The Lightkeeper's Daughter (29 page)

“You think that’s wise?” Katie asked. “He may not want to drag up old conflicts.”

“I’ll press him.”

“You’re such an unconventional young woman,” Mrs. Russell said. “I quite admire your forthcoming spirit. You should come to the next suffrage meeting.”

“One of the maids invited me,” Addie said. “I haven’t had time, but I’ll come soon.”

Mrs. Russell smiled. “You’ve been too busy adjusting to your new position. And spending time with the dashing lieutenant. I don’t blame you. He’s quite handsome.”

“He’s a good man,” Addie said. “I sense loneliness in him. He’s like the missing piece of me.”

“Such a poetic thought,” Katie said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like that about a man. Sh, here comes Carrington.” She extended her hand. “Lord Carrington, so kind of you to come.”

“I wouldn’t stay away.” He pressed Addie’s hand. “Have the police found who did this thing?”

She removed her hand when he would have kept it. “Not yet. They are not optimistic that they’ll find the criminal.”

Another couple came through the door, and Mrs. Russell hurried off to greet them with Katie in tow. Addie wanted to call at least one of them back to help her deal with Lord Carrington.

He claimed her hand again and tucked it into the crook of his arm. He led her toward the table of food. “I’m famished, my dear. What can I get you to eat?”

“Nothing, sir. I’ve already eaten.”

“Oh, call me Thomas.”

“My father taught me to call my elders sir and ma’am,” she said. She barely restrained a gasp when she realized how offensive what she’d said must sound to him.

The muscles in his arm tightened under her fingers. “I realize you have your cap set for young North,” he said, stopping short of the food table. “You should know there was plenty of talk when Katherine died.”

“What kind of talk?”

“She was leaving him, you know.”

“I know.”

“Such a freak accident to be mowed down by a streetcar. Some said John pushed her in front of that car.”

“I don’t believe that for a moment,” she said, raising her voice. She withdrew her hand and restrained herself from slapping him. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d better speak to the other guests.”

Shaking, she stalked off to the door in time to see John arriving on his motorcycle. She stepped from the house and went to greet him.

He dismounted and put the kickstand down. “Is something wrong?”

“That vile Carrington practically accused you of murdering Katherine! He said people believe you pushed her under the wheels of the streetcar.”

His brows rose, and his eyes flashed. “I’ve heard that rumor.” He smiled then. “Nice of you to defend me, but it’s not necessary.”

“It was necessary. He spoke loudly enough for others to hear him.” She took the arm he offered, and they strolled toward the house.

“Carrington must have noticed our relationship.”

Her fingers tightened on his arm. “Do we have a relationship, John?”

“I don’t know who else gets away with being so blunt with me,” he said. A smile curved his mouth.

The words
I love you
hovered on her lips, but she bit them back. He might find her amusing. Intriguing, even. But he didn’t love her. Not yet. She would do everything in her power to make that happen.

“How are you doing?” he asked, studying her face.

“I miss her even though she never loved me. Now she never will.” Her voice broke.

John’s other hand covered hers. “I’m sorry, Addie.”

“I like to hear you say my name,” she whispered.

He embraced her, and she laid her head against his chest. His heart beat fast in her ear. She let herself dream that in other circumstances he might have kissed her.

“We should go in,” he said, drawing her away from him.

Thursday was to be a day beyond reach of the Eaton family’s expectations. Addie relished the hours that stretched ahead of her as she took a family buggy to Mercy Falls. The last few days had been gloomy as the Eatons conferred about what to do. She’d heard her father say the estate would have to be sold unless she managed to land a wealthy husband. The weight of the responsibility nearly crushed her.

At church on Sunday, Katie had invited her to dessert today at the Burnett’s Confectionery Kitchen, with a promise of chocolate. Addie had eaten chocolate only a few times in her life. Her papa would sometimes bring her a Hershey’s Bar from the mainland, and she would eat one square a day until it was gone. But more than the promise of chocolate, the thought of sharing the afternoon with Katie lifted her spirits.

She parked the buggy in the lot, then walked down the sidewalk to the candy store. Through the plate-glass window, she saw Katie standing at the ornate glass and oak display. The bell on the door tinkled when Addie stepped inside. Her mouth watered the moment she smelled the delicious scents inside the shop.

Katie smiled when she saw her. “I took the liberty of ordering for you. I wanted you to try my favorite. A hot-fudge sundae with pecans.”

“What is that?” Addie couldn’t take her gaze from the tempting array of chocolates, pralines, and hard candies.

“Ice cream with chocolate and nuts.”

“Ice cream?” She’d heard of it but never had it.

Katie led her to a small wrought-iron table and chairs. “You’ll see.” She sat and pulled off her gloves.

Addie did the same, though she wanted to buy an intriguing candy called a Tootsie Roll. A passing contraption caught her eye. “There’s John on his Harley-Davidson.”

Katie twisted in her chair to stare out the window. “It makes a most dreadful noise,” she said, raising her voice over the rumble. “And it appears unsafe.”

“I think perhaps that’s why he loves it. It’s the one place he can be a boy again,” she said.

She became aware that Katie was staring at her with her mouth gaping in a most unladylike manner. “Is something wrong?”

“You’re in love with him?”

“What? With whom?”

“Don’t play the ingenue. With John North. It’s as plain as the ribbons on your hat.”

Heat rose in Addie’s cheeks. “He’s an intriguing man.”

“You’re blushing! It’s true. You’re in love with him.”

Addie turned back toward the counter. Now would be a good time for their dessert to arrive. “I don’t know what love is.”

“Your heart pounds when he’s around. You watch for him in a crowded room. You daydream about what it’s like to kiss him.”

The heat intensified in Addie’s face. “That’s infatuation. Even I know the difference. How does one know it’s love?”

Katie laid her gloves on the table. “I’m no expert, since I’ve never been in love myself, but I’ve watched my friends get married. They say that the man they love makes them want to be better than they are. That he brings out the best in them and complements their weaknesses. And they do the same to their husband.”

“I don’t know if it’s love,” Addie said. “I care about him. I want to see him learn to enjoy life. He’s always so serious.”

“I hope you don’t get your heart broken, Addie,” Katie said, her smile fading. “Lieutenant North is a dangerous man.”

“Dangerous?” He was certainly dangerous to her peace of mind.

Her friend nodded. “He has such a charming way about him.”

“That’s hardly a negative trait.”

“Perhaps not. But that doesn’t negate the fact that he may not be as interested in you as he seems.”

She put her hands on her cheeks. “I never said he was interested!”

“How else could he have stolen your heart? He’s paid you some attention.”

Was that all her feelings were? An inexperienced girl’s misunderstanding of a man’s attention? The proprietor placed a mouthwatering dish in front of her, but she could barely concentrate on the amazing concoction of flavors.

T
HIRTY

F
RIDAY MORNING,
A
DDIE
watched Edward’s form on the pinto pony. She was still exhausted from the events of the past week, and the last thing she wanted to do was go for a boat ride with Thomas Carrington.

“Back straight. Heels down,” she called. The horse she rode was a quick and responsive mare named Whisper. Ferns as high as trees bordered the clearing where they rode. Addie kept an eye on Gideon to ensure Edward wasn’t on the verge of an attack.

“Papa will be so surprised,” Edward said, his cheeks flushed. “He never let me ride before.”

“He was rightly worried about you. It would be dangerous for you to become ill while on a horse. It was all I could do to persuade him to let you try.”

The boy’s grin stretched wider. “I can do anything with Gideon.”

It was true. Since she’d arrived at Eaton Manor, she’d seen Edward’s confidence grow. This latest adventure was to be a surprise for John’s birthday. She glanced at her watch, a gift from Mr. Eaton. It had once been her mother’s, and Addie couldn’t stop admiring the diamonds and the delicate workmanship. It was nearly ten o’clock, and she had to be ready for the dreaded yachting trip at noon. Lord Carrington’s staff was preparing a picnic lunch for aboard the boat.

She opened her mouth to tell Edward it was time to head back to the house, when a flock of birds rose from a bush near him. The pony reared with its eyes rolling.

Addie rode forward and snatched at the reins, but the pony evaded her. “Edward, hang on!”

The boy’s knuckles were white as he gripped the reins. Then the horse bolted straight for an opening in the thick ferns. Gideon barked and followed.

“Rein him in!” she shouted. She urged her horse after Edward. The ferns and towering trees blocked out the sun. It was like stepping into twilight. She caught a flash of white and saw the pony racing toward the stream. Edward still clung to his back, with Gideon on the pony’s hooves. Once the horse hit the stream, Edward’s chances of being seriously injured by rocks would increase.

“Rein him in, Edward!” she screamed, urging her horse faster. “Pull hard on the reins!”

The boy straightened from his hunch over the pony’s neck. She saw him yank on the reins. “Don’t let up. Pull!” she yelled. Edward continued to pull on the leather. The pony began to slow, then finally stopped, his sides bellowing with exertion. Foam flecked his sides.

Addie dismounted and ran to pull Edward from the pony. “Are you all right?”

His eyes filled, but he nodded. “That pony can run fast. But I did it, Teacher. I made him stop. And I didn’t fall off.”

She hugged him. “I’m very proud of you. You were quite the little man.”

John’s voice spoke behind her. “You are quite the little man, Edward.”

“Papa!” Edward released Addie and ran to this father. “Did you see me? I didn’t fall off even when the birds spooked the pony.”

John lifted his son into his arms. “You were very brave.” He kissed Edward’s cheek. “You were right,” he told Addie. “He needed to learn to ride.”

She clasped her hands together. “Thank you for trusting me. I want him to enjoy being a child.”

“So do I.”

Edward wiggled to be let down. “Miss Addie said we could go wading in the stream!”

John raised a brow. “I’d rather you didn’t, Edward.”

Addie curled her fingers in Gideon’s fur. “You could come with us.”

“Yes, Papa, you come too!” Edward tugged on John’s hand.

Addie nearly giggled at the consternation on John’s face. She grabbed her horse’s reins and led him through the redwoods and Sitka spruce. They passed rhododendrons, huckleberry, and redwood sorrel. The roar of the waterfall grew louder until its cold spray misted her face.

“Take off your shoes,” she said.

“I-I have bank figures to go over.”

She only hoped he found some way out of the overwhelming pressure on her to save the Eaton family. “Everyone deserves some time off. We won’t be long.”

Edward took off his shoes and pulled his knickers higher. “Hold my hand, Papa,” he said, pulling on his father’s fingers.

With a roll of his eyes, John sat down and pulled off his shoes and socks, revealing long white feet. No calluses. He’d obviously not been accustomed to walking barefoot on the beach, as she was. Gideon barked and ran ahead of her to the water. He jumped in and snapped at the small fish swimming in the stream. He eyed a frog until Addie commanded him to leave it alone.

She waded out into the stream. “Come on in, Edward.” Her skin quickly numbed from the frigid water. Minnows darted between rocks in the clear water, and larger fish swam from her splashes.

“Ooh, it’s cold!” Edward waded toward Gideon. He turned to face his father. “Come on, Papa.”

“I’m coming,” John growled. He rolled his pants legs up a little more, then gingerly stepped into the water. He grimaced. “Boy howdy, is it cold!”

Addie giggled behind her hand. “You’ll get used to it in a minute.”

He still wore his bowler, vest, and jacket, but with his pants rolled up and the wonder on his face, he reminded her of a little boy dressed in his father’s clothes. She leaned down and flicked cold water at him. A dollop splashed on his cheek and rolled down his neck.

His eyes went wide, then he grinned and took off his hat. He scooped up a hatful of water and started toward her. Adrenaline kicked in, and she scurried backward with her hands out. “I give, I give!”