A Lady of Hidden Intent (2 page)

“I am lately here on business, ma’am, but presently have come to ask Miss Newbury if she would do me the honor of a dance.”

Knowing that duty was more important than her own personal feelings, Catherine said, “Of course. You are kind to ask.”

She allowed him to draw her away, the wide expanse of her silk ball gown swinging in bell-like fashion as Mr. Danby moved her to the dance floor. The music began immediately as they stepped in line with the others.

Moving forward to the music, Catherine felt Danby take hold of her arm as he turned her ever so gently to the cadence.

“You have a beautiful home, Miss Newbury, and I find your father quite congenial.”

“He’s a good man,” Catherine replied as they came apart and circled with their partner to the right.

Coming back together, Danby took hold of her gloved fingers.

“And what of your mother? I’ve not yet met her.”

They performed the steps perfectly in unison, then again pulled apart as Catherine answered. “She passed on with my younger brothers some two years past. It was influenza.”

As they rejoined after completing a series of intricate steps and turns, she found him quite sober. “I am sorry, Miss Newbury.

That loss must have been quite acute.”

“Yes,” she murmured.

They went on in this manner, sharing little comments about the holidays and the weather. At one point Catherine was rather surprised when he asked for her impression of America.

“I have none, save that which I’ve experienced through her people or stories,” she answered as the dance concluded and he led her from the floor.

“And have your experiences been good or bad?” He smiled as they stopped in a less-populated corner of the room.

“They have been good overall, I suppose.” She looked at him and found his gaze intense. “Of course,” she added quickly, “Americans do tend to be confused by the protocol and social structure of England. Perhaps it was one of the things they threw off in their independence.”

He laughed, and she thought it delightful the way tiny lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. Perhaps he was a happy man by nature.

“I would prefer there be no social classes or divisions. I find charming company in most every circle. However, I assure you we have our social classes and taboos in America as well. It would have been nice to cast those aside with other archaic notions, but, alas, we have not so distanced ourselves from our mother country that we have allowed for that matter to be resolved in full. I am, however, working on a personal level to see it dismissed.”

“Archaic notions? You think it wrong, then, for the classes to be divided?”

“I think people are people, Miss Newbury. Some are good.

Some are bad. There will always be problems and issues to resolve so long as even one man remains alive and capable of thinking. Do you not feel imposed upon by the restrictions of your class?”

“Not at all,” Catherine replied. “I know my place, and that is somewhat of a comfort to me.”

“Perhaps that is only because you are at the upper echelons of society. Were you perhaps a scullery maid, you might feel differently.”

“I doubt that. As a scullery maid, I would know my place— what was expected of me and what was out of my reach. I believe knowing one’s place prevents a great many misfortunes.”

The music started up again, and Catherine found herself growing increasingly uncomfortable. She wasn’t sure if it was the topic of their conversation or the nearness of this stranger who seemed to completely captivate her senses.

“If you’ll excuse me.” She didn’t wait for his response but gave a quick curtsy and hurried away. Her heart pounded rapidly as she imagined him watching her go. She forced herself to slow her pace, nod, and comment to those around her while escaping as fast as decorum would allow.

Among the things Catherine loved about her life in Bath was the beauty of the buildings. She thought Mr. Danby very wise to have come to see their architecture. Why, the Roman Baths alone were worthy of the trip, but so too were some of the other beauties, such as the Abbey and the Royal Crescent. She wondered if Danby had been instructed regarding John Wood the elder and his son John Wood the younger. The two had been quite instrumental in creating designs for Bath. Of course, there were others as well, but those two were often heralded above all.

Catherine accepted dances from two of her father’s friends. They chatted briefly about the weather and the holidays to come, but nothing of significance. Despite having had her new satin slippers stepped on more times than she could count, Catherine was pleased overall with the way things were going. Their servants were well trained and eager to please, so there was no need to worry about the food running out or the liquor being depleted.

And yet for all her desire to forget him, Carter Danby remained present in her mind. He was quite handsome and clearly well-spoken. Catherine couldn’t help but wonder about his life in America. Then, as if thinking on such things had conjured the man in the flesh, he suddenly stood before her.

“I wonder if I might entice you to take another turn with me.”

Catherine looked up to find Mr. Danby smiling at her. The music that had just begun was clearly a waltz—that most intimate of dances. She hesitated a moment, but seeing Mr. Wooster heading her way, she agreed. At least Danby would not step on her feet.

“I do hope you get a chance to visit America,” Carter Danby said as they turned into the flow of dancers. “I think you would find it quite entertaining—if not amusing.”

“I have no intention of doing so,” Catherine replied. “I have more than enough to amuse and entertain me right here.”

“So you think us not worthy of your time or attention?”

She looked up at him and shook her head. “Hardly so. I simply do not think of you at all.”

“Spoken like a true English patriot.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” She took great offense at his tone and stiffened in his arms.

Mr. Danby laughed. “Meaning only that for many an Englishman it is far easier to forget our existence than to remember the loss. American independence is not that ancient of a history. If you consider the conflict little more than thirty years past when your country attacked and burned our capital, then it’s even more understandable.”

“I am not overly concerned with either your independence or our loss. To everything there is a season, and perhaps that season known as the American Colonies is best forgotten. The heartache comes from the sad way it divided families and destroyed livelihoods.”

Danby nodded. “Perhaps you are right. Wrongs of the past are best forgotten.”

She smiled knowingly. “So you admit America was wrong in rebelling.”

He laughed so loudly that Catherine was immediately embarrassed as several couples looked their way. She wanted only to walk—no, run—from the room, but instead she forced herself to look at Danby.

“You’re amused?”

“Only that you could so clearly misunderstand me. Of course, you are very young. I did not imply that America was wrong. Rather, that England was at fault for her poor management, abuses, and neglects. Those are the wrongs that I believe are best forgotten.”

The music stopped and Catherine quickly pulled away from her partner. “Thank you for your explanation, Mr. Danby. At ten and seven, I do find that many things escape my understanding.” She turned and left quickly, realizing that Carter Danby was the only man who had ever made her feel like running away.

She was still thinking about him later that evening as she lay in bed trying to sleep. It was nearly four in the morning, and while the party had been concluded for many hours, her desire to put the American from her mind was not as easily accomplished.

Getting up, she pulled on her housecoat and decided a bite to eat might settle her for the night. She’d eaten very little at the party, and prior to that had been much too busy in preparation to dine properly. Surely Cook had left something in the kitchen.

The warmth of the velvet robe embraced her as she did up the buttons. The coat had been a gift from her mother, and though no longer fashionable and suffering wear, Catherine had been reluctant to cast it off for another. She smiled as she pulled her long brown hair from the collar.

“I wish you could have been here tonight, Mother,” she whispered in the chilled room. The night felt so damp and cold that even the small fire in her hearth did little to dispel it. Perhaps it would snow. Snow would at least keep Father home. He wouldn’t risk a journey to Bristol if there were any threat of being delayed. It would be of great comfort to have him home. Especially for the holidays.

Catherine slipped into the hall and made her way downstairs. She paused on the first floor, seeing a light glow from under her father’s library door. Could he have found sleep an elusive friend as well? Perhaps they might talk over the evening.

She decided to forgo the refreshment and instead went to her father’s office, where she could now hear voices. Frowning, she recognized her father’s business partner, Finley Baker. The man offered her nothing but misgivings about his gender.

“Consider it a final favor, then, Newbury. The truth is upon us.”

“But it is a truth of which I had no knowledge.” Catherine’s father sounded very upset. She thought to interrupt as she reached for the door handle, then pulled back as Baker laughed bitterly.

“It matters not that you had no knowledge. Your name is on every ledger and invoice. You might as well have known from the start, for that is what will be presumed—if not proven—for the courts.”

“This is an outrage, sir!” her father declared, and the sound of something being hit or thrown caused Catherine to nearly jump out of her skin. It wasn’t like her father to lose his temper. “I have never agreed to deal in illegal goods, as you well know.”

“Be that as it may, Newbury, there is no help for it now. The authorities will be fast upon my heels. I would expect them no later than this morning. Now I will take my leave, but you should credit me at least with having the decency to give you warning.”

Catherine heard someone move for the door. As the handle began to turn, she quickly backed into the room across the hall and disappeared into the darkness. She could see from her hiding place that Baker now stood in the doorway, his back to her.

“Newbury, they will surely take hold of your assets. You would be wise to take what you can and leave the country. That is my purpose at this moment. Our ship
The Adelaide
is harbored at Plymouth. We can surely make it there and escape this matter. Why, in a fortnight we could be resting easy and sipping the finest of French wines.”

“I don’t mean to leave, Baker. This matter must be faced as an honorable man would deal with any unpleasant deception thrust upon him.”

Baker laughed. “Be the scapegoat. It really matters little to me. They will confiscate your home and put you in prison. No doubt put that pretty daughter of yours there as well.”

“Get out!”

Catherine backed even farther into the room’s confines. She had never seen her father angrier. He lunged for Baker, but the man merely sidestepped his attack and headed down the hall.

“Mark my words, Newbury. You will find little comfort in the days to come.”

Catherine heard the man’s boots stomp on the stairs as he raced from the house. No doubt he would be gone even before one of the servants could be summoned to hold him for the authorities.

Creeping toward the hallway, Catherine watched her father shake his head and go back into the library. She knew he probably wouldn’t wish her to have been witness to the affair, but she couldn’t lie to him and say otherwise.

“Father, what in the world was that all about?”

Nelson Newbury looked up from the hearth where he now stood. “Catherine, what are you doing up?”

“I heard voices. I’m ashamed to admit I listened at your door.”

“Then you know the worst of it,” he said, hanging his head.

“No, I’m not sure that I do. I heard Mr. Baker say that the authorities would soon be here to take you to prison, but I do not pretend to know why.” She felt a tight band wrap her chest, threatening to cut off her very breath. “Why would he say such things, Father?”

“Because my ships have been caught with contraband. Slaves from Africa.”

“Slaves? Surely not. We’ve never traded in slaves. We do not believe in such things.” She went to his side. “It must be a mistake.”

“No mistake, unfortunately. Baker planned it all out and made a tidy profit for himself.” Her father’s tone left little doubt of his bitterness. “I can scarce believe the man would do such a deplorable thing, but to the authorities it will matter little what I believed of him.”

Catherine took hold of his arm. “Father, this surely cannot be the end of it. You must send men to capture Mr. Baker. He has told you where he is headed. Let the authorities know this, so that they might keep him from leaving the country. You were a victim of Mr. Baker’s duplicity. That is hardly worthy of imprisonment.”

Her father straightened and met her gaze. “Daughter, you must get away from here.”

“I will not. I will not leave your side.”

“If you do not, I cannot focus on what must be done to clear my name. There is no telling what the authorities will deem necessary to resolve the matter. I will not have my estates confiscated and my daughter left to fend for herself. I will call Dugan. He and Selma may go with you. They have been faithful servants, but no doubt they will see their livelihood gone with this chaos. Go to Bristol. My dear friend Captain Marlowe will see you safely out of harm’s way.” Her father hurried to his desk and took up pen and paper.

“I won’t go.” Catherine shook her head. “Stop. I won’t leave you, Father.”

“You must. If you love me, then I beg you to do this thing for me. If the matter is easily resolved, I will merely send for you again. I will not have you bear the consequences of my mistakes.

Captain Marlowe has family in America. I believe it would do you good to visit and see New York City, perhaps. It is quite fascinating.”