The Daughter of Highland Hall (19 page)

Kate stepped forward. “Why was she crying in the hallway?”

“Gibbons is a tough fellow, especially when he’s in his cups. His shouting and cursing scared that poor girl half to death. Too bad she didn’t have the good sense to get away that night.” She clicked her tongue. “She should’ve gone home to her family before it was too late.”

Lydia leaned toward her door. “Too late? What do you mean?”

“He has a powerful hold on her, never lets her out of his sight—when he’s sober that is.”

“Do you have any idea where they might go?”

The old woman shook her head. “They never said where they were going. I suppose Gibbons didn’t want to leave a trail for Butcher Nelson to follow.”

Tears filled Lydia’s eyes, and Kate reached out to steady her.

Jon nodded to the old woman. “Thank you. We appreciate your time.”

Kate reached in her purse and took out her calling card. “If you do hear from Helen, would you give her this card? Please tell her that her sister Lydia works here, and she is looking for her and wants to help her.”

The woman accepted the card and squinted at the writing. “I don’t think she’ll come around, but I’ll pass it along if she does.”

“Thank you.” Lydia’s voice came out in a choked whisper.

Jon touched Lydia’s elbow and steered her away from the door. “There’s nothing more we can do here.”

Lydia released a soft moan. “Oh, Helen, what have you done?”

“Come on, let’s go home.” Kate wrapped her arm around Lydia’s shoulders, but her heart felt like a stone in her chest as she guided Lydia down the stairs and back out to the street.

TEN
 

Jon took a lemon drop from the small glass jar on the Daystar Clinic counter and handed it to the five-year-old boy who waited with his young mother. “Here you go, Peter.”

The little boy smiled and slipped the candy in his mouth with his good hand. The other arm was wrapped in a thick bandage and held close to his chest in a sling. He had broken his arm when he’d taken a fall at home that morning. “Thank you,” he mumbled around the lemon drop and wiped his lip with his sleeve.

Jon shifted his gaze to the boy’s mother. She had scraped her mousy-brown hair back in a careless bun, and gray smudges shaded the area beneath her dull brown eyes.

“He must wear the sling and keep his arm immobile as much as possible for the next month. Then bring him back to the clinic, and we will recheck and see how it’s healing.”

Weary lines creased the mother’s face as she looked at her son. “I’ll try to keep him still, but Peter is a busy boy.”

“The discomfort should discourage him from being too active at first.” But doubt rose in Jon’s mind as he watched young Peter shift from one foot to the other, then reach out and fiddle with the window latch.

His mother tucked the clinic appointment card in her pocket. “I’m not sure how I’ll keep him from using that arm.”

“I understand it will be hard, but if you want him to have full use of it when it heals, then you must do what you can to keep him calm and the arm immobile.”

She raised a shaky hand to her mouth, and shook her head. “I have six children, and two are younger than Peter. I can’t be watching him all day.”

Jon clenched his jaw. Six children was a lot to handle for anyone, let
alone a woman who looked so tired and beaten down. “Just do the best you can.”

She released a shuddering sigh. “I’ll try, Doctor.”

“May I pray for you?”

She gave a slight shrug. “If you think it will help.”

“I’m sure it will.”

She gave a resigned nod and bowed her head.

He placed one hand on the woman’s shoulder and the other on the boy’s and closed his eyes. “Father, I come to You on behalf of Mrs. Cummings and her young son Peter. You see their situation, and You know exactly what they need. I ask You to watch over them and provide for them. Please help Peter’s arm heal properly and quickly. And please give Mrs. Cummings the strength she needs to care for her family. We ask You to show Your great love and power in their lives. Thank You for hearing our prayer. We’ll be watching and waiting for Your answer. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

“Amen,” the young mother whispered. She looked up and blinked, a trembling smile on her lips. “Thank you. I’m grateful for your kindness and care, and so is Peter. Aren’t you, son?”

The boy nodded.

“You’re welcome. I hope I’ll see you next month.” He squeezed Peter’s shoulder. “Be a good lad, and listen to your mother.”

Peter bobbed his head and smiled. “I will.”

“Very good. Take care now.” He ushered them out of the waiting room, and they left by the front door.

Theo walked in from one of the other examining rooms. “Was that our last patient?”

“Yes.” A warm sense of satisfaction filled him as he slipped off his white medical jacket and hung it on the hook behind the door.

“Dr. Pittsford left about ten minutes ago. He asked us to lock up.”

“All right.” Jon took his suit coat off the hook.

“Would you like to stop for something to eat before you head home?”

“Not tonight. I promised Julia I would join her and William for dinner.”

Theo’s eyes lit up. “Will Kate be there?”

Jon frowned and looked away. “No, she’s been invited to dinner at … I’m not sure where, but she’s going with her aunt.”

“I see.” Theo’s tone held a hint of amusement.

Jon looked up. “You see what?”

“I see you’re not too happy she won’t be home for dinner.”

Jon huffed. “Don’t start.”

“All right.” Theo grinned. “I’ll leave it alone for now, but I can tell you’ve grown quite fond of her.” He slipped off his white jacket and hung it next to Jon’s.

Jon sighed. So much for Theo leaving it alone. “Kate’s a fine young woman, but there can be nothing more than friendship between us.”

“And why is that?”

“Her aunt is intent on matching her up with a wealthy aristocrat in line for a title and estate.” Those words tasted bitter in his mouth, and he was afraid it was revealed in his tone.

“And Kate agrees?”

His spirit deflated. “Yes, I’m afraid she does.”

“Well, then perhaps she’s not the girl for you.”

Jon shoved his arms into his suit coat. “I suppose not.”

“Say, I’ve been meaning to ask if you found that young woman you were searching for … What was her name?”

Jon took his hat from the shelf, glad to leave the topic of Kate and her future plans behind them. “Helen Chambers.”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“I found the address where she was living, but when I took Kate and Lydia there, Helen had moved on.”

“Hmm, that’s too bad.”

“Yes, Lydia was certainly disappointed, especially when we learned more about the situation and her sister’s condition.”

Theo cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Helen’s expecting a child, and the man she is with, apparently the baby’s father, is an irresponsible lout.”

Theo’s brow knit. “So you’ve no idea where she’s gone?”

“None. We spoke to a neighbor, but they left no forwarding address. In fact it seems they slipped away to avoid paying the last month’s rent.”

“Perhaps her pregnancy will bring her to the clinic.”

“I suppose that’s a possibility.” Jon placed his hat on his head, then reached for the door handle. “But I doubt it. I don’t think there’s much hope of finding her now.”

“The Lord knows where she is.”

Jon checked the lock and pulled the front door closed as he pondered those words. “Yes, I’m sure He does.”

“Then we must pray He reveals it to us.”

Jon slapped his friend on the shoulder, his spirit lifting. “Yes, you’re right. We must.”

Penny’s usual sunny expression clouded as she looked across the dining-room table at Julia and William. “I don’t understand. Why must I stay home? Who would be offended?”

Julia glanced at William. She didn’t want to disagree with him, especially in front of the rest of the family, but was it fair to exclude Penny from Kate’s ball simply because she wasn’t quite old enough to be out in society?

William frowned and looked down at his breakfast plate. “Your aunt Louisa feels it would not be appropriate because you’ve not been presented.”

“But I thought all the family would attend.” Penny shifted her gaze to those seated across the table. “Clark and Sarah are going, and so is Jon. Why should I be the only one to miss out?”

“They’re all adults.” William’s voice was firm. “You are not.”

Sarah and Clark, along with Mrs. Dalton, had arrived last night. Julia
had invited Clark’s mother to eat breakfast with them, but she said she’d be more comfortable eating with the staff. Julia understood from her own experience how it felt to be uncertain whether you fit in with the staff or the family, and she wanted to make sure Mrs. Dalton felt welcome with both.

She and William would meet with Mrs. Dalton at ten o’clock to discuss her taking on the role of housekeeper at Highland. Hopefully the interview would go well, and Mrs. Dalton could begin working for them as soon as she returned to Berkshire.

Julia glanced around the table, trying to judge the others’ thoughts about Penny attending the ball. Jon sat beside William, quietly observing the conversation, but Julia could tell by his expression that he agreed Penny should attend. Millie watched the conversation with wide-eyed interest from her seat next to Penny, while Andrew focused on eating his eggs and toast, oblivious to it all.

Julia offered William a slight smile. “I understand the desire to follow tradition, but couldn’t we make an exception for Penny this one time?”

“I’d be happy to act as Penny’s chaperone if that would ease the situation.” Sarah glanced at Penny, then shifted her gaze to William. “I know you and Julia will be busy greeting guests and hosting the event, but Clark and I could watch over her.”

Penny’s expression brightened. “Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. Thank you, Cousin Sarah.” Penny turned to William again. “Please, just this once?”

Kate laid her napkin on the table. “I don’t mind if Penny comes. I’d be happy to have her there.”

William rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Your aunt was quite insistent when we discussed it last night. I’m sure she’ll be upset if we go against her wishes on this.”

Julia pressed her lips together. Following the rules of London society was important and so was keeping the peace with Louisa, but they were not more important than a young girl’s heart. “You are the host of the party, William. Surely you should have the final say.”

William’s expression eased. “That’s true.”

Penny looked back and forth between Julia and William, her expression brightening. “So it’s all right? I can go to Kate’s ball?”

William held up his hand. “I haven’t made my decision yet, but I’ll speak to your aunt and see if we can bring her around.”

Penny sighed and sat back. “All right. I’ll wait. But I want you to know I’d be perfectly happy for the rest of my life if you’d just say yes this one time.”

Jon grinned. “I’d help keep an eye on Penny as well.” He glanced at William. “That is, if you decided she may attend.”

“Thank you, Jon.” Julia glanced across at her brother, grateful to have him with them. The conversations they’d shared around the table and in the evening had been a great comfort to her.

She looked down the table at William’s sister, Sarah. Seeing her happy smile and the affection in Clark’s eyes as he looked at his wife warmed Julia’s heart. It was wonderful to have them here to celebrate Kate’s coming out. Surely when William spoke to Louisa he could convince her to grant Penny’s request.

After breakfast, Jon approached Julia. “I was wondering if I might bring my friend Theo along to the ball tonight. He seemed very keen on the idea when I mentioned it yesterday.”

“All right. Another single, well-mannered young man is always welcome at a ball.”

Jon grinned. “Theo’s a fine fellow. I’m sure you’ll like him.”

“If he is a friend of yours, then I’m sure I will.” Julia took her brother’s arm, and they walked out of the dining room together.