On the rare occasions that Dr. Durant came to visit, William always found his habit of pacing the floor while talking unnerving. This time however, it wasn’t his father wearing down the carpet that unsettled William. It was what he was telling them.
“You’re all coming home to America. I’ve invested in land in the Adirondacks,” Dr. Durant told his family as they gathered around the fireplace in the parlor of their apartment on Hertford Street.
“Where are on earth is that? And how do you pronounce it again? Add der rawn dax?’” Ella said.
Dr. Durant stopped to scout for his wife’s companion, who had gone into the kitchen to make it. “Where is Margaret with my tea?” The clock on the mantel chimed two pm and he reached for his pocket watch.
“We’re going to build another railroad,” he said, glancing at his watch. Satisfied it was accurate, he clicked the case shut and put it back in his waistcoat pocket.
William stood leaning against the mantel, observing his father. Checking the time regularly was another habit Dr. Durant must have picked up while he was building the transcontinental line. It was the third time within the hour he had consulted his timepiece.
“William will assist in the enterprise. I envision a full transportation system from New York City that will eventually take passengers through the Adirondacks all the way to Canada.” He directed his entrepreneurial enthusiasm at William, gesticulating wildly and in the process almost sideswiping Margaret when she came up behind him with the tray of tea.
“I planned it all out. We are going to live in North Creek where I’ve purchased a lumber mill. All of us, except William, who will need to work in New York City,” he said.
This was unexpected news. Indeed, William had returned only days before from his trip down the Nile and couldn’t wait to brag about it to his friends at the clubs on Piccadilly. He and Charlie Arkwright had pitched tents at various sites along the river where they bagged a crocodile, hippo, several exotic birds and a monkey—he even had the head to prove it. He had been planning another expedition, this time to India, until now. Because according to his father, there wouldn’t be another one.Dr. Durant was summoning his family home to New York State.
“I am optimistic about our future. But we will need to economize,” he said, leveling his gaze at William.
William wondered if this meant that the family finances were under duress but didn’t dare ask.
“Where is North Creek?” Ella asked. When she failed to capture her father’s attention she turned to William. “Qu'est-Ce qu'il dit?”
William was about to respond in French that he had no idea what their father was talking about either but thought better of it when he saw him glare at Ella for speaking in ‘code’.
His mother spoke up, “Pet, why are we in such a hurry? Can’t we stay here through the year? We have the apartment let until October. And I would like time to say goodbye to our family and friends.”
“No, Hannah. I’ve already begun to look for someone to take over our lease,” he said, neglecting the tea Margaret poured. He turned to face his wife who was sitting dumbstruck on the divan.
“I see.” Hannah bit her lower lip and looked around the room at their scattered belongings.
Dr. Durant hadn’t anticipated the family’s stunned reaction.
“You knew this day would come eventually,” he said sternly. “Here, maybe this will help.”
He pulled a map out of his frock coat, unfolded it, and placed it on Hannah’s lap. Ella quickly rose from her seat to hover over her mother’s shoulder as her father pointed to North Creek on the map.
It was a tiny speck lodged next to a mountain named Gore, surrounded by forests, the nearest community miles away. It took a few minutes for them to take it all in, but once they did, Ella and Hannah were confronted with the reality of being shipped off to some outpost town in the foothills of the Adirondack wilderness.
William didn’t move. He stood watching his sister and mother fuss over the map, murmuring about how far away New York City was from North Creek. Ella let out a heavy sigh and sank back in her seat.
“I suppose we need to consider what we can bring with us. What’s the climate like?” Hannah said.
“Of course, of course, we will figure all of that out soon enough. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to,” Dr. Durant said. Hastily, he retreated to the library, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Hannah and Ella turned their gaze beseechingly to William. He was as shocked as they were by his father’s news and unwillingness to discuss it further. How dare the man treat his family this way!
“I’ll talk to him,” he said. He left his spot by the mantel and entered the library without knocking.
“Father, what is the meaning of this? You ask us to uproot ourselves so quickly without any explanation of what to expect.”
“Sit down, son,” Dr. Durant said. He poured himself a snifter of brandy and pointed his glass at William. “Have a drink with me?”
William took a seat. His heart was beating so hard in his chest he wondered if his father could hear it.
Dr. Durant passed William a drink and sat down himself.
“Son, you’ve had the best upbringing I could provide. Private tutors, hunting and riding lessons, travel. But the extravagance has to end. Now. Your mother showed me the bill from the Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo. What were you doing there? Lavishing everyone you met with wine and food?” He shook his head in dismay. “It’s time you start earning money instead of spending it.”
William took a sip of his drink and assessed his options. He wanted to stay in London. He just had to convince his father this would benefit the family. “Let me stay in London and find investors for your railroad. After all, it was here you found your first investors for the Union Pacific.”
The doctor downed most of his drink in one swallow and shook his head. “No. I need you to attract investors in New York. And I need you to help us plan the building of our family vacation home in the Adirondacks. That is where we will entertain and entice them. It is already a popular vacation destination. The New York Times calls it the Central Park for the World.”
His father rose to refill his glass and walked about the room holding his snifter in the air, waving it around.
“You should see it, Will, the forests—they are virgin—just ripe for cutting. And the iron ore, we have mines. This railroad will bring people in to work, we can build them homes. We can build whole communities!”
“I have plans for this year’s deer stalking season at Thirlestane with the Napiers and well, I still don’t see why I can’t stay and—”
Dr. Durant scowled, his face darkening. “It’s time you grew up and earned your keep. You’re twenty-four. A man now. You need to consider your future, in America. The decision is made,” he said. “You and your mother and sister are coming home, and that’s the end of it.”
“But Father—”
“Enough! This is not a debate. I am done talking.” Dr. Durant slammed his glass down on the small table, breaking the delicate stem. The sound startled them both.
“I see.” William cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“Son, look here.” Dr. Durant softened. He left the broken glass to search through his leather satchel on the floor and pulled out a small book. “It’s my gift to you. The Adirondack forests are wonderful hunting grounds. The best you’ve ever witnessed. There are deer, pheasant, grouse, bear, catamounts.”
“Catamounts? Really? Are the forests that ancient?” William took the book from his father. It was entitled: Adventures in the Wilderness by W.H. Murray.
“This book you see,” his father said, planting his finger on the cover, “is all about the opportunities for hunting, camping, and taking in the beauty of the Adirondacks, and it’s causing everyone to take notice of the area.”
Dr. Durant continued, his voice growing louder and faster. “People are gobbling up the stories, Will. Everyone is looking for adventure in the woods, thanks to this genius.” He paused and poured himself a drink, then turned and raised it to William. “And best of all — we are one of the largest land owners in the region. Think about that!” he said triumphantly, throwing back his head and emptying the brandy glass in one swallow.
William felt he was in a battle that he had no way of winning. He half-heartedly leafed through the pages of Adventures in the Wilderness. He couldn’t help but be in awe of his father and his positive outlook. Yet underlying his public persona William sensed a suppressed agitation he hadn’t experienced with his father before.
Why was he dragging them back to the States? It was ruining everything, all of William’s plans. And why not allow him to stay behind to conduct his father’s business from England? What, exactly, was his father hiding from him, from all of them?