“Someday you’ll have to explain how you became so skilled,” she said. “Perhaps when we’re sailing back to England and time lies heavy on our hands.”
“Time will never hang heavy with you,” he said, his gaze reminding her of the earlier hours. “But sadly, I must concentrate on this. How shall we word the codicil?”
Callie thought of the wording of the draft will she’d studied. “It should be short, just a few sentences specifying the disposition of Matthew’s estate ‘in the event my beloved son Henry Newell dies without spouse or issue.’ Except for individual bequests as outlined in his full will and testament, everything to be divided between ‘Mary Adams Newell, known as Molly, and Matthew Adams Newell, known as Trey.’ And I’m to be the sole guardian.”
“That makes sense. The simpler, the better.” With content decided, Richard started work on a draft of the codicil. He’d already located writing paper of the type Matthew used, and the sheets waited for when he was ready to create the final version.
Callie returned to her alterations. Since both their enterprises required good lamplight, they sat on opposite sides of the same table. She sewed on trim, he refined his forgery. Very domestic.
When she needed a break, she set the gown aside and drifted into the kitchen area, where Sarah was making a large batch of biscuits in the simple oven Josh had built for her. Josh could build or improvise just about anything.
The first sheet of biscuits had already come out, so Callie confiscated one, split it, and spread on the apple butter Sarah had made. The biscuit crumbled deliciously in her mouth with the taste of spiced apple setting off the crunchy texture of the crust. “I’m going to miss your cooking!”
“I expect you’ll have a fancy French chef, but he won’t be able to match my biscuits,” Sarah agreed as she formed a double handful of biscuit dough into a ball, then gently patted it into a broad, flat circle. “But I’ll give you the recipe.”
“Mine will never be as good.” Callie swiped another biscuit and lavished apple butter on it. “Now that the battle is over, it’s possible to think about the future again. I’m sure you and Josh have discussed what you want to do next. Will you stay in Baltimore?”
“Yes, we want to start our own businesses,” Sarah said as she finished patting the dough to the right thickness on the floured board. “Josh will do carpentry and build things and I’ll run a cook shop. We’ll set up in a building large enough for both our businesses and we’ll live above. Josh has been looking around for a good location.”
“You have it well worked out.” Callie felt a twinge that these plans had nothing to do with her, but they were going in different directions now. “What about visiting your son and his family?”
“It’s not so far to Philadelphia. We’ll visit him or he and his family can visit us.” Sarah smiled and turned a glass upside down, using it to cut circles of biscuit dough. “Maybe we can lure him down here for good. We’ll see. We have a whole world of possibilities, and we owe it all to you.”
Callie blushed a little and finished the last bite of biscuit. She had benefited even more from her foster family’s friendship. “Henry had quite a lot of money on him. Considering what he stole from you and his brother and sister, I think it should go to the Adams family to support this new phase of your life.”
Sarah stopped cutting out biscuits, her eyes widening. “We figured that we’d be able to manage with what we’ve saved, but that money surely would make it easier for us. But what about your jointure? He stole from you, too.”
“Eventually I’ll get what I’m owed, when Matthew’s will has gone through probate.” Callie grinned. “Between then and now, I’m marrying a man who says he can support me decently.”
“I’m sure he can!” Sarah returned to cutting out biscuits and laying the circles of dough on an iron baking sheet.
“What plans do Molly and Trey have?”
“Molly has been practicing writing ‘Mrs. Peter Carroll, ’ ” Sarah said dryly. “If that doesn’t work out, after she’s finished crying her eyes out there will be other young men. I’ll keep her busy until she marries. You’ve trained her to be a fine seamstress. As for Trey, he’s thinking of reading law.”
“Really? Peter Carroll is really having an influence on your family!”
“He certainly is. Trey says that they discussed the law when their militia unit took breaks from drilling, and he found it very interesting. If he’s serious, we should be able to find someone he can read law with.”
“I imagine that the militia will be discharged to return home soon, so the warehouse manager should be back here in the next few days, but he’s an amiable fellow. Since I’m more or less the owner of this warehouse, you can stay here until you find your new home.”
“Before winter, I hope! This place would be like living in an ice house.”
Callie was about to return to her alterations when the hanging bell clanged by the door that entered the loft. Josh had rigged a rope that ran from the street door to the top of the stairs so visitors could make their presence known. “I’ll go down and see who it is.”
“I’ll go with you.” Richard rose and stretched. “I need a break.”
“In case I need to be defended in the stairwell?” Callie said with a smile. Not that she minded having him with her.
“Remember that a victory celebration is going on out there, which means some men will be drinking way too heavily,” he said seriously. “If a couple of drunks have noticed that three beautiful women live up here, it is indeed possible that you might need protection in your own stairwell.”
Sarah stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Threebeautiful women? Thank you, Lord George!”
Her tone was laughing, but his was serious when he crossed to Sarah and kissed her cheek. “Youarebeautiful, Sarah. I hope Josh tells you that regularly.”
Under her dark skin, Sarah blushed. “He does!”
As Callie and Richard headed down the steps, she said, “You’d best be careful, Richard. You’re turning into a really nice man.”
