“I thought you could walk me to the ferry, Ben. I’m in the mood for your company.” She leaned forward and took her cousin’s arm. “Come now, don’t be a coward,” she said in a low voice so the army of clerks couldn’t hear her.
“You’re frightening. You realize that, don’t you?” He turned to Alfred. “I’ll be out for a short time. If Riley returns, please ask him to wait.” Ben led Georgina out through the door and into the sunshine. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of the nearby docks.
“Have at it, George.”
“You knew he was here,” she said as Ben led her across the street, careful to keep her out of a small hole filled with filthy water. A group of children ran by, all dirty and bedraggled, their far-too-adult eyes first taking in Georgina, then Ben at her side.
“I did,” he replied with no hint of apology. Ben stopped abruptly and gave the children a sharp look. “Go round the back of Rutherford’s. Ask for Jimson if you wish a bit of bread and cheese.” He tilted his head in Georgina’s direction. “Don’t ever bother this lady, or you’ll answer to me. Understood?”
The children all exclaimed that no, they would never come near Georgina, before scattering in a small wave of stick-thin arms and legs toward the back of Rutherford Shipping. She wondered if her father knew Ben was feeding the guttersnipes along the wharves.
“Clever trick. I’m not sure warning them off me with only the promise of bread and cheese will work.”
“You’d be surprised.”
Georgina bit her lip. “I feel a bit betrayed, Ben. You knew he was here. Why in the world didn’t you warn me?”
Ben sighed. “Last night didn’t seem the right time; you were already in a snit over having to spend the evening with Cordelia.”
“I wasn’t in a snit.” At least not about her mother. Her mind had been on the incident on the ferry. And Leo.
“You were. I tried to gentlyadviseyou that you should expect him to come after you at some point. But you weren’t very receptive. I didn’t know he would be at Cordelia’s little party, drinking champagne with Miss Schuller dangling from his arm, George, or I would not have left your side. I certainly wouldn’t have allowed him to engage you in what amounted to fisticuffs on the dance floor. Everyone in the room wondered at your relationship. Especially Cordelia.”
“Well, she need not concern herself. Leo made his feelings toward me clear, which is to say, I am not the reason he is in New York. Or at least I’m not the only reason. Daniel is.” She gave her cousin a sad smile.
“George.” Ben placed his hand over hers.
“Leo and I have a rather complicated relationship. Fraught with misunderstanding and well-founded assumptions. I went to him only once after...” She waved her hand.
“You bedded him.”
Georgina blushed. “Yes. We argued. We both said very horrible things to each other. Masterson died, and I found myself with child, something he was averse to. Or at least I assumed he was, based on a previous conversation. And I could hardly allow Harold to know about Daniel. Hiding his very existence seemed the best solution at the time.”
“You should have sent for me sooner. You could have had Daniel here.”
“I couldn’t. Harold was already suspicious, and he knew I hadn’t been back once since Father sent me away. Nor had any of my family visited. What I did was safer for Daniel. Harold doesn’t know about him and never will.”
“And Leo. What will you do about him? I don’t sense his stay in New York will be short.”
“Leo hates me. Just as I feared. He will want to see Daniel, but beyond that...I don’t know. I’m not sure what I’m going to do, Ben.”
Her cousin pulled her close as the East River glistened in the sun. “Murphy is angry. But he doesn’t hate you. Far from it, I think. Look. There’s the ferry.”
* * *
A short time later,Georgina made her way up the steps to Lilian’s home, anxious to see her son. Hold him. Maybe whisper into his hair about Leo.
“Mrs. Masterson.” Mrs. Gibbons, Daniel’s nanny, greeted her at Lilian’s front door. “We weren’t expecting you.”
Georgina smiled up at her. “I’m full of surprises, Mrs. Gibbons.” She stepped through the doorway. “Goodness, but the weather has turned.”
“Mrs. Harrison is napping, I’m afraid, and Mr. Harrison is in the city for the day. Master Daniel is asleep, but I was about to wake him. Unless you’d rather? I can have tea sent up.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Gibbons. Tea would be most welcome.”
William had found Mrs. Gibbons, citing the need for additional help with Daniel now that Lilian was with child. According to Lilian, Mrs. Gibbons, despite her youth, came with a stack of references from some of the finest families in Philadelphia. There was no mention of a Mr. Gibbons.
Georgina started up the stairs, passing the nanny. The aroma of lemons, clean linen, and some undefined spice met her nose, all coming from Mrs. Gibbons.
