Perfect in My Sight (3 page)

“
Yes, well, it has yet to be accepted by
the British Braille authorities,
though it has been used with some success at the Perkin
’
s Institute in Boston. It is
quite
similar to Louis Braille
’
s system, but the new code
’
s key feature is that the most frequently recurring letters are represented by the
smallest number of dots. Therefore, it may be written and read more quickly.
”
She glanced at Mel out of the
corner
of her eye and saw that she was nodding her approval.
“
The New York Point System, on the other hand,
”
she continued, encouraged,
“
though at present it receives much favor, is a bulky and confusing system. I wouldn
’
t recommend it at all.
”

“
And so you would propose to teach my son this Modified Braille?
”

“
The choice is solely at your discretion, of course, Mr. Holland. I am merely giving
you my humble opinion. I am quite capable of instructing him in any of the codes we
’
ve discussed, but yes, I do have strong leanings toward the Modified Braille. And
yet... I should caution you to consider that most of what is published already is
published in accordance with the British Braille authorities. That does not mean,
however, it will always be so. The debate is quite heated at the moment, and there
is a diversity of opinion as to which code is actually the better
code
. There are strong advocates for both the New York Point System as well as the Modified,
but as yet, as I said, the British Braille authorities do not recognize either.
”

“
You certainly seem to know your work, Miss Hopkins.
”

Sarah felt nearly dizzy with relief at his approval. Not that she gave a blast what
he thought of her truly. She was merely relieved that he had accepted her story.

“
Now I would like to know why it is you are applying for this position.
”

Because she wanted to catch a murderer!

The directness of his question startled her only an instant.

She took a deep breath.
“
Because I was not always blind, Mr. Holland,
”
she replied, repeating the story she and Mel had rehearsed.

She came aware of the sound of footsteps, and tilted her head toward the new
comer
, not daring to turn and acknowledge the person with her glance. It wasn
’
t easy to catch herself at every gesture, but she must do her absolute best. It was
crucial she not give herself away. She closed her eyes now, and kept them closed,
forcing herself to see the room only through the confines of her mind.

“
I had a friend, you see, when I most desperately needed one,
”
she continued passionately, and silently berated herself for not considering acting
as a career.
“My tutor
... he inspired me when I thought nothing might. He taught me that my blindness was
not a death sentence, Mr. Holland, and that I need not waste myself with self-pity
and lamentations. Someone cared enough to give all that to me, and I only wish to
give it back.
”

The room remained silent.

She heard his intake of breath and knew he was moved by her words.

“
That is certainly commendable,
”
he said after a contemplative moment.

“
You see,
”
she continued, encouraged,
“
there must be a reason under the sun for everything, Mr. Holland. And I refuse to
allow my own accident to pass in vain.
”

“
Y
ou are quite a remarkable woman.”

Sarah opened her eyes.

The sincerity in his tone was disarming.

The way he was looking at her was even more so. It was a look she wasn
’t supposed to see
behind her dark glasses, and yet she did.
Her heart hammered a strange beat against her breast.
She had to will herself to breathe.

It was dangerous to believe him capable of human compassion, she reminded herself.
Any man who could murder his wife so coldly had a heart as black as coal.

Peter Holland was a dangerous man—more so because he bore the face of an angel.

He wasn
’
t an angel, but a heartless killer.
Rumors alluded to it and Mary’s growing unhappiness certainly didn’t absolve him.

“
Thank you,
”
Sarah answered, a little breathlessly.

What the devil was wrong with her?

“
Well, then ...
”
He turned to look at Christopher.
“
Are you ready to conduct the interview, sport?
”

Sarah could
scarcely
see the little face that lit with excitement behind the massive desk. She was grateful
for the sudden turn of Peter
’
s attention.

“
I really can do it, Daddy?
”
Christopher asked, bubbling over with enthusiasm. And yet he didn
’
t rise up on his knees as Sarah expected most boys would have done. He didn
’
t vie for a better view of her. He didn
’
t look her in the face. He merely sat within his father
’
s chair, glowing with excitement.

“
Of course,
”
his father replied.
“
She
’
s all yours, son.
”

Sarah smiled despite herself at his choice of words.

“
What should I ask her, Daddy?
”
he whispered anxiously, and seemed to think, perhaps, that no one but his father
could hear.

“
Ask whatever you wish,
”
Sarah answered.
“
What may I tell you that will convince you to give me employ?
”

“
Ummm,
”
he replied a little uncertainly, and placed a finger to his head, as though to touch
upon the a
nswer in his brain. “Do you
keep taffy in your dress coat?
”
he asked.

Sarah smiled, forgetting her darker thoughts in the face of such sweet innocence.
“
Why, yes, I do!
”
she confessed, and resolved to do so,
“
though sometimes, I fear, I sneak them for myself. But shhh,
”
she urged him.
“
Don
’
t tell anyone.
”

He giggled, and Sarah had to restrain herself from peering over the desk to better
see his expression. He had his mother
’
s laughter, she thought—that impish little giggle that made one want to giggle, too,
even when one wasn
’
t certain what the laughter was about.

“
Next question?
”
she prompted him, and was very much aware that his fat
her was watching them carefully
... and someone else was watching too.

Sarah sensed the scrutiny upon her and yet dared not turn to see who it was that watched
from the doorway behind her.

“
Ummm,
”
he said again, and paused awhile to think. He cast his head back, as though to gaze
up at the ceiling in contemplation. Sarah tried to remain sober at the sight of him.
“
Do you have a little boy of your own?
”
he asked next, surprising her with the question.

Sarah smiled again.
“
Why, no, I don
’
t. Nor a little girl, though I wish very much that I did,
”
she confessed.

“
Then why don
’
t you get one?
”
he suggested with the innocence of a child.

Sarah laughed at that.
“
Well, it is not quite so simple as all that, I
’
m afraid.
”

“
Why not?
”
he persisted, and Sarah caught herself before she could glance up into his father
’
s face.

She wasn
’
t even certain why she was compelled to, and the realization perturbed her.

She frowned.
“
Because I don
’
t wish to marry, is why.
”

“
Oh,
”
he replied, and seemed to ponder that an instant, before asking,
“
Why not?
”

“
Christopher,
”
came a woman
’
s voice from behind them, her tone full of censure.

Sarah started at the sound of it.

Christopher quieted for a moment and then asked,
“
Do you smell
funny
?
”

Sarah
’
s brows collided.
“
Do I smell
funny
?
”

Peter Holland covered his mouth with his hand and tried not to laugh, Sarah noted.
“
I think he is wondering if you wear perfume,
”
he clarified.

Oh! Good Lord, but they begin so young.
“
Just a bit,
”
she
replied
. And it was her turn now to ask,
“
Why, Christopher?
”

“’
Cause I don
’
t like it!
”
he answered fervently.

“
I see.
”
Sarah bit her lip. She
could
not laugh at his disclosure, even though she
truly
wished to.

“
That is because you are much too young to appreciate it,
”
t
he woman at the door announced
somewhat defensively.

Sarah was plagued with curiosity now. Christopher seemed reluctant to speak again.
Nor did she fail to note the uneasy silenc
e that had fallen over the room—u
ntil Peter Holland
’
s deep baritone spoke to breach it.

“
Miss Hopkins,
”
he said,
“
please mak
e the acquaintance of my sister.
.. Miss Ruth Holland.
”

Sarah didn
’
t dare search out the woman
’
s visage. She lifted her chin, closed her eyes, and listened for her voice.

“
Very good to meet you, Miss Hopkins.
”

Sarah blinked at the tone of her voice: cold disapproval. But why?

Why the instant dislike?

“
Au contraire
,”
Sarah answered, smiling,
“
the pleasure is all mine.
”

“
Yes, well... I shall leave you to your interview. Please forgive the interruption.
Peter,
”
she said, dismissing Sarah rudely,
“
I shall see you at dinner. I should love to hear about the remaining applicants.
”

Peter said nothing in the uneasy silence, bu
t then he replied, “
I shall be out this evening, Ruth. Dinner engagement... business, so it will simply
be you and Christopher tonight.
”

“
I see,
”
Ruth answered, her tone clipped and cool.
“
Very well, then. Perhaps tomorrow.
”

And then Sarah heard her departure, soft footsteps for one with such a bold presence.
She waited for them to ebb completely.

“
Did I do something wrong?
” she asked
.
“
I
’
ve the impression she has dismissed me already.
”
Sarah didn
’
t have to pretend disappointment. If Peter Holland tu
rned her away now
... her chance to discover the truth would be gone forever. The thought aggrieved
her enormously.