by Marie Silk
Contents
Davenport House Books by Marie Silk
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
About the Author
Davenport House Books by Marie Silk
PREQUEL
Davenport House
Debutante
BOOK ONE
Davenport House
BOOK TWO
Davenport House
A New Chapter
BOOK THREE
Davenport House
A Mother’s Love
BOOK FOUR
Davenport House
Heiress Interrupted
BOOK FIVE
Davenport House
For the Cause
BOOK SIX
Davenport House
House Secrets
More titles coming in 2017:
Davenport House
Hard Times
Chapter 1
“Good morning, dear,” Clara greeted as she entered Abigail’s bedroom.
Abigail stifled a yawn and giggled. “Good morning.”
“Did the little one keep you up all night?” she asked, gently scooping the newborn baby into her arms.
Abigail stifled another yawn. “I wonder if I will ever sleep again.”
“Don’t you worry about that,” Clara said, smiling at her. “I have cleared my schedule for the week so that I can stay here with you and help with the baby.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” blushed Abigail. “I know how busy you are with the women’s group. I—I am sorry the vote was denied…”
Clara shrugged. “We must simply keep trying until we get it. I am confident that we will have the vote by the next election. But we have just learned that Teddy Roosevelt cannot be our president again.”
“Why can’t he?”
“He has passed away,” answered Clara. “Apparently, he never recovered from the malaria.”
“How terrible,” replied Abigail. “Who will run for office in his stead?”
“We are all waiting to find out.” Clara sighed as she admired the baby in her arms. “Oh, this little boy is the most handsome baby I have ever laid eyes on. Of course, you and Ethan are both so good looking, it only makes sense.”
Abigail smiled shyly. “Your babies will be lovely too, I am sure.”
“I won’t have children, Abigail,” she replied, suddenly appearing downcast. “Lawrence has decided against it.”
“What do you mean? He doesn’t want children at all?”
Clara shook her head sadly. “I wish he would have told me before we were married that he did not. I don’t need too many children…but I had hoped for at least one.”
“I’m sorry, Clara. Perhaps he will change his mind,” Abigail suggested.
Mary entered the bedroom just then. “I’m on my way to a birth,” she said hurriedly. “Are you alright, Abigail?”
She smiled. “I’m alright, Mary.”
Mary stepped closer to the baby sleeping in Clara’s arms and kissed his soft forehead. “Goodbye, dear nephew. I would hold you every second of the day if I could.” She turned to Abigail, looking at her apologetically. “I’m sorry I cannot be of more help today.”
“I’m staying home for the week to help,” Clara mentioned to Mary. “I will take fine care of the both of them. Don’t you worry about a thing. Besides, you should be taking care of yourself now that you have a little one on the way.”
Mary smiled bashfully at Clara. “I will do my best. I must leave for now, but I am glad to know that my sister and nephew are in capable hands. Have a good day, ladies.” She quickly went out the door.
Abigail frowned. “But Clara, I do feel guilty for being such a bother and causing you to miss your meetings. I have considered hiring a nurse to help care for the baby. What do you think of it?”
“Well, I am glad to help. I only worry about the expense to you, having to pay a nurse’s wage,” replied Clara. “I’ll be as much assistance as I am able so that you may save your money.”
“Oh, but I nearly forgot to tell you. The government has sent a rebate to Mary and I for allowing the Red Cross to use our house in Philadelphia. I have a little money now, and I will compensate you for having me at your house all this while.”
“Abigail, you don’t have to do that. I told you that I was glad to have you stay.”
“Please let me pay you. It’s only right, after all. Perhaps you can use the money to throw a grand party.”
Clara grinned. “I suppose I could do that. Oh, it will be such fun! But I will wait until you are recovered enough to dance.”
Abigail laughed. “That might take too long. Don’t wait on me. Besides, if you wait too long for me, then Mary will be too far along to dance. I’ll be glad to sit by and watch the splendor.”
“Very well,” Clara said cheerfully. “I will begin to plan this grand party. I can’t wait to tell Lawrence about it the next time he telephones. It’s about time we are properly introduced to the county as a married couple.”
“I am glad for you, Clara.” Abigail yawned again and felt her eyelids growing heavy.
“Now try to sleep, dear, and I will take this little one for a walk around the house.” Clara headed for the door. “Oh, there is other news you might like to hear. Serena Valenti has returned to the farmhouse.”
Abigail looked up in delight. “I must invite her to come see little Patrick! Serena was away for so long that she might not be aware I had a baby. Will you send Fiona to my room? I’ll have her take a message to Serena.”
“I will send Fiona. Just be sure to sleep just as soon as you’ve sent the message,” Clara reminded her.
“I will. Thank you, Clara.”
Abigail drifted to sleep after sending the message with the housekeeper. The next thing Abigail knew, she was opening her eyes to find Clara in the room beside her, attempting to calm the baby. “I think he is ready to be fed,” Clara whispered, gently transferring the fussy baby into Abigail’s arms.
Fiona appeared into the doorway just then. “Miss Valenti is here to see you, Miss Abigail.”
“Thank you, Fiona. Please send her in,” Abigail responded.
A few moments later, Serena Valenti walked into the room. She gasped in surprise when she saw the baby. “Oh, how wonderful! I am glad your husband returned from the War!”
Abigail smiled brightly. “I am glad too.”
“If I knew you had just delivered a baby, I would have offered to come help, just as you came to help me with the children when I needed it.”
“How are they?” she asked suddenly.
“The children are both well,” Serena giggled. “They still think I am too strict with them.”
“I will leave you two to catch up,” Clara said wearily. “I think I will lie down in bed for a while. Babies are certainly tiring.”
After Clara had left the room, Abigail turned to Serena discreetly. “How was your visit with your daughter?”
Serena looked at her painfully as she whispered, “I never saw her.”
Abigail’s face fell. “I thought you had been with her all this while!”
Serena shook her head. “When I arrived at my friends’ house in Pittsburgh, there was a red scarf hanging on the door. I even went inside the house, although I know I shouldn’t have. The family had all died there in the house. But Angelina was not there. I searched and asked the neighbors…no one knows what happened
to her! I searched until I had no money left, and no choice left but to return to my brother’s house.”
Abigail felt painful tears in her eyes just then. “I’m terribly sorry. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be separated from your child. Isn’t there any way to find her?”
“There’s a private investigator in Pittsburgh who I wished I could hire. He is known as the man who can find anyone. My brother has offered me all the money he has, but it is still not enough for the finding fee. Phillip will have to save for months to acquire the funds. I fear by then, it will be too late.”
“How much is the fee?” Abigail questioned.
“One hundred.”
“Serena, go to my armoire and bring the cash box from the bottom drawer,” Abigail told her.
“I couldn’t—”
“You mustn’t wait another day while your daughter is missing,” she interrupted sternly.
Serena retrieved the cash box from the armoire and brought it to Abigail, looking humbly to the floor. “You have already done so much for me, and I could never repay a debt such as this.”
“I’ve intended to hire a nurse to help with the baby,” Abigail said, leaning the baby over her shoulder and patting his back. “Perhaps you could be the one to help me—after you have hired the investigator—until Angelina is found.”
“Thank you, Abigail. Of course I will help you with anything you need.” She held the baby while Abigail opened the cash box and counted the money. “What a handsome little one!” Serena exclaimed. “Oh, this reminds me of Donnie when he was newly born. Heavens, he looks just like Donnie!”
Abigail abruptly stopped counting the money. “Does he?” she asked.
“Why yes, they could be twins!” she giggled in amusement. “How marvelous. I believe I will enjoy caring for this little one all year.” Serena noticed that Abigail sat frozen on the bed, the color drained from her face. “If you still wish me to, that is.”
“Yes, of course,” Abigail said quickly. She held out the money to Serena. “Now go to Pittsburgh and talk to the investigator. I will tell Sam to take you to the train station. There is not another moment to lose.”
Serena returned the baby to Abigail’s arms and accepted the money gratefully. “I will hurry. Thank you.”
Serena lived with her brother and his two children in a farmhouse near the Davenport Estate. When she returned home later that morning, Phillip looked up from where he sat in the kitchen. “I did not realize you left,” he said.
“It was just for a few minutes. Abigail wanted me to visit her at Davenport House. Did you know that she recently had a baby?”
Phillip looked down at the kitchen table. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone to help if I had known. She has done so much to help us.”
“How is the baby’s health?” asked Phillip.
“He looked very well,” Serena giggled. “What a handsome thing. Did you know that I am going to be his nurse as soon as I return from Pittsburgh? Abigail has given me the money in advance so that I may hire the investigator.”
“That was good of her. How is she recovering?”
“She looked as weary as every new mother. I am only glad there is a way I may begin to repay the debt.”
“When are you leaving for Pittsburgh?” he asked.
Serena was already walking to her bedroom. “Just as soon as I can get packed,” she called over her shoulder. “Abigail’s brother is waiting outside to drive me to the train station!”
When she emerged from her room with her bag packed, Phillip hugged and kissed her goodbye. “Be careful out there, sister.”
“I will,” she promised. “Goodbye, brother.”
Later that afternoon at Davenport House, Abigail’s husband, Ethan Smith, visited her and the baby in the bedroom, as he did every day. “Hello,” he whispered to Abigail as he walked in. He observed that the baby was asleep in the cradle beside the bed.
“Hello,” Abigail whispered back with a smile.
Ethan sat next to her on the bed and stroked her hair. “How are you feeling?”
“I am well,” she answered.
“And how is our son?”
Abigail smiled. “He is well as can be. Just look at him.”
Ethan gazed upon him proudly and smiled at Abigail. “I never thought I could love anyone as much as I love you, but I suppose I can now love two people this amount.”
Abigail looked at him thoughtfully. “I wish you would stay with us here in the house. There are plenty of rooms.”
“I know,” he replied. “It’s better this way for now. If I want to go for a ride in the middle of the night, I don’t have to worry about waking anyone.”
“Do you still have the nightmares?” she asked carefully.
“Most of the time I don’t remember them. But Sam tells me that he can hear me from the next room, talking in my sleep.”
Abigail looked down at the quilt. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Just take good care of this little one. Knowing that you are here with him makes me as happy as I can be. Until I can take him riding with me, that is.”
Abigail giggled. “He is a bit young for that.”
A mischievous smile crossed his lips while he looked at the newborn like he was sizing him up. “I will give him a few more months then.”
“You better be careful with him!” she scolded in a whisper.
“I’m only teasing,” he replied. “I’m looking forward to when you’ll be recovered enough to go riding again.”
“I am too,” she said. “Mary said I should be cleared to ride in another month or so.”
“We’ll ask her to watch the baby while we take the horses out then,” he said.
“Oh, there is something I should tell you. Serena Valenti has returned, and I asked her to be a nurse for our baby. I suppose I should have asked you first, but it was all arranged very quickly…” she trailed off.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met Serena, but if you believe she is fit for the job, then I trust your judgment,” he answered.
“At first I wanted to ask Bridget to return and be my helper, but after what happened with Clara’s husband, I suppose it can’t be a good idea.”
Ethan was confused. “What happened?”
Abigail cringed. “Lawrence and Bridget may have been sweethearts while we lived at the manor house, before he ever married Clara. He even bought jewelry for Bridget after he moved into this house! Clara dismisses it as a misunderstanding in order to keep the peace with Lawrence.”
Ethan seemed bewildered. “Clara does not seem the type to tolerate something like that.”
“Ordinarily she has no trouble with confrontation. But I believe she truly wishes to save her marriage by keeping silent. I don’t want to cause any problems by asking Bridget to come back to the house.”
“That seems sensible. I’ve never even seen this Lawrence fellow. Why is he away so much?”
“Apparently he stays with his mother in Pittsburgh. She is often ill, so Lawrence takes care of her there.”
“I see. Well I hope he’s good to Clara. And he better be good to you and Mary, too.”
The baby began to fuss from his place in the cradle. Ethan looked at Abigail. “Should I pick him up?”
Abigail nodded with a sigh. “He is ready to nurse again. I can hardly keep up!”
“Do you need anything?” he asked, placing the baby in her arms.
“I’m quite thirsty,” she admitted shyly.
Ethan rose from his seat and poured her a glass of water from the pitcher on the tea table. “I should be getting back outside to help your brother,” he said, setting the glass near her on the nightstand.
“How is Sam anyway?” Abigail asked quickly. “I worry about him.”
“He seems alright. He will own that parcel of land from Clara any day now. I think he is anxious to get his house built.”
Abigail smiled. “That soun
ds like him. Thank you for the water.”
Ethan leaned over to kiss her. “I love you. I’ll be back to see you after dinner.”
Later that evening, the telephone rang in the library. “Mr. Collins is on the telephone for you,” Fiona told Clara in the drawing room.
Clara hurried to the library. “Lawrence!” she cried into the telephone. “It’s been ages since I’ve heard from you. Are you coming home?”
“As a matter of fact, I am,” he answered cheerfully. “How are you, my dear?”
“I am well, but I have been missing you. Has your mother recovered?”
“She is well enough for me to leave her,” replied Lawrence. “I’m looking forward to your splendid dinners at the house again.”
Clara giggled. “I will have the cook make up as many splendid dinners as you’d like. I also have some news to share—it’s about a grand ball for the county, here at our house! I thought it might be fun to host a masquerade. It will be just the thing to cheer everyone up, don’t you think?”
Lawrence was quiet for a while. “It sounds expensive, Clara. Can we afford it?”
She sighed impatiently. “I would not be planning a ball we could not afford. Abigail has received a rebate from the government, and she was able to compensate us for her living accommodations over the last year.”
“Well that is good news,” he said. “Very well, my dear. You should have your masquerade ball if it is what will make you happy.”
“I don’t want it to be my masquerade ball, I want it to be ours. We may formally announce our marriage to everyone in the county, and remind them what it means to be merry at a party. It is our duty, after all, as the prominent family of the area.”
“Of course it is,” Lawrence agreed. “Should be fun.”
“Then I may rely on you to stay and attend the masquerade?” Clara asked excitedly.
“You may rely on me, my dear. I’ll be home soon. Goodnight, Clara.”
Chapter 2
“Are you sure about this, Ma’am?” the driver questioned Serena Valenti. “It doesn’t look like no place for a lady like you.”
Serena grimaced as she scanned the dark Pittsburgh alleyway. She answered with a strained voice, “It is the address I was given.”
