Page 7 of Blackmailed (The Browns of Butcher’s Hill #2)

P hillip stepped out of the Wiest carriage near Mott Street and Colfax’s town house.

He’d listened to the two women talk between themselves and could not take his eyes off Virginia.

It was hard to believe she was back from her travels and within an arm’s reach.

And that he’d kissed her and she’d clutched his hand for a few short moments.

Why he let himself get swept up in the feelings she evoked in him, he could not answer.

She was surely meant for a man from her own class, but he could not deny that it felt exceptionally good to be close to her.

“Thank you for the ride, Miss Wiest,” he said as he began to close the carriage door.

“You’re very welcome.” She smiled.

“Can you tell me which house is Mr. Colfax’s?” he asked a man leading a horse from its stable.

“Third house from here. What are you delivering?” the man said.

Phillip shook his head. “No delivery. Just wanted to speak to the housekeeper or a butler if there is one.”

“Those poor folks are probably at the end of their tether. Been a real parade in and out. Mrs. Harper is the housekeeper.”

“Thank you,” he said and glanced down the street. “Did you know of a Jimmy that worked for Mr. Colfax?”

The man shook his head. “No. But Colfax’s uncle’s driver is often there. Think he is Jim. Not sure, though.”

“Thank you very much,” Phillip said and turned to go.

“Who are you, by the way?” the man called out as Phillip began down the alleyway.

“Colfax was a friend of a friend. Very sad,” Phillip said and began walking again until he found a house with the servants’ entrance draped in black. “Hello,” he said when the door was finally opened. “I’ve a message for Jim, Speaker Colfax’s coachman.”

The man looked at the clock hanging behind him and turned back. “He’ll be here in five minutes. He’s making trips with Mr. Cornelius’s effects to his uncle’s, don’t you know.”

“Thank you. I’ll just wait in the alleyway.”

The door shut promptly, and Phillip went to the stable.

There was one horse and several saddles in the open-fronted building with a door in the rear that opened to a small room with an unlit stove, some shelves, and a bench with a tall stool.

Phillip sat down to wait, out of the wind and chill of the day.

He heard a wagon pull in near the stable and left the room.

There was a man climbing down from the seat, his back to Phillip.

“Jim?”

The man turned quickly. “Who are you?”

Phillip waited several seconds. “A friend of Dolly Irving’s.”

The young man’s eyes widened, and he dropped the reins he held, taking one step toward the alleyway before Phillip’s hand caught the back of his coat and pulled him into the stable and through to the small room at the back.

Phillip leaned against the door as the man backed up until his legs hit the stool.

“What do you want?” he said.

“I want to know where the goods went after they were hidden in Dolly’s basement?”

“W-what goods? Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do. I think Colfax paid you a cut on the side for helping him hide what he stole and retrieve it to sell it. I think he made a mistake when he went behind his fence’s back and sold directly to a customer.”

Jim glanced around the room, eyes wild, finally landing on a bit still attached to a length of leather. Phillip didn’t take his eyes off his face.

“You’re thinking you’ll pick up that bit, swing it, and hope it connects with my head. I’ve got an extraordinarily hard skull according to my doctor, and I don’t think you can swing it fast enough in this small room to do much damage.”

Jim stared back and licked his lips.

“Who did he sell to?”

“Don’t know his name,” he whispered. “Just drove the carriage.”

“Where? Where did you drive it to?” The man looked away and wiped his sleeve across his mouth. “Do you realize they could be looking for you right now?”

Jim’s head snapped back, and his face whitened further. “Why would they come after me? I don’t know nothing.”

“You know where the goods were stored. You might know where the fence met Colfax. And you know who the customer was that Colfax sold to directly. You know plenty.”

Jim plopped down on the stool. “What do I do?”

“Tell me what you know. The sooner I found out who killed Colfax, the sooner you are safe.”

Virginia and Colleen arrived at the Browns’ after receiving Phillip’s note the following morning asking to take her to a coffee shop in the Butcher’s Hill neighborhood. He pulled his front door shut as Mr. Turnbull helped her down from the carriage.

“Hello,” he said and nodded at both women. “Since the day is so pleasant, I thought we’d walk to Colaianne’s Bakery. Delicious cakes and sweets, but don’t tell Eliza I said so.”

Virginia laughed. “I would never want to jeopardize being the recipient of her shortbread or cookies.”

Phillip turned and winged his arms. “It’s muddy in some spots. Hold on. You too, Miss Hughes. And thank you for coming here, although I would have been happy to go to Shellington. I didn’t think it would be wise to take a walk near the cannery, where we were bound to see people we know.”

“Are you embarrassed to be seen walking with me?” Virginia glanced at him.

“Oh no! Never. But I wouldn’t want you to be the subject of any talk, me being an employee. Wouldn’t seem right to plenty of them.”

“That seems petty,” she said. “But now that I think of that, you might be the subject of some . . . derision by others at the cannery.”

“If you’re talking about Mr. Everly, he finds plenty to be short with me about. I do my best not to be bothered when he is.”

Virginia smiled as Phillip opened the bakery door for her and Colleen. The smell wafting toward her was marvelous. Brewing coffee, yeasty bread, and sugary treats. They went to the counter and ordered, and Colleen leaned close.

“I see a friend from my old neighborhood. Would you mind if I sat with them?”

“No. Not at all,” she said, glad to have a few minutes alone with Phillip.

He seated her at a chair near the windows, where they could watch others hurry by or stop to chat with a friend. A serving girl brought the steaming drinks, a small loaf of bread, crock of butter, and several meringues on a tray to them.

“A loaf of bread?” she asked.

He nodded, cut a slice, and slathered on butter. “Rather have this than cake any day.”

Virginia took a bite of her jumble sugar cookie, closed her eyes, and licked her lips. “So delicious! I’ll have to take some home to my father.” When she opened her eyes, Phillip was staring at her mouth. She picked up her napkin and dabbed her lips, looking at him from under her lashes.

Phillip cleared his throat. “Does this . . . does our walk here count? What I mean to say is, do you consider this courting?”

Virginia smiled at him. He was blushing, the silly man, and dipping his head. “I hope so,” she said and could feel her cheeks heat.

“All right, then.” He smiled as he squeezed her hand.

“Thank you so much for the invitation, Mary. This little afternoon get-together is just what I needed,” Virginia said after kissing Mary Hernsdown’s cheek and handing off her coat and muff to a smiling servant. “I thought Colleen might want to sit with us, if it is not an imposition.”

“Absolutely not,” Mary said and smiled at Colleen. “This will be good practice for you as Virginia said you are accompanying her occasionally when she is being a hostess for her father.”

“Thank you, Miss Hernsdown,” Colleen said and followed the women to a large sitting room with a blazing fire.

“There you are, Virginia,” Gertrude Miller said and stood to kiss Virginia’s cheek. “Just the four of us to enjoy a comfortable talk with coffee and sweets.”

“Well,” Mary said as she sat down, “we have one more coming. She should be along any minute.”

Gertrude cocked her head. “Who, Mary? Who else is coming?”

“I ran into Edwina when I was shopping and . . . well, I might have mentioned the three of us were going to meet.”

“And Edwina . . . ?” Virginia said.

“Invited herself, of course,” Gertrude said just as they heard the bell ring on the front door.

Virginia patted Gertrude’s knee. “We’ll make the best of it. Smile, Gertrude.”

Edwina followed the butler into the room. “Ladies. I hope you haven’t started without me.”

“Of course not,” Mary said. “Come in and let me pour you a cup of tea or coffee. I have both here.”

“Coffee would suit me on this cold day,” Edwina said and settled herself in a chair near the fire and close to the end of the sofa where Virginia was seated.

“Is everyone going to the McCallister ball?” Mary asked. “I’ve had a new ball gown made up, and Mr. Akins will be in Baltimore after his travels.”

“How exciting!” Virginia said. “I’m so looking forward to meeting him finally.”

“So you’re planning to attend?” Edwina asked her.

“What a ridiculous question, Edwina!” Gertrude said. “Baltimore’s bachelors would go into a decline if she didn’t.”

But Virginia looked at Edwina, not dismissing her comment. There was something about her tone. “Is there a reason I wouldn’t attend?” she asked.

Edwina reached out to hold Virginia’s hand. “You’ve always been the bravest young lady of my acquaintance. I so admire you.”

“What are you talking about, Edwina?” Mary asked. “Of course Virginia is brave, but what does that have to do with the McCallister ball?”

Virginia glanced at Gertrude, who was staring at Edwina in an unpleasant way. Mary was smiling nervously. “What is it, Edwina? What are you hinting at?” Virginia asked.

Edwina shrugged and pulled her hand away from Virginia’s. “It’s just that if there were that kind of talk about me, I would be hesitant, I suppose, to face the crowds.”

“Spill it, Edwina!” Gertrude said sharply.

Edwina glanced at Virginia. “I hesitate to bring up this unpleasantness. After all, we are just here to enjoy each other’s company and some refreshments. Let us move on to another subject, shall we?”