A Fragile Design

by Tracie Peterson

  ‘‘Yes, you may take him back.’’

  ‘‘But I want to stay with Sister Bella,’’ David whined.

  ‘‘David!’’

  Eldress Phoebe’s one-word command said all that was necessary. The child bid them good-day, grasped Brother Justice’s extended hand, and quietly walked out of the room.

  ‘‘Well?’’ Eldress Phoebe said, her gaze fixed upon Lilly.

  ‘‘He doesn’t look anything like my brother—or any other member of our family as far as I could tell. But the birthmark and his age together with the fact that an Irishwoman brought him here from Lowell all lead me to believe David must be Lewis’s child.’’

  ‘‘So you’ll not let the matter rest?’’

  Lilly stood. ‘‘I’ll discuss the boy with my husband and seek his counsel.’’

  ‘‘If you plan to return here, I suggest you send a letter prior to your arrival. Otherwise, we’ll not meet with you.’’ Eldress Phoebe’s words held an unmistakable note of finality.

  ‘‘And you, Arabella, should not heap difficulties upon us. Unless you should decide to repent of your ways and return to the Society, please don’t return.’’

  Bella nodded. ‘‘As you wish, but I’ll be stopping at my mother’s grave before we leave the grounds.’’

  Eldress Phoebe wagged her head back and forth. ‘‘You still insist on grieving over Sister Polly when she’s gone to a better place. You never did successfully break your ties from her.’’

  ‘‘I never believed it was a part of God’s plan to split families or for children to look upon their parents with no higher degree of love and concern than for the other members of this sect. You’ll have to count me as one of your failures, Eldress Phoebe. I always loved my mother much more than anyone else in this community.’’ She paused. ‘‘Some of you I didn’t love at all. Farewell,’’ she added, feeling as though a terrible burden had suddenly been lifted.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, Bella turned to face Taylor. Something about his defense of her had endeared him a bit. ‘‘Thank you for attempting to come to my rescue with Eldress Phoebe. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anybody willing to fight for my cause.’’

  ‘‘You’re welcome, Bella. I only wish I could have done more,’’ Taylor replied softly.

  There was something surprising in the way he made that pronouncement—his words weren’t filled with the old cockiness she’d come to expect from him in the past. Instead, she heard a new sincerity. It pleased her.

  Brother Justice met them at the bottom of the stairs. ‘‘I told Brother Franklin you were here,’’ he whispered to Bella. ‘‘He asked that I tell you he is praying that you will return and keep your covenant with the Believers.’’

  ‘‘I think not,’’ Bella replied. ‘‘This world is his choice, not mine.’’

  CHAPTER 34

  The sound of the front door opening caused Matthew to jump to his feet. ‘‘Lilly, I’m so glad you’re home safe and sound. How are you feeling?’’ he questioned, pulling her into a warm embrace.

  ‘‘I feel fine, just tired.’’

  Matthew released her, studying her face momentarily. ‘‘Are you certain? I’ve been very worried about you.’’ He spied Taylor bringing up Lilly’s bag. ‘‘Here, I’ll take that,’’ he said, reaching for Lilly’s satchel. ‘‘Did you have a good journey?’’

  ‘‘I’m afraid not. We must talk immediately,’’ Lilly said, moving toward the parlor.

  Taylor stood in the hallway, anxiously moving toward the door. ‘‘I’m going to take Bella back to the boardinghouse, and then I’ll deliver your horse and carriage to the livery, Mr. Cheever.’’

  Matthew grasped Taylor’s hand in a firm handshake. ‘‘Yes, that would be of great assistance, and thank you for making the journey in my stead, Taylor.’’

  ‘‘My pleasure. Good day, Mrs. Cheever.’’

  ‘‘Good-bye, Taylor, and thank you again,’’ Lilly called out from the parlor.

  Matthew hastened back to his wife’s side and took her hand in his own. ‘‘Now, then, what is it that requires immediate attention?’’

  Lilly sat down, wiggling a bit in an obvious effort to make herself more comfortable, her brow furrowed in a look of concern. ‘‘Before I begin recounting the problems in Canterbury, there is another matter we must discuss,’’ she said. Cutting straight to the heart of the matter, Lilly related the information Bella had shared at the inn. ‘‘Thaddeus Arnold must be dismissed from the Corporation, Matthew. He was given his opportunity to change. He’ll end up either killing or permanently injuring his wife or their child.’’

  Matthew stared at his wife, stunned by the revelation. ‘‘I’ll talk to him, Lilly. However, I can’t fire him without first giving the man opportunity to defend himself against these allegations.’’

  ‘‘Really, Matthew! You know he’s up to his ghastly behavior once again. However, if you insist on talking to him, you must promise you won’t mention Bella’s name. I gave my word I wouldn’t divulge where I received the information.’’

  Matthew gave his wife a faint smile. ‘‘Of course. I wouldn’t want to place Bella in harm’s way, either. Now, tell me about your trip to New Hampshire,’’ he urged.

  Lilly sank back into the overstuffed settee and began recounting their misadventure in Canterbury.

  ‘‘I can certainly understand why Bella and Daughtie were anxious to leave the place,’’ Matthew replied. ‘‘Eldress Phoebe sounds like a bit of a fusspot.’’

  ‘‘She’s more than that, Matthew. She’s a scheming fanatic, and she adamantly refuses to release the child to me.’’

  ‘‘You must calm yourself, Lilly. All of this upset can’t be good for you or the baby.’’

  ‘‘I’ll calm myself once we have Lewis’s child here in Lowell with us. It’s imperative we return for him, Matthew. Had you been with me, I know the boy would be with us now. You wouldn’t have let that controlling Eldress Phoebe turn us away empty-handed. I think we should plan to leave by the week’s end.’’

  ‘‘Lilly, there’s someone you must talk to. I believe you may change your mind about returning to Canterbury.’’

  ‘‘I can’t imagine what would cause me to change my mind,’’ she replied before giving her husband a look of surprise. ‘‘And why are you home at this time of day, Matthew?’’

  ‘‘I arranged to meet Liam Donohue here at the house. In fact, it’s Liam I want you to talk to regarding the little boy.’’

  Moving to find a more comfortable position, Lilly leveled a look of confusion in Matthew’s direction. ‘‘Why are you holding business meetings at the house? And what information would Liam Donohue have regarding Lewis’s son?’’

  Before Matthew could answer, there was a knock at the front door. ‘‘That must be Liam now,’’ he said.

  Only moments later, Matthew escorted Liam into the parlor. Although Matthew had spoken of Liam from time to time, Lilly had never been properly introduced to the stonemason. With as little ceremony as possible, Matthew made the perfunctory introductions. ‘‘I was just telling Lilly I wanted her to speak to you about the child you mentioned.’’

  Liam hesitated a moment and gave Matthew a questioning look. ‘‘Noreen’s sister’s child? Ya want me to tell her now?’’

  Matthew nodded his assent, and Lilly turned her attention to the Irishman.

  ‘‘Well, Mrs. Cheever, yar husband was tellin’ me about the child ya’d gone seekin’ in New Hampshire,’’ he began. ‘‘For sure, he mentioned the fact that the lad you were seekin’ had a mushroom-shaped birthmark on his arm.’’

  ‘‘Yes,’’ Lilly interjected, now obviously anxious to hear what this man had to say.

  ‘‘When I first arrived in Lowell I boarded with a woman named Noreen Gallagher for a short time. Noreen had the gift of gab, especially when she’d had too much to drink,’’ he explained. ‘‘There were several occasions when Noreen spoke about a young lad, her nephew, who
bore such a birthmark.’’

  Lilly’s hands were shaking. ‘‘Yes, yes. Noreen Gallagher is the woman who signed the papers Eldress Phoebe presented to us when we were in Canterbury.’’ She turned to look at her husband, excitement etched upon her face. ‘‘You see, Matthew, it’s all coming together. We must leave tomorrow.’’

  ‘‘Wait, Lilly. Liam’s not finished.’’

  She gave Liam a nervous smile. ‘‘I’m sorry. Go on, Mr. Donohue,’’ she said.

  ‘‘Noreen told me the child’s father was one of the Boston Associates. I later heard from several men in the pub that William Thurston and Kathryn O’Hanrahan had been involved in a . . . umm . . .’’ Liam stammered and looked to Matthew.

  ‘‘Liaison,’’ Matthew said.

  ‘‘Yes. And these men mentioned that Kathryn had a child by this William Thurston.’’

  ‘‘No! He’s Lewis’s child,’’ Lilly objected.

  Matthew moved to Lilly’s side. ‘‘Lilly, William Thurston has a birthmark exactly like the one on the child.’’

  ‘‘Why would Lewis mention a child on his deathbed if it wasn’t his?’’

  Liam cleared his throat. ‘‘For sure I’m not knowin’ anything about yar brother, ma’am, but I did ask Noreen why she hadn’t kept the lad with her—not that he’d have been well cared for under that woman’s wing. Anyway, she told me she feared for the lad’s life and was sure he would come to some harm by his father’s hand. She decided it would be best to give him up to the Shakers rather than have him suffer possible harm. Perhaps your brother possessed that same knowledge and was merely issuin’ a warnin’ to protect the wee lad.’’

  Matthew pulled Lilly close. ‘‘I know you want to believe the boy is related to you, Lilly, but this evidence proves otherwise. You know that Lewis was involved with William Thurston to some extent. Thurston could have told him about the woman and boy. Remember, also, that Mrs. Gallagher says the father was one of the Boston Associates. That information further implicates William as the father, not Lewis. We must think this through. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if we brought that child to Lowell and he came to some harm.’’

  Pulling a lace-edged handkerchief from her pocket, Lilly dabbed one eye and then the other. ‘‘I think I must rest, Matthew. This is all too much for me right now. If you’ll excuse me, I believe I’ll go upstairs and lie down.’’

  ‘‘Of course, my dear. I think that’s wise. You’re tired from your journey and there’s much information to consider. I’ll come up once Liam and I have concluded our business.’’

  Matthew escorted his wife to the bottom of the wide oak stairway. ‘‘Try to get some sleep, Lilly,’’ he said, brushing her cheek with an affectionate kiss. He waited until she had ascended the stairs before returning to the parlor.

  ‘‘I’m sorry me words caused yar wife such grief,’’ Liam apologized.

  Matthew placed his hand in a reassuring manner on Liam’s shoulder. ‘‘You spoke only the truth. There’s nothing to apologize for, Liam. I appreciate your willingness to help me sort out this whole issue of the boy. I don’t know if Lilly will want to talk to Noreen Gallagher—I pray not. But should she insist, would you be willing to arrange for them to meet?’’

  ‘‘For sure I would, although I’d avoid such a meetin’ if at all possible. Noreen’s not the type ya’d want to have come callin’. And she might try to put the touch on ya for some money, too.’’

  Matthew smiled and nodded. ‘‘I’m hopeful Noreen’s presence won’t be necessary. Now, have you been able to scrape up any more information regarding J. P. or the missing girls?’’

  Liam nodded and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his muscular thighs. A shock of dark hair fell forward across his brow, and he absently ran his fingers through the mass of thick black waves in an attempt to shove it back into place. ‘‘I’ve taken into my confidence an old Irishman who spends most of his time in the pub. Haven’t told him why I want information, of course, but told him I’d stand good for some ale if he’d keep a listenin’ ear directed toward J. P. and his cronies any time they’re in the pub.’’

  ‘‘Do you think you can trust him?’’

  Liam nodded. ‘‘I do. He dislikes havin’ Yanks come into the pub—says they should keep to their own part of town since they expect the Irish to stay in the Acre. He spends most of his time at the pub. His son brought him over from Ireland, and he lives with his son’s family in the Acre. Probably spends his time in the pub to stay out of the way at home. He says he’s old but his hearin’ is sharp,’’ Liam explained with a hearty laugh.

  ‘‘But has he come by any information that’s helpful? I believe we’ve got to produce something even more substantial than those papers of J. P.’s before we go to the police. I’m afraid he’ll refute the ledgers, insisting they were altered after being stolen from his safe.’’

  ‘‘Seems the old man heard a conversation a few days back. Green and a couple scalawags were talking about needin’ more high-quality merchandise right away.’’

  ‘‘But that doesn’t really tell us much,’’ Matthew cut in.

  ‘‘For sure, but as they continued talkin’, one of the men said something about not likin’ the idea of going after the Yankee girls. He said it was drawin’ too much attention and mentioned the ad in the paper. J. P. told him he didn’t care whether he liked it or not—he was bein’ paid to do a job, and they needed at least three beauties to take down the canal very soon.’’

  ‘‘Down the canal? They must travel by canal to Boston and then ship the girls out of the harbor,’’ Matthew said, running a hand across his forehead. ‘‘The fact that this bartering in human flesh is taking place right here in Lowell sickens me. The families of the mill girls give approval for their daughters to come here and work because they believe they’ll be safe. It won’t take long until we’ll have frightened girls rushing back home and disastrous results as we attempt to find their replacements.’’

  ‘‘I’m supposin’ that’s true enough. If we’ve a bit o’ luck on our side, perhaps they’ll discuss when they plan to be takin’ the girls to Boston.’’

  Matthew looked up and met Liam’s gaze. ‘‘I doubt we’ll be that fortunate. Most likely their schedule revolves around whenever they’re able to abduct the girls rather than a set timetable. Let’s hope we’re able to bring this whole ugly business to a stop before they’re able to seize another girl.’’

  Taylor slowed the horse a bit as the boardinghouse came into view. ‘‘I’m sure you’re weary from all this traveling.’’

  ‘‘Not really, although I must admit it seems odd to be riding about Lowell at midafternoon on a workday,’’ Bella responded. ‘‘I do hope Miss Addie is home. I’m anxious to visit with her about our journey.’’

  ‘‘I trust you plan to tell her that you’ve a growing admiration for me,’’ he said, giving a somewhat embarrassed laugh. ‘‘I’d hate to bring on another of her lectures.’’

  Bella graced him with a bright smile. ‘‘I plan to tell her that I believe your behavior was praiseworthy and that I was most pleasantly surprised with the changes I saw.’’

  ‘‘Do those changes merit enough admiration that you’ll grant me permission to call on you?’’

  A slight blush colored her cheeks. ‘‘Perhaps. It would depend on your intentions.’’

  ‘‘My intentions are completely honorable, I assure you. However, I fear if I said more you’d consider me forward. So for now, I’ll settle for the privilege of escorting you to your meeting at the Mechanics Association this evening.’’

  Bella decided she best not question him further about his intentions unless she wanted to be completely embarrassed. ‘‘I’d completely forgotten we had a meeting this evening.’’

  ‘‘Then I may call for you?’’

  ‘‘Yes, that would be fine,’’ she replied. ‘‘Look! Isn’t that Mr. Farnsworth’s carriage in front of the boardinghouse?’’

  ‘‘Un
cle John must have concluded his business down South ahead of schedule. I wasn’t expecting him until next week.’’ Taylor pulled the horses to a halt behind John’s carriage and then assisted Bella down.

  ‘‘Bella! You’re home,’’ Miss Addie greeted from her parlor. ‘‘Come in and visit with us. You, too, Taylor—and look who’s here! Aren’t you surprised?’’

  Miss Addie was beaming, obviously unable to contain her excitement over Mr. Farnsworth’s return to Lowell.

  ‘‘Indeed I am. Welcome home, Uncle John. I wasn’t expecting you until next week.’’

  John grasped Taylor’s hand in a firm handshake. ‘‘Fortunately our negotiations went more smoothly than anticipated, permitting my early return. It is good to be home among family and friends. I hear from Addie that you’ve been on a journey of your own.’’

  ‘‘Yes, although I don’t believe we were as successful on our mission.’’

  Miss Addie gave Taylor an encouraging smile. ‘‘Sit down and tell us all about it.’’

  Taylor shook his head back and forth. ‘‘I’ll leave the telling to Bella. I’ve got to take Mr. Cheever’s horses and carriage to the livery. Glad you’re home, Uncle John.’’

  ‘‘Thank you, my boy. I’ll be home shortly.’’

  Taylor turned his gaze to Bella before leaving. ‘‘And I’ll see you this evening, Bella.’’ Bella smiled and nodded in agreement. Once Taylor had closed the front door, she took her cue from Miss Addie and began to relate the events of their journey.

  ‘‘My, my,’’ Miss Addie lamented as she wagged her head back and forth when Bella had finally recounted the tale. ‘‘Tell me, dear, did you have an opportunity to see your father or Sister Mercy?’’

  ‘‘I didn’t see my father. He elected to send word to me that he was praying I would return to the Society and honor my covenant. However, I did have an opportunity to see Sister Mercy. We stopped at the cemetery as we were leaving, and there she was, waiting by my dear mother’s small tombstone. I think Brother Justice told her of my arrival, and she knew I wouldn’t leave without visiting my mother’s grave.’’