Chapter 38 Katherine—Finding Our Way
KATHERINE—FINDING OUR WAY
Jahleel and I walk along the corridor, admiring Anya House’s transformation.
Now, everything looks like the Winter Palace.
The addition of parquet flooring over the pine and marble inlays looks natural and Russian.
Urns hold flowers—red roses and pink and white hibiscus.
There are no mums anywhere, except for graves.
I hold his arm a little tighter. His grip on his cane seems lighter. Perhaps it’s again for aesthetics. He looks strong, but says he needs help.
“What is that look, Katherine?”
“You fill in nicely.”
“Well, you said you like thick.”
A small smile shows until we reach the tiny staircase to the servant quarters. It’s steep. Part of me wants him to not go up. That part of my soul hasn’t learned how to support him.
He pauses, looking at the direction we need to take. “Thom’s twice my age and blind, and he takes them with ease.”
I bite down every word of Wait, turn around. “Do I support you from the side or hold on from the back?”
“Both positions are appealing, but I think you need to lead.”
That’s not support. I realize that he can do this without me. He just wants me with him. A few weeks ago that would’ve been enough. I slip past and with slow steps, we ascend. On the landing, he grabs my hand. “To Thom.”
The sunshine from the window hits Thom’s wizened face, shining on deep mahogany wrinkles in his brow, as he sits on his bed.
He’s fully dressed in black breeches and a coat like he’s ready for work.
His ebony mantle lies folded beside him.
The blue lining exposes the patches made by his mother and later by me.
“That sounds like I have company. Who have you brought with you, Duke? What story do you want to hear?”
Jahleel comes deeper into the room. “I wanted to speak with you before the surgery. I’ve brought Lady Hampton.”
“Lady Hampton.” He sniffles and wipes through his bushy gray-and-white hair. “I shoulda fixed myself up a little.”
He stops fussing, and his strong chin turns in my direction. “Thought you’d be driving those wagons or getting new customers to replace those bad ones.”
“You know about the pelting and the garbage?” I ask.
“My boys told me. They come up here every night and give me a report. Just ’cause I’m a little sickly don’t make me useless.”
“You’re an asset, Mr. Thom. Your sons, Master William and Master Donald, do a fine job. I’m letting them run all the routes now.”
His smile fills with pride. Those two young men and working for Wilcox Coal have been his world. His head goes back against the walls, charcoal on white. His lips thin for a minute as they press tightly together. “They love that company. Don’t know what they’ll do next if it closes.”
“Tell her, Thom.” Jahleel looks out the window. The view of his maze and gardens appears lush and vibrant. “Tell her what you told me.”
So he’s been up here with Thom a lot.
“Mr. Palmers,” the driver says, “been trying to run ’em off. Now, he wants them to work for him. He says he’s about to own it all. That he’ll be better to them than a woman.”
I’m not stunned, but more so saddened. “Mr. Palmers is trying to turn everyone else against me.”
Jahleel finds a chair and holds to its top rail. The way it’s positioned, the curve of the stiles waiting to support him and allow a closer conversation with Thom, I guess he seeks counsel from the living, too.
Everyone but me.
“Tell her about Palmers and Mr. Wilcox.”
“Palmers was a good one once, but he became more jealous of your father the bigger Wilcox Coal grew.”
Thom leans forward like he’s about to share a secret. “Even if he had it, he’d run it into the ground. Palmers has no more of a head for business than Tavis. Gambles worse than anything. And old Tavis had to get him out of some jams.” He sighs, sounding like he misses the good old days.
Funny. I don’t remember that many good ones.
“But at least Tavis could tell jokes,” Thom continues. “That Palmers, he and his wife got nothin’ to say to make you laugh. They forget themselves and mouth mean stuff when they think no one of means is listening.”
“I can attest to this,” Jahleel says. “Palmers threatened me while I was with Livingston at White’s. He’s dangerous.”
Thom says a few more things under his breath, but I suppress trembles. Jahleel’s under attack, everyone is because of me and Wilcox Coal. “You chose not to tell me this, Your Grace?”
Jahleel gazes at me, hazel eyes swirling with regret. “So much happened when I returned. But Palmers made it clear he wants Wilcox Coal and your dowry. Thom, how long will it take him to burn up twenty thousand pounds?”
“Not that long.” Thom shakes his head. “At twenty thousand … Hey, marry me. I’d make that silver last. I’d pour it into fancier drays. Then my boys could build their own coal company and run Palmers out of business.”
One glance at Jahleel confirms the notion running through my head. The master strategist has set up a new move for me, but this time I’m willing. “Thom, I’ve always loved this jacket. I remember when you first put it on. I think you strutted like a peacock.”
“Yes. Replaced that dingy gray thing I wore from the beginning when your father started the company. I was his first hire.”
“What if you were to sell it to me?”
“Lady Hampton, you can have it if you want it that bad. It’s not like a blind man can run a dray.”
“But the operation—”
“Katherine, it may not work. It may only give him partial sight.” Jahleel turns his countenance to the window. “But a chance to see striking colors … The greenery of my maze. The robin blue of Lady Lydia’s lace. The blush of my lover’s cheeks. I’d take the risk.”
“I do hear you two are getting along.” Thom caresses the jacket, then holds it out to me. “Does this mean you’re giving the company away? Take this. I don’t want no parts of anything with the unfunny man.”
“No. I’m not selling to Mr. Palmers. On the contrary, you should own half of Wilcox Coal. And this jacket is the payment.”
Furry gray brows draw together. Thom asks, “Has she been drinking, Your Grace? She sipped some of that wild-lettuce tea that made you say all kinds of crazy things?” He rocks with laughter. “Oh, I heard. That Steele. He has a sense of humor.”
Jahleel colors. “Mr. Thom, I’d believe what she’s saying. She’s awake, serious, and fabulous.”
“Oh, you two have been getting along. I don’t think you’re a very good witness.”
“I’m more than a good witness,” Jahleel says.
“I’m an enabler. Lady Hampton, if you have purchased such a wonderful garment from Mr. Thom in exchange for half the coal company, might I buy the jacket from you for sale for ten thousand pounds?
I hear that is how much it might cost for new drays and to fund his drivers properly. ”
“Woman, he’s on that wild lettuce. But hold out for twenty.”
The movement feels good. This resolution is perfect … and sad. “Yes. Twenty thousand from the Duke of Torrance for this jacket.”
“Done. At twenty.” Jahleel takes the jacket from me.
But then I take it back. “I’m investing this jacket and fifteen thousand pounds into you, Thom. Make sure Wilcox-Thom Coal thrives. The old company lost dozens of customers, but I’m sure you and your sons will gain them back.”
“You know, Thom-Wilcox sounds better. And will give my sons more pride in this venture.” Thom sweeps his hand over the velvet of his jet coat. “I get to keep this and fifteen thousand pounds. Are you serious, Lady Hampton?”
“Yes, Thom. Consider it payment for the years we couldn’t pay you and all the labor you invested into my father’s dream.
And your sons have helped so much. I will retain half of the company for Georgina’s and Scarlett’s future children.
They’ll have a piece of what their grandfather built. My child is taken care of.”
Thom sticks his hand out, and I shake it. Then he cranes his head back against the wall. “Wish I could see your faces. Then I’d know that this all is true.”
“It’s true,” Jahleel says. “When your sons return this afternoon, share the good news with them. And paperwork. I’m very handy with that.”
Thom rises a little. “This deal will be good if things don’t go well in the operation. I want my boys to have something. I didn’t own nothin’, but I always treated the coal business like it was mine.”
I kiss the old man’s brow. “Yes. This is for you and them—no matter what. But I know you will live. I’ve confidence in the Carews.” I glance at Jahleel. “I know you have so much more to do. It’s not your time.”
Two handsome young men, one in his early twenties and the other maybe twenty-five, march their brown faces into the room.
“Papa, we finished early.” William Thom, the oldest, barrels inside.
Jahleel makes way for him and the shorter, plucky Donald. We leave father and sons together to share their good news.
One problem done, only a hundred more to solve.
Returning to the second floor, we find Mr. Steele. He’s kneeling, coaxing Lada to walk. It’s an adorable sight.
I move to the steward. “I think Lada will prefer to belong to you. I suspect you took care of the first Lada a lot while Lady Anya was ill.”
“That I did. I didn’t know my sentiments showed.”
I pick up little Lada, who is so happy and healthy, very different from the scrawny cat I rescued. “Give her joy. Home her well. Allow me visits upon occasion.”
Picking up her basket, the man beams. Then he looks at Jahleel, and he wipes his face of emotion.
“You need Lada, Mr. Steele.” Jahleel has caught up to us. He strokes the kitten’s mottled colored fur patches on her head. “I want you to have things to do when I’m not sending you on tasks.”
The steward bows to us. “Thank you, sir. Thank you so much, Lady Hampton.” Humming and swinging Lada’s basket, Mr. Steele walks away, hugging his new pet beneath his dark cloak.
“That was very nice of you, Katherine.”
“He loves that kitten so much. I’d not take her from him. And I get to see her thriving and know she’s progressing. I could not ask for more.”
Jahleel’s face blanks. He must know what I’m actually saying. “Let’s go look at the decorations downstairs.”
We head toward the grand stairs. Jahleel stops me before I take my first step. “I’m not on wild-lettuce tea and do numbers very well. What will you do with the other five thousand pounds?”
“It’s insurance. If I must give the Palmerses something, I can. The house on the other side of the Thames has been neglected. Maybe new paint.”
“Anything that you want for it.” He grasps my arm. The hold is gentle but strong. “You merely need to ask.”
“No need to ask, if I have means. You planned every moment well. You and Lydia will stay in London. That’s where you two will continue to get excellent care. You said it yourself: you’d do nothing to jeopardize her health or yours.”
“Of course, but Katherine—”
“With Lada having a home and the sale of Wilcox Coal, my obligations are quite tidied.”
“Katherine.” He reaches for me and misses.
I catch his hand and fasten it to the railing. “Nyet.”
There’s no stopping me. “With the ruling of the Chancery Courts on the permanent custody of my daughter, and two sisters married, I have nothing … nothing to restrain me. And I won’t constrain you.
You can’t force me to be your wife. You need an heir.
There are too many headstones between us.
Use the ball to announce your new bride. ”
“No, Katia. That’s not how this works.”
“You and the new Duchess of Torrance shall bring my daughter to me weekly to my house across the Thames.”
“But I thought we were in this together this time.”
“I love you, Jahleel. But I know how hard you fought for your father’s legacy. You can’t give it up for the woman who defrauded you. Our child doesn’t know me as her mother. I’m Katherine the liar. That is the insurmountable punishment.”
“No, Katia, we are so close … the ball is in two days. There—”
“What outcome can I hope for other than my disgrace? Let the Palmerses invalidate my marriage to Tavis. I wanted the title for my mother, but I do her more honor by walking in truth.”
“What of us? You wanted to be married to me.”
“Don’t you know, I said that to a man I thought was dying. The person I’m looking at is already dead. He packaged up everything, strategized and planned, and took away every risk but one: that Katherine Wilcox was so desperate that she’d settle for crumbs.”
I start down the stairs.
“You want me to grovel again, Katia. To tell you that I love you. You know that I do.”
“In vain, I have struggled. No more. I’ll stay through the ball and your engagement. I’ll help Lydia understand.”
“Katia. Katherine. Come back. You’re upset. We can be rational. Please.”
It takes everything in me not to return to the man I love, but my pride has arisen from ashes.
It overcomes every rational objection. These feelings I thought impossible to conquer, but I do and walk away with my head held high.
I let the strategist, the smartest man in the world, do as he wishes by his own power. I’ve reclaimed mine.