A Man Most Worthy

by Ruth Axtell Morren

  She shook her head. “No, but I remember how I wanted to visit with you. We never had the opportunity.”

  “No, we never did.” He continued regarding her and she looked away, remembering the end of that day.

  He set the glass back down with a clink. “We can go tomorrow if you still wish to. I don’t mind accompanying you to your church. I attended a number of different churches in America and found that God’s presence in them had more to do with me than with the different buildings I was in.”

  She stared at this man who had made such an impression in a few short days so long ago and now again was amazing her with his insights. How many things he must have done since she’d last seen him. He made her feel as if she’d done very few brave things in her life, except for marrying Julian. How had she ever broken away from convention?

  Nick watched Austen’s face from the moment he entered the breakfast room the next morning, wanting to see when the boy noticed the map set beside his plate.

  Alice looked up from her place at the table. “Good morning, darling.”

  “Good morning, Mama.” The little boy glanced from his mother to Nick. “Good morning, Mr. Tennent.”

  “Good morning, Austen. How did you sleep?”

  Nick had to strain to hear his low tone as the boy looked down. “Fine, sir.”

  “Anymore dreams of pirates?”

  The boy’s dark eyes came up. “No, sir.”

  “Pity.” Nick said nothing more, but picked up his knife and fork.

  The little boy carried his stuffed rabbit with him to his chair. First he set down the animal to one side, then as he moved to push his chair out, his gaze stopped at the roll of paper held with a string.

  Nick’s gaze darted to Alice. She, too, was watching her son. As if sensing his focus, she looked at him, and he winked at her. She gave him a barely discernable smile, and the two went back to pretending they were in the middle of their breakfast.

  “What time should we leave the house?” he asked Alice.

  “I was told the service begins at half-past nine. We should be all right if we leave at a quarter past. The chapel is a short walk from here in Richmond.”

  Austen had taken up the worn looking paper, unfurled it and untied the string. He was studying the map intently now. When he looked at his mother, a frown marred his brow. “What’s this?”

  “What’s what, dearie?” His mother looked up from her plate.

  He waved the paper. “This. It looks like a—map.”

  Alice reached out her hand. “Let me see it, Austen dear.”

  The boy brought the paper over to his mother.

  She held it in her two hands and studied it, her coppery brown head bent over it, close to Austen’s deep brown locks. “Hmm. It looks to me like—” she paused dramatically “—a treasure map.”

  Austen’s eyes widened. “A treasure map!”

  A sense of pleasure pervaded Nick at the thought that he had brought about the boy’s wonder. The feeling left him bemused. He was used to dealing with business transactions in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet he was as anxious as a schoolboy to see how Austen would react. Is this what fatherhood was like?

  Alice met Nick’s gaze. “Why don’t you take a look, Nicholas, and see if my guess is correct?”

  “Certainly.” He took the paper, which he had creased repeatedly to make it appear soft and worn looking, and spread it out on the table. He’d spent part of last evening with pen and ink drawing a detailed plan of the grounds around the house after having spent most of the afternoon looking for a good hiding place for the chest he’d purchased. After poring over it for a few minutes, he looked back up at Austen and then at Alice. “I think your mother is right.”

  Austen’s dark eyes grew rounder. Then his mouth split open in a wide grin. “A treasure map! Do you really think so?”

  He nodded. “It certainly appears to be. See the black X here?” He pointed with his forefinger. “I would say pirates usually mark the location of their treasure in that fashion, wouldn’t you say so?” He looked to Alice.

  “Oh, yes, I have heard it so. In fact, in all the pirate stories I’ve ever read, it’s been that way. X marks the spot.”

  The boy’s head was bent over the paper. “And look, this is our pond.”

  He followed Austen’s forefinger. “Yes, you’re right. The willow trees are surrounding it.”

  “Do you think this is our house?” His little finger pointed at another object.

  “Well, it certainly looks like this house.”

  Now Austen looked from one adult to the other. “This map means there’s a treasure buried near our house!”

  Austen’s large brown eyes stared up at him, enthralled by something it had taken Nick a moment to think of and only a few hours to put into place. He could see Austen wanted to ask him something but held back. He decided to make it easier for him. “Would you like us to go on a treasure hunt together?”

  Austen turned to his mother and at her nod he turned his eyes back to Nick and nodded his head. “Yes, please.” The words came out in a whisper.

  “But first we must go to church,” Alice told him.

  “But we can go immediately after church,” Nick said with a wink.

  Austen gave him a big-toothed smile, revealing one adult tooth that had grown in and another which was only halfway in. “All right.”

  “Now, come and finish your breakfast,” said Alice. “We don’t want to be late.”

  Nick rolled the map back up and handed it to Austen. “Here you go, you might want to study it a bit more while you eat breakfast.”

  He took the map and continued looking at it as he walked slowly back to his place.

  Nick sipped his coffee, content to watch Austen flatten the map under his mug of milk and his napkin ring.

  “Austen, dear, finish your porridge.”

  The boy obediently took a spoonful, his eyes still fixed on the map. Nick smiled, unexpectedly looking forward to the afternoon’s treasure hunt.

  Nick enjoyed the service at the chapel. He was gratified that Alice had suggested going to his church.

  He glanced at Alice over Austen, who walked between them. The three of them could have been a family. Maybe, soon they would be. He found himself wondering if Alice would ever want more children of her own.

  “When can we go on the treasure hunt, Mr. Tennent?” Austen looked up at him under the brim of his straw hat.

  Alice answered for him. “Right after lunch, sweetheart.”

  “Are we going to eat right away?”

  She smiled. “Yes, I imagine so. Church has a way of making people hungry.”

  As they approached the iron gates at the bottom of the drive, Nick noticed a carriage pulled up in front of the brick mansion. Alice’s footsteps slowed. “That looks like my brother’s carriage. He and his wife sometimes come here for the weekend although I didn’t expect them on a Sunday.”

  She quickened her step slightly and walked up the gravel drive.

  Nick wasn’t sure how he felt about seeing more of Alice’s family. He’d seen Geoffrey only a handful of times at her father’s office, but had never been formally introduced. He doubted the man remembered him.

  When they entered the house, they heard voices immediately, coming from the rear.

  “It sounds like they’re on the terrace. Come, Austen, let’s say hello to Uncle Geoffrey and Aunt Wilma.” Alice took the boy’s hand when he seemed to hang back.

  Two couples stood on the wide porch, drinks in hand, talking and laughing. Nick recognized Geoffrey Shepard immediately, although the man had grown stouter and his light brown hair was gray at the sideburns. Nick stopped abruptly in the doorway when his eyes fell on the other man.

  Victor.

  The man stood as cool and self-assured as he had fifteen years ago when he’d played such a dirty trick on Nick.

  Nick wasn’t sure what he was feeling at the sight of the man who’d ultimately precipitated
the course of action that had taken Nick away from England and across the Atlantic for so many years.

  Victor’s attention had gone from Alice to himself, the careless smiling fading, replaced with an insolent look which appraised Nick from top to bottom.

  Alice leaned up and gave her brother a kiss on the cheek. “Geoff! I didn’t expect to see you here this weekend.”

  “Hello, Allie.” Her brother returned the quick embrace in a perfunctory manner. “That’s because I didn’t expect to be here, but Wilma was complaining of the heat and we decided to head out for the day.”

  One of the ladies sauntered closer. “And then Vic and I decided to tag along and make it a party. But we didn’t know you had guests of your own.” Her dark eyes swept over Nick and came back up to look boldly into his eyes.

  “Oh.” Alice’s voice slowed as she contemplated the two of them. “I suppose we had the same idea.” She turned back to her brother, her voice assuming its customary poise. “Geoffrey, I don’t know if you remember Mr. Nicholas Tennent. He used to work in Father’s firm.”

  Shepard lifted his prominent chin a notch and scrutinized Nick. “No, can’t say that I do.” He took a step forward and held out his hand. “Geoffrey Shepard, pleased to meet you. In what capacity did you work?”

  Nick returned his look with a level stare. “I was your father’s secretary for a few weeks.”

  The man paused for a fraction before releasing Nick’s hand. “I see.” As he turned away from him, he pursed his full lips. “Tennent, Tennent, the name sounds vaguely familiar.”

  Victor chuckled, approaching them. “You’ve probably heard my story of how Tennent here thought he could ride and took your old horse Duke out. Turns out it was the first time he’d ever sat on a saddle!”

  The group erupted in laughter. Nick clenched a hand, restraining his inclination to wipe the smug smile off Victor’s clean-shaven face. His glance flickered to Alice to see if she, too, remembered the account that way. Her eyes met his and he saw with relief that she was the only other one who had not joined in the laughter. Instead her blue eyes looked pained—and seemed to be entreating him.

  He turned back to Victor Carlisle. His erstwhile rival was no longer a youth but had matured into a good-looking man in his mid-thirties, by Nick’s calculation. His black hair was raked back from a high forehead and his gray-blue eyes challenged Nick to dispute the account.

  “You were the one?” Shepard’s tone held amazed disbelief. “Well, I never…At any rate, it looks like you survived.” He took a sip of his drink. “Actually, I don’t believe that’s where I heard your name. You haven’t any connection to Tennent & Company, do you? A distant family member?”

  “I own the firm.”

  Shepard drew his thick eyebrows together, eyeing him sharply. “You don’t say.” He shook his head. “Funny I’ve never run into you before.”

  Alice stepped next to Nick. “That is because Mr. Tennent has been residing in America. He’s only recently returned.”

  “That explains it. I’ve heard a few things about your company.”

  “All naughty, I hope.” The lady who had been watching Nick the whole time moved a step closer and smiled at him.

  “This is Victor’s wife, Cordelia,” said Alice quietly.

  Nick shook hands with her. Victor’s wife held his hand a moment longer than was polite and gave him a coy smile. “You must tell me more about that horse ride.” She glanced at her husband who was refilling his glass. “I’m sure there’s more to the story than Vic is telling us.”

  He removed his hand from hers. “It happened so long ago, I hardly remember the particulars.”

  Alice touched him lightly on the elbow. “And this is Geoffrey’s wife, Wilma.” He turned with relief to the nondescript, prematurely stout woman with a haughty expression in her light blue eyes.

  Mrs. Carlisle sidled back up to him. “If you’ve been with Alice, I assume you’ve been to church and must be parched. What will you have to drink?” She waved her glass in front of him. “Some champagne as the rest of us are drinking?”

  “Thank you, no. I believe I’ll wait for lunch.”

  Alice smiled at them, although her manner seemed unnaturally subdued. “We were just going in to luncheon. We have some plans for the afternoon.” She looked toward Austen and smiled.

  “Hello there, Austen.” Victor went over to him and patted him on the head. “Cat got your tongue?”

  The boy moved his head away from Victor’s hand.

  Alice put an arm around her son and propelled him toward Shepard. “Say hello to your uncle and aunt.”

  Austen did as his mother instructed, holding out his hand like a little gentleman.

  Miss Endicott arrived just then and the company moved into the dining room. Nick noticed that Alice allowed Austen to remain with them at the table.

  The group exhibited the high spirits due to drink and hardly included Nick in the conversation. Miss Endicott sat beside him and addressed him from time to time, but he found he preferred to observe Alice in this milieu. He’d made it a habit over the years to assess the terrain before making a move. It usually worked as well in business as in the social arena.

  By the time luncheon was over, however, he’d drawn his conclusions. They were no different than most of what passed for society in San Francisco. Wealthy husbands bored with their own wives’ society and wives who enjoyed spending their husbands’ money and whose conversation consisted of empty-headed gossip and the planning of amusements.

  He’d also had enough of observing Victor singling Alice out, while his wife kept Nick in her sights.

  Austen had spent most of the luncheon hour playing with his food. Nick felt sorry for the boy and as soon as they had risen, he walked over to him. “All ready for the hunt?”

  The boy nodded vigorously and went to tug on his mother’s hand.

  “Just a moment, sweetling.”

  Victor, noticing, asked with a smile, “Where do you want your mama to take you?”

  The little boy looked down at his feet. “Some place.”

  “You must speak up, little fellow, if you want to be heard.” His taunting chuckle gave Nick another desire to slug him.

  Alice came to the boy’s rescue. “Oh, it’s just a little outing the three of us had planned.”

  Victor forgot the boy as he turned to Alice. “Oh, what a shame. I really was hoping to see you this afternoon.”

  “Oh?”

  All mockery left his features and he said in a serious tone. “I needed to talk to you about something.”

  “Oh, what?”

  “Well, it’s private. As your solicitor.”

  She frowned. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I can come by your office in the morning.”

  Nick strained to hear their words. What did Vic need to talk to her about?

  He shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m all tied up tomorrow.”

  Her glance went from Austen to Nick and back to Victor as if helpless to know what to do. “In that case…” She turned to Austen. “Perhaps you can wait a moment, darling. Mama must see Mr. Carlisle for a few minutes.”

  Nick had had enough. Couldn’t she see the man was deliberately putting her in a bind? “Why don’t I take Austen along with me this afternoon? You go on with your business and Austen and I will have our adventure.”

  She bit her lip, again looking at her son. “I so wanted to go with you.”

  Nick cleared his throat. “It’s all right. Come along, Austen. We’ll have a grand time.”

  He was rewarded by Austen’s wide smile.

  Nick glanced at Alice. “We’ll be fine.”

  She looked torn. “If you’re sure…”

  He held out his hand to Austen. “We’d best be going. We don’t want anyone else to find it, do we?”

  At the boy’s look of alarm, he added, “You still have the map?”

  The boy patted the side pocket of his sailor shirt and nodded.

  “Goo
d. You never know who might want to steal it. Come along.”

  Austen put his warm hand in Nick’s. He enfolded it in his own, feeling the vulnerability in the small fingers that wrapped themselves around his. “We’ll be back later this afternoon.”

  “Very well.”

  He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he was feeling none too happy himself. The afternoon he’d planned with such care and thought had just been altered in the space of a few seconds. His mouth firmed in a grim line. By the same man who’d interfered with his life in such a malicious way fifteen years ago.

  Taking hold of the boy’s hand, he said, “Come along, treasure awaits.” With more confidence in his tone than he felt, he left the house.

  Once on the back lawn, he turned to Austen. “Let me see the map.” He unfurled it and pretended to study it. “See, this is where we are. Now, if I’m reading this correctly, we must head south from this point…”

  He had no great confidence in himself to entertain a shy, seven-year-old boy for the time it would take to find the buried treasure. He’d deliberately made the hunt challenging, even going off the property, because he’d wanted this to be a whole afternoon outing for the three of them. Well, it was not to be. He’d have to swallow his disappointment and hope for a quiet evening with Alice when he returned. By then her brother and his guests should have tired of the country.

  A burst of laughter from the dining room threw that hope to the wind.

  Chapter Ten

  Alice turned around when she heard footsteps, but it was only a servant coming to light the lamps in the drawing room. Where could Nick and Austen be?

  “I’m sure they’ll be along soon.”

  She turned on the sofa to Macey’s soft tone beside her. “I know.” She had thought Nick would be gone an hour, two at most, and then come marching triumphantly back with Austen holding a treasure in his hands.

  But it had been—she glanced at the glass-domed clock on mantelpiece—five hours. What kind of treasure hunt had Nicholas devised for a seven-year-old that lasted this long? What could he have been thinking? Of course, he didn’t have children of his own and might well forget that Austen would need to come home and have his supper on time. She tapped her foot and tried to contain her worry.