The Settling of Scores

Chapter 1

Prologue

1870 Howell House, Docking Green, England

            "How was your ride today, Miss Howell?" the groom asked her.

            "Princess was in good form, Bran," she answered. "Have you seen my Father today?"

            "I think he's talking with a gentleman," he answered her.

            "I'll not disturb him then," she said. "I wanted to tell him about one of the tenants, but it can wait until later."

            "Yes, Miss," the groom said leading her horse to the stables.

            What a glorious day she had, she thought, as she ambled toward the front door. In a few months, she would turn fifteen and then it would only be one more year before her promised come out. She was looking forward to all the parties and balls she would be attending in London. Papa had promised her they would lease a house in London and there would be new gowns, gowns to show how grown up she now was. The best would be the ball he promised to host to introduce her to the ton. Her aunt would chaperone her around to all the wonderful events along with her cousins.

            She just knew she would meet the man of her dreams and they would marry and live happily ever after, live near Papa of course. That was her plan she would accept no offers unless her future husband would consent to live in Docking Green.

            "Good afternoon, Miss," Poole, their butler said as he welcomed her home.

            "Good afternoon, Poole," she replied smiling at him feeling exhilarated from her ride around the estate.

            "Did you enjoy your ride, Miss?" he asked her as she entered into the foyer.

            "Yes, I did," she answered him smiling. "I hear Papa has a visitor."

            "Yes, their in his study," he answered her.

            "Well…" she never finished her sentence as both were startled by the sound of gunfire.

            Poole and several footmen rushed toward her father's study.

            Horrified by the sound of the gunshot, she was frozen into place for what seemed hours but was really only seconds.

            Seconds before a very tall man calmly walked toward her and out the front door.

            Shocked, she later would remember only his blue eyes, his cold, hard blue eyes and nothing more about him. Those cold blue eyes seemed to hold her mesmerized.

            She picked up her skirts of her riding habit once he was gone and ran toward her father's study to see him slumped in his chair behind his desk his chest covered in blood.

            "I'm sorry Miss Howell," Poole told her. "I'm afraid your father is dead."

            In those few short seconds, her whole world collapsed and so did she.

Chapter One

October 1, 1886 Sinclair-Baldwin, Murphy Shipping Company, Bridgeport, Connecticut

            Avery Murphy sat behind his desk and he was not listening to Ma'xehetane Collins, his business partner's cousin, discuss the changes Mr. Torkelson wanted made on the new ship they were building and the reasons why. Mr. Torkelson designed the ships their company built for their own needs and those of their clients.