The Lightkeeper's Bride (28 page)

Philip’s smile faltered then he shrugged. “I’ll make it up to you, Will. I’ll have to shove off right away though.”

“I just don’t understand. Why not see this through first?”

“Hey, you should be happy! I’m handing off a payday to you. Just be sure to cut me in, all right?” He paused, looked down at the floor, then back to Will. “I’m not like you. I’d rather have some fun and take my pay as it comes. And
this
job is bound to make the missing
Paradox
pale in comparison.” He tipped his hat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

T
WENTY-NINE

T
HE FOGHORN SOUNDED
in the night, and the glow from the light tower added to the last of the sunset. Katie had lit the light early because she had to run to town and Will wasn’t back yet. She pinned on her hat and told Lady Carrington she would return as soon as she could. She wound the light to allow herself a little more time, just in case, then hitched the buggy and went to town.

It was only seven o’clock, but Mercy Falls was quiet, still in the grip of the smallpox scare though the danger was mostly past. Katie disembarked the buggy outside The Redwood Inn. The gaslights lining the street hissed as they illuminated the decaying neighborhood.

Katie’s chest was tight as she squared her shoulders and walked up the front steps. The smell of cooking cabbage wafted out the open windows of the café next door and her stomach clenched uneasily. She’d barely managed to get down a mouthful or two of food at supper with this facing her.

Holding her head high, she marched up the steps to the large building. It was only as the bell tinkled over the door that she realized people might wonder what her business was with Florence. And she had no idea what name the woman was going by this time. She nearly retreated to the buggy but the man behind the reception counter looked up from the ledger.

“Miss Katie, what brings you to the neighborhood again?” he asked.

She forced a smile at the grizzled proprietor. “Good afternoon, Mr. Wilson. Is the hotel full these days?”

He shook his gray head. “Most folks skedaddled at the first sign of the smallpox.”

She advanced to the desk across the worn red carpet. “Has your household escaped it?”

“We have indeed. Even the missus has stayed well, though she’s been working at the hospital. I heard your mama was not so lucky. She is doing better?”

She glanced at his open registry book. “Recovering nicely. Papa too.” When he lifted an expectant expression to her and said nothing more, she cleared her throat. “Um, I’m looking for a woman, but I’m unsure of her name. In her early fifties. Dresses rather indiscreetly.”

His mouth tugged downward. “Ah, you mean Mrs. Muller.”

So she still used the same name. “Is she here?”

“Far as I know. She came in just after lunch, and to my knowledge, hasn’t left. Room ten. Up the stairs and clear to the back on the right.”

“Thanks, Mr. Wilson. Give your wife my regards.” Ignoring the curiosity in his eyes, she lifted her skirts and went up the wide staircase to the second floor. The red carpet was even more worn on the treads, though clean.

She marched down the hall. The rose wallpaper was faded but still tightly adhered to the wall. The wide woodwork was battered. She paused outside room ten. Listening, she heard no sound from behind the wooden door. Confronting the woman wasn’t something Katie really wanted to do. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and then rapped on the door.

Moments later the door opened, and Florence peered out. “Oh, it’s you.”

She stepped out of the way to allow Katie to enter. Her green dress showed too much bosom, and her hair was a bit disheveled and loose on her shoulders. Katie stepped into the room. A sweetish odor hung in the air and she couldn’t quite place it. She glanced around. The bed was unmade and discarded clothing lay in a tumbled heap at the foot of it. Toiletries covered the dressing table. A tray of partially eaten food was on the floor by the door.

Florence shut the door behind her. “Did you bring my money?”

Katie winced at the rapacious excitement in the woman’s voice. “I told you I have no money to give you.”

Florence flounced away to sit in a chair by the window. She picked up the hairbrush and tugged it through her unbound hair. “Then why are you here?”

The deeper she penetrated into the room, the heavier the scent became. It nearly sickened Katie. “What is that odor?”

Florence smiled and put down the brush. “My happy smoke.”

Opium
. Katie took a step back when she saw the pipe on the table beside Florence. “I know why you’re really in Mercy Falls,” she said.

“Oh?” Florence picked up the pipe and then put it down again.

“You helped with the piracy. We found the ship. And some men who know you.”

Florence coiled her hair around her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Florence shrugged. “You may believe what you wish. Piracy? This isn’t the 1700s, daughter.”

“I’m not your daughter!”

“You even look like me.” Florence finished pinning her hair. She rose and touched Katie’s chin. “From your heart-shaped face to the way your eyes tip up. Albert used to call them ‘cat eyes.’”

Katie loathed the thought of her father whispering to anyone but Mama, yet studying the woman’s face, she knew it was true. “I didn’t come here to speak of my appearance.”

“Then get on with it and let me get back to what I was doing.”

Florence glanced at the pipe again with longing in her eyes.

“I know you have plenty of money. You were surely paid handsomely for your part in stealing the gold from the ship.”

“A woman can never have too much money, my dear.”

Katie grew tired of the dance around the truth. “I’m giving you no money so you might as well leave town with what you’ve gained from your piracy. I won’t be blackmailed.”

Florence smiled. “So it’s quite acceptable for me to pay a visit to Mr. Foster?”

Katie decided to call her bluff. “Do whatever you like. He won’t pay you anything either.” She retreated to the door. In spite of her bravado, her pulse kicked up. What if the woman did just that—went straight to Bart?

She twisted the knob on the door. If she ever saw the woman again, it would be too soon.

“Wait!”

Katie turned to face Florence again. “We have nothing more to say to each other.”

The woman rose and approached her. “I regret many things, Katie, but nothing more than the fact I wasn’t allowed to raise you. I quite dislike seeing how much you despise me.”

Katie’s throat closed. “You always cared more about yourself than you did about me. I remember many nights going to bed to the sound of you laughing with a male visitor. You seldom noticed I was in the room.”

The softness in Florence’s eyes vanished. “Did you think I didn’t deserve a life too—a little fun?”

“All I knew was that you never noticed me unless you wanted me to fetch your shoes or something. No child deserves to be cold and lonely.”

“You were so young. I doubt you can remember much of those days. You always had a vivid imagination.”

Faced with Florence’s emphatic statement, Katie paused. Was it possible her memories were faulty? But no. The night she ran to the Russells was seared into her mind. No coal for the fire that night. No food in the room. Her mother had promised to bring her back something, but it had been hours. That dreadful man’s appearance had been the final straw.

“Good-bye, Florence.” She stepped through the door and shut it behind her.

A crash sounded in the room as though Florence had thrown something at the door. The words Katie heard from the woman would have made a sailor blush. With that much rage, she feared Florence would go straight to Bart. For a moment, Katie almost hoped for such an outcome.

It would make her path much clearer if marrying into the Foster family was no longer an option.

The mynah squawked a greeting as Will walked up the hillside to the lighthouse. His steps dragged with fatigue but he was smiling. He’d heard the foghorn while still in the bay and the light had pierced through the haze as well. Since Philip was gone, Katie must have done it. Dear girl. The ship had still been there when he led the constable to the location, but the men were long gone. He’d also placed a call to the owners to let them know it had been recovered. The finder’s fee would be deposited in his account. But his smile faded when he remembered the lives lost could never be recovered.

He heard the sound of horse hooves and turned to see Katie arriving in the buggy. The sight of her lifted his fatigue. Reversing his direction, he headed to the road to greet her. When he reached the buggy, he realized she’d been crying. Her reddened eyes and stained cheeks made him wince.

He reached up to help her down and she hurtled into his arms. He embraced her and held her close, resting his chin on top of her head. “What’s happened, love?”

She retreated and pulled her hanky from her sleeve then dabbed her eyes with it. “I went to see Florence. She is such a liar. Of course, she claimed to know nothing about the piracy.”

“I think it would take more than that to make you cry,” he said. He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from pulling her close again.

She nodded. “She tried to make me think I didn’t remember my childhood clearly. I thought I’d dealt so well with her neglect, but I realized it still hurts to know the woman who bore me cared for me so little.”

A declaration of his love trembled on his tongue, but he reminded himself she seemed set on staying in Mercy Falls. If he followed his dream of a career in weather, there would be no soaring edifice of a house or servants. Still, there would be enough to care for her. He opened his mouth then shut it again. Maybe she would be better off with Foster.

“Did you find the ship?”

“We did. You’ll be getting a nice finder’s fee. You can pay off Florence and keep your secret intact.” He wanted to add
for now
but clamped his teeth against the words. She already knew his opinion.

“I’m giving her nothing,” Katie said.

His pulse leaped. “You’ve broken it off with Foster?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think Florence will do anything. I called her bluff.”

He swallowed his disappointment. “She might do it to spite you. Then what?”

“Then it was meant to be.”

He offered his arm. “You sound very philosophical about it. I fear your attitude will change if she goes to see Foster.”

“I shall deal with it if I have to.”

Their gazes locked. The glow in her eyes held Will. Her lips parted and he took it as an invitation. His left hand went around her waist and his right drew her close. She closed her eyes and he bent his head.

The taste of her was intoxicating. Sweet and pure. She fit into his arms perfectly, as though made only for him. He chose to believe that was true, despite her seeming reluctance to put Foster aside. They belonged together. Her arms crept up to his neck and he deepened the kiss, savoring her response. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she cared about him.

When she finally pulled away, he was loath to release her. Her right hand stayed on his chest and he covered it with his. “I don’t think you should marry Foster,” he whispered. “Not when there is this emotion between us.”

Pain darted into her eyes. “I have to care for my parents. I fear Papa will go to prison.”

He knew there was a good possibility that would happen. The constable knew Russell had something to do with the piracy. “I’ll take care of your mother,” he said.

“A lightkeeper’s salary wouldn’t pay for the upkeep on the house.”

Her voice rang with sadness.

He could tell her of the money in the bank, but he wanted more than her gratitude. “I love you, Katie. I believe you love me. You wouldn’t kiss me like that if you didn’t.” He willed her to hold his gaze, but her lids shuttered her eyes. She started to withdraw her hand, but he held it place. “Look at me, Katie.”

“I can’t,” she said in a choked voice. “You make me weak. I must be strong.”

“Be strong enough to do what’s right for you. For us. I never thought I’d want to marry, but I can’t see my life without you in it.” Her lids flickered, and he caught a glimpse of their blue depths before she lowered them again. “I know you love me,” he said.

Her eyes opened then, blazing with color and passion. “What difference does it make, Will? It would kill my mother to take her from her home. She’s done everything for me. How can I not sacrifice for her?”

“I understand about duty, darling. It’s driven me my entire life. But duty is a cold companion. You haven’t even talked to your mother about your true feelings. I can’t believe she wouldn’t want to see you happy. I might not have a fortune, but I’m respectable too.”

She bit her lip. “She loves me,” she admitted. “But she thinks she knows what is best for me.”

“I’d like to see her myself.”

“I–I don’t know. I wouldn’t want her to suffer a relapse.”

“I promise not to upset her.”

“Very well.” She tried to withdraw her hand again.

He lifted her fingers and kissed her gloved palm. “I want to hear you say you love me, Katie.”

Her eyes widened. “I–I cannot say it yet, Will. Not until I know if our situation can be resolved. Once words like that are spoken, I can never go back.”

“We can’t go back now.”

“If it’s necessary, I can try,” she said in a barely audible voice.

She tugged again and he let go of her hand. He watched her lift her skirts and run for the lighthouse. She might not have admitted it yet, but he knew love when he saw it. And he wasn’t willing to give it up. He’d woo her with kisses and an outpouring of love that she couldn’t resist.

T
HIRTY

T
HE FIRE FLICKERED
in the fireplace. The scent of popcorn still lingered in the air. The house felt empty to Katie with Will up in the tower. Jennie played at Katie’s feet with the kitten. The little one grabbed Katie’s skirt and pulled herself up then toddled across the floor to where Lady Carrington sat on the sofa. The baby plopped on the floor and grabbed at the ball of yarn at the older woman’s feet. As her wrist healed, she’d gotten back to knitting a bit.