He lifted his head and cupped her face in his hands.
“You weren’t gone long before I regretted what I’d done, but I’d backed myself into a corner. I thought I couldn’t ask you to come home until I was solvent and successful and had some hope of repaying you, but I was a fool for not factoring in the time it will take for that to happen. I never knew how much I would miss talking to you, hearing the rustle of your skirt. I miss having you there in the evening presiding over our table. I miss touching you. I even miss seeing you make certain your hats are on just so and your glasses are on straight. I’ve been haunted by the memory of our last night together, the beauty and promise of what we shared.”
“Oh, Colin.” She drew his head down until their lips met again. When their kiss ended her smile took his breath away.
“Last night I took the children to watch the bonfires along the river and saw the celebration through their eyes. They believe in the magic and joy of the season as I used to, the hope of the season, the promise of a new beginning for the world. I prayed Kate. I prayed for a new beginning for us too. I can’t live without your love. I can’t live without the light you bring into my life.”
“Oh, Colin.” She started to say something, but he gently pressed his finger to her lips.
“You saved Belle Fleuve for me, Kate. You saved me with your love. I can’t go down on one knee, but I beg you, come home where you belong.”
“Of course,” she whispered. “Of course I will. I love you, Colin. I wish we could leave right now. But I should see to my things, and I have to tell Roger I’ll be working from the plantation again.”
“I was going to leave on the last boat upriver. I’m afraid I may have missed it.” He paused, looking around the room.
“Stay with me tonight,” Kate whispered.
He turned, cupped her cheek. “Are you sure?”
“We can leave together tomorrow.”
“I told Eugenie not to worry if I was delayed. She and Simon will collect the children from the Boltons.”
Kate pictured Damian and Marie. “Did Pere Noel find them?”
“Thanks to Eugenie, he left treats in their shoes last night.” He glanced at the bed piled high with clothes.
Kate blushed. “Perhaps we should get a room at the St. Charles …”
Colin grabbed up an armful of gowns and tossed them aside.
“Anywhere is fine as long as we’re together.”
EPILOGUE
OCTOBER 1877
Belle Fleuve.
The pungent smell of the boiling cane was cloying, but it was a reminder of a successful harvest, of security, of prayers, hopes, and dreams coming to fruition.
Belle Fleuve’s first harvest in sixteen years had been underway for two weeks. Since the old sugarhouse was one of the few still standing, Colin had opened it to his neighbors. Despite the hectic pace, the constant coming and going of wagons, the cutting and harvesting in the fields, and the round-the-clock boiling, Kate had never been happier. God had seen her through the darkness.
A true Delany at last, she belonged at Belle Fleuve.
Outside the huge boiling shed she watched Colin supervise the men as they unloaded yet another wagon filled with cane. Blessed with love, a home, and a family, Kate’s only remaining wish was to find her sisters.
Colin spoke to Jason Bolton before he made his way across the yard to join her in the shade of a willow. His countenance had changed. With every day that the weather cooperated and the sugarcane thrived he relaxed a little more and smiled more. He even laughed. Once the sugar was processed they would be solvent if not wealthy.
“Are you feeling all right?” He lifted his hat and wiped his brow with his shirtsleeve.
Kate placed her hand protectively over the slight mound of her belly and smiled.
“We’re both feeling fine. Do you need to sit down?”
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“We’re bringing in a fine crop, Kate. More than a novice should expect. Here come the children.” He nodded toward the road from the main house.
Marie was driving a bright blue-and-yellow pony cart Dan Rosen’s children had outgrown. Damian began to climb down before the old pony even stopped trudging along. With a crimson scarf tied around his head and one of Colin’s cravats as a sash, he tossed out his sword and then his favorite shovel.
“Ahoy!” He waved the shovel around. “It’s a fine day for treasure hunting, mateys!”
Marie set the brake. “Be careful, Damian.” She shook her head as her brother ran over to Kate.
“Where should I start today?” Damian asked Colin.
Colin pointed to a spot far away from the men and the hubbub but close enough to be able to keep an eye on him.
“Don’t go any farther than that hickory tree.”
“I won’t. I promise.” Damian jogged away with his sword in one hand and the shovel in the other.
Kate laughed and Colin chuckled. Marie held up a sack.
“Eugenie helped us string some more pecans for chapelets de pacanes. May I have someone dip them for me, Uncle Colin?”
“Very good French, Marie,” Colin complimented.
As far as he was concerned they were the brightest, most fascinating children in all of Louisiana.
“I’ll wave you over when someone is free,” he promised.
Kate remembered the excitement of stringing pecans on a thread and having them dipped into an open kettle of boiling sugar. The sugared nuts were a special treat for all.
“Did you bring your sketchbook?” she asked the girl.
“It’s in the cart.”
As they waited for Colin’s signal, Marie touched Kate’s elbow. “Have you chosen a name for the baby? You said you would decide by today.”
“For a boy, not yet. If it’s a girl, we’ll name her Amelie.”
Marie’s smile bloomed. “Mama would like that.”
“I think so too.” Kate slipped her arm around Marie’s shoulder and hugged her to her side.
Another vehicle was coming up the road. Simon accompanied it on horseback. The carriage was driven by a man in a brown suit and bowler hat, and two women were in back. As the carriage bounced in a deep pothole in the lane, one of the women grabbed her broad-brimmed hat.
“Who is that?” Marie wanted to know.
“I’m not sure,” Kate said.
Guests and visitors from nearby plantations had been coming and going since the harvest started. Though the work was back-breaking and the schedule demanding, there was a festive air during harvest season. Planters and their families called on one another to ask about progress and volunteer help if needed.
Hopefully, there was enough lemonade and an assortment of tea breads left for Kate to serve to these new guests. Eugenie was busy with the other women overseeing the field hands’ meals. All day long they dished up mouthwatering deep-pit barbequed pork and beef accompanied by pots of rice and skillets of corn bread cooked over open fires.
Kate headed toward the newcomers as the phaeton came to a stop. Simon dismounted and waited alongside to help the women down. The dark-haired gentleman driving the carriage doffed his bowler hat and smiled at Kate. She smiled back watching the women descend. They appeared to have no interest in what was going on at the sugarhouse but were focused on her. She lifted her hand to wave and then gasped.
“What is it, Aunt Kate? Are you all right?”
Speechless, she grabbed Marie’s hand.
“Aunt Kate, what is it?”
Kate’s knees were trembling so hard she could barely stand.
The women wore expressions of yearning and uncertainty. One was smartly outfitted and wore a wide-brimmed hat with a bobbing ostrich feather. A full-figured blonde, her hair was thick and curly, her eyes sky blue. There were dimples in both her cheeks.
The other was a few inches taller and far slimmer. Her hair was dark brown and her skin was fair with a smattering of freckles across her nose. Her eyes were green, and she wore a navy ensemble
that was understated but stylish with its white trim and bustle.
Kate stared at them through a wash of tears.
“Lovie? Megan? Don’t you know me?” She opened her arms.
The women rushed to her, hugging Kate between them. They laughed and cried and swayed together in a tight knot until the blonde’s hat tumbled to the ground. Kate’s glasses were shoved askew.
When they finally had their fill of hugs and exclamations, they released her. Kate wiped her eyes on her lace cuffs.
“Aunt Kate?” Marie whispered. “What’s happening? Who are they?”
“Marie, these are my sisters.” Her joy overflowed as she indicated the blonde. “This is Lovie.” Then Kate turned to the brunette. “And this is Megan.”
The man in the brown suit handed Lovie her hat. Without dusting it off, she anchored it in place.
“Why, hello, Marie,” Lovie said. “I’m very pleased to meet you. My name is Laura now. Mrs. Laura McCormick. I have a daughter at home who is almost your age.” She studied Marie a moment longer. “You are a very lovely child.”
“Marie was the daughter of my dearest friend,” Kate said. “She’s my daughter now.”
The younger of the two older sisters was once more composed, even thoughtful. Her expression was as serious as Marie’s.
“I go by Maddie now,” Megan told Kate. “Maddie Abbott.” She reached for the gentleman in the bowler hat and he took her hand. “This is my husband, Tom. He’s a Pinkerton agent.”
The gent smiled and bowed to Kate and Marie. “Pleased to meet you ladies.”
“What’s a Pinkerton?” Marie wanted to know.
“A detective.” Kate turned to Tom. “Was it you who found me?”
“I wish I could take all the credit, but it was Laura’s husband, Brand, who discovered the clue that finally led us to you.”
Laura nodded. “Brand took the children to the county fair in August. When he stopped to view an exhibit for the winning home designs shown by the Prairie Home periodical he saw the name Katherine Keene Delany on one of them.”
“But there are countless Katherines in the world,” Kate said. “How did you know it was me?”
Maddie responded, “Brand didn’t know at first, but the name and the shamrock gave him the idea.”
“The one in the window,” Laura said. “The circular stained glass window with the shamrock inside.”
“Mama’s necklace,” Kate whispered. The signature she placed in every set of her original designs.
“When Brand saw the shamrock in the round window it reminded him of our silver pattern. I had the same design reproduced on the handles of our silverware. When he saw that your name was Katherine, he was quite sure he was on to something. He purchased a copy of the periodical, and we sent the information to Tom and Maddie.”
“I finally had a name to go on,” Tom said. “We’ve been searching for you and for Sarah, but so many records were lost.”
“I tried to find you too,” Kate told them.
Abbott said, “I did some digging into the architect Katherine Keene Delany’s background and found she had been adopted by the Keenes shortly after you had been taken to the orphan asylum with Sarah.”
Maddie said, “I’ve known that you were working for an architect in New Orleans since September. It’s been torture waiting to find out if you were our Katie.”
“Why didn’t you contact me sooner?”
“That’s my fault,” Laura said. “When Tom was certain we had found you, I made them promise to wait until I could get here from Texas.”
Kate turned to Maddie again. “Do you live here in Louisiana?”
“We live right in New Orleans, and we have a small house on the bayou. I grew up in the city, but that’s a story for another time.”
“My parents had a townhouse in the city,” Kate said. “To think that we were so close …”
“I doubt we ever crossed paths.” Maddie sounded quite certain.
Kate turned to Laura again. “You’ve come all the way from Texas?”
“Mine is quite a story too.” Laura smiled. “And a long one, but we have lots of time to get to know each other again. Lots and lots of time.”
Colin had seen the black phaeton drive in, but Jason had drawn him back into conversation about one of the mules turning the wheel of a cane crusher. He heard the squeals of excitement and hurried to join the group surrounding his wife.
“Visitors?” He nodded in greeting.
Seeing the tears in Kate’s eyes he asked, “Are you all right?”
“There’s no need to frown so, Colin. These are my sisters!” She introduced Laura and Maddie and Tom Abbott and explained how they’d found her. His concern for Kate was foremost as he greeted them all. They had lost a babe a few months back, and even though Eugenie had predicted this one would be carried to term, Colin still worried.
“Let’s go up to the house and get out of the heat,” he suggested.
“It appears you’ve quite a production here,” Tom commented as they headed for the phaeton. “I’d be interested in a tour when you have time.”
“I’d love to show you around,” Colin agreed.
Marie said, “Should I get Damian?”
Kate pointed him out to her sisters. “That’s Marie’s brother, Damian.”
“Is he planting something?” Maddie wondered.
“What happened to him? Why is his head bandaged?” Laura squinted toward the tree where Damian was standing on the shovel.
“That’s not a bandage. It’s a pirate scarf. He’s digging for treasure. That’s about all he ever does.” Marie sighed.
“My sister told him that our mother buried valuables to keep them out of the hands of Yankees,” Colin explained. “He believes it wholeheartedly.”
“He’s dug holes all over the garden.” Marie sighed again.
Colin whistled and waved. Digging faster than before, Damian ignored him.
“Why don’t you all go up to the house and have some refreshments? Simon can drive you up in the carriage, and Tom can ride back with me. We’ll bring Damian.” Colin wanted Kate out of the heat.
“We didn’t mean to invade,” Laura began.
“Yes, we did,” Maddie laughed.
“Nonsense.” Colin shook his head. “You’re all welcome here for as long as you like. We have a guest room for Tom and Maddie, and Laura can stay in the garçonnière.”
“Yes,” Kate insisted. “You must stay. I can’t let you go so soon.”
As the women started toward the phaeton, Colin pulled Kate close and whispered in her ear, “You are beaming, wife. I’m not certain I can keep my hands off you.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to now that you’ve filled our home with guests.”
While Eugenie was preparing tea and refreshments, Kate and Marie prepared to take the sisters on a tour of the house.
“Before we start, we have something to tell you,” Laura began.
“We may have found Sarah,” Maddie finished.
Kate clasped her hands.
“How wonderful! I saw the people who adopted her — an older couple — I even begged them to adopt me too. I never heard their names or had any idea where they lived.”
“Tom has traced them from Louisiana to Arkansas, and then they moved to Texas,” Maddie said.
“My stepson Jesse has gone to see if he can locate them,” Laura added. “We should be hearing from him soon.”
“I can hardly believe we might all be together again.” Kate was interrupted by a shout from the gallery.
“I found it, Aunt Kate! I told everybody I would find it!” Damian raced in filthy but triumphant and ran straight to Kate. “I was digging too close to the house before. Grandmere buried the chest out near the sugarhouse. But I found it! We’re rich! We’re rich!” He jumped up and down and ran back outside.
Tom led the way as Colin carried in a small wooden chest no more than two feet wide and a foot deep. It had a domed lid and was stain
ed with dirt. The hinges and lock showed signs of rust. Damian ran around the two men.
“I can’t believe it,” Laura said with awe. “Buried treasure.”
“If I had any idea we’d be in for so much entertainment I would have broken our promise to Laura and come sooner,” Tom laughed.
Colin headed for the library table covered with Kate’s latest drawings. He was forced to step around a dollhouse surrounded by a brigade of metal soldiers on the floor. Kate moved the drawings aside and Colin set down the chest.
“Do you really think your mother buried this?” Kate asked him.
Everyone crowded around.
“This is exciting no matter what’s inside.” Maddie stood beside Tom.
Marie nudged her way into the circle gathered around the table. “If it’s not Grandmere’s, then it was probably buried here years and years ago by a handsome pirate. Jean Laffite used to visit Belle Fleuve, you know.”
“I had no idea there were handsome pirates.” Laura laughed.
“Oh, yes. Quite handsome,” Marie assured her.
“Marie’s writing a romance about a pirate and drawing all the illustrations.” Kate smiled with pride.
“Romance. Yuck.” Damian tugged a chair over to the table and scrambled up between the adults. “Open it, please, Uncle Colin.”
“I’ll have to be careful.” Colin glanced at Kate. “No telling what’s inside.” He picked up Kate’s letter opener. Aided by time and humidity, he barely touched the rusted lock before it crumbled.
Everyone held their breath. The lid creaked as Colin raised it.
“What is it?”
“Is it gold?”
“Silver?”
“Priceless jewels?”
Colin lifted out a large book covered in hand-tooled leather and embossed with a gold family crest.
“How lovely,” Laura said.
Colin ran his hand over the cover. “It’s the Baudier French Bible. It’s been in my family for well over a century.”
He handed the Bible to Kate, reached into the trunk, and pulled out a large card. He studied it a moment and then showed it all around; it was a photograph of his family taken on the same day as the one they’d found in the attic.
“Is that all?” Damian’s shoulders sagged in disappointment. “An old book nobody can read and a picture?”
Heart of Glass Page 29
