“Exactly.”
He led me onto the dance floor and twirled me around to the new dance called the Lindy Hop, inspired by Lindbergh’s hop over the Atlantic.
It felt good to laugh with him—but it didn’t make me forget the pain of disappointment at losing Annie again, or that I would soon be returning to Charleston in my other life.
23
AUGUST 21, 1727
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Several days had passed since I’d visited the Coliseum Ballroom and spotted Annie. Lewis visited our house almost every night, giving me updates on his investigation. He assured me Annie hadn’t left Saint Paul. She’d been spotted on several occasions, and as soon as he knew where she was staying or where she might go next, he’d take me to her.
He, Irene, and I enjoyed his daily visits—Irene more so than I expected. She primped and preened for him, and he seemed to enjoy her attention. I’d started to wonder if he was coming for her company more than mine, using the excuse of updating me as his reason.
But today wasn’t the day to think about Lewis and Irene. Nadine had continued to suffer after her miscarriage, though I had started to suspect it was a sickness of the heart and soul, more so than the body. The captain continued his course toward Charleston, and after catching him at Nadine’s bedside one morning, his hand laid tenderly on her forehead, I knew he cared about her. I had overheard Nadine tell the captain that she’d lost the baby, and since we were still heading to Charleston, I knew he wantedher to get help. They hadn’t seen me before I slipped away, but it was clear that Nadine had chosen to be his mistress, even though he’d cautioned her against it. Though I wondered if she was now regretting the life she’d chosen.
On that hot August morning as we anchored in a lagoon just north of Charleston Harbor, I stood alongside Hawk, Marcus, and Nadine. A small sloop would take us to shore. The captain would stay on the hidden ship, not wanting to be caught. He believed Nadine would go into the city, see a doctor about the pregnancy, and return the next day under Hawk and Marcus’s watch. There was more plunder to be divested of, so Marcus and Hawk would enter the city under those pretenses. But Marcus and I knew what our real intentions were. We would take Nadine to the midwife, and then I would return to Middleburg Plantation.
I carried a small satchel of coins I’d earned on theOcean Curse. It felt strange and wonderful to have my own money, though I wasn’t sure what I would do with it. If Grandfather wouldn’t allow me to have the life I wanted, perhaps I could use the money to forge my own path. I was eager to see Nanny again, but my longing to see her was overshadowed by the pain of leaving Marcus.
I didn’t want to think of the future, so I focused on the familiar shoreline of South Carolina as we made our way toward Charleston.
It was strange to think that I would never stand on board theOcean Curseagain. In just a few hours, Marcus and I would say goodbye and I would start the next part of my life—come what may.
He said nothing as we traversed the waterways from the lagoon into the harbor. We had hardly spoken the past five days, and the more I longed for him to fight for me, the more it hurt that he didn’t. My love had started to turn to anger, but I wasn’t a fool. It was my heart’s way of protecting itself from the inevitable parting, though the truth was it still hurt beyond measure. And every time I looked at him, I saw the longing in his eyes, which only made the pain increase.
The cicadas hummed, and the mosquitoes buzzed around us.Nadine was pale and despondent. I wanted to console her but couldn’t. Even if she knew I was a woman, Hawk didn’t.
As we came into the busy harbor, I had a strange sense of comfort at the familiarity. The tobacco harvest was underway and shipments of it were being sent all over the world, creating more traffic than normal.
It took some time for the sloop to maneuver through the harbor and dock near the long wharf. Very few people paid attention to us as we got off the launch and made our way into the city.
“Carl and I will take Ned to the doctor,” Marcus said to Hawk. “If you want to start making inquiries about our cargo, we can plan to meet back here tomorrow evening.”
Hawk gave one nod, trusting Marcus to be good to his word. The two men were closer than I’d first realized. Marcus had told me that Hawk was one of the only crew members that had been with him since he’d joined Captain Zale’s ship, and he knew Marcus’s real identity.
The large man disappeared into the crowd without another word.
Nadine said nothing as Marcus spoke to me. “Where is this midwife?”
“On Chalmers Street,” I said as I began to walk in the right direction. “I’ll lead the way.”
Marcus and Nadine were silent as they followed.
I was dressed as a man, but I still watched for someone who might recognize me. The chances were slim, since I rarely visited Charleston with Grandfather, and when I did, it wasn’t to socialize but to conduct business.
When we came to Chalmers Street, I took a right, thankful that I knew of this midwife. She’d been called to Middleburg Plantation on many occasions to help with the births of the indentured servants’ children. Grandfather spared no expense in the health of his employees and servants, and Mrs. Drywell’s reputation in Charleston was excellent. Her knowledge about childbirth and stillbirth was unmatched in the colony. Upon one trip to town, Ihad gone with Grandfather to pay for her services and remembered where her home was located.
When we arrived at her house, I started up the steps, but Marcus held back.
“I’ll wait out here,” he said.
Nadine followed me up the steps to the front door. After knocking, a servant answered, and I told her we had need of Mrs. Drywell’s assistance. No questions were asked as we were led inside.
Twenty minutes later, I left the house, knowing Nadine was in good hands.
Marcus paced along the sidewalk, deep in thought, as I approached.
