Shine Like the Dawn

by Carrie Turansky

  As they approached the house, Clara and Owen Campbell walked out the front door. Clara’s face brightened when she saw them. “Oh, Nate, there you are. We were looking for you.” She smiled at Owen, urging him forward.

  Owen nodded to Nate. “I’d like to speak to you, sir.” He glanced at Maggie, questions reflecting in his eyes. “If you have time, that is.”

  Nate straightened and assessed the young man. Owen’s flushed face and Clara’s hold on his arm made Nate suspect what Owen wanted to discuss, and it couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time. But it would be unkind to put them off.

  “Very well.” He turned to his sister. “Clara, would you take Maggie into the drawing room and wait for us there?”

  His sister gave an eager nod, then hooked arms with Maggie and escorted her inside.

  Nate motioned toward the front door. “Let’s go into the library.”

  “Yes, sir.” Owen walked with Nate into the house.

  Nate offered Owen a chair by the library fireplace and took the seat opposite him. “Now, what did you want to discuss?”

  Owen’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “I’m very fond of Clara, sir.” His face turned a deeper shade of red, and he pressed his lips together nervously. “No, what I mean to say is, I love Clara, and I want to ask your permission to propose to her.”

  Nate lifted one eyebrow. “You’re both quite young to consider marriage.”

  “I’ll be twenty-one in August, and Clara is almost eighteen.” Owen clutched the arms of the chair. “But of course you know your sister’s age.”

  Nate couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the young man, and he softened his tone. “I know you have your position at Morningside, but I understand you want to study to be a veterinarian. How does that fit into your plans to marry Clara?”

  “I hope to have enough saved to start my training in January. That would take me away to Edinburgh for a time, but Dr. Higgs in Heatherton is willing to take me on to finish my training after that. Clara and I would like to become engaged before I go and then marry when I come back to Heatherton.”

  “And Clara understands you’d have to wait until you finish your training in Edinburgh to marry?”

  “Yes, sir, she does.”

  Her life as the wife of a village veterinarian would certainly be different from her life at Morningside. Nate couldn’t quite imagine his sister settled in the village, doing the cooking and most of the household chores herself. But she must be aware of Owen’s circumstances and know what the future would be like if she married him. Still, Clara wasn’t the only one he needed to consider.

  Nate sat back and steepled his hands in front of his mouth. “Before I give you an answer, there is something you should know.”

  “What’s that, sir?”

  “In the near future, events will come to light that will cast a shadow over our family. I can’t explain the particulars right now, but you might want to wait and see how those events play out before you make a decision about your future with Clara.”

  Owen’s brow creased. “Is this about Clara? Surely she hasn’t done anything wrong!”

  “No, Clara is not at fault. I’m just saying these events may affect our family’s reputation, and if you’re connected with Clara, they will affect you as well.” Nate debated telling him more, but he couldn’t risk word leaking out.

  “Whatever it is, I won’t change my mind.” Owen sat up straighter. “I’m committed to Clara, and if I have your permission, I’d like to propose.”

  “You’re certain, even if these events become a public scandal?”

  “Yes, sir. I don’t listen to gossip or care about other people’s opinions. I love Clara, and she loves me. We want to be married. That’s what’s most important to us.”

  Nate thought through the situation a moment more. Helen would not be pleased, especially if he made the decision without her input. But he had to do what was best for Clara and the family. And knowing the storm that was coming, Clara’s engagement to Owen might be the way to protect her future.

  He lifted his gaze to meet Owen’s. “Very well, you have my permission to propose. I’ll speak to Clara’s mother and inform her of my decision.”

  “Thank you, sir.” A smile broke out across Owen’s face.

  “If Clara accepts”—and Nate had no doubt she would—“I’d like you to keep the engagement private until I give you permission to announce it.”

  “We’ll wait until you say the time is right.”

  “Very good.” They both stood, and Nate reached out and shook the young man’s hand. “You may speak to Clara, but not a word to anyone else.”

  “Yes, sir.” Owen looked Nate in the eye. “And I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.”

  A sense of calm assurance filled Nate. “I’m sure you will.” He tipped his head toward the door leading to the adjoining drawing room. “Go on, then. I’m sure Clara is eager to hear the results of our conversation.”

  Owen nodded, strode across the library, and entered the drawing room, looking like a man who had won a great victory. A moment later, Nate heard Clara’s happy laughter. Maggie appeared in the doorway. She slipped into the library and pulled the door closed behind her.

  “So, it sounds like that went well.” She crossed to meet Nate.

  “Clara told you what he wanted?”

  “Yes, but I guessed before she said anything.” She sent him a happy smile. “So you gave them your permission?”

  Nate nodded. “But I asked him to not make it public until things are settled.”

  She tipped her head, a question in her eyes.

  “I didn’t explain the whole situation. I just let him know there was trouble ahead for the family and he might want to wait, but he’s determined to marry my sister.”

  “Do you think Helen will agree?”

  “I don’t think she will like it, but—”

  A loud clatter sounded in the great hall, and Maggie turned toward the door. “What was that?”

  “I don’t know.” Nate strode out of the library and into the great hall. Maggie followed close behind.

  Helen was descending the stairs dressed in a gray traveling suit and broad feathered hat. She clutched a large black suitcase in one hand and reached to lift a second case that had fallen on the landing.

  Nate tensed. “Helen, what are you doing?”

  She gasped and dropped the suitcase. “Goodness, Nate, you startled me.” She left both cases on the landing and walked down to the main floor. “I thought you were in Heatherton for the meeting with the men from Clifton.”

  “I was, but we finished more than an hour ago.” He crossed and met her at the bottom of the stairs.

  Helen cast a cool glance at Maggie. “What is she doing here? I thought she had returned to the village.”

  Maggie stepped up next to Nate. “We are staying with Mrs. Birdwell, but Nate invited me here for the afternoon.”

  Helen sniffed and looked away.

  Irritation coursed through Nate as he glanced at the suitcases. “Where are you going?”

  “Going? Oh…yes, I’m going to visit the Wilsons in Lincolnshire.”

  Nate frowned. “Who are the Wilsons?”

  “They’re old friends. You don’t know them.” She shifted her gaze away and fluttered her hand down her skirt. “I really should be leaving. I have to catch the four-o’clock train.” She turned toward the stairs.

  Nate stepped into her path. “Helen, this isn’t a good time for you to visit friends.”

  Her eyes widened, and a hint of panic skittered across her face. “But I accepted their invitation. They’re expecting me this evening. I can’t disappoint them. It wouldn’t be right.”

  He hadn’t planned to confront Helen today, but there seemed no way around it. He couldn’t let her take her suitcases and walk out the front door, not with the issues surrounding the accident still unresolved. He glanced at Maggie. Her firm gaze encouraged him to press on
, and he focused on Helen again. “There are some important things that need to be settled first.”

  “What do you mean?” Her voice rose and sounded strained.

  He straightened his shoulders. “We know you’re being blackmailed, and we know why.”

  She pulled back as if she’d been struck. “Why would you say such a thing?”

  “Because it’s the truth.”

  Helen lifted a shaky finger and pointed at Maggie. “This is her fault. I told you not to trust her. She’s just like her father, raising herself up and prying into our family’s private affairs. You never should have brought her to Morningside.”

  “It won’t help your cause to blame Maggie or anyone else.”

  “But she snuck into my room to read my diaries, then she listened to my private conversation.”

  Maggie gasped.

  “Maggie was looking for answers about the boating accident, and I believe she found them.”

  “No! She wants to trap you and get rid of me!”

  Heat surged into his face. “That’s enough! If you expect me to show mercy toward you, then you must stop blaming others and start telling the truth.”

  Helen lifted her chin and looked away.

  “If you won’t cooperate, then I’ll have no choice but to turn you over to the police and let them do the questioning.”

  Helen’s face paled. She pressed her lips into a firm line, but her chin began to tremble.

  “Were you unfaithful to my father?”

  “No! Never!”

  Nate scowled at her. “How can you deny it? Maggie and I saw you meeting a man in the woods by Tumbledon Lake. We heard what you said. And Maggie’s father saw you with him several times as well.”

  “I was not meeting a lover.” Her voice wavered.

  “Then who was he?” Nate demanded.

  “His name is Roland Dixon. He…he’s my brother.”

  Nate scoffed. “Your brother? If that’s true, why did you meet him in secret? Why not invite him to the house as you would any other relative?”

  Helen clasped her trembling hands. “He said he would tell your father about my past, and I…I couldn’t let that happen.”

  Nate stared at her, trying to recall what he knew about Helen’s life before she’d married his father. They’d met in Cumbria on holiday when Nate was just a young boy, but he knew little about her beyond that.

  Nate narrowed his gaze at Helen. “What was it about your past that you wanted to keep hidden from my father?”

  Her face flushed as she looked from Maggie to Nate. “I’d rather not say.”

  “You will tell us now, or I will be forced to send for the police.”

  Helen clenched her hands for several seconds as she considered his threat. “All right.” She released a slow, shaky breath. “Before I met your father, I was an actress in a musical review.”

  Surprise rippled through Nate. “An actress?” He frowned, weighing her words. “Society might look down on actresses, but you could’ve overcome that by having an honest conversation with my father. Why would you allow your brother to blackmail you all these years?”

  She crossed her arms protectively over her midsection, and her gaze darted away.

  “There must be more to the story,” Nate insisted, “and you will tell us now.”

  Her stony expression melted, and defeat darkened her eyes. She dropped her arms. “When I was twenty-one, I married a man named Robert Maxwell. He was several years older and quite charming, but he drank more than he should and gambled away most of our money. After three years he left me. I had no idea where he’d gone or if he was ever coming back. So when I met your father I thought it was my chance to leave that life behind.”

  Nate stared at her. “You lied to him and accepted his proposal even though you were already married?”

  She blinked and sent a desperate glance around the room. “Yes.” Her voice was hushed and shaky. “A few months later, I learned my first husband died in a robbery attempt, but I was too ashamed to tell your father.”

  Nate frowned, trying to make sense of her story. “And that’s what you’ve been hiding all these years?”

  Helen lowered her head. “I didn’t want your father or anyone else to know.”

  Maggie glared at Helen. “So you planned to kill my father to keep your secret from coming to light?” Her voice shook with intensity. “How could you?”

  Helen lifted her head. “No! That was Roland’s idea. I didn’t know he was behind the accident until after it happened.”

  “But you told Roland about your conversation with my father, and that’s what motivated him to damage the boat.”

  Helen nodded. “Roland only wanted to frighten your father. He didn’t know the whole family was going out with him that day. He thought your father would go alone and would be able to swim to shore. Then he planned to tell him worse things would happen if he followed through on his threat to speak to Mr. Harcourt.”

  “Now you’ve done it, Helen!” A man’s harsh voice boomed behind them.

  Helen gripped the railing, and Nate swung around and faced the man.

  Maggie gasped. “That’s Roland Dixon!”

  Dixon lifted a stubby finger and pointed at Helen. “I told you I was coming for you. How could you betray me after I’ve kept your secret all these years?”

  Bright spots burned on Helen’s cheeks. “You haven’t kept my secret. You’ve used it like a weapon and held me captive with your threats and blackmail.”

  “You promised if I kept quiet you’d take care of me.”

  “I never promised you anything! You forced me into it!”

  “We had an agreement!”

  “Stop it, both of you!” Nate glared from one to the other. “Blaming each other won’t absolve your guilt. You’re both at fault, and it’s time you went to the police and told the truth.”

  Dixon’s eyes turned steely. “We aren’t going to the police.”

  “Yes, you are.” Nate took a step toward Dixon.

  Dixon yanked a gun from inside his jacket and pointed it at Nate. “Stay where you are! Don’t come any closer!”

  Adrenaline surged through Nate, and every instinct told him to rush the man and knock the gun from his hands. But he couldn’t risk Dixon shooting Maggie or Helen. He must protect them at all costs. He slowly lifted his hand. “Just calm down. We don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  Dixon shifted his burning gaze from Maggie to Nate. “You should’ve thought about that before you and that girl started snooping around.”

  A cold tremor quivered down Maggie’s back as she stared at the gun in Dixon’s hand. Questions darted through her mind, quickly followed by answers as the series of events clicked into place like pieces of a puzzle.

  Helen must have overheard Maggie’s conversation with Nate the night before. She had gone into Maggie’s room that morning while they were down at breakfast and found the notes she’d tucked into her mother’s Bible for safekeeping. When Helen learned what Maggie and Nate had discovered, she contacted Dixon and packed her bags, hoping to leave Morningside with Dixon before Nate and Maggie went to the police.

  Dixon hadn’t been afraid to harm her father four years ago, and he was in much more serious trouble now. What would he do to them? Maggie swallowed and breathed a silent prayer.

  Nate focused on Dixon, his expression intense but calm. “Put the gun down, and we’ll talk this through.”

  “It’s too late for that!” Dixon’s face turned scarlet, and beads of sweat glistened on his brow.

  “I promise I’ll do everything I can to explain your side of things to the police.”

  Dixon narrowed his eyes. “Why would you help me?”

  “I’m a man of my word, and I don’t want to see you or Helen face any more serious consequences than are necessary.”

  “Ha! You’re a fool if you think I’d believe that.” Suddenly Dixon grabbed Maggie and pulled her in front of him. She gasped, and he jabbed the gun in her
side.

  Dixon’s rough grip sent pain shooting through Maggie’s arm. His foul breath flooded the air around them. She clamped her mouth closed and turned her face away from him.

  Nate’s eyes flamed, but he held his ground. “Don’t make your situation worse. Let Miss Lounsbury go, and put the gun away.”

  “Not on your life.” Dixon jerked her one step to the side. “Now, all of you listen to me and do as I say. Helen, go have a carriage brought around front, then dismiss the groomsmen.”

  Helen’s wide-eyed gaze darted from Nate to Dixon. “What are you going to do?”

  He released a humorless chuckle. “I arranged one accident; I suppose I can manage another.”

  “Roland, no!” Helen moved toward him, her gaze pleading. “You didn’t intend to kill the Lounsburys. We can hire a solicitor to defend you.”

  “Even if we could prove I never planned to do away with that family, I put a hole in that boat. That makes me guilty, and I’d end up rotting in prison or hanging.” He cursed under his breath. “I won’t die like our father!”

  Helen lifted her hand to her mouth. “No, Roland, please! Don’t do this!”

  “Go on! Do as I say! We can’t turn back now.”

  Helen’s chin trembled as she looked from Maggie to Nate, then she strode past them and hurried out the front door.

  Dixon tightened his grip on Maggie’s arm again. She gulped in a breath and tried to still her shaking legs. Dixon was a desperate man, and without some kind of intervention, she and Nate were about to become the next accident victims.

  She closed her eyes. Please, God, help us.

  “Dixon, listen to me.” Nate’s voice was low and urgent. “It’s not too late. You can change your mind and save yourself and your sister.”

  “What? You want me to turn myself in?” Dixon huffed. “I’d face the gallows for sure.” He pointed the gun at Nate. “Go wait by the front door.”

  Nate stared at him, unmoving.

  “Now!” Dixon’s shout rang out, and he waved the gun at Nate.

  Nate’s gaze smoldered, but he walked past Maggie and Dixon toward the entrance hall and front door. Dixon shoved the gun against her side again and tugged her after Nate.