Authors: Linda Daly
Not wanting Lavinia Sterling anywhere near Joshua or he being
alarmed, Elise said, “How kind of you Mrs. Sterling, but I was just on my
way to find my husband myself. Why don’t we both go in search of our
wayward spouses?”
Turning to look at Felicity, Lavinia’s trained eye raised as she turned
her attention back to Elise who hastily whisked her from the room.
Why the
prim and proper Mrs. Myles is intoxicated
.
Oh this may prove amusing.
Smiling sweetly at Elise, Lavinia whispered, “You know, some women
in your condition fear their husbands may find them unattractive; dreading
they might seek comfort in the arms of a more pleasing woman to look at.
But in your case my dear, I’m certain you have nothing to be worried
about.”
Elise not giving Lavinia the satisfaction of seeing how her comment
hurt her, smiled. “Oh I know, I just can’t imagine any woman being so
vain, but then again it’s probably because her husband never really loved
her as my husband loves me. Speaking of husbands, where is Mr. Sterling
this evening? Funny how I never see you and he together.”
Seeing Joshua coming toward them, Elise beamed and immediately
went to his side, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. Leaning over
to her, he whispered, “Back so soon? I was just going to see if you were
behaving yourself, my delicate pearl.”
Sickened by his comment, Lavinia excused herself as Elise drew
Joshua away from the others explaining Felicity’s predicament. “Darling,
after Rupert and Annabelle are announced, you must keep him preoccupied
until we can get Felicity away from here. Now don’t worry, I’ll do nothing
to over exert myself. Come let’s say hello to your dear parents.”
Back in the study, Felicity, turning to Miranda upon seeing James and
Alfred enter the room, said, “I’m fine really. I just need to rest for a spell.”
Before Miranda could say a thing, Alfred said, “Miranda, don’t be
alarmed. Gilbert is safely tucked away as originally planned. By God,
young woman, you do have a way of getting what you want, don’t you?
Not that I approve of what you just did mind you, but remind me never to
cross you.”
Felicity drank more of the hot coffee as ordered and looked at her
friends with tears in her eyes. “I’m so ashamed, please forgive my
foolishness. I hope I haven’t spoiled everything.”
Before Miranda had a chance to answer, James said, “Listen to me, we
don’t have much time. I saw Lavinia lurking about.”
“She’s already been here.”
Shaking his head, James said in a strong and urgent voice, “Benjamin
is with Rupert explaining that you have taken ill, and since they are
planning to make their introduction within the half hour, there is no time to
spare. Especially since Tad and Vivian are expected to be announced before
them. As for you Felicity, you’re doing splendidly. It may not be the illness
we had planned, but you certainly don’t look yourself, so follow my cue.”
His voice became gentler as he looked into Felicity’s eyes. “Just don’t
begin weeping and spoil everything.”
Alfred opened the study doors and called for a servant to retrieve
Montgomery while he motioned for Miranda to join him on the terrace, so
he could have a few moments alone with her before she left.
As he and Miranda were saying their farewells, Miranda discreetly
passed him the letters she had written earlier. James, meanwhile spoke
privately to Montgomery, going over the last minute details to assure
everything was going precisely as planned. Lavinia, seeing that Felicity
was alone, discreetly entered the study while everyone else was
preoccupied, and caring a glass of punch, offered it to Felicity.
“I’ve instructed the cook to bring along some broth for our ill patient. I
see you have some coffee. I should think that might be rather harsh for you.
Here Felicity, why not try the punch instead. I’ve poured it especially for
you,
dear
.” Lavinia, nearly choking on her own syrupy words smiled at
Felicity.
Not wanting to appear ungrateful, Felicity took the goblet of punch
from her and said sweetly, “How kind of you to make such a fuss over me
Lavinia. I’m fine though, really!”
Thirsty, from the effects of the brandy and detested coffee, Felicity
took a rather large swallow of the punch, nearly choking. By this time
Miranda, Alfred, and James saw Lavinia near Felicity and went to her side
nonchalantly. Still coughing from the punch, Miranda took the goblet from
her passing it to James as she patted Felicity on the back. James’ eyes
locked onto Lavinia’s who smile immediately changed her look to that of
concern.
Suspicious of his wife, James sipped the punch himself, and when he
discovered it was vodka with a splash of punch for color, he scolded her,
“Are you mad? This is straight liquor!”
“Why James, I don’t know what you referring too?” Lavinia appeared
to be shocked. “I was only trying to help. How was I to know that the
punch was spiked?”
“I’m sure there is no harm done. I think though, under the
circumstances I should get Felicity home,” Miranda hastily said.
In agreement, Felicity nodded her head as she tried to regain her
composure through the coughing spell. “Yes,” she gurgled.
Glaring coldly at his wife, James, in a stern voice demanded, “Lavinia
and I will accompany you.” His voice softened as he looked at the other
two women. “It’s not safe for two women to wander the streets alone at
night. Besides, we haven’t helped the situation much anyway, have we,
dear?”
His glance returned to Lavinia and she gasped. “And miss the entire
ball?” she whined. “No. I simply cannot miss my own sister being
announced into New York society. What would people think? You go with
them and I’ll stay here and represent the family.”
Glaring at her, his tone now that of disgust, James said, “As you insist,
Lavinia. Miranda, you ride with Felicity and I’ll follow you safely home
and then I’ll meet you back at our home following the party, my dear. I
have work to attend to and I’ll not be returning to this gala event.”
Lavinia, in a huff, turned sharply on her heels. “In your present frame
of mind, that will suit me just fine.”
Both woman sighed relief after Lavinia left and Alfred said, “By God,
James, you gave me such a fright. Why on earth would you suggest she
come with you?”
“Simply because if I hadn’t, Lavinia would have thought something
amiss and would have insisted on coming along.”
Shaking his head, Alfred said, “Well, by God, you could have warned
me. My heart can’t take anymore surprises tonight.” Then looking at
Miranda, he said, “Are you ready, my dear? I believe there is a very
anxious man waiting to speak with you.”
Smiling at Alfred, she said, “Yes. I’m anxious to speak with him as
well.”
As the four of them made their way to two the carriages, James
directed his driver as Alfred helped Felicity into the other carriage after
saying his good-byes to Montgomery. Alfred, pale and visibly shaken,
turned and said to Miranda, “Don't worry, my dear, I’ll see to it that Lucas
receives your letter in Washington. I’ll send a courier straight away.”
Kissing him lightly on the cheek, she whispered, “Thank you, for
everything. I love you.”
“And I love you. Now be off with you and be kind to your family, dear
one. Especially, that stubborn one inside who loves you with all his heart.”
Smiling knowingly at what Alfred was referring to, Miranda stepped
inside the coach and lovingly gazed at Gilbert who was lying across the
floor of the carriage. After taking a seat next to Felicity, Gilbert withdrew
the blanket from his head and glared at Miranda.
“Mrs. O’Flaherty, don’t ya be thinkin’ that yer goin’ to be getting’ away
with walkin’ out of the room as ya did earlier, without me havin’ a chance
to say anythin’.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to be discussing whatever you like, Mr.
O’Flaherty, all the while we’re traveling to our new life in San Francisco.
But in the meantime darling, please do be patient until we’re safe.”
With that, Montgomery pulled away from the curb of the Honeycutt’s
mansion following James Sterling’s cab. With Gilbert safely tucked away
inside, only minutes from freeing the man they had rescued months earlier,
Miranda and Felicity clutched each other’s hand, scared to death.
Lavinia, who had been watching her husband from the window of
Vivian’s private suite, observed as their driver, once safely off the
Honeycutt’s property and down the street a few doors, pulled over to the
side of the road.
Wondering why they had stopped, Miranda and Felicity gasped and
waited in the coach bursting with anxiety. Gilbert, lying hunched over at
their feet, moved about slightly. Miranda whispered, “Stay still darling, Mr.
Sterling is approaching.”
James then called to his driver, “Good man please assist me with Mrs.
Myles, she’s poorly this evening, and I’ll care for her in my coach after
all.”
The coachman looked curiously at him but did as he’d been instructed.
As James took Felicity’s elbow, he winked at Miranda, who looked as if
she’d seen a ghost.
“Mrs. O’Flaherty, it just occurred to me, there will be no way for your
carriage to be returned with Montgomery accompanying you. Rather than
go through the inconvenience of fetching it tomorrow and since Felicity is
truly not herself, why not say your good-byes now? I’ll take Felicity back
to the orphanage myself and have my driver return Alfred’s coach after
you’re safely aboard the train.”
Miranda looked at Felicity hesitantly, fully aware that other carriages
were arriving in front of the Honeycutt’s and she felt very apprehensive
they could be discovered harboring Gilbert. “Are you alright with this?”
“Of course, dear. It makes perfect sense.”
Holding Miranda in her arms, Felicity said, “Please be happy. You both
deserve to be.” Then smiling at Gilbert, she added. “Take good care of her.
She’s very special.”
Accepting James’ hand, feeling as she were ready to break down and
cry, besides feeling the effects of the alcohol even more than before,
Felicity stepped out of the carriage. She leaned slightly on James while he
gave directions to his driver who had joined Montgomery on the
buckboard.
Waving to Miranda as Montgomery pulled away, Felicity, distraught,
wept silently in James’ arms as he led her inside his carriage, before taking
his place on the buckboard.
Lavinia, still watching from the window, glared at her husband.
You
will rue the day you chose her over me, James.
She sashayed away from
the window in search of Rupert.
As Montgomery proceeded down the cobblestone road leading to
Union Station, Miranda’s heart, beating as quickly as the wings of a dove
as it just learned to leave the nest for the first time, sighed. Once the
carriage was well out of sight, she watched Gilbert slide from the floor of
the carriage and retrieve a topcoat, hat, and riding gloves from the boxes
that were placed on the seat across from Miranda.
“Well Mr. O’Flaherty, don’t you look exceptionally handsome today.
Every bit a fine dapper gentlemen.”
“Mr. Hourigan, lass. And don’t yer dare be tryin’ to sweet talk me just
now. Not after what ya just pulled off.”
Detecting a hint of amusement in his eyes, she practiced her Irish
accent. “Aye, so I’m to receive the silent treatment again, am I? Well I’ll be
havin’ none of that laddie!”
Shaking his head and smirking while taking a seat beside her, Gilbert
chuckled. “That is the sorriest excuse of an Irish accent me ears have ever
heard. Is it any wonder I’ve decided to make sure me son knows how to
speak with a true Irish brogue?”
Grateful this nightmare was finally coming to an end, and feeling
Gilbert place his arm around her lovingly, Miranda leaned back in the seat
and smiled. “Your son? And how are you so sure you’ll have a son,
Gilbert? Perhaps our baby might be a girl, have you ever thought of that?”
“A father knows. Why didn’t ya tell me, Miranda? Have ya already
forgotten our promise never to have secrets?”
“Darling, I swear as I held onto Elise today, and was congratulating her
for being in the family way, I just knew I was having a baby, too. So I
didn’t keep any secrets from you. I told you as soon as I felt it. Besides, I
may be wrong . . .”
“Aye, but even if yer not now, we’ve got a whole lot of time to make
sure ya are before we get to San Francisco,” Gilbert said, huskily winking
at her suggestively.
“So then, you’re not angry with me for saying such cruel things to you
earlier?”
“Now don’t be pushin’ yer luck there Mandy, girl. Ya were a might
harsh, but I’ll be forgivin’ you this once, on account what ya said made a
wee bit of sense. So, let’s not be worrin’ that pretty head of yers anymore
about what was said in the past. Have ya not forgotten we have our whole
lives ahead of us?”
Minutes later as the coach approached Grand Central Station, she,
Gilbert, and Montgomery stepped on board the train, and after finding their
assigned box-cars on the Erie, Gilbert looked at Miranda.
“It’s over. We’re finally out from beneath the clutches of the past and
no harm can come to us now.”
“I know, I was just thinking the same,” she said softly. “No more,
hiding or being frightened that someone will find you. By tomorrow your
name will be cleared of the killing of David Sullivan, so if you choose, we
can start using our name as soon as we reach San Francisco.”
“It can wait, I’m as much a Hourigan as I am an O’Flaherty, I suppose.
Just how long will this train take us to get all the way to San Francisco?”
“Oh darling, I’m afraid we’re going to be on several different trains,
didn’t I tell you? From what Alfred said, we’ll stay of this one until we
reach the Mississippi and then we’ll have to make some changes. If
memory serves me right, we’ll go on The Central Pacific then on The
Union Pacific. I can pull all the tickets if you like.”
“No, tomorrow we can look at them. Let’s just enjoy our freedom
tonight. To do as we please, not hidden from view.”
“Yes darling, anything you like. Besides, San Francisco isn’t going
anywhere, I don’t believe.”
Gilbert smiled. “Aye, looks like we will definitely have a great deal of
time on our hands. And there’s not much room in this sleepin’ car . . .”
Smiling knowingly at her husband as he took her in his arms, feeling the
train leave the station, Gilbert asked, “Any regrets?”