Page 48 of The Gilded Heiress

Josie

The terrace teemed with newspaper reporters and photographers. It seemed every publisher in the country had sent a man to

cover the story.

The story of me . The return of the Pendelton heiress.

I was that lost heiress, the baby kidnapped from this house all those years ago.

My heart pounded behind my new—and tightly laced—corset. What was I expected to say to the reporters? That I was happy about

this turn of events? I was still in shock and disbelief, even though the Pinkertons had confirmed it.

I traced the edge of the windowsill with my fingernail. All my questions, answered. The puzzle of my life finally solved.

So why wasn’t I jumping for joy?

Why was I still sad, two days later?

I didn’t want to stand in front of all these strangers, answering questions about my life. Would they find me lacking? Would

they laugh at the way I talked? What if I said something crass or came across as a fool?

I didn’t want to do this.

Heart racing, I edged away from the second-floor window. Perhaps there was a way to escape the house without being seen.

A knock sounded at my door. “Yes?”

My father’s face appeared. “May I come in?”

“Of course.”

He came in but left the door open behind him. “Thinking of trying to escape?”

“How did you guess?”

“It’s pointless. Your mother will find you and bring you back.” He moved closer to the window, looking down on the hullabaloo

for himself. “She seems to think today is a good idea.”

“You don’t?”

“I don’t care for the attention. We did this once to announce you were born. And look at what happened.”

Fair point.

“Speaking of,” he said. “I must apologize to you.”

I turned toward my father and found him staring intently at me. I shifted, self-conscious under his full attention. These

people still felt like strangers. “Apologize? Whatever for?”

“It was my responsibility to keep you safe as a child. And I failed you.” He exhaled heavily. “I know you must resent me for

it—”

“Resent you! It wasn’t your fault.”

“Wasn’t it? You were taken because of your last name, a name I gave you. And you were taken from this house. I should’ve better

fortified the premises. Properly vetted the staff and their associates.”

I understood the regret, but we couldn’t change the past. I gave him a small smile. “But people lie. Even if they were vetted,

someone could’ve hidden the truth. And you did the best you could. Who would’ve ever guessed something like this could happen?”

“I have chastised myself every day for the last eighteen years. You should be cross with me, at the very least.”

I wasn’t, though. There wasn’t one part of me that blamed my father for what happened. “I’ve learned to never focus too much

on the past. It’s over and done with. The future is what we can control, which is why I’ve always set my mind to achieving

my goals down the road.”

“You know, you have a very level head on your shoulders.”

I soaked in the praise eagerly, my battered heart expanding in my chest. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you, considering.”

“Considering I’m your father?”

“Well, yes. But also because you are a self-made man who doesn’t suffer fools easily. And I bet you’ve seen plenty of fools

in your time.”

“One or two,” he said with a crooked smile. “These goals you mentioned. What are they?”

“To become a world-famous singer, adored by crowds everywhere I go.”

The smile dropped from his face. “Have you informed your mother of this?”

“I think so, when we were at Maillard’s. I’ve made no secret of it and my agent feels confident that I have the talent.”

“I’ve heard you sing, so I believe it. But no doubt your mother has assumed your plans have changed since the discovery.”

“Why would being the missing Pendelton heiress prevent me from pursuing a singing career?”

“Well, I’m not certain it’s safe. Women such as you lead a much different life than what you’ve experienced. You don’t need

to work.”

“Meaning I should get married and start a family.”

“Not tomorrow, but yes, eventually. That is generally how it’s done among the lobster set.”

“Lobster set?”

He made a circle with his hand. “The social elites. The wealthier citizens of New York.”

I frowned. “But things are different now. Women can get jobs, like in factories and offices. We don’t need to marry the first

mangy dog who comes sniffing around.”

“You are a Pendelton,” he said stiffly. “You will not marry a mangy dog . And you will never work in a factory or an office.”

“You know what I mean. I don’t want to marry anyone right now. I want to travel and sing.”

“Indeed, I think it’s best if you speak with your mother regarding—”

“Holy smokes, Josie!”

That voice.

No, it couldn’t be.

Whirling, I saw my best friend standing in the doorway with Mrs. Pendelton.

Pippa.

“Holy shit!” I exclaimed and started running toward her.

“Joséphine,” my mother admonished. She was standing behind Pippa, a disapproving frown on her face. “Must you use those words?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am!” I launched myself at my best friend, who hugged me equally hard. Almost immediately we were laughing and

crying, our shoulders shaking as we embraced.

When we pulled apart, I grabbed her hand like a lifeline. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Me neither! But I received a cable yesterday morning telling me to get here as quickly as possible. That you needed me.”

I looked over my shoulder at my mother. “Your doing, I suppose?”

“No. It wasn’t your father, either.”

Instantly, I knew.

Leo.

He was the only other person on earth who knew what Pippa meant to me.

I nearly started crying all over again.

“Now, no more tears,” Pippa said. “Come sit on the bed and tell me everything.”

“Do I have time?” I asked my father, who’d come over to stand next to my mother.

“They may wait as long as you like.” He gestured to the gardens. “They aren’t going anywhere.”

“Shall I send up tea?” my mother asked. “Then you two may visit properly.”

Tea, I was learning, was one of the most important things in this house. “Yes, please. Thank you, ma’am. Sir.”

When the door closed, Pippa’s eyes were huge. “What in the bleedin’ hell, Josie!”

“I know. I can hardly believe it myself. But I’m so very glad you’re here. You have no idea.”

“Let’s sit. I need every detail.”

I shook my head as I led her to the bed. “I’m not sure I have it in me for every detail. I might start crying and never stop.”

We both dropped onto the mattress, wrinkled skirts be damned. “Cry?” She reached to shake my arm. “You can’t cry! You are

living every orphan’s dream right now.”

I knew she was right, but I still felt incomplete. Finding my family wasn’t the magic fix I always dreamed about, I supposed.

So Pippa wouldn’t think me ungrateful, I launched into the entire story, including my relationship with Leo. Her face darkened

when I told her about Maillard’s, but she didn’t comment.

A footman delivered tea just as I started recalling the letters. I poured for us and kept talking: the investigation, the

carriage house, Leo’s visit, and finally the arrest.

“This is unbelievable,” she said around a mouthful of lemon cake. “But what happened in Boston once the baby nurse took you

there?”

“We went to stay with her friend in Boston, but the friend never knew my last name or where I came from. Probably because

the nurse didn’t want to risk splitting the reward. Regardless, the nurse left me with her friend one day and never returned,

and this woman told the Pinkertons that one more mouth to feed was too much. She dropped me off at the asylum, hoping the

nuns would look after me.”

“Astounding.” Pippa reached for more cake. “So what happened to the baby nurse? Why leave and never come back?”

“They aren’t sure, but there was a terrible omnibus accident during that time and several of the deceased were never identified.”

“Damn, that is some terrible luck.”

“I know.” The whole thing had unspooled like a Greek tragedy. I couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if the baby

nurse hadn’t disappeared, how my life might’ve been different.

“Now, don’t make that face.” Pippa took my hand in hers and squeezed. “You’re back here, where you belong.”

“I don’t feel as though I belong. And I miss—” I almost said the name, but stopped myself just in time.

I expected rebuke, but Pippa’s expression was gentle with understanding. “You miss Leo.”

“Stupid, isn’t it?”

“No, not if you love him. You can’t switch off your feelings so quickly.”

I traced the pattern on the coverlet with my fingernail. “He’s dashed confusing. The whole thing was about money from the

start, yet he turned down my father’s attempt at restitution. When I asked why, Leo said he’s trying to prove something to

himself.”

“It could be that he’s changed. The apology might be enough for him.”

“Leo, change?” I snorted. “And an apology won’t feed his family back in Boston. When in the world will they ever see that

much money again?”

“Well, perhaps he wants you to see him as more than a confidence man.”

I considered this. Was Leo’s change of heart because of me? “I did call him a despicable, awful human.”

“Fair, taking into account how he was using you, but there is the possibility that he’s telling the truth. Perhaps Leo developed

feelings for you and put his plans on hold, as he claimed.”

Possibly, but I couldn’t forgive him. “It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. He’s returning to Boston and I’m beginning

my life here.”

Pippa handed me a pistachio macaron. “Are you saying you wouldn’t give him another chance?”

“How could I? I can’t tell the Pendeltons—my parents —that I’ve decided to be with a confidence man. They’d regret finding me again.”

She rolled her eyes. “You know that won’t ever happen. And, Leo might not be an ideal son-in-law at the moment, but people

change. Look at you! Who would’ve thought a Boston orphan singing on the street would end up here.” She waved her hand at

the room.

“Leave it alone, Pips. He already said goodbye. It’s over.”