I sighed. “Very well then. My altar it is.”
Henry and I arrived at meeting just as it was scheduled to start and took seats near the door. Any talking was frowned upon at this time, leaving people to glance curiously between Nathan and me. By the looks we both received, word of his stay had spread quickly.
To pass the time, I found myself looking at the men seated on the opposite side of the room, wondering which of them might be harboring a secret hatred toward the Kilbrid women sufficient to commit murder. All of the young men could be ruled out, since my grandmother was drowned nearly thirty years ago, putting the culprit somewhere in his middle-forties at the youngest. As the minutes dragged on, I carefully studied each man, slowly moving from face to face. But try as I may, I found absolutely nothing to warrant concern. I had to consider the possibility that the man might not even be Quaker.
Oh, this is just splendid! I thought bitterly. Already unable to trust any of my servants, I now had to be suspicious of every man over the age of forty-five. If this person were not caught soon, I would surely develop a lasting paranoia. With a sigh closely bordering on a huff, I tried to quiet my mind and find some semblance of peace.
Unfortunately, exhaustion found me first. In the past five days I had been openly accused of witchcraft, delivered a baby, attended a ball, saved two lives and been nearly drowned. It was a wonder to be awake at all. The room had grown overly warm, and before long my head began to bob precariously. At the last moment, I jerked myself awake only to find Henry and several of the other men watching me. Embarrassed by such an unladylike display, I put on my most dignified expression and stared straight ahead without looking at any of them.
Despite my determination, only a few minutes passed before I started to drift off again. Luckily, Nathan chose this time to stand from his seat on the raised benches. My nerves jumped in anticipation and I sat up straighter, eager to hear what he had to say. Clearing his throat, he spoke in his usual confident manner.
“My friends, many of you may have heard that I went out to Brighmor late last night to meet with Selah. We spoke at length and I now stand before you this morning deeply troubled by the nature of my vision. A cover of darkness has obscured my sight, but the inward light will prevail. I trust the spirit will guide me in my quest for the truth.” Sitting back down, Nathan rested his elbows on his knees and bowed his head.
By no means a full accounting of his rotten behavior, his words at least offered a promising start. I felt satisfied for the time being, knowing that his brevity served a greater purpose. If all went as planned, I would expect a more comprehensive apology once we had apprehended the murderer.
After Nathan had spoken, Edgar and Gideon each stood to offer their own impromptu sermons. I tried to be attentive while they preached, but it was pure agony waiting for the next hour to pass, and I resorted to pinching myself just to stay awake. When the meeting finally concluded, I practically jumped to my feet to shake off the sleepiness. Several women immediately gathered around, their curiosity waking me fully. Rachel Dowling asked outright about my conversation with Nathan. “We just talked,” I told her, and everyone else who stood close enough to hear. “He was concerned there may have been a mistake.”
Anne didn’t pry for answers in front of the other women, though I knew she wasn’t convinced by my vagueness. Nora simply leaned closer to whisper that she would be coming over to Brighmor very soon and expected to hear what really happened. Glancing toward the far end of the room, I saw Nathan having a similar experience with the Elders. Gideon looked quite serious while he spoke. Edgar just smiled and patted Nathan reassuringly on the back.
Henry extracted me from the crowd. “Ladies, I’m afraid Selah is worn out from dancing and talking most of the night. You must allow me to take her home for a rest.”
The women grudgingly agreed, and I left the meetinghouse with Nora on one arm. “How did you ever manage without him?” she teased when Henry left to get the shay.
“I’ve truly no idea,” I admitted.
Nora laughed and squeezed my arm. “Well, I’m glad to see you two have made up. I’ll try to get away this evening. Otherwise, expect me first thing in the morning.”
Judging by her no-nonsense look, it was best to just agree and decide later what to divulge. Henry pulled up and I kissed Nora goodbye on the cheek, before getting into the carriage.
“And don’t think I’ll be satisfied with hearing how you two just talked,” she said. “Take a good nap, because I want every detail.”