Sadie's Secret: 3 (The Secret Lives of Will Tucker) (33 page)

Brent seemed to consider his brother’s statement a moment. “Why were you in Baton Rouge, Tucker?”

“Same reason you were. To catch a train.”

“Where you met my sister?” Brent offered.

“Actually, yes.”

“I knew it.” Cade nudged past Brent. “If you’ve compromised her, I’ll see that you pay.”

The door opened again and Seamus stepped outside with Ethan and Aaron on his heels. “If Mr. Tucker here has compromised your sister, I will be the one to see that he pays.”

The Callum boys moved aside to allow their father to step closer to Jefferson. “You understand my meaning, son?”

Seamus Callum was a big man, although no bigger than he. Yet this was a man defending his daughter, which made him dangerous beyond his years.

“I have nothing but the best intentions toward Sadie. In fact, I’d like to talk to you about those intentions, sir.”

“No time like the present.” Seamus nodded to Aaron. “Go with your brother and listen to what he has to say. I’ll be out there directly.”

“But I—”

“Aaron, a man who can’t hear another opinion is one who might need to find another line of work.”

“Yes, sir. Come on, kid. Educate me on the improvements you think we need to make.”

Aaron glanced over at Seamus with a see-I-can-cooperate look and then fell into step beside Ethan. Meanwhile, Brent and Cade continued to watch Jefferson closely.

“You got somewhere else to be, or maybe you want to stay here and explain to me what you were doing in Baton Rouge?” Seamus asked them. The pair hurried off in two different directions, although Jefferson figured the conversation about Baton Rouge was not yet finished.

“Having trouble with those two?” Seamus asked.

“No trouble at all, sir. Now, about Sadie—”

“Walk with me, son, else my wife and daughter and likely half the household staff will be listening to what you say.”

Jefferson glanced around and thought he saw a swirl of skirts disappear from one of the front windows. Likewise, a door closed somewhere inside.

Seamus chuckled as he stepped off the porch and headed off down the avenue of oak trees that led away from the house. Hurrying to follow suit, Jefferson matched the older man’s pace.

“Nice place you have here, Mr. Callum.”

“I reckon it’ll do,” Seamus said, with more than a little pride in his voice. “Mary thinks it’s time we parcel out pieces to give to the boys so they’ll settle down. I think they’re going to do what they’re going to do, and no piece of land is going to cause them to do it any faster.”

Jefferson listened to the man as he spoke of home and family. Of what he wished for his children, how he intended to help them, and what he wouldn’t do.

And as the Callum patriarch spoke, Jefferson began to realize just what
family meant to this father of six. Suddenly his plan to steal away Seamus’s daughter under false pretenses did not seem so brilliant after all.

In fact, it felt like the lie it was.

Seamus stopped short and crossed his arms over the broad expanse of his chest. “All right. Talk to me, son.”

There it was. His chance. And the words refused to come. The lie stuck in his throat, lodged there by his own sense of what was right and what was very, very wrong.

“Cat got your tongue?” Seamus chuckled. “How about I help you? You like my Sadie, don’t you?”

He did, so Jefferson felt fine in nodding.

“And she’s someone you would like to spend more time with?”

Again he nodded, as the statement was true. Beyond her abilities as a Pinkerton agent, he found he enjoyed spending time with her.

“I think I know what you’re trying to say then.”

“You do?” he managed.

“’Course I do. I was young once.” He turned to face back in the direction of the house, both hands on his hips as he seemed to survey the monument to his success as a sugarcane planter and refiner.

“Her brothers don’t seem to care for you much, excepting Ethan. But they mostly don’t like anyone who comes too close to their sister.” He paused to glance in Jefferson’s direction. “You hurt one of us, you hurt us all. You understand that, son?”

“I do, sir.”

“I’ll admit I was skeptical when my wife invited you to supper. If Kyle Russell hadn’t vouched for you, I guarantee you wouldn’t have stepped foot on Callum property if you were looking to cozy up to my daughter.”

Kyle had spoken to him? Interesting.

“I do understand, sir, and I appreciate your care of your family.”

Seamus shrugged. “I have a sister in Mobile. A brother-in-law too, but I don’t trust him farther than I can throw him. Don’t suppose you’ve met Penn Monroe yet. He’s made himself scarce lately, although usually not at mealtimes. He’s probably up to his usual tricks.”

Jefferson listened while the elder Callum expounded on the topic of family relations. He, too, had a family member he did not trust, but unlike Seamus, he wouldn’t be making mention of John today.

Sadie stepped out onto the upstairs porch and seemed to be watching them. She hadn’t worn a blue dress, but he’d figured she wouldn’t do as he asked. Still, he had to test her to see how best to manage her.

“You haven’t asked, so I’m not offering,” Seamus said as he nodded toward the house and, presumably, Sadie. “The question is, do you plan to ask?”

“Sir,” Jefferson said slowly, “I came here planning to ask.”

The planter turned back toward him and shaded his eyes with his hand. “And?”

He hesitated only a second before looking back in Sadie’s direction. “And I still think it’s a good plan.”

Twenty-Five

W
ith her brothers scattered to the four corners of the property and Daddy busy with Jefferson Tucker, Sadie decided now was the best time to manage a visit to the city. Slipping down the back staircase, she hurried to the carriage house. She followed the sound of snoring until she found one of the drivers sound asleep in the tack room.

Clearing her throat produced no result, so she stepped back outside and knocked loudly. Snoring quickly became snorting, and then the driver stumbled out.

His eyes widened when he saw her waiting. “I do apologize, Miss Callum. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t, what with the fact you were sleeping.” She paused to allow that statement to sink in before adding, “And loudly.”

His face flushed bright red. “Yes. Well, about that. You see, I worked hard to get the carriage in good order, and then when I finished, well, I…”

“You took a brief rest?”

“Yes,” he said sheepishly. “That would be about the size of it.”

Sadie glanced around and saw that the two of them were alone. “I don’t suppose there’s any harm in a brief rest. Jack, isn’t it?”

“Jack Barnes. And thank you for understanding, Miss Callum.”

“It’s quite all right.” She paused and leaned slightly forward. “Rest assured I will not tell Daddy. Oh, but there is just one little thing.”

“Yes, miss?”

“I am in need of the carriage,” she said with as much confidence as she could manage. “And you, of course. There is an errand I must see to in the city.”

“An errand, Miss Callum? Will any of the family be joining you?”

Sadie thought a moment. As much as the driver might be chastised for not remaining awake during working hours, they both knew he would catch much more trouble from Daddy should he even consider taking Sadie into the city alone. It simply wasn’t done. Ever.

“Actually, if you could send one of the stable boys for my maid, Julia, I would be much obliged.”

“Julia.” He nodded. “Yes, Miss Callum. Right away.”

“Oh, and would you be a dear and not mention my errand to anyone in the house?”

Jack turned to offer her a confused look. “Not mention your errand?” He shook his head. “I don’t follow, Miss Callum. Are you asking me to hide your errand from your father?”

Goodness, but he was being stuffy. “No, of course not,” she hurried to say. “What I meant is I am in a bit of a rush and, well, Daddy did say he would be busy with Ethan and Aaron this morning, so I do not wish to interrupt them.”

“Yes, miss. And your mother?”

“She is a very busy woman, although I’m sure if you were to mention our plans to go into the city, she would think nothing of having you take her on her visiting rounds again. You do enjoy taking Mama visiting, don’t you, Jack?”

“I’ll just send the stable boy after Julia, miss.”

When his footsteps echoed on the steps outside, Sadie let out a long breath. Why was it that she could face any number of fearsome threats without blinking an eye, only to return home to River Pointe and then find herself cowering in a carriage house in hopes of finding a way into the city? And being afraid she might fail?

He returned a few minutes later. “The girl is on her way. Where is it you would like to be taken?”

She gave him the address.

“So this is a shopping trip.” His expression showed relief. “Why didn’t you say so? I confess I was concerned, but now…” He shook his head. “Surely there will be no repercussions for taking you and your maid shopping.”

Ignoring that statement, Sadie squared her shoulders and marched toward the carriage. Perhaps it would be better to have a second person
along for her mission and not just her reputation. She could make good use of the maid, now that she thought of it.

Julia climbed in a few minutes later and then the carriage jolted forward. When they successfully reached the River Road, Sadie sat back and let out a long breath.

To the maid’s credit, she sat quietly without asking any questions. Nor did she seem the least bit worried about what her duties might entail. Rather, she maintained a discreet demeanor and an alert presence.

“I’m doing a bit of shopping today,” Sadie said. “I have an interest in antiquities, and there’s a place in town I very much want to visit.”

Sadie paused to allow her gaze to sweep the length of her companion. Though Julia’s garments were serviceable, no one would believe her to be anything more than a maid. That must be remedied.

Thus their first stop was to Madame Theriot’s dress shop for something more suitable. “Oh, miss, I don’t know,” Julia said when Sadie ushered her inside and insisted she choose an appropriate gown for the day’s adventure.

“I believe any of these would look just right on your friend,” Madame Theriot said as she held out several day dresses for Sadie’s inspection.

“Try those on,” she told Julia.

“Yes, miss,” the maid said, although there was precious little enthusiasm in her voice.

Julia stepped out of the dressing room in a lovely emerald green ensemble that elevated her from maid to mademoiselle. “Perfect,” Sadie told Madame Theriot.

“Wonderful,” the dressmaker said. “Shall I wrap your purchase?”

Sadie opened her reticule to retrieve payment for the garment and then shook her head. “No, she will be wearing the dress.” She glanced around before returning her attention to Madame Theriot. “I wonder if you would have something to put her dress in. The one she wore into your shop, that is?”

A moment later, they left with Julia’s maid’s garments neatly folded in a modest and incongruous carpetbag. Sadie placed the bag on the floor of the carriage and then allowed Jack to help her inside.