Another testing, another temptation. And poor old Zach was smitten badly. Bernice was definitely the wrong woman for Zach. Yes, little Claudia Hunnewell could put up with his tirades and soothe his nerves—something Rafe wished he had for himself at the moment.
Chapter Twelve
The Case of the Devious Woman
Rafe was at the Judson mansion on Nob Hill waiting in the library with his mother, Celestine, for the dinner bell to chime. He wasn’t surprised to find her distraught over news about Townsend, and he tried to calm her.
“Yes, it’s disappointing about his escape, but he won’t come here. He’s selfish to the core. Even before the fire he’d planned to go to South America. He’s either there now or will be soon enough. He couldn’t have hung around the Islands for long or he would have been spotted. Stop worrying, Mother.”
“Well, I do hope you’re right. However—”
“I don’t want to ask this, but I’d better. There is gossip in Honolulu about you and Parker. Some thought it might help Townsend at his trial if he were to bring out that you’ve been here in Parker Judson’s care for several months. Just what are your feelings about him? Is something going on, or—?” He arched a brow. “It doesn’t look too good, you know. Regardless of the bum Townsend is, he’s your legal husband.”
Celestine drew in a deep breath, and sank to the divan, Rafe bowing over toward her.
“Well I guess that’s my answer,” he said dryly.
“Shame on you. All right, dear. I do love him, but—”
“Not Townsend! Say it isn’t so.”
“No, silly boy. How could I? He’s a murderer.”
Rafe felt her shudder and put an arm around her shoulders.
“That he is. But never mind that now. Tell me about good old P.J.”
“Absolutely nothing untoward has occurred.”
“I’m sure of that.”
“I spend most of my time with Kip and with Bernice. Parker and I do care about each other. I was a fool to have married Townsend. Once I knew he was responsible for Matt’s death—and now with his diabolical plan against Eden and you, well, I want to be free of him. Even if he is in South America. Frankly, I hope he never returns. When I return to Honolulu I’m going to see a lawyer about legally protecting myself from him.”
“You’re doing the right thing.”
She relaxed. “I’m very relieved. About Eden—” she began.
“What about her?” he asked sharply.
“Now it’s my turn,” she said. He felt his mother’s hand on his sleeve.
“I don’t care to upset you,” she lowered her voice, “but a letter arrived this afternoon. Bernice was just leaving the house to meet friends for tea when the postman came …”
“Where is the letter?” he asked tonelessly.
“That’s the difficulty. I can’t locate it.”
“Can’t locate it!”
“I knew you’d be coming to dinner tonight so I put it on the salver in the room you were using. I was going to give it to you after dinner. When I went to the room, it wasn’t there. Of course, I wasn’t wearing my glasses, but even so, I would surely have noticed an envelope sitting there where I’d placed it.”
“One of the servants could have removed it.”
“I’ve asked around the staff. No one has seen it.”
His agitation rose.
“I’ll ask Bernice if she removed it. If she did, please don’t be too stern with her. She’s very much taken with you, you know.”
“And Zach is very much taken with Bernice. The last thing I want right now is a triangle!”
“I know, dear, I know. It’s all so troubling. I found Bernice crying in the garden the other day.”
“Crying! Oh, come, Mother, there’s been nothing between us for four years.”
“Well she seems to think differently.”
“And even then it wasn’t love. Not on my part.”
“She’s as upset about poor Zachary as you are. She has no desire to marry him, but he’s evidently misled himself into believing so.”
“As she’s misled herself into believing that she and I are two hearts beating as one?”
“Rafe! You can be so hard sometimes.”
“Mother dear, I don’t want to marry Bunny. I don’t want to become involved with any woman, or any project right now, except Hanalei and annexation. Before I can give myself adequately to these two goals, I’ll need my sight recovered. Forget Bernice. In fact, that letter from dear, sweet, faithful Eden can just remain as invisible as my foggy eyesight as far as I care—”
“Dear, you don’t mean that. The letter must be around somewhere and, I shall find it. Oh, I believe that was the dinner bell—”
“By all means,” he said, “let us go hear what the Sugar King genius, Mr. Spreckels himself, will enlighten us with this evening. I’m sure it will aid our digestion.”
“Such a naughty boy sometimes. Come, dear.”
Bernice Judson stood near the library door, studying Rafe Easton as he stood leaning against a table, arms folded across his chest. She liked what she saw. He was everything she wanted and she intended to marry him in any way she could manage.
“In this life, short as it is,” she had recently told her women friends, “we must collect what we want before our one commodity is spent. Time is a thief and a robber. My grandfather used to tell me, ‘A woman can have few things to bargain with in this life. Beauty, wealth, and a name in society.’”
And I, Bernice thought pragmatically as she watched Rafe Easton, have them all. I am beautiful, I have money galore, and I have the powerful Judson name, respected in San Francisco and the Hawaiian Islands.
“You sound positively arrogant,” one of her friends had said courageously—courageous, for if “Bunny” Judson got angry at a friend it meant the end of that girl as far as society and its entertainments and connections were concerned. Bernice’s answer was plain and forthright. What was the use of denying her assets by wearing robes of false humility? Mirrors did not lie, neither did her inheritance, nor the collection of families she associated with on Nob Hill. She was sure she could marry any man she wanted.
Bernice wanted Rafe. She liked his wavy dark hair, his stimulating eyes framed by dark lashes, and his strong build. It amazed her how he’d escaped capture by now. The Derrington girl must be very foolish indeed. Bernice almost felt sorry for Eden.
When her usual tactics hadn’t worked—she’d heard he was engaged to Eden—Bernice decided she would need to use a ruse. So before Rafe Easton arrived from Honolulu to see Dr. Kelly, Bernice had planted misleading evidence in clever ways. As fortune smiled on her, events had fallen into her hands.
She had studied him for a year, and learned as much about him as she could through friends in Honolulu, including Zachary Derrington. Naturally, she had to play Zachary along to gain an open door into the arena of life where Rafe moved.
She had also studied the Derrington woman from afar. Bernice did not like her. She was too religious. Too dedicated to unselfishness. Imagine! Willing to work with vile lepers. To trail after the steps of her father, an old man, and one who was a trifle touched in the head, if her sources were correct. Perhaps Eden, too, was a bit “teched,” as the Scotch put it. Imagine! A man like Rafe wanting to marry her while she’d strung him along for years. The girl must be a fool.
And I will win in the end.
Actually, she was delighted Eden was on Molokai.
Bernice had no father to worry about pleasing as Eden did. Uncle Parker was as impressed with Rafe as she, and he also wished for a marriage. He liked Rafe’s business head, his abilities, and his energy. Bernice liked Rafe’s coolness, his determination—except she wanted it focused on her.
In the last month enough had happened here in San Francisco to convince her he could be taken. She wasn’t worried about him regaining his sight. She understood from Uncle Parker and Rafe’s mother that Dr. Kelly was pleased with signs of improvement in
Rafe’s vision, and was gaining confidence in his recovery.
And so she’d made her plans. Rafe’s present dependency had worked to her advantage. Rafe had written a letter to Eden, which Ling had placed in the hall for the postman to pick up. She had intercepted that letter, and now she would enjoy “reading” Eden’s letter to him.
There actually was no letter from Eden, but knowing what Rafe had written made it a pleasure for Bernice to write the girl’s response. It was fortunate that Celestine hadn’t been wearing her reading spectacles when she’d taken the envelope and placed it on the salver in Rafe’s room. All Bernice had needed to do was go back later and pick it up. If all went as she’d planned, she’d be the one to read it to him, and hopefully tonight. She even had her excuse for taking the letter.
Rafe would then close the door to Eden. This would set him free to give her time to win his commitment. Love would come later in their marriage. She would see to that. She’d never yet lost a man she wanted. Nor would she lose this time.
If only Zachary would cease troubling her …
After dinner Rafe returned to the library for his meeting with Bernice Judson. He had managed to speak to her just as they were seated at the table earlier, and she’d agreed to meet him in the library to discuss the letter from Eden.
She came to the silent library as softly as a summer’s breeze in the garden. Rafe knew it was Bernice from the fragrance she wore when she was around him. Before he’d become seriously committed to Eden he’d bought Bernice perfume for her birthday. He believed she was intentionally wearing the same fragrance now.
Bernice turned quietly and slid the bolt into place to make certain no one would interrupt.
“Good evening, Rafe.”
“Did you bring the letter?”
His tone was quiet and polite.
“Oh, yes. Celestine asked if I’d read it to you. She’s still playing hostess. You see, she opened the envelope when it first arrived. Miss Derrington must have thought it more appropriate to address the letter to your mother. I hope I’m not being too bold. I’m a little embarrassed, Rafe.”
“Don’t be.”
“Celestine wasn’t wearing her glasses when the postman came. I told her she had a letter from Miss Eden Derrington and, well, she asked me to open it at once. She asks me to do that sort of thing since we’ve come to trust each other so well.”
She continued. “So I do apologize for opening the envelope this afternoon. As soon as we understood it was actually a private letter to you, we ceased reading—”
“You needn’t worry about it. Unless she confessed to stealing the crown jewels, I don’t think it matters whether you saw her confession.”
“Oh I’m certain a wonderful girl like Miss Derrington would never steal jewels. She’s quite a selfless person, I must say.” She sighed. “I’m quite impressed with her courage and spirit of adventure. Giving so much of herself to others in need. And so devoted to Dr. Jerome Derrington.”
Bernice saw the reaction she’d hoped for from her words. His jaw flexed. She had heard that Eden’s feelings for Dr. Derrington had proven a problem in their relationship.
She walked over to him and laid a hand on his arm. “Shall we sit?”
When seated, she left her hand on his arm a moment, waiting to read his response. She could watch him as carefully as she wanted, but he could not read her expression. He knew what she looked like—“fair as a white rose,” was how Zachary liked to put it. Meticulously groomed blond hair and blue eyes.
“Rafe, this is very difficult for me,” she said with a rather breathy gentleness. “I’m sorry, but it isn’t the news you may have expected from her, a lovely girl you thought you understood so well. It’s—it’s almost cruel of me to read it to you.”
A moment of tense silence hung between them until she feared she’d made an error, and wondered how she was going to recover from the long pause.
“No need for all that,” he said. “Go ahead. Read it. Thank you.”
Thank you, indeed. She smiled faintly. Then, for a moment she was surprised at how her conscience was pricked by his trust.
“It’s a brief message. I suppose she’s busy on the island with Dr. Derrington. She sends her best, and—her love, and well, here it is:
Dear Rafe,
My father and Ambrose have both spoken to me about your blindness. They assure me there is a religious reason for your trial, and that you, and all of us, must accept the great changes brought into our lives. God intervenes, altering our plans, and arranging for the best.
I’m deeply hurt that this tragedy has occurred. Blindness will be difficult for you. Therefore, Rafe, after much soul searching, I see that you are correct. Perhaps it is wise you learn to walk your own pathway, before “asking me to walk it with you,” as you said. My work here on Kalawao is very important to me. I’ve come to understand that working at my father’s side is the most important purpose in my life, so I believe I should continue here. It will be better for both of us if we forget the decision we made about marriage.
Bernice hesitated, rather proud of the way she wrote with the zeal of someone like Eden believing in religious matters such as “God’s will.”
Bernice waited a few seconds for effect, and then said softly, “Then she signs her name, Eden.”
She allowed another minute to slip by and then placed her hand on his, curling her fingers gently around his strong ones. She edged closer against him, making sure their bodies touched. “Rafe … I—”
He drew his hand away and abruptly stood.
She too, stood. She narrowed her eyes.
“I’d like to be alone if you don’t mind,” he stated.
“No, no, of course I don’t.”
But she did mind. His reaction hadn’t been quite as she’d expected. He was angry, not melting with a broken heart. In fact, she could see just how angry he was with Eden by the pulse beat in his throat. She would like to think it was her nearness that affected him, but she knew better.
Bernice turned away toward the door, tightening her mouth, when his terse voice halted her.
“That letter, please. I’d like to keep it.” He held out a hand.
She turned and looked at him. His hand was held out to receive it. A steady hand, she noted. He wasn’t broken up over this perceived dismissal by Eden Derrington. He was as resolved and formidable as an oncoming duelist. For the first time she feared what she’d done. Suppose he confronted Eden? What if he found out the letter was not real?
I’ll think of something.
“Yes, of course,” she murmured.
They heard a tap on the door. “Miss Bernice? Are you in there?”
Zachary. Now Rafe would know she’d locked the door.
“The letter,” Rafe said his hand still held out.
She laid it on his palm, thinking how she’d like to smack his handsome face with it instead. Keep calm, Bernice. She whipped about and went to the door, but before she slid the bolt back, she turned her head and looked over her shoulder.
I need to get that letter again and destroy it, in case he regains his vision soon.
He placed it in the pocket of his dinner jacket.
Well that should be easy enough to retrieve later.
She slid the bolt back and pulled the door open. Her cool gaze met Zachary’s even cooler one. He glanced past her and saw Rafe standing with his back toward them.
Bernice took hold of Zachary’s arm.
“He doesn’t care for company right now,” she whispered. “Let’s go out into the garden, shall we?” She gave him her sweetest, most promising smile, then pulled the door shut.
Alone, Rafe endured the pain of Eden’s rejection. She might as well have thrust a knife into his heart. One thought came to mind. He remembered reading the story of the hymn writer George Matheson who’d been engaged to a lovely young woman from a good family in England. When he told her he was going blind she ended their relationship, saying she did not wish to be marrie
d to a blind man. Later, Matheson had written the hymn O Love that Will Not Let Me Go, which celebrated the unchanging nature of God.
He felt his way to a chair and sat down. God’s love was faithful and steadfast. He would never leave one of His own. God’s love did not depend on talent, physical appearance, strength, or goodness.
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.
I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
The Scriptures filled his mind. But the one woman he loved had betrayed him, because he no longer measured up to her needs.
As Bernice walked with Zachary through the garden, she told him of how Rafe and Eden had broken their relationship permanently.
At first he merely shrugged.
“Oh they’re always doing that,” he said. “I don’t know how many times their engagement was broken and a new marriage date set. I admit, though, that this last one I really thought was going to cross the wedding line.”
By the time Bernice ended her tale, she’d not only dampened Zachary’s jealousy, but also raised his concern for his “dear brother Rafe.”
“Eden always put Molokai and her mother, Rebecca, ahead of Rafe,” he said. “I’m surprised she actually came out and told him she no longer loved him, though. Especially at a time like this. It seems cruel. And Eden isn’t anything close to being heartless. She was depressed when she couldn’t see him,” he said as they walked back toward the house. “I’ve never seen her as depressed as she was when he was in the medical ward in Honolulu. At one point none of us thought he would come out of that coma. If it hadn’t been for Ambrose and the mission church holding round-the-clock prayer vigil for him, I don’t think Rafe would have awakened.”
She looked at him. “Do you actually believe that?”
“Sure I do. There was a time when I didn’t … but Eden brought me to understand who Christ is, and what He’s done for us. His mission when He came to our little earth was awesome.”
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