“Splendid decision! I don’t have anyone in your area. The nearest office is in Chicago. And of course you will have Frank McNamara to back you up. He’s the sheriff there now, you know!”
“Yes, I do know. He’s been keeping an eye out for my daughters just in case the mastermind behind this plot hasn’t realized I genuinely have no knowledge about the gold.”
~~~
He had reacquired a few of his servants. Alvin, the houseboy, now served him as valet, footman, and even, on rare occasions, butler, when he had fun being referred to as Nevins.
“I can call you Nevins or Mr. Nevins all the time, if you’d prefer,” commented William.
“It wouldn’t feel right, somehow, Colonel Belden. After all, Henry was Henry his entire career, rather than Williams!”
“Ah, you’re too young to remember. His mother was the housekeeper here until she retired and he grew up in the house. Of course he was called Henry until he became the butler, but his name is nearly the same as mine and my wife quickly became frustrated. Whether she would call out “William” or “Williams” both of us would respond. The third time that happened, she said, ‘You are William and he is Henry and that is that.’ And so it was. And still is!”
“You still miss him, sir.”
“Very astute of you, Alvin! Yes, we grew up together, although he is a bit older. He is a friend.”
“It is good to have friends and family, sir.” Alvin looked a bit wistful.
“Do you have any family, Alvin?”
“No, sir, just my sister and she is out in Texas, homesteading.”
“If I were to decide to move west, would you wish to continue to work for me?”
“Yes, sir! I would be most honored, sir!” His face shone with pleasure at the notion.
~~~
William reflected that he’d be very sorry to lose Mrs. Sommers, who had taken over the kitchen and, with the aid of a daily help, managed the whole house. She was a wonderful and inventive cook, and could provide as equally excellent plain cooking as the latest in French cuisine. And the poor woman only had him and staff to cook for. Well, she’d certainly have no trouble securing another position, and he’d be sure to write her a glowing reference.
“Has Alvin mentioned my plan to move west?” he asked her.
“He has sir, and that he’s going with you. Not to be presumptuous sir, but have you made arrangements for staff in Kansas? Only, I have no one but myself to think of, and I was thinking you’d not likely find fine French cooking in the hinterlands.”
“Is there anyone else in the household planning to come with me?” he asked quizzically.
“Well, young Alice, who does for me daily, was really looking for a live-in position as she’s on her own as well. Although I doubt we’d be able to keep her long, unless she makes up her mind to have Alvin.”
“You don’t think Alvin might have something to say about that?”
“He’s a man, sir.”
He thought for a moment and nodded. Alice was rather comely and he already suspected Alvin was smitten.
“Very well, let’s start making arrangements.”
Apologies to Celeste from Henry
Shortly after moving to town, William invited Celeste to join him for lunch. After eating they had strolled to the town square and sat on a bench under a shade tree.
“Henry asked me to apologize to you for allowing you to believe any wrong of your husband,” said her father. “I insisted he not tell you the truth because you needed to act naturally in front of Harriet, and I feared you would not have been able to do so. You, my darling, have a very open countenance and wear your heart on your sleeve.”
Celeste met his gaze. “I had trouble refraining from displaying my repugnance even in the name of social graces. It is probably as well I did not know.”
She thought back.
“Henry was careful to tell me not to believe everything I saw and that things were not what they seemed. The more I pondered on what he had said, the more I began to understand that you must be working again. Harriet simply isn’t your type. I really could not imagine any scenario in which you would ask such a horrible person to be your wife. And I'm sure that diamond was rather expensive but it was the gaudiest piece of jewelry I have ever seen. You have much better taste than that,” she laughed.
“Yes, Harriet selected that herself. I would have said the woman’s taste was all in her mouth, but I also had to watch her eat during the time we were together. That woman has no taste at all.”
“Oh, I don’t know, she seemed pretty fond of you.”
Apologies from the Secret Service
John Grey came in person to apologize to both women for the inconvenience and risk to which they had been exposed, but especially to Celeste, for all the heartache, albeit unintentional, he had caused her. He was now investigating who had started the rumors about Ralph which had caused her friends to drop her.
She had laughed at that. Her closest friends had never even hinted at any social issues, and she had just lost her mother at the time, and was in deep mourning, so was unaware she was also being cut. She didn't go out anyway. And she and Miranda had laughed heartily at the newspaper clippings John had brought them, casting them as heroines in a dime novel.
“I know you will want to share these with your daughter when she is older,” he said gravely, handing Celeste the stories about Ralph.
Just glancing at the headline, Celeste had to clench her teeth to avoid bursting into tears. Using the time
