A Most Peculiar Circumstance (20 page)

Something freeing swept over him, but before he could truly contemplate the lightness that had settled in his very soul, Gloria drew his attention when she got up from her seat and strode across the room. She stopped in front of Violet. “You shall join us for tea, my dear.”

Violet shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, I get the feeling you have a story to tell, one that will shed light on what happened tonight, so you will be doing me a service, and in return, you
will
drink tea,” Gloria said.

“I told Violet and her friends you would welcome them into your home,” Eliza said, her voice slightly breathless as she appeared to be tugging Sarah and Hannah into the room rather forcefully. “Now then, where shall everyone sit?”

“I’ll sit with Lottie,” Hamilton said, following Eliza into the room, Lottie hanging on his arm and looking completely delighted by it.

“I still don’t feel comfortable about this,” Violet said, even
as she plopped down into the seat Gloria was pointing at and then plucked at the fabric of her shabby coat, trying to rub at a stain that marked the material.

Gloria pulled up a dainty chair next to Violet, sat down, and pulled Violet’s hand into her own. Violet looked positively alarmed, but to her credit she didn’t snatch her hand back.

“For some reason, my dear . . . ?”

“Violet.”

“That’s a lovely name, and you may call me Gloria. Now then,” Gloria continued even as Violet’s mouth dropped open, “you seem to be under the misimpression you’re not welcome here or that you don’t belong.”

“You’re high society, and me and the girls are . . . not.”

Gloria patted Violet’s hand. “I’m of the belief that all of us are God’s children, and as such we need to treat each other with respect. I hardly think God would be too pleased with me if I didn’t offer you tea, especially since it appears you’ve been in the company of my daughter and Agatha this evening. You’re probably past due for a bracing cup of tea.”

“Forgive me, Mrs., er, Gloria, but I don’t put much store in God,” Violet said softly.

Gloria patted her hand again. “Perfectly understandable, dear, but sometimes God presents us with situations that . . . change our way of thinking.”

“Everything all settled?” Agatha asked as she and Zayne strolled into the room. Theodore couldn’t help but notice that Zayne was still carrying Agatha’s wig, and Agatha had abandoned her shoes somewhere along the way.

Mr. Watson stepped forward. “Nothing has been settled, and . . . what are you wearing, and . . . is that a dog Zayne’s carrying?”

“It’s my wig, Father, and I’m wearing an opera dress,” Agatha said with a nod before she walked across the room, kissed her father’s red cheek, and went to stand by Grayson,
who passed her a cup of tea before returning to filling the other cups set out on the table.

Theodore’s annoyance with the man slowly drifted away as he watched Grayson take cup after cup of tea to Violet and her friends, complimenting each and every one of them. Not once did Theodore see a look of derision cross the gentleman’s face.

He was more compassionate than Theodore had given him credit for, and also more of a threat.

What woman could resist a gentleman who was handsome, wealthy, and compassionate?

Arabella suddenly moved from the fireplace and settled down on a comfortable-looking settee. He took one step forward, intent on joining her, but then stopped when Grayson sidled across the room and slid into place beside her. Grayson looked up, sent Theodore a nod, then proceeded to take Arabella’s hand as he leaned in closer and whispered something in Arabella’s ear that caused her to laugh.

Theodore narrowed his eyes, changed his opinion yet again about the gentleman—and not for the better—and paused as he took another step forward when Zayne caught his eye and winked.

Theodore changed directions, stalked to the fireplace, and stood there for the next fifteen minutes as Arabella and Agatha explained what had happened throughout the night.

“Mrs. Wilder will be so relieved to discover Katherine is safe,” Gloria said. “She was quite frazzled when the minutes kept ticking away and none of you showed up back here. I think she only decided to return to her house because, as she barely knows us, she didn’t want us to take note of her increasing distress.”

“I think my mother is a lot stronger than even I give her credit for,” Theodore said. He tried to keep his gaze from returning to Arabella too often, even though Grayson seemed
to have moved closer to her and was still holding her hand. “But now that the events of the night have been explained, and the yelling has finally ceased”—he smiled at Mr. Watson, who, to his surprise, grinned in return—“there is something of a pressing nature we need to discuss: Arabella’s safety.”

Douglas Beckett walked over and joined him by the fire, as did Hamilton and Zayne. Grayson, he couldn’t help but notice, remained firmly ensconced on the settee and had moved from holding Arabella’s hand to rubbing her shoulder. Theodore stifled the urge to throttle the man, instead turning to look directly at Douglas. He began to explain, telling everyone about his investigation, or lack thereof, in Gilman, and what his concerns were regarding Arabella.

Five minutes later, he stopped, frowned when Grayson whispered something in Arabella’s ear yet again, and reluctantly forced his attention back to Hamilton, who was saying something he’d apparently missed.

“. . . and we could hire guards like we did when Eliza’s life was at stake.”

Theodore frowned. “We might be dealing with trained professionals. That is why I have something a little more drastic in mind.” He nodded to Violet and her friends. “I know I offered you the use of my house tonight, but—”

“You’ve rethought that, and I can’t say I blame you, Mr. Wilder,” Violet said before he could get the rest of his sentence out of his mouth. “You’re a fine, upstanding citizen of New York, and it would harm your stellar reputation if word got out you let a bunch of old harlots stay under your roof.”

She was so matter-of-fact about her position in society. He glanced at her friends and found all of them nodding in agreement. His heart gave a lurch, and he vowed then and there that, if nothing else, he was going to do his best to save these women, and hopefully help them find a life that didn’t bring them constant shame.

“I don’t care about my reputation,” he said. “All I care about is keeping all of you safe, along with Arabella. My grandparents have a farm not too far from here, a few hours at most, and I would be honored if all of you would consent to travel there with me.”

“But . . . what about Arabella?” Violet asked.

“She would be coming with us and—”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Grayson interrupted. “I’ll come too. We’ll make a party of it.”

Theodore’s vision turned a little red as he watched Grayson smile his too-charming smile at Arabella and then reach up to pull the beauty patch right off her face.

Enough was enough.

His feet went into motion without his even realizing it, and before he knew it, he was standing right in front of Arabella and Grayson. He reached down, pulled her up into his arms, and sent Grayson what he could only hope was a terrifying glare.

“That is kind of you to offer, Mr. Sumner, but I’m afraid your services won’t be needed. I’ll take care of Arabella from now on.” He looked down into Arabella’s eyes. “We’re leaving . . . immediately.”

 16 

I
t seemed as though she’d been spending quite a bit of her time lately riding in carriages. Arabella shifted on the seat, but stilled when her elbow made contact with Violet’s ribs. “I do beg your pardon, Violet.”

“There’s no need to apologize. We don’t have much room to sneeze, let alone move.”

Arabella grinned and looked around the crammed interior of the carriage. Beside Violet, Lottie was dozing with her head against the window, while Hannah and Sarah were sleeping on the other seat, both of their heads pillowed against Theodore’s broad shoulders. He was sleeping as well, and in sleep he looked boyish, nothing like the crazed gentleman who had just five hours ago hustled her out of her house with barely any time to pack.

He was a good man—temperamental but good.

Why hadn’t she seen that before?

Violet leaned close to her and whispered, “I must say, I envy those two. There’s nothing quite like having a strong gentleman to lean against when a lady wants to slumber.”

Arabella found she couldn’t argue that point, but since her
emotions and her mind hadn’t quite reconciled her new feelings for Theodore, she decided it would probably be best to change the subject. “I’m surprised you’re not trying to nap, Violet. It was an exhausting evening.”

“I’ve never been out of the city before. I don’t want to miss a single thing.”

Arabella cast a glance out the window. “It’s still dark. There’s nothing to miss.”

“It’ll be light soon, and I’ve always wanted to watch the sun come up out in the country.”

It was such a small thing Violet wanted, and one Arabella had witnessed too many times to count as she’d traveled around the country. Her heart ached ever so slightly, and she closed her eyes for just a moment as thoughts whirled around her mind.

She’d spent years fighting for the right to vote, fighting to improve the lives of women, but she’d never actually gotten to know many of those women. She’d certainly never bothered to see into any of their souls.

Lord, I’m afraid I’m lost at the moment. I’ve been arrogant and judgmental. I’ve also been claiming to follow the path you set for me, but I think I’ve been mistaken. Forgive me for not truly listening and not understanding what you’ve planned for me. Please hold safe these women surrounding me, and show me how to help them, but only if that is your will.

“Are you all right?”

Her eyes flashed open, and she found Theodore awake and watching her. She smiled. “I’m fine. Just praying.”

He returned her smile. “We certainly need all the help we can get.”

She shifted carefully on the seat, trying to avoid hitting Violet again, and then winced when she stretched her arm over her head.

“Stiff from the journey?” Theodore asked.

She narrowed her eyes at him and lowered her arm. “If you must know, I’m sore from what happened before you allowed me into the carriage.” She shuddered. “Why you felt it was imperative for me to leave my house in a traveling trunk is still beyond me. You did see Zayne and Hamilton drop it, didn’t you?”

Violet grinned. “They told me to tell you they were very sorry about that.”

“Yes, I could tell they were dreadfully sorry, especially with all the laughter I heard through the one air hole someone considerately remembered to provide.” She rolled her eyes. “I think gentlemen in general are deranged.”

Theodore laughed. “I didn’t stuff you into that trunk because I’m deranged. I did it for your safety. There’s a chance you’re being followed, and the last thing we needed was for anyone to get a glimpse of you departing with me. If someone was watching your house, all they saw was me leaving with Violet and her friends.”

“It was a stroke of genius to have Eliza change into Arabella’s costume, Mr. Wilder,” Lottie said as she pushed herself off Theodore’s shoulder, her eyes remarkably bright for someone who’d just been sleeping. “If anyone
was
watching us leave, they’d have to believe Arabella was still back at her house. Eliza was very convincing when she screeched at you as we made our departure. It’s too bad she was born into the aristocracy. She would have made a wonderful actress.”

“Yes, she does seem to have missed her calling,” Arabella muttered. “But, just to clarify, I don’t normally shriek like a fishmonger from the steps of my house, especially in the middle of the night.”

Theodore and Lottie exchanged amused glances.

Violet leaned forward. “At least you were not made to stay in the trunk for the entire journey.”

Arabella shuddered. “You have no idea how disconcerting
it is to know you’re tied by flimsy ropes to the top of a swaying carriage. I feared for my life.”

“It seems Eliza is not the only one who missed her calling,” Theodore said with a grin.

“Have you ever been stuffed into a trunk and made to ride on top of a carriage?”

“I’ve never been stuffed into a trunk, but there was the time I was put into a coffin in order to escape a gang of smugglers.”

“You were involved with smugglers?” Violet breathed.

Arabella released a huff. “He’s just teasing.”

“Am I?”

Arabella bit her lip as she considered him across the small space. He was gazing innocently back at her, but there was something about his expression, something that made her realize right then and there that Theodore had, indeed, escaped from a gang of smugglers.

Honestly, who came into contact with smugglers on a regular basis?

It made him even more . . . intriguing.

Heat flooded her face, and she was suddenly thankful dawn had not arrived just yet and that their only light came from a small lantern attached to the carriage door. She cleared her throat and struggled for something to say to distract herself from her disturbing thoughts. “I’ve been wondering why we had to leave New York so abruptly.”

Theodore crossed his arms over his chest, his expression somewhat guarded. “I didn’t see the need to linger. My main objective is to get you to safety as soon as possible.”

“If that’s true, why then did we stop off at your house, where you left me lingering on top of the carriage for a good fifteen minutes?”

“I gave you plenty of blankets, so I knew you wouldn’t be cold, and you were guarded the entire time by one of my men.”

“One of your men just happened to be at your house?” Arabella asked.

“Someone is always at my house. I’ve made too many enemies to leave my home unprotected.”

That certainly wasn’t something she’d ever considered.

“I also thought that stopping at my house would be a good diversion tactic, and it allowed me to pack a few personal items for this trip and send word for more of my men to join us.”

“More men are going to join us?” Lottie asked, her eyes gleaming.

“Five men already have, and no, you will not get near them,” Theodore said firmly.

Lottie slumped back against the seat, but her lips were twitching, and Arabella had the uncanny feeling the lady had been deliberately baiting Theodore.

Here was something else she’d never considered: ladies of the night with mischievous attitudes.

“I realize none of you know where we’re going, but I assure you, you’ll be safe,” Theodore said. “Not only do I have men riding with us, they’re also some of the best trackers around. They’ll know if we’re being followed.” He looked directly at Arabella, his expression intense. “I will do everything in my power to make certain nothing, and no one, gets near you.”

It was as if all the air had suddenly been sucked right out of the carriage. He was the same gentleman she’d known for a while now, but something had changed between them. What that something was, she really didn’t understand, but her world shifted, and she knew it would never be the same again.

The carriage lurched to the right, and Arabella grabbed onto the strap, even as the carriage steadied a moment later. The strange moment with Theodore disappeared.

An hour sped by as light conversation flowed through the carriage, and Arabella couldn’t help but notice that Theodore
didn’t appear at all uneasy being surrounded by five ladies. He told amusing stories every once in a while, but for the most part he spent the time watching her.

It was disconcerting.

She felt his gaze once again and turned toward the window, smiling before she pushed herself up and out of her seat, gestured to Violet to take her place, and then sat down next to her once Violet had moved. “The sun is coming up.”

Tears stung her eyes when Violet pressed her nose against the glass, and she couldn’t seem to resist looking at Theodore, who was watching her again, only now with something warm in his eyes, something different. She wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeve and returned her attention to Violet, who began pointing out everything and anything she saw, her excitement contagious.

“Look at that,” Violet exclaimed five minutes later. “There’s a huge mansion up ahead.”

Theodore edged forward and smiled. “That’s my grandfather’s house.”

The carriage turned, and Arabella caught a glimpse of the house out of the small piece of window she could see past Violet’s head. She blinked. The house was three stories tall, constructed of red brick, and had at least five pillars bordering the porch that ran the entire length of the building.

“I thought you said your grandparents lived on a farm,” she said slowly.

“This is the farm, and that’s the farmhouse. My grandfather does like to indulge in the extravagant every once in a while.”

“Begging your pardon, Mr. Wilder,” Violet said, her eyes huge as she turned from the window, “but that’s more than extravagant. You could fit a hundred families in there.”

“Probably not that many families, Violet, but there is plenty of space for all of you. You’ll be able to relax until we get
matters settled back in the city, and you won’t have to worry about disturbing anyone.”

“We can’t stay here,” Lottie whispered. “Your grandfather must be one of the richest men in the world to afford such a house. He won’t want women like us around.”

“Do you honestly believe I would bring you somewhere you weren’t welcome?” Theodore asked.

Lottie bit her lip. “We’re not considered acceptable.”

“You’re completely acceptable, and better still, I consider all of you friends.” Theodore gestured out the window. “Besides, that’s my grandfather standing on the porch, so it’s too late now.”

Arabella frowned. “What in the world is your grandfather doing up at this time of day?”

“He’s always been an early riser, as is my grandmother, and he’s probably already been out to the barn to talk to his chickens.”

“He talks to chickens?” Hannah asked.

“I thought only crazy people talked to chickens,” Sarah said, causing everyone to turn to her. Her face turned pink even as she leaned forward and peered out the window. “He looks scary.”

Arabella smiled at Sarah, surprised the lady had actually spoken. She’d only heard her speak once at the jail and couldn’t even imagine how nervous the lady must be at the moment. “I’m sure he’s not scary, Sarah. He’s probably just like Theodore, and you’re not scared of Theodore, are you?”

Sarah shook her head, albeit a bit slowly, scooted back in her seat, and lapsed into silence.

“Theodore, is that you?” a voice bellowed as the carriage rolled to a stop.

“Maybe we should be scared,” Violet whispered.

“My grandfather is a perfectly amiable soul who will welcome you with open arms.” Theodore pushed the door open
and jumped down from the carriage. “I heard you were looking for me, Grandfather.”

Arabella paused in the process of getting out of the carriage as Theodore’s grandfather grabbed Theodore and pulled him into a hug. He stepped back and gestured to the sky. “I told your father I needed to see you, but I never expected you to turn up on my doorstep in the midst of a blizzard.”

Arabella glanced at the sky, noticed a few flakes floating lazily to the ground, and looked back to Theodore, who was grinning.

“I don’t think this measly little bit of snow can be considered a blizzard.”

“The chickens say differently,” George said with a hearty laugh. “I just got back from trying to soothe the animals when I saw your carriage driving up. It’s a rather unusual time to pay a visit.”