Fate's Intervention (31 page)

“
Not likely,
”
he muttered.
“
He
’
s probably standing before the mirror, composing his features even as we speak.
”
He rubbed his temples again and groaned.
“
A
lthough I do so hope he
comes down with a temporary bout of something that will make him unavailable this evening.
”

“
Well, composed outwardly or not, I
’
m still going to hold out hope that he
’
ll be too upset inwardly to make an appearance this evening.
A
re
you all right,
Father
?
”

“
I
’
ll be just fine, once our pain-in-the-rear visitor departs. How long do you think it
’
ll be before Matthew returns?
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Marcelle sighed, leaning back in her chair.
“
His telegram was so vague.
”

“
Well, let
’
s hope it
’
s soon,
”
Peter sighed.
“
Come!
”
He yelled, as a knock sounded at the door.

Nancy
’
s head popped in the door,
“
Sir
. Miss. You have more visitors.
”

“
What in blue blazes is going on here this week. We haven
’
t had this many callers at once
–
ever! Did someone place an ad in the local paper announcing
‘
dying man seek visitors to humor him and his unwed daughter
’
?
”

“
Well, if you think about it, it has added an element of excitement to our boring lives,
”
Marcelle said, then turned to address
Nancy
before her
father
could comment further.
“
Who is it,
Nancy
?
”

“
You
may not believe
this, Miss, but it just so happens to be Mr. Clifford Stanharbor and his daughter Elizabeth
. .
. ,
”
Nancy
said, and Marcelle
’
s
gasped
.

“
You
’
re right. I don
’
t believe it!
”

“
Uh, Miss?
”
Nancy
said softly.

“
What is it,
Nancy
?
”

“
Well, um, Charles Blackwarth is here also, accompanied by his daughter, Carol
Ann
.
”

Marcelle groaned audibly and her
father
wiped a frustrated hand across his face,
“
I
’
ll wager ten dollars that I know why they
’
re here.
”

“
Since
I
’
m pretty certain that you
’
re right in your assumption,
”
Marcelle said with a sigh,
“
it
’
s not a wager I
’
ll accept, because I
’
d lose.
”

“
What would you like me to do with them, Miss?
”

“
I
’
d like you to toss them all out on their ear, but since that wouldn
’
t be appropriate behavior, simply tuck them all in the parlor and I
’
ll join them presently.
”
Marcelle glanced at the mantle clock and sighed heavily.
“
A
lso, set the table for extra guests this evening, as it would appear their timing was on the mark for an invitation.
”

“
Yes, Miss,
”
Nancy
said, and ducked her head back out the door, closing it softly behind her.

“
So
, what
’
s your theory on why they
’
re here,
Father
?
”

“
T
hought you already guessed it,
”
her
father
smiled thinly.

“
I thought I did too, but then it registered that they are here simultaneously. That
’
s too much of a coincidence for what I
’
m thinking.
”

“
That
they
’
ve come for Matthew.
”

“
Right. If Carol
Ann
has persuaded her
father
that Matthew would make a better match
than Stanharbor, and if Stanharbor is here to persuade Matthew to reconsider his offer of marrying
Elizabeth
, but . . . ,

“
If so, they would hardly have come together,
”
Peter finished.
“
Since
gossip doesn
’
t take too long to travel about this countryside, they should have known that Matthew isn
’
t here right now.
”

“
The
n if they aren
’
t here for the
reasons
we think they
’
re here
–
which is Matthew
–
then what
reason
could there be for a social call from two families who normally treat us like we
’
re scum of the earth? Especially since I only recently created a situation in which Mr. Clifford Stanharbor shouldn
’
t care to darken our doorstep again during his lifetime.
”

“
It is a mystery, for sure,
”
Peter sighed.
“
One that I
’
m certain we
’
ll discover the answers to when we go and greet them.
A
lthough, despite our doubts, I
’
m still certain that their visit concerns Matthew.
”

“
It would appear that the man is indirectly creating havoc and he
’
s not even here to attend to it,
”
Marcelle muttered angrily.

“
You know what
’
s really annoying?
”

“
What,
father
?
”

“
That
every eligible female in or around Riverton seems to think that Matthew is the only marriageable male available.
”

“
Yes, well, he is a fine example of . . . well, you know,
”
Marcelle smiled, a blush tinting her cheeks.

“
Yes, well, even so, I
’
m beginning to wonder at the wisdom of hiring the man since he is causing such a disruption.
”

“
We could always offer them an alternative,
”
Marcelle grinned mischievously.

“
You forget, dear, that I tried to find eligible men for you and not one suited your fancy as did Matthew. So what alternative could you offer these ladies when they
’
ve obviously come to the same conclusion
, which is
that only Matthew will
suffice
?
”

“
How about a brother?
”

“
Oh! I don
’
t know if I could do that to those poor girls.
”

“
I could.
”

“
Clifford, Charles, how are you
gentlemen
this evening
?
”
Peter greeted graciously, then turned toward their daughters, seated on the sofa.
“
You ladies look
stunning
, I must say,
”
he bowed formally.

“
How are you, Peter?
”
Clifford asked stiffly.
“
The
news of your illness has only just
come
to my attention. I am truly sorry you are not well. Had I been aware of it, I would not have lit into you the way I did after your daughter . . . well, let
’
s let bygones be bygones, shall we? Where is that delightfully witty child of yours?
”

“
The
hour is late, and she needed to prepare for supper. You will join us, won
’
t you?
”
Peter asked, receiving a nod from both men.
“
Good,
”
he said, although he
’
d hoped they would decline. He settled in his chair, motioning for them to take a seat as well.
“
So
, what brings you calling this evening. You caught my daughter and me quite unprepared, especially since we
’
re currently entertaining another guest.
”
Peter was aware of the rudeness of the statement, but he wanted them to know that their unexpected visit was not necessarily a welcome one.

“
Oh, is he here?
”
Elizabeth
blurted out. Her
father
sent her a warning glance and she blushed, lowering her gaze to her lap.

Peter
’
s eyes narrowed.
How does she know our guest is a he
? He wondered.

“
Yes, well, your guest is, um, why we
’
ve come,
”
Charles piped up, a slight twinge of embarrassment coloring his normally pasty complexion. Peter arched an eyebrow in question.

“
We
’
ll get right to the point,
”
Stanharbor said.

“
Oh, by all means,
”
Peter interrupted.

Stanharbor cleared his throat and continued,
“
A
re
you aware that the Daragh brothers are
the
Daragh brothers?
”

“
I guess, judging from that statement, that I don
’
t have to ask if you are aware of whom our guest is,
”
Peter said sarcastically, only now realizing that it wasn
’
t for Matthew they
’
d come for, but his brother. They couldn
’
t persuade the one, so they were hoping to snare the other.
This news will surprise Marcelle
, he thought.

“
News of import travels quickly around these parts,
”
Charles interjected.
“
You know that, Peter?
”

“
So
it does, but why should our guest be of concern to any of you, is my question. Besides being a Daragh, that is.
”

“
We
’
d like an introduction.
A
fter
all, Daragh Steel is a very important enterprise and as wealthy businessmen in this area, we should be entitled to commingle with those of our status . . . ,
”

“
Oh, do get off your
high horse
, Clifford,
”
Peter interrupted.
“
I
’
ve had to deal with that haughty attitude all week, and since I
’
m the last person you need to impress with your societal status, I
’
d simply prefer to stay with plain speak, if it
’
s all the same to you.
”