An Unexpected Love (27 page)

“I’m surprised she didn’t tell me, but I’m glad to hear the servants won’t be left to fend for themselves.” Using the tip of her knife, Mrs. Atwell deftly slit a design in the top crust. “She did tell me Theresa had found herself a man and got married.” The older woman winked.

Fanny could feel the heat slowly rise up her neck. Theresa O’Malley had proved to be Fanny’s arch nemesis last summer when the housekeeper’s daughter made an effort to gain Michael’s affection. When Theresa had failed in her attempt, she returned to Rochester, and it hadn’t taken long for her to gain a marriage proposal from a young man who worked at Sam Gottrey’s Carting Company. Fanny had talked with Theresa only once since her marriage, but she had been quite pleased to announce she was expecting a baby before Christmas.

After sliding three pies into the oven, Mrs. Atwell glanced at the clock. “Dear me, I had better keep moving or I’m not going to have supper ready on time. It always takes me several days to become accustomed to cooking for a large crowd after a winter of preparing for only two or three.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Not on your first day here! You go and enjoy yourself. If I need help, I’ll have Mrs. Broadmoor send one of the maids down to help me.”

Fanny would have enjoyed a longer visit, but her presence would distract the older woman. After a promise to return later, she brushed a kiss on Mrs. Atwell’s cheek and bid her goodbye.

She raced up the stairs and burst into the bedroom. “Mrs. Atwell received a letter from Michael, too. Her letter gave some details that weren’t contained in mine. Michael told her . . .” Fanny waved at Sophie, who was sitting near the window overlooking the front lawn. “You’re not listening.”

“I’m watching for Wesley to arrive.” Sophie continued to gaze out the window. “Did Mrs. Atwell say if her husband had returned from Clayton?”

“She didn’t mention having seen him. I doubt he’ll come up to the house until suppertime, even if he has returned,” Fanny said.

During the next several days, Mr. Atwell would shuttle the
DaisyBee
back and forth to Clayton and pick up family members as they arrived on the train. Sophie had told them Wesley would be coming from New York City to join the family. She’d talked of nothing else for several weeks.

Amanda leaned forward and squeezed Fanny’s hand. “I’m very pleased for the additional news from Michael.”

“Mrs. Atwell believes we’ll each receive a packet of letters any time now. I do hope she’s correct.”

Sophie jumped up from the window seat and brushed the folds from her skirt. “I don’t know what’s happened to Wesley. I’m going down to the dock to see if he’s arrived.”

Sophie stopped at the foot of the stairs long enough to check her appearance in the gilt-edged mirror. After straightening the bow at her neck, she hastened outdoors. The
DaisyBee
wasn’t moored near the dock, but she couldn’t be certain if Mr. Atwell had returned the boat to the boathouse or if he was out on the water. Perhaps he was awaiting the train in Clayton. The trains were known to be late when the rush of summer guests began.

She peeked inside the boathouse and heaved a sigh of relief. Mr. Atwell and the
DaisyBee
were somewhere between Clayton and Broadmoor Island. She returned to the dock and focused her attention upon the river. When she heard the familiar sound of a boat engine, she cupped her palm above her eyes. The
DaisyBee.
She’d know that boat anywhere. She could make out the figures of two men in the boat, and her heart soared. Finally her betrothal would be sealed with an engagement ring.

She struck a pose that would show her summer dress to advantage as the boat came alongside the dock. Keeping her head tilted at a jaunty angle, she turned to greet Wesley.

“Well, this is certainly an unexpected surprise. If I had known you would be on the dock to greet me, I would have arrived even earlier.”

Paul!
Her mind reeled at the sound of his voice. She dropped her pose and glared. “I wasn’t here to meet
you.
I’m awaiting Wesley’s arrival. And stay away from me lest you cause me to fall into the water again.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Falling into the river was entirely your fault, Sophie.”

She wasn’t going to argue with him, but she still blamed him for ruining her lovely gold gown last summer during the masquerade ball. If he hadn’t surprised her, she would never have taken a misstep and fallen in the water. “Why are you here? I heard no one mention your name as an expected guest.”

“Your father asked me to come in his stead. He’s busy at the Home and said Wesley had promised to deliver the funds he pledged when he arrived today.”

“Well, you can go up to the veranda or sit in the parlor and while away the time because when Wesley arrives, I intend to have him to myself. He’ll not have time for you until we’ve had a long chat and he’s had sufficient time to place a ring on my finger.” She gave a toss of her curls, hoping for added emphasis.

Paul frowned. “I fear you’re acting foolish over this fellow, Sophie.”

She tried to turn her back to him, but he moved in front of her and held her arms. “Listen to me.
Please.
Ever since Mr. Hedrick made that huge pledge at the charity ball, I’ve been attempting to learn more about him. I can find no one who knows anything about him. Even the charitable organizations I contacted know nothing of a Wesley Hedrick.”

Sophie tightened her lips and scowled. How dare Paul besmirch Wesley’s good name. “I don’t believe you.”

“If you don’t believe me, then believe my mother. She’s been involved with the Indigent Harbor Society for years. That’s one of the organizations Wesley mentioned as being dear to his heart. My mother has never heard of Mr. Hedrick, and his name isn’t listed as either a donor or a volunteer for the organization.”

“You have no right to check on Wesley. I’m not interested in anything you or your mother has to say about him. You should mind your own business.”

The muscles in his neck tightened. “That’s exactly what I was doing, Sophie.” He turned on his heel and strode toward the house.

17

Sunday, June 5, 1898

It was nearing ten o’clock the following evening when Sophie saw the lights and heard the sound of the
DaisyBee
arriving at the dock. Except for going inside to eat meals, she’d remained on the veranda all day and throughout the evening. Sophie jumped up from her chair and carefully picked her way along the path to the dock, thankful there was at least a sliver of moonlight to guide her.

She paced the length of the dock until the boat arrived. With a sigh of relief, she rushed to Wesley’s arms the moment he stepped out of the boat.

“Careful, Sophie, or you’ll knock me into the water, and I’m in no mood to have my suit ruined.”

Taking a backward step, she looked into his eyes. “You could at least offer an embrace after all these weeks. I’ve been terribly worried about your arrival.”

He lifted his suitcases several inches higher. “My hands are full. Had I embraced you while holding them, I would have injured you.”

She tipped her head to the side. “You could set them down.”

He didn’t respond, and when she tugged on one of the suitcases, he yanked away. “Let’s go up to the house. I’m exhausted.”

“But I’ve been waiting all these weeks to see you. When you didn’t appear yesterday, I thought something terrible had occurred. There was no telegram, and . . .”

Wesley circled around her and trudged several steps up the path before glancing over his shoulder. “I’m sorry to have worried you, but there was no need for concern. I’m not a schoolboy. I travel all over the world and am capable of taking care of myself.”

Sophie hastened from the dock and came alongside him. “Still, we haven’t seen each other in so long that I expected you’d want to spend time with me.” They stepped onto the veranda, and she clutched his arm. “If this situation were reversed, I’d want to spend time with you, no matter how tired I might be. I promise you need not rise early in the morning. I’ll tell the servants they’re not to awaken you. Won’t you stay out here for a while?”

Lightning bugs winked in the distance, and a light breeze ruffled the bow at Sophie’s neck. How she longed to sit beside him and enjoy his company for a short time. She gently squeezed his arm. “Please? I have something important to tell you.”

“You’re acting quite childish, my dear.” Wesley leaned forward and placed a fatherly kiss on her forehead. “We’ll talk in the morning. There’s nothing so important that it won’t keep until then.” Shoving one of the cases under his arm, he opened the door and strode into the house.

One of the servants appeared and retrieved Wesley’s bags. Sophie folded her arms across her waist. “You may show Mr. Hedrick to his room.”

Without saying good-night, Sophie turned on her heel and marched across the foyer and into the parlor. She hoped Wesley realized the depth of her anger. Although she strained to listen if he would call good-night, she didn’t hear another word from him.

“Strange that the man who supposedly loves you doesn’t want to remain in your company, especially when the two of you haven’t seen each other in weeks.”

Sophie spun around in the darkened room. “What are you doing in here, Paul? I don’t find eavesdropping becoming.” Her eyes acclimated to the darkness of the room, and she saw him shrug.

“I didn’t come in here with the intention of eavesdropping, but the windows were open, and I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.”

“Fiddlesticks! Who sits in a dark room unless he has some underhanded motive?”

“I do. I was on the porch when I saw the two of you coming up the path. My intention was to give you some privacy and then speak to Mr. Hedrick myself. Obviously, neither of us will be talking to him tonight.”

“Wesley was extremely tired. He had a taxing day and needs his rest.”

“If that’s what you believe, I’ll not contradict you, but it’s certainly not how I would act if I were in love.”

His eyes reflected pity, and she bristled at the idea. She didn’t want his sympathy. “Well, what would you know about being in love!”

His jaw twitched. “You’d be surprised.” Without another word, he strode from the room and out the front door.

Sophie sighed and stared after him before slowly climbing the stairs. She didn’t understand Paul Medford—not in the least.

“Amanda?” Paul squinted in the darkness as a figure rounded the corner. “I didn’t realize anyone was out here.”

“I’m going up to bed now. Fanny and I were visiting with Mrs. Atwell in the kitchen. Fanny went up the back stairs, but I wanted a breath of fresh air and decided to circle around and sit on the porch for a few minutes. Is something wrong?”

He perched on the rail, hoping she would take his cue and sit down. She glanced toward the door but then sat down in the chair opposite him. “There’s something about Wesley Hedrick that makes me think the man is trouble,” he said. “If you don’t mind my asking, what do you know about him?”

“What makes you think he’s trouble?”

He explained exactly what he’d told Sophie earlier then shook his head. “Although Mr. Hedrick speaks of being involved in charitable work, I can find no one in those circles who knows him. That doesn’t mean he’s a fraud, but I find it highly irregular.”

Amanda nodded. “It does seem strange, yet we met him through Lord and Lady Illiff, who both spoke highly of him. He is related to them by marriage—or was. His deceased wife was a cousin to Lady Illiff. I can’t imagine that there is anything irregular in his background.”

Paul rubbed his forehead. “Probably it’s my overactive imagination, but it seems odd that he’s had such difficulty transferring his funds from England. People transfer funds all the time, and it doesn’t take them months to do so. He’s made many promises, yet they’ve not been fulfilled.”

Amanda rested her chin in her palm. “There are instances, though, when difficulties arise with finances. My own father has experienced problems from time to time. He becomes quite irritable with the bankers when his investment transactions are slowed down by their lack of attention to detail. At least that’s how he explains it to Mother.”

“You could be right, but I’m not convinced it’s simply a matter of difficulty with his banker. When he arrived a few moments ago, he didn’t even want to spend time with Sophie. He said he was exhausted. Don’t you find that strange? A man in love who hasn’t seen his betrothed for weeks doesn’t want to sit and visit with her for even a short time?”

“Poor Sophie. She must be devastated.” Amanda jumped up from her chair. “I’ll go upstairs and see if she needs me. I’ll visit with you tomorrow, Paul.”

“Yes. Tomorrow. Good night, Amanda.”

Sophie fidgeted with her breakfast, chasing scrambled eggs around her plate and nibbling on a piece of toast while she watched Wesley from beneath two fans of thick, dark eyelashes. She’d been pleased when he entered the dining room looking well rested only moments ago. After declaring his exhaustion last night, she’d wondered if he would rise in time to join the family for breakfast. He smiled and bid her good morning before greeting the other family members and helping himself to the sausage and eggs arranged on the sideboard. Serving themselves breakfast from silver chafing dishes each morning was the family’s nod to summer informality.