He scanned the room with its elegant sofas, wing chairs, and a marble fireplace. A silver tea service, a large pitcher, and an array of small pastries sat on a low table.
“Please sit down,” Becky said. “Mrs. Sebring ordered refreshments for your arrival.” She lifted the teapot. “Would you like tea or prefer lemonade?” The subtle trembling of her hands betrayed her nerves.
“I’d love some lemonade,” Julia said brightly.
Quinn frowned. “It’s all right, Becky. You don’t have to serve us.” Perhaps her situation wasn’t as rosy as she’d like him to believe. “Is everything going well? Are you being treated fairly?”
Immediately her face brightened. “Oh yes. The Sebrings are lovely to work for.”
“That’s good to hear.” Quinn rose to pour his own drink.
Becky handed Julia a glass. “So what are you doing in Canada, Quinn? The last I heard you were set to join the war.”
He straightened, cup in hand. A warning look from Julia made him bite back his immediate response. “I did serve in the war, and thankfully survived with only minor injuries.” He crossed the room to his chair but remained standing. “When I went to see Mum after I got back, she finally admitted she’d sent the three of you to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.”
Becky’s gaze faltered, settling on the table in front of her. “She had to, Quinn,” she said. “We had nothing to eat, no heat in the flat. When we were evicted, Mum didn’t know what else to do. She thought we’d be better off in a place with a warm bed for each of us and three meals a day.” Becky sighed. “She promised she’d come get us once her situation turned around, but I guess it never did.”
Quinn set his cup down, his stomach too tense to tolerate anything in it. “You must have been terrified when they said you were being sent to Canada.”
“Not terrified. Anxious, maybe. Part of me looked forward to traveling, to seeing another part of the world. Cecil and Harry thought it would be exciting.” She smiled sadly. “Cecil even pretended he was going off to war, like you.”
Quinn flinched, not wanting to envision them boarding the ship, filled with a desperate hope for a better future. “Did you even get to say good-bye to Mum?”
“No. They said there wasn’t time since the boat was leaving soon.” Her bottom lip trembled. “We tried to make it a grand adventure.”
“But it wasn’t so grand, was it?”
“No.” She smoothed her skirt down with jerky movements of her fingers.
Quinn came to sit beside her and took her hand in his. “I understand you left your first placement. Did they hurt you, Becca?”
A world of pain came into her eyes, swirling amid the tears that bloomed. But she shook her head and pulled her hand away. “That’s over now, and I’m happy here. Let’s leave it at that.” Becky looked over at Julia, then back to Quinn. “I still don’t understand why the two of you are here.”
He frowned. “I came to find you, Cecil, and Harry and bring you home. Why else would I be here?”
A variety of emotions flitted across her features. “Did you find our brothers? I haven’t seen them since I left Halifax five years ago.” She blinked rapidly, still holding back tears.
“Yes, I found them.” Quinn rose from the sofa and walked to the fireplace, contemplating his next words. He didn’t want to ruin their visit with the brutal truth of Harry’s situation. “Cecil seems content on the farm where he’s working, and Harry . . . well, Harry wasn’t as happy with his post, so he came with me.” He turned back to face her. “He’s staying with some people I know in Toronto while I’m here.”
“Is he all right?” Lines creased Becky’s forehead. “I hated leaving him, even though Cecil was with him. He was so little and so scared.” She swiped at a tear on her cheek.
“He’s fine now that I’ve got him away from that farmer.” He focused his attention directly on his sister, needing her to know how important his next words were. “The thing is, Becky, Mum’s not doing so well. She’s in the infirmary at the workhouse and very weak. I promised her I’d bring you and the boys back home with me. It might be the only thing that saves her.”
Becky lowered her head, avoiding Quinn’s eyes, and his stomach dropped. He thought she’d be eager to leave, overjoyed to be going home. But from the expression on her face, he wasn’t at all sure of her response.
“You will come with me, won’t you?”
She twisted her hands together on her lap. “I suppose I could ask for some time off to go back for a visit.”
“A visit?” Quinn surged forward. “You mean you want to come back to live here? So far away from your home and your family?”
Becky looked up at him sorrowfully. “My home is in Canada now, Quinn. The only thing waiting in England is more poverty, more suffering. At least here I have a good position and a lovely home to live in.”
“You’re only a servant to these people,” he said, unable to stop his voice from rising. It was one thing for him to be a valet, but he wanted better for his sister.
“Quinn.” Julia crossed the room to his side. “Give Becky a chance to explain herself.”
Quinn took in a breath and nodded.
“Go ahead, Becky,” Julia prompted gently.
“The Sebrings have treated me like one of the family. They pay me more than my contract stipulates and they don’t overwork me.” She glanced at Quinn.
“All right,” he said slowly. “So your employers are nice, and you’ve grown . . . fond of them?”
“Yes.” Her features brightened. “I truly love my job here. I doubt I’d ever find one I like better back in London.”
Quinn fought the anger rising in his chest. How could she so blithely turn her back on her family and her homeland? More importantly, didn’t she care that their mother might be dying? “How can you do this to Mum?” he bit out.
Becky jumped to her feet, twisting her hands in front of her. “Quinn, please try to understand. . . .” She pressed her lips together. “There’s something else. A more important reason I want to stay.”
He stared at her, shaking his head. “What else could keep you from your family?” He hated the bitterness in his voice and the way Becky’s eyes shone with hurt.
“Rebecca? Is everything all right?” a deep voice asked.
Quinn turned to face the door, where a slim young man stood in the opening, his face filled with concern.
Becky rushed forward. “Ned. Yes, everything’s fine. Please, come in.”
He grasped her hand and tucked it under the crook of his arm, smiling down at her. At the adoring look she gave him in return, it all made sudden sense. Becky had a beau.
The pair moved into the middle of the room, Becky hanging on the man’s arm like he were a life preserver amid a stormy sea.
Quinn looked over at Julia, who gave a slight shrug.
“Quinn, Julia, this is Ned Patterson,” Becky said. “Ned, this is my brother Quinn and his friend Julia.”
Ned stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m so happy Rebecca has made contact with her family at last.” He pumped Quinn’s hand eagerly.
Quinn assessed the lad with what he hoped was an objective opinion. Ned was appealing enough, with thick brown hair, blue eyes, and an easy smile. Though wiry in stature, he appeared well-muscled, as if no stranger to hard work. “Nice to meet you, Ned. Do you work for the Sebrings as well?”
Ned frowned slightly and gave Becky a questioning look.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell them yet,” Becky said quickly, her cheeks reddening. She wound her arm more firmly through Ned’s and tilted her chin. “Ned is my fiancé. We’re getting married in September.”
CHAPTER 18
Julia held back a gasp at Becky’s bold declaration and immediately glanced over at Quinn. The look of shock on his face mingled with an expression of hurt.
Oh, Quinn. You certainly didn’t expect this.
Julia stepped toward the couple. �
�Please accept my congratulations,” she said a bit too brightly in a vain attempt to ease the tension.
“Thank you,” Becky responded with a wary smile. “We’re very excited.”
Beside her, Ned beamed. “I’m a lucky man.” He turned to Quinn. “I want you to know, sir, that I love Rebecca very much and will do everything in my power to give her a good life.”
Quinn just shook his head, his eyes taking on a hint of panic. He raked his fingers through his hair as he paced away from them.
Julia’s muscles stiffened in anticipation of Quinn’s next actions.
He whirled back around, color high in his cheeks. “Becca, you’re not even eighteen yet. What is the confounded rush to marry?”
Becky blinked and clung harder to Ned. “We love each other and want to be together. Besides, I’ll be eighteen next month, and my contract will be completed.”
Ned shifted his weight. “I’ve been saving for a place of our own for a while now, and I should have enough by the fall.” He smiled down at Becky. “We’ll have our own little chicken farm. Maybe a cow and a horse too.” He focused back on Quinn. “Over time, I hope to be able to expand, and then—”
“Is this what you really want, Becky? To be a farmer’s wife?” Quinn waved a hand around the room. “To go from living in a fine house like this to tending chickens?”
Julia cringed. Did he realize how insulting he sounded?
Becky lifted her chin. “I’d trade this lifestyle in a minute to be Ned’s wife.” She moved toward her brother. “It’s all I’ve wanted for a long time now.”
Quinn’s shoulders sagged then, as though realizing he’d lost a battle. The light in his eyes faded, and he turned away from the happy couple.
Julia’s heart went out to him, sensing his keen disappointment like it was her own. He’d traveled so far with one goal in mind, and at every turn, his efforts were thwarted.
“Why don’t we sit down and talk? You could tell us how you met.” Julia forced a smile as she took a seat in a wing chair.
Becky and Ned moved to sit on the sofa, but Quinn remained standing by the fireplace.
“Ned worked on the first farm where I was sent.” Becky’s features softened. “He rescued me from a bad situation there. Brought me back to Hazelbrae. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if it weren’t for him.”
The younger man’s ears reddened. “I only did what any decent person would.” He raised Becky’s hand to his lips. “I’m just grateful to God for bringing Rebecca into my life.”
“And I thank God every night for you,” Becky said softly.
Ned bent and dropped a kiss on her lips.
Julia’s throat tightened. How would it feel to have the love of such an upstanding man? Against her will, her gaze captured Quinn’s profile as he stared into the fireplace. His jaw was taut, his forehead tense.
Perhaps she could salvage something of this meeting for Quinn’s sake. Julia leaned toward the couple, then turned to Ned. “Right before you arrived,” she said, “Quinn was telling Becky that their mother’s health is failing and how he hoped to take Becky and his brothers home to see her. Becky thought she might get away for a bit of a holiday.”
Quinn shot her an unhappy look over his shoulder. Julia raised a brow in silent warning. If a quick visit was all Becky could manage, he might have to accept that it was better than nothing.
Becky frowned and turned to her fiancé. “What do you think, Ned?”
Ned’s forehead furrowed. “Will the Sebrings allow you to go?”
“I think so. They mentioned they would give me some time off if I ever needed it. Besides, my contract will soon be over.”
“And the money for your passage?”
“I’ll take care of that,” Quinn added quickly, coming to join them.
“When would you be leaving?” Ned put an arm around Becky, as if wanting to keep her by his side, the mere thought of her leaving unbearable.
“As soon as I can get everyone together.” Quinn ran a hand over his jaw. “Cecil is resisting the idea. Harry needs more time to regain his strength, but maybe three weeks from now we’d be ready.”
Becky exchanged a meaningful look with her fiancé, then turned to Quinn. “I’ll give it serious consideration. Let me speak with the Sebrings and I’ll get back to you. I promise.”
Quinn hesitated, then at last he nodded. “I suppose that will have to do.”
“Do you have a telephone here?” Julia asked.
“Yes, of course,” Becky said. “Let me write down the number for you.” She rose and walked to a nearby table.
“We’ll give you a call next week,” Julia said when Quinn didn’t add anything. “Maybe by then we’ll all be in a better place to make some definite plans.”
Becky came back with a pencil and paper. “Are you going back to England too, Julia?”
Julia’s stomach clenched, suddenly realizing her error. She hadn’t meant to give Becky the impression she would be joining them, and she certainly hadn’t planned to let Quinn in on her decision just yet.
Quinn was looking at her now with such a hopeful expression that she couldn’t meet his gaze. “My plans are somewhat . . . tentative at the moment. I had been considering accompanying Quinn home so I could visit my uncle.” She paused. “However, I’m about to start a new job and fear the timing isn’t right.”
Quinn’s eyes narrowed, his mouth a tight line.
Becky handed Julia the paper. “Well, as you said, we’ll see how things stand in a week or two.” She gave a strained smile. “In the meantime, if you tell me where I can reach Mum, I’ll write her a letter and tell her about my engagement. Maybe that will give her a lift.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful,” Ned said, “if your mother regained her health and could make the trip here to attend the wedding?”
“It would, though it doesn’t sound too likely.” Becky’s halfhearted response belied her words.
Julia tucked the phone number into her pocket. What was the issue between the girl and her mother? It was obvious she wasn’t excited about going home to see her or for her mother to come here. Perhaps Becky resented Mrs. Aspinall for putting them into the orphanage.
Becky rose from the sofa and smoothed her skirt. “It’s been so good to see you, Quinn. It’s like having a taste of home right here.” She clasped her hands together. “But I promised Ned I’d go into town with him today.”
Quinn strode across the carpet, his expression thunderous. “I thought you were spending the afternoon with me.” His scowling demeanor didn’t fool Julia. Hurt swirled in the depths of his eyes. Yet how could he not understand that Becky was in love and that matters of the heart overruled everything else? Even a brother she hadn’t seen in years.
“I . . . I’m sorry, Quinn,” Becky said softly, “but there’s really not much more to say for now, is there?”
At the defeated look on his face, Julia wanted to wrap him in a hug and tell him everything would work out.
Instead she rose and held out her hand to Becky. “It was lovely to meet you, Becky. And you as well, Ned. I hope to see you again.”
Then she walked out into the hall to give Quinn a moment to say his good-byes, praying she could find the right words to comfort him on the train ride home.
Harriet attempted to ignore the arthritic pain attacking her knees in spite of the padding on the church kneeler. Granted, the kneelers probably weren’t meant for hours of use without moving. But Harriet was determined not to leave until the good Lord provided her with some sort of answer, or at the very least, some small measure of peace.
Ever since Quinten had come into her life, Harriet had been plagued by events from her past. Emotions she’d thought safely tucked away had once again risen to the surface, refusing to stay buried. Now with young Harry staying under her roof, the demons within were becoming even harder to quiet.
God must have a reason for bringing this family to her. If only she could figure out why, perhaps s
he could resume her peaceful life.
She squeezed her eyes shut, but nothing blotted out the image of Harry’s battered body from her mind. The angry bruises, the swollen rib cage. What twelve-year-old boy deserved that?
And for that matter, what fifteen-year-old girl deserved to feel desperate enough to take her own life?
“Harriet?” A booming voice echoed over the silence of the space.
Her eyes flew open.
Geoffrey crossed in front of the altar, concern radiating from his face.
She blinked and only then realized her cheeks were wet.
“Is everything all right?” He stopped in front of her pew.
With a nod, she swiped the back of her hand across her cheeks. “I guess I got carried away with some overly zealous praying.” She held out a hand. “Help me up, will you? I think my knees are fused to this bench.”
He came into the pew and gently assisted her to her feet. “How long have you been here?” he asked.
“I don’t really know. I’ve lost track of the time. An hour or two maybe.”
“Then I think you’d better come with me, young lady.” He took her hand and steered her toward the hall beyond the sanctuary that led to his office.
“Young lady?” she huffed. “I think you need your prescription glasses changed.”
He laughed but held her hand tighter.
In his office, the lamp on his desk sent a yellow glow over a pile of papers and books. Obviously, he’d been in the middle of something, likely writing his sermon for Sunday.
“I don’t want to interrupt your work,” she said. “I’ll just head home.”
“Not before a conversation. Now sit.” He pointed to the chair across from the desk.
Because her knees still ached and her legs were shaky, she obeyed. For once without argument.
Instead of going behind the desk, Geoffrey dragged a chair over beside her. He sat down and took her hand in his. “Now, tell me what has you so rattled.”
“What makes you say—”
The Brightest of Dreams Page 15