If only she hadn’t inherited a brothel.
The realization she could sell the business, but still stay in Serenity, struck her with the subtlety of angel’s wings. But what would she do if she didn’t have the income of Josie’s parlor house?
She could teach music. Find herself a little house with the proceeds of the sale and hang out a shingle offering piano and voice lessons. Yes, she could do that. She should do that, but first, she’d have to sell the business.
A new life, created in her own imagination, suddenly materialized before her, and like her love for peppermint candies, it was far too irresistible to ignore.
Two days later, Sheridan knocked on Lucy Hart’s door, the first step in her plan to find a buyer for the brothel. She had to smile at the sign that saidMatchmaker. She’d already heard of some of the matches Lucy had made from the ladies at the house. She liked Lucy even though they’d only met a short time ago. She was warm and welcoming and didn’t look at her like she had three heads, because she’d inherited a parlor house.
The door swung open. “Sheridan! How lovely to see you!”
“Do you have a moment?”
“Of course.” Lucy opened the door wider. “Come in, come in. I just made a fresh pot of coffee. Would you like a cup?”
Though she preferred tea, she accepted the invitation.
“Let me take your cape.”
Sheridan slipped out of her cape and handed it to Lucy, who hung it on a hook beside the door, then followed Lucy down the hall into the homey kitchen.
“Please. Sit. Make yourself comfortable.”
Sheridan dropped her drawstring bag on the table and slid into her seat, rehearsing in her head what she came here to say as Lucy took a fine China cup and saucer from the cabinet.
“What can I do for you?” Lucy asked as she poured the coffee and placed it in front of her, then poured a cup for herself.
“I need to sell the business.” That sounded blunt, even to her own ears. “Especially after what happened at the skating pond.”
“I heard about that, and I am sorry. Samantha Graves can be a little too vocal in her convictions.”
Sheridan wasn’t surprised Lucy had heard. The confrontation seemed to be the only thing everyone was talking about, but what had she expected in such a small town? Still, she liked the idea of remaining in Serenity. “Samantha’s attitude notwithstanding, I don’t know the first thing about running a brothel.” She closed her eyes for a moment and held her breath, searching for the right words. When she found them, she said, “Josie’s will states quite clearly that I can sell the business, but only if the ladies agree to the new owner. I’m guessing that was to protect them. You know everyone in town, so I’m told. Can you help me find a buyer?”
Lucy’s brows rose and a slight flush colored her face. “Oh, Sheridan, I don’t think it’s going to be easy finding someone to buy your business.”
“But it’s not impossible, is it?” She took a sip of her coffee, tried hard not to make a face at the bitterness of it, then put her cup down. “Who’s the richest man, or woman, in town? Perhaps, they would be interested.”
“Well, the richest man in town would be Holden Steele, but I doubt very much he’d be interested. He lives in a big house on the hill all by himself. I’ve never met him. He hasn’t left his home since he moved in last year. Anything he needs, he has his business partner, Mr. Stanton, arrange.” She shook her head. “The only one who has met him is my husband. Ben goes to see him once a week, though it was more often when he first came here. They’ve known each other since they met at Harvard. I understand he was injured in a mining accident, but that’s all I know. Ben doesn’t talk about it.” She wrinkled her nose, obviously displeased that her husband wouldn’t share his knowledge with her but understanding just the same.
“It’s worth a try, I suppose. How do I get to his house?”
“Oh, you can’t miss it,” Lucy said. “Walk to the end of my street and look up the hill. His is the only house up there.”
“What about the richest woman?”
“That would be Mrs. Vega. Now, she’s much different than Mr. Steele. Kind. Friendly. Sweet. Everyone’s grandmother, if you know what I mean, but I don’t think she’d want to buy your business either. Mrs. Vega is given more toward charity. She’s one of my biggest donors when the Ladies’ Society needs money for whatever we’re doing, but I doubt she’d want to buy the business.” She paused. “Speaking of the Ladies’ Society, would you like to join? We’re raising money for a lending library and we’re having a fair in the spring.”
Surprised by the invitation, Sheridan thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. “Thank you, but I don’t think it would be wise. Samantha is one of your members, isn’t she? Surely she wouldn’t like it.”
“You let me worry about that. The whole point of the Ladies’ Society is to do good for the town and for our neighbors.” Lucy reached across the table and laid her hand on Sheridan’s…and this time, Sheridan didn’t pull away. “I have a feeling you would be good for the group, just as your mother would have been if she had accepted my invitation.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“I hope you will.” Lucy sat back in her chair, her straight-forward gaze roaming over her, mocha brown eyes alight with what Sheridan thought was a touch of mischief, a look with which she was more than familiar. One can’t teach girls and not see that from time to time. “In the meantime, tell me about your experience skating. I understand it was your first time.”
“It was, but I had a lot of fun. Wyatt was very kind.”
Her eyes seemed to brighten even more. “Wyatt MacLean?”
