A Lady of Hidden Intent (20 page)

“I pledge to you my friendship and help. I will endeavor to pray for you and your father. Catherine, don’t lose hope. God has not forgotten you.”

After five years of hearing various ministers preach powerful sermons from high pulpits, it was the words of this young woman that gave Catherine strength. She found herself clutching Winifred’s hands in gratitude.

“Thank you. You cannot possibly know what you have done for me. I feel . . . well . . . somehow renewed. Your words have restored me. I do not doubt that God hears me, but I do not understand why He waits so long to act. I do not doubt He cares, but I worry that His way of caring is much different from that which I so desperately need.”

“I do understand,” Winifred said, nodding. “I have watched my parents live in this loveless marriage and hate each other. My father keeps a mistress that we all try to pretend doesn’t exist. We are just four individuals existing in the same house . . . not really a family at all.”

“What about Carter? I know he loves you dearly.”

Winifred smiled. “Yes. He does love me. He has always made life bearable. But I fear he will not be here much longer.”

Catherine felt her chest tighten. “But why? Surely he would not desert you.”

“He told me it was time for him to set up for himself. When I asked him if he would remain in Philadelphia, he could not say. His buildings are so very important to him, and I suppose he shall go wherever his work is most appreciated.”

The thought of Carter’s leaving sent a wave of regret through Catherine’s heart. Regret for what might have been had she been free to accept his attention. Regret for the deception that she had to maintain to keep him at arm’s length.

Catherine forced the thoughts from her head. “I really should get back to work. We haven’t even fit the gown, and Mrs. Clarkson will expect me back soon.”

Winifred nodded. “One more thing. Carter once told me that we shouldn’t fear putting the past behind us. He said that God is about doing new things—creating beauty out of the ashes of despair and defeat. God can and will do that for you, Catherine.

I feel confident of it. I want you to feel confident of it too.”

Winifred’s words echoed in her head long after Catherine had returned to Mrs. Clarkson’s. She remembered Bible verses she’d marked in the forty-third chapter of Isaiah and went to look at them once again.

Taking up her father’s Bible she read,
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
She gave a sigh and closed the Bible, holding it close.

“I want to believe in a new thing, Lord. I want that more than anything. I want to forget the old things—the bad and ugly things that have sent me here. Please let me see your hand in all of this. Let me see the path through this wilderness.”

A knock sounded at her bedroom door, and Catherine immediately recognized it as Mrs. Clarkson and went to open the door.

“I saw the light and had hoped to talk to you before you retired for the evening,” Mrs. Clarkson stated. She held some papers in her hand and motioned to the small table where Catherine often sat to sew in private. “May I show you something?”

“Of course. Come in.” Catherine closed the door behind Mrs. Clarkson as she made her way to the table and spread out the papers.

“I wanted to surprise you with an early Christmas gift.” The older woman smiled. “I want to make you a partner.”

“Excuse me?” Catherine was sure she couldn’t have heard correctly.

“You have more than tripled my business in the last two years with your designs. You have brought prosperity upon this house in a way no other seamstress could have done. I am growing older, and although my age will not keep me from work for many years, I want to establish the person I want to take over when I am too elderly to work.

“As you know, I have no family, so I must name an heir from someone I trust. I want that heir to be you. When I am gone, you will know how to continue the business. You are an intelligent young woman who knows her own mind. You will not be easily swayed to bad choices.”

Catherine went to the table and skimmed the papers. Mrs. Clarkson had gone to a lawyer to have them drawn up, and the contents were quite explicit. It wasn’t until Catherine’s gaze caught the words
Catherine Shay
that she stopped and shook her head.

“This is all too much for me. I’m sorry. Let us discuss it another time.”

Without warning, Catherine fled from the room. She knew she must have appeared to be quite the ungrateful ninny to Mrs. Clarkson, but she couldn’t remain there to explain.

Pounding on Selma and Dugan’s door, Catherine practically fell into Selma’s arms when the woman opened it to see what was wrong. Tears poured down Catherine’s face, dampening Selma’s robe.

“What is it, child? What’s wrong?”

Catherine pulled away. “Everything. Everything is wrong. I cannot bear this charade any longer. Mrs. Clarkson trusts me. She trusts me so much she is ready to leave me all of her worldly goods in a will. She trusts me so much she drew up papers to have me made a partner in this establishment. It is a trust I do not deserve, as we both know.”

“Calm yourself, Catherine.” Selma drew her to the fire and motioned her to sit. “There is no problem too big for God to handle. If trust is to be mentioned, let us think of Him. There our trust is secure.”

“I cannot go on deceiving this good woman. I must find a way to explain.”

“Perhaps,” Dugan said, coming from the bedroom, “it is time to come clean on our circumstances.”

“You mean tell Mrs. Clarkson everything?” Catherine asked. Selma exchanged a look with her husband as he nodded. “Perhaps it is time to do just that.”

CHAPTER 14

S
o what do you think?” Leander asked, showing Carter a delicate bracelet of gold and coral.

“It’s lovely,” Carter replied, only half interested. But then he realized Leander had purchased this for his sister. “You’re going to give this to Winifred?”

“I thought I would. Look, my time in New York and your declaration of feelings for Catherine have caused me to realize I care very deeply for Winifred. I can honestly say that I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. I’m just sorry it took me so long to see.”

Carter grinned. “Hurrah! Then soon you shall be my brother.” He clasped Leander’s shoulder and smiled. “I couldn’t be happier.”

“Well, we might find your father of a different mind.” Leander closed the box containing the bracelet.

“I think Father can be managed well enough. Come to dinner. I will praise you and even mention that you’ve recently inherited a fortune from your grandfather.”

“It is but a small inheritance,” Leander countered.

“An inheritance nevertheless,” Carter said, grinning. “We needn’t tell him the amount. That would hardly be expected, and my father, although ill-mannered, would never ask.”

Leander shook his head. “Would that he might be more considerate of his daughter’s happiness.”

“Or my mother’s,” Carter countered. “My father only concerns himself with his own happiness. My brother has embraced that teaching in full.”

“Then it is up to you to break the mold, and I believe you’ve already shown yourself worthy of respect.”

“Not my father’s respect, I’m afraid. But I shall endeavor to put that aside. I know I am doing what I feel is right. Come to supper and we shall see this matter put in order.”

Carter watched his father assess Leander from across the table. He seemed preoccupied, but Carter thought that to his friend’s advantage. After his father downed his third glass of wine, he leaned back in his chair.

“With the women busy elsewhere, we might as well discuss your proposal to court my daughter. I know your father’s repu- tation and have heard you are doing quite well,” Elger Danby began.

“My practice has tripled in less than a year,” Leander said, holding Danby’s gaze. “I believe it will continue to build.”

“Your family has a long history in this town.”

“Yes, sir,” Leander agreed. “My mother’s people settled here in the early 1700s.”

“And I’m told you recently received an inheritance from your mother’s late father.”

Carter shook his head and tossed his napkin on the table, hoping to avert more specific inquiries. “Father, it hardly seems appropriate to discuss such matters.”

“This man wishes to court and possibly marry your sister. I have to be certain that he will be able to properly care for her.”

Leander continued to fix his gaze on Elger Danby. “I don’t mind the questioning. I have received an inheritance from my grandfather.”

Danby’s questioning was interrupted when Carter’s brother made a surprise appearance. “There are problems we need to discuss,” Robin said, completely unmindful of the company his father shared.

“Good evening to you too, Robin,” Carter said rather sarcastically.

Robin looked at him for a moment, then noted Leander. “I apologize, but this matter is of the utmost concern.”

Their father got to his feet. “Mr. Arlington, you have my permission to pursue Winifred. It would serve this family well to have a knowledgeable lawyer in our numbers.”

Robin frowned and looked at Leander. Carter thought for a moment he might protest, but he said nothing. Carter breathed a sigh of relief.

“If you’ll excuse me now, I’ll attend to this matter in my private quarters.” Elger Danby left Carter and Lee and immediately began conversing with Robin as they made their way upstairs.

“What a relief,” Carter said, pushing back from the table.

“Perhaps it’s the only time I’ve been truly happy to see Robin impose himself in such a manner.”

Lee nodded and pulled a watch from his pocket. “I should be going. After all, I got what I came for.” He smiled and Carter clapped him on the back.

“You’ll need to let Winifred know. She had no idea that you meant to talk to Father about this tonight, did she?”

“No. I didn’t wish to get her hopes up.”

“Probably a wise decision. But now that you’ve accomplished the matter, she’ll be delighted.”

Lee allowed Wilson to help him with his coat. “Why don’t we have dinner at my house on Sunday. We can invite both Winifred and Catherine. If your sister asks Catherine to come, then we are certain to see her in attendance. I know it would help your cause, as well as mine.”

Carter grinned. “I believe I would like that arrangement.” He reached out and touched Leander’s shoulder. “I pray this works to the benefit of us all. I can think of nothing I would like more than having my sister happily settled with you.”

“And Catherine happily settled with you?” Leander said with a smile.

“I don’t suppose that would cause me any distress,” he laughed, giving Lee a firm pat on the back. “We’ll see you Sunday.”

Catherine found herself in the Arlington parlor, surrounded by people she didn’t really know. The room was small but charming. Done up in hues of red and brown, it gave a warm feeling of comfort and family.

Mrs. Arlington was kind and welcoming, not caring in the least that Catherine was a seamstress. She had commented about hearing Carter and Catherine’s names so often mentioned among her friends that she was certain there must be some sort of conspiracy to see them linked. She also mentioned in a hushed tone her pleasure in seeing her son take an intimate interest in Winifred.