Phaedra would love New York.
The door of the home he’d leased swung open as he jogged up the steps to reveal his housekeeper, Mrs. Flick, ready to greet him. She was a lovely woman. Irish, of course, as many of the servants in New York were, with a comforting roundness about her small body. She made the most delicious apple pie he’d ever eaten.
“Waiting for me, were you, Mrs. Flick?”
The older woman blushed several shades of pink. She’d taken to mothering him, always appearing in his study with a plate of lemon cookies or a tray loaded with food if he missed breakfast. Her fussing reminded Leo oddly enough of his stepmother, Amanda, though the two women looked nothing alike.
“There are several letters for you, Mr. Murphy.” She handed him the small stack. “Will you be dining at home tonight?”
“Unfortunately, Mrs. Flick, I will not. Business, I’m afraid.” He meant to dine with Georgina, perhaps entice her to walk around the park down the street from her house. He wanted to hear her laughter and have her tell him more about Daniel. Then he meant to take her to bed.
He leafed through the stack of letters, seeing Mrs. Flick’s dejection at the knowledge Leo wouldn’t be dining at home. She nodded and headed in the direction of the kitchens to inform the rest of his small staff. The solicitor he’d engaged since coming to New York had helped secure this house which came with Mrs. Flick, the cook, a maid, and a groom. More than enough staff for only Leo. Most of the neatly addressed letters were invitations to dine at the home of potential business associates. Schuller had been instrumental in helping him make connections and would make a splendid business partner.
His fingers halted on a note with his name scratched across it in a feminine hand.
“Mrs. Flick.” He paused halfway up the stairs.
The sound of her footsteps sounded as she came back to the foyer. “Yes, Mr. Murphy? A change of plans, perhaps?” A hopeful look was firmly placed on her pleasant features.
“No, unfortunately not. When did this arrive?” The note dangled between his fingers as he held it up. Something pressed against his heart. Foreboding. His next thought, oddly enough, was of Harold. Who would never have received any of Georgina’s money.
The foreboding turned to fear.
“Two hours ago or so, I believe,” Mrs. Flick said as Leo opened the note. “A boy came to the door. I gave him a coin and sent him on his way.” Her face grew concerned. “Has something happened, sir? A problem with that hotel you’re wanting to build?”
“Not at all, Mrs. Flick.” He tore open the note, scanning the few lines Georgina had written as the prickling sensation across his chest increased. “Merely a business appointment which slipped my mind. Mrs. Flick, can you ask Jamie to bring my carriage around? I need to go to the ferry.” Even the word made Leo’s stomach roil.
“The ferry, sir?”
“Yes. The one that will”—he looked at Georgina’s handwriting—“take me to Brooklyn. Brooklyn Heights.”
“Brooklyn Heights? Why that’s very nearly in the country. You’ve a meeting all the way out there?”
“Buying property, Mrs. Flick. I like the countryside. Where is the ferry?”
“Jamie knows the way. I’ll fetch him immediately.” She looked dubious at Leo going across the river this late in the day to look at property in Brooklyn, but she waddled off just the same to find the groom and have the carriage brought around.
Horsebackwouldbe faster, but Leo didn’t want to take the chance of getting lost which might delay taking the ferry. The urgency to find Georgina forced Leo up the stairs two at a time. Reaching his rooms, Leo went straight to the bed, pulling a pistol out from beneath the mattress. A habit from living for years above a gambling hell. This wasn’t Elysium, but Leo still thought it prudent to be armed. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
Anxiety crawled across Leo’s chest as he ran down the stairs to his carriage.
Leo, I’ve gone to fetch Daniel and bring him home. I’ll be back soon, and we’ll all have dinner together. A picnic in the parlor.
He and Georgina had already decided to visit Daniel tomorrow. Something had prompted her to go to Brooklyn today, and not to visit.
I called in Masterson’s markers.The dread increased. He should never have left her this morning.
“Jamie,” he greeted his driver. “I need to get to the ferry. The one to Brooklyn.”
“You’ve time, Mr. Murphy. Last one doesn’t leave until six.”
He would be on the ferry well before then. “Good. I need to make a stop first, then straight to the ferry.” Giving Jamie Georgina’s address, Leo climbed inside the carriage, his fingers closing around the solid weight of his pistol.
The last time Leo had this horrible, prickling sensation had been years ago when the unhappy Earl of Manfield had tried to stick him with a knife. Manfield had lost heavily at hazard and accused the house of cheating him. Leo had pivoted at exactly the right time and the knife glanced off his ribs instead of plunging into his heart..
Needless to say, the Earl of Manfield’s membership had been revoked.
He leaned out the carriage window. “Hurry, Jamie.”
