Chapter Ten

V iolet decided to have her baby yet that night.

Phillip and her father waited together in the library while the midwife attended Violet.

"Does it always take this long?" Phillip asked his father-in-law.

"Sometimes much longer," Pearlman answered. "It's only been a couple of hours. In my experience, it sometimes takes a whole day."

Phillip felt a knot grow in his stomach. He knew that Violet wanted a large family, but he wasn't sure he wanted her to go through this several more times.

Just then, he heard another faint cry come from the floor above. He walked to the sideboard and poured two snifters of brandy. He took one back to Violet's father and kept one for himself.

"I've always wondered," he said when he was seated. "What made you keep your massive fortune in banks in England and leave it to Lettie, should anything happen to you?"

Pearlman smiled. "Lettie is the most responsible person I know. I trusted her to manage my wealth and keep it safe should something happen to me."

"I imagine you can't help but regret that she used it to pay my father's debts and make his holdings debt free."

Pearlman laughed. "Are you aware of how much our fortune has increased by making your properties debt free?"

Phillip shook his head.

"Lettie has almost doubled its worth with the purchase of the five estates made solvent with her fortune. And," Pearlman continued, "Lettie told me that in only a few years you anticipate that all of your estates will be turning a profit."

"Yes, that is our hope. But before that, we must return some of your funds. You'll want to—"

The Earl of Pearlman waved a hand to interrupt and leaned toward Phillip. "Nonsense. I had set aside a grand sum for our new life in America, and purchased an estate outside Boston for my wife and daughter. I've since liquidated it and have more than enough to see me through. Don't you put another thought to returning a single farthing."

Phillip marveled at the man's generosity. He had just taken another taste of his brandy when he heard Violet cry out again.

He shot to his feet and paced from one side of the room to the other. "I think I should go up and check on her," he said, heading for the door.

"Why don't you sit down with me for a moment first?" Pearlman said.

Phillip stopped where he was and returned. He sat on the sofa and swirled his brandy. The aroma wafting from the bowl of his snifter seemed to calm him.

"I want to discuss something I heard on my way here," Violet's father said. "I'm not sure it's accurate, but if it is, it might affect you greatly."

Phillip tried to concentrate on what Pearlman was saying because it sounded important, but it was difficult. He turned to face the man, and struggled to pay attention.

"I stopped to ask directions to Parkwood Manor at an inn in a growing town called Willowbrook, and the men at the inn were talking about the addition of a railroad that would be coming through the area. It would connect Willowbrook with London, and its construction would be a boon for this area. Have you heard where it will be located?"

"I've heard of the possibility of a railroad going through the area but haven't heard where it would go. Wherever it is, it will mean additional revenue throughout the countryside."

"That's what I think, too," Pearlman said. "It might even make sheep and cattle easier to send to market, therefore more profitable."

"Why are you telling me this? Is there something you think needs to be done with this railroad?"

"Yes. No matter where they lay the rails, it will take a number of investors to pay for putting the tracks in. It would behoove us to be among those investors. In a big way."

"Are you saying we should put money into the laying of this railroad?"

"I am saying that we should become major investors in this railroad."

"Don't you think that's a big gamble?"

"When have you considered betting on a sure thing a gamble?" Pearlman asked. "This is progress. We're investing in progress, son."

"I'll keep my eyes and ears open. We should be hearing something more soon."

"Yes, you do that."

At that moment, Phillip heard Violet cry out again. This time her cry was louder, and he couldn't ignore the pain he heard in her voice. He bolted from his chair and raced across the room, then across the foyer, and to the bottom of the stairs. He'd only gone up the first three stairs when Violet's wail was followed by a baby's cry. The sound of his son or daughter's voice stopped him.

He paused on the step, then raced up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. When he reached the top, he ran down the hallway to Violet's room.

He stopped before her bedroom, then reached for the knob and opened the door.

"Lettie?" he said, looking into the room and focusing on the bed. "Lettie?"

"Markham," her weak voice whispered.

He raced across the room and knelt at her bedside. He reached for her hand and held it as tears streamed down his face. "Oh, Lettie. How are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine. Just fine," she answered as one of the maids placed a small bundle wrapped in the blanket Violet had been knitting for the past few months in her arms. "Look, Markham. It's your son. Your heir."

Violet lifted him up so Phillip could hold him.

"He doesn't weigh anything," he said as he cradled his son in his arms and tears of joy ran down his face.

"Don't worry. He'll take after you soon enough and weigh more than either of us can carry around."

"What shall we call him?" Phillip asked.

"I would like to call him Thomas," she said. "After my father."

"That would be most agreeable. Thomas Phillip Chandler Eversley, heir to the Earl of Markham."

"Yes," Violet said, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Heir to the Earl of Markham. But Chandler? Where did that come from?"

"My grandmother's maiden name, dearest. The grande dame of Parkwood Manor. I'd like to keep her name part of my children's heritage. What do you think?"

As Violet smiled her agreement, her father entered the room.

"Come meet your grandson, my lord," Phillip said. "And your namesake, Thomas Phillip Chandler Eversley, the next Earl of Markham."

Violet's father grinned as his eyes filled with tears. "Little Thomas," he said, looking down on the bundle in his arms with joy on his face.

After a moment, he handed the baby over to Phillip, who was eager to hold him again. The new father stared at his son and studied him for several long minutes. After a while, he handed the baby back to the nurse and turned to the door.

"I think we should go to the library and let my wife rest," Phillip said. But first he walked to his wife and kissed her. "I love you, sweetheart," he whispered. "I'm so glad you were brave enough to go to Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon and buy me. I don't know where I would be right now if you hadn't."

"You are the best purchase I ever made, Markham. I'll always be grateful for the bargain we struck."

"As will I," Phillip said.

Toward the end of the first week after Violet had recovered from Thomas's birth, she, Phillip, and her father finished dinner and retired to the library. Phillip couldn't get over how quickly she'd recovered. She was truly remarkable.

"Have you heard anything knew concerning the railroad?" her father asked.

"What railroad?" Violet asked. "Is there talk of a railroad going through?"

"Yes, dear," Phillip answered her. "Your father heard mention of it before Thomas was born."

"What did they say about it?"

"Only that they wanted to build a railroad to connect Willowbrook to London."

"That's excellent," Violet said. "A railroad will open up all sorts of possibilities for expansion. Imagine the grain that can be shipped. And the livestock. And think how much faster people will be able to travel to London, and how much faster goods can be transported from London to Willowbrook."

Phillip laughed. "See how your daughter's mind works? She already has the railroad up and running and goods making their way from there to here."

"We don't even know where the railroad will go, Lettie," her father reminded her. It might not come close to here. Or even if it does, it might not stop in Willowbrook."

"Of course it will," Violet argued. "And it only makes sense to lay the tracks right through Parkwood Estate."

"She's right," Phillip said. "I was approached by a group of investors just today who asked if I wanted to invest in the new railroad that will go through on the east side of Parkwood."

"What did you tell them?" Violet asked. Phillip could see the excitement building in his wife.

"I told them I had to talk it over with my wife, that it was her money and I had to get her approval before I could spend such a large amount."

"You didn't," Violet said as she rolled her eyes.

"I did," Phillip admitted.

She looked at her father. "What do you think, Papa?"

Lord Pearlman thought for less than a second, then said, "I think if you pass up the opportunity to invest in this railroad, you are very foolish indeed."

"So do I, Papa," Violet said, kissing her father on the cheek. "I'm very glad you came back to us."

"So am I, Lettie. I'm not sure why God spared me, but I'm glad he did. And this gives me the opportunity to rebuild my fortune, since you spent my first fortune to buy yourself a husband."

Phillip and Violet laughed, then he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her.

"As I've said repeatedly, Markham was the best purchase I've ever made." And they kissed each other again, even though her father was there.

"How much do you think we should invest?" Phillip asked when the topic returned to the railroad.

"How much money do you have in the bank?" Pearlman asked.

"I'd have to add it up," Violet said.

"Whatever you have, double it, then double it again. That's what we'll invest. For now. Maybe more later. We'll see."

"Are you serious, Papa?"

"Yes, Lettie. I'm dead serious."

"Very well. When have you ever been wrong? I'm not going to start doubting you now."

"I knew I raised you right," Lord Pearlman said, and Violet leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek again. Then she turned to Phillip and kissed him.

Then kissed him again.