Lily (Song of the River) (24 page)

“I can’t believe you’d suggest such a thing. You know my stance on gambling and drinking. They’re immoral and wicked, and they lead to absolute debauchery. I will not countenance them on my boat.”

He should have known she wouldn’t listen to reason. “Don’t you think it’s about time you got off your high horse, Lily? I’ve gone along with your self-righteous rules and pretentions. Where has that gotten us? We’re stranded in New Orleans with little cash and no prospects. Dependent on the kindness of strangers for a safe place for you and your sisters to stay. Isn’t it about time you let go of your highfalutin morals and embraced a little common sense?”

“Banning your dissolute habits is common sense, and as long as I own controlling interest in the
Hattie Belle
, you’ll have to live with my highfalutin morals.” She pointed a finger at him. “So get used to it, or get yourself another boat.”

He raked a hand through his hair. Why couldn’t she see reason? “I’d like to do that very thing, but I’ve sunk all my assets and not a little bit of my time into
our
boat. I’m not about to walk away.”

“Fine.” Lily walked to the door, opening it a few inches. “I’ll go meet with Captain Steenberg and see if he can find someone more capable than the repairmen you hired.”

“You won’t find him aboard
Hattie Belle.
”

His words stopped her. Her knuckles whitened around the doorknob she still clenched. “Why won’t I?”

“I fired him.”

She slammed the door shut. “You what?”

“You heard me.” He crossed his arms and leaned back. “I told him to clear his gear out and be gone before I got back. I don’t expect you’ll find him anytime soon. He’s probably gone to a saloon to drown his sorrows.”

“You had no right to do that.”

“Why not? The man’s a drunkard. He nearly got us killed.”

Lily shook her head. “I could have controlled that by removing his alcohol from the boat and keeping him under tight scrutiny.”

“You’re lying to yourself. No one can stop a drunkard who is intent on his drink. Steenberg would have hidden a bottle in his boot, in his shirt pocket, even in his breeches if he needed to. And the minute your back was turned, he would have taken a little nip. And another and another. Until he was as drunk as he was yesterday.”

“You should have kept him until we found someone to take his place. What if we have to hire someone without experience? How will we be any better off?” She paced the floor.

“At least there’ll be a better chance to arrive in Natchez with an undamaged boat.”

“But we know Steenberg’s weakness. We won’t know anything about the man who replaces him. He could murder us while we sleep.”

“I don’t understand you, Lily.” He sat forward. “You’d have thrown me overboard if I did what Steenberg did. And he’s not your business partner. Why is it you want to forgive him for something much more heinous than anything I’ve ever done? You say you know I’m trustworthy, but when it comes time to put your words to the test, to put your faith in me, you can’t do it.”

Lily stopped pacing and looked at him. A frown of confusion marred her face. “I … you don’t have the right to fire someone I hired.”

“You mean someone Jean Luc Champney hired. Is that it? Are you concerned about upsetting your friend?”

“Don’t try to bring him into this argument. Jean Luc is a fine gentleman. A kind man who considers my wishes. He’s been very considerate toward me and my family.”

Blake couldn’t stop his grimace. “That’s because he’s trying to romance you.”

“It’s not like that.” Her words rushed out with force, but her cheeks reddened. “Besides, my relationship with Monsieur Champney is none of your concern.”

“I see.” He raised an eyebrow. “We’ll get away from such an uncomfortable subject since my point has already been proven. You’re very quick to defend everyone except me.”

She took a turn about the room, her skirts swishing and swaying. When she stopped in front of him, her eyes were as frosty as a January morning.

Something inside him hurt like he’d been punched in the stomach. How had they gotten here? Why did they always seem to end up on opposite sides? He opened his mouth to apologize for firing Lars without consulting her, but she held up a hand.

“We’ll have to hire another captain. You fired Captain Steenberg, so it’s your responsibility to find his replacement. Fix it.”

Anger swept through him. His desire to apologize was swept away by her demand. How dare she order him around like a hired hand? He started to challenge her but decided it might be better to take a different tack. “If that’s the way you want it, that’s the way it will be.”

“Good.”

He pointed a finger at her. “And you can’t second-guess my choice, either. The man I hire will captain our boat.”

“That’s fine by me. But if I don’t like him, don’t expect me to keep him aboard after we reach Natchez.”

Blake watched as she jerked open the door and swept through it. With a weary sigh, he pushed himself up from the sofa and trod to the door.

Arguing with Lily was as exhausting as anything he’d done in the past week. Part of him wanted to please her, wanted her to be as forgiving toward him as she was toward everyone else. But that seemed impossible. He supposed they would continue bickering until they dissolved their partnership and went their separate ways.

L
ily trudged up to her bedroom on the third floor, her heart heavy. Would she and Blake ever see eye to eye? It didn’t seem so.

Why had he gotten so upset when she suggested keeping Lars Steenberg? She understood what the man had done. But they could have controlled him while getting back to Natchez, back to a part of the world she was more familiar with. Back to an area where she knew people who could help them locate the right candidate.

If only Blake had consulted her, she would not have been so taken aback. Why couldn’t he seem to remember they were joint owners of the
Hattie Belle
or that she owned more of their venture than he? Maybe she should have a flyer printed up for him—one he could hang in his room and read every night before he fell asleep: Lily Catherine Anderson Owns 51 Percent Interest of the
Hattie Belle.

Feeling a tiny bit better, she entered her bedroom. “Camellia? Jasmine?”

No one answered. Where were her sisters? Lily sighed. At least they would appreciate not having to work so hard over the next few days. When she’d first brought them on board the
Hattie Belle
, she’d promised exciting adventures in cities like New Orleans. Perhaps she could begin making good on her words today. If Mrs. Thornton agreed, they would take a tour of the city and maybe do a little shopping—as long as they didn’t spend too much money, of course.

She opened the bedroom door and leaned out into the hall. Her sisters were not hiding on the landing. Where could they be? Faint music made her tilt her head. The tune sounded familiar. Was it a hymn?

She followed the sound down the stairs and found herself outside the conservatory, on the first floor opposite the staircase from the parlor. She pushed the door open.

Camellia was sitting on a piano bench, her fingers moving across the keys with sure movements. Jasmine sat beside her sister, facing the room. She was singing “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” The notes issuing from her were clear, strong, and sure.

Lily caught her breath. When had Jasmine developed that wonderful voice? She sounded like an angel. She knew how much Camellia liked playing the piano, so she was not surprised at the way her middle sister’s hands coaxed such wonderful harmonies from the Thorntons’ instrument. But Lily had never heard her youngest sister sing except during church services. And her voice had sounded breathy and scratchy then. Nothing like the pure tones Jasmine was producing this morning.

Jasmine held the final note for an extra beat as Camellia ended the song with a flourish.

Mrs. Thornton, ensconced in a leather wingback chair, applauded. “That was lovely. Both of you have so much talent.”

Lily clapped, too. “I am proud to call you my sisters, as I always am.”

“You should be.” Mrs. Thornton nodded her agreement. “They’re as talented as they are beautiful.”

“Yes, they are.” Lily hugged them both.

“Did you finish your business with Mr. Matthews?” asked Mrs. Thornton.

Jasmine reached up to tug on her arm. “Can we go to town now, Lily?”

“I don’t … I’m not sure.”

Her sisters groaned.

“I knew it.” Camellia pushed away from the piano bench. “We’re in the biggest, most exciting city on the Mississippi River, and we’re going to be stuck inside the whole time.”

Mrs. Thornton laughed. “I doubt that. Not with so much to see and enjoy.”

“But we don’t have enough money to do much.” Lily hated to throw a damper on them, but someone had to be practical.

“Could we at least walk to Canal Street?” Camellia’s blue eyes implored her to say yes. “It won’t cost a thing to look in the store windows.”

“Don’t be silly.” Mrs. Thornton clucked her tongue. “You made a great deal on the cargo you brought to New Orleans. And even though your
Hattie Belle
was damaged, you did not lose a single barrel. I’m certain you will be able to repair your riverboat and still have enough to enjoy a few distractions.”

“But you don’t know the worst of it.” Lily squared her shoulders. She would rather have kept their financial circumstances to herself, but the others would not be satisfied until she explained her reluctance to fritter away their earnings. “Blake says the repairs will take nearly two weeks and the material is going to be more expensive than normal. We’ll be fortunate to avoid going into debt.”

Mrs. Thornton rose from her chair and enveloped Lily in a fragrant hug. “Don’t worry. It’s not as bad as you imagine. My husband, Lloyd, can work miracles. You wait and see. We will talk to him. And poof! All your troubles will be gone.”

A hint of hope returned to Lily. “But we cannot—”

The older lady stopped Lily’s word with a shake of her head. “Not another word. You will stay with us for as long as it takes. Lloyd and I have many rooms and would enjoy having you and your charming sisters as our guests for as long as you stay. We will send a note to my daughter, Sarah. You will love my Sarah. She is quite the popular hostess. Together we will have a wonderful time.”

Feeling a bit like a leaf caught in a thunderstorm, Lily let herself be carried along with their hostess’s plans. Doing anything else would be like taking on an army she could never defeat.

I
f Lily compared Mrs. Thornton to a thunderstorm, the next few days taught her that Sarah, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton’s only daughter, was more akin to a hurricane.

A short, stylish hurricane, to be sure. Sarah Cartier,
née
Thornton, was barely five feet tall. But what she lacked in height, she more than made up for in energy. Married to an eminent surgeon, she had a generous nature and a caring heart. It didn’t take long for Lily to realize that her hostess’s daughter was a strong Christian who was always looking for opportunities to spread the Gospel.

All of Sarah’s conversations were liberally sprinkled with references to the Bible. But she not only knew the Word, she lived it—spending her mornings at the hospital where her husband worked, praying with those who were sick and in pain, healing their spirits as her husband healed their bodies. The vivacious young matron also devoted one afternoon each week to meet with some of the ladies in her church.
Les Femmes du Patre
—the Women of the Shepherd—studied together, supported each other, and aided families from all walks of life.

Sarah also found time to host balls, soirees, and all manner of social events. One such was coming up at the end of the week. She and her mother had been trying to convince Lily to attend and bring Camellia. Sarah had come to the town house with the latest copy of
Godey’s Lady’s Book.

Soon they were oohing and aahing over the dresses modeled by and for stylish young ladies. If fashion dictated that skirts grow much wider, Lily wondered whether she would be able to negotiate the passageways on the
Hattie Belle.

“Look at this receipt for royal crumpets.” Mrs. Thornton pointed to the next page. “They sound so dainty and scrumptious. I wonder if you could make those to serve with tea for passengers on your boat.”

Lily glanced at the list of ingredients. “I have no idea. We rely on Jensen to plan our meals. He has a wide knowledge of many dishes.”

“I can copy it down for Jensen.” Jasmine made the offer from her position on a footstool in front of the sofa.

Camellia frowned at her younger sister. “I don’t see why you should bother. We never have formal meals on the boat.”

Lily shook her head. “That may have to change since we’ll be taking on passengers for our next voyage.” Blake had informed her last night that several people had inquired about passage. At least one thing was progressing as planned. Not like the repairs, which seemed to be taking forever.