“I was thinking along those same exact lines,” Cooper said before Eunice could argue against that nonsense. “And, to add my two cents’ worth, have you considered there’s a possibility that Arthur changed his mind about marrying you because he decided you were an intriguing woman, something that perhaps took him seven years to figure out?”
Eunice rolled her eyes. “Arthur never once lent me the impression he found me intriguing. Besides, he admitted he’d not been eager to court me when Grandfather first broached the topic.”
“But again, that could be because he found you’re more of an acquired taste, and perhaps he’s come to the conclusion you’ve aged to perfection—like fine wine,” Cooper said.
“I’ve never cared for wine.”
“You’re missing the point,” Cooper returned. “You also seem to be forgetting that Arthur told you numerous times that his quest to locate Eugenia stems from the word he gave to your grandfather. An honorable man should not be dismissed lightly.”
“I never said one should take an honorable man lightly, but I’m certainly not going to disclose my identity to Arthur simply to allow him an avenue to honor a promise I knew nothing about and don’t have any intention of helping him keep. If I need repeat this again, we’re talking about a gentleman who seems to believe he’ll be doing me a favor by marrying me.”
“If you ask me,” Ivan said, “his decision to marry you could almost be considered a favor, since Arthur knows after spending two months in your company how contrary you can be.”
Eunice caught Ann’s eye. “Is it my imagination or does it seem as if they’re taking Arthur’s side in this?”
“Gentlemen do tend to stick together,” Ann said, settling a frown on Ivan even as she gave Cooper’s knee a pat. “But because both of you are annoying Eunice by defending Arthur, which is odd because he clearly made some grave missteps in presenting his case, what say we change the subject for now? Eunice is about to embark on a delicate mission, and the last thing she needs is to descend into an annoyed state before we reach the asylum.”
“I don’t know why she’s annoyed with us,” Cooper said. “We’re simply trying to explain why Arthur may have changed his mind about marrying her. But speaking of Arthur yet again...” He returned his attention to Eunice. “I’m curious how it came to be that the two of you were always at odds with each other. From what I uncovered about him when I did some digging yesterday, society finds him to be the consummate gentleman who never has a harsh word to say to anyone.”
Eunice blinked. “Arthur’s a member of society?”
“You didn’t know that?”
“How would I know that?”
“You’re an inquiry agent. You have the resources available to investigate people. You’ve also been hiding from Arthur for the past seven years. It seems peculiar you’ve never attempted to gather any information about the man.”
“I’ve tried not to dwell on my past.”
“Which was clearly not a very logical decision because yourpast has caught up with you and left you flat-footed in the process. But since you apparently don’t know anything about Arthur, he’s a member oftheLivingston family, one of the most esteemed families within society.”
Ann tucked a strand of red hair that had escaped its pins behind her ear. “I’ve encountered a Benjamin Livingston when I’ve traveled in society with the ladies I’m a companion to, but I’ve never been introduced to an Arthur Livingston.”
“That’s because he’s rarely in town,” Cooper said. “He’s a second son, his older brother, Benjamin, the Livingston you’ve encountered, being the heir to the Livingston business interests, which are extensive. From what I uncovered yesterday, society was astonished when Arthur left New York at the ripe old age of twenty-one, turning his back on the role everyone expected him to take up—that being a gentleman of leisure.”
“Arthur never struck me as a man who’d be comfortable living a leisurely life,” Eunice said. “I have to admit, though, that learning he’s from a New York Four Hundred family does explain much about him.” She smiled. “It’s little wonder he took exception to my less-than-ladylike behavior back in Montana. It’s doubtful he ever encountered ladies like me amidst the New York elite.”
“It’s doubtful most gentlemen have encountered a lady like you,” Ivan muttered.
She couldn’t resist giving Ivan another swat, earning a grin from him in return before she caught Ann’s eye. “Since it’s only a matter of time until Ivan and Cooper join forces against me again and begin waxing on about Arthur and his honorable intentions, what say we concern ourselves with the case we’re about to undertake.” She glanced out the window. “We’re almost to the dock, which means we should go over our plan one last time. I doubt we’ll be able to talk much as we’re making our way across the river to Blackwell Island on the ship that transports patients there.”
Ann readjusted the white nursing cap she was wearing before she reached into her satchel and pulled out letters written by physicians, which would get Eunice admitted into the asylum. “Ourfirst order of business after we arrive on the island is for me to escort you to admissions, where I’ll present these letters stating you’re insane.” She tossed another flirty smile Cooper’s way. “Did I mention how impressive I found it that you were able to procure these letters on such short notice?”
Cooper returned the smile. “You have not, but even though I adore impressing you, I have to admit that procuring those letters wasn’t much of a feat. The two doctors I approached have their practices in Five Points and have known me for years, since I grew up there. Once I explained that I was working a case, they were only too happy to provide me with letters declaring Eunice mentally unfit, because it’s never a bad thing to have a Pinkerton owe you a favor.”
Eunice blew out a breath. “Frankly, I’m not sure it was in our best interest that you were able to procure those letters so rapidly. We might have needed that additional time if Arthur doesn’t leave the city for an entire week, because Ann and I could very well locate Mrs. Clement Mills today. I can’t imagine it’ll take us much time to see her released since she’s been unjustly committed, which means after we deposit Mrs. Mills at her sister’s house, we’ll then need to find another place for me to lie low until we know for certain Arthur’s departed for Montana again.”
Ivan flipped open a small notepad that detailed their plan and frowned. “I don’t think you’re going to need to worry about that because I’m not convinced it’s going to be easy getting Mrs. Mills released.” He glanced at his notes. “There are approximately forty-five to fifty women housed on every floor, with a total of over sixteen hundred patients housed in the asylum. I doubt it’ll be easy to run Mrs. Mills down, especially when I don’t believe the asylum allows their patients to have free roam of their buildings. You’re probably going to be stuck on whatever hall they assign you to, and the odds of Mrs. Mills being assigned to that same hall are slim to none.”
“But that’s where Ann comes in. Everyone will be told she’s been sent as my personal nurse because her presence calms myfits of weeping. I’m sure the other nurses won’t care to deal with that all the time, especially when I’ll make certain to add in some loud wailing as well. Ann can then graciously offer to fill in where needed when she’s not attending me, which will gain her access to other floors.”
Ivan narrowed his eyes. “Ann should not leave your side. You don’t have much experience in the field, and having you take an undercover role in an asylum is not an ideal foray into fieldwork.”
“I’ve worked in the field before,” Eunice countered. “If you’ve forgotten, I was of great assistance to Gabriella as we dealt with that dog-napping case.”
“Assisting with a dog-napping case is not the same as going undercover in an asylum, where it’s rumored that women committed there are mistreated.”
“Then I suppose it’s fortunate I’m well-equipped to handle myself.”
