An Unsinkable Love

chapter 21


The next day passed quickly as the train rumbled across the countryside and made stops at several towns. Their car was uncoupled from one train and added to another two times before the conductor knocked at the door and said they were approaching Linton.

Malcolm went down the hall with Bree and helped gather her few belongings.

"Is it far to your home?" she asked as they stepped into the corridor.

Malcolm hefted her bags and took them back to the observation platform to set them with the others. "No. The car will be waiting for us at the station, and it's only another thirty minutes or so to the house."



* * * *

Bree sat on a sofa in the lounge, positioned so she could see out one of the big windows. The train slowed to a crawl, jerking and creaking as it approached a rustic train station. A large, sleek Rolls Royce, the pearly silver paint polished to a high sheen, idled next to the siding. A uniformed chauffeur stood at attention, one hand resting next to the elegant silver lady hood ornament. The heavily wooded area surrounding the station prevented her from seeing anything beyond the building.

She felt a soft touch on her shoulder and turned around.

Malcolm smiled down at her. "Ready?"

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Bree returned the smile, stood and arranged the folds of her new dove-gray outfit. He took her arm and escorted her out onto the platform, preceding her down the steps before he turned to give her a hand. A stiffly silent Eldon and Elizabeth were close behind.

The chauffeur, introduced as Carlisle, efficiently loaded the baggage in the huge trunk while they settled into the roomy sedan. Moments later, they were motoring down a dirt road.

"I'll be dropping you at the house, Elizabeth. I've been gone far too long. I need to get back to my office and see what needs to be done," Eldon said, staring out the window.

"Right now? Surely nothing can be done today that couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Elizabeth protested.

He stared at her, his expression stony. "That's why I run the company, dear. You never seem to realize how important it is to have a firm hand on the reins. Left to you, the employees would be allowed to run the company into the ground."

Bree felt Malcolm tense beside her. "You know, Eldon, I discussed that very thing with Mother. We believe it's time I stepped up and took the burden of running the company off your hands. You've given up so many of your leisure activities, and it's taken you away from your duties as Mother's husband. If you're going in today, you can instruct the accounting department to get the books ready for me to review. I'll also want to have a meeting with all the supervisors this week. After seeing the designs in Europe, we'll need to get started on our plans for next year's line right away."

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An Unsinkable Love

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As Malcolm spoke, Bree saw Eldon's jaw set and his eyes narrow. He canted his head and in a lecturing tone replied,

"Well, now. That's an ambitious plan, my boy. But I think you've forgotten we answer to a board of directors, and you have no experience in running a company of this size. If I let you waltz in and starting making changes, you could bring the whole company crashing down. No. I think you'd best let me sit down with the board and try to convince them you're ready to start taking on more work." Eldon smiled, but his eyes stayed hard. "Besides, you should spend time with your new fiancée. These sudden romances are so fragile, you know. Why, with you gone all the time, she might find her interests wandering."

Bree gasped and opened her mouth to protest. A gentle squeeze of her hand caused her to look up into Malcolm's deep blue eyes. He smiled down at her and said, "Bree's fidelity is uncontested, Eldon." His gaze hardened as he surveyed his father-in-law. "Yours, however, is. I'll be at the office tomorrow, and every day, so you might as well get used to it. The company has been mine since I reached my majority. I've allowed you to make it into something different from what my father wanted, and I intend to remedy that forthwith. You can go along for the ride, or you can get off the gravy train—it's no matter to me."

Before the argument flared, the car pulled into a large cobbled circular drive and rolled to a stop before a pair of tall double doors.

Further conversation was put aside as Malcolm and the butler, Anderson, spent the next few minutes getting luggage 157

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

deposited in the house. Elizabeth escorted Bree upstairs to her room, located on the inside of one wing of the U-shaped house. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave view across a garden full of riotous color to the other wing. Manicured lawns flowed over gently curving hillocks topped with trimmed topiaries.

Hedges boxed in formal rose and herb gardens. Bree couldn't wait to stroll down the gravel pathways.

"It's lovely, Elizabeth," she marveled.

She turned and surveyed the large bedroom. Gray watered-silk fabric covered the walls, and heavy gray-and-rose-striped damask drapes flanked the windows and dripped from a half-circle over the head of the bed. Massive furniture, polished to a deep shine, spoke of careful attention. A carved set of steps sat next to the tall poster, and Bree knew she would need them.

A clatter outside the door distracted her and she stood back as a man brought in her baggage, followed by a maid who immediately began opening the bags and sorting the clothing. Bree stepped forward. "Please, you don't need to do that. I can put everything away."

The maid looked inquiringly at Elizabeth, who nodded. The servants padded silently out.

"It's a beautiful room. I'm so very grateful for the opportunity to stay here," Bree said.

"Nonsense. I'm the grateful one. If not for you, I surely would have died on that ship."

"And I in the water," Bree reminded her, and they both laughed.

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An Unsinkable Love

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Elizabeth walked toward the door. "I'll leave you to get settled. The bathing chamber is through that door, and we'll have a late tea downstairs when you're ready." She left the room, her gown swishing softly.

Bree unpacked. Even with all the new clothing, the dresser and closet were nearly bare when she finished. She stopped a moment to admire the lovely gowns lined up on their hangers. After spending years creating clothing for Lady Rothberry, she was amazed to have such finery of her very own. "I'll pay her back for every last one," she vowed quietly.

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An Unsinkable Love

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