Page 32 of Blackmailed (The Browns of Butcher’s Hill #2)

V irginia had not seen or spoken to Phillip for nearly two weeks following Clement’s death.

His arms around her as she shook with terror that day in the street by the dock were the last contact they’d had of any kind.

She’d been interviewed by the Baltimore police and a Pinkerton agent and slept sporadically since then.

She’d repeated how Clement had lured her out of Shellington with poor little Beth Shugars, whose mother apologized for days for her daughter’s part in Virginia being captured by Clement.

There were tears and apologies and thanks for the safe haven that the Wiests had provided.

There was a desperation around the thought of never seeing Phillip again.

She was not sure how to accustom herself to the loss of him, to move on and find meaning in her charity work, as the mistress of Shellington, and as an unwed woman in social circles.

She sat down at her place in the dining room with her father, whom she’d feared would faint or have some kind of attack when she’d finally told him what all had occurred.

He had cried, though, and held her close, kissed her hair, and told her that he loved her more than life.

“How are you this evening, Father?”

“Well. I am well,” he said and cut the roast beef on his plate. “Did you know that Mrs. Shugars was raised in a rather well-to-do home? And that her family did not approve of Mr. Shugars, and when he died, they would not help her with money or a home. What a pity. Such a lovely woman.”

Virginia looked up at her father as he continued talking about Mrs. Shugars and her children, how gracious, well mannered, and intelligent they all were. How it was a shame she was reduced to scrubbing pots and pans.

“I think I’ve found a place for her as a housekeeper, actually,” Virginia said. “I spoke to her, and she clearly has the skills necessary.”

“A place? A place where?” he asked.

“With the Gregsons. Mrs. Gregson and I are on several charity boards together, and she was saying recently her housekeeper was talking about retiring. I spoke to Mrs. Shugars, and she seemed very interested.”

“Away from Shellington, with the children just settling into that neighborhood school run by the nuns?” He frowned. “Seems like she would want to stay here. I got the impression she liked it here.”

“I think she does like it here. Especially after living the way she has the last few years.”

“I think she should stay here. I intend to tell her so.”

“You seem rather adamant, Father. While always kind, you rarely take too much interest in the details about the staff.”

He threw his napkin on the table beside his plate. “Well, I am about this one.”

Several long silent moments followed. “Have you been chatting often with Mrs. Shugars in the last few weeks?”

He nodded. “She’s an interesting woman.”

“She is and especially attractive now that her clothes are clean and new. She was frightfully thin when I brought her here, but she’s looking healthier as of late.”

“She’s a very handsome woman,” he said and rose from his seat. One of the attendants hurried forward to help with his chair. Father looked at the two young men. “We’ll see to the rest on our own. Thank you.”

The door closed on the men, and she and her father were alone, although he was pacing. “Is there something you wish to discuss with me?”

He turned to her, his eyes brimming. “I loved your mother. Still love her and will to the day I die. But I don’t think she’d want me to be lonely, do you?”

Virginia shook her head. “Of course, not. She loved you dearly and would want you to be happy, and she’s been gone twelve years. Does Mrs. Shugars make you happy? Less lonely?”

He nodded and looked away. “I don’t want to be disrespectful to your mother’s memory, but I think I’d like to, perhaps, maybe . . .”

“Get to know Mrs. Shugars a bit better?”

“Yes. That’s what I’d like to do. As long as you’re not upset by it, or even embarrassed that your old father is thinking about a lady. And one fifteen years his junior.”

“More than anything, I want you to be happy. I think Mrs. Shugars is lovely and worth your interest.”

He wiped his eyes and looked at her sheepishly.

“We never know when the good Lord will take us from this earth. I don’t want to have any regrets or have missed pursuing any possibilities when I meet my Maker.

Sometimes love requires us to humble ourselves in order to flourish. Sometimes it requires us to be bold.”

“How true,” she whispered.

“Mrs. Shugars should be finished in the kitchens by now and helping her children with their schoolwork. I do so enjoy seeing them learn. Perhaps I will just go out to the garden, where they often sit on a nice evening.” He smiled and went to the door.

“But, Virginia, I don’t want anything to be awkward with the other staff.

They are all so loyal and have been here for decades. I don’t . . .”

“Father, I will take care of any questions the staff have. Now you’d best go if you want to check arithmetic,” she said and smiled.

“Yes, yes,” he said and hurried away with a purpose she hadn’t seen in him for ages.

Virginia woke the following morning with a sure intent in mind after having thought about what her father had said over dinner late into the night. Sometimes love requires us to humble ourselves in order to flourish. Sometimes it requires us to be bold.

She dressed in a favorite dress that complemented her coloring and let Colleen fix her hair in large curls pulled together at the back of her head.

The yellow gown, embroidered with tiny green leaves at the hem, neckline, and short cuffs, brought out red highlights in her hair.

She wore a pair of matching gloves and a short coat in green.

She splashed her lily fragrance on her wrists and neck and considered herself ready to face him.

Mr. Turnbull was waiting with the carriage when Mr. Smith opened the door. He was helping her up the steps when she heard someone calling her name.

“Miss Wiest?” Phillip asked as he trotted up the shell-covered drive. “Am I interrupting an appointment?”

“No. No, you are not,” she said as Mr. Smith turned back to the house.

“I’d like to speak to you if you have time,” he said, turning his hat in his hands.

She smiled. “I was on my way to Wolfe Street to see you.”

“Were you, Virginia? How fortuitous.”

Phillip followed Virginia into Shellington, thinking of the last words he’d said to her and feeling the shame and desperation of them as if he’d said them at that very moment.

I can’t love you and be terrified for you every time you get an idea in your head.

I can’t. How foolish he’d been to act as if his love could begin or end because of some internal debate on his part. His love just was .

Smith glanced at Virginia and closed the door on the two of them in the sitting room where Phillip had held her until she slept after the ruckus and threats at the Minehew barn dance. Virginia seated herself on the long sofa and he sat for only a moment on the chair opposite her.

“May I join you?” he asked. She nodded, and he sat down next to her, so close that her skirts, pale yellow with little green leaves embroidered on them, touched his pant leg.

He picked up her hand and folded his fingers between hers.

He cleared his throat, trying to remember what he’d rehearsed.

He could think of nothing except how her hand fit in his.

“I’m sorry, Virginia. I should have never said I can’t love you. It was unkind and . . .”

“And what, Phillip?” she whispered.

“Not true. It’s not true that I can’t love you.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I’ve been worried that I’d never see you again and I couldn’t bear it.”

He glanced at her and smiled. “Even when I shout at you? When I get frustrated and worried?”

“Especially then.”

“Nobody likes to be shouted at.” He looked away.

She pulled Phillip’s hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. “When you are shouting, it’s because you’re worried about me.”

“I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

“I feel the same. If I can help keep you safe, I’ll aways do what I can. It’s the nature of love, don’t you think, Phillip?”

He nodded. “But the idea of those men putting their hands on you makes me want to strangle someone.”

Virginia smiled at him as if she had unlocked the keys to the mysteries of the universe. “I guess the only question remaining, then, is since you can love me, do you?” she whispered.

He touched her chin with his thumb and pressed his lips to hers. “Here is your answer, Virginia.”