“Well, this is just as important. I want to know what you know about my daughter’s disappearance.”
Otto frowned and looked around the room. “What do you mean?”
“Come now, surely you were a part of this.” Harriet went to a silk-covered chair and took a seat. “Clara is gone. She has taken the children and their nanny and left on some sort of foolish trip.”
He couldn’t hide his shock. He knew nothing about Clara’s plans. “She’s gone?”
“I won’t brook any nonsense, Mr. Vesper.” Harriet fixed him with an intimidating stare. “If you know where she has gone, then I demand you tell me.”
“But I don’t know. I don’t know anything about her leaving. She said nothing to me about it.” He turned on Harriet. “This is all your fault. You come here with your insulting, demanding ways and have no doubt caused her great grief. No wonder she left.”
Harriet stiffened. “How dare you. She is my daughter and I have every right to be here.”
“Perhaps to be here, but not to order her about or impose your will upon her as you did twelve years ago when you forced her to marry my brother.”
“Clara has never known her own mind,” Harriet countered. “Her choices were always poorly made, and she led such a sheltered life that it was imperative I make good choices for her. Now is no different. The very fact that she has gone proves this.”
“Nonsense. My sister-in-law is quite capable of ordering her life and her children’s. You stormed in here with your demands, and she simply decided to avoid dealing with you altogether. I cannot say I blame her one bit.” He hoped that would be the end of it.
“What is this about your brother leaving Clara with nothing?”
Otto bristled at the change of topic. “I hardly feel it’s any of your business.”
“Of course it’s my business. Now tell me what is going on. I know for a fact your brother made plenty of money selling his jewelry designs. Where has that money gone?”
“He spent it. He loved his gaming and . . . other things.” He waited for that to register.
“Clara said nothing.”
“Of course she didn’t,” Vesper countered. “She knew nothing. That was how I wanted it. I told my brother I would continue to bail him out of trouble so long as she never knew.”
“That was very . . . considerate of you. But do you mean to tell me she has nothing? Not even this house?”
“The house and all that is in it . . . is mine. However, she is welcome to it for as long as she desires to live here. I have taken great care to see to it that she wants for nothing.”
Harriet’s tirade slowed as she appeared to take more care in choosing her words. “You said that you asked her to marry you.”
“I have, and after a suitable time of mourning we will be married.”
She tapped her chin. “You have obviously done well for yourself despite your brother’s follies. However, now that he is dead, your income will certainly be compromised without his designs.”
Otto gave her a smug smile. “That is where you are wrong, Mrs. Oberlin. The designs were not my brother’s doing. He only took credit for them, as he craved fame and glory.”
“Then whose designs were they? Yours?” It was obvious Harriet found this bit of news quite intriguing. “Clara never said anything about it.”
“Of course she didn’t. She knows nothing about it. As I said, it has always been my desire to keep her sheltered from the business dealings and hardships brought about by my brother. You see, Mrs. Oberlin, I have long loved Clara. I love the children as well. And they know me better than they knew their own father. Marriage to me is the right and proper choice. I need only convince Clara.”
“Society will be dismayed at the idea of you marrying your brother’s widow. It won’t seem at all proper, and that will make Clara uneasy.”
“Well, perhaps that’s where you can help. Both with society and your daughter.”
She tilted her head as if trying to better understand his meaning. “And what form would that help take?”
He chuckled. “You have a great many friends and, as I understand it, have a great deal of sway in society. You could promote my good characteristics and the fact that I have long loved Clara from afar. You could let it be known that Clara and Adolph never loved each other and that the marriage was purely an arranged one. I presume most people know that, but reminding them wouldn’t hurt.”
“And exactly how am I supposed to do this promoting?”
“For the benefit of society you could mention it when attending summer soirees or when hosting your dinner parties.” He paused for a moment and frowned. “Perhaps with Clara it would be best to say nothing. She seems to take a strong dislike to your instruction, since it forced her into a loveless marriage once before.”
“And what would I get in return?”
Otto smiled. He knew he had her hooked. Like a fish on the line, now he had only to reel her in. “We can negotiate those terms in the days to come, but for now it would behoove us to find Clara.”
She nodded and got to her feet. “I will take it all into consideration. In the meanwhile we should probably hire someone to help us find out where she’s gone. I doubt she will be away long, but given her fragile state of mind, she could very well do something foolish.”
Vesper stood. “I will arrange it immediately. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have business that needs my attention.”
Otto was glad to be away from the old biddy. Harriet Oberlin was a decided thorn in his side, but with any luck at all he’d manage to get rid of her. He had in mind one or two gentlemen who would be happy to seek the old lady’s attention, and if Otto could just keep her busy with them, then perhaps he could find Clara and marry her without further interference.
When he reached the office, Jack was not there, and no one else was around to tell him where his secretary had gone. He looked around Jack’s area, thinking he might have at least left him a note, but found nothing. Nothing turned up in his office either. He thought for a moment he might venture down to the workrooms, where a couple dozen men worked on putting together various pieces of jewelry. Along with their unique Vesper collection, they were still in the business of producing more common pieces. However, he still needed to find the missing money, so the workroom could wait.
Otto made his way to Adolph’s office for what must have been the hundredth time. Since his brother’s death he had searched without luck for the missing money and papers. Standing in the doorway he looked around the room. They had to be here. No doubt Adolph had hidden them away, but where?
Otto’s gaze fell to the polished wood floors. Could there be a loose board somewhere? Perhaps Adolph had a compartment in the floor that he used for hiding those things, which could cause them both a great deal of harm if found.
Moving about the room, Otto inspected every board but found nothing. Once more he began to go through his brother’s filing cabinets just in case he had missed something before. With every second his anger increased. How dare his twin jeopardize them in this way?
At the sound of someone in the outer office, Otto gave up his search. “Is that you, Jack?”
He found not only his secretary but also a suit-clad man he didn’t recognize, as well as a uniformed police officer. He halted at the door.
“I see we have guests.” He forced a smile. “How may I help you gentlemen?”
The suit-clad man stepped forward. “The name’s Badeau. William Badeau.” He turned to the officer. “Why don’t you wait for me in the hall? I’ll let you know when I need you.” The man nodded and exited the room. Badeau, meanwhile, fixed his gaze on Otto. “I believe we have business to discuss.”
Otto studied the man a moment. He had the hard look of a man used to pushing people around and forcing answers to his questions. No doubt he was some sort of law enforcement official.
“I haven’t a great deal of time. What is this about?”
“It’s about espionage an
d treason,” the man replied. “You see, I’m working for the government to ferret out spies.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with me.”
Badeau’s lips curled ever so slightly. “I think it has a great deal to do with you, Mr. Vesper. With your dead brother as well. We have quite a bit of evidence to suggest that your brother was part of a large group supporting Germany. I have a feeling you’re a part of that as well.”
“While it’s true my brother and I do share an ancestry that involves German relatives, we are, or shall I say, I am an American. My brother felt the same way. We were born and raised here. We would in no way compromise our lives by dabbling in Europe’s war.”
“It’s our war now as well, or haven’t you been paying attention to the newspapers?” He reached over to Jack’s desk and picked up a piece of paper. “And why would you need to have a detailed schedule of ships coming in and out of our harbor?”
“Because we import a great many gemstones and export finished jewelry. The crown heads of Europe can vouch for that, as they are often commissioning pieces. We never use any routine shipping plan, lest thieves take advantage.” Otto barely replied in a civil tongue as his ire increased. He knew he needed to remain calm, however. “Why don’t you tell me what it is you hope to learn? I’ll do my best to assist you in concluding your business here.”
This caused Badeau to smile in full. “Our business is just beginning, Mr. Vesper. I have a number of police officers waiting in the hall. We’re here to confiscate your business records and any other information we deem questionable.” He handed Otto a search warrant.
This wasn’t going at all as Otto had hoped. In searching for the missing money and papers, Otto couldn’t remember anything of an incriminating nature. Nevertheless, the thought of having strangers go through their offices didn’t sit well.
“I must protest,” Otto replied. “I have a business to run and people counting on me to fill orders.”
“I doubt the delay of jewelry will create that much of a problem. Especially when men are losing their lives in the war.” He went to the door and motioned for his men. “Boys, have at it. I want you to fill those boxes we brought with the contents of the filing cabinets and desks.” He turned back to Otto. “I presume you have a safe. I’m going to need to see the contents of that as well.”
“But when will we get there?” Hunter asked his mother.
Clara gave him a patient smile. “We should be there by tomorrow. Are you already tired of riding on the train?”
Hunter pressed his nose against the glass. “I like the train, but it all looks the same out there. Just fields and fields and fields. No more cities.”
“Well, this is the country,” Clara explained. “There are towns, but they are much smaller.”
Just then Mim and Maddy returned from a trip to the washroom. Maddy climbed up on the seat next to Clara and picked up her doll. She cradled it like a baby, even though it greatly resembled a girl several years Maddy’s senior.
“Was my baby good?” she asked her mother.
Smiling, Clara pushed back Maddy’s honey-blond hair. “She was excellent. She didn’t cry even once.”
Maddy nodded and patted the doll’s face. “She’s always a good girl.”
Mim took the seat facing Clara and smiled. “Just like you are, Miss Maddy.”
“I’m good,” Hunter declared, frowning at his sister, “but I’m a boy and we need to run.”
Clara smiled. “Well, you’ll have a chance soon enough. I have some good news to tell you both.” Clara waited until Hunter turned to give her his attention. “Tonight we’re going to arrive in Bismarck. That’s where Nanny Mim is from. We’re going to stay the night in a hotel there, and then we’ll get back on the train in the morning, and by late afternoon we’ll be getting off in Montana.”
“That’s where Auntie Madeline lives, isn’t it, Mama?” Maddy asked.
“She does. The train will take us to the little town, but after that we’ll go by wagon or carriage because Auntie Madeline and Uncle Paul live quite far from the station.”
Hunter looked concerned. “Don’t they drive cars in Montana?”
“Of course they do, but most people in the country still use horses and wagons. I think you’ll actually like it, but it will take us longer to get from one place to another.”
“Can you ride a horse, Mama?” Hunter asked.
Clara nodded. “I most certainly can. I used to be quite good at it, in fact. I hope to see both of you learning to ride just as well.”
Mim smiled at Clara. “I know my folks are going to love getting to meet you all. I’m so glad you decided to stop over in Bismarck.”
“It will be pleasant for all of us, Mim. I know Hunter is starting to feel a little cooped up. It’s hard for a boy his age to sit for so long at a time.”
Hunter nodded. “It’s just no fun.”
Mim and Clara laughed, but it was Maddy who spoke up. “Nanny Mim says that sometimes you just have to make your own fun. Isn’t that right?”
“It is indeed, Miss Maddy,” Mim replied.
Hunter clutched his bear and went back to pressing his nose against the window. “Well, I can’t make any fun here.”
“Don’t worry, Hunter. We’ve not got all that far to go. I promise when we arrive in Bismarck, we will have a very pleasant dinner and perhaps we might even have ice cream for dessert.” Clara knew the boy would find that of interest. He didn’t disappoint.
“With chocolate on it?” he asked, his eyes wide with hope.
“If they have it available to us, then yes.”
Hunter smiled and turned back to the window. “I hope we get there in a few minutes.”
Of course it took longer than that, and by the time the train finally pulled into the Bismarck depot, Hunter and Maddy had been sleeping for over an hour.
“Time to wake up,” Mim told Hunter while Clara nudged Maddy.
“Are we there?” Hunter asked, yawning.
“We are,” Mim replied.
This brought the boy fully awake. He jumped up from the seat and grabbed his bear. “I’m ready to go.”
Maddy seemed to catch her brother’s enthusiasm and did likewise. “Baby and I are ready too.”
Mim helped each of the children into their coats while Clara signaled to one of the porters. She instructed the man regarding their bags and tipped him generously to ensure he would devote his attention to their needs.
Mim and Maddy exited the train first. A porter helped them down the steps and onto the depot platform. Before Clara could say a word, Hunter shot past her and leapt from the train to land with a bounce on the platform.
“Hunter!” Clara looked at the excited boy in disapproval. “You are never to jump off the train like that again. You could get hurt or hurt someone else.”
Hunter frowned and lowered his head. “Sorry, Mama. I like to jump.”
There was no time to comment further as they were engulfed by Mim’s family. Clara thought it all so very nice. Everyone was delighted to have Mim home. Her mother and father were rather quiet, but quite welcoming, while Mim’s younger sister, Mary, was boisterous and full of information.
“We managed to secure you a room at the Northwest Hotel,” Mary explained. “It’s very near the depot, so you needn’t go far. Also they have a wonderful place to eat. I think it’s the best in town, although we don’t get to eat there very often.”
Mim kept glancing around, and Clara knew she was looking for her beau. Finally a very tall man with broad shoulders came bounding out from the depot. He saw Mim and took off his hat to wave as he made his way through the crowd.
“I’m so sorry I’m late.” He rushed toward Mim but stopped short of taking hold of her. “You look even prettier than you did five years ago.”
“Has it really been five years?” Clara asked. “You haven’t seen each other in all that time?”
Mim nodded, her gaze never leaving the man’s face. “It was nev
er convenient for me to get home.”
The man turned to Clara. “I’m James Wilson. You must be Mrs. Vesper.”
“I am. It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Wilson.”
“Just call me Jim,” he replied. “I’m just Jim.”
Clara smiled. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Jim.” She turned to Mim. “I wish you would have said something. I would have made certain you came back at least once a year.” Clara frowned at the thought that she had never considered Mim’s family. She had been so caught up in her own concerns that the needs of her nanny went completely out of her mind. In New York’s elite society no one worried about the needs of a mere servant.
“It’s all right. She’s here now,” Mim’s father declared. “And I don’t know about the rest of you, but my insides are emptier than a preacher’s pockets on Saturday night.”
Mim laughed, and Clara couldn’t help but smile. She took hold of Maddy’s hand. “Then I believe we should arrange for our things and head right to dinner because I’m just about that hungry myself.”
8
Clara marked May twenty-fourth as the start of a new life with their arrival in Montana. As the train slowly chugged to a stop at the depot, Clara felt her previous worries fade away. The tiny Montana town looked much as it had fourteen years earlier. To Clara it was absolutely perfect. Throughout the trip she’d felt she wasn’t running away from something, but rather to something. Now she knew that something was home and the family she had longed for.
The porter helped Hunter from the steps of the train first, then Maddy, and finally Clara. She looked around the platform eager to find her family. In Chicago she had managed to get a wire off to her aunt and uncle, but there was no telling if it had reached them. If they didn’t show up, she supposed she and the children could just spend the night at the hotel. Or maybe she could rent a carriage. Glancing down a little ways from the tiny station she could see the livery, still very much in business.
“Where’s Auntie Madeline and Unca Paul?” Maddy asked, gripping her mother’s hand tight.
A Love Transformed Page 7