Joy for Mourning Page 10

  “Yes, he did.” Laina smiled up at her sister-in-law. “I’m taking advantage of their absence to make a list of their books and toys. I have nothing for Billy and Emma to play with, and I’m not certain of what I need.” She swept her gaze over the abundance of little-girl toys and sighed. “I’m afraid there’s nothing here for Billy, except a ball.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Not yet. James is too small for toys.”

  “Yes.” Laina frowned. “Has Justin returned? He can tell me what toys a young boy wants, and what books are appropriate for him. I want to speak with him about hiring a tutor and a carpenter, as well.” She glanced at another paper. “I’m unfamiliar with the craftsmen and artisans of Philadelphia, Elizabeth. Perhaps you could suggest a good cabinetmaker? I’ll need appropriate furniture. And artists to—”

  Elizabeth burst into laughter. “Why don’t you bring your lists downstairs to the library, Laina? We’ll have tea. I think this is going to take some time.”

  “A carpenter?” Justin scowled and set his cup back on his saucer. “Is there a problem at Twiggs Manor?”

  Laina shook her head. “No, dearheart. I want the third floor turned into a nursery.”

  “A nursery!” Justin shot a look at his wife. Elizabeth gave a small warning shake of her head. His scowl deepened. He looked back at Laina. “Why do you want a nursery?”

  “Why, for Billy and Emma, of course.” Laina gave her brother an exasperated look. “They can’t very well play in the drawing room.”

  “No. I suppose they can’t.” He fixed an assessing gaze on her. “I wasn’t aware this was to be a permanent change in your life, Laina. I thought you were keeping the children only until the boy was healed of his concussion.”

  “Truly?” Laina lifted her chin. “And then what would you have me do? Cast them out into the streets again?”

  Justin’s left eyebrow rose. His lips twitched. “Now, there’s the Laina I know and love.”

  She flushed and softened the sharp tone of her voice. “I’m sorry, Justin. But surely you know the Cherry Street Orphanage is gone and there is no place for these children to live.”

  “Yes, I remember when the orphanage burned, but I’ve only recently become aware of the extent of the problem that created. I assumed the children were placed elsewhere.” Justin studied her for a moment, then reached for a raspberry tart. “So you intend to keep these children for your own?”

  Laina lifted her chin a notch higher. “Yes.”

  “And have you asked them how they feel about that?”

  She stared at him, feeling rather like one of those hot-air balloons that had suddenly sprung a leak. “No. I’ve not asked them.” Emma would be delighted. But what about Billy?

  Justin nodded. “Perhaps you should do so. Before you make all these changes.”

  There was compassion in Justin’s voice and eyes. Laina took a deep breath and looked down at the lists on the table in front of her. What if Billy said no? Emma would go with him. She couldn’t force them to stay. And he was already so much better…. Her stomach knotted. She drew another deep breath and gathered the lists into a pile.

  “Laina?”

  “Yes?”

  “I said perhaps.” Justin’s hand covered hers. “I believe the children will agree to stay. I only think it’s wise to ask them how they feel about the matter before you continue making plans.” His grip tightened. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  “I know, dearheart.” Laina forced a smile to her lips and looked up at him. “I shall do as you suggest. I’m far too impetuous for my own good. Now I must go. Sally is with the children, and I don’t want to leave them alone too long.” She rose and stepped around the table to give Elizabeth a hug. “Thank you for tea. And thank you for your advice, dearheart.” She stepped into Justin’s opened arms, rose on tiptoe to kiss his cheek and walked to the door.

  “Laina.”

  What now? She turned back to face her brother. His eyes were…well, not exactly twinkling with amusement, but close to it. A small warning bell went off in her mind. “Yes?”

  A grin spread across Justin’s face. “If those children say yes, and I believe they will—” his grin widened “—we’ll see you in church on Sunday.”

  Her vow. She’d forgotten about it. Laina froze. A dozen protests rushed to her lips, but every one of them died in light of her promise. There was nothing to do but agree. She nodded and hurried from the room.

  Church. Now see what her rash words had let her in for! Laina scowled and watched the toes of her shoes appearing and disappearing from beneath her long skirts as she hurried up the drive toward the front porch. When would she learn to control her temper? She—

  “Whoa there!”

  Strong hands gripped her arms and steadied her as she caromed off a hard body. Laina caught her balance and looked up.

  Thaddeous Allen grinned down at her. “If you’re in a race, you’ve left the field far behind.” He made a show of sweeping the area behind her with his gaze. “You’re a sure winner, all right. There’s nary another racer in sight.”

  Heat climbed into her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Dr. Allen. I didn’t see you. I was…thinking.” His gaze brushed over her flushed cheeks and locked with hers. Her breath shortened. Time seemed to stop. It started again when he nodded and looked away.

  Laina sucked in air as he released his grip on her arms and stepped back. She looked down and brushed at some imaginary lint on her skirt, ascribing the odd sensation to her agitated state. “Are you coming or going, Dr. Allen?”

  “Coming.”

  She nodded and took a firm grip on the railing to help her up the porch steps. Her legs felt wobbly. She must have expended too much energy in her rapid walk home from Randolph Court. “I think you’ll be pleased with Billy’s progress.” Laina glanced up at him. “His nausea has abated.”

  “That’s good news.” He smiled. “And I’m always pleased when a patient improves, no matter the degree of progress.”

  “Of course.” Laina hurried forward as the front door was pulled open. Trust Beaumont to be watching for her. She led the way across the entrance hall to the stairs and started to climb. Thank heavens the strength had returned to her legs.

  She stole a look at the doctor over her shoulder. Would he think her irresponsible for leaving Billy and Emma? “My maid Sally is with the children. They were napping and I had to speak with my brother about a few things I need for them. I’ve been away from Philadelphia for ten years and I’m not yet familiar with the shops and craftsmen.”

  Laina clamped her mouth closed. She was babbling. Suddenly having children was playing havoc with her usual poise and self-confidence, not to mention her manners. Her private life held no interest for Dr. Allen.

  “I believe your brother once mentioned that you and your husband resided in New York. Does Philadelphia compare favorably with that metropolis?”

  Laina winced inwardly at the polite inquiry. Obviously the doctor’s good manners had prompted a response to her inane prattling. “I believe so.” She started down the hallway to Billy’s room. He fell into step beside her. “Philadelphia is the smaller of the two, of course. It’s also much cleaner. And more friendly, in my opinion.”

  He gave a polite nod and reached to open the bedroom door. Laina almost jumped as his arm brushed against hers. She frowned. Her nerves were more tightly strung than she’d realized.

  “…I’m thinking of an animal on a rug, that curls up so very snug.”

  “I know! I know! A dog!”

  Laina smiled and forgot about her taut nerves as Emma blurted out her answer to Sally’s riddle.

  “It ain’t either. It’s a cat.” Billy’s voice was full of an older brother’s disdain. “Dogs can’t curl up like cats do.”

  “They can so!”

  “No, they can’t!”

  “Can so!”

  An argument! Laina stepped into the room. “You must be feeling better, Billy.”

  Both children st
ared at her in surprise.

  Sally rose and bobbed her head.

  Laina dismissed the maid, then held out her arms as Emma scrambled down the bedside steps and ran to her. “Billy says dogs can’t curl up like cats!”

  “Billy is older, Emma. You should listen when he tells you something. He’s right about cats. They can curl right up into a warm snuggly ball!” She caught herself before adding the way you do under the covers in bed at night. Emma had no experience of warm cozy blankets. Anger toward all the people who had turned a blind eye to these children’s needs shot through her. She pushed the anger away and walked to the bed.

  “And Billy, perhaps the next time you are teaching Emma something, you can be a little more gentle in the way you speak to her.” Laina smiled down at him. “She seems to have a bit of a fighting spirit.” She winked at him, hugged Emma, then took a chance and gave in to her longing to kiss the toddler’s smooth little cheek.

  Emma’s eyes widened. “What’s that?”

  She didn’t even know what a kiss was! Did Billy? Had no one ever shown them love? Tears smarted at the backs of Laina’s eyes. She blinked them away and smiled. “That was a kiss. And here’s another.” She kissed Emma’s cheek again. “And this is a hug.” She squeezed the little girl tight against her.

  Emma giggled. “I can do that!” She threw her thin little arms around Laina’s neck, kissed her on the cheek then leaned back and looked at her. “I wanna kiss Billy, too. I won’t hurt his head—heart’s promise.” She pointed a little finger straight at her. “You said you gots to do a heart’s promise, so I will.”

  Laina couldn’t speak. Her heart was so full she could barely contain her joy. She nodded and lowered Emma to the bed. The little girl crawled to Billy’s side, carefully kissed his cheek, then rose onto her knees and peered down at him. “That’s a kiss, Billy. Do you like it? I do.”

  The young boy pressed his lips tightly together, closed his eyes and gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.

  Laina turned away to hide the tears she couldn’t control.

  “Don’t move your head, son.” Thad stepped up to the bed, pressed his fingertips to Billy’s wrist and counted his pulse, giving everyone a little time to gain control of their emotions, including himself. It worked. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Laina take a deep breath, wipe the tears from her cheeks and turn back toward the bed. A frown knit his brows together. When had he stopped thinking of her as Mrs. Brighton? He shoved the thought away and looked back down at Billy. “How are you feeling today, son? Is your head better?”

  “Some.” Billy opened his eyes. “She put cold cloths on it.”

  Thad followed the boy’s gaze to Laina. Worry clouded her eyes. Those incredible eyes, glistening from her tears.

  “I hope that was all right? I’ve heard cold cloths help headaches.” Her voice was soft, hesitant, concerned.

  Thad nodded. Relief replaced the worry in her eyes. He tore his gaze away from her face and focused his attention back on Billy. “And what about your stomach, son? Do you still feel sick?”

  “When I move my head quicklike.”

  “Yes. You have to remember not to do that.” Thad pulled the covers back and examined Billy’s leg. The bruise was fading. He covered him up again. “Does it bother you when you eat?”

  “Nah. Eatin’s all right.”

  “Good.” Thad refrained from looking back at Laina. “Have your cook add some soft vegetables to Billy’s broth tonight, Mrs. Brighton. But no meats yet. He can have breads, too.”

  “And a cookie!”

  Thad grinned and tweaked Emma’s nose. “Yes, Sunshine, Billy may have a cookie.” He looked down at the boy. “How’s that sound, son?”

  “All right, I guess.”

  Billy’s voice was gruff, but there was a distinct shine in his brown eyes.

  Thad turned to Laina. She was looking at Billy, her blue eyes luminous, a half smile curving her wine-red lips. Full, soft-looking lips. His pulse did a mad sprint. He scowled and cleared his throat. “I’ll return tonight to see how Billy tolerates the food, Mrs. Brighton. Good day.”

  “Good day, Dr. Allen.”

  The sound of her soft, cultured voice followed him as he left the room.

  The sunshine had disappeared. A storm must be brewing—it was too early for nightfall. Laina placed the empty supper trays on the nightstand, glanced at the children resting on the bed eating their cookies and walked over to look outside.

  Dark clouds hung in layers across the early-evening sky, blocking the sunlight. Laina took an appreciative sniff of the rain-scented air and lowered her gaze to the trees being whipped into a frenzied dance by the rising wind. How should she ask Billy and Emma about staying with her and being her children? Were they even old enough to understand all it would mean?

  Rain spattered against the windowpane and made tiny pools on the exposed sill, announcing the storm’s arrival. She pushed the nagging questions aside and reached to close the window. Lightning glinted across the sky, staying her hand. Thunder rumbled across the heavens.

  “It’s lightnin’, Billy!”

  Laina whirled at the panic in Emma’s voice. The little girl was pressed as close as she could get to her brother’s side, her face buried in his undershirt. “Emma dear, there’s nothing to be afraid—”

  There was a loud crack as lightning streaked to the earth, darting its brilliance into the room. Thunder rolled, blocking out all other sound save Emma’s scream.

  Laina spun about, slammed the window shut and yanked the curtains across it. Lightning flashed again. She ran to the other window and repeated the process, then rushed to the bed. Emma was sobbing. She reached for the little girl, then froze as her gaze fell on Billy’s face. His lips were quivering and he’d gone pale as the sheet he rested on.

  Lightning sizzled to earth again, the white brightness visible even through the curtains she’d drawn. Billy jerked. Emma wailed.

  Laina yanked the ties that held back the blue bed curtains, climbed inside the dark cocoon they made and pulled both children into her arms. They were trembling. She leaned back against the headboard and cuddled them close. “Shh, Emma, don’t be afraid. I’m here. You’re all right. Shh…shh.”

  “She’s sc-scared cause she’s a girl an’ she’s little. An’ ’cause lightning hit the sh-shed we was sleepin’ in one night an’ it catched afire. Bobby and Joe burned up.” Billy shuddered.

  Laina gasped and tightened her hold on him. “Well, Emma doesn’t have to be afraid anymore. You’ll never sleep in a shed again! This is your home now. I want you and Emma to stay right here with me. I’ll take care of you and Emma. You won’t ever have to pretend you have a mama again—I’ll be your mama.” She looked down at the young boy trying so hard to be brave. “Do you understand me, Billy? You’re going to stay here with me and we’ll be a family in our hearts. I’m not ever going to let you go!”

  He jerked back, staring at her.

  Laina took one look at the shock on his face and could have cut out her tongue. What had she done? Would he grab Emma and run away as soon as he was able? “Billy, I—” She stopped, aghast, as tears rolled down his cheeks.

  Billy threw himself against her shoulder, sobs shaking his thin body. “Everybody always only…only ch-chased us away.”

  “Oh, Billy.” Laina squeezed the crying boy against her. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself, but her chest was so tight with anger it was impossible. She laid her cheek against his, promising herself no one would ever hurt him or Emma again. But what about all the other children who lived alone on the streets? How many of them were frightened or cold and wet because they had no place to shelter from the storm? How many of them had never been kissed or hugged? Tears slid down her face and dampened the bandage on Billy’s head. Who would help those children?

  “Good evening, Dr. Allen.” The butler gave him a polite bow. “Mrs. Brighton wishes to see you in the parlor. If you will follow me?”

  What
was this about? Thad frowned, followed the butler down the length of the entrance hall, then stepped forward as Beaumont bowed him into the room. Laina Brighton was pacing back and forth, an intent look on her face. “You wished to speak with me, Mrs. Brighton? Is there a problem with Billy?”

  Laina whirled to face him. “No. Yes! That is, not anymore.” She gave him a radiant smile. “The children have agreed to stay with me.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Thad grinned at her excitement. “I’m happy for you, and for Billy and Emma. They are blessed to be in your care.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Allen. You’re very kind.” She took a deep breath in an obvious effort to curb her emotions, and walked toward him. “Please come in. I have many questions to ask you.”

  Thad moved into the room, set his bag on a chair and fixed a curious gaze on her. “What sort of questions?”

  “About the orphans roaming the streets.”

  Surprise lifted his brows. “I’m not sure I have any answers for you, Mrs. Brighton. But I’ll do my best. What specifically do you want to know?”

  “Everything! Please have a seat.” She moved to the couch. “I’m afraid I have no spirits in the house. May I offer you tea or coffee? Or perhaps cider?”

  “Nothing, thank you.” Thad seated himself in one of the chairs opposite her.

  Laina nodded, gave him a polite smile and folded her hands in her lap. “Then I shall come straight to the crux of the matter. You seem very familiar with the plight of these children, Dr. Allen. May I inquire how you learned about them?”

  “By observation.” He enlarged on his answer. “I constantly traverse the streets of Philadelphia on my way to and from my patients’ homes, Mrs. Brighton. It would be difficult not to know about the orphans.”

  Her eyes flashed with angry sparks. “It seems others are quite able to ignore what is before their eyes, Doctor.” The index fingers of her folded hands straightened and tapped against one another. “And do you have contact with many of these children?”