With no time and no proof, she packed her few dresses, wrote the note that would cause Ed so much pain and anger, sealed it, and handed it to Grace. “If I don’t hear from Ed by morning, I’ll assume he couldn’t figure anything out and I’ll board the ship and leave. Tell him not to come to the docks unless he has figured a way out.”
Cora straightened her dress and went downstairs to face Mrs. Miller. “I hate to disturb you, but I need to tell you something.”
“Yes?” Mrs. Miller set her book to the side. “I’m feeling much better. I’m sorry I missed your fitting, but I look forward to seeing you in your dress on your wedding day.”
Cora swallowed her anguish and knew she had no choice but to do as Mr. Grous had ordered, especially if one of the servants standing around was working for him. Mr. Grous wouldn’t stop until he had what he wanted. “There won’t be a wedding.”
“What?” Mrs. Miller rose from the chair and crossed the room. “Why ever not?”
“I can’t say, but know this is only my problem and Ed is blameless. I’m the scandalous woman who broke the engagement. Please let everyone know it was me.”
“There’s more to this. I can see it in your eyes.” Mrs. Miller’s face tightened, wrinkles appearing around her nose. “You can trust me.”
Cora couldn’t trust anyone but Ed, not with the truth. “There’s nothing to tell. Please, make sure everyone knows this is all me. I have to go.”
“Wait. Stay and speak with Ed yourself when he gets home tonight.”
“I can’t. Tell him I’m sorry.” Cora fled from the room and the realization that she would break Ed’s heart. She only hoped Grace would deliver the letter before he heard the news.
Mrs. Miller called after her, but she didn’t stop until she’d climbed into the Millers’ carriage and made it to the boardinghouse. She locked herself in the room and collapsed on the floor in a heap of tears and despair.
ChapterTwenty
Stuckin the muck with a broken wheel on the way into town wasn’t the way Ed planned to spend his evening. It took all night to roll it out and repair the wheel. Mr. Miller was many things, but not one for hard labor. Covered in dirt and muck and sweat, Ed wanted to go home and clean up before he went to see Cora for breakfast, so he had the carriage drop him off first since Mr. Miller was fast asleep anyway, snoring all the way back into town.
He climbed down from the carriage and waved the sleepy, irritated driver on to the Miller house. Ed climbed the steps into his house that seemed lonely without Cora. Only days until he’d be returning to her every night.
Instead of waking the servants, he drew his own bath, cleaned up, and headed back downstairs to grab a bite since he needed to wait a few hours until he could arrive at the Millers’ house for breakfast.
In the kitchen, he found Grace asleep with her head on the table, a letter clasped in her hand addressed to him in Cora’s handwriting. A bolt of lightning shot through him. “Grace?”
She lifted her head, rubbing her eyes until they opened a little farther, and then shot up. “Mr. Neal. Where have you been? Ghost went to find you. There’s something terribly wrong with Miss McKinnie. She sent me to find you, and she’s leaving on a boat, and you need to figure out how to do something or you can’t go see her.”
He ripped open the note.
My Dearest Ed,
I love you with all my heart, and that’s why I must go. Mr. Grous has documents showing you have unpaid debts and that your company is in trouble, and he warned me he has my letters and altered them so that it appears that I’m a ruined woman. I don’t care if I’m caught in a scandal, but I won’t bring you down. Please, if you can find a way to make this right, meet me at the docks before the ship sails at nine in the morning. If not, then please don’t come.
I will forever love you,
Cora
He lookedto his pocket watch, but it was only six-thirty. “I have to go find her. I won’t lose her now.”
“What can I do?” Grace asked.
“There’s no time for the carriage. I’ll go on foot. If Ghost returns, tell him Mr. Grous has blackmailed Cora into leaving. Tell him to meet me at the docks.”
“Yes, I can do that.” Grace nodded.
He raced out the back door, hopped the fence, and ran without a care to his aching muscles or the exhaustion from the night spent on the side of the road. All he felt was anxiety over the thought that Mr. Grous had even come close enough to his Cora to threaten her. He’d see the man hanged if he’d harmed her in any way.
Heaving, bent over, he reached the front door and hammered his fist over and over and over until a servant opened. Ed shoved past him, yelling, “Cora!”
Two more servants arrived in the grand entrance. “Shhh. You must leave.”
“What’s going on down there?” Mr. Miller appeared disheveled and half dressed. Mrs. Miller joined him with a night jacket and gown on.
