Blessed are the Merciful (8 page)

“What a disappointment you have turned out to be, Officer Coleman!” Bettieann said. “Murdered a fellow policeman! I’m so ashamed before my family and friends for ever letting you court me!”

Seth’s mouth went dry. “Bettieann, I didn’t kill Lawrence Sheldon.”

“The papers all say there are witnesses who will swear in court that they saw you do it. Don’t lie to me, Seth! You told me yourself that you didn’t like Lawrence.”

“No, I didn’t like him, but I didn’t kill him. Bettieann, you’ve got to believe me! I’m not a murderer!”

“But those two people saw you do it!”

Tears filled Seth’s eyes. “They’re mistaken. It wasn’t me. Bettieann, you told me you loved me. If you love me, why don’t you believe me?”

“I did love you, Seth. I truly did. I had such hopes and dreams for us. But after what you did.” She turned her back on the barred window and said, “Daddy, I have no more to say to him. Let’s go.”

Claude gave Seth a hard look and said, “I’m sure glad we found out your true character before Bettieann ended up marrying you.”

Seth watched as Ralston put an arm around his daughter and ushered her to the door. Neither one looked back as the guard opened the door for them.

Seth guided the buggy around a corner and blinked at the tears in his eyes. Since news traveled fast in Philadelphia, Bettieann might have already heard about the outcome of the trial. If he could just get a glimpse of her again.

The Ralston house came into view, and he could see Bettieann and her mother standing on the porch, talking to a couple of women. He slowed the horse as he drew near the house, pulled over, and stopped.

Seth looked at Bettieann and said, “Have you heard what happened at the trial?”

The look on her face made his heart sink. “Yes, we heard. That fancy-pants lawyer hypnotized the jury, that’s all. We know the truth, though, don’t we, Seth? Those witnesses saw you do it.”

Seth closed his eyes and drew in a ragged breath, releasing it slowly. Without another look at Bettieann, he urged the horse into motion and drove away.

Adam Burke left his apartment, eager to get to the Conrad home. He scanned the sky as he approached his buggy and decided to leave the top down. Less than fifteen minutes later, he wheeled into the tree-lined circular driveway and drew rein in front of the Conrads’ mansion.

Adam smiled at the silver-haired butler who answered his knock. “Good evening, Delmar. And how are you?”

Delmar managed a slight smile. “Just fine, Mr. Burke. Please come in. Miss Philipa is expecting you.” Adam stepped inside and Delmar closed the door. “I heard about your success in the Coleman trial, sir. May I be the first in this household to congratulate you?”

“Thank you.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are in the drawing room. I will take you there, then go upstairs and advise Miss Philipa that you are here.”

Adam followed the butler through the spacious foyer. When
Delmar reached the drawing room door, he tapped on it and said, “It is Delmar. I have Miss Philipa’s fiancé.”

“Bring him in!” Philip Conrad said.

Candlelight cast a warm glow on the richly tapestried walls and the large paintings that decorated them. A faint hint of beeswax filled the air.

“Mr. Adam Burke,” Delmar announced.

Philip stood next to a lavish overstuffed loveseat where his wife, Millicent, was seated. “Do come in, Adam!” Philip said.

The thick carpet muted Adam’s footsteps as he moved toward the pair, who were both smiling at him.

Philip Conrad extended his hand. “Young man, it’s all over town! Millicent and I are so proud of you!”

“Thank you, sir. It means a lot that you would say that.”

“We most certainly are proud of you,” said Millicent as she offered Adam her hand. “Philip and I are happier than ever that our daughter is going to marry you.”

Adam took her dainty hand in his, bowed slightly, and said, “Thank you, ma’am. It means more than I can tell you to hear it. And may I say you look ravishing this evening.”

“Thank you, Adam.”

At that moment, Philipa swept into the room. “Adam, darling, what wonderful news! I’m so happy for Officer Coleman, and for you!”

Philipa rushed to him and gave him a brief embrace. Then she looked into his eyes and said, “Darling, I’m so proud of you. In the eyes of most Philadelphians, you stand ten feet tall!”

Adam smiled down at her, drinking in her beauty.

Philipa was a younger version of her mother, with the same high cheekbones, delicate ivory skin, and startling blue eyes. She wore a slipper satin gown that almost matched the color of her eyes.

“Adam,” Philip said, “I’d like to discuss the trial with you. From what I’ve read in the papers, you came up with some excellent tactics.” He clapped a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “I feel sure that one
day soon you’ll be made a partner in the Benson firm. Has anything been said to you along that line?”

“Well, sir, Brad and Eric said they expected it to happen, but Mr. Benson hasn’t said anything yet.”

Philip laughed. “If George Benson doesn’t make you a partner pretty soon, I just might make you an offer myself!”

“Well,” Philipa said, “we’d best be going.” She placed a hand on Adam’s sleeve and moved toward the door.

“Have a nice time, children,” Millicent said.

Philip and Millicent followed as far as the drawing room door and watched Adam and their daughter disappear into the warm twilight.

Adam drove the buggy to downtown Philadelphia, and Philipa held on to his arm and watched the lamplighters at work along the streets. Soon they pulled up in front of the Royal Crest Restaurant, and a uniformed attendant appeared and called Adam by name. Adam jumped down and hurried to the other side to help Philipa down. An attendant drove away to park the buggy.

Inside the restaurant, Adam and Philipa were met by the host, who smiled and said, “Good evening Miss Conrad, Mr. Burke. Tell me, Miss Conrad, how are your parents? I haven’t seen them for a while.”

“They’re fine, Royce. I’m sure they will be in sometime soon.”

When they reached the candlelit table, and Adam had seated Philipa, she said, “Royce must not read the papers or he would have congratulated you, I’m sure.”

The waiter came, gave them menus, and returned shortly thereafter to take their order.

Soon they were enjoying a delicious meal. From time to time, people at other tables looked their way, and Philipa enjoyed their admiring glances.

They ate leisurely while Adam tried to work up the courage to tell Philipa about moving west. He listened to her talk about the
wedding. Philipa said she hoped Adam’s sisters—whom she had never met—would be able to come; Adam assured her they would be there.

Conversation dwindled for a moment. Just as Adam opened his mouth to speak, Philipa said, “Darling, I can’t hold it in any longer.”

“Hold what in?”

There was a twinkle in her eyes. “I overheard my parents talking last night in the library when they thought I was up in my room. And guess what?”

“I … have no idea.”

“Mother and Daddy are planning to give us a new house for a wedding present!”

“You mean, build us one?”

“No, it’s already built. You remember the big white mansion on the corner, down from our house? With the three bird baths in the front yard?”

“Umm. Yes.”

“The people who own it are going to put it up for sale in about a month. Somehow Daddy found this out. He told Mother that he talked to Mr. Jensen—that’s the man who owns it—and Mr. Jensen is quite willing to negotiate. So Daddy’s going to go back and talk to him tomorrow. He’s certain he can strike a deal. The mansion is as good as ours. The Jensens are moving somewhere down south where hired help comes much cheaper than here. So when Daddy buys the house for us, it’ll come with a built-in maid, cook, butler, and caretaker. What do you think of that?”

Adam smiled weakly. “Well, I … I’m surprised. I really don’t expect your parents to give us a house. I would think that we should buy our own house.”

Philipa reached across the table and took his hand. “Darling, it would hurt Mother and Daddy’s feelings if we turned down their gift. This is their only opportunity to do something like this.”

“I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but …”

“But what?”

“But … well, there are a lot of things to consider when you get
married and start a new home. You have to go a bit slow in making plans. I don’t think we should rush into anything.”

Suddenly Philipa’s attention was drawn to the front of the restaurant. “Oh, darling, it’s the Krantzes!” She waved to draw their attention.

Adam turned in his chair and saw a middle-aged couple smiling at Philipa. The man spoke to the host, and the couple began threading their way among the maze of tables.

Adam leaned toward Philipa. “Who are the Krantzes?”

“You’ve heard of the Atlantic Coast Construction Company, haven’t you? Well, Edgar and Doris are part of the Krantz family who owns the company. They live just two blocks east of us on Frankford Avenue.”

Adam nodded. “I’ve heard the Krantz name ever since I came to Philadelphia, but I didn’t realize they were connected with the big construction company.”

Edgar and Doris drew up to the table, and Adam stood to his feet. Philipa introduced him, and as Edgar shook Adam’s hand, he said, “I’ve been reading about you in the
Philadelphia Enquirer
, Adam. I commend you for a brilliant job of defense.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You know, I felt all along that Seth Coleman was innocent.”

“So did most people, sir,” Adam said with a smile.

Doris glanced at the host, who was waiting a bit impatiently, and said, “Edgar, Royce needs to get us seated.”

The Krantzes politely excused themselves, telling Philipa to give their regards to her parents.

Philipa watched them for a few seconds, then said to Adam, “Edgar and Doris do a lot of philanthropic work. They give to many hospitals and sanitariums, but their favorite charity is the Philadelphia Orphanage.”

“That’s commendable,” Adam said. “My heart always goes out to children who have to be brought up in an orphanage.”

He noticed Philipa looking toward the area where the Krantzes were being led by the host.

“The Krantzes are being invited to join Ralph and Louise Zimmerman,” she said. “They recently moved to Philadelphia and live in the same block on Frankford Avenue as the Krantzes. Ralph is big in real estate.”

“I see.”

Philipa took her last sip of tea and smiled at her fiancé. “I’m finished.”

Adam signaled to the waiter, who was delivering a tray of food to a table close by.

“Philipa, you remember that the lawyers’ convention is starting here next Monday, don’t you?”

“How could I forget? Daddy’s been talking about it morning and night.”

“I’ll be tied up all day every day, and on Monday and Tuesday evenings.”

“Yes, but on Wednesday evening they have the big dinner. I’ve been planning on attending it with you ever since you brought it up two months ago.”

“Good. I just didn’t want you to forget. It will be my pleasure to show you off to lawyers from all over the east coast.”

Philipa’s features tinted. “I’m glad you feel that way about me.”

Adam grinned. “How could I feel any different?”

Adam paid the bill, and they left the restaurant. The attendant brought the buggy, and Adam helped Philipa climb in. They took the long way home.

As they moved slowly through the streets, Philipa gazed at the moon and the stars and said, “I’m so glad the top on this buggy folds down. It sure makes a ride like this more pleasurable.”

“It was moonlight rides like this that I had in mind when I bought it.”

She snuggled under his arm and kissed his cheek. “You’re the crafty one, aren’t you?”

Adam chuckled, thinking of the plans he had not yet revealed to her. “I guess you could say that.”

“O
H
, E
DGAR,”
D
ORIS
K
RANTZ
SAID
, “it’s the Masons. See if you can get their attention. I’d like to introduce them to Ralph and Louise.”