Windswept (39 page)

“If you’re referring to my family, you shouldn’t suspect the worst,” she said with more conviction than she felt. “Fanny already adores you, and Mama will grow to love you in time when she sees how charming you are. Though it might help if she were to learn that your lineage includes a manor house and a title.”

“Included,” he said, with the emphasis on the last syllable. “Remember, Braxton Manor now belongs to a current member of the nobility, Lord Something-or-Other. But perhaps I can appeal to her with my bank balance. If she learns I can afford to keep her daughter in Key West high style, she might think better of me.”

“Oh, pooh,” Nora said. “Mama cares nothing about money.” After a moment of prickly silence, both she and Jacob laughed at the obvious untruth. “Besides,” she added through sputtering giggles, “I can’t imagine that you’ve ever had problems winning any woman’s heart.”

Giving Nora’s waist an affectionate squeeze, Jacob said, “There has only been one woman’s heart I’ve ever cared enough to try to win, and according to her, it was rough going from the start. But now it’s her father who looms as my greatest challenge.”

Nora’s smile faded because she knew it was true. “Let me talk to him first,” she said. “He’s always listened to me, and I can be very persuasive.” She looked at Jacob and waited for his gaze to shift from the ocean to settle on her face. She took confidence from the love in his soft gray eyes. “And this time my goal is the most important of my life.”

“Then I’ll put our happiness in your hands, for the time being,” he said. “But sweetheart, now that I’ve found you, I won’t bow out gracefully, no matter how much pressure your father applies.”

She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “That’s just what I’d hoped you’d say.”

Thurston Seabrook had lookouts in half the cupolas and widows’ walks of Key West, and they’d all been given the same instructions. “I want to know the minute the flag of the
Dover Cloud
appears on the horizon,” he’d told them all.

And to Dillard Hyde, he’d added, “I don’t want to give Jacob Proctor any chance to slip from my grasp. We’ll see what he has to say when I catch him with my daughter in his clutches and the booty from the
Marguerite Gray
waving in his face.”

Actively pursuing his nemesis had made Thurston a happier man of late. One of the crew remaining at Proctor’s Warehouse and Salvage had told him that Jacob could return at any time. This news and the probability of an impending marriage between Nora and Theo Hadley had even transformed Sidonia. She fairly bubbled with enthusiasm at evening meals. Her previous assumption that she would never see her daughter alive again had disappeared. She now believed whole-heartedly that her Eleanor would be returned safely to embark upon a life with Theo. No other possibility existed for the exuberant mother of the bride.

Theo and Sid often sat together at dusk mulling over plans for the future. Though he tried to avoid their conversations, Thurston was occasionally drawn in with a cheerful word or enthusiastic wave from his wife. He listened to the pair discuss Theo’s occupational choices. Would he continue to New Orleans with his bride, or might he consider, much to Sid’s delight, remaining in Key West?

Too often Thurston had to swallow a nagging resentment that his wife and future son-in-law were discussing his daughter’s future while she had no say whatsoever in the plans. He did however find satisfaction in Theo’s consideration to become a maritime attorney in Key West. “To deal with scoundrels such as Proctor,” Theo had said, and Sidonia had enthusiastically encouraged him. So why, deep down, did Thurston struggle with a recurring notion that despite having the law on his side, the attorney would be a poor match for the likes of Jacob Proctor?

A spy arrived on the Seabrook doorstep one golden-hued evening the first week of April. “It’s the
Cloud
, Your Honor,” the island street cleaner shouted through the judge’s door. Once admitted to the dining room, the messenger elaborated. “I seen it myself from the roof of the courthouse, sir. She’ll be comin’ ‘round the tip o’ the island soon.”

Spoons clattered against dessert dishes. Chairs scraped along wooden floor boards as everyone rose.

“Thank God. My Eleanor’s home,” Sidonia cried.

“Dear Nora,” Theo sighed. “May you still be as sweet and pure…” He halted his litany when the judge cast a disapproving glare his way.

“Hobbes,” Thurston shouted to the street cleaner, “Find Piney and tell him to meet me at the harbor!”

Fanny clasped her hands under her chin. “My
cherie
has returned,” she said with a twinkle in her wicked green eyes. “Oooo, what stories she will have to tell.”

“Oh, dear,” Dillard muttered. “I fear all hell is about to break loose.”

The messenger darted away toward the jail. The five members of the Seabrook household headed down Duval Street to the harbor, determination and anticipation etched on their faces.

“It seems we have a welcoming committee,” Jacob said between issuing docking orders to his men.

Nora tried to remain calm. “Just as I suspected,” she remarked calmly. “Nothing to worry about…yet.”

He grinned at her as he adjusted the wheel to bring the ship closer to the wharf. “They’ve missed you, that’s all,” he said with false cheer. “It’s only natural they’d turn out to greet you.”

“That’s right. Only natural.” Nora went to the bow of the ship and waved to her family. They responded with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Her mother and Fanny appeared delighted to see her. Her father’s hand lifted in a semblance of greeting that was overshadowed by a frown that tugged his moustache below his jawline. Dillard seemed troubled, and Theo…Theo?

Nora groaned her dismay upon seeing the attorney was still a resident of Key West and obviously her household - especially since his arm was now free of the sling and he was able to shield his eyes from the setting sun with a perfectly capable hand. Still, Nora allowed her confidence to grow…until she saw Piney Beade approach from Whitehead Street. Why in the world was the jailer coming to the harbor to meet the
Dover Cloud
?

The ship’s crew tied the
Cloud
to dock pilings and lowered the gangway. Nora was the first to disembark, and she was immediately enfolded in the arms of her mother and Fanny. It was impossible to answer the flood of questions all at once. Yes, she was fine. Of course Captain Proctor had treated her well. No, she hadn’t suffered colds or sniffles. “Really, Mama,” she said impatiently, “how many times do I have to tell you…”

She accepted her father’s awkward embrace and knew from his scowl that she would have to come up with sound, logical answers to the questions and charges that perched on the tip of his tongue. He stood back to look at her and cleared his throat. “Well, daughter,” he said, “it appears you have been returned to us in fairly admirable condition.”

She smiled uncertainly. “Of course, Father. I’ve been practically coddled by Jac…Captain Proctor’s crew. I sent you a note informing you that…”

Her explanation was cut short by Theo who thrust out his arm to grasp hers and pull her away from her father. Surprisingly her father let him do it. “My dear Nora,” Theo said, wrapping his arms around her and trying to draw her close. “My prayers have been answered now that you are arrived safely home.”

She pushed him back, confused and uncomfortable at the unexpected show of affection. “Thank you, Theo, for praying for me, but it really wasn’t necessary. Actually I’ve enjoyed a splendid sea voyage.”

Not dissuaded by her cool reaction, Theo took her hands and brought them to his chest. “My dear, brave Nora, how like you to spare us the sordid details of your captivity.”

“What sordid details, Theo?” she asked, attempting to disengage herself from the increasing pressure of his grasp.

He inclined his head toward the
Dover Cloud
and
tsked
sympathetically. “You can be forthcoming with me, Nora. That man can’t hurt you or bully you any more now that you are back among your own kind.”

She snatched her hands free and balled them into fists at her sides. “What are you talking about? No one has bullied me in the least. What’s come over you, Theo?”

Sidonia inserted herself between them. “I’ll tell you what has come over Theodore, my darling.” She chirped like a newborn chick, and her hands fluttered like little wings. “Oh, there are so many plans to make now that you have been delivered safely to us.” She linked her arms with Nora’s and Theo’s and tried to lead them away from the harbor. “Let’s go home now, my dears.”

“Mama, let go of me!”

Sidonia dropped her daughter’s arm and blinked in astonishment. “Eleanor, what’s the matter?”

Nora turned back to the ship as Jacob stepped off the gangway. The instant his feet touched the dock, Piney Beade strode up to him. A pair of iron wrist manacles dangled from his hand. His voice cut through the mellow evening air. “I’m sorry, Jacob,” he said, “but I’m placing you under arrest.”

Nora’s first reaction was that she hadn’t heard Piney correctly. Her heart thundered in her ears. She looked from Piney to Jacob, hoping to see a show of good-natured back-slapping that would take the sting from the jailer’s incomprehensible words. This must be a joke between the two men that she wasn’t privy to.

Instead, an odd quirk of Jacob’s lips registered his own surprise. “What’s the meaning of this, Piney?” he asked. “What are the charges?”

“I’ll answer that,” Thurston said, joining the pair on the dock. “There are several, Captain Proctor. Kidnapping, theft on the high seas and violation of the terms of your salvage license. Any one of these is sufficient to keep you behind bars for a good long time. Together…well, you’d best make peace with a Judge higher than I, a heavenly one.”

Jacob widened his stance and stood with his fists on his hips. “This is ridiculous! I’ve done none of these things. Piney, you know me. I’ve never violated my license, never stolen…”

Murmurs of accent came from Jacob’s crew who had come down the gangway to stand behind their captain. He stilled their voices by raising his hand, but their demeanor turned threatening. They remained on the dock, flanking their captain, their legs and arms poised for attack or retreat depending on Jacob’s instructions. Nora had seen their loyalty to their captain and knew they would stay beside him.

“Stand away, boys,” Jacob said. “I don’t want trouble. I’ll take care of these false charges soon enough.”

The jailer held up the manacles. “It won’t be that easy, Jacob. The judge has proof.” Thurston held out the notes from the Bank of New Bedford. “These were taken from the
Marguerite Gray
, as I suspect you know well enough,” Piney said. “We found them in a hogshead in your warehouse.”

“I’ve never seen them before,” Jacob protested.

“The evidence is clear, Jacob,” Piney said. “You can give me your hands peaceably, or I can take them by force. Either way, the chains are going on.”

The harbor seemed to quake under Nora’s feet. She put a hand to her brow to quell a dizzying rush of panic. The foundation of her life threatened to crumble beneath her if she didn’t do something to stop this farce. She confronted the jailer.

“You’re wrong,” she cried. “Jacob couldn’t have done this. He certainly didn’t kidnap anyone. I boarded his ship on my own. You can’t do this!”

“That’s for the judge to work through,” Piney said.

The cold metallic jangle of the manacles rang in Nora’s ears. Jacob’s steely eyes met hers for an instant and then fixed on Piney’s resolute face. He held his wrists together in front of him and allowed the jailer to chain him. “It will be all right, Nora" he said. "Go with your family now.”

She gripped his arm with both hands. “I won’t leave you. I’m going with you.”

“No!” he said sternly, jerking free of her grasp. “Go home, Nora.” Without looking back, Jacob walked with Key West’s jailer toward Whitehead Street.

Nora rushed to her father. “How can you do this?” she shouted at him. “Jacob hasn’t done anything. I told you that in the note. Didn’t you get the note?” Her words choked her. Her voice showed the first signs of hysteria.

“Nora, you’re upset,” he said. “After all you’ve been through, I can understand that. But the truth is, Captain Proctor stole from the
Marguerite Gray
. He was seen on the beach the night false lights grounded the ship on the reef. Her cargo was found in his warehouse. Just as I suspected, there was more than rotting fish in the hold of that ship.” He waved the bank notes at her. His eyes were bright with victory. “He stole thousands of dollars, Nora. No matter what you want to believe, Jacob Proctor is a thief.”

“He isn’t,” she cried. “You’re wrong, Father.” Her protestations dissolved into sobs, and she struggled to take a breath. She clutched her father’s wrist, demanding with actions rather than words that he pay her heed. He only stared at the horizon, remaining cool and distant from her entreaties.

“Sidonia, come see to your daughter,” he instructed.

Nora’s mother responded at once. She came to Nora’s side and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “You’re distraught, Eleanor. My poor baby. Come home now.” She motioned for Theo to join them and he stood on Nora’s other side. They each took her elbow and turned her toward Duval Street.