A Lady of High Regard (19 page)

G
arrett sat in his father’s study, trying to tally the same column of numbers that he’d been working on for the last ten minutes. His mind was far from the task at hand, however. He kept thinking about Mia. He’d upset her the night before.

But I couldn’t remain silent on the matter. I know she’s not giving up on her cause. She may no longer work for
Godey’s
, but just her little stunt with the greengrocer proves to me that she’s just as focused on the seamen’s wives as she’s ever been.

He’d heard about her scheme from a mutual friend who just happened to be within earshot when Mia suggested her plan to the store’s proprietor. The man wondered if the Wilsons and Stanleys were putting together an aid society for the sailors’ families. Garrett had assured him they weren’t, but it was in that moment that he realized that while Mia may well have resigned
Godey’s,
she hadn’t resigned Mrs. Hale’s causes.

He put down his pen and leaned back in the plush leather chair. What could he do to convince her of the danger? He’d been working to gather information—to find out who was truly at the bottom of the oppression experienced by the women of the docks. But in the back of his mind was always the fear of what Mia might do to endanger her life.

“She’s bound and determined to put her life at risk. I must find a way to keep her safe.”

A knock sounded on the study door. “Come in.”

Garrett got to his feet as the butler crossed the room. “This message came for you, sir.”

Garrett took the missive from the silver tray. “Thank you.” He saw the return address and quickly opened the packet. Glancing over the information, Garrett realized it was what he’d been waiting for: He finally had a name and information related to which building landlords were particularly problematic. Unfortunately, he and his father owned every single building mentioned in the report, and one man’s name continued to surface.

Mia remained in her room well past breakfast. She had allowed only Ruth to enter, and then only so that her maid could tend to Mia being conservatively dressed in an old walking-out suit of navy serge. Today she planned to go to Mrs. Smith’s house, and she intended to do it on her own. Her plan seemed simple enough: She would slip over to her house, ask Jason to hook up a small buggy, and take herself on the journey. If he complained or asked her about it, she would simply say she was going to a friend’s house and had no idea of when she might return. It wouldn’t be a lie.

Also, she knew there’d be less risk of exposing Mrs. Smith, with the many festivities going on today due to it being the third of July. One parade in particular would hold the interest of many on the dock. If Mia could hurry and meet with the older woman prior to the parade’s conclusion, no one would need know Mia had ever been to the area. She could only hope that Mrs. Smith would remain home and not participate. Still, it was worth the risk.

She watched out the front window, knowing that sooner or later Garrett would leave the house to attend to his duties and responsibilities. After he’d gone, she would quietly slip down the back stairs and head home through the garden. It all seemed quite clear in her mind. Simple, really.

At ten-thirty she heard someone at the front door. She cracked her own door open to see if she might hear who had come, but short of a muffled exchange, little was said. The door closed again and silence reigned.

Frowning, Mia tried to figure out what she could do. She quietly went back to her window and was surprised when twenty minutes later Garrett appeared on horseback riding past the house and down Walnut Street.

Hurrying to put her plan into order, Mia slipped down the back stairs and paused only long enough to greet the cook, who was busy separating eggs. Mia raced across the yard and into her own garden. At the far end she approached the carriage house and found Jason checking harnesses.

“I need you to hook up the buggy. I’ll drive myself so you needn’t be taken away from your duties.”

“Miss Mia, you surely don’t want to go alone,” he said as he put aside the leather strapping.

“I’m going to visit a friend and would rather not worry about the time. I can easily drive myself as I have on other occasions. Now, please hurry.”

Jason didn’t say another word but instead went to work doing as she’d asked. When he appeared with the one-horse gig, Mia smiled. “Thank you so much, Jason. I’ll be back before afternoon.”

He helped her into the conveyance and said nothing more as she took up the reins. Mia was grateful for his silence. She had no desire to answer questions or waste any more time. She maneuvered the horse and buggy down the drive and onto the main thoroughfare. She headed north, as if bound for Lydia’s or Prudence’s home, so that if anyone saw her they’d think nothing of her actions.

It was dangerous to go to the docks; Mia knew this full well. But she wanted to ensure that the groceries had arrived and that the older woman had delivered them. Mia also wanted to establish another sewing circle appointment, and it was getting harder and harder to send messages without someone wanting to know what they were about. Besides, now Mrs. Smith would have an excuse if anyone questioned seeing her with Mia. She could simply tell them about the sewing circle. No one, not even a cruel landlord, would think twice about women gathering at a church for such a purpose.

She took Seventh Street to Market before heading down to Water. There was a rather decent stand of brick buildings where she’d been told the sailors and their families generally rented. There were other tenements that were less attractive, but these appeared quite adequate.

Mia pulled the horse to a stop and spied a young boy sitting on a stoop outside one of the buildings. “Excuse me,” she said as she stepped down from the buggy. “Could you help me?”

The boy looked surprised that such a grand lady would lower herself to speak to him. He got up quickly and dusted off his backside. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I wonder if I could pay you to hold my horse. I won’t be long.”

He looked to the sorrel gelding and nodded. “Sure, I can do that.”

Mia handed him a coin. “I’ll match this with another when I get back.”

His eyes widened. “I’ll do a good job, I promise.”

She smiled and went off in the direction of Mrs. Smith’s house. Before she could get there, however, Mia’s attention was drawn to two gentlemen walking on the opposite side of the street. She recognized both. One was Jasper Barrill. The other was Garrett.

She shuddered and pressed back into the shadows of the alleyway. Why was Garrett with Jasper Barrill? Not only with him, but he seemed to be enjoying himself. Barrill was talking in an animated fashion, waving his arms in first one direction and then another, while Garrett was nodding and smiling.

Mia felt sick to her stomach. How could it be that Garrett would keep such company?
Now, don’t jump to conclusions,
she warned herself.
You know it never does any good. Garrett probably knows Barrill because of the Wilson holdings in the area.

She calmed a bit. Garrett was a good man. He would never advocate stealing children or raping women. Still, it didn’t look good that they were together. Perhaps Garrett had no idea of what kind of man Jasper Barrill had become. She could warn him, but that would mean exposing herself and the knowledge she’d gained from the seamen’s wives.

Straightening, Mia turned to find Mrs. Smith’s address. She hoped the woman would be at home instead of the parade.

“Well, looky here. Ain’t you a beauty. Caught us a mermaid, boys,” a grizzled old man called to his friends.

Mia pressed back against the wall. “I beg your pardon.” She tried not to appear afraid but knew she was doing a poor job of it.

“You don’t look as much like a mermaid as a fish out of water,” one of the men said, then spit a stream of tobacco that narrowly missed her skirt.

“I’m neither, I assure you,” Mia straightened to her full height. “I’m looking for Mrs. Smith.”

“There’s a lot of Mrs. Smiths in these parts. And for good reason,” the first man declared. His companions chuckled. “What’s your name, pretty lady?”

“That is not your concern.” She tried to edge to the side and back around to the street, but the man put his hand on the wall and blocked her from moving.

“Don’t leave. Our party is just getting started.” He leaned in close and Mia could smell the whiskey on his breath. It wasn’t even noon. What kind of man started drinking before noon?

Mia thought to call for help, then remembered Garrett. If he found her here, he’d lock her in her room—maybe even bar the windows. There’d be no liberty for her until her parents got home, and even then it would be questionable.

“I have no desire to share your company, gentlemen.”

The man reached out and traced his finger along her jaw. “I don’t reckon we much care what you desire. It’s more about what we desire right now.” He jerked open her jacket, sending the buttons flying in two different directions.

Mia pushed him back hard, but he wasn’t deterred, and he didn’t move far. He took hold of her hands and pinned them overhead with one hand. “I don’t take kindly to uppity women.”

His friends moved in to assist and Mia felt she might well be sick on the entire lot. But before they could do her any real harm, Mia heard a familiar voice.

“You boys need to go sleep it off. Get out of here with yourselves.”

It was Mrs. Smith, and she wasn’t brooking any nonsense from the tribe. She wielded a broom as if it were a weapon. “Get on out of here, now. Don’t make me be tellin’ your wives what you’ve been up to.”

The men begrudgingly acknowledged the woman and backed off. “

We was just havin’ a bit of fun, Elsie. No harm done. No need to be talkin’ to no one.”

Mia composed herself and tried to straighten her jacket. By the time she’d taken a couple of deep breaths, the men were already sauntering down the alleyway. Mrs. Smith looked at her and shook her head.

“What in the world do you mean by coming here? Do you wanna get me killed?”

“I needed to talk to you. I thought it might be a good time, given the parade. Besides, you could always tell anyone who questioned that I was inviting you to the sewing circle.”

“What do you need to talk to me about that couldn’t wait?” Mrs. Smith relaxed her hold on the broom and lowered it to the ground.

“I wanted to make sure first that you received the groceries we sent. And then I truly wanted to discuss another sewing circle. My friends are quite excited to help. They have all sorts of scrap material to share.”

“Scraps, eh? Figure we’re not good for much else, is that it?”

Mia was surprised by Mrs. Smith’s attitude. “I don’t understand. What have I done that you’d respond in such a way?

Elsie Smith laughed. “I don’t expect you to understand. You’ve probably had the best of everything handed to you all of your life. Probably never even wore something secondhand.”

“I had dresses made over for me from those my mother could no longer use,” Mia answered, without thinking how it sounded.

“You’re a rich woman of society. You can’t understand. But we’ll come to your sewing circle anyway. We got your groceries and they were very welcomed. Things are a bit better, I have to admit. Jasper Barrill has made himself scarce the last week or so. He came by once to ask me about the rent, but I reminded him that I had a contract with a price much lower than he wanted. He left, but he’ll be back. If you can help us, then we have to let you try. Doesn’t matter if you don’t belong here or not. We’re desperate and have no choice but to take your help.”

Mia wasn’t sure what to say. She was still much too shaken up by the attack she’d endured. She could still smell the man’s breath and see his rotten teeth. “I want to do as much as I can, and my friends feel the same way. Please come to the church next Saturday at this time. Will that work?”

“As much as any other time,” Mrs. Smith assured. “Now get.” She pushed Mia out of the alley and toward the carriage. “I can’t be seen with you. Don’t come back here to meet with me. I’ll turn up my nose and pretend you’re a stranger faster than that pretty thoroughbred of yours can get you back home.”

Mia did as she was told. She barely remembered to pay the boy for holding her horse. He seemed delighted with his earnings and hurried off as if to tell someone of his good fortune. Mia’s hands were shaking as she lifted the reins and headed the buggy for home.

She hardly paid attention to where she was going. The roads blurred as she fumbled in her mind to understand all that had happened.
I was attacked.
The thought kept surfacing, but she had no idea what to do with it. The very idea that anyone would accost her was stunning. She’d always known there was a risk in going to the docks, but the reality of what might have happened was just too much.

Mia neared her home and drove the buggy back around to the carriage house. Jason quickly came to her aid, noting that she seemed upset.

“Are you all right, Miss Stanley?” he asked.

She straightened and as she did her jacket parted. It was clear that she was not as put together as she had been. “I’m fine, Jason. I told you I wouldn’t be long.”