My Sister's Prayer (46 page)

“Have your sister call me as soon as you get back home,” she said intensely before turning to go.

I nodded, not even bothering to ask what that was about because I knew she wouldn't tell me.

Once everyone else was gone, Greg stuck around to help clean. We ended up with a few more bags of trash, so this time I went out with him. We made our way around the back of the carriage house to the cans along the alley.

“Austin seems like a nice fellow,” Greg said.

“Yeah, we broke up tonight.”

“Good. He's not the guy for you.”

I chuckled. “You sound like Nicole.”

“Thanks. I tell you what. She has an uncanny sense of what makes people tick. I'd listen to her if I were you.”

We reached the cans and set our bags inside, and then as we walked back I found myself telling Greg the story of Nana's matchmaking with me and Austin and how, when she'd called Greg “special” soon after,
and then he'd shown up that first time all handsome and sweet, I'd assumed Nana was at it again, but this time for my sister.

“Nicole's not in any position to date anyone,” he said, clearly startled. “The timing couldn't be worse.”

“Oh, I totally agree. That's why I was glad when it turned out the ‘special' thing Nana was talking about was your certification, not your being dateable. I'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

He smiled, gesturing for me to go first once we rounded the building.

“Though I have to say,” I added, “a few years from now, if it happened to work out…”

“What?”

“Just that she could do a lot worse.”

He came to a stop halfway up the walk. “I'm confused.”

“I'm just saying that once Nicole has a year or two of sobriety under her belt, if you're still single, you ought to give it a try.”

“Give what a try?”

“Dating Nicole.”

He blinked. “Nicole.”

“Yeah.”

“Try dating Nicole,” he repeated.

“If you want,” I said.

He didn't respond. Instead, he walked me the rest of the way to the door in silence. Then he simply mumbled that he needed to go and took off without another word.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY
-N
INE

Celeste

T
he next morning, Celeste slipped down the ladder to find Benjamin building up the fire in the kitchen. The boy wore a raggedy coat and a scrap of cloth wrapped around his neck.

“Mornin',” he said. “Mr. Edwards wants you to go see him at the inn.”

Celeste thanked him and hurried out the kitchen door and up the back steps. Mr. Edwards sat at the counter, going over his ledger. He looked as if he hadn't slept at all.

“Good day to you, sir,” Celeste said softly.

Without looking up, he asked, “How are you?”

“Better.”

He made another mark on the page and then looked up. “Lieutenant Gray spoke with me last night.”

“He said he planned to, sir.”

“Are you in agreement with him?”

She nodded. “As long as Constable Jones doesn't try to stop us.”

Mr. Edwards rubbed his temple. “We spoke with him last night. He returned my bail, saying he's convinced Constable Wharton
manipulated the situation to his benefit—getting his maid back and keeping the ring. He doesn't think he'll pursue matters with you. If he does, he'll tell him to go after you in Carolina.”

Celeste grinned for the first time in days.

“But avoid him in Norfolk. Don't bring attention to yourself. Understand?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“I hoped you would go home with your brother. If you don't, you may never see your family again.”

“I-I realize that.” A hollow feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

“Do you trust Lieutenant Gray?” He raised his eyebrows again. “In spite of what happened?”

She swallowed hard and then spoke, forcing her voice to sound convincing. “Yes.” Celeste steadied herself against the counter.

“And you'll take good care of Sary?”

“I will.” That she knew without a doubt.

“Even if it turns out she'll never be able to cook again in her life?”

“Yes, I promise, but what will you do with Sary and me both gone?”

He sighed. “When Mr. Horn was here, I asked him to find another cook and another maid. Hopefully, he'll be back with them before the General Court starts. I'll ask him to bring an additional maid when he can. Eventually, life will calm down around here.” He gazed at her intently, his eyes full of concern. “Go tell Sary and get ready to go. You'll need to hurry down to the dock. There's a boat leaving soon.”

He turned the document around so she could see. “Here are Sary's papers. Lieutenant Gray asked me to sign them over to her as a gesture of good faith on his part. She's free.”

Filled with joy and relief, Celeste thanked him as she took the document. “I'm eternally grateful, Mr. Edwards, for everything. You've gone far beyond your duty in kindness.”

Mr. Edwards's eyes grew watery. “You remind me of my daughter, Miss Talbot. You're determined. Resourceful. I just hope Lieutenant Gray is worthy of being your husband.”

“Oh, the situation is quite the opposite. I hope I'm worthy of being his wife.”

Mr. Edwards paused for a moment, and then he said, “Go on now.” He waved toward the back door. “Go on.”

Celeste walked slowly through the passageway, glancing into the empty dining room, silently telling the inn goodbye. When she reached the kitchen, Benjamin was stirring the porridge in the pot. She waited until it thickened and then filled two bowls.

“Come eat with me,” she said, nodding toward the table. When they had finished, she told him that she and Sary were leaving.

Tears filled his eyes.

“You're safe here with your father.”

He nodded.

“A new cook will come, and new maids. Mr. Edwards will take care of all of you.” He nodded again and wiped at his eyes. Once she had cleaned their dishes, she climbed the ladder to the loft.

Sary was awake, and Celeste quickly explained what had happened, handing the woman her papers. Sary, her expression blank, turned toward the window as she clutched the document.

Giving her time to adjust, Celeste grabbed her extra set of clothes, spread them flat, and then rolled the garments into a parcel, tying it with the strings of her extra apron. She was embarrassed she had no trousseau, thinking back to her chest of clothing, linens, and other household goods in her parents' house. Jonathan would need to buy her a new wardrobe, eventually, and all of their household goods too. Gratitude swept over her for his generosity. Surely the passion she'd felt before would return.

She knelt down beside Sary. “Are you all right?”

The woman nodded.

“You are free to go wherever you want, although I don't have any money to give you right now to travel. You can stay with me until I can secure the money, or you can stay with me for the rest of your life.”

Sary twisted her mouth, but she didn't speak or move from her pallet. Celeste didn't know what she would do if the woman refused to come along. Sary couldn't stay with Mr. Edwards if she couldn't work.

“Celeste?” It was Aline, coming up the ladder. “I just heard you're leaving with Lieutenant Gray.”

“I am,” Celeste responded as the maid's head came into view. In the distance, the rat-a-tat of the snare drum began.

Aline stepped up to the floor. “Do you remember that day outside the laundry when I started to tell you about the maid before you? And Mr. Edwards interrupted us?”

“Yes,” Celeste answered, moving across the room to her own pallet.

“I don't know if I should have said anything then—or if I should say more now. But she was acquainted with Lieutenant Gray before she arrived.”

“Oh?” Celeste concentrated on folding her blanket.

“Yes. And they had a row one night outside. I couldn't quite make out what it was all about though.”

“She was indentured?”

Aline nodded as the drumming grew louder. “But she wasn't poor like I am or most servants are. She was from the gentry, like you.”

Celeste cocked her head as she clutched her blanket to her chest for a moment. “Really?”

Aline nodded.

“I'll ask Jonathan about her.” Celeste placed the blanket on the floor. Perhaps she was someone he'd once known in London who had fallen on hard times.

Aline shrugged. “I just thought you should know. In case…”

“Thank you,” Celeste said. “I appreciate it, truly. And what a good friend you've been to me too.”

Aline smiled at that. “Will your brother be back?”

“I don't think so.” There was no reason for him to return to Williamsburg now that she was no longer in need of being rescued.

Aline's face fell. “He seems like a good man.”

Celeste nodded. “He is. I hope to see him in Norfolk one more time.” She choked on the last word. He could return directly to England with George if a ship was sailing from Norfolk in the next couple of days. She'd go on to Carolina with Jonathan. And Berta would come back to Williamsburg with Spenser if all went as planned.

“I don't mean to be forward, but I only have a few more months on my contract,” Aline said, blushing. “It's just that so many things seem possible here that never would have back home.”

Celeste nodded, thinking how far her own ideas had come about such things. Spenser had turned out to be more than good enough for Berta. Why shouldn't Aline be with someone like Emmanuel? Too bad he was leaving, for both their sakes.

“Give him a farewell for me?” Aline asked sadly.

“I will.” Celeste flung her cloak over her shoulders and clasped it closed with the brooch. Then she turned her attention to Sary. “We need to go.”

Sary put her cloak over her shoulders. Then she rolled her papers in her extra skirt and chemise and tucked the bundle inside the waistband of the skirt she was wearing. With that they were ready.

“We'll follow you down,” Celeste said. Aline led the way, then Sary. Celeste inched down the ladder last. By the time they reached the street, Jonathan was waiting for them. They paused a moment as the soldiers marched by, the drum beating her farewell to Williamsburg. Celeste doubted she'd ever be back, but she knew she wouldn't miss the drumming.

The trip down the James on the cargo boat was uneventful. The sun had come out, and Celeste felt as if she was shaking off the cold of the night out in the elements. How quickly her life had changed once again. Jonathan chatted happily as they went, but Sary just stared at the trees along the bank. Celeste wished she could know what was going on in the woman's mind.

Thinking ahead to their stop in Norfolk, Celeste hoped to be able to tell Emmanuel to pay as much as needed to free Berta and not to worry about the ring. Yes, she very much wanted to have it back in the family, but it wasn't worth risking Berta's life over, even though it had come from Henri IV.

She hoped to have a chance to apologize to Berta too. There was no
need to go over the past again, no matter what Jonathan had revealed the day before. She simply wanted to be at peace with her sister.

It was late afternoon by the time they reached Norfolk. As the
York
docked, Celeste could see George and Spenser on the wharf. Walking toward them were Constable Wharton, Emmanuel, and Berta. She looked steady on her feet and as beautiful as ever. Relief swept through Celeste. Their brother must have secured her release. Spenser spoke briefly with Emmanuel and then said something to the constable.

They needed to transfer to the
Royal Mary
to take them on to Charles Town, but Celeste didn't want to disembark when Constable Wharton could see her.