“She buried him in the churchyard, so no lake burial. The fellas will be grieved over hearing of his death.”
Nick stirred his ice cream as it melted. “I will endeavor to serve in his place, although from the sounds of it, I’ll have big shoes to fill.”
“Aye, but I know you’ll manage quite well,” Papa told Nick.
“I need to write a letter to my father’s housekeeper. My father and I aren’t on speaking terms for a reason much too complicated to go into now. Do you know if there’s a stationery store nearby where I might purchase paper?”
“Come back with us to Uncle James’s house,” Elise suggested. “We have to go there to collect my things and tell them all good-bye. I’m sure Aunt Martha will have all sorts of writing paper. If not her, then Uncle James. Oh, and I need to cut some herbs from their garden, so you should have plenty of time to pen your letter.”
“That would be great.”
Nick smiled at Elise, and she felt the breath catch in the back of her throat. No other man had ever made her feel this way. She had thought perhaps she was unable to feel charmed by handsome suitors.
Of course, Nick wasn’t a suitor. He was someone she would work with, like the rest of the men on theMary Elise. Nothing more.
Nick hated to think that his good fortune had come at the loss of someone so dear to Captain Wright. The big man was tenderhearted and held compassion for the people in his life.He’d even been kind and forgiving toward Booker Duran, who had been nothing but difficult.
Mrs. Monroe was more than happy to help Nick out with his needs. She even invited him to stay for supper, but of course he would have to dress appropriately. She told him a servant would come and direct him to where he could change once Nick had finished writing his letter. Nick accepted, not really knowing why. The company was pleasant enough, and Elise would be there, and she had such a great disposition. But Nick had put this grandiose life behind him. How would it feel to go back to a proper table after ten years of shipboard life?
He thought of his father as he began his letter to the Clark housekeeper. She kept him apprised of what was happening in Boston. It was the only way Nick knew anything about his family. When his mother was alive, Nick and his sisters had been quite close, but his father had forbidden the girls to contact Nick or for him to speak to them. He had easily cast this demand aside, but his sisters feared the same disinheritance Nick had received and refused to write. From time to time they’d mention something to Mrs. Schmitt, but never in a direct way. He hated his father for doing that to him, all because he refused to go into his father’s textile business. Remembering this only made him angry. His father had never been an amiable man, but Nick hadn’t known what a tyrant he could be. Not until he put Nick out of the house and his life.
Mrs. Schmitt, on the other hand, had been like a mother to him. She had been in his father’s service for over forty years, starting as a scullery maid and working her way up. When Nick’s mother died, Mrs. Schmitt stepped in to offer comfort and stability in lieu of their father’s cold, almost callous behavior. Shehad mothered Nick and his sisters and had been a connection to home long after his father had disowned him.
Dear Mrs. Schmitt,
I only have a short moment to pen you this letter. All is well with me, and I pray it is with you and the others. I was happy to learn that my sister Deborah was safely delivered of her first child. It touched me deeply that she named the babe after our mother.
The weather has been fair, and my trip to Detroit passed in safety. Unfortunately, the man I was hired to temporarily replace has passed away. It was a great loss, and I’m sure the men will be devastated to learn the truth. The captain, however, has asked me to step into the position permanently. I will take over as first mate on theMary Elise. This is a comfort to me, since I feared I might never be allowed to work on a ship in any capacity, much less as first mate. Captain Wright knows the details of what happened on the Polaris and does not hold it against me. Oh, the blessing of a truly forgiving soul.
The young woman I wrote to you about is now to join the ship once again. Elise Wright is the captain’s daughter and is such a beauty. She has coal-black hair and blue eyes that seem to take in the world at once. I hope to know her better. She will cook for theMary Elise. Unlike many of the oceangoing crews, women are not forbidden on our lake ships. In fact, many a wife or sister or daughter cooks for the crews of the ships. They aren’t considered bad luck at all and instead prove themselves to be a blessing.
He wrote a few more lines about the new job and his happiness and then asked after Mrs. Schmitt and his father. He knewshe would be honest with him about the problems they were facing or the victories. Just as he was signing his name to the letter, a feminine scream split the air.
Nick went to the open French doors. The sound had come from the garden just outside. He made his way out and saw a young man trying to take liberties with Elise. He rushed forward to deal with the matter, his anger building by the second, but without warning Elise twisted the man’s arm and flipped him to the ground.
“I warned you to leave me be!” she yelled.
Nick reached her side, in awe of her response. “What’s going on here?”
“This friend of my cousin thought he could force a kiss.” Elise turned to regather the herbs she must have dropped in the scuffle. “I’m sure Uncle James will be quite unhappy.”
Louis appeared. “What’s happened?” He looked at his friend on the ground. “Franklin, whatever are you doing?”
The man got to his feet and dusted off his backside. “I thought she was a housemaid.”
“And that gave you permission to accost her?” Nick asked.
Franklin shrugged. “The maids are here to serve.”
Elise had collected her herbs and looked at her cousin. “I have been sailing all of my twenty-five years. Born and raised on a ship with a full crew of men, and never once have I ever been attacked by any of them. Your upper-society friend put his hands on me in a way no one has ever done before. Is this what your wealth and societal rules teach?”
“Not in this house, Elise. I’m truly sorry.” Louis gave his friend a harsh reprimand. “Franklin, that was completely uncalled for. Apologize.”
“I didn’t know she was your cousin, Louis. Look at her. She’s dressed like a servant.”
“It shouldn’t matter how she’s dressed,” Nick replied before Louis could. “She’s a lady and deserves to be treated as such. Perhaps you need another lesson?”
The younger man paled. “No. I’m sorry, Miss . . .” He looked to Louis.
