“Come now,” she drawled. “It is well known you were involved with that gold heist at Gettysburg half a dozen years ago. That gold completely disappeared and your company is thriving. I am not the only one to have made the connection.”
Well, she certainly wasn't beating around the bush now.
“I'm afraid I must deny everything you have just said. It has no credibility whatsoever.”
She smiled slyly as if she had information of which he was unaware. Well he would have to be unaware of it, since he hadn't have anything to do this with the gold theft. He had, rather, assisted in the investigation into its disappearance and, like the other investigators, had come up against a dead end. Someone knew where the gold was, but it wasn't he and, apparently, neither was it Harriet, as she was pinning her hopes on him.
His mind had been racing trying to figure out how to turn this situation into an advantage in his current investigation. Somehow he must determine where she had gotten this alleged information.
“When you say word is out on the street,” he said, “whose word?”
“Well that's for me to know and you to find out,” she replied pertly.
“Yes,” he responded calmly, “that is exactly what I'm trying to do. Find out. That person is the one who has the inside track, not I.”
She frowned. No, Karl had told her he had absolute proof that it was Belden behind the whole thing. Karl had been there himself and been cheated out of his share when the colonel had appeared. He had been unable to follow up for a few years, but now he was back out on the street and had seen Colonel Belden and followed him to this office.
Karl and his henchmen had determined this was where the trail would end. The gold itself might be long gone, but if it had been invested, he wanted his share.
Karl had been wrong to think that the son-in-law, Ralph, had anything to do with this venture, but they had cut their losses with him and now the others would have reason to know that Karl Krause meant business and would not be shaken off with false promises.
Harriet narrowed her eyes and tried flirting a bit again, to no particular effect. She stood up.
‘I think, perhaps, I need to visit again and bring my brother with me to explain why you should consider our offer to invest with you.”
“If you will give your direction to my secretary, I will be pleased to stop by your abode to find out what he has to say. I regret I can add no more to the conversation.” He had risen when she did.
Rather than having him visit her house, which she knew would not be to her advantage, she suggested a restaurant as their meeting place.
“Come alone,” she said.
“Oh, I trust my secretary with everything. I think it best if he attend as well.”
She considered for a while and then nodded. Yes, after all it would be a public place. There could be no harm and her crew would be standing by watching.
~~~
John later informed William that he and his men had counted five individuals surveilling them as they sat in the restaurant. He didn't believe any of his agents had been spotted, but he had come up with street names for most of the crew and was tracking down identities.
William had observed Harriet very closely at the restaurant. She and Karl looked nothing alike so her claim of kinship clearly had an ulterior motive. And when she had removed her gloves to eat, there was a dent, where she clearly normally wore a ring, on her wedding finger. He shared that information with John who confirmed that he had found a record of marriage between Harriet and Karl from 1862.
She had led an interesting life while Karl was in prison after being caught stealing horses. He had been fortunate not to be hanged for the offense, but had claimed he was liberating horses stolen by rebels. In retrospect it would have been convenient if he had been hanged.
Karl remained cagey about any source that might have supplied him the information that implicated William. But he basically made clear he didn't really care whether William admitted his part in the heist; he was merely concerned with getting his fair share now.
Harriet had proposed a marriage of convenience to allow her access to transactions and insure his cooperation, offering thinly veiled threats against his daughters and granddaughter.
“Oh,” she had cooed, “I saw your daughter walking her baby in the park. Such a precious bundle.”
John had decided that as bizarre as it sounded, it did put William in with the gang and in a position to investigate from the inside.
“I rather think that's what they have in mind,” commented William dryly.
After a great deal of discussion, he reluctantly agreed and plans were made.
“You have your staff to help keep your family safe, and we will be monitoring from outside the house,” John promised.
A Wedding
The door was opened by a priest in a black suit.
“Come in, come in! You must be Miss Krause and Mr. Belden. I’m Father Grey.”
William winced internally when he saw John Grey in his borrowed clerical collar, but maintained a placid demeanor to the world. His bride-to-be stiffened slightly, but the would-be cleric dropped her a slight wink, turning his face away from her groom.
She relaxed and snapped, “Well, let's get on with this!”
John nodded gravely and asked, “Would you like the full nuptial mass or just an abbreviated wedding service?”
Harriet glared, then sniffed and proclaimed in her best genteel voice, “I believe the basic ceremony will be sufficient unto this day.”
The priest nodded to a gentleman standing to the side.
“I wasn't sure if you would remember to bring a witness, so I asked Mr. Smith to observe for us.”
“As you can see,” ground out Harriet waspishly, “I have brought my brother, Karl, as a witness.”
“Wonderful! Then we can have two witnesses to your ceremony to make it all right and tight. Shall we proceed?”
She stiffened, ready to object, but realized it would only make her look foolish in the eyes of this well-meaning imbecile. Nodding her head slightly, she acquiesced, tugging her fiancé forward to stand in front of the cleric.
“Will you take this man to be your husband?” He began at once.
Harriet glanced coyly over at William batting her eyes.
“I will,” she cooed.
“And do you take this woman to wife?”
“I do,” he responded curtly.
The priest raised his head and looked around.
“Any objections?” He paused and, when no response was forthcoming, continued, “You are now man and wife.”
He smiled beneficently at the couple. No rings had been exchanged and no invitation for a marital kiss. William smiled to himself, seeing Harriet's glance at his lips and then at her actual husband standing behind them.
Of course, she thought, he doesn't know that! He still believes Karl is my brother. But just as well. Karl would not have been pleased if I kissed another man in front of him.
With only the four sentences to go through, the ceremony was rapidly concluded and paperwork signed all around. A copy of the signed certificate was then handed ceremoniously to the groom, who quickly tucked it into his breast pocket before Harriet's grasping hand could snatch it from him.
“I am now your husband, my dear, and perfectly capable of taking care of all of your affairs from now on,” he said quietly.
He was rewarded with a plastic smile for the onlookers and a glare directed to him, which he blandly ignored, inviting everyone to a wedding breakfast.
~~~
Regretfully declining, Father Grey explained he was on his way to a deathbed and must ease a soul into heaven, but wished them well and offered his blessings. William was dying to kick his friend in the ankle at this point, but the charade continued.
Mr. Smith, too, offered his regrets, as he gently crowded Karl away from the couple and toward the priest who had moved to the back of the room as if to get his coat.
Tu
rning so all three were facing away from the bride and groom, Father Grey held out his hand, palm up.
“Just as you requested,” said John, “short and sweet and to the point, with no kiss.”
Karl's mouth turned up at that but then he stiffened and got down to business.
“What happened to Lucky?”
“Father Lucky was riding a streak and asked me to cover for him. I’ve done it before.”
Karl still glared, but reached into his pocket and withdrew an envelope. Father Grey took his time opening it and counting the bills within, and then held out his hand.
“Lucky warned me you’d try this and told me to remind you if you tried to welsh on him again it was going to cost you.”
Karl grimaced but pulled the balance of the agreed sum from his pocket. Fingering the bill, as he had the others, he slipped it in the envelope and held out his hand again.
Karl glared in outrage. He didn’t even know this clown! Who was he to try a shakedown!
Father Grey drew back his hand and snapped it open again.
“Now, Cutter!”
Karl looked up into flat, expressionless, ice-cold eyes that seemed to skewer his soul. He didn’t know who this character was, but he meant business. How had Lucky gotten involved with someone like this? He felt a shiver of fear he didn’t wish to acknowledge and reached back into his pocket for another bill. He’d hoped to be able to bluff Lucky but this stiff was having no part of it.
Again verifying the bill was legal tender, Father Grey added it to the envelope which he slipped into his jacket’s inner pocket.
“Don’t even think of trying that game again, my friend,” came a soft, sibilant whisper, as Father Grey made a show of shaking hands first with Karl, with an extra firmness, and then with Mr. Smith, whose own smile fell far short of his eyes.
Thoroughly cowed, Karl offered a slight bow to each of the gentlemen and returned to Harriet’s side.
~~~
William Belden escorted his new bride and her brother to a nearby restaurant where they enjoyed a light repast. Well, clearly Harriet and her so-called brother were enjoying the meal. He barely managed to choke down a cup of coffee, worrying about introducing this termagant to his daughters. He so wished he could have gotten around involving them but John Grey had assured him it was his best way of protecting them.
The Green Room
Since the death of her mother, Miranda had taken over management of the household, but this was an extraordinary circumstance. Clearly Miranda was as taken aback at this new development as was Mrs. Flowers. Where was Henry when she needed him?
Having checked on the sleeping Samantha and brought in the requested supplements to the tea she had prepared earlier for her young ladies, Mrs. Flowers’ orderly mind processed what was occurring and determined in this case she should consult her master and not Miss Miranda—who was apparently no longer acting mistress in the household.
“Excuse me, sir,” she nearly whispered to William, “but which room did you wish me to prepare for,” she paused and swallowed, “Mrs. Belden?”
“The Green Room, I think, Mrs. Flowers,” and he strode with the housekeeper toward the kitchen to further explain his instructions.
In a very quiet voice he said, “I will explain everything to you later, but for now, lock up every single bedroom in the house, my office, and any other area that is not considered a public room. When you get a chance, please suggest it might be best if the girls kept their own things locked up, because the woman is so clearly vulgar. And do not mention me.”
Her quick look of understanding and a flick over his shoulder let him know they were being joined.
“Once you have freshened the room and put in the flowers I asked for,” he said in a somewhat louder voice, “then please come fetch me so I may escort my new bride to her bedroom.”
Mrs. Flowers could see a pleased look on cross the face of the new Mrs. Belden when she heard the request for flowers. She nodded and curtsied, saying, “I will attend to it all at once sir. Just give me a few minutes.”
She turned to Harriet, dropping a small curtsy. “Oh, Mrs. Belden, did you wish to visit the necessary?”
“Oh, no,” replied Harriet in a falsely sweet voice, “I merely missed my husband.”
“Then, my dear,” replied William floridly, “let us rejoin my daughters and finish our tea.”
He hoped his voice have been loud enough to carry back into the parlor so the girls will be prepared for their re-entry.
Their placid demeanor and the fact that each had a teacup up to her lips as they strolled back in indicated to him his ploy had been successful as he seated her again.
“Shall I send Henry to collect your things or was there something else you wished to pack personally?”
“Oh,” she simpered, “I thought I would just have my brother drop them off.”
“Oh, no, my dear, I would not permit others to do my duty now that you are my bride.” He hoped she hadn't heard Celeste’s quick intake of breath. He didn't want to overdo it and let the girls know there was something up, but he truly hated deceiving them. Now that his beloved Estelle was gone, these two and his granddaughter remained the lights of his life.
Mrs. Flowers came into the room and she curtsied to her employer.
“Everything is set up as you wish, sir. May I escort Mrs. Belden to her chamber or did you wish to do the honors?”
“By all means, allow me,” replied William, “but please accompany us in case there is any small detail I have overlooked for the pleasure of my new bride.”
He really needed to watch it. He was clearly overdoing it based on the breathing patterns of his daughters, but Harriet seemed to be eating it up. Did the fool think he was actually falling for her? Well that was, in fact, what he intended to convey to her. He only hoped his daughters would forgive him when they learned the truth. If they ever did learn the truth, he thought ruefully, remembering Celeste’s late husband, Ralph.
Mrs. Flowers, true to her name, had outdone herself, placing not one but three vases of flowers in the room. The scent was enchanting, but if the heat remain could become overpowering. He wondered if there were any flowers left in the garden. The stray thoughts one has in a moment a panic, he thought.
“While this room does not adjoin mine,” he whispered to his bride loudly, “it has its own private withdrawing room and I thought you'd be more comfortable here.”
Her eyes flew up to his. She hoped he wasn't implying he intended anything physical with her. But he merely winked at her and nodded toward the housekeeper, as if they were sharing a secret from her. William could see Harriet relax.
She simpered to Mrs. Flowers, “I can see I shall want for nothing here. Could you assist me for a few minutes in,” she paused, “freshening up? I would like to rest a bit, if I may, from the excitement of the morning, before we go out to collect my things,” she said, graciously giving in to William’s plan—which had largely been to avoid having her brother near his house.
Going into his own room to gather energy, he had Henry, who had just returned to the house, join him, and then locked the door to prevent interruption. They said very little lest Harriet have decided to eavesdrop, but Henry handed his employer a small envelope within which was a note from John Grey.
Had no trouble intercepting Lucky who was to have played the priest. He confessed to having been the one to push your son-in-law, Ralph Clark, into the horses, although he claims, of course, that it was all an accident. The driver of the conveyance, who still has nightmares, confirmed his identity, as did my man who observed the whole thing.
To protect the operation, word has gotten out that Lucky had the misfortune to be caught cheating while gambling and knives came into play and someone is dying or dead. A number of names are floating about and rumor and speculation has blown the story up until it is unrecognizable. I doubt Karl will look for him any time soon as he feels double-crossed by Lucky right now.
The girls shou
ld be safe as long as Harriet thinks she is keeping an eye on them. They are only considered hostages—no one believes they know anything which, fortunately, they don’t. But you are all being watched. And we are watching the watchers.
JG
William looked up from the missive and handed it to Henry who read through and returned it. Mrs. Flowers had not been told what was happening, so she would react naturally. Henry could now fill her in a bit more fully so she could warn the girls. But even he wouldn’t be able to convey more than his mistrust of the new mistress lest a rat be smelled. Fortunately, after all the years living with the Colonel and his stream of . . . odd guests . . . Mrs. Flowers was more than a little canny.
William supposed it could have been worse but right now he couldn’t imagine how. He only hoped he didn’t have to introduce his new “bride” to anyone he knew. He’d make it clear they would not be socializing as he was still in mourning, and it would do her cause no good if a scandal were to arise.
CHAPTER 6 – Harriet
Removal
Henry accompanied them to Harriet’s former abode, sitting with the cab driver. William said nothing as they pulled up beside the somewhat shabby dwelling in which his new bride had been living with her “brother.”
Suddenly nervous, aware of the discrepancy between this hovel and the house she’d just left, Harriet apologized quickly in advance for the state of the dwelling, exclaiming that things were at sixes and sevens because of her nuptials and moving, and that her brother was also planning to leave town and return to his own lodgings now that she was happily situated.
As they entered, it was clear Karl had already departed.
“Let me just check the bedroom to be sure he didn't forget anything,” Harriet fluted as she dashed back to verify everything had been cleared out. She only hoped he had left her jewelry so she wouldn't be embarrassed in front of those uppity stepdaughters she had acquired. Harriet had observed closely everything the sisters had done, from the way they’d held their cups to the way they sat. Hoity-toity misses! But if she were to try to move in their circles, she’d need to learn how to blend in. Who knew what new opportunities might arise if she could pass for “society”?
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