To protect the operation, word has gotten out that Lucky had the misfortune to be caught cheating while gambling and knives came into play and someone is dying or dead. A number of names are floating about and rumor and speculation has blown the story up until it is unrecognizable. I doubt Karl will look for him any time soon as he feels double-crossed by Lucky right now.
The girls should be safe as long as Harriet thinks she is keeping an eye on them. They are only considered hostages—no one believes they know anything which, fortunately, they don’t. But you are all being watched. And we are watching the watchers.
JG
William looked up from the missive and handed it to Henry who read through and returned it. Mrs. Flowers had not been told what was happening, so she would react naturally. Henry could now fill her in a bit more fully so she could warn the girls. But even he wouldn’t be able to convey more than his mistrust of the new mistress lest a rat be smelled. Fortunately, after all the years living with the Colonel and his stream of . . . odd guests . . . Mrs. Flowers was more than a little canny.
William supposed it could have been worse but right now he couldn’t imagine how. He only hoped he didn’t have to introduce his new “bride” to anyone he knew. He’d make it clear they would not be socializing as he was still in mourning, and it would do her cause no good if a scandal were to arise.
CHAPTER 6 – HarrietRemoval
Henry accompanied them to Harriet’s former abode, sitting with the cab driver. William said nothing as they pulled up beside the somewhat shabby dwelling in which his new bride had been living with her “brother.”
Suddenly nervous, aware of the discrepancy between this hovel and the house she’d just left, Harriet apologized quickly in advance for the state of the dwelling, exclaiming that things were at sixes and sevens because of her nuptials and moving, and that her brother was also planning to leave town and return to his own lodgings now that she was happily situated.
As they entered, it was clear Karl had already departed.
“Let me just check the bedroom to be sure he didn't forget anything,” Harriet fluted as she dashed back to verify everything had been cleared out. She only hoped he had left her jewelry so she wouldn't be embarrassed in front of those uppity stepdaughters she had acquired. Harriet had observed closely everything the sisters had done, from the way they’d held their cups to the way they sat. Hoity-toity misses! But if she were to try to move in their circles, she’d need to learn how to blend in. Who knew what new opportunities might arise if she could pass for “society”?
And then Harriet smiled to herself. She could always get him to buy her more jewelry and she imagined some of the late wife's belongings had not yet been parsed out. She would now be entitled to any family jewels, after all. She rolled her eyes. For a moment she had forgotten the plan. But now she had added to the plan. She intended to be fully bejeweled by the time they were finished.
She was surprised to see Karl had left the linens on the bed, even though they had come with the unit and were supposed to remain. She knew her “dear brother,” and that must have been hard for him to do.
Returning to the front room she smiled broadly at the gentleman and declared, “It seems everything has been taken care of! We can just pack the bags into the cab and return home.”
She then grasped her new husband's arm and simpered up at him.
Henry, who had been a family retainer practically since he was born to the previous housekeeper, met William’s eye and stoically begin lifting bags and boxes. Between them, Henry and the cab driver wrangled them and the trunk into the boot of the cab, and they were soon on their way back home.
Ground Rules
Once the girls were in their rooms for the night, William sat down with Harriet to have a talk. He knew his daughters were shocked by his callous actions and he had no explanation to give them.
“You must understand that I am still in deep mourning for Estelle, and will remain in mourning for the prescribed period. For us to have married at this time is shocking, an immense breach of etiquette, and you would never be accepted into society were it to come out that we had wed prematurely. Therefore I expect that you will maintain an extremely low profile, not discuss our marriage with anyone, and dress appropriately.
“To the world, for now, you must appear to be a cousin, come to comfort my daughters. Thus you would be at least in half mourning still. You will not flaunt jewelry nor in any way be ostentatious. For you to behave otherwise would breach our agreement and make it impossible for me to carry on in an effective manner to assist your brother in his goal of finding the gold. For you must know I was telling you the truth when I said I did not know anything about its current whereabouts.”
No! No, no! screamed Harriet to herself. This is not how it’s supposed to be! He’s supposed to take me to society dinners! And balls and plays! She glowered at William. He offered her a casual consolation.
“Once my mourning is lifted, we can appear to court and wed quietly. At that time I could publicly acknowledge you as my wife.” He reached out and patted her hand as if he were truly falling for her charms.
Mollified, Harriet agreed but insisted on being able to purchase a mourning wardrobe as she certainly had nothing
