“Ladies,” Seth said, motioning them all to draw near, “I know you are worried about this situation. I personally don’t believe that you are in any further danger. The book that was stolen was the very article I believe the thief was seeking.”
“Who steals a book?” Bedelia asked. “It could hardly have been worth much.”
“In this particular case it was worth quite a bit.” Seth saw no reason to tell them everything, but it was important they feel safe. “Nancy had been asked about this book, but her knowledge of it was limited. She happened upon it and didn’t realize that this was what the man sought.”
“What man?” Bedelia demanded. All gazes went to Nancy.
Seth wasn’t going to let the matter fall on her shoulders. “A former customer of her husband’s. He was looking for proof of an order he had purchased. It’s all being managed by John Lincoln and myself, and I cannot go into more detail at this time. However, I want you to know that I will take personal responsibility for you ladies and this house. I will stay here tonight to ensure that you all feel safe.”
The ladies glanced at one another. Mrs. Weaver spoke up first. “I think that would be a wise idea. Just in case the man tries to return.”
“It’s hardly appropriate to have a man in a houseful of women to whom he’s not related,” Bedelia began. “However, given our fears, I cannot protest. It would be a comfort to know someone was here keeping watch.”
Seth knew she was the one to win over. “I could sleep on the porch if that makes you more comfortable.”
Bedelia frowned. “The porch? But you would never hear if someone were actually in the house. No, I believe you should sleep here on the sofa. Our bedrooms are all upstairs, except for Nancy’s.” Her frown deepened as she looked at Nancy. “You have a lock on your door, don’t you? Perhaps Mr. Carpenter’s sister could share your room tonight.”
Nancy nodded. “I am not opposed to that. I am just as afraid of this situation as you are.” She looked at Clementine, who nodded her approval.
“It’s settled, then.” Seth smiled. “But I need to leave you ladies for a short time so I can collect a few things.”
“I hope one of those things is a firearm,” Bedelia declared. Cornelia gasped and put a hand to her mouth.
Seth nodded. “Indeed.”
“Just don’t go shooting one of us if we venture downstairs in the night,” the spinster declared with a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Perhaps just for tonight,” Seth said, looking at each woman, “you could all refrain from venturing downstairs. That way, if I hear anyone moving about, I will know I’m free to shoot.”
“He’s right, of course,” Bedelia replied. “We must all remain upstairs once we retire. It will be to everyone’s safety, including Mr. Carpenter’s.”
Seth might have laughed out loud, but he had the strangest thought that he wouldn’t put it past Bedelia Clifton to have a gun of her own. And while he truly didn’t believe Hanson, Berkshire, or any of their hirelings would be back, he certainly didn’t want to have a shootout with the spinster.
After all, she might win.
Nancy found it almost impossible to sleep knowing Seth was just down the hall in the front room. Clementine, on the other hand, slept like a log. She didn’t so much as roll over. Staring at the ceiling, Nancy wondered if Seth was right and Gerome Berkshire was at the head of all this trouble. He had made a pest of himself since Albert’s death, and even before. She had always felt uncomfortable with his attention and wondered why Albert never seemed to notice.
She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but when she awakened hours later, Nancy felt surprisingly rested. She also realized that they’d made it safely through the night without any intruders. At least she hoped that was the case.
Careful not to awaken Clementine, Nancy slipped from the bed and dressed quickly in a brown skirt and ivory-colored pleated blouse with a high collar, buttoning up the front. Used to tending to her own needs, Nancy combed out her long brown hair and plaited it into a single braid that she wrapped into a knot at the nape of her neck and pinned into place. She looked simple and modest. Would Seth like what he saw?
“Mmm, what time is it?” Clementine murmured from the bed.
“Early. I need to start breakfast. Go back to sleep.” Nancy unlocked and opened her bedroom door just as the grandfather clock chimed the hour. “It’s five, to be exact.”
Clementine rolled over and pulled the covers high. “I’ll be up shortly.”
“I’ll have breakfast on the table by six as usual.”
But before Nancy could reach the kitchen, she caught a whiff of coffee and something else. She frowned. Who was cooking in her kitchen?
She came through the dining room and into the kitchen and found Seth standing over the stove, humming. She paused to watch him for a moment, smiling at the very domestic sight. He’d apparently decided to attempt breakfast. In truth, he looked surprisingly at ease.
“Albert would have been struck dead before lowering himself to cook,” she said, announcing her presence.
Seth didn’t even turn around. “Then he didn’t have a mother such as mine, who declared that every young man should be able to cook for himself in case he found himself waiting well into adulthood for the right woman to marry.”
Nancy giggled. “My mother used to say something like that to my brothers. Gabe and James are quite adept in the kitchen. In fact, I hate to admit it, but their biscuits might even be better than mine.”
Seth glanced over his shoulder. “That I find highly doubtful.” He went back to tending the skillet. “Did you sleep well?”
Grabbing her apron as she crossed the room, Nancy shook her head. “Not at first. It seemed strange to have you here and even harder to accept that someone had broken into the house. Your sister, however, slept like the dead.”
He turned and frowned. “Didn’t you trust me to keep you safe?”
Nancy tied her apron around her waist. “Of course I did, but it was disconcerting to know there was a man in the house and that the house is apparently easy to break into.” She came to the stove and saw that he’d just put bacon into a skillet and was frying it up. “Here, let me.”
“No. I want to prove to you that I’m fully capable. The coffee is brewing and should be ready soon.”
“Then I’ll start making biscuits and bread. I have never seen women who love their bread and rolls as much as this bunch do.”
Seth laughed and turned his attention back to the skillet. “Do you suppose there might be cinnamon rolls?”
Nancy smirked and reached for her jar of ground cinnamon. “I think that could be arranged.”
“Your baking is the best I’ve ever had. I can’t imagine your brothers are capable of anything better. Your biscuits are as light as a cloud.”
Nancy smiled as she took out her mixing bowls. “Be that as it may, bread isn’t really what’s occupying my thoughts at the moment. What do you think I should do about Albert’s journal?”
“Nothing.”
She looked at him, but he ignored her. “Nothing?”
“I don’t want you to do anything about any of this. You don’t understand these men. If they’re part of the bunch I think they are, then they’re very dangerous sorts.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about them for having just come to the area.”
“Not at all. Any law-abiding man who has paid attention to what’s going on in the area knows these things. Your brother and I talked at length about it. He said your aunt and uncle have been battling to keep whiskey off the reservation. It always leads to trouble and yet it’s always so readily available. I just know that when men put their minds together to create a problem where none should exist, they are generally motivated by greed, and greedy men are dangerous.”
Nancy shrugged and retrieved the flour from the pantry. “I suppose that makes sense. Still, I know where one of those maps led. I want to find it for myself and see what’s there. T
hose men may have Albert’s journal, but they’re going to be as confused as I was.”
“Not necessarily. You said that the maps were drawings of the rivers. There are a great many men in Portland who know every inch of the Willamette and Columbia. They may well take one look at those maps and recognize the place without need of longitude and latitude.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Nancy had been so perplexed by the maps that she presumed everyone would have the same difficulty, but what Seth said made good sense. There were a great many rivermen in the area, and from the details that Albert had put in, someone was bound to identify the location.
“What I think you should do is tell me where Albert took you picnicking, and I’ll check it out myself,” Seth said.
“Why can’t I help you?”
“Because, as I said, these men are dangerous. I don’t want you putting yourself into a position where you might get killed.”
“Like Albert.”
“Yes.”
She frowned. “I never even knew he had left the house until the police showed up at my door to tell me he’d been fished from the river.” She shook her head. “Had we shared a room, I might have been able to stop him from going. From being killed.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Nancy.”
“I know. But I feel there must be something I can do to help find his killer. Don’t I owe him that much?”
She stopped and looked at Seth, who was watching her. He came to her and placed a hand on her arm. “No. I don’t think you owe him anything. You gave him eight years of your life, and this is how he repaid you. He lied to you and involved himself in who knows what dangerous activities. He didn’t care about the risk to you, but instead willingly associated himself with men who, unless I am mistaken, were responsible for ending his life. Men who could do the same to you, or worse. Nancy, this isn’t a child’s game. Promise me you won’t go looking for trouble.”
“I never go looking for trouble.” She smiled, hoping it would ease the worried look in his eyes. “It just always seems to find me. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t be here now, talking to you in the kitchen at five in the morning. Speaking of which, I need to get my bread and biscuits made.”
“And cinnamon rolls,” he said, grinning.
“Yes, and cinnamon rolls,” she replied with a smile, hoping he didn’t see the worry she felt.
If Albert truly had been murdered, then what was to stop his killer from coming after her? Perhaps he was the one who’d broken into her house. The one who could just as easily do it again.
Chapter 16
Despite assuring Seth that she would do what she could to avoid trouble, when Gerome Berkshire came calling with an invitation to a birthday party being held in his honor, Nancy saw it as the perfect opportunity. Seth was convinced Berkshire was a part of the weapons and whiskey conspiracy and perhaps had even instigated the break-in at her home. If she spent the evening in his company, maybe he would accidentally tell her something. Something to help her understand if he’d had a part in Albert’s criminal activities.
“It would be such an honor to have you with me for my birthday,” Gerome said, sitting opposite her in the front room. He balanced the cup of tea she’d given him with the grace and elegance of man used to such finery.
“Where is this party to be held?” She didn’t want to appear too eager, but if she could spend a little time with Gerome, maybe he would reveal what he and Albert had planned.
“At the home of Samuel Lakewood and his wife, Deborah. It will be only the finest of society,” he assured her.
“And who might accompany us?”
“Accompany us?” He looked confused.
“Yes, to act as chaperone.” She took a sip of her tea. “I must guard my reputation, after all. It’s bad enough that I’ve broken with tradition and not held to a year in mourning.”
“Yes, but you’re an adult and a widowed woman. It’s not like you’re a young maid, innocent of the affairs of man.” His smile verged on leering.
“Perhaps it’s because I’m not a young maid innocent of the affairs of man that I feel the need for a chaperone.” She kept her expression serious. “I believe a Christian woman should guard her reputation at all costs, whether she’s a maid, wife, or widow.”
Clementine came into the front room. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were entertaining. I’ll find another spot to read.”
“Nonsense,” Nancy said, spotting in Clementine a perfect partner for her plan. “Mimi has just stepped out to get her book. We don’t need privacy. Mr. Berkshire just invited me to a birthday party in his honor. I wonder if you would consider going with me as my companion.”
Clementine looked surprised but then nodded. “I might, if I knew when the event is to take place.”
“Friday evening. Mr. Berkshire said he would call for us at seven.”
Nancy could see that Gerome was anything but glad about this, but he said nothing.
“I believe I can go with you. As far as I recall, my calendar is clear,” Clementine said, sounding only slightly hesitant. “Is it formal?”
“Of course,” Gerome replied, his tone edged with unmistakable disgust. “Do you honestly suppose it would be otherwise?”
“Your attitude is hardly called for.” Nancy gave him a reproaching glare. “Schoolteachers don’t often go to formal affairs. Neither do I. I was going to ask the same thing.”
He regained his composure and apologized. “I’m sorry. I’m on edge, since there have been rumors of Indian troubles. I hesitate to mention such things, however, as I don’t want you to be afraid to come to the party.”
“There are always rumors of Indian troubles.” Nancy smiled. “But as for your party, Clementine and I will be appropriately gowned and ready for you at seven on Friday. For now, however, I have other work that needs my attention. I hope you understand.”
He put his cup and saucer aside. “Of course. I’m delighted that you agreed to accompany me.” He glanced at Clementine, who stood silently watching him. “And you too, Miss Carpenter.”
Nancy showed him out and then returned to the front room, where Clementine could no longer remain silent.
“What in the world was that about? I thought you were . . . well, I didn’t think you liked him.”
“I don’t. However, he knows something about what was going on with Albert, and your brother believes he might well have been behind the burglary here at the house.”
“That’s hardly a reason to spend an evening with him. Seth didn’t want you doing anything to endanger yourself.”
“That’s why you’re going to accompany me. But please say nothing to Seth. There are just some things I feel I must do, and I know your brother wouldn’t approve. If you can’t help me, then I’ll go alone.”
“Seth would never forgive me. Besides, I’m intrigued enough by this entire affair to want to satisfy my own curiosity.” She smiled. “And I suppose we can’t get into too much trouble at a formal birthday party given by one of the town’s privileged and elite.”
Nancy laughed. “That was my thinking. Frankly, I’m far more concerned about Gerome trying to steal a kiss than putting my life in jeopardy.”
Clementine shrugged. “I’m not sure what to wear, though. I have nothing that is really formal.”
“I have an attic full of gowns in storage, and we’re very nearly the same size. We’ll figure something out.”
Friday night arrived sooner than Nancy had expected. Throughout the week, she had considered at least mentioning the outing to Seth but always changed her mind. He was sweet on her and would never approve of her stepping out with Gerome, even for the purpose of learning more about his business dealings with Albert. Not only that, but Seth hadn’t really been around. He’d come once on Wednesday to escort Clementine to an evening function, and that had been Nancy’s only real chance to speak to him. Besides, if Clementine had said nothing to him, then surely it wasn’t that important. After all,
Nancy could hardly keep her friend from telling her brother about the event. Since Clementine had deemed it acceptable to refrain, Nancy didn’t feel so bad.
At least that was what she told herself. Nancy still couldn’t help but feel some guilt. She knew Seth didn’t want her involved, but the way she saw it, Albert had already involved her long ago, and now Gerome was perpetuating that arrangement. When Seth found out, he was going to be upset with her, but she would find a way to justify it and smooth things over. When they were young, Seth had been very logical in his arguments, so she would use logic to persuade him that she had done right. They both thought Gerome had played a role in this matter, so taking the opportunity to spend time with him in circumstances where his guard would be down seemed wise. Of course, Nancy understood that there was some risk, but surely having Clementine with her would negate that.
Seeing that time was getting away from her, Nancy hurried to dress. She chose a green silk gown that she’d never worn. It had arrived just days before Albert’s death, and she hadn’t even bothered to try it on. Now, as she modeled it in front of her mirror, she was happy to see that the fit was perfect and the color alluring. It drew out the green of her eyes and looked lovely against her creamy complexion. The bodice was more modest than some of her other evening attire, and that was the way she wanted it. The last thing she needed was Gerome and his friends ogling her throughout the evening.
Next she battled her hair, pulling it high atop her head. She secured it with two ivory combs Albert had given her for her twenty-fifth birthday, then heated the curling iron to manage some of the escaping hair. This was the only time when she really missed having a maid or at least a mother or sister around to help.
Finally, just before seven, Nancy finished the last curl. When she looked in the mirror, she was pleased with the outcome. She drew a deep breath. Hopefully she could escape the house without any complications. She had asked Clementine if Seth was wise to their plans, and Clementine had assured Nancy that he was busy with work and that she had told him nothing. The Clifton sisters were also occupied with a lecture at the Methodist church this evening, so they wouldn’t be there to criticize Nancy’s departure. That left Mimi and Mrs. Weaver, and neither of them would cause any trouble.
Secrets of My Heart Page 16