Nick shrugged. “He’s the man who just hired me. Don’t you think I should be?”
She pushed back her long black hair, and Nick found himselfwishing he might do the same. Her hair was a thing of beauty. It was long and straight and dressed only with a simple ribbon tied in a bow atop her head.
He glanced into her eyes. He couldn’t forget their deep blue color. She was watching him and looked curious, as if she had unspoken questions.
“I suppose you must be loyal to him,” she finally replied. “I still think the doctor is daft for making me rest. I’ll be fine in another day or so.”
“Two weeks will pass before you know it, darlin’ girl,” Captain Wright said. “You take a rest here, and we’ll leave at first light. Then soon enough I’ll be here for you, and you’ll be back in the galley, cooking up a storm.”
“She cooks for theMary Elise?” Nick asked, surprised. He had assumed she lived here with her uncle.
“She does, and we’re known for having the best meals on the lakes. But for the next ten days, we’ll have to make do cooking for ourselves. I’ve laid in extra bread and cheese. It’s always good for a quick breakfast or lunch.”
“It’s hardly enough to give you the energy you’ll need for the work you do,” Elise countered. She shook her head. “You’ll all starve.”
Her father again roared in laughter and rubbed his muscular midsection. “I’m sure that won’t be happenin’ anytime soon. Now, you get your rest. I’ll be back to see you later.” He leaned over and kissed her head. “I love you, my darlin’ girl.”
“I love you too, Papa. Oh, and Mister ... Nick, it was very nice to meet you under less painful circumstances.”
“You too.” Nick followed Captain Wright back downstairs.He picked up his duffel and headed for the door. “I’ll head on over to theMary Elise.”
“If you give me five minutes, I’ll come with you. I just need to leave word with the housekeeper. I’ll be right back.”
“Of course, Captain.”
Nick again found himself studying the foyer. It definitely boasted the trimmings of the very rich. He wondered for a moment if the little porcelain statuettes and miniature paintings of landscapes on the highly polished tables made anyone happy. Did they even notice them? For a moment it brought up visions of another time and place. Such things had never made anyone happy in his childhood home.
“All right,” the captain said as he returned with his hat in hand. “I’m ready now.” He pulled on his coat as they went.
Halfway down the street, Nick was still pondering how Captain Wright fit in with James Monroe. It seemed as good a time as any to ask.
“Is Mr. Monroe your wife’s brother?”
“Aye. She was the baby of the family, and he doted on her. My wife passed away just last year. We were all worse for it.”
“I can only imagine. I lost my mother when I was fourteen. Nothing was ever the same.”
“She held me together—held us all together. A good woman like no other. She and Elise cooked for the ship. She grew up in wealth like what you saw back there but never regretted her decision to leave it for life on a schooner. At least, if she did, she never said a word.” Captain Wright sighed. “She’s definitely missed.”
“My mother too. Her passing sent my father into dark times.”
“Are you his only son?”
“I am. I’m the oldest of the family with two sisters. My mothergave birth to a boy after that, but he only lived a few days. My mother died giving birth to another son who was stillborn.”
“That’s a lot of sorrow to bear. Not only the loss of a wife, but of children as well. Your father must have been devastated.”
“Yes, I suppose so. He never shared it with me, however. He was cold and indifferent to my sisters and me. Business consumed him, even before Mother departed.”
The neighborhood of the wealthy faded away as they moved closer to the city proper. A sense of anxiety mixed with joy motivated Nick’s every step. He longed to be back aboard a ship.
“And did your mother know the Good Lord as her Savior?” the captain asked.
“She did.” Nick couldn’t help but smile. “She used to tell me Bible stories when I was young, and she taught me to pray. I was always amazed at her faith in God.”
They started down the street that led to the waterfront, and the captain threw out another question. “And what about you? Do you have a faith of your own?”
Nick nodded and missed his mother even more. “She led me to the Lord when I was ten. She cried so much, I thought surely something was wrong, but she told me she was weeping for joy. She said she could almost hear all of heaven rejoicing for another sinner set free. I like to imagine she hears that heavenly rejoicing all the time now.”
