A Lady of Secret Devotion (28 page)

“I have a thought—a plan, really—and I want very much for you to agree to my terms.”

Mrs. Jameston eyed her curiously. “Go on.”

“I feel certain that your son will only be stirred by his hatred.

I fear he will return and pose an even bigger threat. Therefore, I would like to take you away immediately. I don’t think your son knows where my family lives, and while he could eventually find out, it will give us time to better plan our situation. We might find it necessary to go elsewhere. If you have thoughts on that, I would certainly be willing to entertain them.”

“Dr. Riley had suggested a place in New York where the mineral waters have curative powers. I suppose we could lead Sebastian to believe I have gone there,” Mrs. Jameston reasoned.

“That’s a good idea. We can discuss the details at my mother’s. Right now, we need to pack our things and leave before Sebastian returns.”

“I’m certain you are right,” Mrs. Jameston said.

Her sorrow was so evident that Cassie could not help but lean over to hug the woman close. “God will see us through this. I’m convinced He even gave me aid with the oatmeal.

The reason Sebastian pretended to drop the concoction was because I told him you had cut him from your will. I realize it was a falsehood, but it was the only thing I could think of to delay his actions. I felt certain the poison was in the oats, and I couldn’t allow him to know that I suspected such a thing.”

“It wasn’t a lie,” Mrs. Jameston said softly. “I did have Sebastian removed from my will. His threats and temper made me realize that he was not to be trusted. I couldn’t see giving any more money to such a person.” She sighed and looked at the far wall. “I suspected him to be involved in illegal happenings long ago. I had hoped that by giving him enough money to sustain his needs he would avoid such entanglements in the future. Instead, I suppose I merely funded his desires.”

“There is nothing to be done about that now,” Cassie said, drawing a deep breath. “He may well have gone to check into the specifics of the will himself. He will seek you out to berate you for your actions.” She got up and went to the servants’ bell. “I’ll ring for Mr. Brumley. We’ll have the servants gather here, if you don’t mind. I’ll explain the situation, and they can help us. We need to leave immediately.”

“I suppose you are right, but there is something else I want you to know,” Mrs. Jameston said, getting to her feet. “I didn’t only remove my son from the will, I included someone. Someone who will take his place as my heir.”

“That seems reasonable.” She gave the pull a yank, knowing that it would quickly bring Brumley to the room. She opened the door and waited for him to appear.

“I added you, Cassandra.”

The words seemed to hang on the air. Cassie turned and peered at Mrs. Jameston’s face. Surely she was jesting. One glance, however, at the older woman’s expression proved otherwise.

“What? But . . . why? You shouldn’t have done that.”

“You are the only one besides my staff to have ever shown me any real concern or care. You offered to come here and be my friend without any kind of recompense.”

“But that is because I care about you,” Cassie said, still baffled. “I have come to love you as my own family member.”

“I know this. You came for the love of your mother and sister as well. Even when you were forced into uncomfortable, threatening situations by my son, your focus was on me and your family. Your sacrifice was the determining factor in my decision. That is why you seemed the logical one to leave my estate to.” Mrs. Jameston came to where Cassie stood and reached out to touch her face. “You have proven yourself to be pure of heart. Your motives have been to see to my welfare and that of your own family. I hadn’t realized how much I missed a companion until you came into my life.”

“But, Mrs. Jameston, I would not have you believe I’ve done these things in order to inherit your money.” Cassie felt a sense of guilt course through her. What had ever given the woman such an idea?

“I never believed that of you, my dear. I simply wanted to reward you for your kindness and mercy to an old woman who had no one else. As I’ve told you before, I have made provision for my staff, and while I care dearly for them, I felt after much prayer that you were the one who should receive the bulk of my fortune. I want you to have this house and all of its furnishings. I hope you might even keep the staff in place.

There will be more than enough money, and the house is big enough to bring your mother and sister to live with you—and your husband.”

Cassie shook her head. “As I said, Mark and I have only been pretending.”

“Bah,” the older woman said with a laugh. “You might have started out that way, but I know better. I’m seventy years old. I recognize true love when I see it. Tell me that you do not love him.”

“I cannot. I even told him I was no longer pretending, and he’s not returned since. I doubt he cares for me or he would have come back to speak of the matter.”

“He loves you, Cassie. Of this I am certain. There has probably been some circumstance to keep him from you, but when that obstacle is cleared, he will come back.”

“I hope so.” Cassie didn’t want to add to the woman’s burden by sharing her fears that Mark had been seriously wounded in the train derailment . . . and might even now be dead or dying.

Brumley appeared in the doorway. “You rang for me, ma’am?”

“Actually, I did,” Cassie said. “Brumley, we have a most serious problem. I need you to gather all of the staff members here to Mrs. Jameston’s chambers. We must act fast, or I fear for her life.”

His eyes widened ever so slightly. “I will get them immediately.” He didn’t even wait for Mrs. Jameston to confirm the situation before darting off down the hall. For an older man, he could certainly move quickly when needed, Cassie thought.

It was only a matter of minutes before the staff was collected. They came en masse and seemed anxious to hear what had to be said. Mrs. Jameston was already seated, leaving Cassie to take charge of the situation.

Cassie explained the danger. “It seems that Sebastian has been poisoning his mother’s food and drink for some time. I caught him earlier today having put something in the oatmeal that I was preparing for Mrs. Jameston.” She gave details of the incident and saw the shock pass over each person’s face. It seemed Silas was more affected than the others.

“Are you certain?” he asked, meeting Cassie’s eyes.

“I can only tell you what happened and what I saw. When Mrs. Jameston ate nothing but the soup my mother prepared, she was fine. Do you recall times when Sebastian might have been in the kitchen while food was being prepared for his mother?

Perhaps when you were setting up a tray for her, or tea?”

Silas’s countenance fell. “The young master was often there.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know that he meant to cause you harm, madam.”

“Of course you didn’t.”

“I’ve always loved him as a son. You know that to be true.”

“I do know that,” Mrs. Jameston said. “You and your wife were good to see to Sebastian’s needs when I was unable to do so. You cared for him as I should have.”

Silas appeared decidedly upset. “If he has done what you say, he should hang.”

The declaration startled Cassie. The look on Silas’s face suggested a combination of betrayal and anger. She guessed he had only just come to see Sebastian for the monster he’d become. Mrs. Dixon put her arm around Silas’s shoulder in support but said nothing.

Cassie realized the time was getting away from them and continued. “Sebastian left earlier, but he’ll be back. He was quite upset, and I fear what he might do. We must, therefore, get Mrs. Jameston from this house.”

“Where will she go?” Mrs. Dixon asked, her eyes welling with tears.

“I would like to take her to my mother’s house. At least temporarily. It would allow for a momentary solution while we determine what the next step is to be.”

“However,” Mrs. Jameston added, “we will tell him I’ve gone to New York to take the cure. I will pen him a letter that suggests as much. Without actually lying, I will explain that the doctor suggested the journey, which he has. We hope this will throw him off the trail and give us even more time to decide what must be done.”

“What of contacting the police?” Wills asked.

“We have no proof,” Cassie told him. “There is nothing I can present to anyone to prove my case. Mr. Langford can possibly help in that matter, but . . .” She stopped, a lump forming in her throat. “Should he return, you can, of course, tell him where we’ve gone. He can be trusted with our lives.”

“We will do as you say,” Brumley replied.

Cassie could hear the anger in his voice. He cared very much for his employer and wasn’t about to let anything happen to her . . . or to Cassie.

“We need to pack Mrs. Jameston’s clothes and leave immediately. Wills, can you arrange the carriage in the back alleyway? That way if Jameston comes home before we leave, he won’t see us.”

“I’ll do it now,” Wills declared. “We can leave when you are ready.”

Cassie nodded. “Mr. Brumley, I would like for you and Mrs. Dixon to aid Mrs. Jameston to the carriage. The sooner the better. We need to get her out of the house and at least to the safety of the carriage before Sebastian returns.”

“Of course,” Brumley answered for them both as Mrs. Dixon went to help Mrs. Jameston from her chair.

“Ada and Essie, we will pack as quickly as possible.”

“Please remember my Bible,” Mrs. Jameston called as she moved to the door with Mrs. Dixon. “Oh, and my shawl.”

She pointed to the end of the bed, and Brumley hurried to retrieve it.

“What should I do?” Silas asked. He seemed desperate to prove his loyalty.

Cassie smiled. “Keep a lookout at the top of the stairs. If Sebastian returns before we get out of the house, make a pretense of needing to show him something in the front of the house or in the front yard.”

“We’ve had a few rodents burrowing in the cellar,” Miriam suggested. “You could suggest he come with you and view the damage.”

“I will do whatever is necessary,” Silas said.

“I will help you pack, Cassie,” Miriam declared as she moved to the younger woman’s bedroom.

Cassie nodded. “We must hurry. Mr. Jameston will not show us any mercy if he returns to find us getting ready to leave.”

“We can take care of ourselves, Miss Cassie,” Ada said, squaring her shoulders. “You don’t worry about us. We’ve had many years of dealing with Mr. Jameston.”

“That’s right,” Miriam said. “We can handle the likes of him—especially now that we know exactly what he is capable of. God will give us strength.”

“And wisdom,” Ada added.

Cassie felt encouraged by the resolve in their voices. These women were her allies in a grave affair that would mean the difference between life and death. God would indeed guide them and give direction. After all, it was only too clear that He had done so all along.

CHAPTER 23

M
ark left Westmoreland in the hired carriage and ran for the Jamestons’ front door. He had been unable to stop worrying about Cassie and whether Sebastian Jameston had caused her harm. He thought of poor Mrs. Jameston and her constant illnesses and feared the worst for her as well.

It was hard to know what to expect. His absence might well have prompted Jameston to take advantage of the women, and if that were the case, Mark didn’t know how he’d respond. Then, too, Cassie might hate him for having left her without explanation. Of course, she was the type of woman who would listen and forgive—of that he was confident. Still, having a month of his life taken from him had left him anxious about a great many things.

He knocked loudly and waited for Brumley to open the door. When he did, the older man seemed completely shocked to find Mark on the other side. He seemed to size up Mark for a moment, then stepped back.

“Good afternoon, sir. You’ve been long away from us.”

“Indeed I have. I wonder if you would call Miss Stover to come down.”

“I’m sorry, but she isn’t here.” Brumley glanced over his shoulder and lowered his voice. “She has fled with Mrs.

Jameston.”

“Fled? When did that happen? What has happened to cause this?”

“Mr. Sebastian. He isn’t here at the moment.” Brumley seemed more than a little nervous about the entire matter. “Miss Cassie discovered he was trying to poison his mother. She then thought it best to get Mrs. Jameston from the house.”

“Where did they go?” Mark questioned. He was glad that Cassie had proven so capable and so sensible, yet he felt a surging guilt for not having been there to aid her.

Brumley stepped closer. “Miss Cassie took her home. To the Stover residence.”

“I see.” Mark considered the words for a few moments, then nodded. “I will find her there, then.”

He turned to go, but Brumley put out his hand. “Sir, if you would wait but a few minutes, Miss Ada is heading over there as well. She’s packing her own things at the moment, and Wills was set to drive her.”

Mark nodded. “I’ll let Mr. Westmoreland know. He’s still in the carriage. Tell Ada to wait for me, and I’ll accompany her. I’ll meet her at the carriage house.”

“Very good, sir.”

Mark went to the carriage and opened the door. “Cassie’s not here. She’s felt a direct threat from Mr. Jameston and has taken his mother to stay with her family. I will go with one of the servants and see what else is to be done. I’ll meet you at the boardinghouse later to discuss what our next step will be to ensure their safety.”

“I’ll be there,” Westmoreland assured. “And Mark . . . be careful.” The concern on his face was evident. No doubt he worried that Mark had already been through a great deal. Perhaps he even thought Mark wasn’t up to the challenge, but that was not the case. Mark was stirred and strengthened by his desire to see justice and truth win out. He was driven by his love for Cassie and his hope that they might share a future.

He informed the driver, then made his way back to the carriage house as fast as he could. Wills was loading the last of Ada’s things into the carriage when Mark arrived.