Secrets of Sloane House(101)

He wrapped his arms around her waist, liking the way she felt against him. Liking the feel of her in his arms. “You are right, Rosalind,” he murmured. “God is, indeed, so very good.”

She was right. For a few scant moments this day, he’d been doubtful and depressed. Sad and despondent. He’d let himself forget so many things.

But then God had brought Rosalind into his life, into this room. And in doing so, the Lord had reminded Reid just how much he had to be grateful for.

And he was, indeed, so grateful.





CHAPTER 36

By noon the following day, the Armstrong household had already welcomed four callers. Dr. Nolan arrived to sit vigil, saying that it was only hours—or even minutes—now until his father passed into heaven.

Next, Eloisa came and refused to leave, admitting that she’d rather help in any way she could instead of sit alone with her thoughts at her own house. When Reid said that her presence eased them all, she picked up his mother’s embroidery basket, scooped out a rat’s nest of jumbled floss, and asked if she could sit with Rosalind while she untangled the strands.

Reid summoned Rosalind right away.

After a few minutes of shyness, Rosalind accepted Eloisa’s offer of friendship with alacrity. She knew the young lady had been through a lot. She also knew she was a lady through and through and was so happy that a woman like Eloisa wanted to get to know her better.

A little over an hour later, Detective Ryan and Officer Carter called. After handing Watterson a card, they requested a private audience with Rosalind Pettit, who was now going by her real name, Rosalind Perry. Reid attempted to intervene and join her, but the police were firm, Detective Ryan even going so far as to say that they were already doing Rosalind a favor by conducting the interview at the Armstrongs’ home instead of at the police station.

Though Reid had looked like he had quite a bit to say about that comment, he held his tongue and only indicated that he would be waiting in the drawing room at the end of the interview.

After sharing a look with Eloisa, Rosalind followed the policemen into Mrs. Armstrong’s private sitting room, where she answered many of the same questions once again.

The detective looked perturbed when she told them how her father’s visit to their headquarters had been handled. But still the questions and statements continued.

Though their questioning was difficult, Rosalind actually didn’t mind it all that much. She’d felt as if she had been on a wild-goose chase by herself—at least until Reid stepped in. She’d had no resources, little knowledge of the city, and no true knowledge of Miranda’s life in Chicago. All she’d really had was a strong sense that something had happened to her sister and enough stubbornness to attempt to see her search to the end.

They eventually confided that Mrs. Sloane had been sent to a private mental hospital. No charges had been made against Douglass, on the other hand, because no woman had ever come forward. For a split second, Rosalind wondered if Eloisa would be willing to stand up against him, but she quickly pushed that idea to one side. She was worldly enough now to realize that Eloisa’s testifying would do little good. Douglass would dispute her and she would lose a little bit more of herself.

It was obvious that the Sloane family was extremely influential, perhaps even with members of the police. They also had an army of lawyers at their disposal.

Detective Ryan did promise that a number of officers would once again look for Miranda’s body, which Rosalind supposed would be a blessing. She knew she and her family would like to give Miranda a Christian burial.

However, she didn’t hold out much hope. Months had now passed. The police detective had described a variety of things that could have happened to her sister’s body, each one more upsetting than the last. Rosalind began to think that perhaps it would be best—for her parents at least—to always remember Miranda as she had been when she left their farm. Determined and beautiful. Headstrong and optimistic. Full of life.

Two hours later, the interview was over. After giving them her address in Wisconsin, she was told she could leave Chicago.

“We are sorry about your sister, miss,” the detective said as he shook her hand good-bye.

When she was alone, she sat back down on the settee. Her mind felt numb. At last, her adventure was over. The tears started to fall. Whether from grief for her sister or relief that she’d at last discovered the truth, she wasn’t sure.

Maybe she was even sad to be leaving Chicago and all the people she’d met and gotten to know. As frightening and emotional as her time here had been, she knew she was going to miss her new friends. She was going to miss her life here.