Unveiled (32 page)

Isabelle smiled gratefully. “That would be wonderful. At least Dorothy would know that I tried. But if you are certain you don’t mind…” She looked doubtful. “She can be embarrassing, you know.”

“Don’t worry.” Katie grinned. “For what I have in mind, her manners are absolutely perfect.”

T
WENTY
-T
WO

A
sleek black carriage pulled up to the doorway of the Main Line mansion, and an elderly woman stepped out, her face shrouded against the chill with a veil. Pausing for a moment, Ella Pemberton surveyed the immaculate lawns, the manicured hedges, and the neat shrubs of the great house. She walked slowly to the door and rang for the servant.

Eunice Scott opened the door herself and stared in surprise at their guest. “Ella! I didn’t know you were back! Come in!”

“I just returned,” Ella said, then entered the house and stared with astonishment at the lack of furniture and the addition of the O’Connors. The four of them comfortably took up the living room, and Eunice glanced back, understanding her confusion. “What in the world…”

“A lot has happened recently,” Eunice continued. “Our finances, unfortunately, haven’t fully recovered. But we are confident that they will. And this is…well, I’ll let Fan explain.” Eunice looked helplessly at Katie, suddenly remembering that Ella still thought of her as her niece.

Katie rose from the floor where she sat with Sean and ran to envelop Ella in a fierce embrace. “I’m so glad you’re back!” she whispered, and she started to see tears on the old woman’s face.

“I’ve missed you, too.” Unaccustomed to displaying emotion, the older woman sniffled, then wiped quickly at her webbed cheeks. “Look at us, two blubbering fools! Do you think we might have a cup of tea and spend some time talking? Alone?”

“Of course.” Katie smiled, then returned to the kitchen to boil the water. Ella gingerly removed her shawl, then followed, watching her with a puzzled expression.

“You do not have servants yet?”

Katie shook her head. “No. We used the money you sent for the most pressing bills, but the debts were in dreadful shape. Everything is really wonderful, though,” Katie reassured her. “I’m making a little money singing, and Christopher is doing so well at investment banking. We just need time.”

“I see.” Ella’s sharp eyes took in the quiver of Kate’s lip when she mentioned Christopher’s name. There was a wistfulness in her voice, and Ella could have sworn she seemed about to cry. Accepting the tea, Ella stirred the liquid thoughtfully and waited for Katie to join her.

“Fan, what’s wrong?” Ella placed a parchmentlike hand over Kate’s. “Now, don’t try to tell me that everything is fine. I can see that it isn’t. Where is Christopher?”

Katie stared at the tea, then suddenly raised her head, tears starting in her eyes. “I don’t know,” she whispered, then broke into sobs.

“There, there.” Ella patted her hand comfortingly. “Tell me all about it. I knew something was amiss. As soon as I got here, I had to come see you. I sensed that you needed me.

Katie choked back tears. “Oh, Ella, everything is as bad as can be. No one will take me seriously as an instructor, and I’ve only managed to convince one woman to really pay me. Christopher is doing well, but Winston Pepper is taking most of his salary to pay off his loans. As it is, we’ve scarcely two pennies to rub together.”

“Winston Pepper—that old fool! Why didn’t you tell me this?” Ella demanded. “Fan, I would have helped you! You know that! I only forwarded part of your dowry because of the problems between you and Christopher! He has come to his senses, hasn’t he?”

Katie remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly. “Aunt Ella, I have to tell you something. You are going to be shocked’—you may even hate me forever and never want to speak to me again. If that is the truth, then I understand, but I’ve learned that lies only destroy all trust and I can’t keep this from you.”

“I would never hate you, no matter what.” Ella’s hand tightened and the older woman made Katie look at her. “Fan, when you were a child, I never listened to the rantings of our family about you. You’ve made some powerful enemies; I’m sure you know that. But from the time you were a little girl, I’ve always felt you and I had a kinship that could never be broken. Tell me the truth, dear, and I promise to forgive you.”

Katie sighed, then looked at the sweet old woman, her blue eyes brimming with pain. “Ella, I have a child. A son. And…I’m not married to his father.”

“The little boy I saw you playing with?” Ella asked softly, and Katie nodded.

“Yes, that’s Sean. I’m sorry, Ella. I know how disappointed you must be.”

“Don’t say another word.” Ella turned toward the parlor. “Eunice, bring in that young man so I can meet him.”

Katie stared at the woman across from her, wondering if she could possibly have heard correctly. Eunice brought Sean to the makeshift table, allowing Katie to perform the introductions.

“Sean, this is Ella Pemberton. Ella, Sean.”

“How do you do, young man?” Ella extended a hand, and Sean took it, confusion on his small freckled face. “You don’t know me, but you are about to. You see, I love your mother very much. I always took care of her, and I will always take care of you.”

Katie felt her throat tighten, particularly as her son gazed up at the elegant woman in wonder. “You will?” Sean asked, incredulous. “Why?”

Ella smiled, then ruffled his blond hair. “Because your mother is very special to me. She gave me back my life, Sean, and though I know you don’t understand that, someday you will. She is a very special person, Sean. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.”

“I won’t.” Sean grinned, then fished into his pocket. “Do you want to see my frog? Paddy says I’ll get warts, but I don’t think so.”

“I don’t think so, either.” Ella extended her hand and solemnly inspected the creature. “He’s a very nice one.” She handed the reptile back to the boy. “But I know where you can catch frogs that will make him look like a tadpole. There’s a creek behind my house, and my gardener will be more than happy to show you. Would you like that?”

“Mama, can I?” Sean asked, his eyes round with excitement.

Katie nodded, trying to repress a smile. “Yes, you can. I’d like to finish talking with Ella now. Why don’t you help Eunice with the dishes?”

Sean sped away, being careful to replace his frog first. Ella smiled fondly, then turned to Kate. “He is a fine boy.”

Katie hugged her, feeling safe and secure in her embrace. “Oh, Ella, thank you. I’m so grateful that you accept him.”

“What are you talking about? He’s a wonderful child. Is that the reason you and your husband are quarreling?”

“Yes,” Katie admitted. “Christopher cannot trust me now. I know I should have told him about Sean—I just couldn’t. And when he found out—”

“He self-righteously took himself off,” Ella finished.

Kate nodded. “The worst of it is that he wants an annulment. He also wants to start looking for someone new. We’re having a party this Friday just for that purpose. I still can’t believe it.”

“What nonsense is this?” For the first time ever, Katie saw Ella get really angry. “He can’t be serious! Wait until I get hold of that boy. Doesn’t that man understand what a vow is?”

“He wants to start over. I’ve tried to reason with him, but he’s too angry.”

“We’ll see about this.” Ella rose to her feet, looking formidable in spite of her small stature. “Do you know where I can reach him?”

“At his offices during the day. I believe he’s staying at his club. But Ella, I don’t know if he’ll see you—”

“He’ll receive me,” Ella said purposefully. Then she turned to Katie and wrapped her arms around her. “Now that I’m back, I want to see more of you. And I’m having some furnishings delivered here—I won’t have you living like this! You are, after all, my niece!”

Katie sighed. It seemed she had to tell everything, much as she hated to break this woman’s heart. But she couldn’t let Ella learn the truth the way Christopher had. The woman might truly hate her now, but she had to be honest. Taking a deep breath, she took Ella’s hand once more, her own trembling.

“Ella, I have to tell you something else. I’m not Fan Pemberton. I am Katie O’Connor. Those people are my family. I never was your niece.”

Ella smiled, then tears filled her eyes. “My dear, don’t you think I know that?”

Christopher didn’t want to return to the club. He sat behind his desk, staring at the endless paperwork, wishing that everything could be different. But he couldn’t go home, couldn’t walk through that door as if nothing was wrong, as if he hadn’t been lied to and deceived, as if there wasn’t a hoard of O’Connors where peace had once reigned.

The few times he had stopped by to get some personal things, he’d been deeply insulted. No one seemed to miss him. Eunice was delighted with her newfound family. He’d never realized how lonely her life had been until he saw her with the O’Connors. Patrick had taught her to drink gin and play checkers, and now she was becoming formidable competition to him and Tom. Moira and she were writing a three-act play, with the two women taking turns at the various parts. Katie, Eunice had always loved.

And then there was Sean.

Frowning, Christopher recalled his aunt’s obvious affection for the boy. It was as if Sean were truly her grandson, for all the attention lavished on him. The facts surrounding his conception didn’t bother Eunice in the least; apparently she had longed for the sound of children in the old house, and now she had that.

The O’Connors themselves didn’t seem to notice or care that they were infringing on his territory. Patrick had done a marvelous job with the gardens and provided some needed income. As a result, some of the bills were actually getting paid. Moira didn’t seem to have a firm grip on reality and merely blushed and fluttered whenever she saw him.

And Katie. Christopher’s frown grew even deeper. Katie treated him with all of the coldness that one would treat a stranger. She was unfailingly polite, but that was all. And she didn’t seem at all troubled by the thought of leaving him. She acceded to his every wish, but made no move to reconcile their differences.

So now they were going to have to go through with their plans, and find other mates. Christopher could only surmise that he’d been right all along. Katie had married him for a name and, of course, the money. Now that she would have neither, she was already mentally apart from him, a situation that didn’t seem to concern her in the slightest.

Damn her! Christopher flung his papers to the floor just as the door opened and an elderly woman stared back at him.

“Ella!” Rising to his feet, Christopher saw her looking at the papers scattered around him. “This is a surprise.”

“So I see.” Ella softly closed the door behind her and stooped down to help him gather up the files.

“There was a draft,” Christopher explained feebly. The last thing he wanted to explain was his own confused emotions. “They blew off my desk.”

“Ah.” Ella glanced at the closed window, but did not comment. Taking a seat across from him, she gave him a weak smile. “It is good to see you again.”

Christopher slowly sat down, becoming alarmed. Ella didn’t look well—there were odd circles beneath her eyes and a gray pallor to her complexion. “Are you all right?” he asked, his own anger forgotten. “Would you like some tea or something?”

“No, thank you,” Ella said. “I’m just tired. You know, that’s the problem with being old. There are so many things I would do differently. I’m beginning to think it’s a fool’s joke the Good Lord plays on us. Why is it we become wise when it’s too late to be of use?”

There was a wistful quality to her voice and Christopher grew more alarmed by the moment. “Ella, have you seen a physician? I would like my doctor to speak with you.”

“Bah!” Ella waved her hand at the suggestion. “Yes, I have seen a doctor. And he has seen me.” The older woman coughed delicately, then shrugged as if in answer to an unspoken question. “It’s done, dear. One knows that. But I’m not afraid. I’ve lived a good life. And there are times when I’ve been very happy.”

“I’m glad.” Christopher found his throat tightening with emotion. Good God, if anything happened to Ella…he cursed himself for thinking about Katie. When would his thoughts stop filling with her?

“But lately I’ve been very concerned,” Ella continued softly. “Christopher, I’ve been to see Fan. She told me everything.”

The silence hung between them like a dead weight. Christopher glanced out the window, then back to the older woman, his face suffused with anger.

“Before you speak, Christopher, please, hear me out. I understand how you must feel. It came as quite a surprise to me to hear about the boy. But can’t you find it in your heart to understand and forgive her? The girl was young—she made a mistake.”

“I know that.” Christopher’s voice was tight. “But she hid it from me. I can’t forgive that, nor forget it.”

“What choice did she have?” Ella leaned forward, her handkerchief knotted between gloved hands. “Christopher, put yourself in her place. This society is very unforgiving of a woman in trouble. God knows it happens enough and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s only Mother Nature reminding us that we are human. But other people don’t see it that way. Fan has learned to protect herself.”