After almost two years of uncertainty, Lavonia was grateful that new plans had developed for her over the past week. Following her initial objections, Aunt Amelia’s conscience had apparently been pricked so that she sent a letter asking Lavonia to live with her for an indefinite period of time. She had been particularly vexed that Katherine refused to come and do her bidding, and now claimed that Lavonia was “her favorite niece.” Though her aunt had been careful to avoid mention of her expectations in the correspondence, Lavonia knew she would probably be doing most of the household tasks, at least until she found a post as a nanny or governess elsewhere. She didn’t mind. The time had come for her to leave her cousin’s home and pursue a life of her own.
Though minding and teaching the children of the upper classes was not the life, or the mission, Lavonia had promised her mother she would undertake, she was at peace. During her nightly prayers the previous week, she had given the decision over to the Lord. To follow her mother’s ambition for her if the Lord didn’t make such a provision would be nothing short of worshiping her over God. Lavonia was grateful that the Lord in His mercy had only taken her far from her mission in geography, not purpose. She looked forward to the opportunity to share His love with whatever children He saw fit to place in her charge.
The sound of hooves pounding on the drive barely disturbed her, since she was expecting Luke and Helen to return from their morning ride in due time. She looked up for an instant, intent to bid them a good morning. Instead, what she saw made her snap her head, her mouth dropping open with surprise. Her stomach felt as though it would flip through her dress, right along with her beating heart.
“William!” She stood to greet him.
“So, you remember?” His teasing smile made her ache anew, knowing this would be their last time together. With lithe steps, he bounded onto the porch and took a place in an outdoor chair adjacent to the swing. As quickly as it had appeared, his levity evaporated. “Are your cousins home?”
“No. Do you wish to see them?”
“No. It is you I came to see.” He took off his hat and held it in his hands, a motion of humility she had never seen him perform. “I know I have no right to come here like this, when you have made it plain you do not wish to see me. But since you were so kind as to tell me your suspicions about Philemon Midas, I hope you will overlook my transgression. I assure you, my intent is merely to inquire further about him. Nothing more.”
“Oh.” Her heart sank. “Well, certainly I will do what I can to help.”
“And for that, I thank you. But first, I must apologize. Since Mr. Syms informed me I was not to see you again, I realize I must have somehow offended you during our past time to-gether. I beg your pardon, Miss Penn. I would never intentionally do such a thing. I pray that enough time has passed now that you will forgive me.”
Lavonia was puzzled. Had her letter not conveyed to him her interest in him and his affairs? “Why do you insist I do not wish to see you? How can you believe that?”
“Your last correspondence to me indicated nothing otherwise.”
“Do you not realize I feared someone else would see the letter? I did not wish to vex my cousin. As you can imagine, the whole household was quite perturbed after they discovered I had stolen away to be with you.”
“Oh.” The relief on his face was evident. “In that case, I hope the scene was not too unpleasant.”
At that moment, Helen and Luke turned the corner of the drive. “Hopefully no more unpleasant than the scene we are about to encounter,” Lavonia observed.
As soon as they reached the front yard, Luke shouted, “What are you doing here, Amory?” He jumped off his horse and strode toward William.
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Lavonia stopped him with a furtive tap on the small of his back. “Dr. Amory is here on a matter of business.”
Luke’s head snapped in Lavonia’s direction. “What business could he possibly have with you?”
“Vraiment.” Helen appeared at his side. “That is what I would like to know.”
“It is about the deed to my house. We want to see it.”
“The deed?” Luke asked.
“I know it is in your possession. Uncle Joseph told me he left a spare set of papers with you.” Though she spoke the truth, Lavonia prayed the Lord would forgive her for omitting the fact that she had also happened upon the papers in Luke’s study.
“Why would you need to see the papers?” he asked. “Surely a woman need not bother herself with such matters.”
“The deed is hers, in principle if not by law. I request that you show it to us immediately,” William interjected.
“Au contraire, my good doctor. As the male head of this household, I am entrusted to keep the deed on behalf of both sisters. To obey your wish would be a violation of the trust of Miss Katherine, even if Miss Lavonia wishes you to see it.”
“See what?” Appearing at the front door, Katherine was bleary-eyed, her hair uncombed, and her dress disheveled, the obvious results of a hasty toilette.
Helen rushed to her side. “Katherine, why are you out of bed?”
“I heard voices. Is there some sort of dispute?”
“Mais non,” Helen answered.
“Mais oui!” Lavonia contradicted her. “Katherine, I am glad you awoke. I have asked Luke to show us the deed of sale to the house. Do you have any objections?”
Despite a warning look from Luke, Katherine answered, “Of course not. But I see no reason why everyone must read it. Is something the matter?”
“There could be. I saw the deed,” Lavonia told her. “It was signed by Philemon Midas.”
Katherine paused, then a flash of memory flickered over her features. “Dr. Amory’s benefactor? But I thought he was dead.”
“So did I,” William answered before turning to Luke. “As you can see, permission has been granted by all concerned parties for us to see the deed. I suggest you show it to us at once.”
“But you are not a lawyer—”
“At once, Mr. Syms.”
Luke glared at William for a moment as though he planned to object once more. The ominous look on William’s face seemed to change his mind. Luke disappeared into the house.
Lavonia asked Helen, “So, you were not aware that Phile-mon Midas bought our house?”
“Mais non,” she huffed. “As my husband so aptly stated, there is no need for a woman to concern herself with business affairs.”
“And he did not realize Philemon Midas was Dr. Amory’s benefactor?”
To her surprise, William jumped to Luke’s defense. “There was no reason for him to know, Miss Penn. We are not acquainted to the degree that he would be apprised of my personal affairs. I feel confident Mr. Syms has played no part in any intrigue.”
“Merci.” Helen shot Lavonia a withering look.
At that moment, Luke returned, deed in hand. “Is this what you wanted to see?”
William eagerly took it. “Yes.” Skimming its contents, William’s gaze finally rested on the signature. But upon examining the name, he shook his head. “This is not the signature of Philemon Midas.”
“It is not?” Lavonia couldn’t conceal her astonishment.
“If not, then whose could it be?” Luke wondered aloud.
“Could there be another Philemon Midas?” Helen conjectured.
“I have tried to find him twice, with no success. I turned over every stone in Dover years ago, and again this past week, and could not find even one man named Philemon Midas.” William shook his head. “No, that could not be possible.”
Luke ventured another guess. “Could your benefactor be the father you never knew?”
The hypothesis left William visibly shaken. Seeing his distress, Lavonia placed a comforting hand on his arm.
“Perhaps that is the answer!” Helen agreed.
Casting a gaze upward to William’s face, Lavonia asked, “May I tell them?”
He nodded.
“Philemon M
idas cannot be his father. His father has been dead for several years.”
Luke arched an eyebrow. “And how do you know that?”
“I anticipated I might need these.” Reaching into his vest pocket, he withdrew an envelope, yellowed with age. The orphanage address had been scrawled in a sloppy hand with pompous capital letters. “My father’s script in no way matches the signature on the deed.”
At that instant, Lavonia met with a sudden realization. “Let me see the signature on the deed.”
Though Luke had a puzzled expression, he complied. A quick glance at the writing confirmed what she suspected. She showed the document to everyone else. “Note how the dot on the letter ‘i’ appears leftward, even though the words slant to the right.”
“That is indeed odd,” Luke agreed.
“And do you see the extra curl on the loop in the ‘P’?”
Helen snatched the paper from Lavonia’s grasp. “Why, I recognize that handwriting. It belongs to Uncle Joseph!” With her eyes wide and jaw dropped, she was the picture of surprise. “So he was the one who bought your house?”
“For thousands of pounds less than its market value,” Lavonia noted.
“We shall be seeing him about that matter,” William said, the determination in his eyes telling her that justice would be served.
Luke smirked at William. “No wonder their uncle can afford to be a benefactor to poor, lost little orphans.”
Though he didn’t speak, Lavonia saw rage rising in William. Straightening himself to his full height, he looked down at the diminutive Luke. “That may be Joseph Penn’s signature, but I assure you, he was not my benefactor.” He pulled out a second letter. “The man who wrote this letter was my benefactor.”
William flung open the letter and held it up for everyone’s perusal. As soon as they saw the precise handwriting, Helen, Katherine, and Lavonia let out a collective gasp. Exchanging looks, they communicated their astonishment to each other without words.
Helen shook her head. “I would not have believed it, had I not seen the evidence with my own eyes.”
“Nor I,” agreed Katherine. “But there is no doubt in my mind who wrote that letter.”
Lavonia’s heart raced. If my father deemed William worthy of his benevolence, then he could see what Helen and Luke fail to admit. That William is indeed worthy, in every way that matters. Surely, Lord, she prayed, this must be a sign that You intend William for me. Surely I would not be wrong to listen to my heart!
Luke’s voice interrupted her joyous contemplation. “Who wrote it? And what does this letter prove?”
“I know that handwriting better than my own.” Lavonia answered. “Philemon Midas was my father.”
“Your father?” Luke turned to his wife. “Helen, tell your cousin how preposterous her assumption is.”
“But she is right,” Helen answered. “I knew my uncle’s handwriting well. He corresponded with our family for many years, until the time of his death. The letter Dr. Amory holds in his hand was indeed written by Lavonia’s father.”
William didn’t bother to conceal his shock. “So, your father was the person who showed me such kindness all these years?”
Lavonia nodded.
“If only I could have known. I so wanted to thank him.”
“He did not seek gratitude, or recognition. He sought only to serve the Lord. Do you know what his favorite passage was? Matthew 6:3–4: ‘But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.’ ”
A strange look crossed William’s features. “Then that explains why he sent me this along with the letter.” From a coat pocket, he retrieved a silver money clip and placed it in Lavonia’s hand. Engraved on the clip was, “To William, As you graduate. P.M.” Underneath the initials appeared, “Matthew 6:3–4.”
Staring at the clip, Lavonia remained silent, too filled with emotion to speak.
“I wish I could somehow repay your father for everything he did for me,” William whispered.
“You already do, by using your knowledge to help others,” Lavonia answered.
“Including Katherine,” Helen interjected.
Lavonia nodded, realizing that Helen’s admission signaled a shift in her opinion of William.
“My small contribution barely begins to repay him.” William’s voice was soft.
“Never let one moment of worry vex you, William.” Lavonia couldn’t stop the tears that fell on her cheeks. “Our heavenly Father will repay him abundantly.”
His violet eyes sparkling, William took hold of her hand. “I know not what I did right, but my heavenly Father has already rewarded me.”
“And me as well.” Though she focused on him, from the corner of her eye, she saw the others exit. There would be no more opposition to their love for each other.
“Lavonia, have you no idea how difficult it has been for me to stay away from you?”
“And I, you. But I was following Luke’s counsel. He suggested I should not see you again for a time, to determine if in your absence my feelings would change.”
“And how do you feel, Lavonia?” He touched her chin with his fingers and whispered. “Are you saying you feel as I do?”
“And how is that?”
“I love you. I loved you from the first moment I saw you. The prospect of life without you is too dismal to imagine.”
Lavonia felt a shiver tingle up her spine. How she had wanted to hear such words! How she wished she could go away with him, never to think about the past again. But she could not. “But I have promised Aunt Amelia I would go and live in London with her. My stage leaves tomorrow.”
“Then I shall follow you to London. I shall follow you to the edge of the world, if I must.” Taking her delicate hands in his strong ones, he brought them up to his chest, placing them just over his beating heart. “As long as you will have me.”
“Do you really mean that, William?” she whispered, awed to be living her fantasy.
“I have never meant anything with more sincerity in all my life.”
She felt her eyes become misty with emotion. Her heart singing, she felt the chains of bondage breaking as she realized with shining clarity that the Lord had sent William to her. “Nothing would give me more joy.”
This time, when he kissed her, Lavonia knew she need not be ashamed.
epilogue
Two Years Later
Stepping onto the porch of the modest white frame house situated in Savannah, Lavonia inhaled deeply the fresh Georgia air. Strong rays of sunlight peeked through tall pines, warming her to the core. Though surviving summer in the southern colony had required some adjustment, Lavonia reveled in the experience of prolonged hot weather. Allowing herself a satisfied sigh after a morning spent writing letters, she smoothed her house dress fashioned in a lightweight, though modestly styled, white cotton.
Two older women greeted her as they passed. “Good morning, Mrs. Amory.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Simpson. Mrs. Bailey.” She smiled. “Remember our Bible study this afternoon. Four o’clock sharp.”
As they nodded their promise to attend, Lavonia sent a silent prayer of thanks to the Lord for the opportunity to teach His word. Since she had started the Bible study that past autumn, attendance had grown from three women to twenty and counting.
“Yoo hoo!” Jane shouted from her backyard, just a few houses down the street.
Lavonia waved to her friend, who was hanging out nightshirts and dressing gowns of varying sizes to dry. She was grateful that she could be so near her friend, so that she was still able to help with the children’s lessons as she and Jane had planned.
Jane smiled happily. Her husband had agreed to move to Savannah, and the comforts the city afforded, after their seventh child was born. As was evident by her expanding belly, Jane would be welcoming another new life in a few months.
The sound of her own infa
nt’s crying as he awakened from his nap caused Lavonia to notice that the sun was high. Re-treating to the indoors, she hastened to the crib. She picked up Willie and held him to her chest, swaying her shoulders to rock him as she stepped toward the kitchen. Her motions resulted in a less urgent cry, but tiny sniffles indicated he was still eager for his meal.
She smiled, bringing her nose to his. “I need no alarm clock with you around, now do I?”
Willie had just finished eating when his father arrived home, a welcome breeze stirring as William opened the door. “And how is my beautiful little family?”
Lavonia turned to answer her husband. It didn’t matter that they were no longer considered newlyweds. Her heart beat with as much intensity upon the sight of him as on the day they took each other as man and wife. “We are just wonderful, now that you are home.”
Before he could answer, Lavonia heard a small squeal of protest before a piglet jumped out of William’s arms and began running around the house.
She let out a shriek. “William! Get that pig out of here!” She eyed a nearby stack of Bibles destined for delivery to the remote wilderness, and her anxiety grew. “That animal will ruin the Bibles!”
Thrilled by the unexpected drama, Willie giggled.
“I think Willie’s enjoying the show.” William nonetheless began chasing the animal, finally catching her when she made the mistake of running into a far corner.
Letting out an audible sigh of relief that the Bibles and the rest of the house remained unharmed, Lavonia placed her free hand on her chest and shook her head. “Payment for services rendered, I assume?”
William nodded.
“Why ever did you bring that animal in here?”
“I wanted to show Willie.” Coming closer to Lavonia, he held up the pig for his son to see. “What do you think of this pig, Willie? Can you say ‘pig’?”
Having not yet uttered his first word, the baby smiled and swatted his hand toward the animal.
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