Thom sticks his hand out, and I shake it. Then he cranes his head back against the wall. “Wish I could see your faces. Then I’d know that this all is true.”
“It’s true,” Jahleel says. “When your sons return this afternoon, share the good news with them. And paperwork. I’m very handy with that.”
Thom rises a little. “This deal will be good if things don’t go well in the operation. I want my boys to have something. I didn’t own nothin’, but I always treated the coal business like it was mine.”
I kiss the old man’s brow. “Yes. This is for you and them—no matter what. But I know you will live. I’ve confidence in the Carews.” I glance at Jahleel. “I know you have so much more to do. It’s not your time.”
Two handsome young men, one in his early twenties and the other maybe twenty-five, march their brown faces into the room.
“Papa, we finished early.” William Thom, the oldest, barrels inside.
Jahleel makes way for him and the shorter, plucky Donald. We leave father and sons together to share their good news.
One problem done, only a hundred more to solve.
Returning to the second floor, we find Mr. Steele. He’s kneeling, coaxing Lada to walk. It’s an adorable sight.
I move to the steward. “I think Lada will prefer to belong to you. I suspect you took care of the first Lada a lot while Lady Anya was ill.”
“That I did. I didn’t know my sentiments showed.”
I pick up little Lada, who is so happy and healthy, very different from the scrawny cat I rescued. “Give her joy. Home her well. Allow me visits upon occasion.”
Picking up her basket, the man beams. Then he looks at Jahleel, and he wipes his face of emotion.
“You need Lada, Mr. Steele.” Jahleel has caught up to us. He strokes the kitten’s mottled colored fur patches on her head. “I want you to have things to do when I’m not sending you on tasks.”
The steward bows to us. “Thank you, sir. Thank you so much, Lady Hampton.” Humming and swinging Lada’s basket, Mr. Steele walks away, hugging his new pet beneath his dark cloak.
“That was very nice of you, Katherine.”
“He loves that kitten so much. I’d not take her from him. And I get to see her thriving and know she’s progressing. I could not ask for more.”
Jahleel’s face blanks. He must know what I’m actually saying. “Let’s go look at the decorations downstairs.”
We head toward the grand stairs. Jahleel stops me before I take my first step. “I’m not on wild-lettuce tea and do numbers very well. What will you do with the other five thousand pounds?”
“It’s insurance. If I must give the Palmerses something, I can. The house on the other side of the Thames has been neglected. Maybe new paint.”
“Anything that you want for it.” He grasps my arm. The hold is gentle but strong. “You merely need to ask.”
“No need to ask, if I have means. You planned every moment well. You and Lydia will stay in London. That’s where you two will continue to get excellent care. You said it yourself: you’d do nothing to jeopardize her health or yours.”
“Of course, but Katherine—”
“With Lada having a home and the sale of Wilcox Coal, my obligations are quite tidied.”
“Katherine.” He reaches for me and misses.
I catch his hand and fasten it to the railing. “Nyet.”
There’s no stopping me. “With the ruling of the Chancery Courts on the permanent custody of my daughter, and two sisters married, I have nothing … nothing to restrain me. And I won’t constrain you. You can’t force me to be your wife. You need an heir. There are too many headstones between us. Use the ball to announce your new bride.”
“No, Katia. That’s not how this works.”
“You and the new Duchess of Torrance shall bring my daughter to me weekly to my house across the Thames.”
“But I thought we were in this together this time.”
