Harry read the handbill. His stomach tightened. It stated that war had been declared and the date screamed injustice at him. June 18, 1812.
Alexis stood motionless, mesmerized by the black lines on yellowing paper. She sensed Cloud’s presence behind her though he made no move to touch her. Her shoulders sagged briefly as she realized the implications of the date. “It didn’t have to be,” she said softly, more to herself than to Cloud.
Cloud moved closer to her, resting his hands on her shoulders, lean, tanned fingers giving her the support her frame denied her. His eyes betrayed his pain and he was glad there was no one around them to see it. He could see theFollansbeeas clearly in his mind as if the frigate were directly in front of him. He knew he was not alone in his vision; Alexis was seeing the same thing. He cursed the lack of communication that prevented him from taking the ship and wondered who or what Alexis was damning.
Alexis leaned her back against his hard chest. She felt his hands slide down the length of her arms and begin tugging on the ropes at her wrists. She pulled away, swinging around to face him.
“Don’t you dare feel sorry for me, Captain,” she said tightly. “Don’t you dare make it easy for me and hard on yourself.”
Her harsh words were barely heard as Cloud saw angry tears form in her eyes. An effort to blink them back proved futile and they slid in tiny rivulets over her cheeks. She tried to brush them aside with her shoulder, but the positioning of her arms made it impossible. She lowered her eyes, mainly to avoid the terrible anguish in his.
Cloud reached for her elbow and drew her toward him gently. “I wasn’t feeling sorry for you, Alex,” he said, leading her to the wagon. “It was worse than that. I was feeling sorry for myself.”
Cloud lifted her into the wagon, once more seating himself across from her. She avoided his gaze as she allowed tears to course down her face. The remainder of the trip passed in silence; neither Harry nor Landis looked back more than once, not wanting to see her face.
Alexis glanced up, dry-eyed now, when Harry brought the wagon to a halt. Cloud tossed a key to Landis. The older man jumped down, hurrying up the walk toward a large red brick house.
Alexis could only stare at the imposing two-story structure. The windows were all closed with clean white shutters, four on the second floor and two larger ones on either side of the porch on the first. It did not have any houses on its sides as so many of the others did. It stood alone; large, bold, arrogant. Impressive because it was alone, like the man who owned it.
“It’s a wonderful house,” she said, looking at Cloud and not his home. She followed him up the short walk, with Harry close behind, carrying his captain’s belongings.
“Hold your compliments until we get inside. It’s been closed for two months and I don’t have any servants. I can’t imagine you are going to find it very pleasant.”
After a little fumbling with the key Landis managed to open the door. Swirls of dust greeted them as they stepped in. Alexis choked and gave Cloud a grim smile.
“Wouldn’t it have been easier to keep me on theConcord?”she asked. “Or did you bring me here to do your cleaning?”
“It might have been easier for us to have you on the ship but you would have had to stay below the entire time. A woman on board would have created quite a disturbance, or perhaps you didn’t notice the stares you received when Harry brought you off the ship.” Alexis’s wide-eyed stare told Cloud that she had not and the three men laughed softly. “As to cleaning this place, that is up to you. Usually I hire someone to take care of that while I’m here. I suppose that is not a good idea this time.”
“Well, if you would untie my hands now, I think I can manage to do a few things.”
Cloud motioned Landis to undo Alexis’s wrists, and when they were free she rubbed them to return the circulation. “John, you and Harry can show Alex the house. Tom should be coming by soon with her things. She can stay in any of the guest bedrooms, and take one yourself. If she wants to start cleaning she can, and you help her. Just don’t let her out of your sight. I have to see Howe right away. If I am not back before the others arrive, make them comfortable and let them know that under no circumstances is she permitted out of this house.”
“Captain,” Alexis said as he turned to go. “I have changed my mind. I have no intention of going anywhere until I meet with your President. He and I have a score to settle.”
Cloud grinned. “I’ll make sure the senator relays your message.” He left then, and Harry shut the door behind him.
Alexis clapped her hands, signaling the beginning of the task that lay ahead. “John, would you show me to the kitchen? I would like to wash my face and start working.”
Landis led her to the back of the house and she worked the pump until she had cool, clear water gushing out. She briskly patted her face, removing all traces of her tears. When she turned back to Landis she was smiling brightly, invitingly. “I think I will start in here, John. You and Harry uncover the furniture in the other rooms.”
Landis glanced toward the rear door and looked at Alexis uneasily. “I’m not so—”
“I said I wasn’t going anywhere, John, and I meant it. Don’t worry.”
“All right. I’ll leave you on your own. I’ll do the drawing room and send Harry after some food. When the others get here they are all going to be hungry.”
“That’s fine. You take care of all those details while I start working.” She gently pushed him aside and began wiping down tables and doing the dishes that had been left out.
She could hear Harry and Landis moving furniture and choking on the dust left in their wake. She was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor, when she heard Harry. She looked up to see him place some cartons of food on the floor at the entrance to the kitchen.
“I didn’t even realize you had gone out yet,” she said, surveying the contents of the boxes. “I believe you have enough here to feed the entire crew for a month!”
“Not quite,” he answered. “It will keep food in our bellies for a few days though.”
“I’ll put it in the pantry after the floor dries. How is Mr. Landis coming along?”
“He’s got most of the rooms on this floor done. I doubt if they will meet your standards.”
