I’ll thank ya to keep your trap shut. You don’t know nothin’ about me and Margaret Crothers.” She whipped around toward Rose. “He’s lying to try to turn the attention off himself and onto me. ’Tis an old trick, but it will na work, Joshua. This is about you and how you wanted to become a big shot in your da’s company.”

  Mr. Harkness massaged his forehead. Pain shone in his eyes as he looked at his son. “How did you ever come to believe that underhanded dealings are the path to success?”

  Joshua snorted. “You’re asking me that? Look at yourself, Father. You and all your successful businessmen friends do whatever it takes to get ahead, and don’t tell me you don’t. I’ve overheard too many of those late-night meetings where you schemed and finagled with your cronies.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I’ve done my share of late-night deals to get ahead of my competitors, but I’ve never gone to this length, Joshua. While I might not share information that could help a competitor, I would never steal a bid or a design to get ahead.”

  Rylan shifted on the velvet-upholstered rosewood settee and shook his head. “A man canna blame his father for his own misdeeds.” Rylan set his eyes upon Joshua. “You know right from wrong, and it was you who made the choice to gain copies of our bids and our design, not your father. You must answer, not him.” He gave a slight shrug. “Of course, I have a feeling your actions will reflect poorly on all of your father’s businesses once word gets out, so he will suffer, too.”

  Joshua flinched at the candid assessment, while Rose continued to maintain a close watch on Beatrice. The girl appeared ready to take flight at the earliest opportunity. Rose doubted Beatrice had the gumption to take off on her own in a large city where she knew no one. Still, the girl was nervous as a feral cat in a cage. If Joshua had spoken the truth, why would Beatrice pay visits to Aunt Margaret? Was there some connection between them other than the fact that Beatrice was a distant relative of Uncle Hugh? Granted, he’d paid for their family’s passage, but surely that debt had been paid off by now. She’d never seen Beatrice or any of her family members at Crothers Mansion, and she’d never heard Beatrice mention Margaret’s name. Never.

  “What’s going to happen about all of this?” Joshua’s question pulled Rose from her thoughts of Beatrice. Although Rose looked up, Joshua avoided her gaze. “Is anything I’ve done going to be considered criminal? Should I expect a visit from the police?” He wrung his hands together. “I think we could make amends in some other way, couldn’t we, Father? What if our pottery turns over all contracts we’ve received where I used Mr. McKay’s figures to make my bid? That would be fair, wouldn’t it?”

  Clearly struggling to absorb all that had happened, Mr. Harkness stroked the side of his face. “I suppose that would be a decision for Ewan, as well as for the companies you’ve contracted with. Even if we close down our pottery, they wouldn’t be obligated to switch to McKay Pottery. I think they would simply put out a new request for bids. And then there’s the problem of any contracts that have been completed. The compensation for those would need to be repaid.”

  “That would be easily computed from the ledgers. Most are still open contracts. We haven’t fulfilled but a few of them.” Joshua brightened at the idea. “You could easily afford to pay off those sums, and this would be settled. As for the contest, there’s been no harm done. I’ve withdrawn my entry, so if their design wins, they’ll receive the Franklin Hotels contract.”

  His father didn’t appear as excited with the plan. “This isn’t something that can simply be settled by my paying your way out of the situation, Joshua. Indeed, I will do everything in my power to help Ewan McKay recoup the losses caused by your behavior, but this time you will be held accountable to me. It will be a very long time before you have worked off the debt and won back my trust.” He gestured to Joshua. “I think we’ve gone over everything we can for this evening. Tomorrow I’ll arrange a meeting with Ewan.”

  When Joshua turned to leave, Beatrice grabbed his arm. “Don’t you be tearing outta here like you never made no promises to me. If you ain’t gonna keep your word and marry me, then your da can count on paying me a tidy sum, as well.” She pointed her finger at him. “And don’t be saying we never spoke about a weddin’.”

  “You talked about marriage. I never said there would be a wedding. Maybe you took my silence for agreement, but you’d get going and talk so much, I just ignored whatever you said. Fact is, your jabbering could talk the bark off a tree.”

  “Is that so? I may talk a lot, but my memory is quite good.” Beatrice tapped her finger to the side of her head. “Do you recall all that talk about buying me an engagement ring once this contest was over? You said I should learn to be patient. Well, I’ve been patient, but now you’re trying to escape with your lies.”

  “Instead of worrying about a ring, you should be thinking about how you’re going to explain those visits to Margaret. I’m sure Rose will have a lot of questions for you.”

  Mr. Harkness pushed to his feet. “Enough! I don’t think the matter of a wedding needs any further discussion. We will not be paying you any money, Miss Murphy, and my son will not be marrying anyone in the near future. He’ll be too busy paying off his debt to me.” He turned to Joshua. “And you need to keep your mouth shut regarding Miss Murphy’s problems with the McKays. I don’t think they need any further interference from you.”

  Beatrice curled her lips in an angry snarl. �
��For sure and that’s the truth.”

  Mr. Harkness gestured for silence and then turned to Rose. “Please tell your brother to leave word at the front desk when he will be available tomorrow. I realize you’ll be busy with the contest most of the day.”

  The streetlamps outside the hotel glimmered through the windows and reflected off several gilded mirrors aligned on the far wall. “I believe tomorrow morning would be best.” Rose closed her eyes, trying to recall the exact schedule of events. “The first gathering scheduled for the contestants is the luncheon and awards ceremony. Then there’s a dinner and dance for all of those attending the ceremonies tomorrow evening.” She hesitated a moment. “I’ll be certain to convey your request to Ewan.”

  Rose, Rylan, and Beatrice remained in the parlor as Joshua and his father departed. Though Beatrice had earlier given the appearance she might flee, she now seemed docile. “I s’pose I should get upstairs and see to Tessa. I’m guessin’ her da would like to get some rest.”

  Rose led the way upstairs, still pondering tonight’s revelation of the nanny’s visits with Margaret. “I think Ewan will want to address several matters with you before he retires for the night.”

  Beatrice shrugged. “Aye, I’m sure all of ya will have a bucketful of questions.”

  While Rose and Rylan sat quietly, Ewan questioned Beatrice at length regarding her many transgressions. When Rylan had gone to fetch Ewan prior to their second meeting with the judges, he’d detailed some of the unfolding events. But Beatrice’s offenses went far beyond the hurried particulars Rylan had specified as he and Ewan had traversed the hallway earlier in the evening.

  At length, Ewan leaned into the tufted crimson upholstery of the uncomfortable carved armchair and stared across the short expanse, where Beatrice sat in an identical chair now wringing her hands. Sadness filled his eyes. “I cannot put into words the sorrow you’ve caused me or the difficulties you’ve placed at your own doorstep, Beatrice.”

  Though guilt nagged her, Rose was thankful it was Ewan’s task to decide what punishment would be meted out to the nanny. She was certain making such a difficult judgment wouldn’t be easy for her brother, but Ewan had far more experience dispensing advice and rendering decisions.

  Beatrice shifted in the chair, her discomfort evident. “I’ve had me share of problems, and I’m seekin’ a wee bit of compassion. I need me job here, but if ya decide to send me packin’, I’m thinkin’ you’d at least give me a good reference letter so’s I can find me another job. I am your kin, after all.”

  Disbelief flashed across Ewan’s face. “The fact that we are distant relatives doesn’t hold any more meaning to me than it did to you when you were striking deals with Joshua Harkness and Margaret Crothers. It seems to me there’s only one thing that holds your loyalty, and that’s the person willing to pay you the most money. I fear you’ve made wealth more important than anything else in your life, but I hope you’ll hear me when I say that money is not what you need.”

  Beatrice curled her lip. “Is that a fact? Easy enough for you to say when you’ve got everything you need. But for the likes of me, it ain’t the same.”

  “You may have forgotten, but for a great deal of my life I struggled for food and shelter, too. We pay you a fair wage, furnish you with a room in our home and food for your stomach, yet that isn’t enough. Rather than helping to plot our ruin, I expected you to treat us with the same kindness we extended to you.”

  “Aye, I suppose ya did, but I learned a long time ago that a lass needs to look out for herself, else she gets left behind with nothing.”

  Ewan arched his brows. “And what are you left with right now, Beatrice? Do you think Margaret is going to take you in and provide for you? Now that you can’t pass along gossip about my family, will she have any desire to help you?” He shook his head. “I do forgive you for all you’ve done, but I believe you’ll suffer the consequences of your behavior for years to come.”

  Beatrice jutted her chin. “You say you’re a Christian, but you’re unwilling to show me even a wee bit of compassion. Is that the way of it, then? You’re going to toss me to the wind?”

  Rose marveled at her brother’s patience. After having listened to Beatrice tell how she’d delivered every jot of news from their household to Margaret’s doorstep, she’d expected Ewan to lash out at Beatrice. Instead, he’d remained calm, even when Beatrice detailed Margaret’s desire to cause problems with Laura and Ewan’s custody of Tessa.

  Ewan raked his fingers through his hair, his exasperation obvious. “I am a Christian. That’s why I’ve forgiven you. But that does not mean that you can return to my home as though nothing has happened. My forgiveness does not mean that my trust has been restored or that I would ever again employ you. As for a letter of recommendation, I could not in good conscience write one for you. Such a letter would be unfair to anyone who would hire you based upon my recommendation. Instead, I suggest you return home and begin to seek work in and around Bartlett, where your family is known. I will, of course, pay for your train fare.”

  “If that’s the way you want it, that’s fine with me. I’ll be wanting me train fare from Pittsburgh to Bartlett right now. I know you wouldn’t want someone as untrustworthy as me looking after Tessa any longer.” Her lips twisted in a cruel smile as she glanced at Rose. “You best be figuring out how you’re gonna attend those fancy parties with no one to watch after Tessa. Seems someone besides me is gonna miss all the fun.”

  “Tessa’s care will present no problem to us, Beatrice,” Ewan said. “I do hope you will reflect upon all that has happened. I’ll be praying for you.”

  She pushed up from the chair and extended her hand. “I don’t need your prayers, but I’ll take the money for me train fare and be on my way.”

  Rose met her brother’s steady gaze. “I’ll go up with her.”

  Beatrice chortled. “Aye. You best make sure I don’t make off with some of your belongings.”

  As Rose followed Beatrice up the stairs, she recalled having invited the nanny to her graduation party, loaning her a gown, and introducing her to Joshua Harkness. Even then, Beatrice had been ungrateful. Still, Rose would not be sorry for extending kindness. She would not permit this mayhem to harden her heart.

  She watched the young woman toss her things into a valise and spotted the fancy forest-green dress she’d returned home wearing only a few weeks ago. Like Joshua, Beatrice had an empty place in her life, and she’d been trying to fill it with all sorts of things. Would she ever realize only God could meet her needs?

  Despite all the chaos of the evening, Rose smiled. God had met their needs tonight in a most amazing way. With contracts returned, they would soon be in the black, and they didn’t need to win the contest to save the pottery.

  Chapter 30

  September 28, 1872

  Rose dressed with particular care for the awards luncheon. She was saving her pale blue silk for the dinner and dance this evening, but for the luncheon something more sedate yet exceptional was needed. At least that’s what Mrs. Woodfield had advised as she’d selected the tan and blue brocade polonaise with narrow ruffled trim from Rose’s wardrobe. Though Rose had worried it might be a bit elaborate, Laura and her mother had disagreed and declared it perfect for the luncheon.

  “You look lovely, Rose. That dress was the correct choice. Neither overstated nor understated—win or lose, it is a flawless selection for the ceremony.” She lifted her index finger and motioned for Rose to turn. “I have a strong feeling you and Rylan are going to win today.” She glanced in the mirror and patted her hair. “Back when you and I encouraged Ewan to purchase the pottery, you promised me you could make it successful. I believe your promise is going to be fulfilled today.”

  Rose forced a smile, but the knot in her stomach swelled to the size of a fist. “I hope so, but if we don’t win, I still believe the pottery will be a success. Now that we know we lost some of our biggest contracts because Joshua had access to our bids, I don’
t think we’ll have to worry should we lose today.”

  Mrs. Woodfield pursed her lips and tsked. “Of course we would have to worry, my dear. We need an immediate large contract. We can’t wait until company contracts expire and they call for new bids. That would take far too long.”

  Rose rested her hand across her tightening midsection. She was glad she hadn’t known this last night. She and Rylan had submitted their entry with pride and confidence, but hearing Grandmother Woodfield verbalize her expectations today caused Rose’s assurance to melt like ice on a summer day. Fear continued to follow her out of the room and into the downstairs lobby, where contestants, pottery owners, and a multitude of guests mingled, many of them stepping as close as possible to the corded-off table displaying the urns and plates of the final contenders. Others eagerly waited near the entrance to the large ballroom, where the luncheon was to be hosted.

  Mrs. Woodfield spotted Ewan waving at them. Holding fast to Rose’s hand, the older woman navigated the crowd like a fearless captain piloting a ship through rough waters. “Why are you waiting back here? With this crowd, we’ll be fortunate to find enough seats for all of us at one table.” Without taking a breath, she set her gaze upon Adaira. “Where’s Ainslee?”

  Adaira pointed toward the ceiling. “Upstairs with Tessa. Beatrice has already departed.”

  “Even if she were still here, I wouldn’t have left Tessa in her care,” Ewan said. “As for the seating, you need not worry. I understand there are designated tables for the contestants and their guests.”

  “I do hope they’re near the front so we’ll be able to see everything.” Mrs. Woodfield gestured toward the ballroom. “Come along. It appears they’ve opened the doors. I can hardly contain my excitement.”