could pour them both a cup. She turned to her niece.
“How is Edith?”
She shrugged. “The same, although perhaps I am different today.”
“In what way?”
“She is plotting to start a rumor about a woman she doesn’t like,” Lucinda said. “She can be cruel.”
Aunt Louisa stared at her and then focused on the fire. “I grew up with a young woman whom I thought was my dearest friend. When Renaldo began showing an interest in me, I was thrilled and flattered. He was very handsome and from a wealthy family. I dreamt of marriage to him. When it appeared Renaldo was going to speak to my papa, this friend managed to steal away with him, and they were set to be married shortly after. I don’t know if he was never interested in me or if she’d tricked him somehow, but it was right at the time that we heard that your mother had died. My mother thought I would be happy if I had a change of scenery and suggested I come to America and care for you until your papa remarried. And so, here I am.”
Her aunt had never shared that story with her before, and it was clear that there was still some pain for her from the memory. “Were they happy? Renaldo and your friend?”
Aunt Louisa smiled. “They did not marry. My friend was caught in a compromising position with another young man and married him. Renaldo married a few months later.”
“That is sad, Aunt. There was no reason you couldn’t have married, was there? And instead you were sent here to be a nursemaid to your niece and tolerate your brother, who can be high-handed and opinionated.”
Aunt Louisa stood and knelt before her, clutching Lucinda’s fingers. “I’ve had no greater honor in my life than the opportunity to raise you, dear. From the moment your papa opened the door to the nursery and I saw you, I loved you. I will never, ever regret anything to do with my great fortune in being part of your life.”
“I love you, Aunt.” Lucinda watched her rise and be seated again and then stare intently into the fire as if she were across an ocean. “Have you ever heard anything about Renaldo? Is he still alive? Is there anyone still in Spain that you could ask?”
“He’s very much alive,” she said finally. “There is a woman, the daughter of a close friend of my mother’s. She and I have corresponded occasionally.”
“What does she say of Renaldo?”
“His wife died a few years ago, and he made inquiries to this family friend about me.”
“Did he?” Lucinda smiled.
“We’ve been corresponding for nearly a year now. He insists he is coming to America. One of his daughters is already here and living in Boston.”
“Oh, Aunt! How exciting! Will I be able to meet him?”
“I’ve told him to continue to Boston, that there is nothing here for him in Philadelphia.”
“But why? Aren’t you curious about him? About his life?”
Aunt Louisa huffed a breath and spoke sharply. “What could I possible mean to him now?” She pulled a lace handkerchief from her pocket. “I’m nothing but an old woman, past her prime, and he is undoubtedly as handsome as he ever was. You know men look wonderful with a few lines on their skin and a bit of gray at their temples.” She clutched her hankie to her lips and leaned back in her chair.
“You must not think of yourself that way. You are so beautiful.”
Aunt shook her head and then smiled at Lucinda. “The reason I told you that old, sad story is so you could think about Edith Fairchild in a different light. She is not a person with your interest in mind. She will always, always be thinking of herself in everything she says and does.”
Chapter 4
James hefted a crate of jars onto his shoulder and went down the four outside stone steps that led to the kitchen and storerooms the family used for their canning business. There was no canning this time of year, but there were supply deliveries that James and Muireall arranged to receive when the stoves were cold.
“Does this all come inside?” he heard from behind him. MacAvoy was at the wagon, picking up a crate.
“Yes. It all comes down here,” James called. He hadn’t seen his friend for nearly two weeks, and his next fight was only four days away. The two men spent the next few minutes hauling boxes and crates inside while an impatient driver nagged