Jo Goodman (36 page)

"What else did they do for you?" Mercedes asked.

"I never wanted for clothes or books or spending money. I earned a decent wage for my work, but there was always something extra put aside for me. I never suspected how much until Captain Remington passed away. He made me an investor in the line."

"So when the business was doing well—"

"I was doing
very
well," he finished for her. "Jack gave up command of his ship to help Jonna run the line and I took over as master of
Liberty.
When Jonna built her first clipper I was named its master."

"Mystic?"

"No, the first was
Charlotte Reid,
after her mother. I took her out for two years and across three oceans. I only gave her up because Jonna and Jack had something faster for me. That was two clippers ago. I've only been at
Mystic'
s helm for eight months."

"Each one faster than the one before."

"That's what they ask me to prove."

"And so you make wagers and break records."

"I break records because there are always people who don't believe I can. I make wagers because someone will pay to see me fail."

"You've made a fortune, haven't you?" she asked.

"Some would say so."

"What would you say?"

Colin's dark eyes narrowed as he studied her, trying to gauge her interest. "Are you planning to write another bank draft?" he asked.

Not looking at him, Mercedes sat up and smoothed out her pillow. She leaned over to the lamp and turned it back. The light flickered once and then was gone. She welcomed the darkness that obscured her pale face and regretful glance. "I know I deserve that, but I wish you wouldn't make mention of it again. I think you forget my presence in this room is the payment you asked for. It will cost you something additional to tear a strip off my flesh."

"Mercedes."

She had managed her speech with dignity but her composure was threatened by his use of her name. "And don't patronize me." She was grateful he didn't deny it or respond in any other way. When she was certain the subject was closed, Mercedes lay down again. She curled on her side facing him and drew her knees close to her chest. Mercedes counted five chimes as the entrance hall clock announced the hour. "Can you believe it's so late?" she asked softly. "I'll have to go to my own room soon." But she made no move to do so. There was pleasure in lying close to him and she was reluctant to deny herself. "You know," she said, "in all the things you've told me, you never once mentioned how it was you and your brothers came to be at Cunnington's. What happened to your parents?"

There was no answer.

"Colin?" Mercedes frowned and lifted her head. Her eyes narrowed on his face. "Captain Thorne?" Sighing, she dropped back to the pillow and moved closer to him, slipping one arm across his chest. She felt his steady heartbeat against the underside of her elbow. "I'm glad one of us can sleep," she murmured, snuggling. "I wish it were me."

* * *

Mercedes was the last one at breakfast the next morning. The twins and Sylvia were finishing their meal while Colin was at the sideboard, helping himself to a second portion.

"I'm sorry," she said, closing the pocket doors behind her. Guilt caused her to avoid making eye contact with anyone and nervousness made her state the obvious. "I overslept."

Sylvia looked longingly at the second plate Colin was bringing to the table. It took an effort to put her own fork aside. "Captain Thorne said you might decide to have a lie-in this morning."

The most interesting thing, Mercedes thought, was that she would have been lying in her own bed. She couldn't say how Colin managed it without waking her—she had no recollection of ever falling asleep—but when she opened her eyes, she was back in her room. "Did he?" she said coolly.

"You had a full day yesterday, didn't you?" said Sylvia. "I shouldn't wonder that I'd take my breakfast in bed the following morning."

Mercedes noticed that Colin was calmly eating. She looked at him sharply, searching out some small smile that would hint at his laughter, but she could see nothing. At least he didn't appear to be enjoying her discomfort. "And you certainly may," Mercedes said pleasantly. She went to the sideboard and began to serve herself. She chose a large portion of eggs and tomatoes, three fingers of warm bread, and half a dozen orange slices. Britton held out her chair as she came to the table.

"I say, Mercedes, Brendan can help you with that plate." He grinned at his brother. "Brendan, fetch Mr. Hennepin's wheelbarrow."

Mercedes gave both boys a crossways glance and sat down. "There's nothing wrong with a healthy appetite," she said.

Britton slid back into his chair. He was prepared to make another aside to his brother, but he intercepted a quelling look from Colin that subdued him. He folded his hands neatly in his lap and waited until he was spoken to.

Mercedes, who had missed the exchange between Colin and Britton, wondered at her young cousin's sudden calm. "Are you feeling quite the thing, Britton?"

"Yes."

This short reply did not allay Mercedes's concern. "Are you certain?" She laid her fork aside and leaned toward him.

"He's fine," Sylvia said, giggling. "Captain Thorne just gave him a look that would make smarter men walk the plank. Isn't that right, Brit?"

Brendan laughed and pointed gleefully at his brother. "She called you stoo-pid."

Britton pulled a face at both of them but he didn't rejoin.

"My, oh my," Mercedes said, amused. "Do you mean it only takes one look from the captain to make you sit still in your chair?"

"And
keep his trap closed," Brendan said helpfully. For this comment he received the same quelling glance that had brought his twin to order. He ducked his head guiltily and stared at his plate.

Mercedes caught this second glance. She had to agree it was a powerful motivator. "I see," she said wisely. "I shall have to ask Captain Thorne to teach it to me."

Colin paused in raising his coffee cup. "It helps if you've already bargained a bit with them."

"Bribery," Sylvia said. "That's what he's talking about. He told the twins he'd help them make a ship they could sail at the pond. But I think they have to behave themselves."

Mercedes looked from one boy to the other. "Bargains or bribery," she said, shrugging. "Apparently it works."

Britton grinned. "I know I like it better than a fist in my ribs."

Mercedes's face drained of color.

Brendan kicked his brother under the table. "What did you have to say that for?"

Grimacing as Brendan's foot connected solidly with his shin, Britton said defensively, "Well, it's true. And you know it, too. We're all agreed things are better since the captain came. I don't see the point in not saying so."

Mercedes laid her hand on Britton's shoulder. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, including Colin's. "You're right," she said quietly. "There's no point in not saying so." Standing, Mercedes let her napkin drop on her chair. "If you will excuse me." Without waiting for a reply, she hurried to the doors.

Britton looked blankly around the table. "What did I do?"

Brendan rolled his eyes while Sylvia sighed heavily. It was Colin who answered him. "I think Mercedes took her job to look after you and protect you very seriously. You just reminded her that she wasn't always successful."

Britton's mouth sagged. Tears came to his eyes. "But I didn't mean to hurt her. I would never—"

"She knows that," Colin said. He stood. "If you're done with your breakfast, you and Brendan should go see Mr. Hennepin about some wood and tools. Sylvia, could you find something we could use for a sail?"

She smiled, pleased to be asked to help with the project. "Of course."

"Good. Give me thirty minutes and I'll meet you at the stable. We can work there."

Colin found Mercedes outside. He almost missed her the first time he stepped onto the flagstones at the rear of the house. It was the flash of her pale rose gown among the darker greens of the arbor that caught his eye. She stepped out from under the canopy of leaves when she saw his approach.

"You didn't have to follow me out here," she said. She began walking along the path that meandered through the garden. The sky was clear, almost endlessly blue from treetops to the horizon. The fragrance of summer flowers, fresh and sweet, was part of the air she breathed. "I don't need—" Mercedes stopped, frowning. She sniffed. "Do you smell that?" she asked, turning to Colin. "It smells like—"

"Smoke." He turned three hundred sixty degrees, scanning the grounds and the sky for some sign of what he smelled. "I don't see anything." The sky above the manor was as serenely blue as anywhere else. No clouds billowed from the chimneys. There were no cries of alarm from the stable and no flicker of flames along the roof. "It's fainter now," he said. "I can barely make it out."

She nodded. The odor was lifted away by the morning breeze and a moment later it was as if it had never been. "I wonder what it was."

Colin was no longer concerned about that. Mercedes was already walking away. He caught up to her and matched his natural stride to her smaller steps. "Britton feels terrible," he said.

"He shouldn't. He spoke the truth."

"You couldn't always protect him from the earl."

She couldn't speak so she shrugged.

"Mercedes, you did more than anyone could expect."

She glanced at him. "I expected more." The words were choked and she swallowed hard. "I promised my aunt more." Bending, she plucked a stray daisy along the border of greenery. She twirled it between her palms as she walked. "Anyway, as Britton said, things are better since you've come to Weybourne Park."

"He only meant that the earl's been gone since I arrived. That was bound to improve things."

Mercedes stopped and looked up at him with clear gray eyes. "No, that isn't what he meant. The earl's been away before and it's never been like this. We've always lived with the anticipation that he would return."

"He still might."

"No." She shook her head. "Not this time."

"You seem sure."

"I can't live my life thinking about it any other way." Mercedes turned away and began walking again. "Neither can my cousins."

"You know I wouldn't let—"

Mercedes held up her hand, cutting him off. She smiled briefly but there was no joy in it. "What I know is that you won't always be here. It's better to go on believing that he won't return, rather than rely on your protection."

Colin opened his mouth to object, then thought better of it. He didn't know that he
could
object.

Changing the subject, Mercedes said, "It's good of you to take so much time with the boys."

"I have the time," he said. "After all, I hired myself a very competent manager."

This time her smile was fulsome as she gave him a sidelong glance. "Yes, you did. And she's dallied overlong feeling sorry for herself. Perhaps she'll see you at—" Mercedes's smile faded as she heard her name being called. It came to her twice, like an echo, but with none of the pleasant reverberation. These voices were strident and urgent. She and Colin turned simultaneously toward the source of the cries.

The twins were running from the house at breakneck speed, one trying to get ahead of the other. They arrived toe to toe in front of her and stopped so sharply they rocked forward on the balls of their feet. Colin had to put his hand out to keep them from bowling Mercedes over.

"She's not a nine pin," he told them dryly.

If they understood his comment, they weren't moved to apologize. Breathlessly Britton began, "Mr. Thayer's come to see you."

"And Mr. Patterson," Brendan added. "The sheriff."

"I know who Mr. Patterson is," Mercedes said. She wasn't certain why the boys were so excited. A visit from either man was unusual, but not without precedent. "Then I shall see them both. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."

Fairly dancing in place, Brendan blocked her path as she started forward. "You don't understand," he said hurriedly. "They've come together. There's been some sort of accident."

"What in the world?" she said softly. She looked at Colin. His bewilderment was as plain as hers. Mercedes couldn't help wondering aloud, "One of the children?"

"I heard them tell Mrs. Hennepin it was something about a fire," Britton said helpfully.

Colin pulled both boys aside by their collars so Mercedes could get by. She almost knocked them over anyway.

"We're not nine pins, you know," they called after her.

Colin gave them a shake. "Very amusing," he said in a tone that let them know it wasn't. He released them. "The ship will have to wait, but you still might want to get the wood."

"It's all right," Britton said philosophically. "This is rather exciting." He was treated to another of Colin's quelling glances. "C'mon, Brendan. Let's go find that plank now."

Colin permitted himself a small smile as the boys took off at a run for the stables. "You've done fine by them, Mercedes," he said to himself. "Better than even their mother could have expected."