“What of the packet the earl possesses? If he has the names
of the smugglers, could we not simply give them to the court and demand an
appeal?”
That was a matter Alex had struggled over all night, and his
solution was no clearer or more logical by morning. His protective instincts
would not allow him to do what reason said was best. He shook his head. “To do
so would cause more harm than good, Evelyn. Trust me on just this one point,
please. I know how to use the information to prevent the warehouse and my ships
from being involved again, but there is nothing there to prove your innocence
in time to keep you from jail. The evidence will still stand that the
contraband was found on your premises. That, and the fact that you have a judge
who is undoubtedly aware of your seditious activities, will preclude any
release of the charges from his court. It will have to come from a higher
authority.”
Evelyn nodded miserably. “Then there really is no choice. I
must go with you or go to jail. It’s rather too late for anything else in all
events. I said the vows willingly enough. You did not even have to hold a gun
to my head.”
Alex didn’t smile at her small attempt at humor. The
enormity of what he must say prevailed. Clenching one fist around his cup and
the other in his lap, he revealed the conclusion he had reached last night, in
the wee hours when everything looked its worst.
“I saw how you were when you came out of that cell after
just a few hours in confinement. I knew that the threat of jail was better than
a gun. I’m sorry, Evelyn. I didn’t plan it that way, but I let it happen to get
what I wanted. I can see now that it won’t work. I am not accustomed to obeying
any wishes but my own and have little understanding of a woman’s ways. You were
never meant to play the part of docile, uncomplaining wife to a rake like me.
Neither of us seems capable or desirous of changing. I think our best solution . . .”
Alex stopped before saying the final words that would dissolve their marriage
in all but name. There was one more important point he must ascertain before
continuing. “Has there been time enough to know if you are breeding?”
A bright blush of color flooded her cheeks. “There has not
been enough time,” she admitted.
There was hope left, then, but not enough to keep the words
from being said. Taking a deep breath, Alex offered her the only choice he knew
how to give. “You must come with me in any event, so there will be time enough
to know before we reach England. If there is no child, I think we can petition
for an annulment. I’m not a lawyer, but surely, if the marriage has never been
legally consummated, in addition to being forced to marry, there should be
sufficient grounds to dissolve the bonds. Somehow, I will see that you are
housed with your mother on board ship so there can be no question of our
intent.”
There, he had said it. Alex closed his eyes and waited for
the pain to engulf him. He hadn’t yet decided whether this was the most courageous
or damn-fool thing that he had ever done, but either way, it felt like hell. He
had just condemned himself to six weeks or more of abstinence when the woman he
wanted more than any other was within arm’s reach. Hell couldn’t be worse.
Slowly, as if absorbing his reasoning, she nodded her
agreement. “Whatever you say, Alex,” she murmured, then stood abruptly so he
could not see her expression.
Why did he fool himself into thinking she hid tears?
Probably because that was how he felt.
“I talked to Thomas about selling the warehouse.” Evelyn said
into the thick silence that had fallen after she’d started cleaning the pots.
Alex glanced up with a start. “You what?”
A hint of defiance flared in his bride’s eyes. “If you have
not noticed, trade is dropping drastically. The tax will cut it even more. I
thought there might be a wiser investment for Jacob’s money. I told Thomas to
think about it.”
Alex growled into his coffee. “Leave Henderson out of this.
Now is not the time to look for investors. I have a feeling all hell will break
loose Friday.”
That distracted Evelyn from her ire. “Why? What has
happened? Has the governor not given up the stamps?”
“He gave them up. I did not question where they went, but of
a certainty they will not be available when the law goes into effect Friday. I
wonder if they have taken into consideration what will happen then.”
Evelyn shrugged. “They will get no money from Boston.”
“Which will make it illegal to print a paper, load or unload
a ship, or issue a legal document without a stamp. With no stamps, the whole
damn town will have to close down or be subject to arrest.”
Evelyn stared at him in interest, her eyes widening. “No
ships, no warehouses, no work, no money. Lud, Alex, we’ll all starve!”
“You will not starve. You’re going with me, remember?” Grimly,
Alex pushed away from the table. “I need to go down to the wharf and make sure
everything’s loaded. We’re leaving as soon as the last shipment is tied down.
Warn your mother that there is no time left.”
He strode out without giving her time to question. Grabbing his
coat and cloak, feeling strangely hollow, Alex headed for the lawyer’s offices.
Henderson had only just arrived when Alex barged into his
office. The lawyer’s powdered wig was tied in a tidy knot at his nape. His
clothes, while not stylish, were elegant for the colonies. Alex studied the man’s
handsome visage. The young lawyer had a reputation with women, wooing them with
his ready smile. Alex had seen his type before and had no use for it. But
Evelyn trusted the cad. He would have to warn him off.
“I understand my wife discussed selling the warehouse with
you,” he began innocuously enough.
Henderson shrugged and indicated that Alex take a seat. “I
believe I have mentioned to her before that her uncle knows some investors
willing to purchase the business. Under the circumstances, I think it the
wisest choice.”
“Fine.” Alex stretched out his legs and contemplated the
tarnish on his silver buckles. His valet would have a stroke when he returned.
He tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I agree the warehouse should be
sold. My senior partner has approved the purchase. Cranville Enterprises will
not tolerate crimes against his majesty’s trade laws. We will suspend all
dealing with anyone suspected of tampering with the law.” He looked up to pin
the lawyer with his stare. “I will personally ensure that any person attempting
to ship contraband from England will end up before a judge. I have the evidence
and I will use it, if necessary. As long as we understand each other, I would
prefer to avoid scandal.”
Alex rose to his full height and smiled unpleasantly at the lawyer,
who regarded him with an uneasy smile.
“I have little knowledge of the trade, Mr. Hampton,”
Henderson replied smoothly. “I only wish to see the Wellington estate handled
in the best possible manner. If Evelyn trusts your judgment, I have no quarrel
with that.”
“Very good. You may send your bill to her uncle. The two of
you should be able to agree on what the cost to Evelyn has been. I bid you good
day.” No longer smiling, Alex swung on his heel and strode out.
He was letting the bounder off too easy. There wasn’t a
doubt in his mind that Henderson and Upton had framed Evelyn to pry her out of
the warehouse and claim it for their own. Had she simply sold it from the
outset, she could be happily sitting in her own home entertaining a swarm of
suitors now.
Alex’s decision to ask questions and track smugglers had
forced their dirty hands. Damn, but he wished there were some way to get even
with them, but they held all the cards. Besides, he had already learned how
closely these men worked with the local judge. There would be no justice here.
Not yet, anyway.
***
As Alex walked toward the harbor, Henderson hurriedly
closed his office and strode down the street to Upton’s.
George greeted his lawyer’s early-morning appearance with
surprise. “You do not look as if you’ve come to share breakfast.”
Henderson nodded toward the open door to the breakfast room.
“Are you alone?”
The older man took his arm and steered him toward the closed
door of the library. “My sister-in-law and Cranville are here. What is wrong?
Yesterday you were bragging we had the warehouse in our hands. Has the stubborn
baggage changed her mind yet again?”
They entered the library, closing the door behind them as
they spoke. Henderson paced to the newly repaired windows.
“That interfering dandified husband of hers knows about us.
That packet you heard them discuss must contain damning evidence. He was at my
office first thing this morning threatening me. If the warehouse is sold, it
will be into his hands.”
Upton issued a pithy curse and sought the brandy decanter. “We
have all the goods out of there now except what was left for evidence. They can
prove nothing. They may have traced the shipments, but there is nothing they
can hold us on.”
Henderson turned on the older man. “He’s looking for blood.
He has something or he would not threaten us as he did. He wants us to end the
smuggling. We will no longer be able to use his ships or warehouses. He’s
cutting our throats.”
Upton settled in a leather chair, his face betraying its age
beneath the gray wig. “To tell the truth, I am weary of it. It does not seem
worth the effort any longer.”
The young lawyer practically snarled as he stalked the room.
“That is fine for you to say. You’re an old man with wealth enough to last the
remainder of your days. What about me? Had you not insisted on marrying your
niece off to that damned Englishman, none of this would have happened. Why
should I pay for your mistakes? Do you know how many lawyers there are in this
damn town? Do you know how hard I must work just to make a pittance? Not worth
the effort any longer!” he mocked, throwing up his hand. “You may as well say
my life is not worth the effort any longer! There is money to be made here, and
I will not give it up just to please that lofty niece of yours.”
Upton pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “She
will be in England and out of your hair. It is her husband and the evidence you
must worry about. It seems to me if he has not turned us over to the court yet,
he will not later, unless he suspects we’re continuing to use his ships. There
are other lines available besides his.”
“I will not feel safe until that evidence is in my hands.”
Henderson faced his tired partner. “In any event, I will have to go to England
to set up new supply lines while you find us a new warehouse. We can be back in
business shortly.”
Upton shot him a look of disgust. “It is nearly November. Do
you think there will be another ship out of here before spring? It’s over. Let
it go at that.”
Henderson’s lips curved in a smile that would not be
recognized by his lady friends. “There is a ship in the harbor right now, is
there not? I’ll be on it, and I’ll have that packet before we land. Take care,
Upton, or it will be only your name left in evidence.”
He departed, leaving his partner ashen and draining a glass
of brandy.
***
Evelyn bent over the last of the trunks. She was waiting
for word on whether they would be forced to spend yet another night on land
while the last of the ship’s cargo was loaded. She didn’t like the idea of
postponing their departure. That was just daring the fates.
She glanced nervously out the upper-story window to the
street below. She shivered like a frightened rabbit at any untoward noise. She
kept hearing soldiers marching, coming for her, hauling her away. She had
nightmares about it, but she couldn’t tell Alex that. She couldn’t let him see
that she craved his arms around her to keep the nightmares away.
It was early morning yet. Surely by tonight they would be on
the ship and sailing away. She needn’t worry about soldiers anymore then. She
would be safe.
The street seemed ominously quiet. Alex had kept her from
going to the wharf these last two days, and she felt isolated from events. He
had dutifully reported the latest closings, the number of men looking for work,
the quiet fear and desperation gripping the city as the day of reckoning approached.
On the morrow, the town would have to close down or collectively break the law.
She wouldn’t be here to see how it ended.
Outside, she could see a tall broad-shouldered figure
braving the wind, one gloved hand holding his cocked hat to his head and the
other gripping the edges of his cloak as it whipped in the wind. Evelyn’s heart
lodged in her throat as she recognized his hasty strides. Alex had sold his
horse to Mr. Johnson yesterday.
Raising her hand to tuck a straying strand of hair behind
her ear and checking to see that the pins had not loosened from the braid
coiled about her head, Evelyn hurried down the stairs. Maybe the ship was ready
to sail.
Alex burst through the door before she reached the bottom of
the steps. He glanced around, as if fearful she had gone., His mouth relaxed as
she hurried toward him, but the tension did not leave his shoulders. He
produced a newspaper from beneath his cloak.
“Look at this! I don’t know what I’ve been thinking. I have to
get you out of here now.”
Evelyn froze, and Alex had to wave the newspaper beneath her
nose before she’d take it. A skull and crossbones decorated the masthead like
some eerie All Hallows’ Eve demon, and she stared at it in horror and
confusion. “What does it mean?”
“It means the newspapers are going out of business today.
They cannot sell them without stamps tomorrow. It means the courts will close
today,
because they can issue no legal documents tomorrow. It means we have
to get you the hell out of here before the judge realizes the same damn thing
and comes after you now!”