Undaunted Love (PART TWO): Banished Saga, Book 3.5 (23 page)

“She is my young cousin. I can’t allow her to be here. She needs to know she has family who wants her.”

“Do you think I am so naive that I haven’t heard of your infamous behavior? Do you honestly believe I would place a young, impressionable girl in my charge into the care of a woman who fails to honor her own marriage vows?”

“I would have thought you eager to find a home for one of your charges.” Savannah stiffened her shoulders and firmed her jaw, glaring at the older woman.

“Her welfare must be of my utmost concern. Thus, I refuse to allow her into your care. What would my patrons say if they knew I consorted with women the likes of you?”

“The likes of me?” Savannah rasped. “The kind that finds a way to survive the brutality of her marriage? I’d think you’d rejoice with me rather than disdain me.”

“You took vows, and it was your obligation to comply with them. I will not allow young Melinda to have her spirit warped by such an unnatural woman, even if you are her cousin.”

“I am not unnatural. I merely demand more from my life than the pain and humiliation my marriage wrought.”

“You desire my sympathy, Mrs. Montgomery?” She sneered as she looked Savannah up and down. “You’ll have none from me. I know your type of woman. Spoiled and pampered. Nothing is good enough for you. Not your mansions in the Back Bay. Not your stables full of carriages and basements full of servants. You’ll never find satisfaction in your life because you’ll never learn to be grateful for what you already have. Melinda Sullivan will never be given into your care. A spoiled, disgraced woman who fails to have the decency to feel shame at her situation.”

“You have finally spoken a truth. I will never feel shame for escaping my marriage.” Savannah rose, patting a trembling hand over her skirts as she glowered at the seated Mrs. Maidstone. “You may sit there in your righteous indignation now. I hope, if you are ever in need, as I was, you will find someone compassionate and understanding. Someone who will be the antithesis of who you are right now.” Savannah took two steps out of the door, preparing to storm down the long hallway.

“Did you ever find your baby, Mrs. Montgomery?”

Savannah spun to face her, gripping the back of the chair she had just vacated. “You knew where my baby was? All this time you’ve known.”

The matron rose, and sauntered toward Savannah, a taunting smile on her lips. “I know many things, Mrs. Montgomery.”

Savannah flushed red while the hand gripping the back of the chair whitened. “Tell me where she is. Tell me she is with good people.”

“Accept that your daughter is lost to you forever. There is no possibility of ever recovering her.” Mrs. Maidstone glanced down the hallway as the outer door slammed shut. “Ah, here’s Mr. Aires now for a meeting. I wish you a good day, Mrs. Montgomery, and thank you for a most illuminating visit.”

Savannah stumbled from the office and down the corridor in a dazed stupor. She barely had the sense of mind to open the door before walking into it. As she emerged onto the front stoop of the Home, she glanced around her. Night was falling with a brisk, cool wind blowing, scented by the recent rain. Shivering, she pulled her coat tighter around her as though to ward off the wind and the pain rendered by the matron’s words. Rather than turning for the trolley stop and Sophronia’s, she ventured farther into the maze of the North End.

***

“WHAT’S THE MATTER, SAVANNAH?” Richard asked as he studied her standing on his doorstep. “Why don’t you come in? It’s too late to be wandering the streets alone, and I know Florence would like to see you. It’s been days since your last visit, and the baby’s already grown.” He clasped her arm, squinting to study her further as he noted the subtle trembling of her arm.

“I’ll put the kettle on for tea. Our mum always said there was little a good cry and a cup of tea couldn’t cure.” He led Savannah into the back room where Jeremy was placing the finishing touches on dinner. Florence reclined on the dilapidated sofa, the baby asleep against her chest and a black cat purring its contentment next to her. Aidan sat at the scarred table, a mug of tea warming his hands.

“Savannah,” Jeremy murmured. He set down the plates and walked toward her. He reached out to push a loose tendril of hair behind her ear, stroking her neck before dropping his hand. “You look terrible.”

Savannah nodded. “I was just at the … at the …” She shook her head, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face, and uncontrollable sobs escaped.

“Come here, darling,” Jeremy said as he pulled her into his embrace, tucking her head under his chin. He shared a long look with Richard and Florence before he caressed her back and rocked gently to and fro.

Aidan rose, taking over Jeremy’s duty and finished setting the table. He stirred the stew pot on the stove, sliced a loaf of bread and poured water into the glasses. Rather than retaking his seat, he remained standing in the kitchen, watching Jeremy and Savannah.

“Forgive me,” Savannah said with a hiccup, easing away from Jeremy.

“Savannah, you must have learned by now that holding it all in does no good. And we’re family,” Florence said. She nodded toward a chair as she continued to rock side to side. “Sit. You’ll have some supper that Jeremy made and tell us what this is all about.”

Savannah crumpled into the chair, curling into herself as she sat sideways. Jeremy crouched in front of her. “We can hold dinner so you can tell us what happened. I think you need to speak of it, and waiting is only going to make it worse.”

Savannah met his worried gaze, tears continuing to leak out. “Yes,” she whispered on a stuttering exhalation. She glanced up, looking toward Florence, Richard and Aidan. “I need your help too.”

Florence inched to the edge of the sofa and then heaved herself to a standing position. She waddled toward the chair Richard held out for her, smiling her thanks as he winked at her. She sat with a loud sigh, her hands cradling the baby’s bum and head. Richard sat in the chair next to her, nibbling on his lower lip as he studied Jeremy and Savannah. Aidan moved and sat across from them, his hands folded on top of the table.

“I visited my uncle Sean’s wife today. You’ve met Mrs. Sullivan.” At their murmurs of assent, she continued. “She’s bankrupt. She overspent her husband’s earnings two to one in the redecorating of her home. That’s why she was desperate for an influx of cash, to pay her creditors.”

“Her desperation was our gain,” Richard said with a sardonic smile. Aidan nodded.

Savannah rose, the chair making a scraping noise with her harsh movement. She paced in the area between the sparsely furnished living room and the dining room table. “She’s no way to pay her bills. Has no friends who will come to her aid. Not even your aunt.”

“That’s not surprising. I imagine Aunt had her reasons for friendship with her, ones we’ll never fully understand. She’ll feel no compunction at abandoning her now that Mrs. Sullivan is of no use to her.” Jeremy shared a rueful glance with Richard.

“And now she’s decided she must forego any unnecessary expenses.”

“Seems sensible,” Florence said. She patted her son, nuzzling his downy head as she watched Savannah with mild curiosity.

“She’s brought her daughter to the Home. Left her there as though she were an orphan. Unwanted and unloved.” Savannah met Florence’s stricken gaze, watching as all color leached from Florence’s face.

“Good Lord, she couldn’t have,” Florence whispered. Richard reached for her hand, squeezing it in support.

“She did.”

“Then you must go there, demand they give you Melinda. For she needs to know she’s wanted. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re not wanted,” Florence said as her voice broke.

Savannah nodded, swallowing visibly before she took a deep breath. “I did. And was told that Melinda would never be given into my care. That a woman such as me would only warp her mind and spirit.”

“That witch!” Florence shrieked, waking the baby. A lusty wail rose, and Florence calmed only to soothe her son. After a moment, when little Ian had quieted, she whispered, “Melinda knows who you are. Mrs. Maidstone knows you have the means to care for her. To love her. You’re her family.”

“Yes, but what would the patrons think if she consorted with one such as me?” Savannah asked, dull pain in her eyes.

“That she has some sense!” Florence hissed. She rocked little Ian as he fretted.

“Florence, love, hush,” Richard soothed. He reached for Ian and settled him against his chest.

“Don’t tell me to hush, Richard,” she snapped as she rose. She moved toward the kitchen and stirred the stew pot, banging the wooden spoon with such force it cracked.

“There’s more you aren’t telling us, Savannah. Being denied your cousin would make you as mad as Flo. But something happened at the Home to bring you despair.” Jeremy leaned forward and clasped her hand, lacing his fingers with her and tugging her toward him. He coaxed her into leaning against him.

“She knows where my baby is. My baby lived.”

“Oh, my God,” Richard said as Florence moaned and fell into her chair.

“That woman lied, all those months ago. Telling me no baby had come to the Home. Sending me on a wild chase to the other orphanages around Boston. Having Sophronia solicit the aid of her friends. And the whole time, she knew where my baby was.”

“Why would she do such a thing?” Florence whispered. “That’s not the woman I remember.” They all jerked as Aidan rose and turned to look out the window facing the empty lot. Nothing was visible on this dark January night, and the window acted as though a mirror, reflecting his troubled visage.

“Uncle?” Richard asked. Aidan shook his head and appeared lost in thought as he continued to stare out the window.

Savannah swiped at some of her tears, meeting Florence’s worried stare and answering her question. “I don’t know. If I had to guess, it’s that Jonas paid her handsomely.”

“And his money was worth more than your agony?” Jeremy rasped, now standing. “I’ve a mind to go there and …”

“Jer,” Richard said, a warning note in his voice. “No.” He glared at Jeremy until he’d settled back into his chair.

Aidan turned, resting a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder for a moment, his touch aiding in easing some of Jeremy’s tension. Aidan pulled a chair away from the table, sitting with his legs crossed. “This Mrs. Maidstone, what is she like?” Aidan asked.

“She’s a widow. She has been since I was a girl. I always thought she was kind and concerned about us,” Florence said. “She began working there shortly before I left to work with Mrs. Kruger. I liked her. She was young and seemed to truly care about us.”

“Middling height, salt-and-pepper hair, brown eyes, forgettable once you left her company,” Jeremy said.

“And yet you didn’t forget.” Aidan rubbed at a spot on his gray wool pants, his mouth pulled down in a frown.

Jeremy shrugged. “It had to do with Savannah. I wouldn’t forget.”

Aidan nodded, rising and moving toward the stove. He picked up the cracked spoon and began to dish out the stew, setting filled bowls on the table. “Let’s eat. Nothing is ever determined on an empty stomach.”

“I never imagined the woman I knew then would act this way toward you now, Savannah,” Florence said.

Jeremy sat with a distant look in his eyes. “She seemed to take an inordinate delight in talking about your family perishing. Didn’t seem to have the sense to know to be quiet.”

“Either didn’t have the sense or, in fact, relished causing you pain,” Richard growled. He stood, rocking baby Ian in his arms, allowing Florence a few moments to eat supper. He stroked Florence’s nape, soothing any grief wrought by his words.

“Why would she dislike me?” Florence played with her spoon, stirring the stew in her bowl.

“For some women, living such a life for so long leaves them bitter. As I imagine it would many men as well. If I hadn’t found you,” Aidan said as he glanced around the table, “I could easily imagine myself as bitter and angry at the world for being alone in it.”

“You are too understanding, Uncle,” Jeremy said. He reached for Savannah’s hand, as he tilted his head to one side, watching his uncle with deep curiosity.

“Would you mind if I approached her? I refuse to believe she would spurn such a profitable donation as one I could provide to the orphanage,” Aidan said as he rose and paced anew. He rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders bunched tightly under his well-fitted white cotton shirt and gray waistcoat.

“Uncle, you can’t believe we expect you to always aid us in such a way. I—” Jeremy shook his head, unable to voice his concerns.

“Jeremy, I have more money than I will ever know how to spend. If I can help you in any way by using a small portion of it, then that pleases me. I know I would be as welcome here if I were poor and had nothing but my love to offer. That is the gift you have bestowed upon me.”

“As long as you understand, Uncle,” Richard said. He walked toward Aidan and handed Ian to him. “Why don’t you hold your great-nephew and allow me to eat? He needs time with you if you are soon to be off adventuring again out West.”

“When will you visit the orphanage, Aidan? I’m worried others will visit and see our little Melinda and want to adopt her,” Savannah said.

“I’ll go tomorrow, as soon as it is acceptable to call.” He nuzzled little Ian’s head, a contented sigh escaping him.