The trip to Barrill’s office was fairly quick. Traffic on the river seemed light, and the freighters and wagons that usually congested Water Street were gone on their deliveries by the time Mia’s carriage made its way there. Some workers were still unloading and the ever-busy ferries were transporting people across the river, but otherwise it seemed surprisingly calm.
Jason pulled the wagon up to a small brick building. The address clearly matched what she’d been given, but there was no sign to suggest that Jasper Barrill could be found inside.
“Wait here,” Mia told Jason as he helped her from the carriage.
“Shouldn’t I go with you?”
She shook her head. “If I’m not back in ten minutes, come and inquire. What I have to say to Mr. Barrill is best said in private.”
Mia straightened her skirts and jacket, then drew a deep breath to steady her nerves before marching toward the office. She knocked lightly on the glass and opened the door to the dimly lit room.
“Well, well,” a deep voice called from the right side of the room. A man stepped forward and eyed her intently. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
The man was tall and broad-shouldered. He had dark hair and a mustache and she supposed some might think him rather dashing. His clothes suggested that he used a tailor of some skill, and the cut of his hair made it clear that he cared about his appearance.
“I am here to see Mr. Barrill,” Mia finally said.
“Well, you are seeing him, my dear lady. Why don’t you have a seat and tell me what this is all about? If you’re here to rent a room, I have quite a few options.”
Mia watched him carefully as he made his way to a large desk. Taking his place behind it, he waved to the chairs in front. “Please.”
She took a seat, not because she wanted to accept his direction, but because her knees were shaking so badly she thought she might well collapse. “I’m afraid,” she said in as stern a voice as she could muster, “that my business here today is anything but pleasant.”
“Oh, but surely I will be the judge of that. It isn’t often I get a lady of your quality or beauty asking to see me.”
“No, I suppose it isn’t. After all, you are much more imposing on the women whose husbands are gone to sea.”
He frowned and his eyes narrowed. “Just what are you implying?”
“I am here on behalf of the women married to seamen. Their plight has come to the attention of many in power. Even now there are publications that are working on stories related to this situation. The unspeakable things that have happened to these women and their children are most appalling.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“How strange—for it was your name that continued to be mentioned. These women claim that they are being charged double for rent and that they are being forced to pay debts left by their husbands, even if it means taking food out of the mouths of their children.”
“There is nothing wrong with a man expecting to be paid what is due him. As for the double rent, perhaps they are mistaken and the rent has simply been raised to meet with the demands of the times.”
“And what of taking a child from his mother in payment for a debt that she had no part in making?”
He pushed back from the desk and tried to appear nonchalant. “I’m afraid you have been given false information. There are many disgruntled people in this world, and apparently a few of them have your ear. Unfortunately, they are lying to you about the situation.”
“Are they also lying about you imposing yourself upon them? Taking unspeakable liberties with those who cannot defend themselves against you?”
Barrill seemed momentarily silenced by her statement. His jaw clenched and unclenched several times before he finally spoke. “Miss . . . ?”
“My name is unimportant at this juncture. What is important is the truth.”
“Yes, well the truth of the matter isn’t the dramatic story you want to make it. The truth is that many of these women find themselves in bad situations once their men go to sea. They have little or no money and often they must resort to prostitution in order to survive. Now, it isn’t something I approve of, but it is one of the cold hard facts of life in the dock district. Of course, they can’t admit to such actions. It would never meet with public approval. They can’t even admit it to one another, because of their pride.”
“So you’re telling me that they make up stories and lie about their situation because of pride?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said with a heavy sigh. “You see, you live in a world that doesn’t have to worry about such things. But here, I see these things all the time.”
“And apparently take advantage of them.”
He shrugged. “What I do or don’t do is really none of your concern. I’m shocked to see a lady of quality even discuss such a matter. Perhaps you aren’t what you appear.”
“And I might say the same thing,” Mia countered, getting to her feet. “I will also say this.” She paused and took a stance that she hoped showed her determination and strength. “I want it stopped. I expect to hear that nothing more has happened to these women. I expect the next time I or any of my colleagues speak to one of these ladies, we will hear only that their miseries are behind them. Otherwise, I am certain it will not bode well for you, Mr. Barrill.”
He jumped to his feet and glared at her menacingly. “Are you threatening me?”
“I am promising you that I will personally see you thrown in jail if one more child is taken from his mother. I will see your name published in every paper in town as a molester and violator of women if one more woman is forced into any physical repayment of her family’s so-called debts. Do you understand me, Mr. Barrill?”
“I think for a single woman who clearly has no one to protect her, you speak rather out of place.” He started around the desk.
Just then Jason opened the door to the office. “Is everything all right?”
Barrill stopped in his tracks as Mia turned. “I was just leaving. Thank you for coming to check on me.” She walked to the door and then paused. “Remember what I’ve said, Mr. Barrill. I’ll know if you’ve decided otherwise. Oh, and one more thing: I wonder if you might tell me who you work for.”
He gave her a tight smile. “I would rather not. Thank you.”
Mia started to comment on this, then thought better of it. “Very well. I have others who will be happy to share that information.”
She headed for the carriage, her entire body shaking in fear. I was crazy to come here. I should have listened to Garrett and even to my own good reasoning. She allowed Jason to help her into the carriage, grateful for his timely appearance. She’d never been more frightened in her life. Had Barrill wanted to, he could have done with her as he pleased and no one would have ever been the wiser.
“Let’s go home,” she said with a tightness in her chest that would not seem to leave her.
Mia awoke with a start. Ever since her meeting a number of days ago with the oppressed women from her sewing circle, she’d been dreaming about their problem. One woman kept crying, and it tore at her heart. When she awoke, she found that the crying continued. She realized it was coming from the children’s room.
She slipped into her light cotton robe and pulled her hiplength hair from its bounds. With a yawn she hurried into the hall and opened the door next to her own.
“Agnes? Bliss? What’s wrong?”
“I had . . . a . . . bad . . . dream,” Bliss replied between sobs.
In the moonlight, Mia could see that the child was sitting up in bed. “I had a bad dream myself,” Mia said as she pushed back the wispy bed-curtains.
“You did?” Bliss sounded completely amazed.
“I certainly did. Sometimes grown people have bad dreams too.” Mia sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the child into her arms. “You don’t need to be afraid. Bad dreams cannot hurt you. You just need to think of pleasant things now.”
“Like angels?�
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“Hmm, angels are good. You could also think about your favorite things. Your doll or picnics on summer days.”
“Or cookies?” Bliss asked hopefully.
“Of course. Cookies are very good to think about,” Mia said with a laugh.
Bliss yawned. “I like cookies. Mama says I can eat more cookies than anybody else.”
“I’m sure you can.”
“Angels are big and strong,” Bliss said, changing the subject. “We talked about angels in Sunday school. We talked about Jesus too. Jesus is very nice to us.”
“Yes, He is. He loves you a great deal, Miss Bliss.”
“I know.” She yawned again. “Mrs. Cooper says Jesus came to die for us. That makes me really sad.”
“Did she also tell you that He rose again—for us—and that He lives in our hearts when we ask Him to?”
Bliss nodded. “I asked Jesus to live in my heart and He said yes.”
Mia chuckled and helped Bliss back onto her pillow. She pulled the covers up and gently tucked them around the girl. “That’s the very best thing to think on when you’re afraid, Bliss. Jesus will never leave you. He’s right there with you when you are afraid. You can just talk to Him and ask Him to help you.”
Bliss smiled and closed her eyes. “Mama told me that too, but sometimes I forget.”
“Well, He’s still there, even when we forget,” Mia said as she gently stroked the girl’s cheek.
She waited a few more minutes until Bliss’s even breathing told her that the child was asleep. Carefully Mia secured the netting around the bed, then tiptoed to the door and quietly opened it. She was thankful she could ease Bliss’s fears. Mia only wished it were that simple to soothe the fears of the seamen’s wives.
Stepping into the hall, Mia immediately collided with someone. “Oh!” she exclaimed, reaching out to steady herself.
Garrett’s strong arms went around her and pulled her close. He sounded quite amused as he asked, “What are you doing wandering the halls at this hour?”
“Garrett,” she breathed in surprise. “I . . . ah . . . Bliss was crying. I went to check on her.”
Mia felt her heart quicken as Garrett’s touch began to register in her mind. She couldn’t seem to look away as she felt him run his hand through her hair. She put her hands to his chest and felt the warmth of his body beneath the thin material of his shirt.
Suddenly it all seemed too much. She pushed against him and he quickly let her go. “I’m . . . sorry.” Her breath seemed to catch. She wished she could see his face, but at the same time she was just as glad that she couldn’t.
Mia hurried back to her room and closed the door with more force than she’d intended. Leaning against the frame, she realized she was panting. What just happened? What is wrong with me? she wondered, for this was the second time Garrett had touched her . . . and left her senses reeling and her mind full of questions.
CHAPTER 12
Mia smiled as her maid watched every move made by the groomsman. Ferguson was still under the weather, so Jason had agreed to drive Mia and Ruth for their day of shopping. With a particular purpose in mind, Mia had taken all of the money she’d saved over the last year and decided to see to it that extra food would be available for the women of her sewing circle. She would also pick up a few other things—evidence to show others that she had actually been shopping for personal reasons.
Ruth leaned close. “Jason has asked for my hand.”
Mia couldn’t help but gasp. “You said nothing when you helped me dress earlier!”
“I didn’t know then. He just asked me before you came out to the carriage. It was so romantic—he got down on one knee and told me I was the only woman he would ever love. Then he asked me to marry him.”
“And of course you said yes.”
“Of course I did. Oh, Miss Mia, I’m so happy I could nearly burst.”
Mia smiled. “We shall have to do a little shopping today for you as well. When will the wedding be?”
“We thought to wait until your folks are back from England. It wouldn’t seem right to marry without Mr. Stanley’s permission.”
“I’m sure Father will be touched by that. Still, that’s not very long. We shall have to see to a wedding dress and whatever else you might need.”
“Oh, Miss Mia, Jason and I cannot afford to worry overmuch with those kinds of things. We will have just a simple wedding. I’ll just wear my Sunday dress and Jason can wear his best coat.” She said this in such a dreamy way that Mia wouldn’t have contradicted her for the world. Ruth nearly glowed with happiness, and it was obvious that nothing else mattered.
Jason brought the carriage to a stop in front of several Market Street shops. Helping Mia from the carriage first, he grinned. “I’m sure my Ruth has told you the news.”
Mia laughed. “Your Ruth now, is it? Yes, she told me the news and I couldn’t be happier for you both. Now, Jason, you stay right here, and Ruth, why don’t you wait here as well?” She gave them both a smile. “I’m sure you have a great deal to discuss, and I have things to talk over with the greengrocer.”
Mia didn’t give either one a chance to comment, but drew up her yellow print skirt and made her way into the building. She was surprised to find two of her dear friends, Lydia Frankfort and Abigail Penrose, already inside.
“Why, ladies, I feel as though we’ve not seen each other in ages.” She gave them each a brief hug and stepped back. “And what of the wedding date, Lydia? Has it been set?”
She nodded. “We agreed to October second rather than September. It’s a Saturday and we’ll have an afternoon wedding.”
“That sounds wonderful. Will you take a wedding trip?”
“Oh, she has the most marvelous journey planned,” Abigail interjected. “She was just telling me all about it.”
Lydia blushed. “Ralph has insisted we have a good amount of time alone. He plans to put the boys in the care of their grandmother while we journey to London and Paris.”
“That should be a wonderful trip.” For just a moment Mia thought about Garrett. She couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like to see those places with him. Then thoughts of him holding her came to mind. She gave a shudder without meaning to.
“Mia, you’re trembling.”
“Never mind me. So what are you doing here?” Mia asked, hoping they’d simply move on with the conversation.
“We spied each other next door and came here together. What of you? I heard you were staying with the Wilsons.”
“That’s true. Today I had a few things I wanted to pick up. And I have a secret cause.” She leaned closer. “Remember I told you about some of the problems with the poorer families at the docks?”
Lydia leaned closer. “Yes, the ones who are being so hardpressed when their husbands go to sea or die.”
“Exactly. Well, I thought I would take some of the money I earned at Godey’s and make an arrangement with the proprietor here to deliver food to them. I have one woman whose address I know. I will simply have the food sent to her and ask that she distribute it to the others.”
“Oh, how marvelous,” Abigail said, pulling open her drawstring bag. “Might I help? Father gave me some money to spend. I would love to help in your cause.”
“So would I,” Lydia said, opening her reticule.
“You are both quite generous. I’m certain every cent we share will be beneficial.” Mia was touched at their concern and took their generous offerings at once. “I will let the seamen’s wives know that women of means care a great deal about their welfare.”
Lydia gave her a curious stare. “When will you see these women?”
Mia swallowed hard. “I’ve . . . well . . . another secret, of course, but I’ve arranged to have a sewing circle with them at church. I’ve given them some material and thread. I’m hoping perhaps it will help them with their clothing needs.”
“Oh, that sounds like something we could all help with. What about extra materials that we h
ave at the house? I know our seamstress has stacks of leftover remnants,” Abigail declared. “I would imagine we could donate those to the sewing circle. Mother would believe it a worthy cause.”
“I don’t know why I didn’t think to involve you all sooner,” Mia said. “We should gather and discuss the matter.”
“What about tomorrow?” Lydia asked. “I could have my driver deliver invitations to tea at my house. You could explain all about this to everyone at once.”
Mia thought it a marvelous idea. “Our efforts will be greatly appreciated, I know that much.”
Lydia patted her arm. “Then count on it. Tomorrow at three. I’ll expect you both.”
Mia parted company and took her project to the proprietor. He seemed surprised by her mission, but he readily agreed as soon as he saw the money involved. Mia left him explicit instructions, as well as a note for Mrs. Smith, before heading to the next shop.
By late afternoon Mia was quite ready to return to the tranquillity of the Wilson home. She allowed Jason to drop her at the front door and wasn’t at all surprised to be greeted by Agnes and Bliss as she came into the house.
“You look as though you’ve had a very pleasant day,” Mia said, untying her bonnet.
“We have. We played with Garrett for the longest time,” Agnes said in her rather adultlike manner.
“He was our horse,” Bliss added.
Agnes giggled. “But not a very good one. He was naughty and kept going the wrong way.”
“He said we wore him out,” Bliss explained, once again throwing in her thoughts on the matter.
Mia laughed and put her bonnet aside. “I do wish I could have seen it.”
“Did you have a nice time?” Mercy asked as she descended the stairs. “I was beginning to wonder about you.”
“Sorry if I gave you cause for worry. I happened upon friends, and of course we were given to discussion. We decided perhaps tomorrow at tea would be a better time for conversation than standing in the greengrocer’s.”
A Lady of High Regard Page 11
