“He’s good at covering up his true personality,” Garrett replied.
Eckridge handed him back the letter. “We must notify the authorities. Boston, at least, must surely want him back.”
“I thought we might lay a trap for Mr. Barrill. After all, he’s done a great deal of harm right here in Philadelphia. I would be just as content to have him pay for those crimes first.”
“What did you have in mind? You know I will help you no matter the plan.”
“Well, as I see it, we should catch him at what he does so well. We will get one of our renters to help us. Do you know anyone who might be willing?”
Eckridge thought for a moment. “I don’t know of anyone offhand, but my nephew will of course aid us. I’ll contact him yet today.”
“Good. We’ll put together a plan immediately.”
Garrett left Eckridge’s office feeling slightly encouraged. The truth about Barrill had been quite frightening, but if they were successful they could soon see the man behind bars.
He had just reached his carriage when he spied Eulalee Duff. She carried several packages and seemed to be fighting to manage them all. Garrett quickly took control of the situation and the packages.
“When did you take up juggling, my dear Mrs. Duff?”
She laughed. “I’m afraid I was a little freer with my purse than I had intended when I walked here this afternoon.”
“I have the phaeton just over there. I’ll drive you wherever you need to go.”
“I need to go home. For the sake of my self-control, if for no other reason.”
Garrett shifted the packages and offered her his arm. “Then home it is. I shall be happy for your company.”
“What brings you to town today?” she asked.
“I had business—not exactly pleasant business. There’s been some trouble with an employee and we must now work to rectify that situation.”
“Businesses always suffer when employees are less than faithful to their duties.” Eulalee glanced upward. “I do believe we are in for rain—if not worse.”
“I think you’re probably right. The air has that feel to it.”
He secured the packages and then helped Eulalee into the carriage. Sliding in beside her, Garrett picked up the reins. “Walk on,” he called to the horse and lightly smacked the leather to his back.
“So how are you?” Garrett asked.
“I’m doing quite well, thank you, though I find the heat intolerable and wish I’d taken up my aunt’s offer to join her in Saratoga. From her letters she tells me of a dear little cottage that she’s enjoyed throughout the summer.”
“I’m sure it will cool soon enough, and then we’ll be complaining about the cold.”
“No doubt that is true. How is your father’s health?”
Garrett fought against sounding too maudlin. “Failing. My stepmother believes he won’t be long for this world, and I must agree with her. He has a great deal of pain, but the doctor has tried a new medication and it has shown Father some relief.”
“I am glad to hear that, but sorry to hear he is so ill. Is there no chance of recovery?”
“None, according to the doctor. It will be hardest on my stepmother and sisters. They love him so.”
“I hope he has provided for them as well as my Richard did for me. The worst thing in the world for a young woman with children would be to find herself penniless.”
“Mercy will never have to worry about that. My father has seen to it in his will. He loves his family and would not see them suffer. But enough about that. How are your parents?”
“Doing well, thank you. They’re due back from Newport in two weeks. I doubt they’ll be long in Philadelphia, however. At the first sign of cold weather, Mother will no doubt pack for Charleston. She has a sister there and would probably move permanently if Father would give up his law practice.”
“And what of you? Would you give up Philadelphia again?”
“It would all depend on whom I was giving it up for,” she said. “I have never regretted giving it up for Richard.”
“I have never seen a love match such as yours.”
“We were blessed to have those few short years,” she admitted.
Garrett pulled the carriage to a stop in front of her house. He tied off the horse, then helped Eulalee to the ground.
She lifted her face to his. “So how is it that a knight in shining armor such as yourself hasn’t yet taken a wife?”
Her question took Garrett off guard. He dropped his hold and struggled to find an answer. “I suppose . . . that is . . . what I mean . . . What a bold question.” He smiled and tried to veer away from the topic. “It looks like rain.”
“Oh, no you don’t. We’ve already discussed the weather. I’ve been quite honest with you and you owe me nothing less.”
Garrett crossed his arms. “Well, if you must know, I haven’t married because until recently I wasn’t completely taken with any particular woman. Now there is a woman, but I’m uncertain as to how I might proceed. I have cared for her for a lifetime, but she was much too young to consider seriously until recently.” He let out a heavy breath. “I have no idea of her ever returning my feelings, however.”
“Oh, I think Mia Stanley returns those feelings in equal measure.”
Garrett’s eyes widened. “What?”
“You heard me.” She smiled and pushed back an errant strand of hair. “Mia adores you. Just the way she looks at you convinces me of that.”
“I said nothing about Mia Stanley.”
“Of course you didn’t, but the way you watch her, the way you light up whenever she walks into a room tells me all I need to know. You look at her the way Richard used to look at me. You look at her as a man in love—deeply in love.”
He shook his head. “You are an amazing woman, Eulalee Duff.”
“I’m a practical woman. I believe in true love being realized.”
“I long for it to be realized, but I’m at a loss as to how to make it come to fruition.”
“Then you need the help of someone experienced in this area.”
Garrett saw the determination and sincerity in her expression. “And what do you have in mind?”
“Hmm. Well, let me think on that over tea. You will come in, won’t you?”
“Well, I don’t know. I should probably get back to work.”
“I can almost guarantee you that if you come inside we’ll have your problems resolved by the end of teatime.” She lowered her voice in an almost sultry fashion. “When I set my mind to something, I’m always very successful.”
“Always?”
“Always. After all, Richard was a confirmed bachelor until I decided he was to be my husband.”
“After you decided? Richard talked about you day and night for three months before he worked up the nerve to ask to court you.”
“Of course, and that was four months after I set my cap for him.” She pointed to her packages. “Now are you coming?”
Garrett laughed and reached out to give her an impulsive embrace. “You are a dear friend. How can I resist?”
Mia knew she shouldn’t have used Prudence Brighton as a means to meet with Sarah Hale, but she felt that Garrett had given her no choice. She had received an urgent letter from Mrs. Smith, and without Mrs. Hale’s assistance, Mia knew she couldn’t help the poor woman. Mrs. Smith wanted Mia to meet her that night at the church, but there was no possible chance of getting away from the Wilson house unaccompanied.
It had been her good fortune that Prudence had already arranged to pick her up that afternoon. No one questioned her leaving the Wilson residence or worried about where she was going with Prudence Brighton as her companion. Prudence had been more than a little sympathetic. She thought it quite unreasonable that Garrett should mind Mia’s every move. “He isn’t your husband, after all,” she had chided.
Prudence had agreed to remain at her house while Mia took the Brightons’ carriage to Godey’s, promising th
at if anyone came in search of Mia, Prudence would delay them and keep them occupied until Mia could sneak into the house.
Now as Mia drove back to the Brightons’, she felt a tremendous sense of relief. Sarah Hale had agreed to meet with Mrs. Smith and assist her in any way possible. Mrs. Smith might not like the idea of meeting a stranger, but if the situation was as grave as she’d implied, desperation would surely cause her to yield and trust Sarah Hale.
The gentle nature of the dapple gray made driving an easy chore. So easy, in fact, that when Mia turned the corner onto Seventh Street, she was immediately drawn to the couple embracing. Scandalous! People simply paid no attention to proprieties and etiquette these days.
She seemed unable to look away, however, and stared in disbelief as Garrett and Eulalee pulled apart from each other’s arms, laughing. They had no idea of anyone watching them. She was certain, in fact, they had no thought of anything but each other.
How could he? Right there in broad daylight—on the street. No sensible person would risk such social disgrace. Not unless . . .
Biting her lip, Mia saw her hopes fade away. She felt a heaviness settle upon her. It appeared her matchmaking had worked once again. Garrett had obviously proposed, and Eulalee Duff had accepted.
CHAPTER 20
No one was more surprised than Mia to find her parents had returned home in her absence. When the Brightons’ driver had delivered her to the house, the pouring rain had been her only focus. But once inside, Mia saw the trunks and heard the animated discussion of the servants and knew that her mother and father were back from their travels.
“Mother? Father?” Mia made her way upstairs presuming to find them in their room.
“Mia! Oh, how good to see you safe and looking so well,” her mother declared as she eyed her daughter critically. “You look a bit pale, however. You aren’t coming down sick— are you?”
“I feel fine.” She embraced her mother and then turned to find her father smiling. “Father, it’s so good to see you.”
He hugged her close. “I have missed you, my little Mia. England was stuffy and boring without you.”
“We talked of you constantly.” Her mother moved to the large walnut wardrobe and opened the doors. “Oh, Mia. I think you’ll love the new clothes I’ve brought home. I have two new gowns for you, in fact.”
“I’m sure they’re lovely.”
“And the most up-to-date of fashions. Your Mrs. Hale may well get the best of information regarding the latest trends, but nothing serves as well as going straight to the source.”
Mia decided to change the course of the conversation. “How did you find England other than stuffy and boring, Father?”
“Actually quite beautiful. The green of the countryside was most appealing. We traveled several days in the open landscape and found it very refreshing.”
“Even invigorating,” her mother added.
“How about things here?” Her father turned to direct one of the servants, then glanced back at Mia. “Any news we should know about?”
Mia thought for a moment. “Mr. Wilson is doing very poorly. The doctor is certain of it being cancer. He mostly sleeps these days. His pain has been most difficult to manage.”
Her mother looked sympathetically to her husband. “Poor Mercy. I should go see her immediately.”
“We will both make a brief visit,” Mia’s father declared. “After all, we have brought them gifts of thanks for allowing Mia to stay with them. There’s no reason to put it off.”
“You changed your original plans and came home early,”
Mia stated.
Her mother looked away. “There were . . . My sister felt . . .”
Mia saw her father was just as uncomfortable. “Tell me, please.”
Her parents exchanged a glance. “You aunt was unhappy that you didn’t come to at least consider the arrangement she had hoped to make. It did not bode well for the family, as the man she had in mind sought his matrimonial potential elsewhere.”
“Did she force you to leave—because of me?” Mia put her hands on her hips. “That is hardly a charitable or family-like thing to do.”
“She was worried. Their investments have not done as well as ours. To have seen the two families joined would have meant help for their failing businesses,” her mother replied.
“But,” her father continued, “to answer your question, no, she did not ask us to leave.”
“She made it clear, however, that we were not welcome.” Her mother grasped a gown by the shoulders and gave it one hard shake. “After that first day, she would scarcely even speak to us.”
“I can’t believe this! What sister would turn out her family for such a reason? Does she not see how archaic arranged marriages have become?”
“I don’t think she saw anything clearly,” Mia’s father said, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “At first I thought she was only concerned about their financial situation. I tried to reason with her and offer a loan of money, but it was simply not what they wanted. Then I came to understand that money was not the only thing at play in this matter, but also a certain social status that could be gained by relating themselves to this man and his family.”
“So you left? When was this?”
“We were there for two weeks before we found the situation too unbearable. So your mother and I took ourselves on a little tour of the countryside. We visited some of the business associates I had known when still dealing with our imports, and we went to Plymouth to see your uncle Winston. He was quite cordial, and we found the city very pleasant. We had a nice time of it, despite the disagreeable situation.”
“I am sorry, Mother, that such a thing would cause division between you and your sister.”
Her mother shrugged. “I still cannot believe Elizabeth would allow such a thing to separate us, but ’tis her choice.”
“What of Aunt Jane? Did she feel the same way? Was there no one who could reason with Aunt Elizabeth?”
“Jane feels she must support Elizabeth. After all, they both live in Bath and their families are there. I do not believe Jane considered it such a serious offense,” Mia’s mother replied. “But as your father said to me, we must give them time to rethink the subject. Elizabeth acted poorly and perhaps in time she will see the error of her ways.”
Mia had never heard her mother respond about a family matter in such a way. It seemed the time abroad had helped her mother to see life in a different light. “Well, I for one think we should put it behind us,” Mia said, forcing a smile. “I’m glad to have you home. I missed you both.” She hugged her father again and then went to her mother. “Thank you for taking my side and defending my desire to marry for love. It means a great deal to me.”
“I truly want your happiness, Mia. I’m sorry if I seemed to imply otherwise. In fact . . .” She let the words trail and looked to her husband.
Mia thought she was acting strange. “In fact, what?”
Her father came to them. “What your mother is trying to say is that we’ve had a change of heart regarding your work for Mrs. Hale.”
“What?” Mia could scarcely believe what she was hearing.
“We realize the times are changing and that social mandates should not be the only reason to make decisions. We were wrong to demand you resign your position at Godey’s simply because it looked bad. You have our permission to continue with your work there.”
Had Mia not been certain that Garrett had just proposed marriage to Eulalee Duff, this might have been the happiest moment of her life. “Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. There are hundreds of people out there whom I wish to help, and this will make a difference to them. At least I pray it does.”
“We ask only that you practice wisdom,” her father replied. “We would not wish to see your reputation ruined.”
Two days later Mia prepared to have Jason take her to town. She dressed in a dark green suit and had Ruth fashion her hair very simply. She wanted to app
ear confident, but not overly affluent.
Her plan was to shop for Prudence’s wedding present, visit Mrs. Hale, and then go to the dock district. She thought that she might purchase additional hand pieces from the woman who had called herself Sadie. Maybe Sadie would even talk to her about Jasper Barrill—if she knew him.
Collecting a handful of coins from her desk, Mia stuffed them into her bag and made her way downstairs. She was just about to call for her carriage when the butler announced Garrett Wilson. She froze in place. She wanted only to turn and flee, but instead it seemed as though her shoes had been nailed to the floor.
She hadn’t seen him since that day he’d been with Eulalee. She had sent Ruth next door to pack all of her things and bring them home rather than risk having to talk to him. She hadn’t wanted to hear whatever announcement he might want to share about his future. She honestly wanted to be happy for Garrett, and for Mrs. Duff, but she just couldn’t bear it—not yet.
“Why, Mia, you look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” her father declared as he moved past her. “Garrett, how good to see you.”
The draping at the entry to the foyer kept Mia from being able to see Garrett. She heard her father’s enthusiastic greeting and listened for a moment as they made small talk. She had finally decided to slip out of the house through the back rooms when her mother appeared.
“Did I hear your father declare Mr. Wilson had come?”
“You did, indeed,” Mia’s father said, coming into the room. “Garrett has paid us a visit.”
Mia’s mother nodded in approval. “Would you care for some refreshments?”
“No. I wouldn’t impose on you in such a fashion. I feel bad enough arriving without sending you some sort of warning, and I am in fact off to tend to something in town.” He grinned and then lifted his gaze to Mia. “You appear to be on your way out.”
A Lady of High Regard Page 18
