Page 62 of A Modest Independence

“I knew we’d see you again,” Miss Plank said. “Didn’t I say so, Mama?”

Tom did his level best to ignore the young lady’s batting eyes. Why she’d singled him out for attention, he had no idea. Unless she truly was that desperate to avoid marrying some chap in India. In which case, he’d better remain on his guard. Trapping unsuspecting fellows into marriage to their daughters was the stock-in-trade of women like Mrs. Plank. All it would take was one compromising moment—one ill-thought familiarity—and the hammer of wedlock would be brought down upon him.

“So you did, my dear.” Mrs. Plank eyed him with interest. “And where have you got to today, sir? We didn’t see you at the Hotel d’ Orient. I trust you and your sister have dined?”

“We have, thank you.” Tom looked to Jenny. She was standing with Mira a short distance away, the pair of them flipping through the worn pages of Jenny’s dratted travel guide.

Mrs. Plank followed his gaze. “Your sister will want to avail herself of the refreshment hall. One can’t have too many provisions for the rail journey. I shall advise her. Ursula, come with me. Lydia, you may wait with Mr. Finchley. Mind you don’t wander off.”

“Forgive me, ma’am,” Tom said, “but I must away for a few moments. I have business to conduct before we depart.”

“I can accompany you,” Miss Plank offered. “Mama wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m obliged to you, but my business is of a personal nature. If I can trouble you to look after my sister?”

Mrs. Plank could do nothing but acquiesce. “Never fear, sir. We shall keep her with us. Come, girls.”

Miss Plank reluctantly followed after her mother and sister, her lower lip stuck out in a pout.

Tom waited until they’d collected Jenny and Mira before taking himself off to the telegraph office to send a wire to Devon. It was short and to the point:

ACCOMPANYING MISS HOLLOWAY TO INDIA VIA OVERLAND ROUTE.

ALL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. LETTER TO FOLLOW. FINCHLEY.

He then posted the referenced letter, thankful that at the moment he and Justin Thornhill had a continent between them. Justin wouldn’t take kindly to Tom’s accompanying Jenny to India. Not with her reputation to consider. And not with her being his wife’s distant relation and dearest friend.

After settling his business, Tom joined Mr. Hardcastle in waiting for the ladies. Hardcastle was a heavyset man on the shady side of forty with receding hair and lavish side-whiskers. He stood outside the refreshment hall, smoking a cheap Egyptian cigar he’d procured at the bazaar.

“Are you certain you won’t try one, Finchley?”

Tom politely declined.

“Don’t say as I blame you.” Hardcastle puffed smoke with a grimace. “Damned Oriental tobacco. Never have grown accustomed to it. Don’t know why I buy the stuff. Can’t bring it along without paying a hefty duty.”

“Have you made the journey to Port Suez by rail before?”

“Not as yet. It’s bound to be a blessing for the ladies. Nothing worse for them than traveling across country in a van. Your sister wouldn’t enjoy it.”

Tom cast him a sharp glance. “Do you have something you wish to say, Hardcastle?”

“About your sister? I wouldn’t dream of it.”

The muscles in Tom’s arms and shoulders tensed. He wanted nothing more than to smack the knowing smile off of Hardcastle’s face. But violence rarely solved anything. Instead, he extracted his pocket watch to check the time. “You wouldn’t happen to be a relation of Frederick Hardcastle, formerly of Christchurch Street?”

Hardcastle withdrew his cigar from his mouth with a scowl. “Are you trying to make a point, Finchley? To threaten me in some way?”

“With my knowledge of Frederick Hardcastle? What in the world would give you that idea? At this moment, I don’t even know if you’re related to the man.”

Hardcastle put out his cigar under his foot. “Blackmail is a dastardly business, sir.”

“As I’m well aware. Indeed, I believe it may be one of the first things I learned when I was articled to Josiah Fothergill.” Tom watched the color drain from Hardcastle’s face. “Mrs. Plank was right,” he said mildly. “It is a small world in these parts. One never knows who one might meet.”

Egyptian Railways

Alexandria to Suez

March, 1860