Chapter 32
Chapter
After Judge Lynch’s ruling, Noreen’s mind whirled with conflicting thoughts and emotions, leaving her unsteady on her feet. James appeared at her side in an instant, his hand going to her elbow as if he could sense the turmoil inside of her.
“Guess this means I can have my mattress back.” He grinned as he made the quip, and her internal spinning slowed.
“I don’t know.” Her lips turned up at the corners. “I might need to take up residence there. It’s cheaper than the boardinghouse, and it seems I’ll be running short on funds for a while.”
His gaze ran over her face, and his thumb caressed the inside of her elbow. “Don’t worry about the money, Noreen. It’ll work out. You’ll see.”
She wished she shared his optimism. She believed in God’s provision—the fact that an ally like James stood with her in this moment was evidence aplenty of that blessing—yet the wrong she’d committed deserved the punishment she’d received, and she didn’t see how a just God could ignore her responsibility.
Still, she offered James a smile and a nod, not wanting to dim his confidence.
“Noreen!”
She turned to find Martha and Jane waving to her over the top of the short railing that separated the gallery from the official section of the courtroom. Stepping away from James, she hurried to her friends and gladly opened her arms to accept their dual embrace.
“Praise the Lord you’ll not have to serve any more jail time,” Jane murmured in a soft yet fervent voice.
Noreen nodded. “Yes, a blessing, indeed.” She’d not miss the bars nor the boredom, but she would miss having James so near.
Now that she bore the label of convicted vandal, he’d need to distance himself from her to protect his upright reputation.
A task he seemed disinclined to accept, which meant she’d have to help him.
Martha patted Noreen’s shoulder, her expression one of unswerving confidence. “We will dedicate our next Tuesday Tea to making a financial plan for the restitution. I have a nest egg we can dip into at any time, if you need a loan. All you have to do is ask.”
“I’m not touching your nest egg, Martha. Though it is sweet of you to offer.”
She knew how Martha scrimped to set aside money to provide for herself when the time to retire arrived.
Spinsters without family members to lean on had no one to depend upon but themselves for financial security in their later years.
She’d not risk depleting Martha’s funds.
If something happened and Noreen lost her job or became injured or half a dozen other undesirable outcomes, Martha would be left paying the price for Noreen’s foolishness. She’d not take that chance.
Martha looked like she wanted to argue, but Hortense Lockwood approached with two other spinsters in tow. Personal discussions would need to wait.
“Miss O’Sullivan, I was impressed with the forthright way you conducted yourself in court today. I respect those who take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes. I believe you have done both.”
Noreen dipped her head. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“I had some rather fruitful visits yesterday.” Her eyes glowed with depth of meaning. “I look forward to seeing you at our Thursday gathering.” Miss Lockwood dipped her chin, and Noreen caught her breath.
She’d been approved to continue as a probational spinster?
The nods coming from the ladies flanking Miss Lockwood seemed to indicate as much.
Noreen’s eyes misted as she glanced at Martha and Jane.
Both her friends beamed at the news, reassuring Noreen that she hadn’t misinterpreted the subtleties of the conversation.
Pulling her handkerchief from her skirt pocket, Noreen raised her arm to wipe away the accumulation of happy tears from her eyes, but someone jostled her forcibly from behind. She grabbed the railing at her side to keep from falling. Her handkerchief fluttered to the floor.
“Oh my goodness! So sorry, my dear. Here, let me help.” Her stepfather took hold of her arms and pulled her upward, then bent to retrieve her handkerchief.
He whipped it open, then draped it over his arm in a gesture that was probably intended to appear courtly and chivalrous, but knowing his true opinion of her, it felt contrived and ridiculous.
All sentiment drained from her in an instant, leaving her eyes dry and no longer in need of a cloth. Taking hold of the plain white corner nearest her, she gave it a tug, but Arthur failed to let go of the opposite end.
“These embroidered flowers are quite lovely, Noreen. I’m glad to see your skill with a needle has improved.
” He chuckled and looked to Miss Lockwood.
“She had no patience for needlework when she was younger, always running off when her mother tried to teach her. Perhaps it is your influence that has motivated her improved domesticity. A woman of superior style, like yourself, would be an admirable model for a young woman with unruly tendencies.”
Miss Lockwood did not deign to reply to his blatant pandering with anything more than a raised eyebrow. The sisterhood between Noreen and Hortense Lockwood solidified in that moment. All previous differences of opinions were forgotten.
Take that, Arthur.
“Do you intend to keep your daughter from her belongings, Mr. Clevenger?” Miss Lockwood glanced pointedly at the handkerchief corner he continued to hold.
He released it at once. “Of course not.” A strained laugh bubbled from him, but no one joined in, so he lifted a hand to his mouth and morphed the sound into a cough instead.
“In truth, I wished to offer Noreen a word of fatherly caution.” He turned his attention to Noreen.
“I overheard Mr. Taggert commiserating with one of his cronies after the ruling, and I’m afraid he’s quite bitter about the mild sentence you received.
I know how impassioned you are about your temperance work, my dear, but as I’ve warned you many times, it’s not safe for you to pit yourself against a man like Taggert.
He’s sworn to have you prosecuted to the full extent of the law should you cause any further harm to his establishment, and I believe Judge Lynch will be much less sympathetic to a repeat offender.
It will be difficult, but you must put your hatred of Mr. Taggert aside should you wish to recover from this scandal. ”
Noreen’s brow furrowed. “I don’t hate Mr. Taggert. It’s the liquor I—”
“That’s the way.” Arthur patted her arm as he interrupted her with a condescending smile. “Keep repeating that claim to yourself. In time, it will no doubt become the truth.”
As if Arthur Clevenger knew anything about truth beyond how to twist it to suit his purposes.
“Ah well, I must be going.” His eyes widened slightly as if he saw an approaching predator and, as rats are wont to do, decided it was time to scurry away.
“Your mother is anxious to hear news of the judge’s ruling.
” Arthur lifted a hand in parting, then beat a hasty retreat toward the opposite door.
“Everything all right over here, Miss O’Sullivan?”
James.
So that’s what had Arthur fleeing. Noreen smiled, feeling lighter than she had in days. “Improving by the moment, Deputy Paxton. Thank you.”
His eyes danced with suppressed humor. “Glad to hear it, ma’am. Today’s a day for counting one’s blessings, to my way of thinking.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Especially when the man before her made about a hundred different blessings pop to mind.