Read Online Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore - Free Book Online

profession. Had any luck?”
    Jon relaxed a bit and smiled. “Actually, with my training, I
was able to get myself out of jail.”
    Mr. Doughty raised his eyebrows. “Interesting!”
    “I traveled to Massachusetts last week and went to my
mother’s former home to search the place. Unfortunately I walked into a murder
scene and was thrown into jail with another suspect. The next morning I freed myself
and haven’t looked back.”
    Mr. Doughty smiled. “Those are words you may have to
swallow. Despite your wish not to do so, you’ll have to return to find recorded
evidence of your parentage.”
    Jon leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “There
must be another way. Look at all these books.” He waved his hand.
    The solicitor chuckled. “What are you afraid of, getting
thrown in jail again? Won’t happen. Unless . . . you did have something
to do with that murder.”
     “Of course not.” Jon leaned back.
     “Then there’s nothing to fear,” Mr. Doughty said in a
mellow voice. “If you want your father’s money, you’ll return to
Massachusetts.”
    Jon blew out a breath. “Isn’t there another choice?”
    “Not unless you want to travel around your birth town and ask
acquaintances to sign affidavits, testifying to your parentage.”
    Jon hesitated. Ruth was the only one who’d probably be
willing to sign something like that. And her friend, Maeve, who was no longer
alive. “If I hire you to represent me, will you accompany me to Maybrook?”
         Mr. Doughty gave a curt nod.
“I can leave Tuesday.”
    ***
    On Monday morning, Jon scrawled a brief note to Apryl and a
second to Thomas Beesley, declining the invitation to Beesley’s estate, citing
important business that couldn’t wait. By afternoon, he’d cleared his
appointment book. Once he collected the inheritance, he could live a
gentleman’s life and pursue politics if he chose. Maybe he would refer his
current clients to Mr. Doughty.
    His father, Jonathan Sr., had paid for his college education
at Yale. Yet the older Jon became, the more tortured he felt knowing that his
father had been alive and well, but refused to meet his own son. What had his
father been afraid of? Was the idea of facing his past really so awful?
    Upon graduation, Jon had purchased a steamship ticket to
England, determined to meet his father and discover why he’d abandoned his
mother. But the day before departure, Jon had received notice of his father’s
death. 
    The door to his past had been cruelly slammed shut. Then an
envelope arrived with a copy of his father’s will, and Jon learned he would be
financially independent. That was when he decided to propose to Apryl.
    A knock sounded at the library door around 3:00 that
afternoon. “Mr. Porter?” Richards said. “Miss Maughan is here to see you.”
    “Send her in, please.”
    Apryl entered with a flurry of rustling yellow silk.
Ringlets protruded beneath the delicate straw hat she wore, tilted jauntily on
her head. Jon crossed the room and kissed her cheek.
    “You’ve come alone?” he asked.
    “My maid is in the carriage, but I don’t want her to
overhear,” she said, her eyes watering.
    “What’s wrong?”
    She glanced at the floor then met his gaze. “Can’t your
business wait a week?”
    Jon tried to conceal a smile. “Is that what you’re upset
about?”
    A stray tear fell onto Apryl’s flushed cheek. Surely she
couldn’t be this upset over his business trip. “You look tired.” Jon took her
arm and guided her to a chair next to the window. “Would you like a drink?”
    Apryl bit her lip. “No. I can’t stay long. My parents are
going to a violin performance, and I must accompany them.” She folded her arms.
“It won’t be any fun in the country without you.”
    Jon tried to suppress a smile. Apryl could be absolutely
childlike sometimes. “I seriously doubt that. Thomas seems to be the most
accommodating host.”
    Apryl grabbed Jon’s hand. “Please, Jon, you must come