Phillipa stopped to take a sip of tea, her next statement pleasant, but direct.
“And what makes you trust that we wouldn’t?”
A corner of Mrs. Turnbull’s mouth tweaked up, betraying her amusement at Phillipa’s directness.
“He was very helpful with a private matter for one of Archie’s employees last month,” she replied with equal directness. “I don’t think he would risk his reputation by suggesting you.”
Phillipa nodded, accepting her answer, when Mrs. Turnbull continued.
“Beau has offered to pay you five times the amount offered for his capture.” She paused, taking her teacup in her hand, prepared to take another sip. “And any expenses related to the imposition on your operations.”
Five times? With that sum, she could build a small greenhouse and fill it with exotic plants. She’d always wanted one, where she could attempt to stretch out the growing season for some of her more tender plants.
“That is quite generous,” Phillipa agreed, “since you have no idea what those expenses may be.”
“He is man with considerable means at his disposal, Mrs. Hartley,” she replied, her gaze straying to Maddy, “as you are perfectly aware.”
Maddy congratulated herself on remaining calm even as she felt heat prickle at the back of her neck. If Mrs. Turnbull only knew where that book had gone.
“Aside from the expenses incurred, we will accept no fee. We will send our most appropriate staff to stay as a housekeeper for your nephew and do our absolute best to ensure no harm comes to him,” Phillipa said. “Too often we must protect Everwell and the vulnerable who come here from those with difficult and even violent intentions. This person is well trained in many of the martial arts and will come in handy. We will be very discreet.”
“I have little doubt.” Mrs. Turnbull’s eyes narrowed slightly as she seemed to be taking the measure of Phillipa’s offer. “But no fee? That hardly seems reasonable given your charitable work. He can afford to pay you.”
“I have little doubt,” Phillipa said with such directness it appeared to soothe Mrs. Turnbull’s indignation. “But it is not his money that will seal this arrangement.”
Before Mrs. Turnbull could say another word, Phillipa flipped open the copy of yesterday’s issue of the Halifax Chronicle and presented the incriminating society column to Mrs. Turnbull. The slightest bit of pink rose from her dark blue collar.
“I want you to publicly repudiated these harmful rumours about The Everwell Society,” Phillipa said, her voice calm.
Mrs. Turnbull paused, then put down the paper. To her credit, she kept her voice and manner steady.
“Mrs. Hartley,” she began, in a soothing tone they’d expected. “I would not worry yourself about such trifling gossip. Everyone knows that half the words printed in that column are utter nonsense.”
“That trifling gossip is coming from an organization that has a certain degree of standing in the community,” Elouise interjected, her voice calm, but firm. “And the nature of those rumours are not trifling. They are criminal in nature.”
“It is nothing at all,” Mrs. Turnbull protested, attempting to wave away Elouise’s concerns with a flick of her wrist. “Do you think I would be here if I believe for a moment this was a den of thieves?”
“You arrived in a hired cab,” Rimple said, her normally bright demeanour a little more pointed. “And just a moment ago you stated that you don’t really trust anyone. It matters to us what the people reading these papers think of us.”
Phillipa cast a glance at Elouise and Rimple, before turning her attention back to Mrs. Turnbull.
“It makes it difficult, if not impossible, to place our students with families in respectable homes when an organization with the clout of the New Women’s League, which you helped found and currently oversee, is publicly saying such things about us. It is damaging in the extreme,” she said. “Find the source of the rumours and publicly discredit them. We can trade on reputations—your nephew’s innocence for our own.”
Quiet descended again, as Mrs. Turnbull assessed the measure of Phillipa’s challenge. For a moment, Maddy wondered if the woman would waver. She was clearly a proud woman. Hopefully, she was not a petty one. These rumours needed to be quashed and only Mrs. Turnbull had the power to do it.
“Just because I say something doesn’t mean they will go away.”
“Just because we are sending one of our best people to guard your nephew doesn’t mean we will be successful,” Phillipa countered.” But we will do our very best and stake our reputation on ensuring it doesn’t happen. We will try to help, at least.”
Mrs. Turnbull took a sip of tea, her eyes glancing down at the paper once more. Though the room was full, it was quiet save for the gentle clink of the porcelain cup as she set it down on her saucer.
“We have an agreement.”
Chapter Five
Beau had been given four hours to pack whatever belongings he required and return directly to Everwell Manor. Unlike his father’s house, which was heavy with dark wood and a sense of self-importance that imposed itself on those who crossed its threshold, Everwell Manor was bright and welcoming. He breathed in the scent of lemon oil from freshly polished wood, mixed with smells from the kitchen and the fresh summer breeze carried up from the Northwest Arm.
In the morning he would head out of town and go into hiding with Miss Murray as some kind of…nanny.
