He was a good man. Each day she became more confident of it, for she’d thoroughly searched his house and knew he wasn’t guilty of treason. Tomorrow she would make her report to the two generals, and then she could wipe her hands of this entire affair and go into their courtship with an open heart.
The music ended, and the German prince stepped forward to speak from the podium. He sounded more British than German, not at all what she was expecting. She’d have to memorize every moment of this day for her parents. She was standing only twenty yards from a real prince! And Elaine stood even closer. Her parents werenevergoing to believe this.
In place of the indisposed first lady, the young countess stepped forward to formally christen the yacht. She seemed awfully young for the honor, but the prince guided her into position and grinned broadly as she wielded the heavy bottle of champagne with confidence.
“In the name of Kaiser Wilhelm, I christen thee theCountess Frederica,” the girl shouted, then smashed the bottle against the hull.
Cheers and applause filled the air. The young countess flushed with pleasure as members of the German officer corps came to kiss her hand. The gangway leading up to the yacht was lowered, and dignitaries began boarding. The yacht rose and fell in the mild waves, causing the gangway to move as well. Elaine would never be able to handle that.
“I should go rescue my sister,” Annabelle said to Gray.
“She doesn’t need rescuing.”
“Don’t you see how unsteady that gangway is?” Panic leaked into her voice, and even from here, the anxiety on Elaine’s face was plain.
A German officer offered Elaine his arm, preparing to board the yacht. Elaine stood frozen, even as the officer tried to nudge her forward.
“I’m going to her,” Annabelle said. She strode forward, but Gray grabbed her forearm and hauled her back.
“Let Elaine handle this,” he said.
“But she needs help—”
“Look, she’s following the officer. She wants to go. Let her tackle her fears.”
Elaine clutched the German officer’s arm like a lifeline as they mounted the swaying gangplank. Her yelp of fright could be heard across the dock. The officer whispered encouragement as he kept guiding her forward.
“This is so hard,” Annabelle moaned.
Countess Frederica looked radiant as she put her face toward the wind, but not all blind people were so fearless. Not all blind people had plunged through the ice and floundered helplessly before being rescued.
“She’s doing fine,” Gray assured her. “Look, they’ve found her a seat right next to the countess. They are surrounded by a dozen officers. Elaine is about to have the time of her life.”
It was true. The terror had vanished from Elaine’s face, replaced by a look of excited trepidation. The young countess babbled to her, and the other blind people were all being guided to their seats. This was probably the happiest and hardest moment of Annabelle’s life.
“Thank you,” she whispered to Gray. “A thousand times, thank you for bringing us here and keeping me sane.”
He squeezed her hand in reply. A few moments later, the yacht slipped out of its moorings and sliced through the water. It tilted as it veered away from the dock and toward open wateras the wind filled its sails. The band struck up a patriotic tune, but Annabelle could no longer see Elaine.
“She’s going to be okay,” Gray murmured. “Youare going to be okay.”
She squeezed his hand. For the first time in three years, she believed it.
Fourteen
General Molinaro sat at his imposing desk and pinned her with a critical stare as she reported on her search of Gray’s study. She’d found no suspicious letters, no lists of Cuban contacts, and absolutely nothing to implicate him. Most importantly, the telegraph transmitter in his study did not match the code the generals said was being used by the spy. The telegrams the generals intercepted had not come from Gray’s townhouse.
“What about his property at Windover Landing?” General Molinaro asked.
Annabelle explained that she had spent almost two complete days exploring his greenhouses and had been inside the farmhouse for all her meals and to sleep. A groundskeeper and his wife lived there, and surely no person in their right mind would store incriminating documents in a house he rarely visited and where other people lived.
“When you were at Windover Landing, I expect Gray Delacroix was within a few yards of you the entire time.”
“Yes, he was always there,” she admitted.
“I need you to go back,” General Molinaro said. “Alone. Get into the attic of that farmhouse. The storage sheds. Anyplace Delacroix didn’t let you see the first time.”
It was obvious she wouldn’t be able to exonerate Gray’s name unless she carried out the task, but she would need Gray’s permission to go.
