Chapter Seventeen - Nora - An Unexpected Revisiter

"Quite an evening, wasn't it Nora dear?" My father plopped down into his favorite chair in the parlor, his newspaper already tucked under his arm, at the ready for whenever his fancy irked him to read it.

"Indeed." I stated quitely, still puzzling over the scene of the two gentlemen outside. Something was clearly going on between the two, some unfinished business of some sort. Well, considering it was hardly any of my
business, but still, it had me intrigued. I mean, the men were going to be coming in and out of my house because my father was the banker, and so I would have much aquiantance with both. Probably not both at the same time, if by the looks of the two outside, there would be a lot of avoiding between the two.

"I'm tired now." Nelly offered, rubbing her eyes sleepily as she haphazardly climbed upon my lap, dragging Mary only by her left arm.

"Too bad the two couldn't stay any longer." Minevera gave a very dramatic sigh. "Such a pity. I'm sure I could of had one of the two half convinced to marry me by nights end, if not both of them."

"Minevera!" I stated, surprised she had used such boldness, but my father only laughed, making me turn to him in shock.

"We needn't worry about marriage proposals from those two." My father stated, his eyes twinkling brightly, wearing the same look he always wore whenever he thought he had a brilliant plan.

I opened my mouth to question what he meant, but Peggy walked in a third time for the evening, interupting once again.

"Sorry to disturb Master, but, uh, the gentleman is back and is now waiting for ye at the door." She stated, a strange look on her face, as if she didn't quite get what was going on.


"Oh I hope it's Mr. Scotts!" Minevera whispered to Hettie and the two giggled, right before they went into straightening their dresses and recurling their limp hair with just their fingers.

"Oh, by all means, show him in!" My father looked absolutely enthraled, almost jumping out of his seat with anticipation. Peggy nodded and left immediately, ready to show the man in, whoever he was.

Nelly rubbed her tired eyes a second time. "Do I get to stay up longer?" She asked, her voice showing she was obviously excited.

"I thought you were tired." I teased, pulling her closer to me.

"Not anymore, I promise!" She stated solemnly, and I laughed, and began to tickle her, making her laugh and squirm ontop of me.

"Sorry for the interruption, and sudden intrusion. I hope by no means you find me rude." I looked up, only to find Mr. Samuelson had entered the parlor, looking extremely uncomfortable and holding his top hat in front of him, in a very apologetic manner.

"Oh, Mr. Samuelson, we thought you had left for home." My father grinned, studying the man over, for whatever reason.

"Yes. Well, I had actually, except, halfway to my hotel room, my conscience got the better of me, and well, here I am." Mr. Samuelson grinned and shrugged his shoulders, clearly not too shaken at what had passed between him and Mr. Scotts, or at least, not visibly.

"Conscience? What ever for?" My father questioned, sitting up a little taller in his seat.

"I feel the need to apologize, Mr. Ainsworth. I realize now how terribly rude of me it was to run out on dinner such as I did. I regret how I behaved tonight. It's just Mr. Scotts and I-" He broke off, not quite sure how to word it I guessed. "It's a long story, something I really don't need to get into, but I want to sincerely apologize for my behavior, and hope I'm in no lower standing in your eyes, especially regarding if I am responsible enough to take on the Gransville estate-"

My father cut him off. "Oh Mr. Samuelson, there was no need to worry. I could think no less of you, especially regarding the Gransville estate."

By this time, Hettie and Minevera had gotten bored with the conversation, now that they knew it had nothing to do with them. Myself, I was still very much intrigued, probably only because I was still trying to figure out just exactly who Mr. Samuelson was who and what was he about.

Mr. Samuelson's face grew brighter at my father's last statement. "Really?" He asked, nonbelieving my father meant it.

"Quite. In fact, I have some unfinished business to attend to with you, and I'm quite happy you decided to stop by so soon again. It makes it much easier to just get to the point, don't you think?" My father grinned and stood, just as Mr. Samuelson's own grin grew twice in size. 

"I completely agree, Mr. Ainsworth. No point in beating around the bush."

"Great. Then, if you'll just follow me to my study," My father opened the parlor door, and Mr. Samuelson stepped out, almost crushing his forgotten hat within his hands because of his anxiousness. "Nora, could you see the girls to bed?" My father stated quietly to me, already halfway out the door.

I nodded in agreement, knowing my father wouldn't be done anytime soon if he were to talk real estate with Mr. Samuelson.

Nelly yawned. "Well, I am kind of tired." She decided. I only laughed, and set her down, holding her hand to make sure she could make it up the stairs without falling down with fatigue.

"Can you tell me a good story, just like Mr. Samuelson?" She asked innocently as we walked up the stairs.

"Sure." I said quietly, a smile appearing on my own face.

We passed my father's study just as he gave me one last mischevious look before shutting the door, locking it to make sure no one would disturb him. As if any of us girls wanted to go listen in to his converstation.