by Linda Ford
Finally one morning, the maid summoned Maddie to tell her Lady Haversham had passed away in her sleep.
Maddie could only breathe a prayer of thanks that her ladyship’s suffering had ended. She wondered how Mr. Gallagher and Mrs. Walker would receive the news.
They soon arrived and Maddie could tell little from Mr. Gallagher’s closed expression. Mrs. Walker immediately began to cry. Maddie left Mr. Gallagher to comfort his sister.
She went to her room and knelt by her bed. Although sad for the sake of the lady’s relatives, Maddie felt a deeper, inner joy knowing Lady Haversham had been at peace with her Maker. She gave the Lord thanks for having used her to communicate the Savior’s love to her employer. All the petty offenses disappeared in the greater work the Lord had wrought in Lady Haversham’s life.
With a sigh, Maddie rose. She should repack the belongings she’d unpacked during Lady Haversham’s illness. She decided to remain until everything had been arranged for Lady Haversham’s funeral and then she would tell Mr. Gallagher she was leaving. Perhaps she could ask him for a character reference. She would have to obtain a new position and didn’t know how long that might take. In the meantime, she’d need her last wages to get a room somewhere.
Maddie paced her room, trying not to think too far ahead. She must trust in the Lord to see her through to a new assignment.
She made every effort not to think of Mr. Gallagher and what he would say when she told him she was leaving. He’d seemed so kind and gentle since his aunt’s stroke. Would he miss Maddie at all? Would he wish her to stay? But what reason could there be for her to stay?
She had been, after all, only an employee of his aunt’s. At the demise of her former employer, she had been expected to leave right away.
Mrs. Walker certainly wouldn’t welcome her any longer than necessary. The woman had never treated Maddie with more than bare civility.
Maddie sighed as she closed up her portmanteau. Once she knew where she was going, she would leave her forwarding address.
If Mr. Gallagher needed her for anything, then he would know where to find her. She tried not to let a spurt of hope rise from that decision. Let the Lord’s will be done, she repeated to herself, as she’d trained herself to do all her adult life.
* * *
Between funeral preparations and wrapping up the work on the artifacts, Reid hardly had a moment to consider the future. All he knew was that with the passing of his aunt, an era had passed.
For so long, whenever he’d returned to England, she had been his main family contact. Even though Vera was his only sibling, Reid had felt himself growing further and further apart from her each time he’d come back. He resolved to rectify that, if only for the sake of his nephews and niece. He’d become reacquainted with them over the short holiday in Scotland, and he’d be sorry to lose that once he returned to Egypt.
Egypt. He knew he could return as soon as he and Vera decided what would be done with Aunt Millie’s estate. The reading of the will was the next day, but he expected no surprise there. He and Vera were his aunt’s only heirs. It would just be a matter of hearing about all her charities, helping the servants with references, deciding if the house was to be shut up or sold.
He had no strong opinion either way and would leave it up to Vera. She was sure to have something to say.
The only issue of any importance was the one he shied away from, but it remained like a big nebulous cloud in the center of his thoughts.
Maddie Norton.
How could he bear to leave her behind when it came time to sail for Cairo?
And how could he suggest a future with her when he would never expose her to the dangers and rigors of such a harsh place as Egypt? If he couldn’t protect his own wife in her native England, what could he do overseas with someone who, by her own admission, had been weak and frail as a girl?
He sighed, coming to no conclusion, preferring to shove the issue to the back of his mind as he did each time he glimpsed Maddie’s face in his comings and goings to and from his aunt’s residence.
Chapter Sixteen
Maddie attended Lady Haversham’s funeral and remained afterward to help serve the many people who came to the house.
The next day, the solicitor called everyone to assemble in the parlor for the reading of the will. Maddie sat in the rear with the servants. She would have preferred not to attend. She was too new an employee to receive anything, unlike the rest of the servants, but the solicitor had insisted all household employees be present.
As the lawyer’s voice droned on, Maddie’s attention wandered. She glanced at the back of Mr. Gallagher’s head from time to time. He sat with his sister and brother-in-law near the front. She’d hardly exchanged any conversation with him since his aunt’s death, and those few words had only concerned his aunt.
The lawyer finally began with the bequests. He mentioned the gift of the artifacts to the University College with the stipulation of her great-nephew as overseer. A few other charities received generous gifts.
Maddie breathed a prayer of thanksgiving when she heard of Mr. Gallagher’s trusteeship. It must mean that Lady Haversham had not made good her threat to disinherit her great-nephew, after all.
As expected, a long list of legacies followed to each and every servant in Lady Haversham’s employ. Lady Haversham had not overlooked even the lowliest scullery maid, who received five pounds. Maddie glanced over to the young girl, whose smile showed her appreciation. Suddenly Maddie started up, hearing her own name.
“...to my paid companion, Madeleine Norton, who has only been in my employ since April last, I leave nothing. For she has proven herself a conniving, deceitful woman and if I die prematurely, it is likely due in great part to her.”
Gasps and murmurs broke out. Maddie felt the room spin around her. She grasped the edge of her chair to steady herself. What was happening? Was this some terrible nightmare?
She suddenly found Mr. Gallagher at her side. “Don’t pay attention to those words. They were clearly the words of a senile old woman.”
Maddie struggled to rise, and his strong hands helped her.
Mrs. Walker appeared at her brother’s side. “Make her leave this house immediately!” Her eyes narrowed at Maddie. “How dare you cause my aunt such pain? Because of you, sh...sh...she’s gone—” Her voice broke at the last words. Her husband came up to her and put his arm around her, gently leading her away from Maddie.
Again, Maddie tried to pull herself away from Mr. Gallagher, but he held her firmly. “Don’t listen to her, Miss Norton. Vera’s just overcome with her grief. She doesn’t mean what she’s saying.”
There was no recrimination in his eyes or tone. Maddie’s lips trembled in gratitude, and she was afraid she would break down in front of him, in front of everyone in the crowded parlor.
Mr. Gallagher’s attention was diverted to the lawyer as the elderly man approached them. “What kind of nonsense is this in my aunt’s will? How could you permit such vile language in a legal document?”
The lawyer responded in a quiet tone and Mr. Gallagher in a louder one. Maddie realized how everyone in the room was staring at her. She would have fallen down in shame if Mr. Gallagher’s hand had not held her. But she knew she mustn’t make things more difficult for him. She managed to slip from his grasp while he was disputing with the solicitor.
“Wait, Maddie—”
But she only shook her head and fled the parlor. When she reached the solitude of her room, the thoughts came. How could Lady Haversham have done such a horrible thing to her? Did she hate her that much? Maddie’s tears flowed freely now, as she blindly began to collect her last belongings. At all costs, she must be gone from this house before anything else happened. She should have left when Lady Haversham first charged her unfairly with deceitful behavior.
But would her ladyship have died forgiven of her sins
if Maddie had not been there? The question brought her up short and she dropped the shawl she held in her hands. Forgive me, Lord. Had the Lord kept her deliberately, because He knew Lady Haversham would not have died in peace if she had continued angry at Maddie, no matter how unjustly?
Was Maddie’s call to serve the Lord only valid when it was convenient for her to serve Him? Was her commitment to help in her brothers’ missionary work only paying the Lord lip service? Maddie felt more shame as the questions rose in her mind. She’d always prided herself on her unwavering commitment to the work overseas, not minding whatever deprivation she must suffer if it meant she could send more material help to the field.
But was she able to suffer shame on her Lord’s behalf? It was much more difficult to be reviled by those around her than to live without luxuries. She remembered the stares of everyone downstairs. They’d looked at her as if she’d murdered Lady Haversham.
Yet, if she hadn’t remained by the lady’s side—Maddie thought about Lady Haversham’s agitation during those days before her death. She had known what awaited Maddie.
Maddie sank down onto the bed, staggered by the realization. Lady Haversham had known no peace until she had obtained Maddie’s forgiveness. Maddie bit her lip as something else occurred to her. It had been easy to forgive her then when it had seemed only a blanket forgiveness for little slights. But now, could she forgive a woman who was gone but who had left Maddie an awful legacy of shame to live with?
A knock interrupted her thoughts. Likely the housekeeper demanding she leave the premises immediately. Maddie rose slowly, hating to have to face accusing eyes.
Mr. Gallagher stood there. She covered her mouth. What must he think of her?
“Please don’t—” He held his hand out as if afraid she’d close the door on him. “May I speak with you for a moment?”
She tried to compose herself. “Let me assure you, Mr. Gallagher, I’ll be gone within a few minutes—”
“No! I haven’t come to ask you to leave. Please stay as long as you need.” He cleared his throat. “First of all, let me apologize for that unforgivable statement in my aunt’s will. I don’t know what she must have been thinking. The lawyer tells me she only recently rewrote her will, making no changes, except to insert that terrible statement. He assures me she had a legal right to do so, but it means nothing.”
She shook her head, still unable to compose herself.
“Please, Maddie, hear me out—”
He’d called her by her first name for the second time. Her hand gripped the doorknob, her heart warmed by the fact that he hadn’t condemned her.
“May I...come in?” At her nod, he entered the room, his eyes never leaving her face. Once more, he cleared his throat. “I—that is, you must marry me. You must see that.”
She stared at him, too stunned by his words. That was the last thing she’d expected to hear. He wanted to marry her. He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it in disarray. How she ached to smooth it down for him. “You see the necessity of it. My sister is threatening legal action.”
No...she realized, his meaning becoming clear. Her heart plummeted from the leap it had taken. He felt he had to marry her.
“I appreciate your concern, Mr. Gallagher.” She was amazed at how calm her voice came out. “But you needn’t feel you must marry me.”
“Vera is alleging you somehow brought about my aunt’s death.”
She’d thought it couldn’t get any worse. “How can that be?”
“I know it’s nonsense, but she will twist the words in the will around and have a magistrate investigate. It could get messy. If you’re my wife, she wouldn’t dare bring any legal charges against you.”
“Oh, Mr. Gallagher, I didn’t do anything to your aunt, please believe me. Please tell your sister that.”
“I know that. I saw how you soothed her in the end. She would have known no peace if you hadn’t been at her side, demonstrating a devotion she didn’t deserve. I’ve told Vera all these things and will continue to do so. But she’s distraught. There’s no telling what she’ll do in this state.”
He took a step toward her.
“So you see the necessity. If Vera knows you are to be my wife, she won’t make a public scandal, no matter what she may think in private.”
Maddie shook her head, unable to get any words out. Did he really think she would marry him just to save herself?
“You must consider this rationally. It’s the only thing that will stop my sister.”
“Please don’t mention marriage anymore.”
His brows drew together as if in irritation. Before he could wear her down with further arguments, she drew herself up. “I’m not afraid of what Mrs. Walker might do. I know I didn’t do anything to harm your aunt. My conscience is clear on that score.”
“I know it is, but you don’t understand the damage this might do to your reputation.”
“Not with those who matter to me.”
His blue eyes looked into hers offering her his full conviction in her honesty. “I know. But with all those who don’t know you—it can affect your chances for future employment....”
She knew his words were accurate, and she had no idea what she would do in that event. But she wouldn’t marry without his love, and he had said no word of his affections. “I appreciate your kindness to me, Mr. Gallagher, but you needn’t marry me out of fear for my future.”
“Miss Norton, I must insist you look at this more sensibly. You don’t know my sister when she gets a notion into her head.”
“I appreciate your warning.”
He let out a frustrated breath. “You mustn’t be so stubborn, Miss Norton. You don’t want to end up in the street, with no prospects for employment—”
“I’m not a charity case, Mr. Gallagher.”
He drew back. She hadn’t meant to speak so sharply, but if she didn’t stop him, she was afraid he’d weaken her resolve. And her principles were all she had left.
This time it was he who took a step back. “I never suggested you were, Miss Norton. Please forgive me if my proposal was unwelcome to you.” His stiff tone broke Maddie’s resistance even further, but she knew she mustn’t give in to the tempting idea of accepting his well-intentioned proposal.
“There is nothing to forgive. You only wished to protect me.” She stood quietly by the door until, with no further word, he left the room.
* * *
Reid stalked away from his aunt’s house, too angry to sit in a cab. Women could be the most infuriating creatures on the face of the earth, beginning with his late aunt, continuing with his sister and ending with Miss Norton. Her behavior topped them all.
How had things come to this pass? He could not understand what had possessed his aunt to insert such a ludicrous statement into her last will and testament. Probably some fit of pique over something as minor as Maddie not having treated Lilah with all the care Aunt Millicent expected. She’d probably gotten over it by the next day and hadn’t gotten around to changing things. She might not even have thought about it anymore. Or the stroke had prevented her from making any other changes. Reid thought back over his conversation with the solicitor. He had been called in the day before Aunt Millicent’s stroke.
Reid’s pace slowed, trying to remember what might have set his aunt off at that time. He stopped in the middle of the pavement, remembering his kiss with Miss Norton. Could Aunt Millicent have witnessed it? She had walked in on them—not in the very act, but soon enough after that Reid was hardly aware of what he was saying. Could Aunt Millicent have suspected something?
It hardly seemed possible, but his aunt was an inquisitive woman—and very protective of her relatives. Who could tell what had gotten into her head. She’d probably mentioned it to Vera, and between the two of them, who knew what they’d cooked up. He’d have to confront Vera with it. His mind recoiled at
the thought of having to reveal any of his own feelings to his sister.
He came back full circle to the original reason for his exasperation, still flabbergasted at Miss Norton’s reaction to his proposal of marriage.
Instead of gratefully accepting his offer, she’d refused him! He recommenced his rapid stride. Of all the high-handed, proud reactions. Against his better judgment, he’d been willing to betray Octavia’s memory, to expose Miss Norton to countless dangers and risks overseas, in order to save her reputation...only to be told she wasn’t a charity case!
Women! The sooner he was back in Egypt the better. But he couldn’t leave Miss Norton to the mercy of the courts. He’d have to strangle some sense into Vera if it was the last thing he did.
He wasn’t put to so drastic a measure. The next day, before Vera could call the local magistrate, Aunt Millicent’s personal maid discovered a letter Miss Norton had written to her before the stroke.
Reid reread the letter of resignation, which the maid handed him, then passed it to his sister. “I think this proves for once and for all Aunt Millicent’s judgment was clouded by an unfounded prejudice against Miss Norton.”
“This letter proves nothing at all, unless to show Miss Norton did have some designs on you.”
He turned from his sister in disgust. “For goodness’ sake, will you face the facts? Aunt Millicent began fabricating a supposed attraction between Miss Norton and me. The fact is the two of us were working closely together. I admire and respect Miss Norton highly, but that doesn’t mean I was going to run off with her!”
Vera came up to him and gazed into his eyes. “Are you sure, Reid? It’s been a long time since... Octavia passed away. I know it must be lonely for you. You’re in a vulnerable position if a woman comes along and pretends a kindness and sympathy that might perhaps not be sincere—”
He gave a bark of laughter. “Like Cecily, for instance.”
“She’s someone from our own class, your equal in every way. She doesn’t have to pretend something she doesn’t feel.”