He laughed again, sending a chill through her body to her soul. “I can’t marry you. There’d be a scandal.” Mr. Grous looked down his oversized red nose at her. “I might deal with one night, though.”
“Never.” Breakfast rolled in her stomach, and acid rose to her throat.
He closed the space between them and hovered close to her face. “If I can’t have you, then Ed never will.” He pulled a ticket out of his pocket. “Call off the engagement and take the boat leaving first thing in the morning. I’ve already secured first-class accommodations for you,” he said, as if it meant the trip would be easy and safe.
She knew him to be a liar and a cheat. “You’ll only wait until I leave and then show this trash to anyone who will listen.”
“I’ll send the papers with you,” he said, as if she should trust he didn’t have other evidence.
“I won’t be run out of town on your word.” She held up the papers at him. “You’ll only lie, and no one will believe you.”
“You know they will.”
She stood motionless, trying to figure a way out of this. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I want to steal everything Ed cares about most the way he stole my business.”
Cora scanned the street, looking for someone to help, but no one could help keep Mr. Grous from ruining Ed.
“There’s no one who can help you, and if you tell anyone about our conversation, I’ll make sure everyone knows everything.”
She needed time to get word to Ed so they could work out a plan. “I need to go back to the Miller house to collect my things.”
“Fine, but you have one hour to vacate the Miller home. Tonight you’ll be staying at Charles Moneypenny’s boardinghouse on Natoma Street. If you don’t arrive and stay in the room until morning, then I’ll know and I’ll ruin both of you. If you don’t, I’ll make sure to let them know you’re a ruined woman.”
Her pulse quickened. “It’s not true, and no one would believe that.”
Mr. Grous hovered over her. “I have proof.”
“There’s none because it isn’t true.”
“Letters.” He shrugged, and his lips curved up in a derisive grin. “Altered slightly, but they now read about how you were attacked by a Union soldier during the war.”
“That wasn’t me.”
“It’s what people will believe.” In her distraction, she’d lowered the documents, and he snatched them from her hand. “I’ll deliver these to you at the docks tomorrow morning.”
“Miss McKinnie, are you alright?” Grace called from next to the carriage.
No, she wasn’t. Her knees threatened to give way and her mind spun so fast she felt dizzy and sick. “I’m coming, Grace.”
“One hour, and if I don’t find you up there when I arrive, I’ll tell all. And don’t bother stopping by Ed’s house. He isn’t there. And one more thing. You must tell Mrs. Miller that you’re breaking the engagement before you leave.” He stepped aside and waved her by with a half bow.
Cora scurried to the carriage so she could think. “Driver, to the Miller house.” She climbed inside.
“Are you all right? You’re pale. Did that man harm you? I can fetch Ghost. I bet he’d enjoy giving him a beating.”
“Stop.” Through the window, she caught sight of Mr. Grous tipping his hat, and she knew he’d do anything to ruin Ed. Her heart pounded like wild horses from an explosion. “Grace, sorry, I didn’t mean to be cross, but I need your help.”
“Anything.” Grace scooted forward with wide eyes. “I’d do anything for you, Miss McKinnie.”
“Good. There isn’t much time. I can’t explain, but I need to leave. If I don’t, bad things will happen to Ed. I’m going to write a note, and I need you to try to sneak out of the Miller house to deliver it for me to Ed and only Ed.”
She needed to get those papers, but she couldn’t get them unless she boarded the ship. But if she left, she’d break Ed’s heart. There had to be a way to fix this, but if there was, she didn’t see it. For now, she had to pack and leave, so that’s what she did.
With a heavy heart and knees that threatened to buckle, she entered the home of her new friend and raced upstairs to find her precious letters. She ripped open her carpet bag and found the pile scattered inside and one letter from Josephine missing. The one where she’d told her husband the truth and he loved her even though she’d been ruined.
Cora’s blood boiled. She wanted to go find Mr. Grous and make him pay for his invasion into her personal belongings. How he’d managed to get the letters, she didn’t know, but she guessed that one of the servants in the house had given it to him.
