Page 24 of A Sonata for the Fiery Lady
“You’re not cross with me?” Melisa asked, knowing that her plan was rather scandalous. It was something that could never be undone once she left England.
“How could I be, Miss? You’ve been the most wonderful young lady a maid could ask for. You’ve always treated me kindly and don’t boss me around like your mother,” Miss Thorsten said, causing them both to chuckle. Miss Thorsten rose then, taking a seat next to Melisa. “But do you really think you could leave all of this behind? You’ve grown up in luxury.”
Melisa nodded her head, knowing that this was something she’d thought of as well. “I know that this choice will cause me to live a life of hard work in order to secure my future. But I’m determined to live my life freely, by my own choosing, and not the choices of others. Besides … I will not be going alone,” Melisa said shyly.
Miss Thorsten covered her mouth with her hand as she looked at Melisa in disbelief. “That is why you’ve been up so early every morning. You’ve been going to the park to see him?” Miss Thorsten said softly as though she was afraid they’d be overheard.
“Yes, Miss Thorsten. I’ve met a man, a pianist, who I’m afraid I’m rather in love with. He’s agreed to leave with me and has gone to make arrangements for us to set sail next week. Together, I believe we’ll be happy,” Melisa confessed, a smile coming to her face because she couldn’t deny how she felt for Oliver.
Miss Thorsten laughed gleefully, covering her mouth to contain her joy. “What wonderful news, Miss Melisa, that you have found love despite all this tragedy. My goodness, now this all rather makes sense,” Miss Thorsten said as her mirth subsided. But then she became very still as she thought of something. “Is that why the diamond necklace went missing and why you have a rather large fortune in your reticule?”
Melisa nodded her head, feeling the guilt of what she’d done all over again. “Yes, Miss Thorsten. I convinced Jonathan to take me to the jewellers yesterday morning so I could sell the necklace. I didn’t know that the Duke had invited the family over for dinner or I wouldn’t have done it. I feel terrible for placing Miss Price at fault,” Melisa confessed as she rung her fingers together.
Miss Thorsten simply nodded her head as though she understood. “Well then, I feel there is much to do if we are going to prepare you for this trip,” Miss Thorsten said as she stood up.
“What do you mean, Miss Thorsten? I couldn’t very well expect you to help me. I simply wanted to warn you in case you’d need to find some other employment. I’m sure my parents will be furious once they discover me gone and will seek to blame others,” Melisa said as she stood as well, fearing that Miss Thorsten would be fired without a good reference.
“Not only will I help you find happiness in life, Miss Melisa, but I’ll be sure to be out of the way by the time your parents discover the truth. What day did you say the ship will be departing?” Miss Thorsten said as she went over to Melisa’s wardrobe and pulled open the doors.
“Oliver said that the ship should be leaving Thursday morning, but that he’ll confirm with me this Saturday night. You see, he’ll be playing at the Magistrate O’Reilly’s dinner party, and that’s when I’ll see him next,” Melisa explained as she watched Miss Thorsten look through her things.
“Oliver, what a handsome name. And to think that all of you will be in the same room on Saturday. What a predicament,” Miss Thorsten said with a deep breath. “Well then, we better use our time wisely. Fancy gowns won’t be all that practical while travelling. We shall have to get you some travelling clothes.”
Melisa reached out and touched Miss Thorsten on the shoulder. “Thank you, Miss Thorsten. I wish I had trusted you sooner,” Melisa said. The other young lady only smiled at Melisa with a nod of her head.
“Don’t thank me just yet, Miss Melisa. There is much to be done before your parents ever find out. You’ll need a light trunk, clothes, and some way to pay for all of this that your father won’t realize,” Miss Thorsten reasoned.
“I still have several items I can sell that would be of value. I’ll simply tell my parents that I’m going out shopping and will have you as my escort. Together, I’m sure we can find sellers for the items and purchase the things I’ll need without my father ever needing to spend an ounce of his own money,” Melisa said with a keen smile.
“Good thinking, Miss Melisa. Alright then. Show me what you have in mind that will fetch a high price. I might know a fella that could help us out,” Miss Thorsten said enthusiastically. Together, the two young women started reviewing Melisa’s personal belongings, trying to decide which ones would be of the highest value. Now that her lady-in-waiting was willing to help her succeed, Melisa felt certain that there was no way in which she could fail.
~*~
Oliver had made his way down to the docks and had started enquiring about which passenger ships would be setting sail next week. He’d come upon a sailor that explained his captain would be sailing to Italy the following Thursday morning to return home a prestigious Italian family who had come to England for a visit. With that information in hand, Oliver had met Captain Vanderbilt to secure passage from England to Italy. The captain had happily taken the money once Oliver explained that he and his wife wanted to travel abroad for the summer. Now all he had to do was share the details with Melisa this Saturday night.
As Oliver was walking up the stairs from the docks to reach the street above, he was surprised to see Constable Williams standing at the top as though the man had been waiting for him.
“Good day, Mr Quinn,” Constable Williams said as Oliver stopped at the top of the narrow stairs.
“Good day, Constable. Were you just passing by?” Oliver asked as the two stood together on the street, overlooking the docks. Oliver watched as the constable looked around at the ships in the distance.
“No, Mr Quinn, I’ve been looking for you, actually. I still need your signature for my initial report, and on behalf of Magistrate O’Reilly, I’ve been looking into the murder of your father more closely. I would never have expected you to have connections with a man such as that magistrate,” Constable Williams explained.
“Indeed, I was referred to Magistrate O’Reilly by Lord Stanton after performing at his ball the day we first met,” Oliver explained, hoping that his words would match whatever details had been shared with Constable Williams.
“I suppose that performing for prestigious families comes with its perks,” the constable replied with a shrug of his shoulder. He withdrew a piece of paper then and handed it to Oliver. Oliver took it and quickly read it over. “This is the official statement I wrote up. I need your signature at the bottom.”
Oliver took the pencil from the constable then, surprised that the man had such a thing since graphite was highly coveted. Oliver took his time reading over the document, feeling confident that the paper reflected his testimony that he had nothing to do with the death of his father. Oliver signed his full name and handed the document and pencil back to the constable.
“Planning on going anywhere, Mr Quinn?” Constable Williams asked as he pocketed the items and then gestured towards the ships.
“Perhaps, Constable. Now that I have no living relatives, I thought of becoming a sailor. I figured a change of scenery would do me good,” Oliver quickly lied.
“Forgive me, Mr Quinn, but you don’t look like the sailing type. I’m sure a professional musician such as yourself wouldn’t be prepared for such a hard life at sea,” the constable said, observing Oliver closely.
Oliver shrugged his shoulders as he looked down at the dock. “I’m sure I’ll learn fast enough. After all, I’m young, strong, and willing to do the work if that means getting a fresh start. My father is in the ground, and his killer is still at large. It sounds reasonable enough why I would want to go,” Oliver said.
The constable nodded his head then, appearing to Oliver to think that his idea was believable. “I wouldn’t blame you, Mr Quinn. I also wanted to deliver a message from the magistrate. It seems that there may have been a large fortune connected to your father that would have been passed to his next living relative. But unless a solicitor has approached you, Mr Quinn, I think this would simply be a rumour without the correct paperwork to prove it,” Constable Williams explained.
