An Irresistible Bachelor(61)

Callie shook her head. "Grace, that's awful, especially considering what you've just been through. You must be exhausted."

"I am. With all these book proposals swirling around, the press is worked up. 'No comment' is becoming my middle name." There was a pause. "You know, Callie, you're the one who could do the most damage to me, to the Hall Foundation, to my mother. You could so easily cash in on your story and blow our father's reputation sky-high, but you haven't. I can't tell you what that means to me."

Callie smiled with gratitude.

"I would never betray you, Grace. I'm not going to say anything to anybody. Ever. You can trust me."

"You know, I've had a lot of people tell me that over the years. But coming from you, I actually believe it." Grace fell silent for a moment. "Trust is not something I've had a lot of experience with. Except for Ross, and now you."

"Ross?"

"You remember—my bodyguard?"

"Oh, I thought his name was something else."


"It was. But this is what he goes by now."

Callie was tempted to ask questions, but figured she shouldn't pry.

They talked a little more and then she said, "listen, I wanted to ask you something. I've been going through some old Walker family papers and I found part of a letter from the original Nathaniel Walker to a woman. At least I think it is the first Nathaniel, but I'm not sure. It mentions the Battle of Concord and a general. Do you remember who Walker fought with at Concord? Before he was captured by the British?"

"Sure. It was General Rowe. He was a wealthy gentleman from Boston. One of the founding fathers." Grace's voice rose with excitement. "But tell me more about the letter."

Callie shared the details and the two talked over various points.

"The thing is," Callie hesitated, "there was a very intimate feeling to it. But he didn't marry until after the War of Independence, correct?"

"That's right. He married Jane Hatte when he was in his late forties, which was ancient in those days. They had four children."

"So perhaps Nathaniel didn't write the letter. Or maybe he was writing to Jane," she suggested.

Grace laughed lightly. "I doubt it was to his wife. The Battle of Concord was in 1775. When the two of them married in 1793, she was twenty. He would have been writing to a two-year-old."

"Well, I hope I find the rest of the letter."

"So do I. This could be big news. Correspondence between Walker and any of his contemporaries would garner tremendous attention, especially if it shed light on a previously unknown relationship." Grace paused. "Tell me, what do you think of the portrait, now that you've had a chance to work on it?"

"Copley is a genius. "With the old varnish coming off, his use of color, particularly in the darkest parts of the painting, is really coming out. It's extraordinary. He can make a black sleeve cast a shadow. And his brushwork is fantastic."

"Any problems?"

"No. Not really. The canvas support is sound. Paint's in really good shape for the most part. There's only one small area that I'm suspicious about but I don't think it's a big deal. There may have been some repainting."

"Really?"

"But I'm not sure. I'm cleaning around the edges first, so it's going to be a while before I get a clear view of the area. Right now, it's just my instinct talking."

"Well, don't underestimate yourself," Grace said. "Fresh eyes can find surprising things."

"Perhaps."

"Guess what? I'm going to be coming to Boston after Thanksgiving. For the Walker party. Jack's invited me and Ross to stay with you all."

"Oh. I mean, that's great!" It was the first Callie had heard about any such thing and it dawned on her that she should be making plans to go back to New York City over the holiday. If Jack was inviting people to stay over, he might want to use the room she was using.

Callie frowned with concern. "Wait. Your bodyguard is coming with you? Do you still need protection?"

"Actually, he's much more than that." Happiness suffused the words, giving them a lilt that spoke volumes.

Callie smiled. "You sound like you're in love."

"We are. It took us a while to figure things out and we're still working on it. But my life wouldn't be complete without him."