“I wanted to tell you both,” she said, looking at Nick and then back to her father. “He threatened to tell Caroline’s husband about her belief that she was with child if we said anything about his bloody shirt. He wanted me to convince you and anyone else necessary that he’d been with me that night in Duluth. I believe he must be the killer of that poor man.”
“Not to mention the wanted posters from Buffalo. The sketch of the suspect was a rather good likeness of Duran,” Nick declared.
“Yes, but as I said, we have no real proof. We can offer him up as a possible suspect, but little more,” Papa reminded them. “But rest assured, I will speak to the authorities and tell them our suspicions.”
“I’m just glad he’s gone.” Elise let go of her father’s arm. “Poor Tom was so scared.”
“Speaking of which, I suggest we get back to him and the others. I asked Sam to stick around while Tom is doing his watch duty. No sense risking Duran coming back to get even.” Elise’s father turned to his brother-in-law. “Thank you for everything.”
“Of course. I will see to this annulment and be in touch. Hopefully before Christmas, but otherwise shortly thereafter.And Louis will take good care of Caroline on the trip to Duluth. Have no fear for her safety.”
Papa smiled at Louis. “I know she’ll be safe in his keeping. Nick, why don’t you and Elise head on back to the ship? I’m going upstairs to tell Caroline good-bye.”
“It’s much too cold out there to walk. I’ll have my driver take you back to the ship,” Uncle James said.
Elise’s father laughed. “You forget, we live our lives on the open seas. The wind and cold are just old friends.”
“We’ll be just fine,” Elise told her uncle. “We know how to bundle up. Look, I even bought some of those bloomers for riding—or in this case, staying warmer on a ship.” She raised her skirt to the knees in a most unladylike manner, revealing dark blue bloomers beneath. “I shall be quite warm.”
The men all laughed.
Later, as she and Nick made their way back to the ship, Elise was still contemplating the choices she had to face regarding her father and Nick. He hadn’t yet asked her to marry him but had implied that he would. She had no idea what she would say when the time came.
“You seem awfully deep in thought. Are you thinking about your sister?”
“Actually, no. But the thoughts are every bit as important. Even more so.”
“Perhaps I can help. You could share the problem with me.”
She laughed. “You are the problem.”
He looked stunned. “What has made me a problem to you?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
His expression changed to pleasure. “Yes, I know. But that’s not a problem. You see, I’m in love with you, as well. So it seemswe are in full agreement rather than contemplating a problem.” He put his arm around her as the wind picked up.
“But I also love my father.” She let him pull her close. “And I made my mother a promise to take care of him.”
“Again, I see no problem unless he dismisses me from working for him on theMary Elise.”
“But, Nick, you are a ship’s captain. You need to have control of your own ship again. I see your restlessness. I know you’re unsettled.”
“I was unsettled. In fact, I wasn’t at all sure what I was going to do. Everything I have done for the past ten years has been to impress my father. I wanted him to see my worth, my value. I didn’t realize he already did. Our parting was so bitter and hurtful, and all I could think about was showing him up—teaching him a lesson. Instead, God taught me a lesson about pride and self-assurance.”
“But you need a certain amount of that to lead. Papa always said as much. He too is sometimes prideful and always self-assured.”
“Yes, but he’s tempered too. He knows the dangers of making decisions based on pride. I’ve learned those as well, but it cost men their lives.”
“You can’t let that defeat you from returning to take charge of your own ship.”
“Let’s just say I’m content to be a first mate for now. The rewards for such a position are great.”
“But it won’t always be enough, and I don’t want to feel forced to choose between my father or my ... husband.”
“I pledge to you, Elise, I will never put you in that position. If I have to remain a first mate for the next thirty years, thenso be it. I love you.” He paused and pulled her into his arms to face him. “I want very much to marry you.”
“I want that too, but I won’t desert my father.”
