An Agent for Emily Read online

  An Agent for Emily

  Pinkerton Matchmaker Book Twenty-Eight

  by Amelia C. Adams

  With thanks to my beta readers—Cindy, Dorothy, Joseph, Mary, Renee G., Renee L., Robin, Sandy, Suzy, Teresa, and Theresa.

  Cover design by Virginia McKevitt

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  Table of Contents:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter One

  It wouldn’t do.

  No, it simply wouldn’t do—not at all.

  Emily Gray pulled the hat from her head and tossed it onto her dresser. It didn’t matter anymore. Ever since Jeremy Tobler had stopped courting her, nothing mattered. He’d thanked her for the time they’d spent together, told her he found her pretty and charming, and then . . . he’d actually insinuated that she wasn’t ready to be married, that he found her a bit young.

  Immature.

  Unsuitable for his station in life.

  It galled her to the very core.

  It wasn’t that she loved Jeremy Tobler. He was a pleasant man of average looks and a nice way with words, but it was his money that had attracted her from the start, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Why should she be? She’d been raised to appreciate the finer things in life, and it was only right that when she married, she should expect to be treated with generosity. She wouldn’t get married otherwise. There would be no reason to leave her father’s lovely home unless it was to move to one even grander—and Jeremy Tobler’s house was certainly grand. She’d never forget the tour he’d given her—she often daydreamed about that house when her mind wasn’t otherwise occupied. He did seem to have a way of getting everything he wanted, almost as though it magically fell in his lap, and his wife would certainly benefit from that.

  But now everything was ruined, and it didn’t matter what hat she wore because no one would ever look on her favorably again.

  She heard a rap at her door and turned from her dresser. “Come in.”

  Lillian, the woman hired to look after her mother, peered into the room. “You’re wanted in the drawing room, Miss Emily.”

  “I’m wanted, am I?” Emily turned back to the mirror and fixed the curl she’d pulled loose when she took off the hat. “Who wants me?”

  “Your parents, miss.”

  “Both of them? At the same time?” That was certainly odd. Prescott Gray’s business didn’t often allow him to be home during the day, and when he called for an audience with his daughters, it was generally at his office downtown. That was always inconvenient, but it was a nice excuse to bring out the carriage and take a ride, perhaps visiting some shops along the way.

  “Yes, miss. Both of them.”

  “I’ll be right down.” Emily smoothed the front of her dress, then added a spritz of perfume to her neck. She had no reason to primp to see her own parents, but she felt that it was important for a young lady to present herself at her best no matter what the circumstances. That was something her sister, Anna, could never understand. She would actually answer the door with flour on her apron as though she was some kind of serving girl. It was appalling.

  “I suggest you hurry,” Lillian said before retreating and pulling the door closed behind her.

  Hurry? A lady did not hurry. She might move a bit more quickly under certain circumstances, but those circumstances were to be determined by herself and not her mother’s nurse. Emily huffed with irritation, then looked in the mirror and practiced a smile. It wouldn’t do to look agitated when she arrived downstairs. She’d had a great deal of practice in knowing when to display certain emotions, and this early in the morning, before breakfast, was not the time for agitation.

  When she finally decided she was ready, she descended the staircase and entered the drawing room, a bright smile on her face that froze when she saw that it was not just her parents waiting for her, but a small group instead.

  “Mother, Father,” she said, greeting Prescott and Venice Gray. Her sister, Anna, was there, along with Anna’s new husband, Liam. There was a stranger in the room too, a tall, handsome man who had come to his feet as soon as she entered. He had caramel-colored hair and the most charming smile. She gave him a nod, barely managing to tear her eyes away from him to acknowledge the last person in the room—Jeremy Tobler.

  Gracious. What was he doing there?

  “Good morning, everyone,” she said, aware of their eyes on her. She was used to being the center of attention in a room, but this felt more serious than mere admiration. “I wasn’t expecting such a gathering. And at this early hour.”

  “We apologize for calling you down before breakfast, Emily, but these gentlemen have something important to discuss with you.” Prescott Gray motioned toward Mr. Tobler and the young man with him.

  “With me? My goodness.” Emily sank into a nearby vacant chair, and everyone else sat too. She glanced over at Anna, who looked nervous. Anna never looked nervous. She was more self-assured than a woman in a plain cotton day dress had any right to be. “I confess, I’m becoming unsettled. Please tell me what’s going on.”

  Liam motioned toward the stranger, who smiled at Emily again. She liked his smile quite a lot. “Emily, this is Agent Todd Wilcox from the New York Pinkerton office. We’ve brought him in to assist on a case, and after discussing it thoroughly, we think you’re in a perfect position to help us,” Liam said.

  Emily blinked. That wasn’t at all what she’d expected to hear. “I beg your pardon?” she said at last. “You’ve come here to ask for my help on a case? As in, solving some sort of crime?”

  “That’s right,” Liam said. “We realize this is an unusual request, but we could use your assistance.”

  Emily laughed. “Oh, I hardly think so,” she replied. “Anna’s the adventurous one, not me. I’m more suited for . . .” She turned to Mr. Tobler. “What was it you said? ‘Sitting on a shelf and looking pretty,’ I believe?”

  His face instantly reddened. She wasn’t being kind to him, and she knew it, but she didn’t feel inclined to give him her kindness at the moment. “I did say that, Miss Gray, and I apologize. I wasn’t behaving as I ought to have been.”

  “I’m sure we all have things we regret in hindsight,” she told him. She then turned to Agent Wilcox. “I’m sorry, sir, but whatever it is you need, I’m afraid I’m just not suited to the task. I have a rather delicate constitution, you see, and I’m not able to do everything I’d like.”

  Anna made some kind of strangled noise, and Emily turned to look at her. “Is something the matter?”

  Anna nodded toward the hallway. “May I speak with you, please?”

  “Of course.” Emily rose from her chair, noting with satisfaction that her male visitors rose too. It was such a nice feeling.

  Once out in the hallway, Anna grabbed her arm. “Why are you being this way?” she hissed. “Can’t you pretend to be a normal human being for just five minutes instead of a pampered princess?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Emily replied. “I am a normal human being.”

  “Yes, you are, but you’re not acting like one.” Anna glanced over her shoulder toward the drawing room. “We came here to ask for your help. Would you please hear us out before you decide you’re too dainty and delicate to be of use? Believe me, we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think you could help.”

  “You sound li
ke you don’t think I can do this . . . this . . . whatever it is,” Emily said.

  “I don’t, and it’s for this very reason.” Anna flapped a hand at her. “Any time you’re asked to do something difficult, you feel faint and you have to lie down. You’ve never done a bit of work in your life, and certainly never anything that inconvenienced you. This is your chance to do something important, Emily—something that would make a difference in someone else’s life. And not only that, it’s your chance to prove Jeremy Tobler wrong.”

  Emily was brought up short by that. It didn’t bother her a bit that Anna thought she was above doing difficult things—she was. That’s why her father hired servants. Why should she inconvenience herself when there were other people to do things for her? Until Anna had gotten married, Anna had been the one she relied on—surely her own sister would recognize her need for assistance.

  But it was something else entirely to think of putting Mr. Tobler in his place. Their entire social set had been expecting an engagement, and when it hadn’t happened, Emily had been utterly humiliated. The looks of sympathy she received from passersby on the sidewalk, the whispers, the nudges—it was more than she could bear, and part of why she’d become even more reclusive than before. If she was able to regain any of her former dignity, if there was some possibility of reducing those stares or those snide comments, she should take the opportunity, shouldn’t she?

  “I’ll listen,” she said at last, “but I won’t promise anything.”

  “Good,” Anna replied. “And you could also stop looking down your nose at everyone. That would be nice.”

  “I’m not looking down my nose,” Emily retorted. “I’m using good posture, as a young lady of our breeding ought to do.”

  “If good posture means that you must look down your nose, I believe I’ll keep slouching,” Anna replied. “You look quite ridiculous.”

  “I look exactly as I should. Now, do you want me to listen to this scheme, or do you want to keep lecturing me?”

  “As much as I would enjoy lecturing you, we are running out of time,” Anna said. “You’re coming?”

  “Of course.”

  Emily followed Anna back into the drawing room and was glad to see that tea had been brought in their absence. She disliked going without her breakfast, and tea would help tide her over during this unexpected and certainly unwelcome visit.

  “Thank you for being willing to listen, Miss Gray,” Agent Wilcox said, giving her a nod. “I know this isn’t how you were expecting your day to go.”

  “Not at all,” she told him. “I’d planned to pay some calls this morning, and I was upstairs choosing the perfect hat when I was summoned. I don’t suppose you have an opinion about ladies’ hats, Agent Wilcox?”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Emily could see that Mr. Tobler looked uncomfortable. Excellent. Let him squirm.

  “None whatsoever, but I do enjoy the overall effect,” Agent Wilcox replied.

  Liam glanced at the clock on the mantel. “I don’t mean to rush, but Agent Gordon asked us to return to the office by nine,” he said. “It’s nearly half past eight now.”

  “You’re right.” Agent Wilcox leaned back in his chair. “By all means, Liam. Please.”

  Liam cleared his throat. “Two months ago, our client discovered significant amounts of money missing from his business accounts. He looked over all the ledgers and couldn’t see a reason for the discrepancy, but the fact of the matter remained that his bank account was ten thousand dollars shy of what it should have been. The only other person who has access to his holdings is his business partner. He wanted to confront the man outright, but realized that without evidence, he could be damaging a powerful relationship, so he came to the Pinkertons and asked us to investigate further. After discussing it, we’ve decided it would be best to bring in some undercover agents to snoop around, as it were, and see what could be discovered.”

  “And just how am I involved in all this?” Emily asked.

  “Regrettably, I’m the client,” Mr. Tobler said.

  Emily blinked. “I’m certainly sorry for your losses, but I still don’t understand why you need me.”

  “My business partner does most of his work from his study at home, and that’s where I believe we’d find the evidence we need against him,” Mr. Tobler explained. “He’s holding a lavish party next weekend, and we’re all to bring guests. If you were to come with me as my guest, Miss Gray, you could provide a distraction while the investigation is going on.”

  “You could also strike up conversations with the other ladies present and see what information you could obtain that way,” Agent Wilcox said. “You’d have access to rooms in the house that a man wouldn’t, and you wouldn’t be suspected. Truly, you’d make a wonderful agent.”

  “And why are you asking me?” Emily turned her attention back to Mr. Tobler. “Surely with all the young ladies you know—all the refined, elegant, educated ladies, the more mature ladies—there’s someone who would be more qualified than myself.”

  Mr. Tobler swallowed. “You’re going to make this very difficult for me, aren’t you, Miss Gray?”

  “It wasn’t my intention, but now that it’s begun, I find that I’m enjoying it quite a lot.”

  “Once again, I apologize for anything I said or implied to make you feel inferior in any way to any young lady currently residing in this town or any other.” His exasperation was starting to show, and Emily wondered if she ought to be a little more kind to him. The thought didn’t last long, however.

  “The truth, Miss Gray, is that you’re the only young lady I could possibly bring who would be convincing. I’ve mentioned to Mr. Astor, my business associate, on several occasions that I deeply regret ending my association with you.”

  “I . . . I beg your pardon?” Emily felt as though the air had been pulled from her lungs. “You do?”

  “Yes, I do, and if I were to arrive at this party with any other young lady, claiming that she was my new interest, he wouldn’t believe me. It would be much simpler to bring you and say that we decided to give it another go.”

  Emily had no response for a moment. She was utterly confounded. “You and I will need to discuss that, Mr. Tobler, but I don’t believe we have time for another clandestine chat in the hallway,” she said. “We’ll discuss it later. For now, let’s concentrate on what you’re asking me to do. I’m to attend this party, pretend that we’ve reconciled, and then . . . what happens next?”

  “It’s a weekend party, so you’d be gone a few days,” Liam said. “You’d get to know the other guests, particularly their wives or fiancées, and make friends with Mrs. Astor. You might engage Mr. Astor in conversation while Jeremy or Todd search his office, that sort of thing.”

  Emily lifted a hand. “Agent Wilcox? You’ll be coming along?”

  “Of course. Mr. Tobler hired a Pinkerton, didn’t he?” He grinned. “I’ll be posing as your cousin.”

  “But . . . we don’t have a cousin,” Emily replied, looking over at her parents and wondering what they were thinking. Her mother clutched a handkerchief in one hand, seeming a bit pale.

  “Mr. Astor doesn’t know that, and by the time he figures it out, he’ll be in jail—or it won’t matter because he’ll be cleared.” Agent Wilcox leaned forward a little. “Miss Gray, ten thousand dollars is a lot of money, and you could be instrumental in recovering it and saving Mr. Tobler’s business. Won’t you consider it?”

  Emily glanced over at Mr. Tobler. “Saving your business? The entirety of it?”

  “That’s right.” Mr. Tobler looked at her with imploring eyes. “Please, Emily. Say you’ll help.”

  Hmmm. Now he was begging. She probably shouldn’t enjoy watching him squirm, but she did. She wondered if that made her a bad person, but then she decided that she didn’t much care. “Yes, I’ll help you,” she replied. “But only because a weekend party at a lovely home sounds delightful.”

  “Thank you,” Mr. Tobler said, the tension leavi
ng his shoulders. “You have no idea how grateful I am.”

  “Just don’t make me regret agreeing to this.”

  “You won’t—I promise.”

  Emily nodded. “Very well. Now, didn’t you say that you all needed to be back at the office? You’d better leave if you don’t want to be late.”

  “And you’d better grab your hat and bag,” Anna said. “You’re coming with us.”

  ***

  Todd Wilcox sat in the carriage across from Mrs. Mason and her sister, Miss Gray, amused at their conversation. Liam sat next to him, obviously used to this sisterly banter. Mr. Tobler had chosen to ride up top next to the driver, which might have been the wisest choice, but if Todd was going to work with Miss Gray, he’d best know more about her, and this chat with Anna was proving to be most illuminating.

  “I can’t believe you’d invite that man into our home,” Miss Gray was saying. “Of all the despicable people to be sitting in our drawing room when I came downstairs . . .”

  “I’m glad you’ve been able to put your personal feelings aside,” Mrs. Mason replied, her tone dry.

  “You act as though I’m supposed to forget what he did! Things like that don’t just fade into the background—I’m still being whispered about everywhere I go.”

  “And when this case is solved, you’ll still be whispered about, but with admiration,” Mrs. Mason said. “I can see it now—people lined up to shake your hand, banners being hung across the road with your name in two-foot-tall letters . . .”

  “Liam, make your wife behave,” Miss Gray said, turning to her brother-in-law with a pout.

  Liam grinned. “I couldn’t even if I wanted to, and frankly, I don’t want to. Now, let’s show Agent Wilcox that he hasn’t just put his trust in a bunch of squabbling females, all right? Emily, do you have any questions for Todd?”

  “Yes.” She turned to face him. “What sorts of dangers are we expecting? Men with knives in their boots, women with pistols in their corsets . . . although, that would be horribly uncomfortable, now that I think about it . . .”