City of Schemes

by Victoria Thompson

  “That’s because you know nothing about international diplomacy,” Rosemary scolded her. “Lord Percy is involved in some delicate negotiations.”

  “If you wanted to keep his visit a secret, you shouldn’t have invited so many gossip columnists to your party,” Elizabeth said.

  Rosemary’s eyes flashed, but she knew better than to cause a scene in a public place.

  Percy reached over and patted her hand where it had formed into a fist on the table. “Now, now, you didn’t realize at the time, my dear.”

  Elizabeth couldn’t keep her eyes from widening, but she managed not to say anything at this expression of intimacy.

  Rosemary drew a calming breath but still turned angry eyes on Elizabeth. “What did you tell Carrie?”

  “Nothing about Percy, if that’s what you’re worried about. I had already told her everything I knew about him, though.”

  “And everything you didn’t know about me, if you were the source of all those fairy tales the other newspapers told about me,” Percy said with a small smile.

  “I thought you would enjoy that,” Elizabeth said. “But I am sorry if I interfered with something important. You should have told me it involved international diplomacy.”

  “No harm done, I’m sure,” Percy said with more hope than confidence. “Let’s not spoil our lunch with arguing.”

  “Certainly not,” Rosemary said, although she didn’t look like she would be able to enjoy anything at all. Plainly, she thought Elizabeth had done this to get back at her for revealing Elizabeth’s engagement, which was a perfectly natural assumption for her to make.

  Elizabeth smiled as if she were making an effort to be pleasant. “In any event, Carrie Decker asked to be remembered to you, Rosemary.”

  All the heightened color that had been so unbecoming drained from Rosemary’s face. “Did she?” she asked stiffly.

  “Yes.” Elizabeth pretended not to notice her discomfort. “She said you were at school together.”

  Percy seemed delighted by this. “This woman is your friend? America is such a strange place. I had no idea that society girls could become newspaper reporters.”

  Rosemary’s expression could only be described as pinched. “They don’t, as a general rule, but Carrie . . . her father died and the family was ruined.”

  “Ruined?” Percy echoed, confused.

  “Without her father to earn money, they became poor,” Elizabeth explained. “So Carrie had to get a job.”

  Percy shook his head in disapproval. “This is why the English method is so superior. When a man dies, his oldest son inherits the estate and the income that goes with it. We never have to depend on employment or worry about becoming poor just because someone dies.”

  Rosemary’s expression went from pinched to adoring in about two seconds. “You’re right, that is a far superior system.”

  Elizabeth could have pointed out some flaws in that system, but she didn’t want to spoil the mood. “Yes, England has many advantages over America. For example, it’s an ocean away.”

  “Why would that be an advantage?” Rosemary asked, still staring adoringly at Percy.

  “For many reasons, I suppose,” Elizabeth said. “For instance, if you had a secret you didn’t want anyone to know, going to live in a country halfway around the world would be a definite advantage.”

  Rosemary’s head jerked, but when she turned to Elizabeth, she saw no accusation in Elizabeth’s expression, only pure innocence. Elizabeth wasn’t going to suggest that Rosemary had a secret she would travel thousands of miles to hide. When Rosemary turned back to Percy, she seemed to see him in a whole new light, a light that made him even more attractive.

  * * *

  —

  Gideon was finishing up for the day, glad that Friday was almost over and looking forward to a quiet evening with Elizabeth, when an aggrieved Smith appeared in his office doorway.

  “Who is it this time, Smith?” Gideon asked with a sympathetic smile.

  “Mr. Thornton, sir. He said you wouldn’t mind seeing him for a few minutes, although I doubt that very much.”

  Gideon’s good mood evaporated in the heat of his rage, but he couldn’t allow himself to show Thornton how disturbing his presence was. “You’re right, Smith, I do mind, but I’ll see him. Make him wait for a few minutes before you show him back, though.”

  That would let Thornton know he hadn’t intimidated Gideon and also give Gideon time to get his temper under control. When Smith finally brought Thornton in, Gideon was able to look up with only mild annoyance at the interruption.

  “Thornton,” he said by way of greeting, making no move to stand or shake hands.

  “Bates,” Thornton replied. He took one of the client chairs without being asked.

  Smith gave a long-suffering sigh before withdrawing, closing the door discreetly behind him.

  “What do you want?” Gideon asked, being as rude as his position allowed.

  “I want my money.”

  Gideon gave him a long stare. “The month isn’t up yet. Not even close.” Which wasn’t what he wanted to say, but there was nothing to gain by arguing with the man.

  Thornton shrugged. “I know. I just wanted to remind you, in case you’d forgotten.”

  “Not likely.”

  “I’m assuming you told Miss Miles about my previous visit.”

  “Of course I did.”

  “Good. I wouldn’t want you protecting her. She should know that her actions have consequences.”

  Gideon had to clench his teeth to keep from saying what he thought of Thornton. The man had confessed to murdering his wife, his men had nearly beaten Jake to death, and he had intended to kill Elizabeth. How dare he judge her?

  “I assume Miss Miles is taking steps to procure my money.”

  “Assume whatever you like.”

  Thornton smiled at that. “Then I’ll assume that when I return on February twentieth, you will have a quarter of a million dollars for me. In cash. Oh, and I’d like Miss Miles to hand it to me herself, in person.”

  Gideon’s fury roared in his ears, but he managed to keep his voice level. “That is also not likely.”

  “Then let’s call the whole thing off. I’ll just notify the police and the newspapers that Miss Miles is a con artist who stole money from me.”

  That was a horrifying thought, but Gideon recognized it for what it was. He gave a tiny shrug. “If you’re willing to exchange a quarter of a million dollars for a little petty revenge, then suit yourself, Thornton, but I’m guessing you’d rather have the money. Either way, you won’t be seeing Miss Miles.”

  Now Thornton was angry. He probably hadn’t expected Gideon to call his bluff. “Who is she cheating this time? It must be good if she’s getting that much money from him.”

  “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” Gideon said, because he did know she wasn’t cheating anybody. Or at least not that he knew of.

  Thornton laughed at that, a bitter sound deep in his chest. “I’m sure you don’t. She’s good though, so I’ll keep my options open until the twentieth. If I get my money, neither of you will hear from me again.”

  But Thornton had already warned him that he would always be a threat to them, hadn’t he? “We’ll never hear from you again?” Gideon echoed. “Isn’t that what blackmailers always say?”

  “What does that mean?” Thornton demanded, apparently insulted.

  “You know what it means.”

  “Are you calling me a blackmailer?”

  “I believe when someone demands money in exchange for not harming another person, the law calls that blackmail.”

  Color flooded Thornton’s pudgy face as he leaned forward menacingly in his chair. “Call it whatever you want, Bates. Just get me my money.”

  CHAPTER TEN

 
Elizabeth and Gideon had hardly had time to rise from their pew at the end of the Sunday service when Logan Carstens accosted them. He had scurried over from where he’d been sitting with Rosemary and her family before most of the congregation had managed to close their hymnals.

  “Can I have a word?” he whispered almost desperately to Gideon.

  “Good morning, Logan,” Mrs. Bates said. She’d been sitting with them and was still gathering her things.

  “So nice to see you, Mrs. Bates,” Logan said in an attempt to appear normal, although his voice betrayed his anxiety.

  Mrs. Bates glanced at each of them, reading their expressions, and then rose. “I’ll just go say hello to Rosemary, shall I?”

  “Yes, please,” Logan said, stepping aside so she could make her way into the aisle.

  “And why don’t we move out of the way so everyone else can leave,” Elizabeth said, leading the two men to the side aisle at the other end of the pew, which hardly anyone used, since people rarely chose to sidle down it to sneak out of the church quickly.

  Logan couldn’t help a glance over his shoulder to make sure Mrs. Bates was indeed distracting Rosemary. “Did you see the newspaper this morning? Noelle’s ship is docking tomorrow.”

  “That’s at least a day early, isn’t it?” Gideon asked.

  “They must have had a good crossing. I should meet the ship, shouldn’t I?” Logan asked somewhat hopefully.

  “Of course you should,” Elizabeth said, “although you do remember that you probably won’t find Noelle on it, don’t you?”

  “Yes, yes,” Logan said so impatiently that Elizabeth knew he still at least half believed those letters had been from the woman he loved.

  “And we’ll go with you,” she added.

  Gideon looked at her in surprise, and Logan immediately objected. “That isn’t necessary—”

  “Of course it is. What are you going to do with Noelle if she does arrive? Take her home to your parents?”

  Logan just stared at her, dumbfounded.

  “Elizabeth is right,” Gideon said, probably because he knew how much she liked it when he acknowledged this. “And you wouldn’t want to give her the wrong impression of what you expected from her by putting her in a hotel.”

  “But what difference will it make if the two of you are there?” Logan asked, obviously still not thinking straight.

  “We will serve as chaperones, and if Noelle does indeed arrive tomorrow, I can take her home with me. That will be completely proper and she will be reassured about your intentions, at least.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that, Elizabeth,” Logan said.

  “You didn’t ask me. I volunteered. Tell him again that I’m right, Gideon.”

  Gideon grinned at that. “She’s right, so there’s no use arguing. What time shall we meet you at the dock?”

  They had just arranged the time and place for their meeting when Rosemary came up. Mrs. Bates had done an admirable job of distracting her, but her powers were not without limits, and Rosemary must have sensed something of importance happening without her. “What are the three of you cooking up?” she asked with forced cheerfulness, but Elizabeth could see the concern in her eyes. She must be worried that Elizabeth would tell Logan how much time she had been spending with Percy. Rosemary obviously had no idea that Logan wouldn’t care.

  “We were just trying to convince Logan that the two of you should have dinner with us sometime soon, but he says you don’t have a free evening for weeks,” Elizabeth said as if she hadn’t already discussed Rosemary’s busy social calendar with her and Percy a few days ago.

  “I’m sure we can find some time before your wedding,” Rosemary said without much conviction. “Logan, are you joining us for Sunday dinner? Mother needs to know.”

  “I . . . I promised I’d dine at home today,” Logan said. He really was a terrible liar, but Rosemary didn’t seem to notice. He obviously didn’t want to spend the day with Rosemary when he was anticipating Noelle’s imminent arrival. “My parents have been complaining they haven’t seen nearly enough of me since I’ve been back.”

  “Then you must stay home,” Rosemary said, almost relieved. “Your parents’ feelings must come before mine.” For some reason, she didn’t want Logan to attend. Could she have invited Percy to Sunday dinner? Anything was possible. “Come along, Logan. We need to speak to some people before they leave.”

  Logan waited until Rosemary had turned away to mouth, “Thank you,” and then followed after her.

  “Was that wise to say you’d take in Noelle?” Gideon asked when they were gone.

  “Noelle isn’t going to be on the ship, Gideon. Please tell me you understand that.”

  He sighed. “I guess I do. I just hate to see Logan disappointed.”

  “So do I, but there’s still a chance for them if she receives his letter. In the meantime, we need to find out who really did send those letters to Kellogg and who used the ticket Logan sent. The only chance we have of doing that is meeting the ship.”

  “And what if nobody used the ticket? What if someone just cashed it in for the money?”

  “Then we’ll have wasted a trip to Hoboken, but I have a feeling that someone did use the ticket, and I want to be there to find out who it is.”

  * * *

  —

  The cabdriver hadn’t been happy about driving to Hoboken. They could have taken a train, but the day was blustery and Gideon didn’t want to make Elizabeth walk outside any more than was necessary. A cab would drop them right at the dock.

  Logan was already there when they arrived. He had been pacing, and even when they joined him, he couldn’t stand still. He kept bouncing on the balls of his feet and peering out at the bulk of the ship coming ever closer to the pier.

  “What will I do if it’s her?” Logan asked suddenly. “I mean, I’m still engaged to Rosemary. Noelle knows that. Surely, she won’t expect . . . But what will she expect?”

  “The letters said she knows you won’t marry her,” Elizabeth said reasonably. “Even the one that claimed she is having a baby.”

  “I know what she said, but . . . What will become of her if I don’t marry her?”

  “I don’t know. Do you think she expects to become your mistress?” Elizabeth asked baldly, shocking Gideon.

  Logan blushed furiously. “I’d never do that to her.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t,” Gideon said, patting his friend on the back reassuringly while shooting Elizabeth an exasperated glance.

  Elizabeth was unrepentant. “I think you needed to hear yourself say it, Logan. You would never dishonor Noelle because you love her, so stop talking nonsense. If she does walk down the gangplank, there is only one thing you can do, and you know what it is.”

  Suddenly, all the tension seemed to drain out of him, and his whole body stilled. He turned his clear gaze to Elizabeth. “Yes, I do know what it is. I’ll marry her, no matter what.”

  Elizabeth rewarded him with a dazzling smile. “We’ll remember you said that.”

  Gideon had no idea what she had just done, but Logan had transformed from despair to determination in a matter of moments. He had also sworn to marry Noelle in spite of his engagement to Rosemary, something Gideon would have bet that Logan wouldn’t even consider. So much for honor. Or dishonor. Or anything at all.

  They went inside and found some hot coffee and waited until the ship had docked. Then they went back outside to watch the crew lower the gangplank and so Logan could see the passengers gathered on the deck. Many of them were searching the crowd below for loved ones who had come to meet them. Those who succeeded were easily identified from their frantic waving and even shouting, as if anyone could be heard above the din of the gathered crowd.

  At last the gangplank was in place, and passengers began to disembark. Gideon found himself studying every female wh
o came down, even those who were clearly too young or too old to be Noelle, and those who came arm in arm with a gentleman because who knew what might happen on a sea voyage? He knew he was wasting his time. He had no idea what Noelle even looked like, but it seemed important somehow to help Logan find his lost love.

  Many of the men were in uniform, so the ship must be delivering troops as well as commercial passengers, and in the end the troops far outnumbered the civilians. The crowds on the dock had thinned as people left with the passengers they had come to meet, so they had no trouble at all watching the last of the passengers disembark. A woman clutching a bundle to her chest was making her way slowly down the ramp, and beside him Logan gasped.

  “Is that her?” Gideon asked.

  “No, but I know that woman.”

  “Who is she?” Elizabeth asked.

  “She’s . . . She’s Kellogg’s girl.”

  Suddenly, everything made sense. “Kellogg tricked you into paying her fare,” Gideon said.

  “But why didn’t he just bring her with him when he came home?” Elizabeth asked. “Didn’t the army allow the men to marry and bring their brides home for free?”

  “No, not . . .” Logan turned to Gideon. “Remember I told you I was in charge of approving the marriages for the men in my company?”

  “You mean the men had to get approval to marry?” Elizabeth asked in amazement.

  “Yes, because . . . Not all of the women were like Noelle. Some of them . . . Well, some of them were prostitutes who just wanted to get to America. Others were, well, less than virtuous at least. One woman they told us about married a dozen soldiers just to get their allotments. Most of my men were mere boys, away from home for the first time and lonely and innocent. They were too easily fooled, so I had to make sure the women were, uh, respectable before I could give my approval.”

  “And Kellogg’s young lady wasn’t respectable,” Gideon guessed.

  “More than one of the men told me the rumors that she had been selling herself long before the Americans got there. Kellogg was especially eager to marry her because she was with child, but he had only known her a month or two and she was plainly much farther along than that. I couldn’t . . . I had to protect my men. I had to refuse him permission even though he was besotted with her and there was the child to consider.”