Harsh and loud and definitely not convinced, Jemina’s voice cut through him.
“Don’t know you?” That must be the Phoebe Dunn business. She must remember something. Was that shame scorching red her cheeks?
“Cack mowt will kill cock. Jemina. This rooster won’t kill with my words. I will choose them carefully to tell you my thoughts. Then you have to believe me.”
Daniel put his hands to his mouth praying for the words to heal this rift. “It is true. I don’t know much of you, how you grew up, your circle of friends other than the Widow’s Grace. You left from Jamaica on theMinerva. You could’ve been friends with my late wife. You and Phoebe could’ve been close, thick as thieves. I don’t know. Nothing of the past matters. Now is what matters. It’s the only thing that does.”
Her gaze lowered to her sleeves. Glimmers of lightning reflected in the gauzy fabric silhouetting her waist, hips, her trim legs. “I like this place. I think it would be good to draw in here. It feels safe, like I can say anything in these walls. Maybe you won’t think me crazy if I said what is in my head.”
“Having conversations in my closet is not crazed. I often recite case law here while my valet finds something suitable.”
“You’re making fun. I can’t say anything unusual without you laughing or fearing for my sanity.”
As if she stood on the witness dock, he stepped to her with his ready question. “Like that you could be Phoebe Dunn, a woman initially reported as rescued?”
Her eyes whipped up. The sassy jutting out of her chin screamed no. No, she wasn’t Phoebe.
Daniel put up his hands. “I assume that . . . I mean I know you not to be her. You are you. And I love you.”
Her face held shadows, but she hadn’t slapped him. Her fingers unfurled and clasped her elbows. “The rain is falling. The sun has lost this battle.”
“Rain is needed too, Jemina.”
“I saw a note from the solicitor, Mr. Mosey. The St. Maurs think I’m of diminished capacity. He hinted at having our marriage dissolved. Would you ever want that?”
“Jemina, I want to hide things that will distress you, but it’s not from thinking you cannot handle the strain. It’s me. I want to protect you and the family we are now.”
“Just like that. The past is gone? Everything is made right? How generous.”
He wasn’t being clear, and her fears were twisting what he said. As gently as he could, Daniel put his arms about her. “My mother said to not be angry after sunset. But I have been. I’m angry at myself for not keeping us focused on the miracle we are.”
She grasped his fingers, which had begun to find paths to her soft skin hiding beneath her shawl.
“I’m still at the place where we pledged everything to each other. Surely that meant being husband and wife in or out of this closet.”
“You didn’t tell me that my baby . . . that Hope was on theMinerva. You don’t trust me.”
She pushed his hands away. “Daniel, you’re not ready to listen. You’ve come home early. You should rest before dinner.”
Her tone was dismissive, perhaps this was an attempt to diminish her pain.
How could he encourage her? “Help me know what to do.”
“You’ve said what you had to, Daniel. Change from court.”
“I used to say you were too loud, Jemina. I don’t like you quiet.” He locked his hands to his crown. He still wore the stupid court wig. He took it off with care and put it on its proper place, its box on the top shelf.
Her smile disappeared. She seemed almost panicked.
“Do small spaces bother you?”
“Daniel, this is not small.”
“Then what is the problem? We aren’t leaving here until I’m convinced everything between us is good.”
“We could be in here a long time,Peregrine. Someone might think we’ve gone missing.”
“See, we’re not fine if you need to address me with such a horrid name.”
