A Lady of Secret Devotion

by Tracie Peterson

  Mark nodded. “I’ll let Mr. Westmoreland know. He’s still in the carriage. Tell Ada to wait for me, and I’ll accompany her. I’ll meet her at the carriage house.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  Mark went to the carriage and opened the door. “Cassie’s not here. She’s felt a direct threat from Mr. Jameston and has taken his mother to stay with her family. I will go with one of the servants and see what else is to be done. I’ll meet you at the boardinghouse later to discuss what our next step will be to ensure their safety.”

  “I’ll be there,” Westmoreland assured. “And Mark . . . be careful.” The concern on his face was evident. No doubt he worried that Mark had already been through a great deal. Perhaps he even thought Mark wasn’t up to the challenge, but that was not the case. Mark was stirred and strengthened by his desire to see justice and truth win out. He was driven by his love for Cassie and his hope that they might share a future.

  He informed the driver, then made his way back to the carriage house as fast as he could. Wills was loading the last of Ada’s things into the carriage when Mark arrived.

  “Good to have you back, sir. We’ve been worried about you,” Wills said in greeting. “Ada should be here directly, and then we can leave for Miss Stover’s house.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Mark asked, noting the time. “When is Mr. Jameston expected back?”

  “I don’t know, but we’ve tried to be quick about this. We moved Miss Cassie and Mrs. Jameston earlier this afternoon, but Ada wasn’t able to gather her own things at the time. I came back for her as soon as I got the ladies settled in.”

  “So both of them are . . . uh . . . well?”

  “Yes, sir. Mrs. Jameston had been quite ill, but we’re hopeful she’ll soon mend. Oh good. Here comes Ada now. She can probably tell you more.”

  Mark looked up the walkway to find the maid hurrying toward them. She smiled when she saw Mark. “I’m so glad you’ve returned to us. Miss Cassie was beside herself with worry.”

  “I’ve been worried for her as well.” Mark helped Ada into the carriage and nodded to Wills. “Let’s leave quickly.”

  Wills set the carriage in motion even as Mark took his seat. The sense of desperation was heavy in the air. Ada kept looking from window to window and twisting her gloved hands nervously.

  “I believe we’ll be just fine now, Ada. Try not to worry. Mr. Jameston will cause you no harm while I’m here.”

  “He tried to kill his own mother, Mr. Langford.” Her words were whispered, but Mark heard them clearly. “Cassie found out the truth this morning. He tried to put poison in the food she was preparing.”

  “How did she handle the situation?” Mark asked.

  Ada smiled. “Our Cassie is a smart one. She appealed to the only thing that she knew for sure mattered to Mr. Jameston.

  Money. He kept telling Cassie how rich he would be once his mother was dead. Cassie told him this wasn’t true because she knew he’d been written out of Mrs. Jameston’s will. Strangely enough, Cassie thought she was making up the entire thing, but Mrs. Jameston truly had written Sebastian out of the will.

  In fact, she had named Cassie her main beneficiary.”

  The news took Mark by surprise. Mrs. Jameston was vastly wealthy. “And what did Jameston do when he found out that he’d been written out of the will?”

  “That was the amazing part. That confirmed what Cassie had suspected. She had been making oatmeal for Mrs. Jameston and herself. When she stepped away she came back to find Sebastian stirring the concoction. He told her it was about to boil over, but Cassie saw white powder on the edge of the pan and knew that something wasn’t right. She pretended, however, that everything was fine.”

  Mark thought of all the games of pretense they’d played, and knew that this one had been Cassie’s most deadly. “What happened then?”

  “When Cassie told Sebastian that he was out of the will, he apparently realized he couldn’t let her serve his mother the oatmeal. Cassie thinks there must surely have been a lethal dose, because he took up the pot on the grounds of taking it to the table for her and dropped it instead—spilling it everywhere.”

  “Smart man. Who could become suspicious of a mere accident?”

  “Well, Cassie said he was very upset but held his calm. He left quickly, and once he was gone, Cassie went to work. She called all of us together and explained everything. Of course, I got to hear more of it while she and I packed for her and Mrs. Jameston to leave.” Ada looked at Mark in earnest. “I’m so glad you’ve returned. I’m very afraid. Not so much for myself, but for Mrs. Jameston and Cassie. I believe Sebastian means to harm them both—especially now that Cassie will inherit his fortune.”

  “Please try not to fret. I will do what I can to see this situation dealt with so that no one is hurt.”

  “Cassie said that God would look after us—that He would not allow Mr. Jameston’s evil nature to prevail—but I’ve seen bad men do horrible things to good people.” She bit at her lower lip, as if trying to decide whether to continue or not.

  “Mr. Jameston is dangerous. He’s not to be trusted under any circumstance.”

  “I completely understand, Ada. Try not to worry. It is my hope and plan to see him soon behind bars.”

  The carriage came to a stop in front of the house that Mark knew the Stover family occupied. Light shone from nearly every window, both downstairs and up. He imagined Cassie pacing the floors and refusing to rest until she knew that Ada was safe.

  “You go ahead to her,” Ada said with a smile. “She’s missed you terribly.”

  “And I have missed her,” Mark replied. He stepped down and reached back to help Ada.

  “Don’t worry about me. Wills will see to me. You go ahead. I know this is what she’s prayed for.” Ada motioned him away.

  Mark bounded up the front walk and knocked on the door.

  It seemed an eternity before anyone came, but when the door opened it was Cassie who looked back at him in wonder.

  “Sorry I’m late,” he said with a grin. “I was a bit detained.”

  Her mouth dropped open, and without warning she wrapped her arms around his neck and plied his face with kisses.

  “Oh, you’re safe! You’re alive. Oh, thank God!” she declared in between bestowing her affection.

  Mark was surprised by the welcome but tightened his hold on her. “I’m so sorry you had to wonder about me. I was injured—the train derailed.”

  “I know—at least we figured as much,” she said, pulling back to gaze into his eyes. “I feared . . . I mean . . . I worried that perhaps I’d . . .” She looked away, embarrassed.

  Understanding dawned on Mark almost immediately. She thought she’d driven him away with her declaration of love. He started to reply but found himself interrupted.

  “Ada!” Cassie dropped her hold as the maid approached. “I’m so glad you’ve returned. Was he there? Did you have any trouble?”

  “No,” Ada replied. “Mr. Jameston hadn’t yet shown up at the house. I was greatly relieved to hear it too. Miriam and Essie helped me collect my things, and Wills kept the carriage ready.”

  Mark stepped aside to usher the ladies into the house. “Let us get inside, lest we’re observed,” he suggested. Wills came up with the luggage, and Mark helped him inside as Cassie led the way.

  The house was cozy and simple. Mark remembered it well from when he’d come for Elida’s birthday. In some ways, it reminded him of the Shoemakers’ home. There was a sense of family here, just as there had been in Trenton with the doctor and his wife.

  “Mr. Langford!” Mrs. Jameston declared as Mark stepped into the sitting room. “I am so happy to see you. Cassie has told me everything.”

  Mark looked rather apprehensive and glanced at Cassie. “Everything?”

  “I had to,” she explained. “I thought it only fair. Earlier, when Sebastian tried to poison her food— Oh goodness, but you don’t know about that, do you?”

/>   “Yes. Yes, I do. Mr. Brumley and Ada have informed me of what took place.”

  Cassie looked to Ada and smiled. “Thank you. It’s just been so strange. Everything has happened all at once. I felt that I had to explain to Mrs. Jameston about our little game and what you were really trying to do.”

  Mark went to Mrs. Jameston and knelt beside her chair. “I am so sorry. I know that my actions must grieve you.”

  “Not nearly so much as the actions of my son,” she replied.

  “You are upholding the law and seeking justice for your friend.

  I cannot fault you for that. Sebastian has . . . well . . . dug his own grave, I suppose.” Tears came to her eyes. “He’s my child and I love him so much, but I do not know this stranger he’s become.”

  Cassie came to her and put her hands on Mrs. Jameston’s shoulders. “No matter what happens, we will see you through this.” She looked to Mark as if for confirmation.

  “She’s right,” he agreed. “What plans have been made up until now?”

  “Very few, actually,” Cassie admitted.

  “Mr. Langford!” Elida fairly squealed as she dashed into the room. “I cannot believe you are here. I thought you had gone away forever.” Her mother followed in behind her and offered Mark a beaming smile.

  He smiled at the ten-year-old. “I was in a terrible train accident and I lost my memory for what felt like a very long time.”

  “Were you hurt very badly?” she asked in awe.

  Mark caught Cassie’s worried expression. “I was hurt, to be sure. But a kindly doctor and his wife took me in. It wasn’t until yesterday that my memories fully returned. Even now, little things sometimes stump me for a moment.”

  “We’re so glad you were able to recover,” Dora Stover said. “We have been quite beside ourselves for news.”

  He stood and smiled. “I am sorry for the worry it caused.”

  Dora nodded and looked at her daughter. “God has a way of setting things right.”

  “Indeed He does,” Mark replied.

  “Mrs. Jameston, I’ll show you where everything is,” Dora Stover instructed. “Come along, Elida. You can help.”

  The room emptied quickly, leaving Cassie and Mark to stand, looking at each other. Mark thought he’d never seen anyone more beautiful in all of his life. Cassie’s words came back to him, and he shook his head.

  “Why did you say those things at the train station that day?”

  Cassie drew a deep breath and twisted her hands together. “You know me and my big mouth—always speaking my mind. I guess I thought maybe you’d forgotten about it.”

  He grinned. “It’s hard to forget something as shocking as that.”

  “Shocking? Why shocking?”

  He folded his arms. “I suppose because we had an agreement to pretend.”

  “Yes, well, I thought I was rather good at such things, but I find that apparently I am not,” Cassie said, her words spilling out at a quickening pace. “I felt it was important to let you know the truth. I certainly didn’t want to deceive you. I also didn’t wish to upset you, and I do apologize if I did. When you didn’t return immediately as planned, I thought my blurting out such declarations may have been more than you could deal with.”

  He laughed. “Ah, Cassie, you have no idea.”

  She looked at him oddly. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.

  I didn’t set out to fall in love with you. It’s just that every time you came to see me, I found myself more and more excited to share your company. I cannot help speaking the truth. You have always known that my mouth seems to have a mind of its own.”

  She stopped her pacing and raised her hands as she shrugged.

  “I suppose I have ruined a perfectly good friendship.”

  “Well, it may well have altered that friendship,” he said seriously.

  She sighed. “I knew I should have kept quiet.”

  “But how did you know it was love? You told me that you’d never been in love before.”

  Cassie began to pace again, her face contorting. She seemed to ponder the answer for several seconds. “I hadn’t been in love before, and perhaps that is why I knew it to be love now. The absence of something is often just as revealing as the presence of a thing.”

  “That is true.” He stepped before her, halting her progression. “You’ll put a hole in your mother’s carpet if you don’t stop pacing.”

  “I cannot help it. I feel so mortified.”

  He laughed. “Then put your mind at ease. I am not offended by your declaration. In fact, you were all that I could think of the entire time I was gone. I called for you even in my unconscious state—or so they told me. I didn’t know who you were, but your image haunted me day and night.”

  Touching her cheek, he gazed with deep longing into her eyes. “I prayed to find you. I prayed to know my mind again, simply that I might know you. It’s no longer a game for me either. It hasn’t been for some time. I just didn’t know what to do about it.”

  Cassie’s eyes were wide with wonder. “What are we to do about it?” She barely breathed the words.

  He smiled and dropped to one knee. “I suppose we should marry. That is, if you will have me.”

  Her mouth formed a silent O. He wanted to laugh out loud at the expression of shock on her face. For once, she was stunned into silence.

  “Will you marry me, Cassandra Stover?”

  “I . . . uh . . . you truly . . .” She couldn’t form a coherent sentence.

  This only made Mark laugh all the more. “I’ve never seen you so speechless in all the time I’ve known you.”

  “I’ve never been asked such a question before,” she said. “Are you sure this isn’t just part of your game?”

  He stood so quickly she nearly toppled backward. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her passionately, bending her backward until she was helpless to move from his arms without fear of falling. “What do you think?”

  She grinned. “No more games of pretense?”

  “No,” he said, shaking his head ever so slowly.

  “No more secret desires and hidden emotions?”

  “Absolutely none.”

  Cassie giggled. “What about clandestine meetings?”

  He gave her a wicked grin as he arched a single brow.

  “Perhaps we can still arrange those. But only if you say yes to my proposal.”

  “Then consider this to be my yes. I will marry you, Marcus Langford. I happily consent to be your wife.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Sebastian returned to his mother’s house, bringing with him a driving rage and desire for revenge. Through his own connections he’d learned the truth of his mother’s changes to the will. Cassie had been right. His mother had disinherited him, but what Cassie hadn’t bothered to tell him was that she had been put in the will to replace him.

  Nothing enraged Sebastian more than to have his plans disrupted. Since returning to his mother’s house back in April, he’d known that the time had come to eliminate her from the picture. His plans for the future were such that he felt certain he could triple his money if he could only manage to set up his business the way he wanted. Insurance companies were springing up everywhere and insuring most everything. A person could now insure not only ships and cargoes but houses, livestock, and lives. The entire business stirred his imagination. If a man worked things right, he could easily insure a variety of things and make a tidy profit by arranging to have those things disappear, killed, or stolen.

  How very creative, he thought, to have articles taken by your own people and sold elsewhere so that you might capitalize on the situation twice. As he had done with several ship cargoes, Sebastian had managed to make a tidy sum for himself and his men. Of course, the expenses involved were also steep. That was why he needed to expand his business in such a way that he could have several jobs going on at the same time.

  Cassandra Stover, however, had become a thorn in his side. Where he might have previously be
en able to talk his mother out of large sums of money, now his mother had been persuaded to cut him completely from her will. He seethed at the thought of Cassie convincing his own mother that he no longer deserved his rightful inheritance.

  “Well, she won’t have an opportunity to cause me further harm,” he muttered. “If Miss Stover is dead, she can hardly inherit.”

  The plan was fixed in his mind. He would force his mother to write a new will. If she balked, he would threaten to kill Cassie on the spot. Once the will was written, he would kill her anyway.

  He would kill them both. He already had a plan in mind.

  The schemes energized Sebastian and made him smile as he entered the house for what he thought might be the last time. With any luck at all, he would find Cassie and his mother together reading or chatting. It was just past breakfast time, so he didn’t anticipate finding them still at the dining table. No, they would be casually gathered some place more intimate, where he could easily confront them.

  The house was strangely quiet. Sebastian called for Brumley and then for Mrs. Dixon, but neither servant came. Odd. Usually Brumley guarded the front door as though he were a warden of an asylum.

  “Brumley! Where are you, man?”

  The words echoed back at Sebastian. The upper floors proved to be deserted. There was no one to be found on the second floor—not even in his mother’s room. It was possible they might have gone for a carriage ride or into town on some sort of business.

  Still, it seemed strange that the entire house should be vacated. Where were the servants? Sebastian walked slowly through the downstairs rooms and finally found Silas baking bread in the kitchen.

  “Where is everyone?”

  Silas looked up and his expression registered surprise, then what appeared to be disgust. “Busy at their jobs, sir.”

  “Where’s my mother?” Sebastian asked, noting that Silas seemed nervous.

  “I couldn’t say, sir. She rarely checks in with me.”

  The impudent response caused Sebastian to narrow his eyes. “Where is Brumley?” The butler would know every detail of his mother’s comings and goings just as he always had.