Bobbi Smith (29 page)
Authors: Heaven
“Tommy, you’re wrong. I do care. That’s why Mrs. Sutherland and I are going out to dinner tonight. We’re going to talk about what you and I discussed earlier, and I’d like you to go along and help us. Will you? I’d appreciate it.”
Tommy hesitated, then relented. “All right.”
“Good. I’ll tell Mrs. Sutherland that you’ll be joining us.”
Matt headed back toward her office as Tommy and Lisa moved off down the hall. Matt stopped to watch the two children go, and he was struck by the way Lisa moved with instinctive grace and style. There was an almost regal quality about her.
In the back of his mind, something nagged at him, though he wasn’t sure just what. He dismissed the feeling as he reentered Catherine’s office to tell her that the boy would be going to dinner with them.
Sixteen
Winn and Alex faced Matt across the width of Alex’s room at the hotel. The note he’d left for them that morning had made it sound as if he’d found the connection to their next clue, and they were eager to hear what he’d learned.
“Where have you been? Have you figured out the clue about the orphanage?” Alex asked.
“I’ve got a feeling it isn’t as simple as we’d hoped,” Winn remarked, noticing how subdued Matt was. “You don’t look much like celebrating. What’s wrong?”
Matt explained what had happened since he’d last spoken to them the night before.
“That’s terrible. I can’t believe anyone would be so cruel. To do that to innocent children!” Alex was aghast at the news of Markham’s indifference.
“I know. I’ve done a lot of thinking since I left St. Joan’s, and I’ve made a decision.”
“What kind of decision?” Winn asked.
“I’m not leaving here until things are resolved with the orphanage. I’ve got to make sure they’re all safe, either at St. Joan’s or in a new building,” he stated. “The two of you don’t need me any more. We’re done with my book, so you can go on without me. But Catherine and the children do need me. I can’t leave them. Not now.”
“But what about the crown?” Winn was completely surprised by his decision. He’d thought the treasure was the most important thing to him.
“I trust you and Alex completely. I know you’ll do the right thing when you find it,” he told them. “It’s just that I’ve discovered there are times in life when people are more important than lost treasures. You see, I grew up in an orphanage, but the one I was in wasn’t anything like St. Joan’s. This place is special. Catherine has made it a haven for those children. I can’t just turn my back and walk away from them knowing that they might be out on the street in less than two weeks.”
Fear for her father’s safety was haunting Alex, yet after listening to Matt, she was filled with respect and love for him. He was willing to sacrifice everything he’d worked so hard for to save the children. Without a word, she went to him and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “We won’t turn our backs on them either, Matt. We’re not going anywhere until this is resolved. When we do go after the crown, it will be as Lawrence wanted us to go—together.”
Matt glanced between them both and smiled. “Thanks.”
“How are you planning to save the orphanage?” Winn asked then.
“I wish I knew. If you’ve got any ideas, I’d certainly like to hear them. Catherine’s attempted to talk to Markham, but he wouldn’t see her. So she took it upon herself to try to raise the necessary funds to buy the place, but the response wasn’t good. I went to see him this morning, and I tried to convince him not to sell, but he practically threw me out of the house.”
Winn looked thoughtful. “Has she looked around for another place to take the children?”
“There’s nothing available for the little they can afford. Things are tight at St. Joan’s. There never has been a lot of money to take care of expenses, but up until now they’ve somehow managed to scrape by.”
“What would it take to buy the place from Markham?”
“He’s asking $5,000. Why?”
“Because I think I may have found a buyer for you.” Back in London, Winn had appreciated his wealth for all the comforts it had provided him. He’d never known a hungry day. He’d always gotten exactly what he’d wanted when he’d wanted it. Having money was a wonderful thing. Now, for the first time, he realized he could do something good with his fortune.
“Who?” Both Alex and Matt stared at him in surprise, wondering what he was thinking.
“Me.”
“Are you serious?” Matt couldn’t believe Winn was making such a generous offer.
“I’m very serious.”
“Do you have enough money?”
“Money’s not a problem. And I agree with you, we can’t let anything happen to the children. Helping St. Joan’s is the right thing to do.”
“Thanks, Winn.” He’d had no idea Winn was so rich, and he was humbled by his generosity and kindness.
“Shall we go tell Catherine?” Alex asked cheerfully, seeing the relief in Matt’s expression.
“I’d planned to take her out to dinner tonight, but this is too important to wait. Let’s go tell her about your offer, and then we can all go to Markham’s together.”
They found Catherine still in her office, working at her desk, trying to find a way out of the maze of her dilemma. She heard the knock at the door and looked up wearily as she called out for whoever it was to come in.
“Catherine? We need to talk to you for a minute.” He opened the door and stepped inside with Winn and Alex close behind.
“Matt? I didn’t expect to see you until tonight. Is there something wrong?”
“No, as a matter of fact, for once, something is right.”
“I don’t understand.” She started to stand up to greet them.
“Please stay seated. I think you’ll feel better if you do.”
“Why? What have you done?” Her eyes were wide and questioning.
Winn saw her confusion and concern, and he quickly spoke up. “Matt told us about the trouble you’re having, and how you were trying to raise the funds to buy the building yourself.”
“I don’t even have enough to make a down payment yet, but I’m working on it.” She refused to admit defeat.
“Well, we’ve got better than a down payment for you. Winn’s agreed to buy the building from Markham.”
Catherine stared at Winn. “You’re going to buy St. Joan’s?”
“Yes. It should be a simple matter,” he started to explain.
“But why would you?” she asked, stunned by such generosity.
Winn paused a moment before answering. A deep feeling of warmth filled him at the thought of doing something kind for someone else. He thought of Sister Agnes at the convent and of the children at St. Joan’s. But mostly he thought of his uncle. He’d been so blessed in his life. It was only right that he help others. He smiled. “Because it’s the right thing to do. You need help, and I can give it to you.”
Catherine got up and circled her desk to stand before Winn. She took his hand as she looked up into his eyes, and the kindness and generosity she saw there brought tears to her eyes. She saw no avarice or deceit. He was speaking from his heart. “You’re a kind and wonderful man. I thank you, and the children thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Winn returned, touched by the sincerity of her words.
“Let’s go see Markham,” Matt encouraged. “The faster we settle this with him, the happier I’m going to be. I don’t trust the man not to sell it to someone else while we’re on our way over.”
They climbed into a hired carriage and made the trip across town to the old man’s mansion. Once again, Matt was forced to confront the guardian maid.
“We need to see Mr. Markham,” Matt told her when she stood like a ferocious guard dog in the doorway, blocking their path.
The strong-willed servant stood her ground before him. “Sir, I am sure Mr. Markham doesn’t want to see you again.”
“And I’m just as sure that he does,” Matt insisted. “Tell him that I’m back and that I have to see him right away.”
“Mr. Markham is a busy man, and he cannot be bothered.”
“I advise you to tell him that I have a buyer for his property. I’m sure he’ll be interested.”
“Mr. McKittrick, Mr. Markham told me . . .”
With sheer boldness, Matt brushed past her and moved into the foyer, calling Markham’s name. “Mr. Markham! It’s Matt McKittrick. I want to talk to you.”
Matt heard rumblings from the back of the house, and then a door flew open near the end of the main hall.
“What the . . . ?” Markham was growling as he came out of his study looking particularly perturbed.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Markham, but he just pushed his way in here,” the maid said.
It was obvious that Markham was upset over Matt’s intrusion into his home. Other servants, too, were converging on the foyer, but Matt remained where he was with Winn, Alex, and Catherine standing beside him.
“What are you doing back here, McKittrick? And you!” He looked pointedly at Catherine.
“Hello, Mr. Markham,” she greeted him serenely.
“I thought I told the both of you that we had nothing more to say to each other.”
“Yes, I know,” Matt said evenly as he faced the irate man. “But if you’ll give me a minute, I think you’ll appreciate our need to see you again.”
“Get . . .”
Before Markham could finish ordering them from the premises, Matt cut him off.
“We’ve found a buyer for St. Joan’s,” he said bluntly. He tensed before the other man’s anger, ready for trouble, but hoping there would be none.
“You have?”
“Yes, allow me to introduce you. Mr. Markham, this is Lord Winston Bradford. Lord Bradford, this is Mr. Markham.” Matt made the introductions quickly. “Lord Bradford’s interested in the property and is willing to come to terms tonight, if that suits you.”
Markham eyed Winn, noting his manner and the cut of his clothes. He knew a gentleman when he saw one, and he nodded. “Let’s go into the parlor. We can talk there more comfortably.”
Markham led the way and directed them to sit down. Matt and Catherine sat together on the sofa, while Winn and Alex took the wing chairs.
“Would anyone care for refreshments?” Markham asked, his demeanor quickly improving.
“No, thank you. This is a business meeting, not a social one,” Winn told him, assuming his most arrogant, grating manner. If this man was impressed by his title, he might as well use it to their benefit. As much as he hated to admit it, intimidation did work when properly used.
“Well, Lord Bradford, why are you interested in buying this particular piece of property?”
Catherine meant to pay strict attention to what the men were saying, but when she glanced up at the portrait above the fireplace, the emotions that jolted through her dulled the sounds of their discussion to a vague and distant buzz. She blinked and peered up at the picture again, not quite believing what she was seeing. It was Lisa. . . . She reached out to Matt and gripped his forearm.
“Matt . . .” she said his name softly, not taking her eyes off the portrait of the mother and child.
Matt was deep in discussion with Winn and Markham, and he glanced at her, puzzled by her interruption. “What?”
“Look . . .” She nodded toward the painting as she told him in a soft voice. “That could be Lisa up there . . .”
Matt lifted his gaze to the little girl in the picture. As he stared at her, transfixed, all the nagging thoughts that had been troubling him for the past few hours suddenly made sense. Lisa’s resemblance to Belinda Markham as a child was uncanny. She had that same angelic expression, that same smile. He felt himself grow tense with hope and expectation. “Lisa . . .”
“I beg your pardon?” Markham spoke up rather sharply, a bit annoyed that Catherine had interrupted their business talk.
“Mr. Markham, that is a portrait of your wife and daughter, isn’t it?” Catherine asked.
“Yes. That’s my wife, Analisa, and my daughter, Belinda.”
“They were lovely.”
“Indeed, they were,” he said.
“Mr. Markham, I think you need to come out to St. Joan’s with me.” She stood up. “There’s someone there I want you to meet.” Hope was budding in her breast. She told herself it was crazy, but the resemblance was too astonishing to ignore.
The old man sighed. “Mrs. Sutherland, I told you before I wasn’t interested in the orphanage.”
“It won’t take much of your time. Just a few hours, and I’m sure you won’t be sorry.”
“There’s nothing at St. Joan’s I care about.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
“Spare me your intrigue, Mrs. Sutherland.”
“This is no trick.” Catherine went to the man and put a hand on his arm. She looked him in the eye as she told him steadily, “Mr. Markham, this is important . . . almost a matter of life and death. Trust me this one time.”
“There’s no point in it.”
“Exactly,” she confirmed. “If Lord Bradford is willing to buy the building, why would I want you to go back there? It’s important or I wouldn’t have asked.” “No . . . I . . .” Markham started to refuse not wanting to see any of those children. His heart ached when he saw them and thought of Belinda and his lost grandchild. He started to turn away from her.
“Come to St. Joan’s with me,” Catherine pleaded. “I’ll introduce you to a six-year-old girl named Lisa who looks enough like your daughter to be her twin at that age.”
“You’re lying . . .” His battered heart rebelled at this hope she offered. His prayers of finding the child had gone unanswered so many times that he didn’t know if he could bear another disappointment.
“I would never lie to you about something so important.”
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