“One of the worst of my life.”
“The fugitive slave law should be abolished.”
She shrugged, knowing he’d say anything to get what he wanted from her. “It’s too late to change it for this woman.”
“Fanny has been talking about returning to the East Coast,” he said.
“Are you going back?”
“It doesn’t matter what I decide. She’s leaving with or without me.”
She swept a loose curl back behind her ear. “I thought she wanted to run an establishment of her own.”
“She likes the idea of being the proprietor of a fashionable hotel, but she’s not too keen on keeping up a boardinghouse.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, though she wasn’t surprised. She doubted Fanny would want the responsibility of being a proprietor for long either.
“She thought she’d be living in luxury here, but I don’t even have enough money to buy her passage home.”
Ross’s gaze dropped to the floor. He knew where she kept her savings, knew that she had enough gold to pay for multiple tickets back to the East Coast. She wouldn’t have much money after she paid the judge, though. Perhaps that’s why he came now, before she paid the fine.
“Hopefully you’ll have time, then, to reconcile your marriage.”
He sighed. “I’m afraid there’s nothing left to reconcile.”
In his eyes, she saw the hope that she might not only give him money but also change her mind and marry him after Fanny was gone.
“You should save your money and return with her. Perhaps New York really is the place you belong.”
He stepped closer, his gaze intense. “My place is here in California.”
When she didn’t reply, an awkward silence crept between them.
“You’ll have to excuse me, Ross. I’m afraid I don’t have any more conversation left in me.”
“I understand,” he said, but still didn’t leave. “There’s one more thing ...”
“What is it?”
“There’s a man staying at my house who showed me the oddest thing today.”
She didn’t want to take the bait. “Is this important?”
“He said he was searching for his slave.”
She sighed, the weight heavy on her heart. “It seems as if everyone is looking for a slave.”
“This wasn’t just any slave,” he said slowly. “It was the picture of a child, but the eyes—they looked just like yours.”
She clutched the edge of her desk as she considered his words. It felt as if she were back on the ship to California, the room rocking back and forth. She tried to refocus her gaze. Calm her voice. Still, everything seemed blurry.
“What is this man’s name?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Victor Duvall.”
In that moment, it felt as if the entire ship slammed into a rock.
Ross took his leave, but she didn’t even realize he’d gone until the bell chimed across the room.
