Chapter Eleven 11/14
Jarrod woke early and headed to the office. Nate, an early riser himself, was surprised to see His friend before 8:00 at work.
"Want some coffee? The nightwatchman leaves a pot for us, early birds. Didn't think I would ever call you that. You are usually the night owl."
"Liesel and the children are at the ranch visiting. The house seemed pretty empty."
Nate smiled widely, "Welcome to marriage, Jarrod. I can't stand knocking around our home when Ruth and the children go to visit her family. Been known to spend the night on the office couch than go home to an empty house."
Jarrod picked up the forwarded mail for the townhouse and the office. It was larger than usual. He rifled through it and half of it was for Liesel. He furrowed his brow and looked confused. Nate looked over and laughed.
"I may know something about that. Ruth told me that Liesel has become a folk hero of a sort among the ladies of San Francisco."
"My Liesel? I don't understand."
"Remember that society column that compared her to your old mistress?"
"I wish I could forget."
"The ladies have kinda banded together in support of her. Ghislaine is not well-liked among the society ladies. Well, any mistress at all and especially one as beautiful as her. Then the Governor's wife was singing Liesel's praises after that fancy dinner at the French consulate. Then Mrs. Stanford and Mrs. Crocker, then Hopkins and Huntington wives up on Nob Hill—- the beau monde of the city got together talking about how lovely she is and how she should put Ghislaine in her place. Then they decided they would do it for her."
"How? Liesel hates confrontation and theatrics. She hates being the center of any attention."
"It's nothing that she will hate. They just want her to shine in society. You will find that stack full of invitations to Nob Hill, Russian Hill, and even Sacramento. It's not just the rich ladies. Ruth says the servants and shopkeepers are even championing your wife winning over the mistress."
"Oh, great." he let out a deep intake of air.
He counted seven invitations for his wife. Shaking his head, he and Nate walked into the office.
"Let's talk business. I recommend you take the Captain's offer, Jarrod" and he laid out his sound reasons.
"Well, you make three. Liesel—-Audra selling the Tahiti trade routes and you as my lawyer, all agree. It makes sense for my children and my future children to be financially secure. I just have to serve as Chairman of the Board. The more I delve, Scott's other holdings can be absorbed into the shipping company or sold off for a considerable profit. Carrington Banks fit into this puzzle also."
Nate slid him a paper across the desk.
"Did you write too many zeroes, Nate?"
"Nope, those are the serious offers I have for Breckinridge holdings."
"That's Le dolce vita assets for Audra. That is double the continental holdings."
"And Jarrod, if your Carrington cousins bring the bank to San Francisco, your family with Liesel and Audra and the children will be wealthier than they can imagine."
"Audra wants to build an orphanage near Stockton soon with some of the early profits."
"Jarrod, she can build as many orphanages as she wants."
"Nate, I have a favor to ask," and he told Nate what he wanted him to do.
His eyes widened, "Are you sure, Jarrod? As your lawyer, I strongly disagree. As your friend, too. This may backfire and what will Liesel say if she finds out?"
"That's why you are going with me to the theater?
They hired a covered hack and rode to the theater district of San Francisco. He had the driver ride around the block twice until there was no one at the stage door.
Nate got out of the carriage and went inside. "Jarrod would like to see you."
She smiled and grabbed her cape. She pulled up the hood.
He came out with Ghislaine and helped her into the carriage.
Her eyes were full of surprise to see Jarrod. She thought they were going to his townhouse or somewhere private. She leaned over to kiss him but he pushed her into the seat in front of him. "No Ghis—this is not a social visit."
Nate got into the carriage with them. She frowned and reached for the door seeing the anger in those sapphire eyes.
"No, we need to talk and I want my lawyer here."
He rapped on the wall for the driver to start driving.
"Jarrod, you are scaring me."
"I have a simple request. Leave my wife alone.—completely."
"Well, I don't know what she told you but we ran into each other innocently at the consulate ladies' room. I only asked her a couple of questions— everyone was asking them behind her back, I wanted to clarify the rumors and defend her. She misunderstood."
She laid her hand on his thigh and squeezed.
He rebuffed it and pushed it away.
"No Ghislaine, Liesel told me nothing. I heard from other witnesses."
"Oh Jarrod, they are just jealous old biddies. They all hate me. They can't stand the idea that their husbands desire me. Old dried-up, yes old ladies—"
He let out a sigh of disgust.
"Are we clear Ghislaine? No Liesel ever again. I am happily married."
"No man is ever happily married. Or at least, not in need of a bit of fun. Let me prove to you that you aren't. I don't believe you don't desire me. I can be discreet."
And she leaned over to kiss him.
He moved his head and pushed her away. "No"
Nate watched the quite persistent woman and the more determined Jarrod argue for several more minutes.
"She is stunningly beautiful even when she's mad but there is something about Liesel that is better suited to Jarrod."
They ended up back at the theater and he opened the door and motioned for her to leave.
She closed the door and stared at Jarrod in anger.
"Jarrod, did your precious Liesel tell you why she hates me so much?"
"It doesn't matter."
"You don't know, do you?"
She smiled seductively at him, "You can have both of us, just like Charles did."
He was aghast and Nate looked horrified.
"Yes, Charles was my lover in France for years. He got me my start. He married her for her father's power and money but he loved me— that gold Worth dress? Charles bought it for me. He died in a duel over me. Yes, me—not his wife. That's why I left for America. I have thought and thought of a way she could have trapped you in such a marriage. It's such a coincidence that her sister married your brother. The only thing I could think of is she got herself enceinte for spite. She could give you a child just the way she did Charles. The way I can't"
Jarrod was speechless. Liesel had been living with this horrible secret. It turned his stomach. He couldn't muster any sympathy for Ghislaine at all.
"She didn't tell you, did she? Charles always said she was self-righteous. She really believes in religion, can you imagine such backward thinking? Live and love and then we die. That's all there is."
"She lost our child, thanks to you," he mumbled with his eyes closed.
Nate and Ghislaine jerked their heads back in surprise. Jarrod had not told him about a miscarriage.
"I knew that's why you married her" she spat but realized too soon that was the wrong thing to say. His face was filled with rage. She wondered for a moment if he was going to strike her.
"Jarrod, give me another chance,"
"It is time for you to go." And he opened the door for her quietly and trembling in anger..
He and Nate rode back to the office in complete silence.
Jarrod went into his office for the rest of the day; he worked until late on the Breckinridge and Beaufort holdings as well as the Barkley's.
"The three B's" he mused aloud and tried to put today behind him..
—&—
Jarrod tossed and turned all night. He regretted slipping up in anger about the miscarriage. He hadn't told Nate to ensure Liesel's privacy. He did ask him not to share it. Only his family at the ranch knew since it occurred there in plain sight.
"I just have to let it go. I messed up. Surely she won't use that against Liesel. I still can't believe my wife kept all that to herself. Oh, Liesel, I will make this up to you, I will."
"For the first time since I married Liesel, I think I understand her."
He was at the train station early to pick up his cousins and their families. Greeting them and reacquainting himself with Aunt Jane's "pride and joys."
Will and Joseph introduced their wives, Anne and Elisa. They each had a boy and a girl: Trey and Susannah, Joey and Cate.
"Uncle Jarrod, can we ride a horse? Are there Indians out there? Can we go fishing? Do they scalp visitors? Does your wife cook on a campfire? Do cows bite?"
Jarrod laughed at all the questions. He answered them patiently.
"I can't wait until you meet my son, Jack, and my little girl, Rose. Your Uncle Nick runs the ranch and he has the prettiest twin girls almost two, Sophie and Mae and his oldest Tab is five. He's almost a real cowboy" he winked.
"You will meet all your family at the ranch. Your grandmother and your Great Aunt Victoria, my mother, are just waiting for us to get there. I have an extra surprise, your Uncle Heath will be getting married in a few days."
Stopping for a meal, Jarrod enjoyed his cousins and their families. " I wish Liesel and the children were here. Mother promised to telegram me if she got worse."
He took them to the Palace hotel and gave them time to freshen up. He would meet with his cousins at the office with Nate. Then they would take a tour of the bank that Jarrod had suggested for them to buy.
Bea and Charles arrived at the Palace to take the women and children to the local carousel and park on the bay. The men would meet them there later for supper.
"And Will, Joe, this is the First State Bank. The owner died with no heirs except his elderly wife. When she passes, the bank is to be sold and the profits to a local charity. It is currently managed by an aging board of directors. They are amenable to a quick sale. I have already made sure the state and federal requirements and permits are current. Carrington could just step in and modernize it to a brokerage bank. It has all the square footage you would need and complete clerical staff. It just needs guidance and being brought into the modern banking world."
Nate handed him the prospectus they had gone over in the office again and received beforehand in New York.
"The Board of Directors of Carrington has voted to expand upon our coming here to run it. The east coast is becoming overrun by brokerages. The west coast is the future. And to be honest Jarrod, neither of us are very enticed by the whole Knickerbocker society. I don't want my children raised with those kinds of values. Joe either."
Joe laughed, "Our mother won out in our values over father. Seriously, neither of our wives enjoy the New York society our Father thrived in. We are ready for a move. We have a stodgy old Vice President trained by Father to take the New York clients. He even wears the same kind of suit as he does."
All the men laughed.
"Our country is on the cusp of a revolution of business and industry. That excites me rather than using the right fork at the Astors. Our wives are quite pleased we are considering a move."
They stopped at a local pub before dinner and toasted the new bank and his cousins coming west.
Jarrod thought to himself, "And how will they take their mother's news when we get to the ranch in a few days."
They spent the next two days looking at properties, filing paperwork, and seeing the city.
Anne remarked to Elisa, "I would like Mother Jane to see these too. Since she will be living with us I assume."
Jarrod didn't respond.
They continued chatting about the homes they toured. "Jane likes lots of windows. A big kitchen too"
Jarrod took them to several fine restaurants and the theater to show off "his city".
Of course, he took them to Ghirardelli's and introduced them to his parents' longtime friend.
The ladies were particularly enthralled with the samples he brought out, "This is amazing, sir"
They took several boxes home of his finest chocolates.
He took the children to the four-story toy store downtown and bought a toy for everyone. Both boys bought cap guns, of course for the ranch. He picked up two more for Tab and Jack. As he was checking out, he saw the display of Rose's beloved kitty. There were several more colors so he added another to his order as well as the twins.
"Playing uncle is only second to being a father", he smiled to himself.
He took them all to Abraham's. He needed to pick up a package for Heath. Riva was delighted with the four children and took them in the back for cookies and milk.
"What an amazing artisan you are, Mr. Isaacson. You would do well in New York," remarked Elisa.
"Thank you but the Good One Above placed me in California and my bones will lie here for a time. And—-I am not much for the social world."
Will laughed, "Well, that is one of the reasons I am here, my brother too. California will suit my family well."
They all perused the cases of one-of-a-kind pieces and each lady picked out an item.
Joe teased Jarrod, "Did you get a commission for bringing us here?"
Jarrod had found some pearl hairpins for Liesel and a bracelet. He picked up hair combs for his mother, Audra and Aunt Jane. Abraham would set small stones in the soft gold he poured over the clip. Each one was different and the ladies in his family loved them.
They talked awhile about Ben. "I am anxious to talk to him. There was a bit of trouble but Nick and he got out of it. I will see them soon."
"He sent us a telegram too. Trouble is what makes us stronger, Jarrod. If it weren't for it, we would be soft and worthless."
"Wise words as always my friend but I admit I would like a little less."
"Yes, you have had more than your share of Désespoir to use your French wife's language. It fits in better than English."
As they drove up to the playhouse that night, he turned his head and his stomach dropped as he looked down the street to the crowded burlesque theater with long lines of mostly men lined up.
"How did I ever?"
—&—
Jarrod had ordered the private car hooked up for the family to take to Stockton. He telegrammed that they were on their way.
Victoria and Jane had gotten creative with the sleeping arrangements to free up two bedrooms. Jane moved in with her sister and Victoria had her private sitting room turned into a temporary bedroom for Isabella. Sleep was still not coming easy for her and it relieved her to have the older women so close. She would never disturb them but it comforted her in the dark shadows of the night.
Heath asked Bella out for a picnic lunch before all of the guests came. He had thought all week on how to bring up the topic and he decided the direct way was the best way to start off their marriage in a few days.
When they set the date, they wanted Nick back to stand up for him and it was a bonus to have Jane's family coming to town. "But how were they going to take the news about McColl."
Silas packed a good lunch and they spent the first hour looking at the house plans Heath drew out.
"You are good at this. I can't believe you drew these out. I am so proud of you—-proud to be your wife."
Heath took a very deep breath and squeezed her hand.
"Bella, I want to talk to ya about the wedding. When we moved your stuff to Mother's room and the rest to my room—I got to think in'-Might be best to talk."