River of Fortune by Elizabeth Haran

Author:Elizabeth Haran [Haran, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-3-8387-3689-1
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 2015-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Joe and Ned were mopping the decks of the Marylou when they looked up to find Montgomery Radcliffe standing on the river bank, watching them. They exchanged glances, both surprised to note that Monty looked less than his usual confident self.

“Good morning, Montgomery,” Joe said cautiously, confused about why he would be calling so early.

Monty removed his hat. “Good morning, Joe, Ned. If Francesca is aboard, I’d like to speak to her for a few minutes?”

Joe glanced towards the cabins. He hadn’t had a chance to discuss with Francesca how she wanted to handle telling Montgomery about her engagement. “I’m not sure she’s receiving visitors just yet. If you wait a minute, I’ll check.”

Monty nodded. “I know it’s early, but I wanted to catch Francesca before you all set off.”

Joe understood that he thought they would be heading up or down the river to work.

Joe knocked on his daughter’s door. “Montgomery Radcliffe is here to see you, Frannie girl,” he said and she opened the door with an alarmed expression.

Regina’s criticism ran through her mind and she paled. “I don’t want to see him, dad. Make an excuse for me.”

“But, Frannie …”

“Tell him I’m not well.”

Joe wasn’t sure that was the right thing to do. “You’ll have to tell him about your engagement to Silas sooner or later, Frannie girl. He’ll find out one way or another, but it might be better coming from you.”

“I can’t … I don’t want to see him,” Francesca said. “Not today.”

Joe was puzzled by her reaction as she seemed to be in a panic. “Very well. I’ll tell him you aren’t feeling well,” he said. He wasn’t comfortable with lying, but it seemed he was doing a lot of it recently, and Francesca’s wishes came first.

“I’m sorry, Montgomery, Francesca isn’t feeling well this morning,” Joe said when he came back out on deck.

Monty looked momentarily confused. “Oh, I see.” He looked at the ground, not sure he believed Joe. “Is … it something serious?”

“No. It’s just a bad headache. She’ll be fine after a few hours sleep.”

“Please tell her I wish her a speedy recovery.”

“I will. It was nice seeing you again.”

Monty nodded and turned to go.

Joe noted his shoulders were slumped and his steps slow. “He’s upset,” he whispered to Ned. “He’s going to be gutted when he finds out Frannie is engaged to Silas Hepburn.”

“Aye,” Ned said. “He won’t understand it at all.”

“Can ye blame him? I don’t understand it myself.”

“She’s avoiding me,” Monty muttered to himself, as he climbed on his horse. He’d thought he and Francesca got on well but something had changed. He hadn’t seen or spoken to her since the weekend she came to stay on Derby Downs. Also, since then his mother had been acting strangely, and she’d obviously changed her mind about Francesca. She’d even hinted that Francesca had a reputation in town, which he found odd, since he hadn’t heard anything himself. None of it made any sense.

Monty was riding along the riverbank, when he heard a commotion.

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