Dawn's Prelude (35 page)
“Oh, Mr. Gadston said to tell you that your brother would be joining you for dinner.”
“Which one?” Evie asked.
“Mr. Marston.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Why had he come? Were there already problems with someone learning about Dalton’s presence? Was he coming to take the child? Evie realized she would have to act very quickly. It might only be a short time before the authorities stepped in.
“Is my brother already here?” she asked as the maid did up the buttons to the gown.
“Yes. He arrived a few minutes ago.”
Evie waited impatiently for the woman to finish. Once done, Evie quickly checked her hair. It was still sufficiently arranged. She put on a touch of perfume and waited while the maid brought her a change of shoes.
Contemplating Dalton’s circumstances, Evie was resolved to settle the matter in the most amicable way. She would tell her husband and brother that she would like to travel with the child. Maybe suggest going abroad. If she mentioned England, rather than a westerly destination, perhaps no one would be the wiser.
She made her way downstairs and found Thomas and Marston enjoying drinks in the large formal sitting room. They stood in an obligatory manner and nodded. Smiling, she joined them.
“This is a surprise,” she declared. “But I must say I am pleased.”
Marston eyed her curiously. “And why would that be?”
“Well, I’m hoping to convince Thomas of something, and thought you might well help me, since in a roundabout way, it involves you.”
Her husband looked at her suspiciously. Evie took a seat in the high-backed rococo chair. “Please sit down, and I’ll explain everything.”
The men did as she suggested but appeared quite uncomfortable. Evie would have laughed had the situation not been so serious. She lightly fingered the dark walnut wood of the armrest.
“I have a request to make. It pertains to Dalton, as well, thus my happiness to have you present, Marston.”
He frowned, looking rather upset. “Do tell.”
“I would like to travel to England for the summer and take Dalton with me.”
Thomas choked on his brandy, but Marston’s focus never left her. Evie grew uneasy. She’d never been good at lying, but she reminded herself that this was for the sake of reuniting Dalton with Lydia.
“England?” Marston said, looking to Thomas. “Why England?”
“We have friends there,” Evie announced. “I was invited last year to visit this summer but hadn’t given it serious consideration.
I think, however, I would very much like to go—and show off Dalton, as well. It will be a nice distraction.”
For a moment no one said anything, then finally her brother nodded. “I think that sounds marvelous.” Marston looked to Thomas but addressed Evie. “How soon would you plan to leave?”
“The sooner the better,” Evie ventured. “I thought perhaps to leave in a matter of days. Packing won’t be an issue, for I plan to take only a minimal amount of clothing and buy myself a new wardrobe. That is, if Thomas approves.”
Thomas was now edging up on his seat. “You could travel to New York, and I could wire ahead to secure tickets for the remainder of the trip.”
Marston nodded. “I think traveling would be beneficial to everyone. England is lovely this time of year.”
“I would like to take Ellie with me. She’s not been in our service long; however, I like her very much, and she is quite good with the baby. Nanny Hubble is simply getting too old to manage—at least with all her ailments.”
“Who else would attend you?” her husband asked.
“No one. The trip to England is not that difficult, and I can utilize staff aboard the ship. Ellie can act as my maid as well as nanny to Dalton. I believe we will travel quite comfortably together.”
“The last time you went abroad you traveled with at least five people,” Thomas reminded her.
“I know, and everyone was forever stumbling over each other. It seems easier to hire people as I go,” Evie assured him.
Marston got to his feet. “You know that friend of mine in Chicago—George Pullman? We made his acquaintance when he was still making caskets. Now he makes private railcars. I’m sure I could wire to have a private car available for Evie. He’s offered me the use of one on many occasions. Once she gets to New York, we can arrange for them to be picked up and escorted to the ship.”
Evie smiled. “That sounds lovely.”
“Dinner is served,” Miles announced from the doorway.
Marston extended his arm. “Come. We can further determine your plans.”
“I have so many thoughts about the trip, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to rest at all until we came to some conclusion.”
After the meal concluded, Marston bid his sister good-night, then followed Thomas into his office.
“That neatly resolved itself,” Thomas said, lighting up a cigar.
He offered one to Marston.
“No thank you,” he said, shaking his head. “I must say I am greatly relieved. I am, however, uncertain as to how to get the baby out of Kansas City without someone noticing.”
“Yes, it is imperative that no one know Dalton is here. However, I think I might just have an answer for that problem,” Thomas replied. “It actually came to me while you two were discussing England and mutual friends.” He puffed away for a moment then lowered the cigar. “I believe we should tell Evie that Dalton’s life is in danger and that we’ve only become apprised of this.”
“But what excuse will you use?”
Thomas rubbed his chin. “We will tell Evie that we’ve heard rumors of an epidemic spreading in the poor sections of the city.
She will understand the need to sneak Dalton away from Kansas City if she believes his health is in danger.”
“Then what?”
“We will suggest she and her girl journey by private carriage to say, Omaha, for example. From there she can easily get a train to Chicago.”
“I see what you mean. It could work.”
“Of course it will. It also allows us to get them out of here sooner. I will tell her this evening of the situation and that they will leave before dawn. That should keep anyone from even noticing her departure, and we can definitely hide the fact that a baby is in attendance on the trip.”
Marston liked the way his brother-in-law thought. “I will leave it in your hands, then.”
Thomas nodded. “I will ensure they’re well cared for. Evie will have everything her heart desires and plenty of available cash. In fact—” he glanced at his pocket watch—“I will get a letter of credit from our bank.”
“At this hour?” Marston asked.
His brother-in-law put out the cigar. “I, too, have my friends.”
E
vie found the constant jostling of the carriage a comforting reminder that they were well on their way to safety. She knew, however, that it was time to explain everything to Ellie. The girl had been stunned at the sudden departure for Europe. With wide-eyed wonder, she had agreed to go and act as maid and nanny. Now with Dalton sleeping soundly, Evie made her decision to be honest with the girl.
“Ellie, there is something we need to discuss.”
The young woman straightened in her seat. “What is it, ma’am?”
“I need to know that I can trust you. If I can, I will see to it that you join your sister in Sacramento.”
“Truly?” The girl’s expression showed her surprise.
Evie nodded. “There has been a grave injustice done, and I am trying to right it. This will, however, require your absolute cooperation. You must do as I say and offer no other comment if questioned.
Otherwise, we might find ourselves in danger—Dalton, too.”
The girl’s innocent expression grew serious. “I promise to do whatever you ask, ma’am.”
“Very well.” Evie felt confident she could count on the girl to keep her word. “We aren’t going to Europe. Instead, we are going to catch the train in Omaha and head west to San Francisco. We will send a wire along the way to your sister. The train route passes right through Sacramento, so it should be easy enough for her to meet you there. If not, you are welcome to continue with me.”
Ellie looked at the sleeping infant. “But what about you and the baby? Won’t you need help?”
“I will only be on my own for a short time. The injustice I spoke of is this: My brother tried to have the child’s mother killed.”
Gasping, Ellie shook her head. “But that would be murder.”
“Yes. He wanted her dead so that he could steal Dalton and bring him back to Kansas City. However, Dalton’s mother survived the attack. I only just learned this, and it is my ambition to return the baby to her.”
“She must be so upset that he’s gone,” Ellie said. “He’s such a good baby.”
“And he’s been gone for months now,” Evie said sadly. “I’m sure Lydia’s heart is broken in pieces. But we, hopefully, shall mend it again.”
“And this is why we left so quickly?”
Evie looked out the carriage window. “I believe the authorities are after my brother. He didn’t say anything, but he was anxious to see me on my way. I wanted to keep Dalton from being given over to strangers, so I suggested the trip abroad. I felt if my brother were being pursued, he would be supportive of getting Dalton out of town. And by suggesting the trip abroad, no one will anticipate hearing from me for some time.”
“That was quite cunning,” Ellie said in admiration. “You are very smart.”
“I hope I am smart enough. If my brother knew what I was doing, he would track me down and take Dalton back. I won’t rest until I have that baby in his mother’s arms, however, even if it costs me my life.”
Ellie looked at her in shock. “Why should harm come to you?”
“My husband and brothers are powerful men. They may even come after you and seek answers. You must do exactly as I say or Dalton may never see his mother again.”
“I will. I promise. I will help you however I can,” the girl promised.
Ellie’s enthusiasm to aid Evie was still evident two days later when they boarded the westbound train. Ellie posed as a young mother with child, while Evie traded in her finer clothes and bought two simple ready-made gowns. Once she topped them with a traveling cape and bonnet, she looked no different than many of the other women passengers. She and Evie boarded the train separately, then found their way to the same car. They didn’t approach each other or even attempt to sit together. Evie had told the girl that somewhere along the way they would change trains and then they could travel together.
When the train pulled out of Omaha, Evie breathed a sigh of relief. The first part of their deception had come together. Was it wrong to pray for a lie to go undiscovered?
Evie had spent nearly every Sunday for the past year sitting beside her husband in the large Episcopalian church where he’d been raised. Thomas, like her father, saw attending church as a means to gain social acceptability. Evie had tried to understand some of the things spoken of, but when questions arose, she had no one to ask. Even the priest had suggested she not worry about it. But Evie wanted to know more—especially about prayer. She thought of the wordy prayers the priest had espoused during services. Could she do the same? What if she prayed in her own words?
Common, ordinary, everyday words. Would God understand?
Marston was glad to know that Evie was well on her way to England with Dalton. This relief was even more of a blessing when the butler announced that there were men who wished to see him.
He had just finished breakfast and was enjoying a cup of coffee when the butler ushered the men into the dining room. One was a police official he recognized, and the other two were in plain clothes. Perhaps these were the detectives who had been asking about him.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” He nodded to the uniformed man. “Davidson, good to see you. How’s your family?”
“Doing well.” The man turned to introduce his companions.
“This is Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kloosterhof.”
Marston nodded. “Gentlemen, will you join me for coffee?”
“No thank you, Mr. Gray,” Mr. Wilson responded. “We’re here on official business. I’ve been hired to locate a missing child.”
“And what child would that be?” Marston tried to act confused but curious. “One of the neighborhood children?”