by Meghan Sloan
Cassandra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She would be passed from pillar to post with her male relatives? How could her father do that to her? He had promised that she would never be put in that position. Both of them, Alice as well, knew that big brother Albert Seton would make sure that everything came to him. He couldn’t stand that his younger brother was better at business than he was. All of his attempts at building up a business had failed and he was close to bankruptcy. Ernest couldn’t possibly be thinking of making him the new owner, could he?
He had to have gone mad.
“But...Father’s left Seton Hall to me in his will!” Cassandra cried. “He told me so!”
“And you think that’s going to be upheld? Even if it’s in the will, you will be forced out.” Alice sounded bitter as she spoke. “A woman, no matter how much she’s liked, can’t own a business. And Uncle Albert, especially, will make sure he has a hand in the gambling hall, whether it’s wanted or not.”
Cassandra growled. She hated her uncle. He and his sons were slimy people; a sordid group that made her skin crawl. After the problems they had had in the past, they couldn’t possibly think they could get their hands on Ernest’s pride and joy.
“I won’t let him.”
Alice shook her head and sipped her water again.
“You may not have a choice. I know, it’s not fair,” she went on as Cassandra protested, “that if a man puts his mind to things, he can achieve great things, but with women we’re lucky if we get listened to at all if we’re not someone of meaning. You’re going to have to fight this every step of the way.”
Cassandra felt cold. And she had lost her appetite. She pushed her plate away.
“Sometimes I wish I was born a man,” she grumbled. “Things would be so much easier for me.”
“I know, darling. But we have to go with the hand we were dealt with in life. It’s all we can do.”
“And even if we have a good hand, the surrounding situation makes it difficult to play properly,” Cassandra pointed out.
Alice nodded.
“Your mother said exactly the same thing years ago when we were young. But she overcame it.”
“What did she do?”
Alice smiled.
“She married the man she loved and wanted. She refused to go with the man her parents had chosen for her, wanting only Ernest. Her parents disowned her, but Amelia didn’t care. She got who she wanted.”
Cassandra had to smile at that. That sounded just like Amelia Seton. She had a very strong mind. Her parents had apparently been in despair. Cassandra had met her maternal grandparents once when she was eight, and that brief encounter had been enough for Cassandra to understand why Amelia had fought back so much. They were not desirable to be around at all.
“You’re just like her, Cassie,” Alice went on, “and don’t forget that part of you. If you want to fight this, you fight. Your father wouldn’t want anything less.”
“That he wouldn’t.” Cassandra reached over and took her aunt’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here, Aunt Alice.”
“So am I, dear.” The older woman squeezed her fingers. “So am I.”
Chapter 3
Gabriel’s ride into town was fine with staying for a little longer as he had a few errands to run, but he did warn Gabriel that they couldn’t stay for too long otherwise he was going to get into trouble with his father. Gabriel promised that they wouldn’t take long. This wouldn’t be taking too much out of their day.
Then he made his way into Thomas Montgomery’s gambling hall. The familiar smell of smoke and snuff filled his nostrils as Gabriel stepped foot inside for the first time in months. Even now, it still made Gabriel’s stomach turn. He wasn’t one for snuff-taking and he didn’t like smoking, so that was a smell he happily enjoyed being away from. Then he saw the various tables full, with people playing cards or dice with piles of money beside them. It was loud and boisterous, the atmosphere tense.
Gabriel felt the familiar stirrings in his belly as he watched. This was the thrill he had looked for all his life until a few years back. It was what stirred his blood and kept him going. But that wasn’t to be anymore, not unless he wanted to live penniless for a man of his station. Allen certainly wouldn’t appreciate working for free when his wages had already been cut down due to Gabriel’s allowance. If he wanted to pay Allen his former wage, Gabriel was going to need to get to work.
This wasn’t work, as such. But it would be as good as. Gabriel would make sure of it.
It didn’t take much to get an audience with Norman Montgomery. The son had arrived in Ipswich only three hours ago after being told about his father’s sudden death. He had literally walked in moments before Gabriel came through the front door.
Gabriel felt a little bad asking Norman for anything and offering his proposition at this time, but he wanted to get it in there before anyone else gave a more tempting offer. Gabriel didn’t have much to barter with, but he was going to give it a damn good try.
Norman was in his father’s office, standing at the window staring into the street. Seeing the tall, burly man in that room gave Gabriel pause. He often forgot how physically alike Norman and his father had been. Both of them were well over six feet tall with broad shoulders, square, rugged faces and built like they had been lifting tree trunks all their lives.
The only difference was that Thomas’ hair had gone a silver colour and his frame had thinned out a little in the last six months. Norman’s hair was still dark, thick, and full on his head. And right now it was standing up on end as if he had been running his fingers through it.
The younger Montgomery man turned as Gabriel closed the door behind him. He looked like he had been crying with his red eyes and pale face. Norman cleared his throat and reached for his handkerchief on the study desk.
“Tattershall.”
“Montgomery.”
Norman chuckled as he wiped at his eyes, shoving the handkerchief into his pocket.
“I think we know each other well enough to be informal, don’t you think?”
“All right.” Gabriel approached the other man and held out a hand. “Norman.”
“Gabriel.”
Norman’s grip was strong as they shook hands. They were of the same age, and yet it seemed like Norman had aged ten years. Gabriel felt a pang of sympathy for the man. For all the bickering father and son had done, they did love each other. It had only been them since Norman’s mother passed over twenty years ago. No other family, just them. Gabriel didn’t know how he would manage if it was just him in his family.
But aren’t you alone already? Disowned is the same thing. You have no family.
“You have my deepest condolences on your father’s passing.” Gabriel said solemnly. He meant it. “He was a good man. Everyone’s going to miss him.”
“I’m not sure about everyone, but thank you,” Norman swallowed, gesturing for Gabriel to follow him across to two low-slung chairs by the fire, which was burning brightly. Norman eased himself into one of the chairs. “I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know when exactly. Father’s health hasn’t been great since that influenza epidemic.”
“I think quite a few of us suffered with that,” Gabriel agreed. He settled into the chair, almost falling into it. It was very low. “I know Mother’s breathing hasn’t fully recovered after it, and my chest still hurts after I got it.”
“Mine does as well. I know we’re much younger than Father, but it affected everyone badly.” Norman rubbed his chest with a grimace. “I kept telling Father that he needed to slow down, but he...well, he’s a stubborn bastard.”
Gabriel chuckled.
“I know that much. He was always so kind to me.”
“Only because you spent all your money here.”
“Even after I stopped coming here,” Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck. “He would come by once a week ever since I was kicked out of the family and shoved into a pokey little cottage. We would play cards - no money involv
ed - have dinner and just talk. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have his support.”
That much was honest enough. Gabriel had thought he would sink back into gambling what little he had and becoming a pauper. But with the support of his brother, albeit silently, his valet and Thomas Montgomery himself, Gabriel found himself getting over his addiction. It didn’t make him feel good knowing that he had to be disowned from his family to know that he had an addiction.
Then why are you feeding it now?
I’m not feeding it. I’m doing the next best thing.
“I did wonder where he went those times. Father always used to discuss his patrons and how he would look out for them. I told him he was mad but I’m glad he’s been a good influence on people.” Norman’s eyes narrowed, “But you didn’t just come here to offer your condolences, did you? You’re up to something.”
“Why would I be up to something?”
“Gabriel, I don’t know you as well as my father did, but I know you enough to realise when you’re up to something.” Norman sat forward, elbows on his knees. “What do you want?”
Gabriel had thought to tiptoe into it but he wasn’t good at making small talk. His father had compared him to a bull, simply ploughing into it all and likely to upset someone. He jumped in.
“I heard that you were thinking of selling this place. I want to buy it from you.”
Norman blinked. Then he scowled, his hands clenched into fists as he growled.
“How did you know what I was thinking on doing?”
“Barrington the publican landlord told me about it.”
“I see.” Norman was looking less genial now. In fact, he looked positively murderous. “I mentioned it to Father a short while ago, while he was still alive. He said I could do what I wanted with the place as long as it maintained its primary purpose. I wasn’t expecting anyone to know about that.”
“You know what people are like. Things go around very quickly.”
“I’ve noticed,” Norman bared his teeth. “You’re not very good at timing, are you? Couldn’t you have just waited a little before approaching me about this?”
Gabriel gulped. But he hid his discomfort and shrugged.
“You know what I’m like. I’m not good at waiting.”
“I do know that much,” Norman snapped. He lunged to his feet, pacing away from Gabriel and kicked at the desk, making it scrap across the floor. “I want to be able to mourn my father, not discuss selling his business. For God’s sake, Gabriel, he’s not even managed to go cold yet!”
Gabriel winced. Maybe he should come back at another time. But his stubborn side pushed forward.
“I understand that, Norman, but I know how much you want to move on and do your own thing. Wouldn’t it be better to get the selling sorted and then it’s dealt with?”
“Even then, where would you get the money from? You’re not exactly swimming in it.”
“I’ve thought of that.” Gabriel sat forward. “I’d give you a price for buying this place, and then I would pay you for it over the next few years until it’s all paid off.”
“Right,” Norman said slowly. “You pay me out of the profits until you pay me what you promised. So, essentially, I get nothing.”
“You’ll get something, just not immediately.” Gabriel knew how it sounded, but he went on. “I want this place.”
“Why?”
Norman was watching him with narrowed eyes. Gabriel thought about lying, but thought better of it. Norman was a shrewd man. He was a lot brighter than people gave him credit for. Gabriel looked at his hands, unable to look Norman in the eye.
“I’ve got nothing now. I messed up my life, and I need to find purpose. Father used to say I could run a business with my eyes closed, and so that’s what I’m going to do to get myself on even ground.”
“Preferably without your eyes closed.”
“I can get to that later.” Gabriel looked up, finding Norman still scrutinising him. “I’ll draw up everything for you and then you can keep me to that contract.”
“And how do I know you’re not going to run away from it? Then I’ll be left with no business and no money.”
Gabriel didn’t blink. He was accused of many things, but running away was not one of them.
“I don’t run. If you’ve noticed, I could have done that six months ago after what happened. But I’m still here.”
“Because you’re stubborn,” Norman snorted. “And a few other names I won’t care to mention.”
“They can’t be as bad as the ones Father has called me since he caught me.”
“I’m still surprised you got caught at all.”
Gabriel shrugged. He didn’t want to remember that day.
“Got careless. That’s not going to happen again.”
Norman didn’t say anything for a moment, and Gabriel had to resist the urge to squirm under the sharp gaze. Norman had that ability to make anyone uncomfortable. He was an amicable man until you pushed him too much, and then he would change. Gabriel had seen it before, and it had made him glad he hadn’t been on the receiving end of it.
Now he was, and he didn’t like it one bit. But he wasn’t going to back down.
Finally, Norman blinked and looked away, running his hands through his hair with a heavy sigh.
“Well, even if you were able to make it happen, you’re going to have to work hard to get to the price I’ve got for you. Which won’t be easy when you have to contend with Seton Hall across town.”
“Seton Hall, run by Ernest Seton?”
Gabriel knew about Seton Hall. He hadn’t frequented the place as Thomas’ business was closer to his side of town, but he had heard a lot of things about Seton Hall. Ernest Seton was an easygoing businessman who had managed to turn around the gambling hall he had acquired over a decade ago, building it up into something that anyone would be proud of. Thomas had complained about Seton on numerous occasions, but it was with a lot of affection. Thomas didn’t have the heart to hate anyone, and he even admired and respected Seton.
It was the only other gambling hall in Ipswich - the only other one that was legal, that is - so competition was high.
“That’s them.” Norman rubbed the back of his neck. “They’re immensely popular right now, and Father’s already lost a few regulars to that place. Seton has an ace up his sleeve that he brought out at the right moment. And it’s made him a lot more successful than he has been in the past.”
Gabriel was curious. If this was genuine competition, he was going to need to know everything about his rivals. Anything to get ahead.
“What does he have as an ace?”
Norman sighed.
“Cassandra, his daughter.”
#
Cassandra didn’t feel hungry after Alice’s revelation, but she managed to eat what she could. She didn’t want to upset Mrs. Wheeler more, not when she was already upset. Then Cassandra changed into a gown appropriate for the evening, put her cloak on and went out with her aunt to Seton Hall. They were right on the outskirts of Ipswich, just less than a ten-minute walk from the pride and joy of their family. It was normally well-lit and busy even in the middle of the night, but Cassandra always carried a knife in her pocket. She wasn’t about to be left unprepared if they were accosted.
After a long holiday in Norfolk, Cassandra knew she should just rest up. It was a long time on a stagecoach, even with regular breaks. But she wanted to go along to Seton Hall and make sure everything was all right. Especially after the news that seemed to have shaken everyone; her father more than most.