Jen Turano - [Ladies of Distinction 02]

by A Most Peculiar Circumstance

“I’m here,” Arabella called, walking down the hallway. She stopped to give Katherine a hug. “I thought I’d give you an opportunity to greet your grandparents before I interrupted.” She tilted her head. “I’m surprised you were willing to risk traversing the roads. Did it take you long to get here?”

  “It did take us longer than usual, but there were very few other travelers on the road, which made it easier for our driver.”

  “You didn’t encounter anyone on your way here, did you?” Theodore asked.

  “Just your men,” Samuel answered. “I think they’re probably riding up the lane as we speak.”

  Theodore excused himself from everyone and walked back outside. He squinted in the bright sunlight, and saw that, riding toward him, just as his father had said, were four of his men. He walked down the steps and waited as the men brought their horses to a stop in front of him. “Nice journey?”

  Robert Moore, a big, burly man with long brown hair straggling out from underneath his battered hat, shook his head. “Not particularly. The roads are a mess, and I have no idea why your sister would decide to travel here in these conditions. I tried to tell your father we should wait at least another day or two, but he said your sister wanted to see her grandmother, so here we are. Not quite what I thought we were signing up for, Mr. Wilder.”

  Theodore choked back a laugh. His men were known for their toughness, but it was clear they were less than pleased to have been forced out of the city to traverse the snowy country roads on the whim of Katherine. He cleared his throat. “Any signs you were followed?”

  “The only other conveyances on the roads were a few delivery wagons, and I don’t think we have anything to fear from them.”

  “Wonderful.” Theodore waved toward the barn. “There are grooms who can tend to your horses, and comfortable quarters above the barn, unless you’d prefer the house.” He grinned. “I will warn you that we now have eight ladies in residence, so it’s up to you.”

  “We’ll take the barn.”

  He couldn’t say he was surprised. He watched the men spin their horses around and make for the barn before he headed back into the house. The foyer had emptied, and he followed the sound of laughter, his pace increasing with every laugh.

  There was something heartwarming about a house filled with laughter.

  He stopped in the doorway of the library and allowed himself just a moment to watch everyone. His mother and father were sitting on a chaise, chatting with Ethel and George, and Katherine was sitting on the settee with Arabella. Their heads were together, and they were whispering as thick as thieves, the sight causing him to smile.

  His sister, it seemed, had found a new friend.

  He found the idea rather appealing.

  If his sister approved of Arabella, as it appeared she did, and Katherine, as his sister, wanted only the best for him, well, she could join forces with him, and . . .

  He frowned.

  And what? Convince Arabella he was a capital fellow, and that she should . . . like him?

  That sounded somewhat childish, and the feelings he’d been starting to feel for the lady were certainly stronger than like, but it was entirely too soon to proclaim his intentions.

  Arabella would probably think he’d lost his mind if he blurted out that he no longer loathed her, but instead—

  “Theodore, come join us by the fire,” Louise suddenly called.

  He strode forward, frowning when Arabella and Katherine suddenly stopped speaking when he passed them, and they looked rather guilty.

  Had they been discussing him?

  Maybe his sister was, of her own accord, laying the groundwork for him.

  He sent them a grin that caused them both to blink, continued over to his mother, and took a seat by her side, pretending not to notice that she took it as an opportunity to scoot even closer to Samuel.

  It was rather odd to see his parents acting as if they cared about each other.

  “Tell me, darling,” Louise said, “what have you been doing this past week?”

  “I’ve mostly been shoveling snow and helping Grandfather with the animals.”

  “And Miss Beckett?”

  “What about Arabella?”

  Louise rolled her eyes. “Must I always have to drag everything out of you, Theodore? Couldn’t you just once tell me what is transpiring in your personal life? Have you developed an affection for Miss Beckett?”

  He dropped his voice, even though a glance to Arabella and Katherine showed them still to be deep in their own conversation. “You didn’t used to like Arabella. You thought she was too independent.”

  “Your father and I have decided she’s perfect for you.”

  Samuel leaned over Louise and winked. “Miss Beckett reminds me of your grandmother, and everyone has always known you favor your grandfather. With that said, your mother and I could no longer ignore the idea that Miss Beckett would suit you admirably.” He leaned closer, practically smashing Louise into the settee as he did so. “It would be best if you didn’t take too long to make your move, son. I have it on good authority that Grayson Sumner has professed an interest in Miss Beckett.” He resumed his original place on the settee, patted Louise’s knee, and shook his head. “I’m sorry to say that he’s a distinct threat given the fact he’s possessed of a title, a fortune, and stellar good looks, according to your sister.”

  Theodore opened his mouth . . . to say what, he had no idea, but then Katherine suddenly stood and walked across the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

  “As I said to Grandmother when I first arrived, Christmas is still a few weeks away, but Arabella and I thought it would be delightful to spend the afternoon doing a bit of decorating. Would any of you care to join us?” She sent Theodore a pointed look, and he couldn’t help but grin.

  “Do you need someone to bring down the decorations from the attic?” he asked.

  Katherine returned his grin. “That would be lovely.”

  Arabella rose from her seat. “Would anyone mind if I invited Violet and the rest of the ladies to help us? I have the feeling they’ve never really had a proper Christmas, and I know I, for one, would enjoy sharing this tradition with them.”

  “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Theodore said, and the room seemed to disappear of everyone except Arabella when she smiled at him.

  She had such an enchanting smile, and when she smiled the way she was now, a dimple popped out on her cheek, making him long to touch her face.

  He blinked when Katherine appeared by his side, took his arm, and dragged him out of the room, muttering something about “embarrassing her” under her breath.

  Her teasing didn’t bother him in the least because he knew she just might have a point.

  He was not acting like his usual self.

  Katherine steered him to the kitchens, where she made a big fuss over Violet and Lottie, and after getting their agreement to help, they went in search of Sarah and Hannah, finding those two ladies in the barn petting the cows. By the time they returned to the house, Arabella and Ethel were sporting aprons over their dresses, and Louise, Samuel, and George were rearranging the furniture as Violet and Lottie set out a platter of iced cookies they proudly claimed to have made themselves.

  He moved out of the room and began climbing the stairs, pausing when Arabella called to him from below.

  “Wait for me. I’ll help bring down some boxes.”

  She caught up with him and took his arm, her touch scorching through the fabric of his jacket.

  “It was very thoughtful of you to include Violet and the ladies,” he said as they began to climb the stairs.

  For a second, her hand tensed on his arm, but then relaxed. “I’m afraid I’ve neglected to consider the plight of those less fortunate than I. I’ve taken some time while I’ve been here to examine my life, and although I’ve tried to assist women, I haven’t tried to really care.”

  He paused and brought her to a stop. “I think you’re being a little hard on yo
urself.”

  “That’s sweet, but I’m not. Dot was right, Theodore. I’ve been judgmental and bossy.”

  “I think you’re special.”

  Her face turned pink, she looked at him for a long minute, and then she smiled. “I think you’re losing your mind because we’ve been stuck in the snow for so long.” Without giving him a chance to reply to that bit of nonsense, she dropped his arm and hurried up the steps, leaving him staring after her for a moment until he shook his head and realized she probably had no idea where to find the attic.

  He caught up with her on the third floor, and they spent the next hour carting boxes down to the library, until Ethel finally demanded everyone take a break.

  Violet and Lottie brought out more treats, and Ethel made a production of showing Sarah and Hannah how to pour a proper tea. Everyone finally found a seat, and conversation and laughter filled the room as the afternoon sun streamed through the windows.

  “What we need is the scent of pine,” Ethel said as she set down her cup. “It’s far too early to think about cutting a tree, but a few wreaths spread about the house would be nice.”

  “I wouldn’t mind getting some fresh air,” Katherine said, dusting sugar off her fingers from the cookie she’d just consumed. She stood and turned to Arabella. “Would you care to join me?”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Arabella said. She handed Theodore the cookie she’d been about to eat, got to her feet, and stretched. “I’ll just run and grab a coat.”

  Theodore watched her leave and then stood up, letting out a grunt when Katherine pushed him back into his seat.

  “You’re not coming with us.”

  “Why not?”

  Katherine’s eyes darkened right before she rolled them. “Honestly, Theodore, it’s clear the two of you are moving in some strange sort of direction toward one another, but I don’t think either one of you knows what to do next.” She released a dramatic sigh. “That is why I’m going to take over.”

  Alarm shot through him.

  “I don’t think there’s any need for that.”

  “I’ll be discreet.”

  “You’ve never been discreet in your life.”

  “Do you want to find out if she returns the affection you’re trying to hide from her?”

  Theodore was about to tell his sister he wasn’t hiding anything, but the knowing look in Katherine’s eyes had him swallowing his words.

  “Let Katherine do a little snooping,” Ethel said, causing him to blink when she appeared right in front of him, as if she’d materialized out of thin air.

  It was unbelievable, now that he thought about it, that he’d never suspected she’d been a spy.

  “Since it appears I’ve been overruled, I’ll stay inside,” he finally muttered.

  “Overruled about what?” Arabella asked as she stepped back into the room, looking adorable in a coat of dusty rose.

  “Katherine wants me to stay inside and finish unpacking those boxes instead of escorting the two of you to fetch pine for wreaths.”

  For a second, Arabella looked somewhat disappointed, but then she smiled and lowered her voice. “You can spend your time trying to see if Violet and the ladies might consider accepting your grandmother’s offer of employment. She brought it up to them earlier today, but they might need a little convincing, especially about actually being wanted.”

  “I didn’t know my grandmother offered them employment.”

  “She’s very stealthy,” Arabella said before she walked over to Katherine and the two ladies left the room.

  One hour later, he swallowed one of the cookies his mother had pressed on him and wondered if it was possible for a body to explode from an excessive amount of sweets. He reached down and pulled a nativity set from the box Violet had just scooted his way, but paused as he glanced at the window and noticed the sun seemed to be setting.

  A wave of unease swept over him, even as the hair on the back of his neck stirred.

  “What’s the matter?” George asked, pausing in his task of polishing a glass Christmas tree.

  “Don’t you think Arabella and Katherine should be back by now?”

  George tossed aside the Christmas tree, ignoring the sound of breaking glass, and shot up from his seat the exact same moment Theodore did.

  They raced to the door, and Theodore didn’t even take the time to pull on his boots. He bolted down the steps and began frantically surveying the snow. A few moments later, he found Katherine’s and Arabella’s tracks.

  He shouted their names as he ran and stumbled through the snow, his shouts becoming more desperate when they didn’t reply. Before long, his men joined him, and the search continued with everyone spreading out and yelling the two ladies’ names, over and over again, but to no avail.

  Much to Theodore’s horror, it soon became clear to him that Katherine and Arabella were not coming back.

  19

  The air in the small space she and Katherine were confined in reeked of something foul. Arabella squinted and looked around, trying to decipher in the dim light what was causing the smell that seeped through the wooden planks of the wagon. An overturned canister met her gaze.

  They were in a milk wagon, one that had probably been stolen by the two men who’d abducted them.

  She began breathing through her mouth, but even that wasn’t enough to stop her from gagging. She heard Katherine making the same sound and reached out to grab her hand.

  “Are you all right?” she asked.

  “I’m really wishing I hadn’t eaten quite so many cookies,” Katherine muttered. “I have the sneaking suspicion they’re about to come back up.”

  “We need something to distract us.”

  “A gun would certainly do the trick. We could shoot our way out of here, if only to breathe some fresh air.”

  “Unfortunately, that man pocketed my gun right after he hit me over the head with it.” Arabella reached up and rubbed the lump that was forming on her temple. “I cannot believe we were taken by surprise like that. How did we not hear them approach?”

  “It might have been because we were singing carols at the top of our lungs,” Katherine said. “At least you had the foresight to carry your gun in your pocket. There was no way I could have reached mine, not with the heavy coat I had on over my gown. From now on I’m going to stuff it down my bodice.”

  “That’ll look nice with the current fashion of fitted gowns.”

  Katherine laughed and then sobered. “It was rotten luck that you slipped in the snow. Otherwise, I’m sure you’d have gotten a good shot off and we wouldn’t have been taken.”

  “We’re lucky I didn’t shoot you by accident. I slipped right as I pulled the trigger.”

  “Someone must have been watching out for us.”

  “If you’re referring to God, I have to tell you, I’d have preferred He not allow us to get into this situation in the first place.”

  “Honestly, Arabella, this is hardly the time for you, of all people, to be put out with God. I readily admit I’m not always diligent in my relationship with Him, so we need someone—you, of course—to remain steady and tell us that God will show us a way out of this.”

  Arabella felt her lips twitch. “I didn’t say I didn’t believe in Him anymore, Katherine. Just that I’m a little bewildered as to why He let those men snatch us right from your grandfather’s property.”

  “Well, everyone always says God works in mysterious ways.”

  Arabella’s lips twitched again. “We should concentrate our efforts on figuring out how to get out of this mess and how these men found us in the first place.”

  “You still believe that one man is the man you shot back in Gilman?”

  “I’m fairly certain he is, but . . . how did he know where to find me?”

  “Maybe I led him to you. I should never have insisted on visiting my grandparents.”

  “Nonsense,” Arabella said. “There was no reason for you to believe anyone would follow you. We’v
e only recently become friends, whereas I’ve been seen more often about town with Agatha and Eliza. Besides, who would have thought anyone would travel into the country through the remnants of a blizzard?”

  “I did.”

  “True.”

  Katherine heaved a sigh. “That man you shot must have a serious hankering for revenge.”

  “Or a hankering for selling us off to the highest bidder.”

  Katherine began to sputter. “We have to get out of here.”

  “I agree, but it’s going to be tricky. Those men were somehow able to get past Theodore’s guards, and I’m fairly certain Theodore only hires the best.”

  “That certainly seems to suggest we’re dealing with rather cunning men,” Katherine said. “Perhaps our first order of business should be to say a small prayer.” She peered expectantly at Arabella.

  “And I assume you want me to do it?”

  “I did mention that I’m probably not as proficient at it.”

  “It’s prayer, Katherine, and not that difficult. You simply have a conversation with God.”

  “You have conversations with God?”

  “Yes, and even though I’m a little annoyed by this latest turn of events, I know He will see us through in the end. When I was in jail back in Gilman, I asked God for help, and the next thing you know, Theodore was standing outside my door.”

  “That fits.”

  “Fits with what?”

  “Well, don’t get upset, but I, and quite a few other people I’ve spoken with, have come to the conclusion that you and Theodore would make a perfect match. From what you just said, maybe God planned it.”

  “I think the smell is beginning to affect your thinking.”

  “He likes you, and you like him.”

  “I’m going to pray now,” Arabella said, closing her eyes because this was certainly not the best time to delve into her feelings for Theodore.

  They’d been abducted by unscrupulous men, and Katherine was right. She needed to talk to God.

  Lord, as I’m sure you’re aware, I’m in another mess. I could use some assistance in this matter, and I could use some strength. Please watch over Katherine, and please, keep her safe.