Phantoms In Philadelphia (33 page)

When she walked me to the front door, she raised her
beaming face up and placed her soft lips against my cheek.
“Goodbye, John.”

“Goodbye, Guinevere.” I bowed low over her hand,
kissed it, and left her standing there as I let myself out of the
house.

Whistling as I walked home, my plans were falling
together perfectly.

Jack

T
hree days
passed without seeing Guinevere. After being away from her for two
weeks, I had thought I could handle the separation, but I found
myself thinking about her constantly. The day before the Knowlton’s
ball, I had received some interesting letters in the post, so I
decided to visit Bess at my mother’s new residence. Bess and I took
a stroll in the small garden behind the house. It was bare, since
the flowers had all been killed by the numerous frosts, but neither
of us was there for the splendor of the garden.

Bess was unusually quiet, but she had been that way
since Andrew left. We sat upon a stone bench, and Bess angled
herself to look at me. “Knowing what you now know about Guinevere,”
I looked at her curiously, “do you still love her?”

“Yes.”

Bess nodded. “I thought as much. If it comes out
that she is only acting for Levitas because Richard is forcing her,
what will you do?”

“Marry her,” I said without hesitation. “From where
do these questions stem?”

Bess stared straight ahead as she answered. “I
wanted to know if what I feel is wrong. It is not like it was with
Ben when I knew he could never return. Andrew could still see his
mistake, and should he return I will welcome him. I thought you
should know.”

“Did you care for him so deeply?” I asked in a soft
voice. I had been so involved in my own pain that I had not taken
the time to examine how Bess was feeling.

“I did not think so, but over the past week, I have
come to realize the depth of my feelings. I truly cared for him;
was on my way to loving him.” She leaned her head against my arm
and closed her eyes.

Andrew was a fool for believing such ridiculous
lies, but if Bess wanted him back, I would do all within my power
to see that he returned to her. I decided to turn the topic away
from Andrew. “I thought you would like to know that I have received
five offers for your hand in the post.”

Her mouth dropped open as her eyes widened. “Who
could possibly wish to marry me?”

Anger surged within me. I did not understand what
had caused her to have such a low opinion of herself, but it filled
me with rage to hear her speak of herself in such a way. “Any man
who wants an intelligent, beautiful, strong, talented wife. Do not
allow your disappointment in Andrew to blind you to your true
worth.”

Bess snapped her mouth shut and turned her eyes back
toward the sad garden. “I do not believe that I shall ever marry.”
She cast me a look that dared me to retort then looked away.

“Philip and Thomas have both sent missives asking
for your hand.”

Bess gaped at me, and I bit my cheek to keep from
laughing.

“Thomas
?”

I did laugh then. “He believes that
he has much to offer. If you join your fortunes, you could be
comfortably frivolous for the rest of your days. Philip was
straightforward, but I will not bore you with the details. I have
refused both offers as I knew you would wish.” I plucked a stem and
started pulling it apart. “Ephraim Knowlton was the
third.”

“Who were the fourth and fifth?”

I inhaled then exhaled slowly. “Dudley.”

Bess was gaping again.
“
Both
?” She shook
her head. “I would never have thought Dudley a fortune hunter but
it appears that I have been mistaken.”

“You know better,” I told her earnestly. “You could
walk around in a potato sack, and Dudley would still marry you,
tomorrow were I to permit.”

Bess looked contrite. I knew it was only her
disappointment making her speak such untruths. “He would write some
verse to my beauty.”

Placing my hand over my heart, I mimicked Dudley’s
nasal voice. “To the sack that she doth wear, see how it matches
her hair. She moves, she glides, and heaven provides, my earnest
heart’s despair.”

Bess clutched my arm, and we both laughed. It felt
wonderful to hear her laugh. When our laughter faded, I leaned my
elbows on my knees while Bess fiddled with a piece of grass.

“Do you think we will ever know why
Andrew left?” I did not respond to her question, and she looked at
me, suspicion darkening her brow. “Jack. Tell me. You know, don’t
you?” She gripped my arm, hard. “Jack, I need to know.”

She deserved the truth, so I told her what Levi and
Richard had told me. She was crestfallen, with good reason. General
Harvey was a family friend, a man our father admired, and that he
would serve Bess such an ill turn was upsetting to say the least.
She told me that Edith had said Andrew was coming to town to meet
her. It was no wonder, then, that Harvey was so angry when he
showed no interest in Edith, but made himself and Bess the talk of
society.

“Even though Andrew believed Harvey, I still miss
him.” Her voice broke in the end, and I put my arm around her
shoulders, leaning my head against hers. Her words caused a new
pain to tear across my heart. I should have known how Bess felt,
but I had not, and that made me feel like the worst brother
alive.

***

It was mid afternoon when I arrived back in town,
but instead of going home, I decided to do some shopping. There was
nothing that I needed; Leo always secured what I required, but I
did not want to sit idly by counting the hours until the Knowlton’s
ball. I had checked out the riots claim, but other than some
disgruntled and starving people, there was nothing that constituted
panic. Yet, most of the farms crops were destroyed, and only those
who had stores saved from the last harvest were making a profit.
The prices of food had increased drastically. I was not shopping
for food, though. I was not sure what I was looking for, until a
sign on a window drew me to it. Something prompted me to go in, and
as soon as I set foot inside the store, I was approached by an
eager salesman.

“What may I help you with, young sir?” He was
cheerful and determined to please. I slowly walked around the
cases, and when I stopped in front of the rings he smiled
knowingly. He opened a door in the case and brought out a tray of
rings. They were fine, but nothing fancy. He lifted a plain gold
band from the tray and held it up to the light coming in through
the front window. I shook my head, and he returned it.

“It is a fine ring, but I am looking for something,”
Guinevere’s face swam before me and I added, “blue.”

“Blue?” he asked cautiously, then silently regarded
me. I held his gaze without wavering.

“I believe I may have what you are searching for,”
he said after a long moment. He must have come to the conclusion
that I was in earnest about purchasing something. He replaced the
tray of rings and turned his back to me as he unlocked a strong
box. When he came back, he was covering his hand like he was
concealing something rare. He looked around before leaning toward
me. He slowly opened his hand. Lying on his palm was a gold band
with a mounted sapphire stone. It was lovely. Elegant, yet
surprisingly subtle, much like Guinevere.

“The price?” I asked.

He quoted me a sum that staggered me, then added
another blow saying, “But what is money compared to the happiness
in the eyes of your love when she looks upon such beauty?”

That sealed the deal. It cost all the money that I
had, and I did not know when I would be able to bank on the money
that my mother received as payment for her ships, but in that
moment, none of that mattered. The man placed the ring in a small,
velvet bag, and I tucked it into my inner coat pocket. As I stepped
outside the store, I wondered what possessed me to buy Guinevere a
ring. She particularly told me that she did not want our engagement
made known. Lost in thought, I turned the corner and ran straight
into a broad chest. I stepped back hastily, apologizing.

“Martin? John Martin?”

My eyes slid shut for a moment. It could not be. I
slowly looked up, and there standing before me was Andrew
Madison.

Choking down my laughter at providence and my desire
to throttle him, I smiled. “Madison. I had thought you ensconced in
Virginia. How long have you been in town?”

Andrew motioned to his carriage that was on the busy
street. “I have only this instant arrived.”

Andrew looked at the store behind me; then his
eyebrows lifted.

“Were you on your way to the jewelers?” I asked
since that was where he had looked.

Andrew’s face reddened as he looked anywhere but at
me. “Might I have a moment of your time? There is something that I
would like to discuss with you.” We walked together down the
sidewalk. “You must have many questions about why I left the city
in such a hurry.”

“No.”

That word drew Andrew to a halt. He had the grace to
look shamefaced. “I regret the way I left Elizabeth. I should have
gone to her and asked her about the rumors, but instead I ran. She
deserves someone better than I.” Andrew looked at me like he was
waiting for me to deny his words, but I would not. The man hurt my
sister, and I would not make his way simple for him. I clasped my
hands behind my back and continued walking down the street. “I
behaved abominably.”

“You should have come to me. When we arranged for
you to come to Philadelphia to meet Bess, you knew that she had a
sizable fortune. How could you ever believe that she was after your
fortune?”

Andrew hung his head. “When you approached me in
Washington and told me about your sister, I thought her too good to
be true, but then I met her and found the one woman who could
complete my happiness.”

Why then did he believe Harvey? It
was true that I had set up their meeting, not the abduction, but I
had known Andrew for a few years and thought him the sort of man to
capture Bess’s fancy. So in May, I had met with him and set their
meeting in motion. Bess
had
to get away from the Phantoms. I thought I was
providing her the perfect opportunity in Andrew.

“What do you mean to do?” I asked.

“If you will allow me, I would like to see your
sister. To apologize.”

“You have heard of the new fortune.” It was an
accusation.

Andrew looked away, his color reddening again. “Yes,
but it makes no difference to me. I adore Elizabeth. I was only a
day’s journey when I had to turn back. I knew I was leaving my
heart behind. With your permission, I mean to marry her.”

I barely repressed my smile.

Andrew grinned, his green eyes shining with hope.
“You can instruct me on how to proceed. If you believe your sister
to be indifferent or if you know of another...”

“As far as I know there is no other. If she will
have you, then I will welcome you into our family.”

Andrew stuck out his hand, and I shook it firmly. We
turned and walked back toward the jewelers. We were about to reach
Andrew’s carriage when a thought, too good to pass, slipped into my
mind.

Keeping a normal tone to my voice, I asked, “May I
give you a piece of advice about approaching my sister?”

Andrew eagerly agreed, and I felt a twinge of guilt
for what I was about to do, but remembering Bess’s words to me
about laughing in the face of a man who proposed with poetry, I
could not help but prove her wrong. Furthermore, Andrew deserved it
for hurting her.

“Study Shakespeare. A particulate
sonnet. Sigh no more. It is her favorite.”

Andrew grinned as if I had handed him a treasure.
“Thank you, John. You have given me a gift that I can never
repay.”

I returned his smile. Oh, it was a gift all right,
but not for Andrew. To see the confusion on Bess’s face when Andrew
spouted poetry to her, and a particular poem that she despised, it
was a gift to myself. But, more than that, Bess would have to know
that to love a man, you must love all of him, including the
eccentricities he does not even know he has.

“When shall you see Bess?” I asked as we stopped
before the jeweler.

“Not immediately. I am awaiting a gift that I hope
will relay to her how deeply I regret my actions. It should arrive
within the week.”

As we parted ways, I was floating on a cloud of joy.
I had Guinevere and Bess would have Andrew. Now, to find George,
finish this mission, and leave the Phantoms behind for good.

Bess

M
y mind
was focused on the mission ahead as Jericho drove us to the
Knowlton’s
mansion.

Jack and I were both armed as were Leo, Jericho, and
Mariah. Levi was to meet us at the Knowlton’s house. We had
captured the men meant to attack Mr. Monroe, but that did not mean
that Richard would not try something else equally sinister.

As we made our way into the house, Mariah and Leo
accompanied us, Mariah in the guise of lady’s maid who would await
my mother and I in a ladies’ retiring room, while Leo, having come
in the guise to assist Jack, would roam the servants’ part of the
house, watching for a sign of trouble. Jericho and Levi would guard
the exterior of the house. I hoped the night would not prove
dangerous, but we were prepared for whatever occurred.

Mother, Jack, and I reached the wide, inner foyer,
and after handing our cloaks to Mariah and Leo, we moved forward in
a line of people to greet our hosts. The elegantly attired couple
was standing beside a large, oak staircase that rose up to a
landing and then split in two directions. The large chandelier
overhead sparkled like only a recent polishing could make it, but
the shine was nothing to the jewels that adorned Mrs. Knowlton’s
slender neck. That grand lady greeted us warmly, and Jack returned
her greeting with a sincere smile that transformed into a formal
civility when he turned toward Mr. Knowlton. As Mr. Knowlton had
little in common with us, he moved on to the next guest. Mrs.
Knowlton, however, was not so simple to get past.