"Mary, I stopped by your solicitor's office this afternoon," James said at dinner a week after I first met Miss Carter. "I've found several interesting ventures that I know would be worthwhile for your inheritance."

"Oh?" I reached for my wine glass.

"Mr. Douglas seemed reluctant to listen to me. More so than in the past. In fact, he refused to even look at the information I had. Why is that, do you think?"

I sipped my wine without really tasting it. "You know he tends to be cautious when it comes to which investments he will take a risk on," I said evenly. I set my glass down, trying to appear unconcerned. "He's satisfied with what my funds are invested in."

"I have evidence to prove these ventures are worth looking in to," James said, his tone sharp. "I think it might be time to find someone who can manage your funds better than Douglas. I've kept this opinion to myself for some time now, but I refuse to let you be taken advantage of for a moment longer."

"He managed my uncle's interests exceptionally well, and I have not been disappointed in him." My appetite had fled, so I merely poked at the boiled potatoes on my plate. "I'm content to let things remain as they are."

The entire table shook as James slammed his fist down on the top. "Look at me!"

At his outburst of anger, I couldn't do anything but look at him. Across from me, Mother heaved a sigh. "Mary, honestly. Must you be so disrespectful?" she asked. "Here your father has gone to a great deal of trouble to find avenues for you to improve your inheritance and you are disregarding them without a single thought."

"It was not my intention to be disrespectful, and I apologize if it sounded as though I was. I merely disagree with his opinion," I said with as much calm as I could muster. "I see no reason to make any changes. My uncle was careful when he arranged the matter, you see, and I do not want to do anything that he would disapprove of."

"Tomorrow, we are going to go to your solicitor and make some changes," James said, getting my attention. He picked up his own wine glass and raised it to his lips.

The last thing I wanted was another confrontation with him but there was no chance I was going to remove Mr. Douglas from handling my money. I had so few people I could rely on that I had to keep the ones who I knew had my best interests in mind. "No. I have a full day of typing tomorrow, James, and I will not shirk my responsibilities."

James went completely still. "What did you say?" he asked, his tone a deadly calm.

"I said no, I will not be seeing my solicitor tomorrow," I said matter-of-factly. "Mr. Douglas has been all that is kindness, and I trust him. I see no reason why I should seek someone else, who may not understand my position or desires so well."

"Mary Elizabeth Sutherland!" Mother had used my full name more in the last year than in my entire life. "I don't understand you! Why are you behaving in this independent, terrible way? Did you not listen to your father's reasons?"

"You will do as I say, Mary," James said, his voice lowering. It was more frightening than when he yelled. "Or have you forgotten what happens when a young lady does not behave as she should?"

His threat should have frightened me as it had before. At that moment, though, I was too tired to give it any notice. After all, if I were removed from the house, the allowance from my inheritance would stop. James wouldn't allow that, and I was certain it would not be so easy for him to pursue a legal avenue to seize my money.

"I'm sure you will do what you feel you must," I said. "Miss Rouillard, however, will wonder if I do not attend her charity auction next week."

That made James pause and he glanced at my mother as if to confirm what I said was the truth. "I thought I made it clear your mother and I would have to approve of any plans you made," he finally said, his tone losing a bit of his anger.

"And I thought you wished me to cultivate my friendship with the daughter of a baron. Did I misunderstand the reason for keeping me at home instead of sending me away with those two doctors?"

James' face flushed red. He pointed a finger at me. "You are on thin ice, young lady."

It was clear he didn't like when he wasn't in control. "Do you have any objections to me attending my friend's event?" I asked smiling as though nothing were out of the ordinary. "She wants to know whether I will be there or not, and she may find it odd if I do not respond."

"Yes," he said, even as my mother said, "No." They looked at each other with no little surprise.

"Well. Perhaps you would like to discuss it. If you could let me know before next week, I would appreciate it," I said, pleased to see a small sign of dissension between them. "Miss Rouillard has asked for my help, and I would hate to disappoint her." Nevermind that the help had been requested from my purse.

James narrowed his eyes and he pointed a finger at me. "You are trying to distract me from the fact that you refuse to oblige me," he said. "I have a plan to double your wealth. There. Does that have your attention?"

"As you know very well, my inheritance is tied up in the funds," I responded, holding back a sigh. "Even if I wanted to, which I do not, I couldn't just give it to you, James. My uncle's estate would not allow it. My uncle arranged matters to protect me, you know. Nothing can be done."

"Certainly something can be done. I've been consulting my own solicitor on the matter. There are avenues we can pursue."

Of course he had. James was always thorough when it came to money and when he wanted to get his own way in things. "I'm sure there are, if I were unhappy with Mr. Douglas' work on my behalf. As it is, I would prefer to let things remain as they are," I said with a shrug.

"Mary, honestly!" Mother exclaimed. "You are an impossible girl sometimes. If this is the results of allowing you your head in pursuing friendship with your schoolmates, I think we have had quite enough of that."

She seemed to be under the impression that if she continually expressed her disappointment in me I would suddenly behave as she expected. Though I felt hurt—how could I not?—, I was also too tired to consider her words seriously. How could I when she had sided with her husband against me in everything?

"Isn't it enough that I give you my allowance every quarter?" I asked, pushing away my plate. I was certain I couldn't eat another bite. Honestly, what more did my stepfather want from me? "Now you want it all?"

James straightened with offense. "I'm sorry it is such an inconvenience to you to help your mother and me with the expense of living here," he said, his tone fairly dripping with sarcasm. "Where would you be if you were not with us?"

He knew Mother had no siblings and her parents were dead. There was no more family from my real father's side of the family. Perhaps there were distant cousins I didn't know about, but I couldn't be sure. I had nowhere but my mother's house.

Marriage was the only acceptable reason to leave my parent's house. Though, I supposed, I could find lodging like the girls who came to London for work must. In fact, the thought had merit.

"Tomorrow we are going to Douglas, and we are going to make some changes."

"I'm afraid I cannot." How long would I have to refuse? Did I have the patience to keep objecting in the face of him ignoring me?

"And why not?"

"Because I simply do not wish to make any change. What more do you wish me to say?"

"Mary—" James began to say, his face a deep, angry red.

I shoved back my chair and stood up. "I have made my decision, James, and that is all that needs to be said. I apologize if you disapprove, but I am not going to change my mind. I've lost my appetite. Good night."

Before either of them could say a word, I walked out. I didn't know what consequences my actions would bring me, but I had no doubt James would find some way to retaliate. Part of me wanted to hang back and eavesdrop, but I worried they would have heard my footsteps pause.

"Oh, Miss," Sally exclaimed as she encountered me in the hallway. In her hands was the pudding intended for dessert. Her eyes shifted so that she was not looking at me. "Are you...is something...Are you looking for something?"

Ever since James had brought the two doctors into the house, none of the household staff had looked me in the eye. They kept their tone gentle and were quick to leave my presence. I would guess they were afraid of me.

"No, Sally," I said with a sigh. "Please don't let me keep you from your work."

Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head. She hurried past me to the dining room. The girl was as caught as I was, although she had the opportunity to search for a position elsewhere. I had nowhere else to go.

When I woke the following morning, I expected to find the two doctors waiting to take me to an asylum. Instead, Mother informed me that I would be allowed to attend the charity auction. Her tone conveyed her disapproval, but of course, she wouldn't go against anything her husband decided.

Any victory I might have felt over winning this one fight vanished when Mother added, "Your father and I will accompany you to the feel it necessary to keep you under supervision."

Part of me wanted to protest. What right did they have to watch my every move? I hadn't tried to contact Mr. Holmes, though I longed to know if he had made any progress in locating Hosmer. I had complied with everything else they ordered, save for the matter of my inheritance.

Still, I was willing to accept their presence. I wanted to become better acquainted with Miss Carter. I could only do that if we met at our mutual friend's event. "Certainly," I said with a smile. "I look forward to introducing you to Miss Rouillard and Miss Carter."

"Miss Carter?" Mother repeated, narrowing her eyes with suspicion. "And who, exactly, is Miss Carter? Another school friend?"

"A friend of Miss Rouillard's, who is a lovely girl," I said, filling my plate with eggs and sausage. "I'm sure you will adore her as much I do."

"We will see." Mother had nothing else to say while I ate my breakfast. She kept watching me, a slightly puzzled expression on her face. Had she expected me to protest and fight?

Well, given how much I had disagreed with them in the last few months, it would be reasonable to assume I would continue to do so.

"I hope you have a pleasant day, Mother," I said, once I finished eating. "I will be back when I've finished my work. Would you like to walk with me there?"

Mother went still. "No, of course not. Why would you ask me that?"

"Well, as you and James trust me so little, I assumed you want to make sure of every step I take." I snapped my fingers. "Oh, yes. There is James' hired shadow. I'd forgotten about him."

"And what do you mean by that?"

With a sigh, I shook my head. No matter my disappointment with my mother, I shouldn't bait her. "Nothing. Good day, Mother."

Once upon a time, I would have kissed her cheek as I left but that was a habit I had long broken. As I walked out of the house, I wondered what had made James so eager to chaperone me at a charity auction. He only did things that would benefit himself. So, what could he possibly have to gain from my friend's event?