Katie Rose Read Free Page A

father,” his mother said defensively. “I had initially refused him,” she continued, “out of respect for your father’s memory. But the most wonderful thing happened! I saw Jack and spoke to him. He wants me to wed, can you imagine?”
    “What?” Gabriel couldn’t take his eyes from his mother. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. For a moment he thought she had gone mad, and he closely examined her eyes for dilation. They looked fine. Her breathing had quickened, but from excitement rather than illness. “You … spoke to my father?” he asked cautiously.
    “Yes. Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve ruined my story by starting at the end. But that’s all old news. This is the happiest day of my life!”
    Gabriel tried to concentrate as his mother, brimming with joy, explained her recent encounter. “Remember that spiritualist I mentioned to you? She really is an amazing girl. I went to see her last week and she contacted Jack. I’d been so afraid that he would think … that I no longer loved him.” Mary paused for a moment, her eyes filling with tears. Gabriel saw the old expression return to her face and he leaned forward, touching her hand.
    “Go on, dear. Tell me what happened.”
    Mary nodded, touching her eyes with her handkerchief. “Anyway, the spiritualist acted as a medium and brought him back to speak to me. He insisted that I wed again, and said he understood completely! Oh, Gabriel, if you only knew what it meant to see him one more time,and to know, really know, that he is content with this! The woman gave me such peace of mind, I paid her extra!”
    “How much extra?” Gabriel fought the fury that swept over him. He was beginning to understand, all right, and he didn’t like what he was understanding at all. Good God, this spiritualist, this charlatan, had taken full advantage of his poor mother’s grief!
    “Oh, just a hundred dollars. Gabriel, why are you looking at me like that? It was worth every cent!”
    “Dear—” Gabriel struggled to stay calm. He recalled the suspicious check, the odd numbers he’d seen in the bankbook, and Mary’s secret new friends. Outrage flooded through him. He’d heard of these spiritualists, who took advantage of grieving widows and milked them for every last dime. He forced himself to speak evenly, but inwardly swore it wouldn’t happen to his mother. “Don’t you realize you’ve been cheated? This phony tea-leaf reader has absconded with one hundred dollars of your personal savings! Tell me everything. How often did you see this woman? Who is she? Where does she live?”
    “Jennifer Appleton is worthy of a fortune, a king’s ransom, I would say,” Mary insisted. “There is nothing phony about her. You have to meet her, Gabriel, then you would understand. She is gifted, a very holy woman. There is no one like her.”
    “Miss Appleton, whatever she is, is not worth the security for your old age,” Gabriel said grimly.
    “I am secure,” Mary said naïvely. “I have a house, a future husband, and James. What else do I need?”
    “You have a future husband who is penniless, you’re pouring money into some charlatan’s pocket, and if you continue at this rate, you won’t be able to afford James. Thank God I’ve paid for the house, or you’d probably lose that as well.” Gabriel rose in frustration. He accepted his hat from the butler, who had deftly appeared, and put it on with angry determination.
    His mother rose in alarm. “Gabriel! You frighten me with that look! Where are you going?”
    “I’m going to pay Miss Jennifer Appleton a visit. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything rash. I just want to explain a few things to her. By the time I’m finished, you are the last person she will swindle.”

C HAPTER 2

    “Penelope, I don’t see why I have to participate in such nonsense. I think my hair looks fine as is.”
    Jennifer scowled as Penelope approached with a pair of curling tongs in her mittened hand. Her sister looked like a