Ann felt guilty. All these months couldn’t have been easy for Hester, yet she had never complained. “I’m certain I’ll find one soon.” The problem was when and where? Though Ann could never forget whose child Hester carried, she had grown quite fond of the maid. Hester had remained by her side when she was seasick and had offered an immeasurable amount of kindness and friendship.
Ann smoothed her hair back and pulled one of the heavy new gowns from its container. It was a lovely brown velvet affair with a long train. At least her new clothes allowed her some degree of satisfaction.
“Have you discovered where your cousin resides?”
“No,” Ann replied honestly. “I’ve inquired at all the fashionable stores, but no one has ever heard of him.”
“I believe I have a solution to our problem.”
Ann was pleased at hearing how Hester’s speech had changed. With such improvements, the abigail might make something of herself.
Hester lowered her lashes. “I understand that the duke’s son will belong to you. However, why couldn’t I be the child’s wet nurse?”
Ann’s green eyes momentarily glowed with interest, then faded. “It has been proven repeatedly that such matters work best when child and mother are parted at birth,” she said kindly. “It causes less hurt.”
Ann suddenly wondered what would happen if Hester should change her mind about giving up the child. How could she excuse forcefully taking the boy from her? Hadn’t enough wrongs already been committed?
Hester pressed on. “Even you have said Matthew’s men are certain to find us if we remain here much longer. I could nurse Richard, and no one would ever suspect that I gave him birth. And, most importantly, we could continue on to your cousin’s ranch.”
“We can’t leave. Richard has to be born before we reach the ranch or everyone will know he isn’t mine.”
Hester ground her teeth. The closer they were to the Arizona Territory when she had the child the easier it would be for her plan to work. “We can stop at a town on the way. Matthew would be less apt to find us.”
Ann pursed her lips. “It wouldn’t work. One day you would want to proclaim yourself as his real mother.”
“Who would believe my word over Your Grace. especially after the years pass? Milady, how could I, a mere servant, not want my son to become the duke of Gravenworth? I would be so proud.”
Ann made the mistake of looking into Hester’s blue, soulful eyes and couldn’t refuse the request. Besides, what Hester had said made sense. “We do need to be on our way.” She sighed. “All right, we’ll try it.”
When Ann left the suite, her stomach was churning. Every instinct was telling her that she had made a bad decision.
Ann stepped from the hired conveyance and surveyed the building before her. She had read in the London Times that Vanderbilt had spared no cost to build Grand Central Station. She had to agree that it was indeed a magnificent edifice.
Fifteen minutes later, Ann continued to stand steadfast in front of the beak-nosed booking clerk, absolutely refusing to move on. She had not yet received an answer that made any sense. She took two deep breaths and tried again. “As I have already stated, I want two tickets to Arizona Territory.”
“And as I said, lady, I cannot sell you tickets to there. I’ve looked at all the timetables and there is no train going to such a place. You can’t even tell me which direction you’re talking about.”
“I believe the lady wants to go west,” the man standing behind Ann said impatiently.
“West,” the booking clerk repeated. He studied his schedule again. “I can get you to Colorado on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Then.” He ran his finger down the row of numbers. “From there you can catch the Denver & Rio Grande to Pueblo where you can make a stage connection. They’ll know how to route you from that point.” He handed her the proper tickets. “Your train departs at 8:25 p.m. tomorrow.”
Ann’s head was swimming with names she had never heard before. “How long will the trip take?”
“Only a day or two, lady,” the gentleman behind her again spoke up. “You got your tickets, now move on so I can purchase mine.”
Ann paid the clerk, then turned to face the man who had been heckling her. “You, sir, are extremely rude!” With the dignity befitting her station, she left.
Once out of sight of the offensive man, Ann frowned. She had misjudged her money. It was going a bit too quickly. However, she had no idea how she could have spent less. She hadn’t bought a thing she didn’t need.
Ann was about to leave the depot when someone tapped her shoulder. Expecting to see the same irritant she had just encountered, she turned, ready for battle. But she had never laid eyes on the rail thin man standing in front of her. He was too poorly kept to be a gentleman of substance.
“Madam, please permit me to introduce myself.” He removed his worn top hat and bowed deeply. “The name’s Jefferson Davis. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”
“No.”
Jefferson smiled. “I happened to overhear you talking to the clerk. From your accent, I take it you’re new in our country.”
“Well, yes. I am.”
He glanced around as if to be sure no one was listening to their conversation. “What the clerk didn’t tell you was that when you leave New York City, you’ll be facin’ every kind of no-account known to mankind.” He tried taking the lady’s arm to lead her outside, but she stepped away.
“What does that have to do with you, Mr. Davis?”
“Just trying to be neighborly, ma’am. I wouldn’t sleep well if I didn’t at least give you a warning. If you and a servant or-worse yet-a child, are traveling by yourselves, you are in grave danger.”
Ann’s concern increased. Acquaintances had said that the land surrounding the towns was infested with outlaws and Indians. Absolutely no one was safe. “Well. what do you think I should do?”
“I’d suggest you hire someone to travel with you and your party. Someone good with a gun.”
“Do you know anyone who would fit that description?”
“You’re looking at him, my lady.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” a loud voice blared as Jefferson was jerked about.
Jefferson made a run for it. As Ann watched the bear chase the weasel, she caught sight of an entirely different gentleman standing off to the side, seemingly observing everything. Fear shot through her, as cutting as if she had been pierced by steel. Was he one of Matthew’s spies? She should have left New York the day after they had arrived. But she had thought to wait for the child to be born. Then there was the wet nurse and new clothes. What choice had she had?
Ann lowered her head and hurried outside. Immediately she spotted another suspicious man watching people entering and exiting the depot. Possibly her imagination was running amok, but paranoia had already infiltrated her mind. It was all she could do to maintain a steady step instead of running to a carriage for hire.
Not until Ann had the red-faced driver take several side streets was she finally convinced that they weren’t being followed. Why did one problem seem to compound into another? She had believed Jefferson Davis, which meant she needed to be more suspecting of people. But Mr. Davis had pointed out something very important. Women traveling alone were at the mercy of others. Despite this sad fact she had to continue on to Beau’s ranch and pray that along the way she wouldn’t be murdered, raped or robbed, or all three.
Ann looked out the window just as the coach passed a tailor shop with a man’s suit on display in the window. Could she? She thought only a