by Wendy Vella
They reached another door that the butler opened and announced her arrival.
“Miss Langley has arrived, my lord.”
“Good morning, Phoebe. Tis a shame you have decided to venture out on such a miserable day, my dear.”
Lord Wooller came toward her as she entered the parlor, a wide smile on his face.
“We shall return before the rain sets in I’m sure, Woolly.”
Of course he didn’t take her hand and Phoebe braced herself for the hug she knew was coming. He smelled of coffee and spice and the lovely scent of comfort. He then lifted her chin and inspected the bruise. “Before Hannah comes, I wanted to say thank you for looking after my girl, Phoebe, as I did not get the chance last night. She told me about that incident in the ladies’ rooms, and I was chuffed when I heard how you slapped that uppity Lady Croxley.”
“Oh, well it is not something I would normally do, my lord,” Phoebe said.
“Tis something to me, my girl,” he said, taking her shoulders in his big hands and looking at her. He had lines around his eyes and a mouth that suggested he knew how to laugh, and a way of really looking at a person, almost as if he could see the things no one but she saw: the insecurities and the scares she carried from events in her past.
“You’ve suffered much, Phoebe Langley, and I’m not talking just of that bruise on your face which Hannah told me was from a fall. I can see it there in the depths of your eyes. I know this and can only commend you for fighting through all that pain to become the woman I see before me. Your sister is the same. You’re strong women.”
“Please,” Phoebe tried to push aside his words. “Everyone has their burdens, Woolly.”
“Losing your parents is never easy, girl, nor watching your sister suffer,” he said and she wondered how he knew so much about her. “Now you listen to me, Phoebe, and listen well.”
“I’m listening,” Phoebe whispered because the look in his eyes told her she should.
“I know you have a family who love you, Phoebe, but I want you to know that the Wooller’s house is now your house, should you ever need it, as are the people who live inside it. And if you at any time need our support you have only to send word, girl, and we will be there.”
“Oh, dear.” Phoebe pressed her gloved hands to her eyes. “I don’t like to weep in front of people. Actually, I don’t like to weep at all.”
“Well you’ve no need to be strong in front of the Woollers.”
“B-but you barely know me,” Phoebe whispered.
“I know that my daughter already sees you as her trusted friend and that is enough. And if I didn’t know that, then I would know that your sister is a lovely lady and her husband cannot speak highly enough of you.”
“Why are you making that lady cry, Papa?”
This had to be Bridgette, Phoebe realized, as Lord Wooller released her to face the young imp walking towards them. She was tiny, with a riot of red curls that had a white satin ribbon wound through them. Eyes the color of sapphires were watching Phoebe intently as she walked towards Lord Wooller, who was holding out one hand.
“Bridgette, this is Phoebe and she is a friend to both your sister and I.”
The girl gave Phoebe a thorough going over from the tip of her head to the soles of her feet, and then she sank into a curtsy. When she rose, she was smiling and the effect was startling. Her entire face seemed to light and two dimples appeared in her cheeks.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Langley.”
“Good girl.” Lord Wooller patted her head.
Hannah arrived seconds later, looking cool and elegant in cream and mint green.
“Can I come with you, please, Hannah?”
Shaking her head Hannah gave Phoebe’s hand a squeeze before saying, “Not today, Bridgette but I shall take you out later, as I promised, and Papa is here.”
“I wish to go now.”
Phoebe looked at the mulish expression on the girl’s face and then to Hannah, who rolled her eyes.
“We have thrashed this topic to death since you jumped on my bed and woke me before the sun rose, infant. Therefore, I have no wish to do so again, and if you persist I shall retract my invitation to the Royal Amphitheatre which I believe Papa has already purchased tickets for.”
“No! Has he really?” Wide-eyed Bridgette looked at Lord Wooller, who nodded but wisely remained silent.
“So be a good girl and do your lessons while I am gone, and we shall take Pumpkin for a walk this afternoon,” Hannah said, kissing Bridgette’s head.
“Pumpkin?” Phoebe questioned as they made their way outside to where the carriage awaited.
“A large, ginger bulldog that makes the identical sound to my father and I when we laugh.”
“I wish I’d met him.”
“I’m sure you will,” Hannah said, stepping into the carriage.
Once they were underway, discussions fell to their business plans.
“As I lay in bed unable to sleep in the early hours of the morning, I thought of a name, Hannah.”
“Why couldn’t you sleep?”
Phoebe waved her hand about. “Too many thoughts. However, that is not important, the name is.’
“Well, what is it?” Hannah demanded after at least two seconds had passed.
“Madame Alexander’s.”
Hannah didn’t speak, so Phoebe forged ahead with her explanations.
“It is French,” she ticked off on one finger. “It is a grand name and one that will look lovely on our shop window.”
“Boutique window,” Hannah qualified.
“Boutique window,” Phoebe said. “And it’s…French,” she added again because she couldn’t think of another reason now when last night she’d had at least five.
“Yes, I like it.”
“Really?”
“No, I lied.”
“Oh,” Phoebe felt deflated.
“Goose, I’m teasing. I do actually really like it.”
“You sounded very convincing,” Phoebe said as the carriage pulled up outside the warehouse.
“I lie very well also.”
“Duly noted.” Phoebe took a deep breath of sea air as she and Hannah stepped from the carriage
“Make haste please, ladies,” Luke said, coming forward and offering his arm to Phoebe and Hannah. “And you, Sally,” he added over his shoulder to Phoebe’s maid.
“Who is he?” Hannah said as Luke released them to open the door to Will’s warehouse, and then ushered them inside.
“It’s far too complicated to explain now. I shall do so another time,” Phoebe said moving through the door.
“Oh, my!”
Remembering just such a reaction from her the first time she had seen it, Phoebe laughed as Hannah stood wide-eyed looking around her.
“Why has my father never brought me here?”
Long trestle tables were filled with goods, ranging from fabric to other items. It was a riot on the senses and Phoebe loved it.
“Hello, Ladies.”
Phoebe kissed Will’s cheek as he came to her side. Together, they watched Hannah move along the fabrics.
“Look at that silk, Phoebe!”
“I can see it, Hannah.” Phoebe and Will walked with Hannah and discussed what they would need in the coming days, and Phoebe felt her excitement rise again. This was her future; she needed no man in her life to find happiness.
“As I explained before we arrived, it is a sound proposition and one that will yield strong dividends, brothers,” Finn said as they left the meeting of the locomotive consortium.
“I’m in,” Ben said enthusiastically. “I spoke with Mr. Trewness and he will send around the paperwork for me to sign within the next few days. It sounds as though it will be highly profitable, once things are established.”
Finn felt the first drop of rain land on his face as they stepped out onto the street. Lifting a hand, he waved to his driver and soon they were all inside.
“Alex?” Finn looked at
his other brother, who had uncharacteristically remained silent throughout the entire meeting of the consortium. He looked out the window, appearing fixated on the dull London streets.
He had not had a chance yet to discuss what Will had told him, but he would when he got Alex alone. He’d tried to find a logical reason for him being where Will had seen him but could find none. Alex was almost certainly gambling again, and Finn needed to stop him before he got in too deep.
“Is that yellow satin?” Finn looked at the lining of his brother’s jacket as it fell open when he turned to look across the carriage. “Good God, Alex, that’s a bit excessive for a man, don’t you think?”
“He’s a dandy, Finn,” Ben smirked.
“As I have no wish to be cast in the same drab mold as my brothers, I must strive to distance myself from you both.”
“What’s wrong with this jacket?” Finn said defensively. He was tired of people constantly insulting him. Phoebe had told him he had as much emotion as a tree and now he apparently dressed like one also. “It’s dark gray, admittedly, but made by Shultz.”
Alex studied him thoroughly.
“Your waistcoat is also dormouse gray with not one small thread of color, Finn. It gives you no point of difference, and loathe as I am to admit it, you have a fine physique with broad shoulders. You could carry a little color off, brother, I assure you.”
“You could carry a little color off, brother, I assure you,” Ben mimicked, which earned him a kick in the shins for his trouble.
“For pity’s sake, you are twenty-two years old, not ten. Behave!” Finn roared as Ben lunged across the carriage. When they were once again quiet, he directed his next question to Alex.
“Why won’t you invest in that consortium, Alex?”
“Because I have already invested my money elsewhere.”
Finn felt a chill traverse his spine. Was he already too late to stop Alex losing his money? “In what?” he said calmly.
“I have decided to keep this investment to myself until it starts to pay dividends, Finn, and then of course I will be happy to share the details with you.”
Alex smiled as he noted Finn’s frown. “All will go well, big brother. You worry too much.”
“Like it did before.”
“Once before, Finn. Surely even you have made one mistake in your life?”
“And let us not forget the gambling.” He kept his eyes on Alex as he spoke, but his brother didn’t flinch. Could he be wrong?
“I…don’t…gamble.” Anger sparked briefly in Alex’s eyes as he spoke the words slowly.
“I am just concerned, Alex.”
They looked at him then, both, faces so familiar he knew them better than his own– the curl on Ben’s forehead that he had to flatten every morning as it stood upright, and the small star shaped freckle that sat just above Alex’s left eyebrow. Where had the years gone, Finn thought, seeing them now as the young men they had become?
“Trust us, Finn, you have taught us well. We shall certainly make mistakes, but only small ones. We promise.”
Finn grunted as words at that moment were beyond him. He would ask Alex about his gambling when the chance arose and if need be pay off his debts. He would also investigate who, if anyone, he had invested his money with. Finn would then put the fear of God into them if that investment even looked like failing. It was his duty to protect them, even if they did not want him to.
“Are we to visit Will’s warehouse now, Finn?” Alex said, the anger now replaced with a smile at the prospect.
“Yes, I shall not be long here. I just need to drop off some papers and then we can leave. Remember, anything you break, you buy,” Finn cautioned.
As usual, it took Finn a moment to catch his breath when they arrived at Will’s warehouse. A riot of colors and smells bombarded his senses as he walked inside.
“I think Will is in that little office, Finn, with several other people,” Ben said, pointing to the end of the warehouse before he and Alex went to inspect the tables.
Making his way towards the office, Finn would simply wait for Will to finish and then hand over the papers. They would then leave as it was obvious he was busy.
“Well, I think we have gone over everything, ladies, and I see a long and successful future for all of us in this venture.”
“Do you believe so, Will?”
Finn tensed as he heard Phoebe’s voice coming through the now open door.
“Absolutely, Phoebe.”
“It’s really happening, Hannah.”
Finn could hear her excitement and wondered what venture she was talking about. He guessed Hannah was Miss Wooller, and she was in some way involved? He made himself move to the tables as he heard footsteps which told him the meeting was concluded.
“Finn, I had not realized you’d arrived.”
“Just,” he said, shaking his friend’s hand and then bowing to Miss Wooller and Phoebe, the latter looking over his left shoulder as she replied with a curtsy.
“Good morning, Miss Wooller, Miss Langley.”
“My lord,” they acknowledged him, and then made their way back to the goods on display.
“I have those papers for you, Will.” Finn pulled them out of his pocket and handed them over as he turned to watch Phoebe and Hannah converse with the twins.
“Thank you.”
“Good morning, Alex, Ben,” Will said, moving to where they stood which allowed Finn to do the same.
He stood silently while the others talked, and studied Phoebe. Even surrounded by so much color, she was the most beautiful thing in the room. Her dress was cream with yellow embroidery and her straw bonnet was tied in a neat bow beneath her chin. She wore a long coat in cream that reached the floor and on her left breast was a broach of gold and colored gems in the shape of a heart. The bruise on her face was almost black now and stood out against the pale cream of her skin. Finn felt his fists clench at the memory of how it had happened. It could have been so much worse.
She looked young, sweet and innocent and he felt a tug of guilt for what he had done last night, followed swiftly by a bolt of lust at the memory
“You are a man of discerning taste, Mr. Hetherington.” Phoebe was looking at Alex when she spoke. “Would you perhaps tell me which of these fabrics you would choose?”
Ben wandered off, disgruntled that his services were not called upon to study more of Will’s treasures by the ladies. Finn and Will stood talking about the meeting; however, he kept his eye on the three studying the fabric.
“Will your brothers be investing, Finn?”
“No,” Finn dragged his eyes from Phoebe. “Only Ben, it appears. Alex has put his money into something else.”
“Christ.”
“Exactly,” Finn said. “Is he gambling, or was it just a single instance? What has he invested in and are they charlatans? I tell you, Will, these thoughts have been plaguing me.”
“You’ve had no chance to broach the subject with him then yet?”
“No.”
“At least you’ll be a good father after all this practice with the twins,” Will said. “Nothing any future off-spring does can hope to compete with them.”
Finn’s laugh held little humor.
“You have taught Alex well, Finn. He is no fool, and I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation.”
“Lord, I hope you are right, Will.”
Finn saw Alex pick up a piece of cloth and drape it over Phoebe, then he and Hannah nodded and spoke some more. They seemed very familiar with each other, considering, to his knowledge, they could have conversed no more than a handful of times.
“Where is your lace, Will?” Phoebe then asked.
“That way.”
Finn watched all three then hurry to where Will had pointed.
“What the hell are they doing?”
I should imagine they are looking at lace,” Will said, following Finn’s eyes to where they were now picking up lengths of the stuff and examining it.
/> “Why?”
“Your brother has an eye for fashion. I should imagine the ladies are utilizing it.”
Finn pinched the bridge of his nose. His brother was advising Phoebe and Miss Wooller on fashion. What next?”
“Ben, Alex, we’re leaving,” he snapped. The sooner he got Alex home and alone, the sooner he could talk to him about his gambling. Only then would he be able to think rationally once again.
“Your confrontation with your brother will go better if you are not in that mood, Finneous, so I would suggest you snap out of it.”
Finn didn’t acknowledge Will’s words, instead making his way to where Phoebe now stood alone by the door, waiting for Miss Wooller, who was still studying a piece of lace with Alex.
“How is your wrist today?”
“Good.”
Just the one word and it was directed to his right shoulder.
“And are you here simply to purchase lace, Miss Langley?”
She looked at him then, a cool dismissive glance that set Finn’s teeth on edge.
“I don’t believe my activities are any concern of yours, Lord Levermarch.”
“It’s called polite conversation, Phoebe, and I assure you there was no nefarious intent behind my words.”
It wasn’t just his worry over Alex that was bothering him; Finn knew this. It was her, Phoebe Langley. He just didn’t seem to be able to get her out of his head, no matter how hard he tried.
She gave him another cool look.
“I think we’ve established that, polite, does not work between us, my lord.”
She turned from him then to take Alex’s hand as he appeared at her side.
“Good day to you, Alex, Ben.”
Alex said something that made her laugh, and Finn wondered if there had ever been a time that she had laughed over something he’d said.
Good-byes were exchanged and then without a backwards glance she was gone and Finn could take his first deep, calming breath. He had to get his lust for that woman under control. She was the sister-in-law of his best friend for Gods sake, and a lady. Nothing could come of wanting her physically and surely, given time and distance, his need for her would wane. But wasn’t that the problem? He didn’t seem to be able to keep his distance from her.