Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Book #1) (44 page)

“But I adored you,” Lilly said, shaking her head. “I used to plead with Mother to tell me why you were mad at me. I wanted so much for us to be close.”

An expression of pain crossed Lewis’s face. “I suppose it’s too late for that now.”

Lilly squeezed his hand. “Of course it’s not too late. We’ve already grown closer just in the past few months. Remember when you showed up here in Lowell? I wanted nothing to do with you. The past, and all that stood between us, was too much to contend with. You were planning to use the girls for your greater gain. . . .”

“Which I did and am now deeply ashamed.”

“What made the difference, Lewis?”

He made a halting step but quickly recovered. “Coming face to face with who I am and what I’m capable of doing made me realize just how far I’d sunk. I can’t change the past, Lilly, and I’m certain there is no future—not for someone like me.”

“But . . .”

He shook his head. “Let’s forget such sad things and enjoy the music. I’ll soon be returning to Philadelphia, and I desire to enjoy a pleasant moment with you before I go.”

They continued dancing through several musical arrangements, Lewis seeming to enjoy Lilly’s company. He spoke of his excitement over his new business venture and beginning his life anew while Lilly listened attentively, thrilled by his report.

Returning her to the table where Matthew sat, he said, “I think I should dance with Prudence. I believe I owe her an explanation of my disappearance,” Lewis told Lilly. “You need not fear. I don’t plan to woo her, merely tell her I’ve moved to Philadelphia.”

Lilly gave Lewis an endearing smile, watching as he walked toward the table where Pru and several other girls were seated.

“If he weren’t your brother, I believe I would be overwrought with jealousy,” Matthew softly remarked as he and Lilly approached a table laden with punch bowls and silver trays filled with tiny sandwiches and cookies. “Your face is fairly aglow with love.”

Lilly took a sip of her punch. “There’s been such a wonderful change in Lewis. It appears he’s finally become the man God intended him to be. I can’t believe the change.”

“I must admit he appears to be happy and content. And from the cut of his suit, I’d say his new business opportunity has already proved financially successful.” Matthew glanced about and said, “Don’t look now, but Thaddeus Arnold and his wife are walking in this direction.”

Lilly stiffened. “He’s never made good on his threat that things weren’t yet resolved.” She continued to drink her punch, even as she watched the man from across the room.

“I’m telling you, Lilly, his threats were probably nothing more than manly pride. Men don’t like to have their plans altered—especially by women.”

“Well, he does appear to treat all of the girls on our floor with dignity and is evenhanded in his decisions.
And
I can now sleep at night without fear of hearing his wife crying out in pain during the night.”

Matthew held up the punch ladle and raised his eyebrows. “More?” he inquired.

Lilly nodded and held out her cup. “Good evening, Miss Armbruster and Mr. Cheever,” Mrs. Arnold greeted as she came alongside them. “Mr. Arnold stopped to talk with one of the men. I thought I would have a cup of punch,” she explained. “And I wanted to thank you,” she whispered to Lilly.

Lilly snapped to attention at the word of thanks. “For what?” she cautiously questioned.

“Well, I’m not sure I rightly know the truth of it, but I know you had something to do with the change in Mr. Arnold.” She smiled and lifted the cup of punch. “Sometimes he still loses his temper, but he’s never laid a hand on me since the day he came home ranting and raving something about you and the church.”

Mrs. Arnold’s face revealed how the years of worry and harsh treatment had taken their toll. Lilly patted her arm. “I cannot take credit for anything. I’m just glad to have your company in church and at our ladies’ social gatherings. Your quilting puts them all to shame.”

Mrs. Arnold blushed. “Oh . . . I . . . well, thank you.”

Thaddeus Arnold arrived at that moment. He looked at Matthew and nodded before fixing his gaze on Lilly. Lilly shivered, recognizing his dislike of her.

“Miss Armbruster. Mr. Cheever. Good to see you both.” He looked to his wife. “If you two will excuse us, I intend to dance with my wife.”

Lilly watched the smiling woman put down her cup. She took hold of her husband’s arm with a cautiousness born out of experience. Lilly wondered if the woman would ever have a truly peaceful life.

Matthew finished his plate of sandwiches and held out his hand to Lilly. “I believe this dance is mine.”

Lilly pushed aside her thoughts of Mrs. Arnold and nodded. Allowing Matthew to lead her onto the dance floor, Lilly relished the gaiety of the moment. “This is one of the happiest days of my life. I see the work God has done in my heart, and I can only thank Him. And Lewis! Would you believe that before he left Lowell, he told me he was going to set fire to the Merrimack? And now he’s—”

“What?” Matthew interrupted, stopping midstep. “Lewis threatened to set fire to one of the mills, and you didn’t tell me? Why would you withhold such vital information, Lilly?”

“Could we continue dancing before we cause a spectacle?”

Matthew jerked into motion. “Well?” he insistently questioned as he began to maneuver her through the crowd of dancers.

“Lewis told me he had become entangled with a disreputable scoundrel who threatened to ruin him if he didn’t set the fire. He believed he had no options, but after we talked, he decided he would leave Lowell and begin his life anew somewhere else. When he left town that night, I saw no reason to tell anyone. Lewis wouldn’t tell me any of the particulars or the name of anyone else involved. He feared I would come to harm if I knew too many details. Besides, the threat to the mills and the possible destruction of human life were gone. To taint Lewis’s name when he’d actually done nothing would have been unfair.”

“I suppose you’re right. Still, I wish you had confided in me,” Matthew replied as the music stopped. He took hold of Lilly and led her toward their table. “So what brings him back to Lowell? Can the threat have passed so quickly?”

Lilly gave him a look of consternation. “He said he was anxious to see me. I believe he wanted to show me he was doing well and had begun making changes in his life. How silly of me! I should have realized he was putting himself in harm’s way and immediately sent him on his way. Instead, I all but forced him to come to the ball and make a public appearance.”

Matthew gently pressed his thumb along a crease in Lilly’s brow. “It’s a beautiful night and a lovely party. We shouldn’t be discussing anything more distressing than the fact that the punch is overly sweet. Forget my thoughtless prying,” Matthew said, giving her a tender smile. “Why don’t we step outside for a moment and get some air?”

Lilly nodded her head in agreement, anxious to push the unpleasant thoughts into the recesses of her mind. Lewis had returned a changed man, and nothing else mattered right now.

They stepped outside, and Lilly shivered from the chill of the night air but said nothing. She wanted very much to sort through her feelings for Matthew and to better understand his for her. Still, it was hard to speak her mind. She was enjoying a tender balance of emotions and actions on both her part and Matthew’s. She had come a long way in learning to control her temper and had come to realize that Matthew’s choices had not been as unwisely made as she had originally believed. With that thought in mind, she turned to face Matthew.

“I want to apologize,” she said.

“For what?”

“I’ve treated you poorly these last few years. I’ve blamed you for the inevitable changes on the land. I pushed you away in my bitterness.”

“I never wanted to see you hurt, Lilly. I never realized what my choices would mean to you,” Matthew replied softly. “Given the fact I intended to marry you, I should have discussed the entire matter more thoroughly with you.”

Lilly felt warmed by his words and looked away. She didn’t know if she could bear to talk about what she’d lost with Matthew. She shivered again and rubbed her arms.

“Come on, let’s get you back inside,” Matthew said, reaching out to take hold of Lilly. “We’ve had enough confessing and apologizing for one evening.”

Lilly smiled and nodded. “Besides, we might have people talking if we stay out here too long.”

Matthew chuckled. “Let them talk. Better yet, maybe we should give them something to talk about.”

Chapter 33

The swirl of colorful dancers blended with the lively music. They were dancing a reel, swaying in and out of the aligned ranks, when Lilly and Matthew came back to the room. Addie and John seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, which to Lilly was no surprise. What was surprising, however, was the fact that Miss Mintie and Lawrence Gault were among the dancing couples. Furthermore, Miss Mintie was actually laughing out loud. Lilly couldn’t help but smile and motion to Matthew.

“It’s amazing what the right man can do in the life of a lonely woman.”

“I’ve heard that to be very true,” Matthew said, leaning close to her ear. “And likewise, the right woman can completely fill the heart of a lonely man.”

Lilly met his gaze, his lips only inches from hers. She wanted very much for Matthew to kiss her—for him to be the right man who would forever change her loneliness. Moving a fraction of an inch closer, she prayed he might understand.

“Fire! Fire! The Merrimack!” A chilling silence momentarily quieted the frivolity of the ball. Then suddenly chair legs began scraping across the wooden floors as the men jumped to their feet and rushed from the room.

Lilly pulled away, looking frantically around the room. “Where’s Lewis?”

Matthew took a moment to survey the crowd. “I don’t see him, Lilly. I must get over to the Merrimack.”

“Do be careful,” she urged, watching as Matthew hurried off with John Farnsworth and a limping Kirk Boott, who followed behind.

Lilly grasped Addie’s arm, hoping her friend would provide a steadying influence. “I must find Lewis.”

“I’m sure he’s gone with the other men to help put out the fire. There doesn’t appear to be a man left in the room. Even Mr. Whiting’s gone to help,” she soothingly replied.

Once again scanning the room, Lilly took Addie’s hand and moved away from their table. “Let’s find Prudence. Lewis was going off to dance with her about an hour ago. I didn’t see him after that.”

Addie pointed toward the door. “There she is—with Marmi.”

Stretching up to wave, Lilly called out and quickly crossed the room. “Pru, where’s Lewis? Have you seen him?” she asked, silently praying that Prudence would say he had been with her all evening.

Prudence shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, Lilly. We only danced one dance. He apologized for treating me boorishly last winter. He also told me he had moved to Philadelphia and said he wasn’t going to be in Lowell for long. I accepted his apology, and we parted after the dance. After that, I’m not sure where he went.”

“Shouldn’t we go over to the fire? Perhaps there’s something we can do to help,” Lilly suggested while silently praying that Lewis’s reappearance in Lowell and the fire were merely a coincidence.

“I don’t know that we can be of much assistance, but at least we can see how much damage has been done,” Addie replied.

Clustered together, they scurried off toward the Merrimack with Mintie and Addie leading the way. Smoke filled their nostrils as they hastened down French Street. Mintie slowed her pace as soot showered down from the glowing sky. Several small explosions filled the air as windows shattered and leaping flames engorged with fresh air soared toward the heavens. Fire illuminated the mill yard as the harried men frantically worked to extinguish the blaze. As they approached, several men could be seen leaning over a moaning figure.

Pointing a finger toward the groaning form, Prudence turned toward Lilly, her face etched in horror. “Lilly, look—someone’s been burned!”

Lilly felt a deep sense of dread. As she pushed closer, edging through the congregated men, she feared the worst. Although he was burned almost beyond recognition, Lilly knew it was the body of her brother. She fell to her knees beside Lewis, tears in her eyes. His breathing was shallow and irregular as he lay unconscious on the cold ground.

“Oh, Lewis, no,” Lilly moaned.

The quiet murmur of conversation was interrupted by William Thurston’s determined voice rising above the crowd. “I, for one, can attest to what happened here tonight. I was out for an evening stroll as I am wont to do on evenings when I need to clear my head and think,” he pontificated.

“Has anyone sent for a doctor?” Lilly shouted toward the men that encircled her brother’s body.

“Yes, yes, of course,” William Thurston replied, obviously irritated by the interruption. Loudly clearing his throat, he regained the attention of the crowd. “As I was saying, I was out for my evening stroll when I came upon Lewis wrestling with several Irishmen—apparently the ones who had set fire to the building. It appeared Lewis was unable to apprehend the culprits. As I quickened my pace and drew closer, I saw Lewis rushing forward, attempting to douse the blaze. It was then his clothing caught fire, leaving him in this tragic condition.”

Lewis groaned, his eyes fluttered open, and he began mumbling, beckoning Lilly closer, but someone held her back.

Lilly looked up to see William Thurston’s intense expression. He gripped her shoulders to keep her from drawing closer to Lewis and dropped to one knee. “Don’t talk, Lewis. You need to save your strength,” he said, the words a hushed command. He looked to Lilly, saying, “It’s for the best.”

“Mr. Boott wants to talk to you, Mr. Thurston. He heard you were privy to some information regarding the fire,” a soot-covered worker called out.

Thurston hesitated. “Don’t say anything, Lewis,” he ordered. “Do you hear me? Nothing!” He stood and straightened his coat before strutting off to meet with Kirk Boott.

Lilly looked after the man momentarily before turning her attention back to her brother. “Lewis, can you hear me?” Lilly whispered. “Please don’t die,” she begged, choking back her tears.