The Magnolia Palace

Chapter Twenty-Two

Veronica watched the exchange between Miss Helen and Lillian, relieved that they’d reached an understanding. She looked over at Joshua, who offered up a quick smile. She hoped what she’d done, helping to expose Miss Winnie’s deception, had softened him toward her. But they still needed to talk.

“What about the diamond?” Veronica directed the question to Miss Helen.

Miss Helen touched the cameo on her lapel, then gave it a little shake. The diamond rattled in response. “I think I’ll sell it and donate the proceeds to the library.”

Veronica took a deep breath. “How about setting up a scholarship for students who want to pursue a career in the fine arts?”

Miss Helen stared at her for a long moment, which in normal circumstances would have unnerved Veronica. She’d never really gotten used to being looked at and studied by photographers and fashion editors, or random people on the bus who reacted to her crazy haircut. But unlike those stares, Miss Helen’s was different. She wasn’t observing Veronica’s outside; she was trying to understand her inside. It wasn’t about being looked at; it was about being seen. “A scholarship?” she finally said.

“Sure. For people like Joshua, for example.”

Joshua blinked in surprise. “Um, Veronica. Can I talk to you?”

Veronica followed him, heart pounding, out onto the front porch. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Well, you’re obviously trying to make up for something. Like having tried to steal the diamond in the first place.”

She looked down at her feet, then back at him. Like Miss Helen, Joshua had really seen her over the past forty-eight hours, citywide blackout notwithstanding. “Since today seems to be the day of apologies, I’m sorry about that. It flew out of the cameo when you were off getting the other lamp, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to do. I was overwhelmed about being fired from the photo shoot, ruining my career, taking care of my sister, and snatched it up.”

He exhaled slowly. “I thought you would have made a smarter decision under those circumstances.”

“I know,” she conceded. “It was only a split second and I immediately regretted it, but by then you were back and it was burning a hole in my pocket.”

Joshua didn’t respond, but the look of disappointment on his face hurt more than any words.

“My mum told me this morning that Polly’s stopped eating. I don’t want to lose her like I lost my father.” She choked back tears; this was not a time for histrionics. “But it was a terrible lapse of judgment, to do what I did. I planned to tell you a number of times when we were locked inside. I thought maybe we could split the proceeds so that you could get your degree at Columbia and I could bring Polly home.”

“That doesn’t help. I would never have accepted it.”

Of course he wouldn’t have. Fatigue mixed with self-loathing, and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and disappear into sleep. To drift off, drift away from it all.

But instead of wallowing in her own misfortune, she straightened up. “I’m sorry, and I’ll do what I can to make it right. If you want me to tell Miss Helen what I did, I will. I accept full responsibility.”

Her heart caught in her throat as she waited for his reply. “I won’t ask you to do that,” he finally said.

Joshua had been a true friend the past couple of days, had taken care of her and protected her, guided her through the scavenger hunt to its surprising end. And in return, she’d tried to steal the Magnolia diamond, a vital part of the house and its history. Joshua respected and loved the Collection for its breadth and historical significance, and by taking the diamond she’d betrayed that love.

Her heart broke for having shattered the fragile trust they’d forged over the past two days.

There was nothing more to be said, but as she reached for the doorknob to go back inside, he placed his hand over hers.

“Hold on a moment. I’m sorry about Polly, V. Even if I don’t have a sister, I understand what drove you to consider taking the diamond. And you made things right, in the end. I appreciate that.”

They stood facing each other again. “You do?”

“I do. And you know, there’s another way for you to make a ton of money.”

“What’s that?”

She knew he was pulling her leg before he even spoke, by the way one side of his mouth lifted.

“Professional bowler.”

She swatted him with her hand, as relief flooded through her.

When they reentered the kitchen, Miss Helen nodded in their direction. “We’ve been discussing the idea of a scholarship,” she said. “Not a bad one.” She addressed Joshua. “From what I’ve observed, after a rather rocky introduction, it appears that you are an asset to the Frick Collection, Mr. Lawrence. And is it true you want attend graduate school?”

“That’s my plan.”

“I imagine it’s not easy for you. Perhaps I can make it just a slight bit easier.”

He stammered a thank-you and Veronica couldn’t help but smile.

“And as for you”—Miss Helen’s voice dropped an octave as she turned her icy-blue eyes on Veronica—“I like the way you think. You’re a smart lady. You helped solve a mystery that had long stymied my family.”

Lillian spoke up. “That was brilliant, at the nursing home, how you made Miss Winnie admit to her lack of lack of hearing.” Her husband chuckled at the wordplay, and Lillian threw him a silly grin in response. They were obviously fond of each other, still in love after all these years.

All of this praise weighed heavily on Veronica, knowing that Joshua was listening and judging every word. “I took the cue from what you’d told us about your own experiment.”

“What is it you do again, my girl?” asked Miss Helen.

Veronica cast about, unsure of how to answer. “At the moment, I’m unemployed. I worked in a pawnshop, and then was a model, for a time.”

“A model. I’ve had experiences with your sort.” Miss Helen looked over at Lillian and smiled. “In fact, I’m in the market for a private secretary. I know that’s not the proper term these days, one should say ‘assistant,’ but I don’t care to update my vocabulary.”

“Your private secretary?” Veronica repeated, dumbly. “You want me to be your private secretary?”

Miss Helen waved her hands dramatically in the air. “They never last long under my employ, God knows why.”

Everyone laughed, including Miss Helen.

Joshua cleared his throat to speak, and Veronica held her breath at what was coming next. “Veronica made a number of connections that helped solve the puzzle, after only barely scanning through the archives. Her memory and observational skills are quite exceptional.”

His praise, given when she least deserved it, choked Veronica up.

However, the offer, while appreciated, wouldn’t work for two reasons. First of all, Polly. Veronica would never leave her to take a job in America, under any circumstances.

Miss Helen sensed her hesitation. “What is it, girl?”

“I do appreciate your kind offer, Miss Helen. But I’m afraid I have family back in London that I can’t leave. I have a sister, you see, who’s in an institution, and I’m trying to get her out of there and back home with me and my mum, but it’s been frustrating . . .” She trailed off, aware that she’d gotten into far more detail than she’d meant to.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Miss Helen pressed her fingertips to her throat. “I would have done anything for my sister, anything. I adored her and hated that she suffered so.” She flicked a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed delicately at the corners of each eye.

“So you understand,” said Veronica. Although they’d started out on the wrong foot, she had to admit she was coming to admire Miss Helen. They had more in common than she could have imagined.

Miss Helen suddenly slammed her hand on the table, making the spoons rattle in the saucers. “I know, we’ll bring her over here,” she said, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. “There are all kinds of arrangements that can be made. Your mother, too, if she likes. It will be my way of making right what I couldn’t do for Martha.”

Veronica sat for a moment, stunned. She could bring Polly here. They could all start a new life together. Of all things. “That would be . . . remarkable.” She spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “Um, there’s one thing, though. I really loved going through the old letters and documents with Joshua, figuring out how they relate to the past, and to what’s going on today. Do you think, down the road, I could apply for a job as an archivist? If I need additional school or training, I’d be willing to do that. Whatever it takes.”

She glanced over at Joshua, who gave her a subtle nod of approval. Over the past two days, he’d taught her a lot about taking risks and charting one’s own path, even if the world of art and history she was stepping into seemed daunting—and, in his case, uninviting—at first.

“You’re a tough one, I can see that. Archivist? At the Frick?” Miss Helen raised her chin imperiously. For a moment, Veronica couldn’t tell if she was irritated or impressed. “Well, I might have a few connections there, as it happens.”

“So I’ve heard,” Veronica volleyed back.

“That haircut, though, is unfortunate. You ought to wear it like I do.” Miss Helen patted her pompadour. “It’s functional and stays out of one’s eyes. I haven’t changed my style since 1903, and I’m quite proud of that fact.”

Lillian let out a most unladylike snort as Veronica looked around the room, at these people who she’d just met, who’d very possibly changed the course of her life. “It’s a classic, for certain, Miss Helen. Just like you.”