Turning away from the depot, Ashton headed back to the office. A thousand questions swam in his head from what he had witnessed. Unfortunately, Marjorie’s strange meeting with the unknown man would have to wait. Ashton needed to save his own skin first!
Time was running out. He could feel it, and the dark cloud of doom was closing in fast around him.
Chapter Fifteen
Nicole gritted her teeth against the pain burning through her shoulder as she continued to stretch her arm over her head, pushing herself to the very limit of restraint. She stood by the window in Ashton’s sitting room, looking out at the beautiful sunny day. Because this wasn’t the first time she’d had a bullet wound, she knew the healing process would take a while. She also knew she couldn’t just sit and wait for it to heal. Time slipped by fast, and she had a case to solve, and hopefully, a man to help prove his innocence.
It had been a week since the shooting, and she had already gained her strength to move around Ashton’s house. She even ventured outside a time or two. Every day she was able to move a little better, but it was her arm that remained stiff and sore. Stretches helped—just not enough.
“Oh, there ye are, Miss Nicole.” Patsy bustled into the sitting room. “I brought ye some tea.” She placed the tray on the table. “I’m glad to see that yer father stopped by again.”
Nicole smiled and nodded. “Yes, I too, was happy to see my father. He is a busy man, but I’m glad he still took time out to visit me.” Although both her father and brother have been to see her a few times since her injury, Ashton was never present.
Her heart hurt knowing that he had purposely stayed away. He came home very late in the evening and left for work the next day very early in the morning. On those rare occasions that she’d seen him, it was only to say good day. It wasn’t enough for her, and it saddened her that he didn’t want to spend more time with her and assist her in figuring out who the real thief was stealing the queen’s money.
Stretching her arm a different way, she held her breath against the pain. She watched Patsy pour the tea. “I thank you for your hospitality,” Nicole told the housekeeper. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you better.”
The large woman looked up at Nicole and smiled so wide, the servant’s eyes almost disappeared in the folds of her cheeks. “I, too, ‘ave enjoy our talks.” She held out the teacup. “Come now child and drink yer tea.”
Nicole relaxed her arm and moved to take the teacup. “Patsy, how long have you worked for Mr. Lee?”
“Oh, I’ve worked for Mr. Lee’s family for many years—since I was a young woman. I started out working for ‘is father.”
Nicole took a quick sip. “What was it like working for Ashton’s father?”
“Mr. Lee the misses were nice folks an all, but their son is far more generous.”
“Ashton’s parents weren’t generous?”
The smile on the other woman’s face slowly faded. “Times were different back then.”
“Yes, I’m sure it was.” Nicole took another sip. “What kind of father was he to Ashton?”
“The elder Mr. Lee was strict, yet ‘e also spoiled ‘is sons. The father wanted ‘is sons to follow in ‘is footsteps, but when Mr. Lee reached his majority, he wanted to follow ‘is own path.”
“Yes, that is what most men do.” Nicole nodded.
“The elder Mr. Lee didn’t like it one bit. But ‘e still pampered all of ‘is sons—especially Ashton. The elder Mr. Lee didn’t want ‘is youngest son to join the military.”
Nicole creased her brow. “Did Ashton’s father pay for someone else to go in his stead?”
“Yes, ‘e did.” Patsy shrugged. “But then a lot of rich men did that.”
“Very true.” Nicole took a longer drink this time since the liquid wasn’t as hot. “Did Ashton’s father still own the banks even when he became sick?”
“Yes, ‘e did—up until he died. But Mr. Lee didn’t visit ‘is father much. Once in a while, Mr. Lee’s mother visited ‘im, but it wasn’t that often.”
Nicole moved to the sofa and sat. “Ashton hasn’t talked much about his parents.”
Patsy nodded once. “Ever since Mr. Lee’s father bribed the owners of the railway to make Ashton a co-owner, ‘e was distant toward ‘is family.”
Nicole’s thoughts came to a halt, and she almost choked on the swallow of tea she just took. Bribed? Had she heard correctly? “Ashton’s father bribed Mr. Larson and Mr. Nickerson to bring Ashton in as a partner?”
“Well...” Patsy drawled as she turned and started tiding up the table, “I don’t think it was as much a bribe as it was offering those men extra privileges at his bank, if ye know what I mean.”
Nicole gasped, not being able to keep the surprise from leaving her throat. “Are you serious? Ashton’s father did that?”
“Indeed, ‘e did. I think that was what really put distance between Mr. Lee and ‘is father.”
