Page 6 of Fortune’s Final Folly

His interest was further piqued by her avoidance of the subject. “It did not seem like nothing.”

“He thinks my father should have sold the building to him before he passed away, that is all.”

Joshua followed her into the main room as the door opened, and a dozen children flooded in. “And leave you homeless and without means to support yourself?”

“He claims my father promised him the building to expand his shop, but the paperwork wasn’t finalized before my father’s death.”

Confusion must have been evident on Joshua’s face because she asked, “What?”

“I handled all your father’s legal dealings. He never spoke of selling the building to Cuttlebottom, or anyone, for that matter.” Joshua thought back to his many dealings with the vicar. “He made arrangements for the building and all his holdings to transfer to you, along with a suitable allowance until you wed.” Joshua’s body heated at the thought of Kate’s wedding.

She set the stack of books on the nearest table and called for Sally Ann to pass them out, before turning back to Joshua. “Until I wed.” She laughed. “He was always a man of the old world, was he not?”

Joshua chuckled along with Kate, relishing the sound of her light laughter. His laugh was particularly light-hearted because Kate seemed put off by the preposterous thought of herself wedded to someone.

“He always said you were a man to trust, Mr. Stuart.” She sobered, patting a young boy on the head as he took the seat closest to her. “He’d say, Joshua—savior, deliverer, salvation—how can a man of God not think highly of a solicitor christened with the name Joshua?”

“I can find no reason to fault your father’s logic, Miss Kate,” Joshua responded. “Speaking of delivery, as I mentioned, this parcel arrived for you today.”

She eyed the envelope as he held it out to her. Her shoulders tensed, and she scrutinized the package before taking it from his grasp. She did the same each time he delivered one—as her mother had before her—and he reminded himself it was not his place to question its contents or sender.

He cleared his throat, pushing his hand through his hair, likely mussing it. “I can speak with Mr. Cuttlebottom and seek a resolution on your behalf.”

Kate’s dark brows arched high. “A resolution?” she asked. “A resolution implies there is a problem or an issue that needs remedying.”

“Seeing the man’s anger moments ago would lead me to believe there is an issue at hand.”

“Mr. Stuart…” She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes, and her tone turned severe, any hint of their earlier laughter fleeing. “It is a lark Mr. Cuttlebottom and I embark on every fortnight or so. He comes to my schoolroom, full of bluster, and shouts for a few minutes. Eventually, he calms down, says things are not over, and then leaves. He is old, and I dare say it is his way of expressing his feelings for the loss of his friend—my father.”

Joshua glanced around the room as the children looked upon them with nervous energy. In no way did he feel the situation between Miss Kate and the cobbler was simply a lark they played, no matter the tale Kate spun to distract him.

“He is a harmless aging man.” She set her hand on his arm and squeezed gently. “Soon enough, he will forget it all and cease bothering me. Please, leave the matter alone.”

Joshua inclined his head. “If you insist, Miss Kate.”

“I do.” Moving on from the topic at hand, she turned to address the class. “Children, what have you to say to Mr. Stuart?”

“Good morning, Mr. Stuart,” they sang in unison.

The matter with Mr. Cuttlebottom was far from being settled, at least in Joshua’s opinion. While he respected Kate’s wishes, he did not trust the cobbler. No man had the right to badger or intimidate a woman, especially a fine lady as kind and selfless as Miss Katherina Elliott. Joshua would keep watch over the situation. If things changed—or progressed—he’d step in.

“A fine day to you all,” Joshua responded. “I shall leave you to your studies. Please, listen to your teacher and apply yourselves to your learning.”

“And mayhap,” Kate called her students’ attention back to her, “one day, some of you will study law and become a solicitor yourselves.”

The children laughed and applauded, opening their primers to begin their lesson.

With one final glance at Kate, Joshua hesitated, uncertain whether or not he should leave the schoolroom with Cuttlebottom only next door. Kate was utterly alone in the world; her parents gone, and with no other family to speak of. He felt a measure of responsibility to see that no harm came to her. She spent every day in the service of others: teaching, counseling, and helping the children of Cheapside. She didn’t need Cuttlebottom’s threats shadowing her days. Nor did she deserve the cobbler’s harassing visits.

It was a simple enough matter to handle. Joshua could pay Cuttlebottom a visit, have a few words, and explain that as Vicar Elliott’s solicitor—and now Miss Kate’s—the cobbler could, and should, speak with him regarding matters such as the property belonging solely to Miss Kate. He would not discuss the specifics of Cuttlebottom’s presence at the schoolroom nor demand he leave the woman be. Therefore, Joshua was not specifically going against Miss Kate’s wishes, only notifying the cobbler that Miss Kate retained Joshua as her solicitor in all legal matters.

Joshua had made such calls before, both in person and via letter with his company signature. This was no different.

Kate slipped the envelope into the front of her apron, opened a book, and began reading to her pupils as each and every little face tuned into her every word.

If he stayed any longer, Joshua feared he’d fall in line with them, take a seat, and never leave, content to lose himself in the melodic lilt of Kate’s voice as she read her tale.

He shook his head, gave the room at large a small wave, and departed, making his way down the walk to the cobbler’s shop instead of crossing the street. He paused at the shop’s threshold as the man he’d noticed loitering on the walk near the butcher’s shop threw Joshua a quick glance over his shoulder and started off down the street in the direction of Vicar Elliott’s parish.