Chapter 11

eleven

I n spite of his bandaged finger, Alex had been looking forward to a relaxing afternoon ride with his brother—on fine horses this time, not those bicycle contraptions—but to his dismay, when Chase entered the stables, he was accompanied by the ever-boisterous Hugo Plank. The two men were guffawing like drunkards over some story pertaining to a dog race last summer, but the more they tried to explain it to him, the greater their mirth, and the less understandable they became.

“I’m sorry, Alex,” Chase finally said, clapping him on the back. “I wish you’d been there. Flossie and Regina just kept paddling around in circles in the lake and Mother was so irate.”

“I had pictured the race going much differently,” Hugo added, wiping a tear of humor from his eye. “Tippett was horrified.”

“It must have been amusing to have you both in such a state,” Alex said, impatience lacing his voice. “Shall we ride now?”

It wasn’t that he disliked Hugo or wanted to avoid his companionship, but there were things Alex had hoped to discuss with his brother today. Topics he did not want to share in front of anyone else and certainly not in front of Mr. Plank. But it seemed he’d have to wait.

“Yes, of course. Of course, my boy,” Hugo responded with a nod. “Let’s ride and not keep you waiting any longer. I assume you’re as skilled an equestrian as your brother?”

“Naturally,” Alex replied automatically.

“And you can still manage with that broken paw?” He nodded at Alex’s bandaged hand.

“I will manage just fine.”

“Excellent,” Hugo answered before stepping away to speak to one of the grooms.

“He invited himself,” Chase whispered. “I could hardly turn him down. Do you mind?”

“Of course not,” Alex lied.

“Good because the two of you should get better acquainted. Once you get past all the bluster and showmanship, you’ll see Hugo is an honorable, dependable man. I trust him, and I suspect he has some business he wants to discuss.”

“With both of us?”

Chase nodded. “It may not be anything of interest to you, but just hear him out. Let’s see what he has to say.”

Hugo had, of course, mentioned wanting to speak to Alex yesterday, but there had been no opportunity at the dance last evening. Although, in truth, Alex hadn’t made much of an attempt.

After making Coco Hart weep, and then discovering he’d been horrible to Trudy in their youth, Alex had felt rather out of sorts. Chase and Jo were absent, Ellis was dancing, Daisy was dancing, and even his mother seemed disinclined to engage with him choosing to instead embroil herself in a rigorous debate with Mrs. Bertrand Moseley regarding the superiority of Haviland china versus Syracuse china . Needless to say, he had no opinion on that matter, and if not for fear of wagging tongues, he would have returned to Trudy’s side.

But in the end, he’d cast his lot with a group of bored husbands who didn’t want t o dance with their frowning wives and weren’t allowed to dance with the smiling young ladies. So instead, like a rafter of gobblers, they milled about near the bar, squawking loudly about politics and whether or not Benjamin Harrison was up to the task of being president (unlikely), whether or not the Polish immigrants employed by the Wayne Cigar Company in Detroit could produce anything as fine as something rolled in Havana (possibly), and whether or not Brooks Brothers was the premier haberdasher in all of Chicago. (Definitely.) And when talk turned to the recent flooding in Johnstown caused by a faulty dam, they grew animated and belligerent.

“Henry Frick was responsible for the construction and management of that dam,” Warner Moorehead said, gesturing so broadly the Glenlivet sloshed from his glass. “The fault lies entirely with him.”

“Frick is Carnegie’s right-hand man. If anyone’s to blame for the negligence, it’s Andrew Carnegie himself,” John Winslow shot back with defiance.

But the argument had dwindled as, one by one, they seemed to recall Alex’s wife had been Carnegie. A distant relation, but still, he could see in each man’s expression when it dawned on him that Alex might be uncomfortable with this particular debate.

He’d left the ballroom soon after, returning to his suite only to find one of Isabella’s calling cards perched precariously above the frame of his balcony door… and his bedsheets smelling of her signature perfume, a scent created exclusively for her by Gabriel Guerlain himself.

So, this afternoon, discussing business with Hugo Plank was the last thing on Alex’s mind.

As they guided their mounts down the boulevard leading away from the hotel, he silently reminded himself to appreciate the sun shining down from a cloudless blue sky, and the soft breeze keeping the air fresh and cool. As sounds from the hotel’s front lawn faded, and the gentle thud of hooves against the hard-packed dirt became a soothing cadence, he strove to set aside his cares and concerns, at least for the moment. They’d be waiting for him when he returned, but for now, he was going to put them on the shelf and enjoy this ride.

Next to him, Hugo rode the same dappled palfrey he’d ridden that day on the West Bluff, and when Alex realized that he and Chase were seated on nearly identical Morgans, it lifted his good humor, and he chuckled.

“Is it a coincidence my twin brother and I have matching horses or does your groom have a sense of humor?” he asked.

“It’s possible,” Hugo answered affably, “Although if he had a real sense of humor, we have a very frisky filly in the stable that would have given you some real trouble.”

“Aren’t frisky fillies always trouble?” Chase joked.

“Well, this one is named after my niece so take from that what you will.” Their laughter mingled with the jangle of the bridle as they moseyed forward.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to speak with you last evening,” Hugo said to Alex a moment later. “The first dance of the season is always full of mishaps, so I was rather busy.”

“Mishaps? I didn’t notice any,” Alex responded. Other than himself making Coco Hart weep, of course. Oh, and finding out he’d once called Trudy a scrawny scarecrow.

“I’m glad to hear you didn’t encounter any mishaps,” Hugo replied. “It means Tippett and I did our jobs effectively. I don’t recall seeing you there, though, Chase. Did I just miss you?”

“Unfortunately, we had to change our plans at the last minute,” Chase answered. “Jo wasn’t feeling up to it.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Is she better today?”

“She seems to be. I left her in the capable care of Dr. Hart this afternoon.”

“Trudy’s with Jo?” Alex asked, surprise evident in his tone.

“Yes, and they seemed to be deep in conversation when I left.”

Alex pondered this silently.

The fact that Chase’s wife was spending time with Trudy should not impact him in any kind of way, and yet he found himself curious about what they were discussing. It was arrogance, undoubtedly, that made him wonder if he might be a topic for surely there were any number of things the two women would find more interesting, not to mention the fact that Trudy was there in a medical capacity.

And even if his name did come up, what of it?

Still, he wondered…

“Whoa, Sally.” Hugo reined in his horse and turned in his saddle to gaze back at the hotel. “Will you look at that, boys,” he said reverently. “My first masterpiece.”

They turned as instructed. Alex had seen the hotel from the carriage while riding up from the dock. He’d seen it from the lawn, and had been inside of it, too, but from this vantage point, he could see the entire expanse with the crystal waters of Lake Huron behind it. Hugo’s pride was understandable.

“I never tire of seeing it from here,” Hugo said as if to himself.

“A sight to behold,” Chase added almost automatically, and Alex realized with growing humor that Hugo had made his brother gaze at the hotel from this spot before.

“Do you know what that hill looked like two summers ago?” Hugo asked. “It looked like nothing. Nothing but big rocks, a few scraggly trees, a shack here and there. And cows. Cows roaming wherever they pleased. But now look at it. The mansion on the hill. That’s what the locals call it.”

Alex glanced over at Chase, whose mild expression revealed he had definitely heard this before. More than once. The brothers sat silently, letting Hugo relish his achievement until, at last, he turned back and gave Sally a nudge with his feet.

“The thing about building a hotel,” Hugo said as they turned onto a road that would lead them to Main Street of Trillium Bay, “is its permanence. You can see it. Other people can see it. They can experience it and create memories in it. And that’s a thing of beauty.”

His comments seemed rhetorical in nature, so Alex didn’t reply.

“Now, on a grander scale,” Hugo continued, “is a town. A town has various businesses, spots for recreation, places to enjoy a meal, pubs for a drink or two, stores for necessities and frivolities. It’s a place of memory making, too, so in my humble opinion, Trillium Bay should be a town that inspires memories that are just as wonderful and magical as the ones created by my hotel. Recollections for people to hold dear for years to come.”

Alex looked over at Chase again wondering where this monologue was headed. Chase just smiled and shook his head.

“Trillium Bay is a town on the cusp of greatness…” Hugo added. “But it sure as hell isn’t there yet.”

As he spoke, they rounded another bend, arriving at the southernmost end of Main Street. It was a wide, mostly muddy strip with a few modest storefronts. O’Doul’s grocery, Davey’s Hardware, Callaghan’s Leather Shoppe, and Persimmon’s Candy Emporium (which had taken liberal license with the term emporium) along with a few horse troughs, hitching posts, and a single saloon which was dingy enough to make the horse troughs look to be a superior place to wet one’s whistle.

“You see,” Hugo said, reining in his horse. “What we have here now offers nothing to inspire folks to spend time in town. However, imagine, if you will, this thoroughfare bustling with boutiques and businesses.” He waved his hand across the air as if painting a new vision and continued speaking. “A veritable cornucopia of commerce and community. A destination not only for guests of the Imperial Hotel, but for others visiting the island, as well as our dedicated soldiers stationed at Fort Beaumont. I’m picturing a gentlemen’s haberdashery, a ladies’ milliner, a dry goods store stocked with everything you might need or want, a jeweler and watch repair, a cigar shoppe, an ice cream parlor, perhaps even a bookseller or a library, and of course, fine dining as well as pubs. Thanks to my hotel, this island is becoming a truly coveted destination, but it needs to offer more.”

Hugo’s excitement grew with every sentence until he was all but shouting. Then he gazed at them expectantly, as if to gauge their level of captivation.

“I thought your aim was to ensure the Imperial Hotel was the most enticing destination on the island,” Chase said. “Won’t attractive businesses in town compete with what you already offer?”

Hugo’s smile was slow and smug. “Not if I own them,” he said confidently. “That’s where you boys come in.”

Chase laughed out loud, and Alex got the distinct impression Hugo was about to pass them his hat for a big, fat donation to the cause.

“You want more money?” his brother asked. “Haven’t I already invested enough in your hotel?”

“You’ve invested in the Imperial?” Alex said to his brother.

This was news to him. Chase hadn’t breathed a word of it. Then again, Alex had been rather busy over the past few months, falling in love, getting married, attending his wife’s funeral, and more recently, being haunted by her.

“Yes, I invested last summer. With my own funds,” Chase responded. “Father doesn’t know anything about it so I’d appreciate if you kept that to yourself.”

“And what a sound investment it was,” Hugo added. “You’ve witnessed the success of the hotel, Chase. You’ll make your money back in ample measure.”

“So, you say,” Chase replied pleasantly. “But I’ve yet to see a dime in returns.”

Hugo shrugged. “Have you seen the new dormitories being built for the employees?”

“Yes.”

“There’s your profit. I reinvested it for you.”

“Without asking me?” Chase responded. “I have a child on the way, Plank. Maybe I need that money for other things.”

“What other things? You have free room and board at my hotel. A stable full of horses to ride, even a physician on call to look after your lovely wife and clumsy brother.”

The clumsy jest notwithstanding, Alex was flummoxed by the casual way they were discussing Chase’s money. Just how much had his brother invested? And why had Alex and their father been kept in the dark about it?

“There are plenty of other things requiring money,” Chase said with faux indignation. “And our room and board was negotiated under the terms of my wife’s consignment work. We’re not staying there for free. We’re paying with artwork.”

Hugo paused, then said, “There’s no need to nitpick over every penny. The point is, I have grand plans for this town. Harry Blackwell, the mayor, is on board with my vision, the Callaghan brothers are chomping at the bit to open up a pub with my backing, and I’ve been communicating with Percy O’Keefe about improvements to the dock and adding a sufficient marina.”

“Percy’s in on this?” Chase asked. “He hasn’t written to me about it.”

“I’ve sworn him to secrecy, and I must ask for the same discretion from the two of you. I’m not the only one interested in developing the downtown area but I intend to be the first and the largest. Naturally, for that, I’ll need dependable partners.”

“Partners? Or investors?” Alex asked.

“I’m always looking for investors, but in this case, I’m also looking for partners. Men who are quick-witted, dependable, and above all, trustworthy who share my entrepreneurial spirit. This venture will require architects, financiers, builders, suppliers, restaurateurs, you name it. I intend to build this town from the ground up, and even I realize I cannot do it alone.”

“Are you certain you need to do it at all?” Chase asked, looking down the street. “Trillium Bay is rustic but adequate.”

Hugo’s brows came together. “My boy, when have you ever known me to be satisfied with adequate? And anyway, as I said, I’m not the only one with such plans. Trillium Bay is going to be developed into a tourist mecca one way or another. If I don’t act quickly, Ryerson and Harwell will snatch up all the prime waterfront properties and leave me in the dust. They would love nothing more than to drive me out of business. That means time is of the essence. So, what do you say? Are you in?”

Chase burst out laughing again. “Am I in? Give a man a moment to think, Hugo. There’s a lot to consider.”

Hugo turned to Alex. “What about you, young man? Are you ready to strike while the iron is hot?”

“I must agree with my brother on this, Hugo. It’s a lot to consider.”

It was a lot to consider. In truth, Hugo’s proposal had lit a spark of curiosity within him, but Alex was a savvy enough businessman to know tempering his interest was essential until he’d done a proper amount of his own investigating. His last major investment, a copper mine in northern Michigan, had proven disastrous and he was not going to make that kind of mistake again.

“Do you trust him?” Alex asked Chase later that afternoon as the two brothers walked back toward the hotel from the stables. Hugo had headed off in another direction but not before making them promise to stop by his office this week to see some preliminary drawings he’d done of his vision for Main Street.

“I trust him to be honest and shoot straight,” Chase answered. “But that doesn’t mean this new plan is a sound investment of either time or money.”

“And yet you invested in the hotel. Why keep that a secret?”

Chase shrugged. “I enjoy working for Father at Bostwick & Sons. I don’t take for granted all the avenues he’s opened up for us, but I wanted to venture out on my own for once. I wanted to see how it felt to take a bold risk without the safety net of the family company beneath me.”

“And now? How does it feel?”

Chase’s smile grew. “It feels damn good. Of course, if I’d lost my shirt in the deal I might be singing a different tune, but it’s a powerful thing to accept all the risks because now I own the reward. You should try it.”

“You think I should invest in Hugo’s development plan?” His voice held traces of surprise.

Chase hesitated for a moment, and then said, “If not that, then do something else. You’re languishing, big brother. You need something to stir your senses.”

Alex was aware of that, and he didn’t disagree. He’d been mired in place for months, not only due to Izzy’s untimely demise, but also because of that failed copper mine. His poor judgment had cost Bostwick & Sons a great deal of money. Money which his wife’s fortune helped to replenish. But movement just for the sake of movement wasn’t logical. He needed to know which direction to head.

“Are you suggesting I blunt the consequences of past mistakes by potentially making a new and different mistake?” Alex asked dryly.

“Of course not. I’m merely suggesting you find something, anything to occupy your mind with besides what happened with Isabella. You’re not yourself these days. Even this afternoon, I can tell you’re preoccupied. I know you’ve been floundering in your grief, and I know it takes time, yet I can’t help but wonder if a new business venture might be just the thing to help you pull through it.”

This would be the ideal time to fill Chase in on all the happenings with Isabella’s belongings, but they’d reached the edge of the grassy lawn. Not too far from where they stood, youngsters frolicked, engaged in some game that apparently required a great deal of shrieking while their nannies and mommas sat nearby with parasols to keep the sun at bay. On the porch, guests had gathered for an afternoon concert, while further afield boys were playing a raucous round of tennis as young ladies—ostensibly playing croquet—were surreptitiously watching them.

All around people appeared to be enjoying themselves.

“Did you know that was what Hugo had in mind when he asked to come riding with us?” Alex asked quietly.

“No, this is the first I’ve heard of his latest plans, but he does have a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t he?”

“Indeed.”

“And he’s quite the salesman.”

“That he is. But he has created something special here,” Alex admitted, gazing out over the bucolic scene.

“He has,” Chase agreed. “That being the case, I suppose it wouldn’t do any harm to at least peruse the sketches he’s made.”

Alex paused, the cogs of his mind beginning to engage, sluggishly at first, like an old engine that had lain dormant for too long. Rusty, in need of oil, but slowly building momentum.

“Sketches are all well and good, but it’s the financial figures I’m interested in,” Alex said at last. “If Plank is formulating a business plan based on his optimistic projections rather than historical trends, he could be setting himself up for financial ruin. And since half this island is designated as a national park, the property he has his eye on may not even be available for development. Assuming it is, and assuming he secures the legal rights to develop downtown, he’ll need to hire a reputable civil engineering firm posthaste. If he wants to attract wealthy guests, they’re going to expect modern amenities. Indoor plumbing, electricity, accessibility.” Alex shook his head as he stared at the hotel. “It’s one thing to build a single resort, posh though it may be. But it’s quite another to establish the kind of town he’s talking about. I’m not sure he comprehends the enormity of what he aims to accomplish here. He’ll need a lot of help.”

When Chase did not respond, Alex turned to find his brother with a rather satisfied smirk on his face.

“Have I said something amusing?” Alex asked.

No,” his brother replied.

“Is there something you wanted to add?” Alex pressed.

Chase’s smile widened. “No. Only… welcome back, big brother.”