His clerk tapped on the door and entered the office. “I know you said you didn’t want to be disturbed, but Mr. Fillmore is here to see you.”
“Vincent or Mortimer?” he growled.
“Mortimer. He said it was important.”
Jonas waved for the clerk to send Mortimer into his office. Word had traveled quickly. Neither Vincent nor Mortimer had been at the ball on Saturday night, having sent regrets due to a previous engagement, but there was little doubt Mortimer had heard of Harold Morrison’s death.
“Jonas! I got back into the city late last night, and this morning I heard—”
“I’m sure you did. There is such pleasure in being the first to pass along a bit of sensational gossip.”
Mortimer sat down and massaged his swollen knuckles. “You have anything to do with his death, Jonas?”
“Of course not. Morrison was my means to the girl’s inheritance.”
Mortimer grunted. “We’ll need to withdraw our motion requesting Fanny be excluded as a beneficiary under your father’s will. This puts you back where you started, I suppose. What are your plans?”
“I haven’t come up with a solution, but I know I must maintain control of Fanny.”
“Or at least her money,” Mortimer cackled.
“Instead of your gibes, I need a solution.”
“What about those young fellows you had courting her this summer? Any way you could fan the flames of love with an added bonus to one of them?”
Jonas shook his head. “Daniel Irwin stopped by last week. He’s in dire need of financial assistance. I told him I didn’t have anything available. In addition, forcing Fanny to accept his company would likely prove impossible. I’m at a loss.”
Mortimer thumped his cane. “Don’t be foolish! This is easily enough solved. Find some way where she is required to be in Irwin’s company. And tell that young man he had best prove his ability to pour on the charm, for Fanny will not be easily won. I feel certain you’ll be able to convince him with promises of the fortune that awaits him once they are wed.” The lawyer withdrew his pocket watch and pushed himself upright. “I must take my leave, Jonas. I promised my wife a month in Europe, and I’m off to make arrangements.” He pointed his cane at Jonas. “It’s more of a gift to me. A month without listening to her ongoing complaints.”
“That’s it, Mortimer! Europe! I’ll send Fanny, Amanda, and Sophie on a grand tour. Victoria can act as their chaperone.
Father had planned on Fanny taking a tour, so the idea won’t cause undue suspicion. A stroke of genius. Thank you, my friend.”
“Ride along with me and tell me how this is going to solve your problem. I see some deficiencies in the plan.”
Jonas grabbed his hat and accompanied the older man outside. He helped Mortimer into the carriage and sat down opposite him. “You’re likely wondering how I’m going to marry off Fanny if she’s in Europe. Am I right?”
“Exactly.”
“I’m going to send Daniel Irwin along. Four women traveling without benefit of a male escort wouldn’t be a wise idea. My wife would have far too much difficulty maintaining control over three young women without occasional assistance.” His headache had disappeared. He called to the driver to stop the carriage. “I’m going to go and meet with Daniel this very minute. If he agrees to my plan, I’ll have this matter settled by day’s end.”
Uncle Jonas seemed utterly giddy when he returned home later that day. Fanny watched as he joined them in the music room, an uncustomary smile beaming on his face.
“Quincy, I didn’t realize you would be here, but I’m glad,” he started. “I have a great notion to share.”
“I’m sure we can hardly wait,” Sophie muttered under her breath. She stepped away from the piano, where Amanda had been entertaining them with a few selections before supper.
“What are you about now, Jonas?” Victoria questioned. “Haven’t we had enough surprises for one year? I suppose you’d better sit down and explain, but first let Amanda finish the last movement.”
Uncle Jonas remained standing. Fanny knew he didn’t have the patience to wait until Amanda completed her piece.
“Never mind the last movement. I have some exciting news. A gift for all of you.” He glanced at his daughter. “If you don’t mind the interruption.”
Amanda turned away from the keyboard and shook her head. “We would be delighted to hear your news, Father.”
“I’ve made arrangements for you three girls and your mother to take a grand tour of Europe. Together—all four of you. You’ll depart two weeks from today.”
Fanny was stunned. Amanda and Sophie immediately began to object to the idea, while Victoria appeared baffled. Only Uncle Quincy seemed in tune with the proposal.
“Jonas, that must have cost a pretty penny,” Quincy declared.
“The cost is irrelevant. It’s a gift,” he replied. “After all, this family has suffered a great deal because of Mr. Morrison’s attempt to steal Fanny’s wealth.”
Fanny frowned, but it was her aunt who spoke. “Jonas, I cannot possibly just up and leave Rochester. You should have consulted me.”
“Truly, Father.” Amanda got up from the piano. “I just did a grand tour in the spring. I’ve no desire to go on another.”
“Neither do I,” Sophie threw in.
Fanny nodded and folded her hands. “I cannot go, nor will I.”
“Ladies, ladies!” Quincy interjected. “You’re most ungrateful. Jonas has gone to the trouble and expense of planning a lovely tour for you, and all of you act as though you’re being sentenced to a terrible punishment. Where is your spirit of thankfulness?”
The three girls glared at him. Sophie pointed a finger at her father. “I will not go on a grand tour. I have no desire to leave Rochester, nor do Fanny and Amanda.”
Aunt Victoria waved for quiet. “Even if I could be readied in time, I’m uncertain I can properly chaperone three young ladies at one time, Jonas. They are all young and beautiful. Their ability to sightsee and attend parties would be limited by my inability to oversee so many activities. I tire of such things after a short time. Besides, Amanda and I have already made her tour. It would be unfair to all concerned.”
“I have already thought of that aspect, my dear. Concerns for your safety as well as that of the girls is always foremost in my mind. I wouldn’t want you to make the journey without a male escort.”
Aunt Victoria relaxed her shoulders. “Oh! If you’re planning to join us, then I think this is a splendid idea.”
Uncle Jonas smiled. “Then it’s settled. I know you don’t have the usual amount of time to prepare for the journey, but I’ll provide a large allowance so that you may purchase dresses and fabric during the trip.”
“I cannot go,” Fanny said, standing suddenly. “I will not leave. Michael might return and I want to be here when he does.”
Uncle Jonas seemed to consider her words for a moment. “Wait here. I nearly forgot.” He dashed from the room and returned only moments later waving a letter in the air. “This arrived earlier for you.”
“A letter? From Michael?” Fanny rushed to her uncle and took the note. “Why did you open this? Why didn’t you tell me?” She wanted to cry for joy. He had written. He had finally written.
“I accidentally opened it. I thought perhaps it was the correspondence of someone else. I am sorry for not paying closer attention. But as you can see in the letter, Michael has no intention of returning before next summer. You have more than ample time to go on the grand tour. Why, he can’t even hope to get you additional letters, as the post is so irregular from that part of the world.”
Fanny scanned the letter. It was all true. Michael had written it just as Uncle Jonas said. She supposed there really was no reason not to cooperate. But something in her still rebelled. She didn’t want to go abroad. She would much rather return to Broadmoor Island.
“I believe you’re going to have an excellent time on board the ship, as well as v
isiting Paris, Brussels, and Rome,” Uncle Jonas began again. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and Amanda, we will see to it that you enjoy some new sights along the way.”
Amanda folded her arms around her waist. “It seems the adults in our lives never tire of arranging our lives. We are weary of being forced always to yield to what others decide is best for us.” She jutted her chin forward. “I know I haven’t mentioned this before, but I’ve applied to begin my college courses and plan to attend medical school. I have no desire to return to Europe.”
“Sophie and I don’t want to go, either,” Fanny said. “I was looking forward to a peaceful time here in Rochester. However, if you must send me somewhere, send me back to Broadmoor Island.”
“The plans are made. I will not change them. You are going, and that’s all there is to it.”
“That’s what you think,” the three of them replied in unison.
Fanny cradled the letter to her chest and left the gathering to let them argue about the trip. She felt a renewed hope in just touching the letter that Michael had penned. Next summer seemed years away, but in truth, she knew it wasn’t that long to wait.
“I’ll be eighteen by then,” she murmured, glancing at the letter once again. She smiled and knew that before Michael returned, she would read this one letter over and over again.
If there was one thing that the events of the summer and the last few weeks had proved to her, it was that nothing mattered as much as the love she held for Michael. She didn’t care if they had to live in a tent and grow their own food. She didn’t care if society scorned her and rejected her completely. The trials she’d already endured proved to her that she could survive anything—that she was strong.
“Well, I am a Broadmoor, after all,” she said with a smile.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to:
DUDLEY AND KATHY DANIELSON
Clayton, New York
JOHN SUMMERS
Chief Curator, The Antique Boat Museum
Clayton, New York
A Daughter's Inheritance Page 32
