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“Is that all?” Nick was apparently losing patience with the entire meeting.
“I know you cannot forgive me, but I do want to remind you that you both ended up quite happy.” The woman had the nerve to look smug. As if all her deviousness had paid off in a wonderful way, completely forgetting about all the women who had not enjoyed happy endings.
Edwin grabbed Nick’s arms as he looked as though he was going to throttle the woman.
Marcus pulled Lizbeth next to him. “We’ve had enough. I feel as though we’ve done our Christian duty by allowing this woman to speak with our wives.” He looked directly at Mrs. O’Leary. “My Christian duty ends here, however. I have no sympathy for you and what you are facing for the rest of your life.
“You used and abused I don’t know how many women. You ruined their lives. Then you escaped punishment because you named everyone involved in your scheme. I would say from your injury that there must have been at least one person who managed to get revenge on you.” He took Lizbeth’s elbow and turned her toward the door. “Goodbye Mrs. O’Leary.”
Together with Nick and Pamela they left the room.
Edwin and Rayne joined them at the door. “Won’t you stay for tea?” Rayne asked.
“Thank you, Dr. Stevens, but I don’t want my wife to be subjected to any further contact with Mrs. O’Leary, even though she’s in a different room, she’s still in the same house.” Nick helped Pamela into her coat.
“But you must come for dinner one night.” He looked over at Edwin. “We would welcome you as well. Pamela will send the invitations.”
Once they’d said their goodbyes and were out the door, Edwin looked over at Rayne. “There is something I want to get from Mrs. O’Leary before she is hauled off to the asylum.”
Chapter 16
“I’m so happy to see you!” Rayne held her arms out to her sister, Mary Beth, the two of them laughing and hugging.
“Ladies, please. You’re blocking the door.” Mary Beth’s husband, Dean, grinned as he attempted to squeeze past the women, holding eight-year-old Thomas’s hand.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. It’s just that I haven’t seen my sister in months.” Rayne took Mary Beth’s hands and moved them forward. “I can’t wait for you to meet Glory. She’s such a sweet little girl. I just know you will all love her.”
Next, she turned to Dean and hugged him, then turned her attention to Thomas. She placed her hands on his shoulders. “Well, look at you! You must have grown a foot since I saw you last.”
The young boy blushed and hugged her.
Mary Beth squeezed Rayne’s arm as they moved toward the drawing room. “I must admit I am quite nervous.”
Rayne regarded her sister and admitted the woman did look a tad pale. “Indeed? Why?”
They entered the drawing room and settled on the sofa. Thomas and Dean took chairs across from them. Rayne was once again struck on how much alike Dean and his son were. Thomas had his father’s deep brown eyes and chestnut hair. But more than that was his mannerisms. They sat exactly the same in their chairs and studied her and Mary Beth with identical expressions.
“Well, I’m adopting a daughter!” Mary Beth’s eyes filled with tears. “Suppose she doesn’t like me? What if she runs away? What if—”
Rayne held up her hand. “Enough!”
“Thank you, Rayne, I’ve been dealing with this since Mary Beth agreed to take the little girl.” Dean looked fondly at his wife which once again reminded Rayne that if she were to please her father and marry Mr. Faulkner-Jones she would never have a man regard her in that way. Whenever he deigned to bless her with his presence, that was.
Rayne hopped up from her seat. “I think the easiest way to deal with all this anxiety is to present Glory to her new family.”
“Oh, goodness.” Mary Beth smoothed her skirts and clasped her hands in her lap. “I guess that is the best. Yes. I am ready.” She offered Rayne a strained smile.
Rayne patted her arm and then headed to the kitchen where she knew she would find Glory. She had taken the girl shopping the day before and bought her a lovely yellow dress with a matching ribbon to wear to meet her new family. Glory had also been nervous, asking over and over again—in her unusual way of speaking—what would happen if Mary Beth decided she didn’t like her and put her out of the house.
“Glory, come dear, it’s time to meet your new family.”
The poor child looked as though she would faint. “Now?”
“Yes, sweetheart. My sister, her husband and son are here in the drawing room. They will be staying for a few days to visit and spend some time with me since I don’t get to see my sister very often.”
Glory looked up at Mrs. Foster. The woman bent and gave her a hug. “You will do just fine, missy. They will love you and I’m sure you will love them.” She patted her on the cheek. “Now go with Dr. Stevens.”
The little girl squared her small shoulders and looked at Rayne. “All righ', mum. I'm ready.”
