When he reached the middle of the second page, Jonas ceased reading and looked up. A gleam of satisfaction shone in Ellert’s eyes. How had this happened? In the past, Mortimer had reviewed Jonas’s contracts. But Mortimer was dead, and Jonas had quickly perused the pages. He’d had no reason to doubt the terms would be exactly as they’d discussed.
“But you knew I thought it said 1904,” Jonas croaked. “What would you have done if I’d noticed the incorrect date?”
Ellert shrugged. “If you’d objected or if you’d had a lawyer read the terms and protested the provision, I would have been required to reassess the terms. However, you didn’t, and the contract is valid.”
“I can’t possibly pay you by Christmas. Why, I won’t even have the issues surrounding Fanny’s inheritance settled by Christmas. Be reasonable, Jackson.”
“You owe the money, and I intend to collect in a timely manner and according to the terms of the contract.”
“Surely you understand I’m in an extremely difficult place right now.”
“Indeed, I do. I understand difficult situations better than most, Jonas. You played a large part in one of the most harrowing times in my life.”
Jonas picked up the glass of brandy and downed the contents before returning to the chair beside Ellert. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He waited for the brandy to quiet his fears.
“Don’t you?” Ellert took a puff on his cigar and blew a smoke ring into the air. “Then it was completely insignificant to you that I was forced to sell my family home in order to repay a debt I owed you years ago?”
Jonas raked his fingers through his hair and forced himself to think back to the loan he’d made to Ellert, but he couldn’t recall ever forcing any man to sell his home in order to repay a loan. He shook his head. “You have me confused with someone else.”
“No. It was you, Jonas. I sold my family’s home to pay your debt.”
“But I didn’t force you to sell. I didn’t know—”
“Of course you didn’t. I wasn’t about to let you know!” He sipped the brandy and placed the glass on the table between them. “Selling my family’s home caused me a great deal of pain, Jonas. I believe it is only fair that you suffer the way I have suffered. You’ll have to part with something you love in order to meet your obligation to me.”
“But I can’t let anyone know the details of the situation,” Jonas protested. “Not only that, but I can’t touch any of my properties.”
“What of the Broadmoor Island estate?”
“It’s bound by legal terms to remain in the family. Currently there are other members who hold shares in the property, but none of whom could afford to buy out my portion.”
“And what of your home—your business affairs?”
“As I stated, I cannot let anyone know what has happened, or my reputation will be ruined and there will be no hope of me reclaiming my fortune. I can’t even suggest selling this place for a smaller home without my wife and sons questioning me. Besides, you know full well it wouldn’t come close to paying off what I owe you.”
Ellert smiled in a smug manner. “I suppose it wouldn’t, but mark my words, Jonas. I care little for your reputation or good standing with your family. You owe me, and you will pay me.”
“But I can’t do it by Christmas. Surely it is in your own best interest to give me an extension. That way at least you will receive regular payments and eventually the entire note will be redeemed.”
“Father?” Jonas turned to see Amanda standing in the library doorway.
He waved her forward, glad for the momentary reprieve. “What is it, my dear?”
“I’ve had a tiresome day, and tomorrow will be filled with shopping. If you have no need of me, I’m going to retire for the night.”
“Of course. You go upstairs, and I’ll see you at breakfast.”
She leaned down and placed a kiss on his cheek and then glanced toward her father’s guest. “Good night, Mr. Jackson. I trust you’ll have an enjoyable visit in Rochester.”
He smiled broadly. “I already have. I had the pleasure of meeting you, Miss Broadmoor.” Ellert stared after Jonas’s daughter and then shifted in his chair. “Now what was it we were talking about? Oh yes, an extension. Perhaps if you had something of value to offer me, I might be convinced that extending your note terms would be of benefit to us both.”
Jonas shook his head. “I have nothing.”
Ellert glanced at the door through which Amanda had just exited. “I believe you have something of great value, Jonas. Something you can give me that will cause me to reconsider the terms of our agreement.”
Amanda’s shoes clicked on the tile and echoed through the hallway as she strode toward the staircase. When she neared the foyer, a knock at the front door surprised her. The butler had gone upstairs to turn down her father’s bed. “Who could that be?” she muttered.
She opened the door and took a backward step. Hat in hand, Blake Carstead stood in front of her. Before she could close the door, he stepped over the threshold. “We need to talk. From your hasty departure earlier today, I fear you formed some incorrect assumptions.”
“I made some assumptions, but I doubt they are incorrect, Dr. Carstead.”
He pointed toward the parlor. “Could we sit down and talk for just a moment? I can explain if you’ll only give me the opportunity.”
Although she desperately wanted to hear how he could possibly explain this afternoon’s happenings, she didn’t want him to think her overly interested. Nor did she want him to know how deeply he’d hurt her. She’d not let that happen again. “I was preparing to go upstairs to bed. I’ve already bid my father good-night.”
“I promise to be brief. Please?”
In spite of her best intentions, there was a longing in his voice she couldn’t deny. “We can’t go into the parlor. My father has a business associate meeting with him in the library. Their visit may end shortly, and I wouldn’t want my father to find you with me this late at night and without a proper chaperone. Whatever you have to say must be said right here.” Blake didn’t argue. He was probably surprised that she’d even speak to him. And after what she’d observed, he should be!
“I know you were both surprised and shocked when Julia appeared this afternoon. However, your surprise can’t begin to match my own.”
Amanda tapped her foot. “I don’t intend to argue about which of us was more surprised. Go on with your story.”
He pressed the brim of his hat between his fingers. “When I was living in California, I met Julia. She was an important part of my life. I fell deeply in love with her and asked her to be my wife.”
Amanda sucked in a breath of air. So Julia was his fiancée!
“Julia said yes, but a few weeks later, she told me she’d chosen to marry someone else. A man who’d be able to provide for her in much better fashion than a doctor could. After she gave me her decision, I left California.” He took a step closer. “Now, after nearly two years, she has shown up to tell me that she made the wrong decision and that she loves me and wants to marry me.”
“I don’t know why you’re telling me all of this. You don’t owe me any explanation. Go ahead and marry Julia. I don’t care one bit.”
She turned on her heel and started toward the stairs, but before she had taken more than a step, Blake grasped her by the hand, pulled her into his arms, and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.
Amanda melted into Blake’s arms and felt her lips form perfectly to his. Her heart pounded an erratic beat, and his kiss sent shivers of excitement racing through her body. She’d never experienced such a feeling.
She drew even closer, but he pulled away from her and looked deep into her eyes. “Now tell me that you don’t care.” Without another word, he released her and walked out the door.
13
Monday, June 26, 1899
Broadmoor Island
A few days after the cousins returned to Broadmoor Island, the door t
o Amanda’s room creaked open, startling her. She clasped a hand over her heart. “Sophie! You should knock before you enter.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh, but the look on your face . . .” She clapped her hand over her mouth and burst into a fit of giggles. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she crossed the room and dropped into a chair near the window.
“I don’t believe I looked that funny.” Amanda yanked a handkerchief from the top drawer of her chest and tossed it at her cousin. “Did you come here for a purpose or simply to see if you could frighten me?”
Sophie wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed.” A loud snort followed the apology, and she clapped a hand over her mouth again.
“Somehow it’s difficult to believe you’re truly sorry when your words are laced with laughter.” Amanda dropped to the edge of the bed. “Are you enjoying Paul’s visit?”
Amanda hoped her cousin would answer in the affirmative, for Sophie had been less than pleased when Paul had unexpectedly arrived at the island with Amanda’s father Friday evening. The tension between the young couple was obvious.
“Enjoying? Haven’t you noticed how he’s put a damper on every suggestion I make? I was so looking forward to the party at the Frontenac Hotel, but Paul won’t even consider attending.” She shook her head and a hairpin dropped to the floor. A rich coffee-colored tress fell across her forehead.
“No doubt he simply desires time alone with you and Elizabeth. After being away from you and the baby, you can understand his feelings.” Amanda arched her brows, hoping for a positive response from her cousin. It seemed the young couple had been quarreling ever since Paul’s arrival. Amanda hoped she could somehow smooth the waters.
“Oh, pshaw! Quit defending him, Amanda. You’ve done nothing but come to his defense since he set foot on the island. He’s the one who banished me to this place, but now that I’m enjoying myself, he thinks I should return home.”
“And you disagreed?” Amanda couldn’t withhold her alarm. “You need to reconsider, Sophie.”
“We’re in the midst of planning Fanny’s wedding. I can’t possibly go back to Rochester while the two of you are here. Absolutely not! I told Paul that once we’ve completed all of the arrangements, I’ll return.” She picked up the hairpin and walked to the mirror. “Of course, that may not be until after Fanny’s wedding.” With a deft hand, she refashioned the fallen tress and jabbed the hairpin into the wayward curl. “There! That should hold it in place.”
“I’m not certain your decision is wise.”
Sophie shrugged. “And I don’t believe your assessment of Paul’s reasoning is correct. Elizabeth was in bed for the night long before we would have left Broadmoor Island to attend the party.” Sophie returned to the chair and picked up one of Amanda’s books from the small table. “He said he was too tired from all his work these past weeks. You may recall that while we were playing charades, he retired early Saturday night. Is that the picture of a man who desires his wife’s company?”
The question brought a vision of Blake’s unabashed kiss to mind. Amanda felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she remembered how thoroughly she had enjoyed the feel of his body next to her own and the surprising softness of his lips as they’d taken command over hers. Yet she dared not think of a future with Blake. He’d stunned her with his kiss and walked out the door without a word.
Even though Blake had told her of his past with Julia, he hadn’t admitted he no longer loved the woman. Why, he’d not even asked her to remain in Rochester. She had hoped he would send word or reappear and tell her of his love, but he hadn’t. Now she decided the best thing was to erase any feelings for Blake Carstead from her mind and concentrate on Fanny’s wedding plans.
Amanda forced her thoughts back to the present. “Perhaps you should reconsider your decision and tell Paul you’ll return to Rochester. You’ve helped choose the fabric for our dresses and Fanny’s gown, and I believe Fanny would concur that you belong at home with Paul.” Amanda turned toward her cousin. “Did you hear what—”
Sophie dangled a newspaper clipping between her index finger and thumb. “Exactly when did you plan to tell me about this?”
“What?” Amanda paled as she focused upon the news clipping. Her stomach lurched as she attempted to gather her thoughts.
Sophie held the clipping at arm’s length and waved it back and forth as she walked toward Amanda. “How long have you been hiding this from me?”
“Hiding? I wasn’t hiding it from you. Frankly, I didn’t believe it was anything that would be of interest now that you’re happily married with a family.” Amanda fervently hoped the word happily still applied to her cousin’s marriage.
“If you didn’t think it was important, why did you cut it out of the newspaper? And how long have you known about Wesley’s inheritance?”
“I can’t recall exactly.” Choosing her words carefully, Amanda explained how she’d happened upon the item in one of the many stacks of reading material Blake had given her to read while she was recuperating. “I was surprised by the information and cut it out. I wish I’d never seen it, yet I don’t see how it should matter in the least.”
“Not matter? Wesley Hedrick has inherited a vast fortune and you think I wouldn’t be interested?”
“Tell me, Sophie, exactly why would news of Wesley interest you?” Amanda walked to the window. “Look down there at your husband playing with Elizabeth.” She grasped Sophie by the arm. “Come here. Look at them and tell me why you should care about Wesley Hedrick or his inheritance.”
Sophie jerked free and turned on her heel. Her shoes pounded across the carpet. She yanked open the door and then slammed it behind her, the bedroom window rattling in the quake.
When had life become so complicated? Back when Amanda and her cousins had been young girls, life had been so simple and problem free. Now it seemed there was upheaval at every turn.
Amanda opened her bedroom door, and as if on cue, she heard her parents arguing. Was there no peace to be found anywhere in this house? She did a quick turnaround and proceeded to the rear stairway, where she could avoid the possibility of being drawn into the dissension. Careful to avoid Paul and the other relatives on the front lawn, she took the path leading from the rear door to the north end of the island. Only a short distance down the path, she heard the crackle of branches and looked overhead. The wind had picked up, but the sky remained a cloudless azure blue. No storm in sight. Not unless she counted the storms that raged among her relatives.
She turned toward a rustling of leaves, took a backward step, and inhaled a deep breath. “Fanny! I didn’t know you were out here.”
“I was at the outcropping overlooking the water. I find it a good place to gather my thoughts.”
“You’re not having second thoughts about the wedding, are you?”
“No, of course not. I love Michael with all my heart and can’t wait for his return. I only wish he were here now.”
“Be careful what you wish for. We’ve not yet completed your wedding preparations.” Amanda observed the brooding look in Fanny’s eyes. Even she was unhappy. “Do tell me what’s wrong. You don’t seem yourself. Ever since Father and Paul arrived, you’ve distanced yourself from the rest of us.”
“To be honest, I don’t want to be around your father.”
“Whyever not? I know he can be brusque and unapproachable at times, but—”
“I don’t think we should discuss this any further. I don’t want to say anything that will cause a rift between us.”
“You know that could never occur. No matter what happens, you and Sophie will always remain dear to me. I believe I could tell you anything and you would understand. I only wish you felt the same way about me.” Amanda didn’t know which she found more distressing: the fact that Fanny wouldn’t confide in her or the idea that her cousin believed there was something that could cause a breach in their relationship. “I want you to tell me what’s wrong. I promise whatever you hav
e to say will not change how I feel about you.”
Fanny sighed. “I truly need to talk to someone, if you’re certain you want to hear. But be forewarned, what I say about him will not be pleasant to hear.”
“My mother has probably said worse. Don’t you recall her anger when Father didn’t accompany us on our voyage to England?”
“I believe this goes far beyond anything any member of your family might imagine.” Fanny paused and gave another sigh. “I don’t want to go into all of the details, but I have ample proof that you father has cheated me out of a great deal of my inheritance. Your father betrayed me. I shouldn’t have given him the authority to continue managing my inheritance.” Fanny reached forward and grasped Amanda’s arm. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but now you know why I find it difficult to be in his presence.”
Amanda swallowed the lump that had quickly formed in her throat. How could her father do such a thing? Didn’t he have enough money without stealing from Fanny? It seemed his greed knew no boundaries. “Have you confronted him? How did this come to light?”
“When his lawyer died, the situation was brought to my attention. Your father is aware of the fact that I have hired Grandfather’s former attorney, Mr. Rosenblume, to act on my behalf.”
Amanda dropped to the ground and stared across the grassy expanse toward the distant horizon, where water and sky met in melding shades of blue. She wondered if her mother knew of her father’s treacherous behavior. Was this the cause of the argument she’d heard when she departed the house?
Jonas placed a firm hand along the center of his wife’s back and moved her toward the parlor. “I don’t believe we should be having this discussion in the foyer. If you want to talk, I suggest we go into the other room.”
Once they’d entered the parlor, Jonas closed the pocket doors. Of late, Victoria seemed determined to discuss everything in detail. He sighed. No wonder he stayed in Rochester as much as possible when the family was on the island. He didn’t want to hear trivial details about the fabric for Fanny’s wedding dress or the fact that Victoria didn’t like the china or glassware Fanny had chosen. He’d done his best to avoid any wedding talk, but Victoria had been insistent they must talk. Thus far, it seemed Amanda, Sophie, and Fanny were his wife’s favored topics.
A Surrendered Heart Page 15
