All in all it was a good meeting. Mrs. Leggett was composed but friendly. Her daughter seemed overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the room, but she warmed to the children eventually.
As for his charges, they were polite but wary. While there were no strong bonds forged during the meeting, it was a start.
*
Eileen watched the ease with which Mrs. Leggett interacted with the children. It was as if they instinctively recognized her maternal qualities, something Eileen knew she lacked.
She tried to ignore the sharp jab of jealousy that thought produced, especially when Molly introduced Flossie to the woman. She’d thought she had adjusted to the fact that she would never have children of her own, but it seemed she hadn’t.
Later, when she was alone, she turned to silent prayer.
Heavenly Father, I know I’ve been so blessed in my life and that I’ve done things that have let You down. Help me to focus on the good and not wallow in self-pity when I see others who have the things I want.
“Mrs. Pierce?”
Eileen looked down to see Molly standing there, looking up at her with liquid-filled, pleading eyes.
Alarmed that something might have happened to her, Eileen stooped down and mentally made note of where Simon was in case she needed him. “Yes, sweetheart? What is it?”
The little girl held out her doll and Eileen saw a tiny tear in one of her cloth arms. “Flossie has a boo-boo. Can you fix it for me like Gee-Gee used to?”
Relieved that is wasn’t anything more serious, Eileen was nevertheless startled that Molly had come to her for help rather than Dovie or Mrs. Leggett. Then she smiled at the girl. “Poor Flossie. But I think I can fix her up. Do you want to help?”
Molly’s expression immediately blossomed into a toothy smile, and she nodded vigorously.
Eileen straightened and held out her hand for the doll. “Then come along. Let’s go fetch my sewing basket.”
Rather than handing over the doll, Molly took Eileen’s hand herself.
As they left the room, Eileen sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving. Never had she had a prayer answered so quickly.
Chapter Fifteen
Tuesday morning, Simon went down to the train station to meet the Fredrickses. Though he’d never met them in person before, he recognized Wilbur Fredrick as soon as the man stepped from the train. There was a surface resemblance to his sister, but where she always wore a smile, this man looked dour. Of course, that could be the way he expressed grief, but there was something about the way the man carried himself that reminded Simon of his uncle Corbitt.
But it wasn’t for him, of all people, to judge. He pasted a respectful expression on his face as he stepped up to greet them. “Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick?”
“Yes?”
He held his hand out. “I’m Simon Tucker. I’m sorry for your loss, sir. I admired your sister greatly.”
“Ah, Mr. Tucker, thank you for contacting me.” He gave Simon’s hand a quick shake, then dropped it. “Is everything set for the funeral?”
“Yes, sir. Reverend Harper will perform a short service at the cemetery at two o’clock this afternoon.”
“Excellent. Thank you again for attending to those details.” He tugged on the cuff of his jacket. “I suppose there are some bills to be settled.”
“Everything has been taken care of, except for the undertaker.”
Mr. Fredrick nodded without comment, then changed the subject. “If you don’t mind directing us to the local hotel, my wife and I would like to rest up from our trip before the funeral.”
“Of course.” Simon had expected him to at least inquire about the children. But perhaps the oversight was just due to travel fatigue and grief over his sister. He reached for the bag the porter deposited beside the couple. “It’s just a few blocks. Allow me to escort you there.”
Mr. Fredrick made arrangements to have their other bags delivered to the hotel, and then Simon led the way away from the station. In deference to Mrs. Fredrick, who seemed rather frail, he set a slow pace.
Mr. Fredrick broke the silence first. “May I ask just what your relationship was to my sister?”
“I regret that I didn’t know her well. My sister Sally was her housekeeper for a number of years. Sally passed away a few months ago and your sister took in her two children—my niece and nephew—since I was not equipped to do so myself. In return I offered to help her where I could.”
“And you were traveling with them to provide escort?”
“In part. It was also my intention to move to Hatcherville myself so I could be close by, both for the sake of my sister’s children and my promise to your sister.”
“I see. I don’t understand what Georgina was thinking, embarking on such a trip. That’s very likely what did her in. That and the strain of caring for so many cast-off children over the years.”
Simon did his best not to react to that statement. “I know you’re tired from your travels and are still in mourning, but I need to ask—do you wish to have any involvement with any of the children who were formerly in your sister’s care? I understand the three older girls are relations of yours.”
The man stiffened, as if Simon had insulted him. “Distant relations, I assure you.” He gave the ends of his vest a sharp tug. “And no, Mrs. Fredrick and I will not be taking them in.”
That resemblance to his uncle seemed even stronger now. “I see.” Obviously this man was nothing like his sister.
Mr. Fredrick cleared his throat. “I’m sure The Kirst Sisters’ Orphan Asylum in St. Louis will be happy to take them in. It is one of the charities my wife and I support.”
Not if he could help it. “That won’t be necessary. I gave your sister my word that I’d see them safely and comfortably settled into the home in Hatcherville, and I intend to follow through with that. I’m certain I can find a good person willing to serve as caretaker for them.”
Simon saw the couple exchange a look, but neither responded. Instead, Mr. Fredrick changed the subject. “Have you gathered up my sister’s things?”
“The things she had with her. But many of her possessions were sent ahead to Hatcherville. I’ll have those sent to you as soon as I arrive.”
“Did she have any of her important papers with her?”
“I didn’t go through her things. She did mention she had the deed to the property with her, along with her other important documents, but other than that I don’t know.”
“And where are her things at the moment?”
“Mrs. Pierce, a widow who lives here in town, has provided lodging for me and the kids. Your sister’s things are there, as well.”
“I would appreciate it if you would have it all sent to me at the hotel as soon as possible.”
“Of course.” What exactly was the man expecting to find in his sister’s things? Some kind of family heirloom perhaps? But they had arrived at their destination. “Here we are, The Rose Palace Hotel.”
Mr. Fredrick seemed unimpressed with the exterior of the building, but he merely held out his hand to offer Simon a handshake. “Thank you for escorting us. I will see you at the funeral, I presume.”
“Yes, sir. Would you like me to swing by here on my way so I can show you the way?”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I’m sure we can get directions from someone here.”
There was an obvious note of dismissal in the man’s tone. Simon took his cue and accepted the handshake with a promise to send over Miss Fredrick’s things right away. Then he headed back to Mrs. Pierce’s home.
The only word he could come up with to describe Mr. Fredrick was officious. He was relieved the man had no intention of getting involved in the children’s lives—that wouldn’t have gone well at all. He just hoped the man had enough common decency to keep his feelings about the children to himself for the short time he would be in their company.
But he’d given the self-righteous popinjay enough consideration. He needed to turn his tho
ughts to getting everyone ready to move on to Hatcherville. Mrs. Pierce would be glad to get her home back to herself.
As he turned in the gate he realized he was going to miss this place. In the short time they’d been here it had begun to feel like home.
Truth to tell, he was going to miss the lady of the house even more.
Would she miss him, even if just a little?
*
The scene at the graveyard was solemn. Mr. Fredrick and his wife stood apart from the others in town. Mrs. Fredrick was dressed entirely in black, including a black veil that covered her face and a lacy black handkerchief that she occasionally dabbed beneath her veil. Neither made any move to introduce themselves to the children or speak to Simon.
There were a surprisingly large number of townsfolk in attendance. Dr. and Mrs. Pratt, Regina Barr, the Parkers and a number of others he only knew by sight. Even Miss Ortolon, the woman who had seemed so opposed to Mrs. Pierce taking them in that first day, was present.
The children were sober, several of them tearful. Dovie and Eileen had done their best to find appropriate mourning clothes for them. Since Mrs. Pierce was herself a widow, she had a few pieces she’d adapted and Dovie had items, as well. Fern wore a skirt that had been made over to fit her. A black cape was found for both Lily and Rose. Dovie found or made black bonnets for each of the girls. For the boys, they each had a black armband to wear.
Simon felt a touch of pride in them. Though there were more than a few sniffles and tearstained cheeks, the children were, on the whole, well behaved. Mrs. Leggett and her daughter stood with them, and the three adults arranged themselves so that each of the children had an adult close at hand.
Reverend Harper performed the service with as much solemnity and thoughtfulness as if Miss Fredrick had been a longtime member of his congregation. Simon was sure the woman would have been pleased.
Once the service was over and the crowd began to disperse, Mr. Fredrick approached him.
“There is a matter I need to discuss with you.” The man didn’t spare so much as a glance for the children.
“Of course.” Had he changed his mind about the children?
“Perhaps you would accompany me and my wife to the hotel.”
Wondering what this was all about, and more than a little concerned that he wouldn’t like whatever it was, Simon turned to Mrs. Pierce. “Would you and Mrs. Leggett escort the children back to your home. Perhaps help them gather and pack their things for our departure tomorrow.”
At her nod, he turned back to Mr. Fredrick and indicated the man should lead the way.
They strolled to the hotel without a word. When they arrived, Mrs. Fredrick excused herself and went upstairs to her room. Mr. Fredrick waved toward a pair of chairs in a quiet corner of the lobby.
Impatient to be done with this, Simon leaned forward as soon as he took his seat. “What can I do for you?”
“I’ve gone through all of my sister’s things that you sent over earlier.”
He certainly hadn’t wasted any time. Whatever he was looking for must be pretty important.
“It was just as I figured. Unless it is among the things she sent ahead, which I very much doubt, Georgina didn’t leave a will.”
Simon held his tongue. That’s what this was about? His sister’s possessions?
“What that means,” the man continued, “is that as her brother, I inherit all of her material possessions.”
Simon hoped the man was not counting on a large inheritance. Miss Fredrick had spent most of her funds on the Hatcherville property. “I believe she had the majority of her funds transferred to the bank in Hatcherville. If you need my help in securing them for you, let me know.” Not having any of Miss Fredrick’s funds would make things a little tougher, but Simon wasn’t particularly worried—he’d find a way to make it work.
The man dismissed Simon’s offer with a wave of his hand. “I have a solicitor to handle those sorts of matters. What I wanted to make certain you understood is that the Hatcherville property now belongs to me.”
Simon straightened. That was definitely something he hadn’t considered. “Does that mean you’ll be requiring rent money when we move in?”
“Actually, I plan to sell the property.”
“Sell it?” Simon’s heart sank further. Having negotiated Miss Fredrick’s purchase of that same property a few short weeks ago he knew there was no way he could afford to buy it himself. “But where will the children go?”
“As I said, the good people at The Kirst Sisters’ Orphan Asylum will be happy to take them in. In fact I’ve already discussed the matter with the Misses Kirst personally and they have said as much.”
So the man had been planning this from the outset. “Surely you know this isn’t what your sister would want.”
The man drew himself up. “Mr. Tucker, as you’ve said yourself, you only knew my sister for a short time. And even if what you said was true, Georgina often let her soft heart get in the way of common sense. A failing we did not share.” Mr. Fredrick tugged on his lapels and stood. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to check on my wife. We’ll be departing on tomorrow’s train. Good day to you.”
Simon watched him leave, his mind reeling from this new setback. Without the house in Hatcherville, he had nowhere to take the children. And sending them to that orphanage Mr. Fredrick was so fond of was completely unacceptable. What now?
*
Eileen was working in the front flower bed when Mr. Tucker returned to the house. Truth to tell, that had just been an excuse to keep a watch out for his return. And she was glad she had. One look at his face told her something was terribly wrong.
“What’s happened?”
He raked a hand through his hair, not answering her.
She needed to pull him aside before the children saw him. She waved toward the bench. “Let’s sit here a minute, shall we?”
With a nod, Simon followed her up the porch steps.
She took a seat on the bench, folding her hands in her lap, but he remained standing. “Now, what happened?”
“Mr. Fredrick is claiming that, as his sister’s heir, he has ownership of her property, including the Hatcherville house.”
“I see.” That certainly explained his agitation. “I assume he’s refusing to let the children live there.”
“He plans to sell the place.” Simon waved a hand indignantly. “As for the children, it seems he’s already talked to the owner of an orphan asylum about taking them in.”
Eileen stiffened. The idea of Molly—or any of the children—relegated to a group home was unthinkable. “But that goes against everything his sister stood for.”
“I agree. But that doesn’t seem to bother the man.” He paced the porch like a caged animal. “He believes his sister’s mission was beneath her, and he has no intention of sullying his own hands with it.”
“Beneath her? What could possibly make him think the care of children was beneath her? Is it because they are orphans?”
Simon shifted uncomfortably, then gave her a searching look. “I’m going to trust you with some information. But I need your word that you will treat it as confidential.”
Eileen’s throat tightened. From the look on his face, she wasn’t certain she wanted to hear this. But she was oddly touched that he felt he could trust her. “You have my word.”
“These children aren’t just orphans—they are social outcasts.”
“Outcasts?” She understood why that had happened to her, but— “They’re only children. What could they have—”
“Not because of anything they’ve done,” he said quickly, “but because of who their parents are.”
Eileen sat back. This she understood.
“Fern, Rose and Lily’s father died in prison. Their mother insisted he was falsely accused, but that didn’t erase the stigma.”
Eileen thought of Fern’s attitude, and felt she understood the girl a little better now.
“Russell, Harry an
d Tessa’s father turned to drink after their mother died. He got killed in a bar fight.” He raked a hand through his hair. “As for Molly and Joey…”
There was a long pause, and Eileen braced herself, not wanting to hear about any ugliness that might be associated with the littlest ones.
He finally continued, “There are those who think they were left on Miss Fredrick’s doorstep by women who were, well, to put it delicately, less than reputable.”
Eileen knew exactly what he meant. “That leaves Audrey and Andrew. Surely they are not touched by any ugliness.”
Mr. Tucker winced. “My sister Sally wasn’t always the best judge of character. The man she married was abusive. There were rumors that his death was not accidental but there were never any charges brought against her.”
Eileen didn’t say anything. She was still trying to take it all in. She definitely understood why Simon had kept this information to himself. Appearances were important, after all, and one’s pedigree was a big part of that. The stains these children bore on their individual pedigrees would be difficult to overcome.
She’d grown up around people who would have shunned these children just as Mr. Fredrick had. Her stepfather had had a difficult enough time accepting her, and her only sin was having a father who came from a family of unsophisticated merchants.
But these children were already carrying the burden of being orphaned or abandoned. It wasn’t fair for them to have these additional blots on their names to weigh them down. And they were innocents, after all. Just as she had been. At least in childhood.
“I hope this won’t taint the way you view them.”
She glanced up at his words and noticed the doubt in his expression. How long had she sat there without saying anything?
She lifted her chin and met his gaze levelly. “Who their parents are is not their fault. They should not be held responsible.”
He relaxed and then grimaced. “You’d be surprised how many people feel differently.”
Actually, she wouldn’t be surprised at all. “Including Miss Fredrick’s brother?”
Love Inspired Historical November 2014 Page 13