Gold House was bustling with activity when Nathan and Graysie returned from the fair. Nathan had bought a newly wakened Minette a stick of candy floss as a final treat, and as they traipsed through the front door, she noticed the child’s rosebud mouth was ringed with a sticky brown smudge from its sugary remnants.
She supposed they both resembled a couple of hillbillies after a morning in the open air, and she was just turning to make a brief farewell to Nathan and escape upstairs to tidy up when she caught sight of Pania Hayes in full sail on Sir John’s arm, heading for the garden.
The Maori singer was impossible to overlook in a pale gold shot silk day dress which shimmered subtly as she moved, the gold complimenting her perfect olive complexion. On her head she wore a turban style wrap in the same gold fabric trimmed with black feathers.
She carried herself with regal grace, head tilted as if to catch every word Sir John uttered, and as Graysie watched, she paused with queenly assurance to gaze at him, fascinated by his latest remark. One glimpse and you knew this was a woman with a presence few could rival.
The housekeeper, who had been hovering in the hall, heard their footsteps and gave a welcoming cry. “Oh Miss Castellanos, you’ve returned!”
Pania halted and turned, smiling broadly. “Miss Castellanos, I am so thrilled Minette’s come home!” She gave Graysie a light embrace and bent down to tweak Minette’s arm. “And how is this little treasure? I might have a wee surprise for you!” She delved into the bag that hung from her wrist and extracted a lollipop.
Minette’s sugary mouth dimpled. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Sir John cleared his throat. “We were just going to sit in the garden. Why don’t you and Nathan”—he nodded to his brother who’d come into the room behind them —“come and join us for afternoon tea?”
Graysie started to protest that she was dusty and travel-worn and needed to change but thought better of it. All the concert hall chatter indicated that, underneath the grand dame manner, Pania was a grounded, pragmatic woman.
As they settled into seats in the garden arbor, she reached out and took Graysie gently by the hand. “I was so glad there was a happy resolution to your situation.”
She spoke quietly so that Minette, who was stroking a plump tabby on the steps leading into the arbor, didn’t hear.
Graysie grimaced. “It was horrible. Just horrible. But thanks to Nathan… Mr. Russell…” She felt herself flush slightly with awkwardness. What was she supposed to call him? It wasn’t as if they were really friends. She cleared her throat and focused on Mrs. Hayes’s sympathetic deep brown eyes. “As you say, thank God for a happy ending.”
Sir John interrupted with noisy coughing. “I believe Mrs. Hayes knew your Uncle Eustace briefly many years ago, Miss Castellanos. Did you know that?”
Graysie peered at Pania in surprise. “Really? No, I hadn’t realized. When was that?”
The housekeeper brought in a tray set with blue and white teacups and a pile of steaming hot scones. As she left, she paused to pick the cat up under her arm. She took Minette by the hand and headed for the door.
“Come, my dear, let’s take you to the kitchen to give Whiskers some milk and get something for you to eat.”
“Don’t let her out of your sight,” Graysie said, suddenly anxious. “Promise me.” Her eyes flicked to Nathan, who was sitting silently in the corner, mouth full of strawberry jam-topped scone. He caught her eye and frowned.
“So you knew Eustace?” Graysie prompted, after the housekeeper had gone. With the ease of someone who was mistress in her domain, Pania Hayes took up the teapot. “Yes—only briefly—we all did. But first let me do the honors. Milk or lemon, my dear?”
When she was satisfied everyone had been served, Pania sat back. “Eustace was utterly charming. Quite artistic, loved to dance, but he was also an astute businessman. I believe he worked for the family firm in the West Indies for a few years before they sent him out here. I think he much preferred the excitement of the frontier to the society salons his family favored.”
“His family?” Graysie had to admit she hadn’t given a thought about any family. “Like who?”
Pania hesitated. “Quite honestly, Miss Castellanos, I don’t know. I think he had a sister. I just got the impression he was glad to escape his family.”
Like me and my stepmother, Graysie thought.
“He was very fond of your mother—I think they knew each other back in New York. I guess that’s why he’s left those mine shares to you?”
“I suppose…”
“So are you still planning to try and do something with them? Why not just sell them?”
Graysie shook her head. “The mine is considered washed up. To sell now could be giving someone else a fortune, if it comes good. No, I have to get it to the point where its true value is recognized. Then I guess I would consider selling.
“That’s why I’m here in Grass Valley. To try and find out more about it and decide what to do. I know it’s not what is expected, but if I could even get it to the stage where it was shown to be a worthwhile investment, I’d deem it successful. I’d have a more solid foundation to work from.”
Hoping for a supportive comment, she turned to Sir John and caught an impatient scowl crossing his face.
“Work the mine?” said Sir John. “Graysie, anyone who knows anything about the substrate in Grass Valley knows the Ophir wasn’t ever much cop, and it’s now exhausted. Run out. It’s a fool’s errand to think it’s worth re-opening. Eustace was always one for chasing dragons. I hope he hasn’t filled your head with unrealistic dreams of getting rich from gold.”
She felt her face flush at the bland assumption that she was easily duped. She took a deep breath, told herself to stay calm, and said, “I’ve had a look at the prospector’s reports the lawyer gave me, and there seems to be good evidence for another rich seam running along the western wall. The question is how difficult it might be to reach.”
Sir John gave a grudging nod. “I am happy to take a look at the reports for you and give you an opinion, if you wish. But I think Eustace had completely unrealistic ideas about that mine, and I’m sorry you seem to be have been influenced by them.
“Regardless, it’s hardly likely investors would back a young woman—charming as you are, my dear—for such an operation. You’d be much better considering marriage. That’s the only way a woman of station is going to be able to secure her future.” He leaned in and topped up Mrs Hayes’ wine glass.
“Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Hayes?”
Pania took a sip of her wine. “Do you know, John, as a woman who has made her own fortune—a modest but good fortune—for the last fifteen years, I’d have to disagree. Much as I valued my late husband, knowing I don’t have to rely on anyone else does something for a woman’s soul.”
Graysie saw his face darken with annoyance and felt a surge of gratitude to the woman bold enough to stand up to him. Maybe she’d just found her first ally.
She flashed a smile at Pania and studiously observed the leaves in her teacup in the uncomfortable silence that followed. Maybe despite the Russell brothers’ disapproval, her dreams weren’t so nonsensical after all.