Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

Nico was the first to awaken. He carefully extricated himself so as not to disturb the others. Looking at Eden and Matty together made his heart warm. They were so perfect—and all his.

He had an idea, so he quickly washed up and dressed, leaving the room quietly as he went off to find Suzette.

Half an hour later, he returned with an armload of items he and his mother had located.

Matty was just beginning to stir as Nico placed a stack of shirts, jackets, and trousers on the chair by the bed. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, Matty asked quietly, “What’s all this?”

“Just a few things to make you feel more… conventional. You can have anything you like. No one is using these. Maman and I ransacked the wardrobes in Bay and Warren’s rooms looking for clothes they’d left behind.” While Nico was ta ll, Warren and Bay were built more like Isaac with his great height and broad chest. These items were things they’d outgrown but were still nice. Nico would have shared his own clothes with Matty, but he needed what he had and probably ought to acquire more for himself anyway.

“Maman also wanted me to tell you that she sent word to Father Andrew, inviting him to dinner tonight. If he doesn’t show up, maybe we can speak to him after the funeral tomorrow.”

“We? Nico, this is my problem. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”

“Matty, my entire family has promised to do whatever it takes to help you make this situation right. You heard Papa. He feels terrible that they unwittingly subjected you to Father Andrew’s warped idea of what ought to happen to you. I agree with your assessment that the man is a lot more ambitious and devious than anyone expected. So accept my family’s help and stop worrying about it. Now, go get yourself cleaned up and try on some of these clothes. I’d love to see you in something other than black.”

Suzette’s invitation to dinner went unanswered by Father Andrew—unusual for a man with a rather famous appetite. Either he had some ecclesiastical emergency, or he was avoiding them .

He did not send his regrets.

Stranger still, Father Andrew also did not show up the next day for Mr. Remington’s funeral. He left word with Sister Mary Gertrude that Matty was perfectly capable of handling it on his own. This forced Matty to rush back and change into his clerical collar and black clothes.

Father Andrew’s actions—whatever their motive—erased any patience Matty had left. The decision to force him to lead the funeral prayers for his own father was the last straw; he was ready to quit this charade.

“Whoever heard of a man of the cloth having to officiate a funeral for a member of his own family?” Walter spluttered at Isaac upon hearing the news. “This is heartless and highly irregular.”

Isaac shook his head, clearly in agreement with his husband.

At the chapel, the Stark-James family made up the entire roster of attendees with the notable exception of one man who looked as if he may have had a few drinks with Remington in the past. The worn, thin man stayed only long enough to see the coffin lowered into the grave and left without extending condolences to Matty. No one spoke any kind words over the grave extolling the man’s accomplishments, his love for his family, or what a great friend he’d been. Matty merely said the requisite prayers, and that was it. To say it was a somber affair was putting it mildly.

At the gravesite, a messenger arrived with a note for Matty. It was a directive from Mr. Remington’s lawyer instructing Matty to come to his office as soon as possible. Once again, Walter took umbrage with this and exclaimed, “Doesn’t anyone in this town have the slightest respect for the sanctity of a funeral?”

The only bright spot was a bouquet of flowers Suzette had cut from their garden. She divided the blooms and placed half on the top of the coffin. The other half she laid on Mrs. Remington’s grave. Before they left the cemetery, Matty kissed his fingers and placed them on his mother’s headstone. He knelt in the grass for a moment—either praying silently or thinking. No one bothered him. But when he rose, Eden and Nico took his arms and walked him to the cemetery gate.

“Do you want us to go with you to see the lawyer?” Nico asked.

“No, thank you. You don’t need to waste your time with that. I’ll see you back at your house as soon as I’m finished with him.”

It was several hours before Matty arrived back at the estate. This time he carried another valise that looked rather heavy. The heaviest thing about him, however, was the look in his eyes.

Everyone gathered in the parlor to hear what Matty had to report.