Jen Turano - [Ladies of Distinction 02]

by A Most Peculiar Circumstance

  Arabella cast a glance out the window. “It’s still dark. There’s nothing to miss.”

  “It’ll be light soon, and I’ve always wanted to watch the sun come up out in the country.”

  It was such a small thing Violet wanted, and one Arabella had witnessed too many times to count as she’d traveled around the country. Her heart ached ever so slightly, and she closed her eyes for just a moment as thoughts whirled around her mind.

  She’d spent years fighting for the right to vote, fighting to improve the lives of women, but she’d never actually gotten to know many of those women. She’d certainly never bothered to see into any of their souls.

  Lord, I’m afraid I’m lost at the moment. I’ve been arrogant and judgmental. I’ve also been claiming to follow the path you set for me, but I think I’ve been mistaken. Forgive me for not truly listening and not understanding what you’ve planned for me. Please hold safe these women surrounding me, and show me how to help them, but only if that is your will.

  “Are you all right?”

  Her eyes flashed open, and she found Theodore awake and watching her. She smiled. “I’m fine. Just praying.”

  He returned her smile. “We certainly need all the help we can get.”

  She shifted carefully on the seat, trying to avoid hitting Violet again, and then winced when she stretched her arm over her head.

  “Stiff from the journey?” Theodore asked.

  She narrowed her eyes at him and lowered her arm. “If you must know, I’m sore from what happened before you allowed me into the carriage.” She shuddered. “Why you felt it was imperative for me to leave my house in a traveling trunk is still beyond me. You did see Zayne and Hamilton drop it, didn’t you?”

  Violet grinned. “They told me to tell you they were very sorry about that.”

  “Yes, I could tell they were dreadfully sorry, especially with all the laughter I heard through the one air hole someone considerately remembered to provide.” She rolled her eyes. “I think gentlemen in general are deranged.”

  Theodore laughed. “I didn’t stuff you into that trunk because I’m deranged. I did it for your safety. There’s a chance you’re being followed, and the last thing we needed was for anyone to get a glimpse of you departing with me. If someone was watching your house, all they saw was me leaving with Violet and her friends.”

  “It was a stroke of genius to have Eliza change into Arabella’s costume, Mr. Wilder,” Lottie said as she pushed herself off Theodore’s shoulder, her eyes remarkably bright for someone who’d just been sleeping. “If anyone was watching us leave, they’d have to believe Arabella was still back at her house. Eliza was very convincing when she screeched at you as we made our departure. It’s too bad she was born into the aristocracy. She would have made a wonderful actress.”

  “Yes, she does seem to have missed her calling,” Arabella muttered. “But, just to clarify, I don’t normally shriek like a fishmonger from the steps of my house, especially in the middle of the night.”

  Theodore and Lottie exchanged amused glances.

  Violet leaned forward. “At least you were not made to stay in the trunk for the entire journey.”

  Arabella shuddered. “You have no idea how disconcerting it is to know you’re tied by flimsy ropes to the top of a swaying carriage. I feared for my life.”

  “It seems Eliza is not the only one who missed her calling,” Theodore said with a grin.

  “Have you ever been stuffed into a trunk and made to ride on top of a carriage?”

  “I’ve never been stuffed into a trunk, but there was the time I was put into a coffin in order to escape a gang of smugglers.”

  “You were involved with smugglers?” Violet breathed.

  Arabella released a huff. “He’s just teasing.”

  “Am I?”

  Arabella bit her lip as she considered him across the small space. He was gazing innocently back at her, but there was something about his expression, something that made her realize right then and there that Theodore had, indeed, escaped from a gang of smugglers.

  Honestly, who came into contact with smugglers on a regular basis?

  It made him even more . . . intriguing.

  Heat flooded her face, and she was suddenly thankful dawn had not arrived just yet and that their only light came from a small lantern attached to the carriage door. She cleared her throat and struggled for something to say to distract herself from her disturbing thoughts. “I’ve been wondering why we had to leave New York so abruptly.”

  Theodore crossed his arms over his chest, his expression somewhat guarded. “I didn’t see the need to linger. My main objective is to get you to safety as soon as possible.”

  “If that’s true, why then did we stop off at your house, where you left me lingering on top of the carriage for a good fifteen minutes?”

  “I gave you plenty of blankets, so I knew you wouldn’t be cold, and you were guarded the entire time by one of my men.”

  “One of your men just happened to be at your house?” Arabella asked.

  “Someone is always at my house. I’ve made too many enemies to leave my home unprotected.”

  That certainly wasn’t something she’d ever considered.

  “I also thought that stopping at my house would be a good diversion tactic, and it allowed me to pack a few personal items for this trip and send word for more of my men to join us.”

  “More men are going to join us?” Lottie asked, her eyes gleaming.

  “Five men already have, and no, you will not get near them,” Theodore said firmly.

  Lottie slumped back against the seat, but her lips were twitching, and Arabella had the uncanny feeling the lady had been deliberately baiting Theodore.

  Here was something else she’d never considered: ladies of the night with mischievous attitudes.

  “I realize none of you know where we’re going, but I assure you, you’ll be safe,” Theodore said. “Not only do I have men riding with us, they’re also some of the best trackers around. They’ll know if we’re being followed.” He looked directly at Arabella, his expression intense. “I will do everything in my power to make certain nothing, and no one, gets near you.”

  It was as if all the air had suddenly been sucked right out of the carriage. He was the same gentleman she’d known for a while now, but something had changed between them. What that something was, she really didn’t understand, but her world shifted, and she knew it would never be the same again.

  The carriage lurched to the right, and Arabella grabbed onto the strap, even as the carriage steadied a moment later. The strange moment with Theodore disappeared.

  An hour sped by as light conversation flowed through the carriage, and Arabella couldn’t help but notice that Theodore didn’t appear at all uneasy being surrounded by five ladies. He told amusing stories every once in a while, but for the most part he spent the time watching her.

  It was disconcerting.

  She felt his gaze once again and turned toward the window, smiling before she pushed herself up and out of her seat, gestured to Violet to take her place, and then sat down next to her once Violet had moved. “The sun is coming up.”

  Tears stung her eyes when Violet pressed her nose against the glass, and she couldn’t seem to resist looking at Theodore, who was watching her again, only now with something warm in his eyes, something different. She wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeve and returned her attention to Violet, who began pointing out everything and anything she saw, her excitement contagious.

  “Look at that,” Violet exclaimed five minutes later. “There’s a huge mansion up ahead.”

  Theodore edged forward and smiled. “That’s my grandfather’s house.”

  The carriage turned, and Arabella caught a glimpse of the house out of the small piece of window she could see past Violet’s head. She blinked. The house was three stories tall, constructed of red brick, and had at least five pillars bordering the porch that ran the entire length of
the building.

  “I thought you said your grandparents lived on a farm,” she said slowly.

  “This is the farm, and that’s the farmhouse. My grandfather does like to indulge in the extravagant every once in a while.”

  “Begging your pardon, Mr. Wilder,” Violet said, her eyes huge as she turned from the window, “but that’s more than extravagant. You could fit a hundred families in there.”

  “Probably not that many families, Violet, but there is plenty of space for all of you. You’ll be able to relax until we get matters settled back in the city, and you won’t have to worry about disturbing anyone.”

  “We can’t stay here,” Lottie whispered. “Your grandfather must be one of the richest men in the world to afford such a house. He won’t want women like us around.”

  “Do you honestly believe I would bring you somewhere you weren’t welcome?” Theodore asked.

  Lottie bit her lip. “We’re not considered acceptable.”

  “You’re completely acceptable, and better still, I consider all of you friends.” Theodore gestured out the window. “Besides, that’s my grandfather standing on the porch, so it’s too late now.”

  Arabella frowned. “What in the world is your grandfather doing up at this time of day?”

  “He’s always been an early riser, as is my grandmother, and he’s probably already been out to the barn to talk to his chickens.”

  “He talks to chickens?” Hannah asked.

  “I thought only crazy people talked to chickens,” Sarah said, causing everyone to turn to her. Her face turned pink even as she leaned forward and peered out the window. “He looks scary.”

  Arabella smiled at Sarah, surprised the lady had actually spoken. She’d only heard her speak once at the jail and couldn’t even imagine how nervous the lady must be at the moment. “I’m sure he’s not scary, Sarah. He’s probably just like Theodore, and you’re not scared of Theodore, are you?”

  Sarah shook her head, albeit a bit slowly, scooted back in her seat, and lapsed into silence.

  “Theodore, is that you?” a voice bellowed as the carriage rolled to a stop.

  “Maybe we should be scared,” Violet whispered.

  “My grandfather is a perfectly amiable soul who will welcome you with open arms.” Theodore pushed the door open and jumped down from the carriage. “I heard you were looking for me, Grandfather.”

  Arabella paused in the process of getting out of the carriage as Theodore’s grandfather grabbed Theodore and pulled him into a hug. He stepped back and gestured to the sky. “I told your father I needed to see you, but I never expected you to turn up on my doorstep in the midst of a blizzard.”

  Arabella glanced at the sky, noticed a few flakes floating lazily to the ground, and looked back to Theodore, who was grinning.

  “I don’t think this measly little bit of snow can be considered a blizzard.”

  “The chickens say differently,” George said with a hearty laugh. “I just got back from trying to soothe the animals when I saw your carriage driving up. It’s a rather unusual time to pay a visit.”

  Theodore nodded. “I have a bit of a situation on my hands.”

  Theodore’s grandfather squinted at the carriage. “Who do you have in there?”

  “A few of my friends.”

  “Well, get them out of the cold, boy. You’ve forgotten your manners.”

  Theodore strode back to the carriage and extended his hand to Arabella. He helped her down and pulled her over to his grandfather. “Grandfather, I’d like you to meet Miss Arabella Beckett. Arabella, this is my grandfather, Mr. George Wilder.”

  Before Arabella could get a single word out of her mouth, George took her by the arm and nudged her toward the house, leaving Theodore behind. “Good heavens, Miss Beckett, whatever has my grandson done to you? You look as if you’ve had a rough time of it.”

  Arabella couldn’t help but fall immediately in love with the gentleman. She’d never met him before, but for some strange reason she felt as if she’d known him for years. She sent him a smile as he helped her up the steps to the porch. “I’m afraid I must admit that your grandson made me ride part of the way stuffed into an old trunk on top of the carriage.”

  George came to a halt. “He stuffed you into a trunk?”

  Arabella nodded and was about to embellish, but then Theodore began climbing the steps with the ladies trailing behind him. George was in the midst of shaking his finger at him when he paused in mid-shake and frowned. “Well, who do we have here?”

  “I’ll tell you as soon as we get the ladies out of the cold,” Theodore said before he turned to help Sarah up the steps.

  George took her arm again, ushered her quickly into the house, and shut the door once everyone had shuffled inside. He arched a brow in Theodore’s direction.

  Theodore grinned. “Grandfather, I’d like you to meet my friends. This is Violet, Hannah, Sarah, and Lottie. Ladies, this is my grandfather, Mr. George Wilder.”

  The ladies muttered hellos and huddled together, all looking terrified.

  “Did you stuff them into trunks also?” George asked.

  Theodore’s grin widened. “There was no need. They aren’t as much trouble as Miss Beckett.”

  Arabella let out a huff. “You did not stuff me into that trunk because I was causing you trouble. Good heavens, Theodore, your grandfather is going to think I’m a complete hoyden.”

  “My grandfather likes hoydens. My grandmother was famous for landing herself in trouble, much to the dismay of my father.”

  “Indeed I did,” a lilting voice said, causing Arabella to spin around to find a lovely older woman with white hair, a fine bone structure, and a regal demeanor walking down the hallway. “Although I readily admit I have not caused much mayhem in recent years. My rheumatism holds me back.”

  “Hello, Grandmother,” Theodore exclaimed. “You’re looking more beautiful than ever.”

  “You did have to inherit your looks from someone,” Theodore’s grandmother said with a grin, letting out a laugh when Theodore picked her up and squeezed her. He set her back down, and she patted his cheek before she turned and set her sights on Arabella.

  “You’re Arabella Beckett.”

  Arabella nodded.

  “How lovely it is to finally get to meet you. I’m Ethel Wilder. I had the pleasure of listening to one of your lectures. It was riveting, and you were so eloquent in your speech.” Ethel smiled. “May I assume, given the earliness of the hour and your state of slight disrepair, that you’ve landed yourself into some mischief?”

  “I’m afraid I have, but it was completely unintentional.”

  “It always is,” Ethel said, her gaze moving to drift over Violet and her friends. “No sense standing in the foyer with the chill leaking through the door. Shall we move to the parlor where I’ll send for some tea and coffee?”

  Violet shook her head. “We wouldn’t want to put you out, Mrs. Wilder. We can just wait right here until plans can be made for where we’ll stay.”

  Ethel put her hands on her hips. “What is your name, dear?”

  “Violet.”

  “Well, Violet, as I said a moment ago, I’m Ethel Wilder. It’s time for breakfast, and in this house I expect everyone to accept my offer of a meal. I suggest you follow Dolly, and she’ll take you to wash up. I will expect to find you in the parlor soon, where we will have coffee, tea, and pastries while breakfast is being prepared. Understood?”

  “I see it’s not only your looks you get from your grandmother,” Violet muttered to Theodore before she moved to follow Dolly, who was obviously the downstairs maid. The rest of the ladies followed, Lottie sending Arabella a grin as she passed.

  Ethel set her sights on Theodore and arched a brow.

  “They’re in danger, Gran.”

  “Should I hide the silver?”

  “I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Theodore said. “I thought they could stay in the room above the barn.”


  George narrowed his eyes. “They’ll be our guests, so they’ll stay on the third floor, which will allow them the safety of the house while giving them the space I’m sure they need.”

  Theodore shook his head. “I’m not certain they’ll be comfortable there, Grandfather. It took everything they had just to walk through the door.”

  “Well, they’re not staying in the barn,” Ethel said with a snort.

  “They might prefer that.”

  “Will they also prefer the grooms who have their quarters there?” Ethel asked.

  Arabella stepped forward. “They won’t proposition anyone while they’re here, Mrs. Wilder. I’ve gotten to know these ladies, and they would look on that as dishonorable.”

  Ethel tilted her head. “Hmm, interesting. I’ve never met a lady of the night who possessed such strong morals.”

  “And have you met many ladies of the night?”

  “I suppose I haven’t,” Ethel admitted. She took Arabella by the arm and walked with her down the hall. “The lecture I saw you give was in upstate New York last year. George and I were sufficiently impressed by what was said, and George made a sizable donation to the cause.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t let that information get out, though. He hates for people to think he’s gone soft.”

  “I heard that,” George muttered from behind them. “Now, would someone please explain to me what Miss Beckett was doing locked up in a trunk?”

  Ethel stopped walking. “Well, that certainly explains your appearance, Miss Beckett. I have to say, you do look as if you’ve been put through the ringer.” She smiled. “Not that you’re anything less than beautiful, as you very well know, but I’m sure you’ve looked better.”

  “Grandmother, what a thing to say,” Theodore said.

  Ethel shrugged. “Miss Beckett is perfectly comfortable with her looks. From one beauty to another, we’ve learned to live with our burden, haven’t we?”

  How in the world was she supposed to respond to that? Did she know she possessed a measure of beauty? Certainly, but it wasn’t something she ever talked about, and certainly not so frankly. She caught Ethel’s gaze and couldn’t help but smile at the twinkle she found in the lady’s eyes.