The Lightkeeper's Ball (33 page)
“What?” She restrained herself from leaping from the chair. “What kind of relationship?”
“I’ve been told it was romantic. She often invited him to dinner at her home whenever he was in town. He sent her flowers on two occasions.”
Olivia shouldn’t have been so rocked by the news now that she knew about the illegitimate son. Still, the revelation left her gasping. Had he been unfaithful his entire marriage?
T
HE COUPLE STOOD
on the Bennetts’ front porch. “News of our engagement should be in tomorrow morning’s papers,” Harrison said. “I need to tell my mother tonight.”
Lady Devonworth hung back. “Do you think your mother will be displeased? Your tone suggests it. I assumed she would be happy.”
She was probably picking up on his reluctance to open the front door. “My parents will be entirely
too
pleased,” he said. “Especially my father. His desire was always for me to marry one of the Four Hundred. At least I won’t have to see his smug face just yet.” He forced himself to open the door. “Hello?”
“Harrison?” His mother’s voice floated from the library. “I’m in here.”
He took Olivia’s hand and led her to the last door on the left. The library was his mother’s favorite room. She had read every one of the eighteen hundred volumes in the cavernous room, many of them more than once. His mother sat in her wheelchair by the window with a book in her hand.
“My dear Lady Devonworth! I didn’t realize you were with Harrison.” She held out her hand. “Forgive me for greeting you in such a disheveled state.”
“You look lovely, Mrs. Bennett,” Lady Devonworth said, her voice shy.
The women clasped hands, and his mother pulled her down for a hug.
“We wanted to tell you some good news,” Harrison said. “Lady Devonworth has agreed to become my wife. Our engagement will be announced in the newspaper tomorrow.”
His mother squealed. “Oh, my dear boy, what tremendous news!” She held out her arms and he leaned down for her to embrace him. “We shall be most delighted to welcome you to the family, Lady Devonworth.”
“That’s most kind.”
“This calls for a celebration!” his mother said, releasing her. “We must plan a party.”
“The Lightkeeper’s Ball is coming up,” his fiancée said. “We thought we’d make it an engagement party too.”
His mother beamed. “Of course, of course. I’m proud to tell the world.” She sent a questioning glance at Harrison. “I suspect you and your father need to talk. You could call him in San Francisco.”
“My plans have not changed, Mother,” Harrison said. “John North is joining me in my new business.”
His mother sat back in her chair. “It’s much too risky for you to try this now. Not with a family to care for.”
“I’m fully in support of this venture,” Lady Devonworth said. “I want to learn to fly myself.”
“You’re just trying to find your way,” his mother said to Harrison. “Your father did the same thing at your age. I don’t believe you’ll throw away a gift God has given you.”
“I believe God has been leading me this direction all along, Mother. Passion shows the heart. I love aeroplanes. I’m better at designing them than I am at pushing pencils. Anyone can tally a row of numbers. God has given me a passion for my new work, and I’m going to follow it.”
“You’ll have a family to support, son. Please think about this.”
“We must be going,” he said instead of answering her. “Mrs. Stewart expects us for dinner shortly.”
His mother motioned for him to roll her to the door with them. “How are plans for the ball coming, my dear?” she asked. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
They reached the door. Lady Devonworth smiled down at his mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Bennett. I’m sure I shall need your assistance as the day gets closer.”
“Oh, do call me Mother, my dear.” His mother’s eyes were misty. “I’ve always wanted a daughter. This is a happy, happy day for me.”
Harrison’s gaze met Lady Devonworth’s over his mother’s head. Did she feel as much guilt at their deception as he did? He wished with all his heart that their engagement was real and that a wedding ceremony loomed in their future. He would do all he could to see that it happened.
The night air cooled Olivia’s cheeks. They walked toward Harrison’s motorcar in the moonlight, and she glanced up at the strong lines of his face.
He stopped. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m just thinking about the Stewarts’ troubles. I realize we can believe little Fosberg says, but he told me that when he tried to contact your father about the newer will, Mr. Bennett brushed him off. Wouldn’t your father have wanted to see it?”
“I would think so.” His sigh came, heavy and full of frustration. “He’s so driven about forcing his way into society. I could see him fighting to maintain his power, his chance to be one of the accepted set.”
She stared at his dear face. How could she even tell him her other fears? She wetted her lips. “Harrison, what if your father arranged for Mr. Stewart to be in that cave-in?”
He stiffened. “My father is many things, but he’s no murderer.”
“It is so convenient that he would announce Mr. Stewart’s death and at the same time present an agreement between the two families that no one knew about.”
He shook his head. “What of your belief that Mr. Stewart may still be alive?”
She took his hand, needing human contact. Needing his comfort. “I don’t know what to think about that. Why wouldn’t he show himself? It’s cruel to leave his family in this limbo.”
He slipped his other hand around her and pulled her to his chest. His chin rested on her hair. “My dear, I fear someone is playing a vicious joke on you. Whoever it is knew you would come outside if you thought Mr. Stewart was there. And you did just that.”
“Why would anyone want to harm me?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. It makes no sense. If you were a Stewart, I could understand it. It could be this Pixton wants to eliminate the Stewart family so he can inherit the entire estate. Or maybe it’s whoever killed Eleanor. He thinks you know more than you do.”
She wetted her lips. Now was the time to tell him, but once she did, he would be too angry to listen to her concerns. “About your father and that agreement. Our attorney, Mr. Grayson, has managed the Stewart money for years. After your father came back, he said the old diamond mine was played out, but that he and Mr. Stewart had agreed to a partnership of the new black-diamond mine if the two families were joined. Mr. Grayson wondered if your father was hiding some shady dealings and trying to force the merger.”
“Did Grayson get a chance to look at any of the diamond-mine books?”
At least he wasn’t taking offense. She shook her head.
“Father had the agreement in his possession?” he asked. “I thought your attorney had it.”
She tried to remember exactly how it had been revealed. “I’m sure Mr. Grayson said he had never seen the agreement before your father came home. The solicitor urged Mrs. Stewart to ask for an audit of the books, but she didn’t want to upset you or your father when the two families were about to be joined.”
“I wouldn’t have been angry.”
His words soothed her, but not as much as his touch. She leaned into his embrace and felt the pump of his heart under her ear. “Mr. Stewart lost a great deal of his money. The Stewarts no longer have the wealth of a generation ago. They have only their pedigree. Your father has a great deal of money. I’m sure that affected Mrs. Stewart’s decision.” She slumped against him. “It is quite dreadful to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. That’s what was happening to me in New York. Before I met you.”
Did his lips brush her brow? The touch was so light she couldn’t tell. She closed her eyes and heard his voice again in her head.
I love you
. Why did that linger so when it had to have been the result of the trauma she’d suffered?
“God sees who you are inside, Essie. So do I. Your worth has nothing to do with your pedigree.”
She raised her head and stared into his face. “The same could be said for you, Harrison. God sees how much imagination and passion you have for your aeroplanes. I heard the way your mother tried to manipulate you.”
His lips twisted in a rueful grin. “Both of my parents are good at it. I usually find myself doing what my father wants. My mother’s question affected me today more than his manipulation.”
“When she asked if you were throwing away God’s gift?” When he nodded, she patted his cheek. “If we have a passion for something and the ability to do it, surely that comes from him.”
“I’m becoming more and more sure of that. God sees my ability. My ideas don’t come from sheer human imagination.”
His words tugged at her heart. God surely gave her the wit and intelligence she possessed. She knew she was more than a Kewpie doll to be posed for the most advantage. If she dared, she could make a difference in the world, just as a man could.
This would take some thought. “We should go.”
“Of course.” He released her.
Her name was all she had. Did she dare risk it by stepping outside what was expected of her? She thought she’d have the courage if Harrison were by her side.
T
HE HIGH-CEILINGED DINING
room felt warmer and happier than usual to Olivia. It had nothing to do with the heat from the fireplace spilling into the damp evening. It was all about Harrison’s presence at the head of the table over dinner. She barely noticed her mother and her friends at the table, only Harrison. Their hands touched when they both reached into the basket of dinner rolls at the same time. His eyes warmed her more than the fire. She liked having him here.