Her eyes widened as she took in the man she had known for so many years. He had always been her father’s opposite, and while she knew the two of them had never really gotten on as friends, they worked together well, each filling the role required for them. For Sullivan to do this for her, behind her father’s back, well… she would be forever grateful.
They entered the office, Sullivan lighting a candle so as to not shed too much light over the room, and they made their way toward the desk. Sullivan sat behind it, picking up the pile of papers and beginning to sort through them.
“What are those?” she asked softly.
“Your father had me complete another set of the plans for the invention, as your Adam destroyed the papers he found,” said Sullivan in a low tone. “I saw him once again filling out the patent papers. Ah! Here they are. He had them prepared for mailing, though he required one additional piece of information. I don’t believe he will again look at the documents themselves.”
He slid the papers out of the envelope, laying them flat on the desk before him.
He took a pen from the side of the desk, dipping it in the inkwell before taking it to the page. Rachel watched as he found the line with the names of those requesting patent, and he added to the names of Hardwick Trenton and Sullivan Andrews, Adam McDougall. He reviewed the rest of the paper and the proposed design, adding in a line here or there to note Adam’s contribution to the work. Rachel’s heart swelled with gratitude for the man.
“There we are,” he said as he allowed the ink to dry. “It will now be as was originally intended. Your Mr. McDougall will receive the same recognition and the same pay for any design fashioned out of the original idea.”
He folded the papers once more and returned them to the envelope. “Your father should not note any differences come the morrow.”
As he rose from the desk, Rachel put her arms around him. “Thank you, Sullivan. I really, truly appreciate it.”
“’Tis only what is fair, Rachel,” he said, awkwardly patting her back. “Now, let us see about finding the copies your father made and adjusting them as well, hmmm?”
He found the papers in the cabinet, quickly scratching in the changes but, rather than returning them to the shelf, he folded them and placed them in his pocket. “Trenton hardly looks in the cabinet, and even if he did, what would he say?” he said. “I do not very well believe he would accuse me of taking them, for what motive would I have? Come, child, we must go before anyone happens to see us.”
He ushered her out the door, and Rachel, despite feeling utterly useless, was glad she had insisted on accompanying Sullivan. Not only would he not be solely complicit were he to be found out, but she felt a true sense of accomplishment at having outwitted her father. They settled back in the hack that had waited for them, and Sullivan looked at her questioningly.
“What are you going to do now, Rachel?” he asked, concern in his voice. “I do understand your wish to be true to your father’s desires for you and yet… I cannot help but not want to see you spend the rest of your life unhappy. You have a loving heart, Rachel, and I do not want to see it squandered on someone who cares only for himself.”
Rachel nodded slowly, agreeing with his words.
“The more I learn of my father’s treachery,” she said, “The more I have realized that he has simply been using me as a pawn. I am still grateful for what he has done for me and yet… I do realize that he has done no more than a parent should. However, when I think of the children I hope to have one day, I realize that I would never want for them a life of unhappiness. I would want for them a life of love, laughter, a better one than I had. No, Sullivan,” she said, with resolve, “I will not marry Vincent. Adam may no longer have me, but at the very least, I must let him know that he still has his design, that he will still benefit from it, as will the people he cares for.”
Sullivan smiled at her. “That’s a girl,” he said. “I’m proud of you. I believe McDougall may surprise you. Despite his serious countenance, he’s a good sort, and I can tell you, Rachel girl, that man loves you. All of our days together here, he may have been focused on his designs, but you were always on his mind. You could see it in the way his eyes sometimes were looking off into the distance, the way his head turned so suddenly whenever your name was mentioned, how he looked with such distaste upon Thompson.” He shrugged. “Although I suppose most people look upon Thompson with distaste. Go to Adam, tell him how you feel. Take the copy of the documents with you. Adam can keep them, to have as proof of his role in the project.”
“Thank you, Sullivan,” she said as the carriage came to a halt. “I appreciate ever so much all that you have done for me.”
“Do not thank me!” he said. “I have no wish to be involved in a scheme that steals from others, though I am looking forward to the success we can all find together. Now, just be sure to invite me to the wedding, all right, young lady?”
Rachel refused to raise her hopes at his words, as much as they caused a fluttering in her stomach that was difficult to ignore.
“All right, Sullivan,” she said. “If it comes to that, I will.”
Returning home, she dragged her valise out of the closet. If she could leave before her father arose, she would not have
