Murder at Beechwood Read Online Free Page A

notice the sudden change in her posture, or how she clutched her hands in her lap, she was greatly mistaken. “Nanny! Do not even think it. We cannot keep this child.”
    She turned to me with a wounded expression. “Why not?”
    â€œLots of reasons! For one, a child needs parents—two of them. The state isn’t likely to let me adopt him, or even foster him for any extended length of time. Isn’t that right, Jesse?”
    â€œI’m afraid so,” he said.
    A sudden and wholly unexpected rush of disappointment temporarily knocked the breath out of me. I struggled not to show it. Good heavens, did I, despite my protests, hope this little boy would find a permanent place in our household?
    â€œWhat about me?” Nanny puffed up with self-importance. “I was married for nearly thirty years.”
    â€œI realize that, Mrs. O’Neal, but . . .” Jesse suddenly looked uncomfortable. His cheeks colored again, the curse of his pale complexion. “It’s your age, Mrs. O’Neal. The courts might deem you, to be blunt, too old to take on an infant.”
    Nanny pursed her lips, and Jesse turned his attention back to me. “They might allow you to keep him while a search was made for his next of kin, but that’s about all, Emma. Since you’re unmarried, it’s unlikely they’d allow you to adopt him. For now, though,” he added with a wink, “what the courts don’t know won’t hurt them. See what you can find out, but only about where this fellow belongs. Leave the murder to me.”
    I nodded, only half listening. My reaction to the prospect of the child’s leaving continued to shock me. If I felt this way within mere hours of his arrival, how would I feel days from now? Or weeks—or however long it took to find his rightful home? Would I be able to simply hand him over to a stranger?
    Now when I chewed my lip, it wasn’t to hide a smile, but to bite back wholly unexpected, stinging tears.

Chapter 3
    J esse settled the baby back in my arms. “This certainly wouldn’t be the first time a family abandoned an inconvenient child,” he said. “Thank the stars whoever it was had sense enough to bring him here, where he’s safe.” He spoke those last words roughly and quickly dropped his gaze again. “You know, Emma—”
    â€œIf his family is wealthy,” I interrupted, “there could be an inheritance at stake. He could be in danger if his existence sets that inheritance in dispute. Until we know more . . .” I trailed off and he nodded. Whatever he’d been about to say before I interrupted hung in the air between us. A year ago I’d glimpsed a portion of Jesse’s heart—a portion he’d apparently set aside specifically for me.
    I had yet to decide what to do about that. He was a good man and despite the ten years’ difference in our ages, he and I had so very much in common, not the least of which involved being born and raised in Newport, and having rarely gone anywhere else—or wishing to. We were of a kind, he and I, and yet...
    I simply didn’t know. Other girls were wives and mothers by my age, but I felt no rush to enter that arena. Perhaps it was because I’d been independent for too short a time, and relished my individuality far too much to give it up—for anyone.
    â€œIn the meantime,” Jesse said, “I’ll send officers out here to check on you several times a day. The chief won’t like it, but . . .”
    â€œNo, Jesse. We’ll be fine. Until we know more, it would be better not to speak of this, not to anyone.”
    â€œAll right, but I’m still sending the men.” He smiled sadly, and I felt the double impact of my last statement. I’d been referring to the baby, but to Jesse, perhaps my words meant we would not speak of our hearts or where the future might lead us.
    Yet, who was I trying to fool?