Joy for Mourning Page 12

  Laina’s vision blurred. How beautiful! She was glad Abigail had lived long enough to know Justin and Elizabeth had admitted their love for one another and become a true husband and wife. But was it an answered prayer?

  Laina wiped the tears from her cheeks, blinked them from her eyes and glanced at the paper—appropriate verse, James 5:16. She looked down at the page and read the verse. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

  Laina stared at the page. She read the verse again trying to absorb it, to change her way of thinking. It was difficult to do when she had doubted for so long. She looked over at the bed, at the children sleeping so soundly. Her children. The answer to her years of prayers?

  Laina sighed, folded Abigail’s note and tucked it back where it had been. Try as she might, she couldn’t make herself believe that. If God was answering her prayers she would have a baby growing in her womb. That would be the true answer—to have the child of a husband who loved her growing in her womb, and that would never happen. But she shouldn’t hold it against God. It wasn’t His fault her prayers went unanswered. She asked too much.

  She sighed and closed her eyes. “Forgive me, Lord, for being angry with You. For turning my back on You when I didn’t receive an answer to my prayers. I’m sorry, Lord. Please forgive me my impatience and selfishness.” A sense of peace enveloped her. She suddenly felt light, as if a weight had been lifted from her. How odd.

  Laina lifted the Bible to the table beside her, blew out the candle, then rose and walked to the bed to look at Billy and Emma. She couldn’t get enough of looking at them. It didn’t matter that her prayers hadn’t been answered. She would settle for this. These children were enough. She brushed a curl off Billy’s forehead, leaned down to kiss the spot she had bared, then kissed Emma’s cheek and pulled the covering sheet over them both. How many children had no bed to sleep in, no one to tuck them in or kiss them good-night? No one to take care of them if they were ill or hurt?

  Laina straightened and crossed to the window. She stood looking out into the night, her heart aching for all the homeless children roaming Philadelphia’s streets trying to find a safe place to sleep. What if Elizabeth and Justin and Grandmother Davidson and Abigail were right? What if God did answer prayer the way the Bible said? The fact that her prayers went unanswered didn’t mean it wasn’t so. Maybe it was only for some people.

  Laina caught her breath at that thought. Surely God would care about the children. She closed her eyes. “Dear Gracious Lord, I don’t know if it is Your will for me to start an orphanage. I confess I don’t understand about such things. But I do know these children of the streets have no home and no one to care for them. Please, please help me to start an orphanage that will meet their needs. Please bring it to pass, heavenly Father, for I ask it in the name of Your Son. Amen.”

  Laina opened her eyes and walked back to the chaise. Whether the prayer was answered or not, it made her feel better to ask God’s help for the orphans. She shrugged out of her dressing gown and slid beneath the covers. Maybe now she could sleep.

  “Very nice, Miss Benson. You’re very talented.” Laina met the older woman’s gaze in the dressing-table mirror. “How many years were you with Mrs. Thorndyke?”

  “Seven, madam.”

  Laina nodded. She liked this woman Elizabeth had sent to interview as a possible replacement for Annette. She was neat and clean, pleasant and well-spoken. And her qualifications were certainly in order. But how would she feel about the children?

  Laina rose and turned to face her. “Miss Benson, I have recently taken two young street children under my charge. The boy was injured when run down by a carriage as he was fleeing from the shopkeeper from whom he’d stolen two rolls—”

  “The poor lamb!” Cora Benson flushed and stood a little straighter. “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Brighton. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  Laina smiled. “That was the very reaction I was hoping for, Miss Benson. Please don’t apologize for caring about the children.” Her smile widened. “The position is yours, Cora. I’ll have Carlson take you home to get your things and when you return, Mrs. Barnes will show you to your room.”

  “My, there is certainly a lot of activity going on around here.” Elizabeth glanced at the gazebo being built at the end of the stone path, then swept her gaze over the men uprooting one of the formal gardens a short distance away. “Is that where the playhouse is going?”

  “Yes. And the swings will be in that large oak tree. Excuse me, Elizabeth.” Laina stood. “Billy, Dr. Allen said you mustn’t run. Please roll the ball with Emma.” She took her seat on the garden bench again. “It’s so hard for Billy to stay quiet when he feels so much better. And there’s no bandage on his head to remind Emma she must still be careful with him.”

  “It’s been almost two weeks now—how much longer will it be before Billy is pronounced fully recovered?”

  Laina shook her head. “I don’t know. But I’m sure it will be soon. Thad checks on him every day.”

  “Thad?” Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose. “Who is Thad?”

  “Dr. Allen.” Laina waved away a buzzing fly. “His name is Thaddeous, and as he will be one of my advisers as well as physician to the children, we decided it would be expedient to use first names.”

  “Expedient. I see.”

  Laina felt like squirming under Elizabeth’s steady regard. She looked down, smoothed a wrinkle from her skirt and changed the subject. “Miss Tobin is wonderful with the children. She’s an excellent nanny.” She looked up and smiled. “I can’t thank you enough, Elizabeth, for your help in finding people to fill all these positions. I’m so grateful to you and Justin. I’d have been lost trying to locate carpenters and other workers here in Philadelphia.”

  “It’s our pleasure, Laina.” Elizabeth glanced toward the third-floor windows of the house. “How’s the nursery coming along?”

  “More quickly than I imagined—and not as fast as I’d hoped.” Laina laughed and smoothed back a tendril of hair that had come loose in the soft, warm breeze. “I’m a little concerned about putting Billy and Emma in separate bedrooms. They’ve never been apart.” She sighed. “I’m hoping the special toys and furniture in the rooms will entice them to agree.”

  “I’m sure it will work out, Laina. They’re lovely children. And they respond beautifully to your love and care.”

  “Do you truly think so?”

  “I do.”

  “But they sometimes argue, and I’m not certain what to do about it. I’m sort of feeling my way along this path of motherhood.” She gave Elizabeth a rueful smile and glanced at the children. “Billy can be bossy, and Emma…well, Emma can be very…opinionated.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Emma and Billy have had no opportunity to learn proper social behavior living on the streets. Stop worrying. They’ll be fine now that they’re with you.”

  Laina stared at her. “I am worrying, aren’t I? I didn’t realize…” She gave a little shake of her head and laughed. “I’m not accustomed to feeling this way, but then, I’ve never been so unsure of myself. Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your wisdom. You’re a wonderful encouragement to me.”

  “You’re welcome, Laina. And here’s another bit of advice I’ll share with you. The next time you feel anxious over Emma’s opinionated behavior, think of Mary.” She grinned. “That should make you feel better.”

  Laina burst into laughter. “Ah, yes, Mary, the little extortionist. I’d forgotten.”

  “What’s this? My daughter an extortionist? Surely you are mistaken.” Justin grinned as he came down the stone walkway to join them. He waved to Billy and Emma, then bent and kissed his wife and gave Laina a hug. “I have news.”

  “What sort of news, dearheart?”

  “Well, first, during the last two weeks I have talked with several members of the city government. They all say there is no money available for an
orphanage at this time. It seems private funding will be our only resource.”

  Laina’s heart sank right to her shoes. She straightened her shoulders. “Very well. Then we shall acquire private supporters.” She looked at Justin. “You said first. What is the other news?”

  “It’s about a possible property for the orphanage.” He held up a hand as Laina sucked in her breath and clasped her hands in front of her chest. “I said possible, Laina. This place came to mind as soon as you told us of your plans, and I’ve been doing some quiet investigating.”

  “And?”

  “Patience.” Justin grinned and took a seat in one of the chairs placed at right angles to the bench she and Elizabeth sat on. “Laurelwood is located on Vine Street. It’s a large stone home of three full stories with dormers in its mansard roof and plenty of land on either side for future additions. There is spacious acreage in back with existing gardens and lawn area.”

  “It sounds perfect!” Laina jumped to her feet and hugged Justin. “May I see it? Who owns it? When do we buy it?”

  “Not so fast, Laina. There’s a problem.”

  “A problem.” She sank back onto the bench beside Elizabeth. “What is it?”

  “The property is entailed.” Justin frowned. “A rather unusual entailment that might in the end work to our advantage.”

  “I don’t understand.” Laina folded her hands in her lap to keep from shaking the information out of him. Patience had never been one of her strongest virtues. “If it will work to our advantage, why is it a problem?”

  Justin shook his head. “You have a knack for ignoring words like might, Laina. I said it might, in the end, prove advantageous. Simply put, the entailment states the property is to go to any of the deceased owner’s German male descendants, ranked by age, who may submit a claim within one year from the date of her death. In lieu of any proven descendant coming forward, the property is to be sold to the highest bidder, the sum payable to her attorney. There is a proviso, however. The property may be used as a residence only—no business may be set up there. And—” he smiled “—the proviso further states Laurelwood is to go to the prospective purchaser with the greatest need.”

  Laina stared at him. “But that’s wonderful! I see no problem. Who has a greater need than these children? Unless…” She frowned. “Is an orphanage considered a residence?”

  Justin nodded. “It is.”

  “Then the problem is a descendant?”

  “Possibly—yes. None have appeared thus far, but there are still six months left until the one-year anniversary date of the owner’s death.”

  “Six months!”

  Justin’s mouth twisted into a wry smile. “And there is the other problem, my dear sister—your impatience.” He leaned back in his chair. “The waiting period will give us time to work on securing funding.”

  “Funding.” The word was bitter in her mouth. Laina looked at Billy and Emma, who had stopped playing with the ball and were sitting in the shade of a tree watching the workers tear up the garden. “I know you think I’m being rash and impulsive, but I’m not. At least, not for myself.” She shifted her gaze back to Justin. “Six months is a very long time when you’re young and alone and hungry.”

  “I’m turning her over to the law, I tell you! I’m sick of these children stealing from us! Why, it’s not safe for my wife to put pies out to cool on our own porch!”

  “I understand, sir.” Thad looked at the skinny, pale-faced, tight-lipped girl in the furious man’s grip. She was frightened to death. He lifted his gaze to the man’s face. “But if you’ll allow me to take her in my charge, I give you my pledge she’ll never have to steal food to eat again.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Look at her, sir. She’s starving. I know. I’m a doctor.”

  “A doctor?” The man lifted a respectful gaze to him.

  Thad pressed his advantage. “Yes. Please have mercy, sir. Wouldn’t you want someone to show your children mercy if they were starving and had to steal to survive?”

  The man scowled, looked down at the girl, then thrust her arm that he was holding toward Thad. “Take her, then! But see she never steals from me again!”

  “You have my word, sir.” Thad grasped the young girl’s elbow and rushed her toward his carriage before the man changed his mind.

  “Let me go!”

  Thad tightened his grip as the girl tried to pull away. “Stop fighting me. The man is watching. Do you want him to turn you over to the law?”

  She lifted a defiant face to him. “I’m not getting in your carriage. I’ll not be alone with you.”

  Thad gaped at her. Her voice was cultured, though quivering with fear. He swept his gaze over her. Her clothes were soiled and torn, but of high quality, her face and hands dirt-smudged, but basically clean. He caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye and shot a look back at the porch he’d half dragged her away from. The man was coming down the steps, a deep scowl on his face.

  The girl followed the direction of his gaze, gasped and jerked around toward the carriage. “Your hand, sir.”

  She was obviously used to riding in carriages. Thad helped her to her seat, then climbed to his own. Faithful lurched forward, pulling the buggy out into the street.

  “You may let me off at the corner.”

  Thad glanced at his young passenger. Her features were delicate, though pinched with fear, her stature small, her posture correct. Her hair was tangled, but he could tell she’d made an effort to groom it. This was no ordinary street child. “Look, Miss…?” He waited, hoping for a name. There was none forthcoming. She merely clamped her lips together and looked away. “I don’t know what has happened to so frighten you of men, miss, but I assure you you’re safe with me. I’m a doctor. I help people, I don’t harm them.”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes. She bit down on her lower lip and clasped her hands tightly in her lap. She looked about twelve, maybe thirteen. Thad’s hands tightened on the reins. He’d like to get hold of whoever had caused such fear. He nodded toward the seat between them. “Open that bag. You’ll see I’m telling you the truth. It’s my medical kit.”

  She stared at him for a moment, then pulled the bag close to her on the seat and opened it.

  “Don’t take out the cloths. I want them to stay clean.” He smiled down at her. “I believe cleanliness is important to healing, though my colleagues don’t agree with me.”

  He guided Faithful onto Walnut Street while the girl was looking into the bag. “I have a friend, a lady friend—her name is Mrs. Brighton. I think you would like her.” The girl lifted her head, and her nostrils flared as if sniffing danger. Thad kept his voice calm. “She helps children in trouble. I know she’d welcome you into her home if you’d care to stay with her awhile. She lives a few houses down this street. Shall I take you there? You can, at least, have a wash and a good meal.”

  Lord, help her to know she can trust me. He sat looking straight ahead, praying. He could see her studying him, trying to decide what to do. Please let her agree, Lord.

  At last she nodded. “Very well, I will go and meet your friend.” Her little chin rose. “And then I shall see if I wish to stay or leave.”

  Relief surged through Thad. Thank You, Lord. He guided Faithful into the drive leading to Twiggs Manor.

  Thad was waiting for her in the parlor with a young girl. Perhaps she was to have another child. Laina hurried into the room, and her heart jumped right into her throat when she saw the dirty, disheveled condition of the girl sitting on the couch. She darted a look at Thad.

  He gave her a polite nod. “Mrs. Brighton, I have brought you a guest for tea.” There was a warning look in his eyes, the slightest emphasis on the word guest. He was acting odd. She turned toward the girl, masking her confusion as he continued his introduction. “I’d like you to meet Miss…”

  “Altman. Audrey Altman.” The young girl rose and made her a perfect curtsy. “It’s so kind of you to agree to receiv
e me on such short notice, Mrs. Brighton. I apologize for my appearance. I…” The girl’s lips quivered. She squared her shoulders. “I have fallen on hard times.”

  Why, she couldn’t be more than eleven or twelve! Laina squelched her desire to rush over and take the girl into her arms. Instead, she took her cue from the girl’s own demeanor and acknowledged the apology with a polite nod of her head. “I’m pleased to meet you, Audrey. Please sit down.” She looked toward Thad, blinking rapidly to clear the gathering tears from her eyes. “Will you join us for tea, Dr. Allen?” The girl stiffened. Why?

  Thad shook his head, gave her another look she couldn’t read and picked up his bag. “I’ll leave you ladies to your tea. I have a patient to check on.” He gave a polite bow and left the room.

  Laina stared after him. What did he expect of her? What was she to do now? She yanked the bellpull to summon Beaumont, then took a deep breath and turned back to Audrey. The girl was rubbing at a smudge of dirt on her hand. “Audrey.”

  The girl looked up, tears trembling on her lashes. Laina’s heart broke. She rushed over and knelt in front of her. “Why don’t we forget about tea and go upstairs so you can have a warm bath? I’ll have cook make a tray and you can eat something while you soak. Would you like that?”

  Audrey caught her quivering lower lip in her teeth and nodded.

  “Good.” Laina rose and held out her hand. “Come along with me. I have some lovely rose-scented soap you may use.”

  Elizabeth put down her hairbrush and looked over at Justin, already resting in the four-poster bed they shared. How blessed she was to have such a loving husband. And now perhaps Laina would be blessed, as well. She smiled. She might have been wrong when she’d imagined Laina and Henry Rhodes as a match, but— A giggle burst from her.

  Justin opened his eyes. “What’s so funny?”

  Another giggle escaped her. “I was thinking about Laina and Henry Rhodes.”