The Lightkeeper's Bride (3 page)

“Very well. But that’s as far as I’m prepared to go. I need to focus on learning how to run this lighthouse.”

“Good luck, Will,” Philip said, rising from the bench. His gaze was already on the boat down at the wharf. “Call me in a day or two and let me know how it’s going.”

“You’re leaving?”

“I have some other avenues to investigate. I’ll be in touch.”

Will watched his brother jog down the hill then over to the beach.

He stood there until Philip reached the distant quay and mingled with other figures. He turned and stared at the lighthouse, then back at his bicycle.

He’d ride to town and find this Eliza Bulmer.

T
HREE

B
Y THE TIME
Nell arrived, it was already nearly time for Katie to get off work. Maybe she’d overreacted to what she’d heard. Eliza might have left the house—that’s why there had been only silence on the telephone. Katie turned over her headset and exited the building into the last of the day’s rays. Addie North was waiting outside for her. The two had been best friends since Addie moved to town a year ago. That friendship had continued even after Addie married John North. They had fallen in love when Addie took a post as governess to his son Edward.

“Something has happened,” Katie told her. “Do you mind delaying our dinner for a few minutes?”

Addie’s gleaming auburn hair was on her shoulders, though she wore a chapeau. Her green eyes glowed with enthusiasm. “I’m at your disposal for the evening. Is something wrong?”

As she strapped on her skates, Katie told her friend what she had overheard. “I’m sure she’s fine, but I want to check on her to ease my mind.”

Addie skated alongside Katie. “I would call John to accompany us, but he’s outside with Edward. Since we leave tomorrow, he wanted to tire the boy so he’s not a whirling dervish onboard the ship.”

“I simply want to check on Eliza.” She glanced up at her friend. “How is your mother?”

“Driving everyone crazy. Even a badly sprained arm isn’t enough to keep her from wanting to putter in the garden.”

“Perhaps I can stop in and keep her company for tea one day this week.”

“She’d like that.”

Out on the sidewalk, Katie paused to let pass the seamstresses hurrying home from the garment factory across the street. Church bells pealed out the time. The scent of bread wafted from the open door of the bakery. “I’m quite sure I’m overreacting.” She smiled. “We’ll check on Eliza, then go to dinner.”

The quickest way to Eliza’s house would be down the alley behind the drugstore and over to Ocean Boulevard. When the way cleared, they skated across the street. Lifting her skirts free of the mud puddles from the afternoon rain, she skated down the alley to exit on Redwood Boulevard with Addie on her heels. The houses here were more modest than Katie’s home by the sea. Most were single story and the paint was peeling away from the corbels and gingerbread.

Two women eyed them as they moved toward the Bulmer house. The kohl on the women’s eyes and the smears of red on their lips proclaimed their occupation.

Katie slowed, admitting to herself why she normally avoided this part of town. No one, not even her best friend, knew this part of her history . . . but that wasn’t why she was here. She was here to check on Eliza.
Eliza
, she said firmly to herself.

But as they skated on rough brick sidewalks toward Eliza’s, Katie slowed. The house was on the corner, the last one before Cannery Row. The modest five-room home with only a covered stoop out front turned its curtained windows as a blank face toward the street.

It was in better shape than most.

Katie eyed the seemingly empty building. No shadow of the woman who bore her lingered in the house next to Eliza’s. If she walked inside, she wouldn’t smell lily of the valley or catch a glimpse of her skirt swishing around the corner. Wherever Florence Muller had landed, she’d never be back here again.

Addie’s breath came fast as she kneeled to remove her skates. “What’s wrong?” She glanced from Katie to the house.

“Just assessing what to do.” Despite her brave words, Katie’s limbs still refused to carry her across the street. Florence had been gone from this place for many years. She drew in a breath. “Let’s go.” She walked briskly to the front door and rang the bell. The bell rang inside, but she heard no steps coming to the door.

“See if it’s locked,” Addie suggested.

Katie tried the knob, but the door wouldn’t open. “Locked.” She listened and thought she heard a faint cry from inside. “Did you hear something?”

Addie shook her head. “You’re still concerned, aren’t you?”

“I think we need to make sure Eliza’s all right. Let’s get the constable.”

“We could call from a neighbor’s,” Addie suggested. She pointed to the house next door.

Florence’s old house. “Not there,” Katie said, turning the other direction. She hurried to the dilapidated house around the corner. There was no doorbell, so she rapped on the peeling paint of the door. When a man with a grizzled chin opened the door, she drew back.

“Whatcha want?” he demanded.

“Could you place a call to the constable and ask him to meet Katie Russell next door?” She pointed to the Bulmer residence.

“What’s Eliza done now?” the man asked.

“I’m concerned for her safety,” Katie said.

He shrugged. “She always lands on her feet.”

“If you’d be so kind,” Katie said. “Tell the constable we’ll await his appearance at Eliza’s front door.”

“I don’t have a telephone.” He shut the door in her face.

“Let’s go back,” she told Addie. They traipsed back to the Bulmer house. Katie tried ringing the bell again and got the same response of silence.

“Maybe she had to go out,” Addie said.

“Maybe.”

“But you won’t be content until you know for sure,” Addie went on with a smile. “That’s so like you, Katie. Always trying to fix things.”

Katie smiled. “It’s a curse.” She knocked again. Nothing. She sighed.

“Let’s get the constable.”

With the skates dangling from their hands, the women walked along the street back toward downtown. The constable was in his office, but he wore a harried expression. A strong odor of smoke filled the room. Constable Brown was a slender man. He wore a badge on the lapel of his tan suit.

He nodded at the women. “Miss Katie, Mrs. Addie. What brings you here at the dinner hour?”

Katie told him about the call she’d overheard. His brown eyes sharpened as he listened. “I tried ringing the bell but no one came to the door. I—I thought I heard something from inside. A cry.”

Brown rose and reached for his bowler. “We’ll check it out.” He opened the door for the women, and they went to his buggy.

There was just barely room for the three of them. Though Katie prayed Eliza was all right, she realized she would look very foolish if the constable broke in and nothing was wrong. But what if she
was
right?

The buggy stopped in front of the Bulmer house. A bicycle leaned against the side of the house, and the door stood ajar.

“I thought you said the door was locked,” the constable said.

“It was.” Katie scrambled down from the buggy without waiting for the constable’s assistance. She rushed toward the door, but he called her back.

“I will go first, if you please, Miss Katie.” He strode past her and entered the house with the women on his heels. He tucked his nightstick under his arm and doffed his hat.

Katie peeked past his shoulder as they stepped into the entry. The stench of mothballs hung in the air. Maybe Eliza had been packing away clothing. She said she was trying on a wedding gown
.
. . Pausing, she listened. She and Addie exchanged a glance. A faint sound came to her ears.
There
. “Down the hall,” she said. Lifting her skirts from the scarred floors, she darted past the constable. The pocket door to the parlor stood open by two feet. She peeked inside.

A man stood with his back to them, looking down at a baby girl lying on the sofa. Katie guessed the child to be about a year old. Brown locks curled around her pudgy cheeks. She was just waking up and was making the nonsense sounds Katie had heard.

The little girl sat up. “Ma-ma?” she asked, glancing around the room. The child didn’t seem to be afraid of the man. Katie tore her gaze from the child and realized there was no sign of Eliza. There was also no phone in this room, so the scuffle she overheard did not happen here.

She backed out of the room and held her finger to her mouth. The constable scowled, then shrugged and said nothing to the man. She motioned to the constable and Addie, and they stepped past the open parlor door and across the hall. The hinges creaked as she pushed another door open and stepped into the kitchen.

She spied the telephone on the wall. “The scuffle had to have occurred here,” she whispered. Addie nodded. Katie saw only a wood-burning cookstove and a dry sink filled with dirty dishes.

“Why did you not wish me to confront the man?” the constable asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I wanted to see if Eliza was all right before you questioned him,” she said. “I saw there was no phone in the parlor. She was in this room when I spoke with her last.” She stepped deeper into the room. It was empty. No Eliza, no body. A chair lay on its side though, an ominous witness to the struggle she’d overheard. “Eliza?” she whispered. “Are you here?”

“I shall check out back then speak with the man in the parlor.” The constable brushed past her to the back door. He opened it and stepped onto the stoop. Katie heard a sound behind her and whirled to see the man standing in the doorway with the baby in his arms. A spreading stain on his shirtsleeve and the stench of urine told her the condition of the diaper resting on his forearm.

The baby rubbed her dark eyes and whined. “Dada,” she said.

Katie stared at the man. He had dark eyes. Maybe he was this child’s father. “Who are you?” she demanded.

He stepped closer. “I came in when you didn’t answer the door.

Your child needs attention.” He clutched the baby around the waist and held her out to Katie.

She eyed him with suspicion. He had to know she wasn’t the baby’s mother. “Where’s Eliza?”

His dark brows winged up. “Aren’t
you
Eliza Bulmer?”

She tried to place his accent. Pennsylvania? The East Coast? She guessed his age to be early thirties. He wasn’t the manner of man who normally drew her attention since she preferred blond hair and blue eyes, but she had to admit he was attractive. She was close enough to see the golden flecks in his dark eyes.

“I’m not Eliza, as you well know.” She nodded to the baby. “She called you daddy.”

His eyes widened. “I just found her in the parlor. I’ve never seen her before.”

The baby clutched at him and chattered “dada, dada,” as if to contradict him. He colored and frowned. Urine dripped from the diaper to the linoleum.

“Oh dear, she’s quite soaked,” Addie said.

“So is my shirt,” he said.

Katie backed away from him. The kitchen seemed too small and close with his bulk filling it. “Give me the baby,” she said, holding out her arms.

He handed over the child. “I was trying to do that, but you didn’t seem to want her.”

She wrinkled her nose at the strong odor. “Where are her diapers?”

He shrugged. “How would I know?”

So he was still going to lie. “I think we should fetch the constable. He’s out back. Eliza seems to be missing.”

“I agree. It’s odd she left the child alone.”

“I’ll get him,” Addie said. She stepped out the back door and spoke with the constable. He turned and glanced at the man standing in the kitchen then followed Addie inside.

Katie stared at the man, who returned the favor. His perusal caused her to shift from one foot to the other. “I shall seek a diaper for her while you explain your presence to the constable,” she said, reaching for the baby then motioning for Addie to follow.

“I don’t trust that man,” Addie whispered on the way up the steps.

“Neither do I.” Katie found the baby’s room at the top of the steps on the right. The room smelled of stale urine. The diapers were in a battered dresser. She snatched a square cloth and a fresh gown then found the bathroom. The little girl popped her thumb in her mouth and regarded Katie with solemn dark brown eyes. As far as Katie was concerned, the eyes told the story. That and the “dada” the little girl had babbled. Katie removed the soggy clothes then washed the baby’s red bottom.

“She really needs a full bath,” she told Addie. Katie placed the fresh diaper under the wiggling baby then struggled with the pins.

“Here, let me help you,” Addie said. She knelt beside them on the rug and managed to pin the diaper in place. It sagged a bit, but at least the little one was clean and dry once Katie slipped on the pink gown.

“I heard something,” Addie said softly. “I think the men are outside.”

Katie nodded and moved to the door. When she unlocked it and stepped back into the hall, she found the stranger leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. She caught a glimpse of the constable’s back as he disappeared into a room down the hall.

“The constable is searching the house,” he told her.

She handed the baby to him. “Here’s your daughter,” she said.

His arms went around the child when she thrust her against his chest. “I told you she’s not mine.”

“And I don’t believe you. Where is Eliza?”

“I just got here. I checked the other rooms but there’s no one here.”

Katie brushed past him and peered into the other two rooms.

They were empty as he said. She found the constable in the third one.

“Nothing?” she asked.

Brown shook his head. “Her belongings all seem to be here. I know Eliza. She was trying to break out of the barmaid profession so her daughter wouldn’t be ashamed of her when she grew up. She’d been hired as a maid. But she’d never leave Jennie alone.” He followed Katie to the hall where Addie stood with the man.

The baby whined and struggled to reach for Katie but she tried to ignore the plaintive sounds. “I think I could use a cup of tea. I’m sure the baby must be hungry.”