Chapter 15 #2
“Ah, Virginia. Such a diligent mistress to fuss over an employee for,” he glanced at the pocket watch in his hand, “nearly thirty minutes.”
Bernard Alcott was angry, very angry, if her instincts were correct, and she believed they were. “I told you when you arrived that I did not have time for a visit. A gentleman would have left and not bothered a lady further.”
That provoked a bloom of vivid red on Alcott’s cheeks and thickening of his neck.
“What an unfortunate attitude you have, my dear,” he said after a few tense moments. “That will change in the future, I’m sure of it. In fact, I will see to it.”
“Was that a threat? A threat directed at Miss Wiest?” Phillip Brown said from the open door of the sitting room.
“Deliveries are in the back, boy. This is the family part of the residence,” Alcott said and turned back to Virginia.
Phillip walked into the room to her side. He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles as he glanced at Alcott. “I think it would be wise for you to go and never return.”
“Virginia—” Alcott began but stopped as his feet left the floor.
Phillip had the man by his tie and collar, lifting him with a little shake. “She is Miss Wiest. You need to leave.” He dropped Alcott back to his feet.
The man’s face was mottled red as he straightened his clothing and glanced at Virginia. “So sorry, Miss Wiest,” he said and stretched out her name. “I didn’t realize your tastes went to the gutter.”
Virginia smiled. “You’d best hurry along, Mr. Alcott. Mr. Brown does not take kindly to insults.”
Mr. Oliver appeared in the doorway. “Allow me to get the door for you, sir.”
Alcott marched past her, glaring at Phillip as he went. She heard the door slam and turned. “Your timing was fortuitous.”
“I’m glad I was here. Is that the lummox that is related to the new Mrs. Wiest?”
She nodded. “What brings you here today, Phillip? Although I’m happy to see you anytime.”
“Wanted to see you, Virginia. The charges against Timothy have me spending time with some of the worst people in the city of Baltimore. Sometimes it feels like I’m not making any progress.”
“I doubt that is true. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. I’m off to take a look at a brothel over on Conway near the water. Shelly’s.”
“Are you thinking that the Button girl is there?”
“Maybe. Have to figure a way to get inside.”
Mr. Oliver cleared his throat. “Miss Wiest? I told Mr. Turnbull that Mr. Brown was here, and he told me to relay the message that his horse is here. Not sure what that means, but . . .”
“My horse!”
Virginia followed Phillip down to the kitchen and stopped to speak to the young girl who’d been burned.
She hurried out the door closest to the stables in time to see Phillip mount a large black horse with a white nose who was stomping and snorting at the moment.
Mr. Turnbull was instructing him and adjusting the stirrups on the saddle.
“He’s well trained and has the muscle to carry your weight. Give him some time to get used to you and your voice. No. Not that way, Mr. Brown. Use your knees,” Turnbull said.
Phillip got he and the horse turned around in her direction. “What do you think, Miss Wiest?”
“I think you look very accomplished,” she said. “What is his name?”
Phillip looked at Mr. Turnbull. “I don’t know.”
“Daisy. His name is Daisy,” Turnbull replied.
Virginia giggled. “Your horse’s name is Daisy. How appropriate.”
“Don’t suppose it’s wise to try and change it,” Phillip said to Turnbull.
“Oh, you can try,” Turnbull said and turned to the stables.
Phillip patted the horse’s neck and looked at Virginia. “I’m better for seeing you. Thank you, Virginia. Now, we’ve got some work to do, Daisy,” he said and turned the animal to the alley.
“Be careful.” She hurried to the end of the property and watched him as long as she could see him.
Phillip stopped at his home to let Sarah, Eliza, and Jenny see Daisy and then went directly to the stables to arrange for the horse’s board. He had just washed his face and hands when Sarah caught him in the hallway.
“I went to see him today,” she said.
“Went to see who?”
“Timothy. I went to see him,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “He’s in a bad way, Phillip.”
“They let you in?”
She nodded. “I wasn’t sure they would, but we were allowed fifteen minutes.”
“What did he say?”
“Very little other than being horribly angry with me for coming. He’s thin; his face is colorless. He told me to leave.”
“I wish I could tell you I had a confession or proof that Timothy was innocent. But I don’t yet.
I have to find those two girls before I confront John Norris, who works for Thomas Bruner and undoubtedly is the one who set up Timothy and killed Josephine Button.
If I don’t find the Button girls first, Bruner will threaten to hurt them to keep me quiet when I do have some solid proof. ”
Sarah wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand. “I love him. Timothy. I love him.”
Phillip stared at his sister. He knew there’d been some flirting between the two of them over the years. But it never appeared to be anything serious on either part. “What about Doctor Prosperi? You seemed very interested in him for a while.”
“Timothy told me he’d never settle down. That he didn’t think he’d ever be happy with one woman. I decided then I’d better forget him and thought maybe Prosperi would suit.”
“But you never did forget Timothy.”
She shook her head. “I never did. When Prosperi would get close to asking me to marry him, like he did this spring, I’d change the subject.
I never loved him. I loved Alexander Halifax, but he is long gone.
The War Between the States took him, and he’ll never return.
I mourned him for years. But now I’m twenty-six.
I want a home. I want children, and I wasn’t sure a person could love more than one person in their lifetime, but I know that’s wrong. I love Timothy like I loved Alexander.”
“Sarah,” he said softly and gathered her in his arms. He knew when Halifax had been home on leave for a month and rarely left her side, even with her only nineteen years old, that they had been destined to marry.
But then he’d returned to the war and never came home.
Sarah had been devastated. “But you still went to see Timothy in jail even after he told you he’d never settle down. Why?”
“Because love doesn’t work like that, Phillip. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t love me. I’ll always care about him. He looked so defeated. It broke my heart.”