Boston Metaphysical Society by Madeleine Holly-Rosing

Author:Madeleine Holly-Rosing [Holly-Rosing, Madeleine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC031070
ISBN: 978-0-9964292-6-9
Publisher: Madeleine Holly-Rosing
Published: 2018-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

14

The car rocked as it hit a pothole. In the back seat, Jonathan glanced up at the rearview mirror to see the chauffeur’s eyes tense up then relax.

“Sorry, Mr. Weldsmore.” Brendan apologized for something that was not his fault. “Roadwork.”

Jonathan studied the final Abyssinian employment and trade agreements. No assassination attempt today. “Can you detour using Franklin?”

“I’ll give it a try, sir.” The car made a left turn and settled into traffic.

The contracts were generous, and Jonathan knew he’d be making a lot of money over the next few years unless someone sabotaged the deal. The income would be enough to support House Weldsmore and its employees for years to come. It was more important than ever to educate Elizabeth and Samuel on the business in case House Tillenghast assassinated him. It wouldn’t be the first time a Great House had done it. His grandmother, Beatrice, had arranged the accidental death of Emily Tillenghast’s late husband in order for Hal to marry her. As her former husband was an abusive man, neither Alfred Tillenghast nor Emily had seemed to mind his sudden passing.

The few times he had met Alfred Tillenghast Jonathan had been impressed by his business acumen, though in his opinion the man’s desire to control everything around him was a weakness. If one hired competent managers and delegated, then a company ran more efficiently and effectively. That didn’t mean there shouldn’t be a strong hand at the helm, but one confident enough not to be threatened by change.

Jonathan didn’t think Tillenghast would assassinate him, but it could happen. However, Hal wasn’t lying when he said Tillenghast might try to destroy him but not House Weldsmore. Keeping the infrastructure of the House intact would allow for a smooth—or rather smoother—transition of power to someone of Tillenghast’s choosing.

Though Hal didn’t know about the Abyssinian deal yet, Jonathan knew Tillenghast would eventually learn about it one way or another. Whether Tillenghast would consider it a threat, he wasn’t sure. But the clock was ticking. Jonathan needed to do something that House Tillenghast and the other Great Houses would not expect, something to throw them off balance. Jonathan smiled to himself. He knew just the thing, but the risk and possible public fallout would be great. He decided it was worth it.

Jonathan closed the file in his lap.

“Mr. Owen?”

“Yes, Mr. Weldsmore.”

“Take me to the office of the Boston Times.”

Jonathan saw Mr. Owen’s expression of shock in the rearview mirror.

“The newspaper, sir? Wouldn’t you rather they come to the house?”

“No, I want this to be a surprise.”

***

If one could feel shock while inhabiting the body of someone else, Elizabeth did. As she attempted to get her bearings, her initial reaction was to take control of the woman and flee. However, Elizabeth resisted the urge and instead tried to communicate to her.

To her delight, the woman pointed to her chest and mouthed the word, “Mary.”

Her name was Mary.

Elizabeth’s excitement grew. This must be Mr. Owen’s sister. She had to find out more and hoped to God that Mary could read.

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