Unveiled (38 page)

“Before I begin reading the last will and testament of Ella Pemberton, I would like to say a few words. Ella was a remarkably strong woman, both in mind and body. She has made some changes to the original documents, particularly in the last few weeks, but she was perfectly within her rights to do so. Ella had been examined repeatedly by Dr. Morris, so if anyone has any concerns about her state of mind, please feel free to contact him.”

The Pembertons murmured and Katie shifted in her chair uneasily. Something was wrong; even she could sense it. Martin shuffled through the papers again and began to read.

“I, Ella Pemberton, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath all of my worldly possessions, with the following exceptions, to the church.”

There was a collective gasp from the family, and Grace appeared about to faint. Martin continued.

“To my good and faithful servant Eileen, I leave the sum of ten thousand dollars, to provide a retirement income to a woman who truly deserves it. May she live long and continue to demonstrate the honesty and values that I have always admired in her.”

Eileen sniffled in disbelief while the Pembertons shuffled nervously.

“To Sean O’Connor, I bequeath the sum of fifty thousand dollars, to be held in trust by his mother until he is twenty-one years of age. The money shall be used for the purposes of his education, with the balance allowing him a successful start toward becoming the man I know he will be.

“To Kate and Christopher Scott, I leave one hundred thousand dollars each, with the provision that they divorce and deny all future contact with each other. I feel personally responsible for the unhappiness of these two people, both of whom mean so much to me. They have been forced to stay together due to their financial difficulty, a situation that was encouraged by both myself and Eunice Scott. Hopefully this money will alleviate their need to remain in a loveless marriage, and both of them may go on to find true happiness.”

There were protests from the Pembertons. Martin gave them a stern look, and the noise died. Only when the room was quiet did he continue.

“To my immediate family, Grace, Stephen, my brother George, I leave what they gave to me in life: my prize roses and their thorns. May they receive the same comfort and beauty from them as they’ve given me and know, each time they prick their finger, that somewhere I am laughing.”

Martin closed the papers and looked up at the family. Grace slumped to the floor while Stephen shouted in outrage, “She can’t do this! We’ll go to court, we’ll contest—”

“Now, now.” George put a hand on Stephen’s shoulder and called to a servant for Grace. “There’s no need for emotionalism. Ella always was a prankster. Something tells me that wherever she is at this hour, she is enjoying this.” Turning to Martin, George’s face hardened. “You will be hearing from the family attorney.”

Martin nodded. “I was expecting to.” He rose and shook hands with Kate and Christopher. “Congratulations. You two seem to have the winning hand.”

All hell broke out as the Pembertons realized that he was finished, that Ella had really left them nothing more than her roses. Kate sank down into a chair, her mind whirling.

One hundred thousand dollars. A fortune. Katie numbly thought of what that much money meant. She could get nice clothes for Sean, buy a house, and pay for it with cash. She could provide peace and security to Paddy and Moira, something neither of them had ever known. Paddy wouldn’t have to garden anymore, and Moira could play Lillie Langtry in the finest of costumes.

And for herself…

Katie felt a rush of pain. For herself, she would have a home. An income. Money could be invested, and she’d never have to scrub another floor or teach another tone-deaf child to sing. She would have pretty gowns and friends, for people forgave anything if there was enough money involved. She would have the security she’d always longed for, and the respectability that had always eluded her. Sean was accepted by society as it was; now, with this inheritance, she would be, too. It was all perfect, except…

Christopher. Katie struggled with the ache inside of her. How could she possibly leave him? Looking up, she saw Christopher’s gaze on her and knew he was thinking the exact same thing. Their eyes met and she had to look away, so intense was the exchange between them.

“…and I knew she would do this! She wheedled her way into Ella’s good graces, just so she could benefit—”

Grace’s voice rose above the rest in a screech. Sean shifted uncomfortably beside her and Katie took his hand and turned to Christopher.

“I’m going to take him home. I don’t want him to hear this.”

Christopher nodded. His lips parted as if he would say something else, then he was drawn back by Martin, who indicated that he had the necessary papers to review. Katie’s hand tightened on Sean’s, but she merely nodded, then accepted her cloak from Eileen.

She had to get out of here, away from these Pembertons, to a place where she could find peace and quiet.

She needed to think.

“Cabbie, stop.” St. Paul’s Church loomed ahead, looking dark and gloomy in the cold. Sean had already been dropped at home, but Katie just couldn’t go back there yet. She needed some time alone, to sort through her own feelings, and felt somehow drawn to the church.

Inside, it was dimly lit. Candles flickered at the altar, creating a comforting light beneath the feet of the statue of the Blessed Mother. Dipping her fingers in the holy water, Kate felt the chill, then instantly touched her forehead, making the sign of the cross.

It was like home here. For all that this church had rejected her, so much of her childhood had been spent behind stone walls like these that Katie felt a comfort in being there again. Sitting in the first pew, she felt closer to Ella, as if this air of spirituality connected her with the older woman’s soul. Strangely it was a good feeling, and Katie suddenly knew that wherever Ella was, she was happy.

God bless your soul, Katie prayed.

Tears stung her eyes, but she wiped them away. Ella had known her and loved her. She had known all along that Kate wasn’t Fan Pemberton, but had wanted to help her, to make her life better. For that, Katie would always be grateful.

Why then had Ella given her this terrible choice?

She could have the money, and all that it meant, or she could have Christopher. She couldn’t have both. She could take the money, and everything that it represented, and live out her life like a grand lady, never have to worry again, never have to wonder where her next meal would come from or what would happen.

But she would be alone.

Staring at the crucifix in the center of the church, Katie closed her eyes in pain. She knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she loved Christopher, loved him with all her heart and mind and soul. How could she walk away from him, knowing she would never see him again?

Yet how could she not?

My God, Katie prayed. Please…

It had once been so easy. She had married him for money, and for a name and security. When had she started to love him? Was it their wedding night, when he had loved her so completely that she’d lost all touch with reality? Or had it happened long before that, from the first time she saw him at the Drexels’ party and felt that odd confusion? Why had she really married him, of all the men she could have encouraged?

The candles flickered silently. A charwoman entered the church and began rubbing the pews with lemon oil. Katie looked down, blinking away the stinging moisture in her eyes.

She would always love him, even until the day she joined Ella. There would be no other man for her. She might live out the rest of her life in comfort and ease, but she knew with a certainty that when she closed her eyes each night, it would be his face she would see, his name she would say.

And remember.

Putting her face in her hands, she leaned back in the pew and sobbed.

“So if you’ll just sign these forms, it will all be taken care of. The money will be deposited into the bank of your choice. You will have one hundred thousand dollars, as will your wife. But you must start the divorce proceedings immediately, and you must sever all relations with Kate. Do you understand?”

Christopher nodded, staring dumbly at the papers before him. Martin smiled and put down his pen, then placed a comforting hand on Christopher’s shoulder.

“I know this seems odd, but many wills have strange stipulations placed there for reasons known only to the maker. In this case, Ella genuinely sought to right a wrong. She was firmly convinced that she’d caused both of you unhappiness in bringing you and Kate together. And she wants to correct that now, in the least painful way possible.”

“I see.” Christopher stared at the paper, unable to take his eyes from the figure. One hundred thousand dollars…

“Do I have to sign these now? Can I take some time to think about it?”

“Of course.” Martin nodded. “Though I admit, I am a little perplexed. This appears to be the ideal solution to a problem. But I understand, with your grief, that you may want to consider everything. And speak with Kate.” He indicated a line on the page. “She has to sign this as well.”

Christopher nodded, then turned to leave. Martin stopped him momentarily. “I’m sorry, son, about Ella. But she thought the world of both of you. I understand your financial difficulties. This is really your lucky day.”

Turning, Christopher walked out the door. His lucky day. He should be on top of the world.

Why, then, did he feel like his life had just ended?

It was late when Katie got home. As she stepped into the grand house she saw Paddy and Moira, Sean and Eunice, all of them in their places as if nothing had happened, as if their entire world hadn’t changed overnight.

Moira saw her first and smiled. “There you are! We were beginning to worry. Christopher stopped by—he has some papers for you to sign. He said he’ll be back later.”

Katie nodded, her throat tight. “So I guess that’s that.”

Moira stared at her, obviously puzzled. “What do you mean, girl? Of course, that’s that. You’re about to become a very rich woman, Kate O’Connor. Just think of what that means! We can have a fine home, gowns.” Moira indicated the dress she wore. “Miss Lillie never wore the same gown twice, you know.”

Eunice interrupted. “Now, Moira, Kate’s been through a lot today. Ella was just buried. I don’t think it a good idea—”

“You aren’t thinking about this, are you?” Moira came to stand beside Kate and put her hand to her forehead. “My, lass, what is this sorrowing look? Don’t tell me you aren’t sure?”

“Moira, I don’t want to talk about it—”

“That’s it!” Moira stood back, aghast. “Kate, don’t make another mistake now. For God’s sake, lass, when it comes down to it, one man’s as good as the next! You can buy a hundred husbands with that money!”

“Moira, that’s enough,” Paddy grumbled, then turned to Eunice. “Would you mind leaving us alone? I’d like a word with my granddaughter.”

Eunice nodded, then led Sean and the protesting Moira by the hand out of the room. “What are you saying to her, Paddy? Make sure she does the right thing, for once!” Moira waved a scented handkerchief, Miss Lillie style.

Kate gave Patrick a grateful look, then sank down by the fire. Patrick came to stand beside her, then smoothed his hand through her hair as he’d done when she was a child.

“Katie, I want to make certain of something before Christopher gets here with those papers. I don’t want you considering me or Moira or Sean when you make this decision.”

Katie looked at him, her smile sad. “Paddy, you know I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can.” Sitting beside her, Patrick took her hand. “Look at me, Kate. I know what you’re thinking, and God love you, lass, it’s one of the reasons you are such a special girl. But no matter what you decide, we will be fine.” Patrick waved a hand toward the grand house and its furnishings. “I don’t need any of this to live out my life. I wasn’t born to it; I don’t need it when I die. All I want now is a good jar of gin, someone to play checkers with, and to watch Sean grow into a healthy strong man. We don’t need money to make that happen.”

Katie stared at him, surprised. “But the house, the gardens—”

“Doesn’t mean a damned thing to me. And Moira, she’s always wanting something she’ll never have. She wants to be Miss Lillie, and no amount of money will buy her that. Moira isn’t your responsibility, Kate. I’ve taken care of her for all her life, and I’ll always do that.”

“But Sean.” Kate smiled at Patrick, her eyes tired. “What of him? The additional money will provide him with a much better life. You know that.”

“Do I?” Patrick sat for a moment, then turned to his granddaughter with an odd expression. “There was a time when I would have thought so. But now, living in this grand house, meeting some of these people…Kate, they are the same as us. Some of them are great men and women, hardworking and good, while others are rapscallions, same as if they’d been born in the street. Look at these Pemberton people.”

“Yes, but I want a good life for him.”

“And he’ll get that, Kate. Ella’s seen to it. Sean’s a strapping lad, and well able to work. He’ll always have a home. He’s got enough money from Ella that he can pay for his schooling and start his own business. He’ll be fine, Kate.” When Katie looked up at him, her eyes full, Patrick took her other hand. “Have I ever lied to you?”