He recoiled as a horrific possibility smacked him in the face. The government could confiscate property intended to aid or abet a rebellion against the United States. It was the excuse they had used to seize theEastern Wind.
“ThePelican,” he choked out. “Luke is part owner of thePelican. That means the government can seize it.”
Caroline’s face went white. He didn’t need to explain further. They both ran back toward thePelicanand shouted until someone lowered the gangway so they could board. Gray was out of breath by the time he raced to the bridge and grabbed Captain Haig.
“I want this ship loaded and out of American waters within twenty-four hours,” he ordered.
An article announcing Luke’s treachery had just been splashed across the pages ofThe Washington Post, and it could plant ideas in some bureaucrat’s mind about a quick way to enrich the government coffers. ThePelicanrepresented most of his fortune. It was insured for full value, but insurance wouldn’t pay if a ship was seized in a legal manner by the government.
And if that happened, Gray would be broke once again.
Thirty-Six
Try as she might, it was proving impossible for Annabelle to shed the memory of Gray with that woman. The tangible proof that he was moving forward with his life had been encased in a form-fitting sheath of lavender silk and wrapped in smugness.
But it was time to put Gray Delacroix out of her mind and concentrate on ensuring Elaine’s wedding day was perfect. Their mother had brought her own wedding dress for Elaine to wear, and Annabelle smiled with relief when it fit almost perfectly. The hem would need to be let out at the bottom, but she and her mother could do that this evening. She beamed with pride while fastening the last of the dozens of buttons on the high-necked wedding gown.
“You look gorgeous,” she told Elaine. Their mother didn’t seem to share the opinion, but nothing pleased Maude Larkin these days.
“Do I?” Elaine asked.
The gown was pretty, but best of all was Elaine’s face, radiant with quiet joy. Annabelle did her best to describe how lovely her older sister looked.
“The lace collar frames your face, but it’s the puffed sleeves that make it so special. You look very regal. Feminine but regal.Like a princess. Walter is going to be over the moon when he sees you heading down the aisle toward him.”
Maude rolled her eyes. Elaine couldn’t see the gesture, but for days Maude had been making perfectly audible comments that subtly belittled Walter. Their father, always in the background in their family, kept his nose buried in the newspaper.
Elaine’s fingers trembled as she smoothed the satin at her hips. “I just hope I don’t spill anything on it. That would be just like me to drop a big lump of custard on my lap.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Annabelle said, for she’d already discussed the wedding menu with Walter and Martha. As the father and wife of a blind soldier, they both understood the challenges of eating while blind. “Everything is going to be bite-sized finger food with no sloppy sauces.”
Maude huffed. “I guess we won’t be treated to any of that fancy mustard Walter sells.”
Annabelle ignored the comment. “There are going to be crab cakes, and Martha will make miniature cheese quiches, and then of course wedding cake. Walter has arranged for the best baker in town to supply the cake.”
“Sounds good,” her father said. How different Roy Larkin was from almost everyone else in Washington. His canvas trousers and plaid shirt never looked out of place on the farm, but it was more than his clothes that made him stand out here. With deep grooves on his face and thickly calloused hands, he was a man who worked in the sun and battled frigid winter wind. Her father was salt of the earth, and she loved him for it.
He stepped outside while Elaine changed back into her regular dress and Annabelle hung the wedding gown carefully. If she ever got married, it would be nice to wear this dress too. It was the finest garment in their family.
But it paled in comparison to the fancy lavender dress Gray’s companion had worn.
She sighed. It was only because Elaine was getting marriedthat Annabelle felt so abandoned and alone. And useless. Once it had been her job to escort Elaine to and from the library each day, but now Walter arrived at their apartment and drove Elaine to the grocery, where she was learning to prepare the delicacies they sold in the shop.
“Shall we go out for dinner?” Elaine asked once she was properly dressed again and their father had rejoined them. “It will be better than anything Annabelle and I can prepare.”
“Let’s!” Annabelle said. “There’s a German deli on the corner that has wonderful sausages and the largest pretzels you’ve ever seen.”
“Do they serve overpriced mustard with the pretzels?” Maude asked.
Elaine’s jaw stiffened, but she said nothing as she tied the ribbons on her bonnet. Her father also ignored the jibe as he rolled down his sleeves and buttoned his cuffs. Her mother must have taken the silence as consent to continue.
“I only ask because I know a place that has all sorts of fancy sauces no ordinary deli is likely to have. Although spending hard-earned money on imported mustard seems a ridiculous—”
“Would you please shut up!” Elaine screeched as she ripped off her bonnet and threw it on the floor. “I found a wonderful man, and all you can do is prattle on about his awful mustard. Mustard! You’re trying to make me disapprove of a man of character and compassion because of mustard!”
Maude lifted her chin. “Trust me, it’s not the mustard I object to.”
“Then don’t ever mention it again,” her father said firmly.
