CHAPTER 17

At precisely one o’clock the next afternoon, Quinn helped Julia out of a cab in front of the Sebrings’ house—though house was not an entirely appropriate word for the building in front of him.

He stood for a moment to take in the sheer magnificence of the property. Other than Brentwood, Quinn had never seen the likes of it. Three stories of whitewashed walls rose above them, punctuated by black-shuttered windows and framed by an ornate iron fence that surrounded the perimeter. Tall white columns guarded the impressive double-door entrance.

Was Becky really living in such luxury?

Quinn couldn’t help comparing this place to Harry’s bed of straw in the Wolfe barn. How vastly different his siblings’ experiences were. He could only be grateful Becky had fallen into such good fortune. At least one of his siblings had come out ahead. Or so it appeared. As long as this outer luxury wasn’t masking other evils within.

He took a moment to picture his younger sister as he had last seen her, her reddish-brown hair in two plaits, a white pinafore over her cotton dress. She’d had tears streaking her freckled cheeks as she clung to Quinn’s waist, begging him not to leave, ripping his already-breaking heart in two. It had been Mum who finally pried her loose. Becky had buried her face in Mum’s apron, while Cecil had shaken Quinn’s hand. Harry’s bottom lip had quivered as he tried desperately to imitate both his older brothers’ stoicism.

Julia nudged Quinn’s arm. “Come on. They’ll be waiting.”

“Right.” He tugged his jacket into place.

“Are you sure you don’t want to visit with Becky alone? I don’t mind waiting out here.”

He took her hand in his. “I’m delighted to have you with me. You steady me, Julia. Without you, I’m likely to do something daft, like kidnap my sister.”

She stifled a laugh. “Okay, then. I’ll make sure you don’t give in to any mad impulses.”

“Thank you.” He was glad that despite the blunder he’d made kissing her last night, they’d managed to avoid any awkwardness today. Yet, try as he might, he couldn’t help reliving the intensity of their embrace, the exquisite softness of her lips, the rightness of her in his arms.

They walked up the flagstone path to the grand front doors, which were painted a deep red and sported an inlay of stained glass.

A woman in uniform answered Quinn’s knock. “Please, come in,” she said once they introduced themselves. “Mrs. Sebring apologizes that she’s not here to meet you, as Thursday is her afternoon for tea at the bridge club. Rebecca is waiting in the parlor for you.”

“Thank you.” Quinn rubbed his hands together, his throat suddenly dry. How would this reunion with his sister go? Would it be as strained as the one with Cecil, or would Becky be happy to see him? Eager to come home with him?

“Quinn? Is it really you?”

A young woman appeared in the hall. She wore her now-chestnut hair in a soft puff on top of her head with a few loose tendrils framing her face. How different she looked from the wisp of a girl he’d left behind in their one-room flat in London. This woman, in her tidy white blouse and navy skirt, was tall and comely, her green eyes and freckles the only features he remembered.

“Becca?” His childhood name for her slipped out as he stared at her.

With a sob, she flew toward him and threw herself into his arms. “I can’t believe you’re here. I thought I’d never see you again.” She buried her face in the wool of his jacket, her body shaking with the force of her emotion.

Quinn tightened his arms around her and just breathed. Thank you, Lord. The stranglehold of fear that had held his heart hostage for so long loosened its tenacious grip. His three siblings were alive and well, doing the best they could. How he would eventually get them all back to England was a problem that could wait for another day. Right now, he simply wanted to enjoy getting to know his sister again.

At last, Becky moved away to blow her nose, then smiled up at him. “You look as handsome as ever.” Her gaze moved past him to Julia. “Who is this? Your wife?”

Heat streaked into Quinn’s face. “This is a good friend, Julia Holloway. Julia, this is my sister, Becky.”

Julia moved forward to grasp Becky’s hand. “It’s lovely to meet you. Quinn has told me so much about you.”

Becky’s brows rose. “He has?”

“Yes . . .” Julia trailed off and bit her lip.

“Just how long have you known my brother?” A mischievous twinkle lit Becky’s green eyes, a look Quinn remembered all too well from their childhood, which usually resulted in one of them getting their ears boxed by Mum.

Quinn stepped forward to take Becky’s arm and steer her toward the nearest room, hoping it was the parlor. “I met Julia at Brentwood Manor when she was only thirteen, but we’ve only recently renewed our . . . acquaintance.” He let it go at that for the moment. Most likely Becky would assume Julia was a maid at the estate, which was fine by him. No need to explain their complicated history.

He scanned the room with its elegant sofas, wing chairs, and a marble fireplace. A silver tea service, a large pitcher, and an array of small pastries sat on a low table.

“Please sit down,” Becky said. “Mrs. Sebring ordered refreshments for your arrival.” She lifted the teapot. “Would you like tea or prefer lemonade?” The subtle trembling of her hands betrayed her nerves.

“I’d love some lemonade,” Julia said brightly.

Quinn frowned. “It’s all right, Becky. You don’t have to serve us.” Perhaps her situation wasn’t as rosy as she’d like him to believe. “Is everything going well? Are you being treated fairly?”

Immediately her face brightened. “Oh yes. The Sebrings are lovely to work for.”

“That’s good to hear.” Quinn rose to pour his own drink.

Becky handed Julia a glass. “So what are you doing in Canada, Quinn? The last I heard you were set to join the war.”

He straightened, cup in hand. A warning look from Julia made him bite back his immediate response. “I did serve in the war, and thankfully survived with only minor injuries.” He crossed the room to his chair but remained standing. “When I went to see Mum after I got back, she finally admitted she’d sent the three of you to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.”

Becky’s gaze faltered, settling on the table in front of her. “She had to, Quinn,” she said. “We had nothing to eat, no heat in the flat. When we were evicted, Mum didn’t know what else to do. She thought we’d be better off in a place with a warm bed for each of us and three meals a day.” Becky sighed. “She promised she’d come get us once her situation turned around, but I guess it never did.”

Quinn set his cup down, his stomach too tense to tolerate anything in it. “You must have been terrified when they said you were being sent to Canada.”

“Not terrified. Anxious, maybe. Part of me looked forward to traveling, to seeing another part of the world. Cecil and Harry thought it would be exciting.” She smiled sadly. “Cecil even pretended he was going off to war, like you.”

Quinn flinched, not wanting to envision them boarding the ship, filled with a desperate hope for a better future. “Did you even get to say good-bye to Mum?”

“No. They said there wasn’t time since the boat was leaving soon.” Her bottom lip trembled. “We tried to make it a grand adventure.”

“But it wasn’t so grand, was it?”

“No.” She smoothed her skirt down with jerky movements of her fingers.

Quinn came to sit beside her and took her hand in his. “I understand you left your first placement. Did they hurt you, Becca?”

A world of pain came into her eyes, swirling amid the tears that bloomed. But she shook her head and pulled her hand away. “That’s over now, and I’m happy here. Let’s leave it at that.” Becky looked over at Julia, then back to Quinn. “I still don’t understand why the two of you are here.”

He frowned. “I came to find you, Cecil, and Harry and bring you home. Why else would I be here?”

A variety of emotions flitted across her features. “Did you find our brothers? I haven’t seen them since I left Halifax five years ago.” She blinked rapidly, still holding back tears.

“Yes, I found them.” Quinn rose from the sofa and walked to the fireplace, contemplating his next words. He didn’t want to ruin their visit with the brutal truth of Harry’s situation. “Cecil seems content on the farm where he’s working, and Harry . . . well, Harry wasn’t as happy with his post, so he came with me.” He turned back to face her. “He’s staying with some people I know in Toronto while I’m here.”

“Is he all right?” Lines creased Becky’s forehead. “I hated leaving him, even though Cecil was with him. He was so little and so scared.” She swiped at a tear on her cheek.

“He’s fine now that I’ve got him away from that farmer.” He focused his attention directly on his sister, needing her to know how important his next words were. “The thing is, Becky, Mum’s not doing so well. She’s in the infirmary at the workhouse and very weak. I promised her I’d bring you and the boys back home with me. It might be the only thing that saves her.”

Becky lowered her head, avoiding Quinn’s eyes, and his stomach dropped. He thought she’d be eager to leave, overjoyed to be going home. But from the expression on her face, he wasn’t at all sure of her response.

“You will come with me, won’t you?”

She twisted her hands together on her lap. “I suppose I could ask for some time off to go back for a visit.”

“A visit?” Quinn surged forward. “You mean you want to come back to live here? So far away from your home and your family?”

Becky looked up at him sorrowfully. “My home is in Canada now, Quinn. The only thing waiting in England is more poverty, more suffering. At least here I have a good position and a lovely home to live in.”

“You’re only a servant to these people,” he said, unable to stop his voice from rising. It was one thing for him to be a valet, but he wanted better for his sister.

“Quinn.” Julia crossed the room to his side. “Give Becky a chance to explain herself.”

Quinn took in a breath and nodded.

“Go ahead, Becky,” Julia prompted gently.

“The Sebrings have treated me like one of the family. They pay me more than my contract stipulates and they don’t overwork me.” She glanced at Quinn.

“All right,” he said slowly. “So your employers are nice, and you’ve grown . . . fond of them?”

“Yes.” Her features brightened. “I truly love my job here. I doubt I’d ever find one I like better back in London.”

Quinn fought the anger rising in his chest. How could she so blithely turn her back on her family and her homeland? More importantly, didn’t she care that their mother might be dying? “How can you do this to Mum?” he bit out.

Becky jumped to her feet, twisting her hands in front of her. “Quinn, please try to understand. . . .” She pressed her lips together. “There’s something else. A more important reason I want to stay.”

He stared at her, shaking his head. “What else could keep you from your family?” He hated the bitterness in his voice and the way Becky’s eyes shone with hurt.

“Rebecca? Is everything all right?” a deep voice asked.

Quinn turned to face the door, where a slim young man stood in the opening, his face filled with concern.

Becky rushed forward. “Ned. Yes, everything’s fine. Please, come in.”

He grasped her hand and tucked it under the crook of his arm, smiling down at her. At the adoring look she gave him in return, it all made sudden sense. Becky had a beau.

The pair moved into the middle of the room, Becky hanging on the man’s arm like he were a life preserver amid a stormy sea.

Quinn looked over at Julia, who gave a slight shrug.

“Quinn, Julia, this is Ned Patterson,” Becky said. “Ned, this is my brother Quinn and his friend Julia.”

Ned stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m so happy Rebecca has made contact with her family at last.” He pumped Quinn’s hand eagerly.

Quinn assessed the lad with what he hoped was an objective opinion. Ned was appealing enough, with thick brown hair, blue eyes, and an easy smile. Though wiry in stature, he appeared well-muscled, as if no stranger to hard work. “Nice to meet you, Ned. Do you work for the Sebrings as well?”

Ned frowned slightly and gave Becky a questioning look.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell them yet,” Becky said quickly, her cheeks reddening. She wound her arm more firmly through Ned’s and tilted her chin. “Ned is my fiancé. We’re getting married in September.”