Waiting on Love

by Tracie Peterson

  Duran looked at Elise. “You know the price of my silence.”

  This angered her. “You already told him where to find her.”

  “And why not? She’s his wife. I think we both know that’s only fair. Besides, we know he won’t be able to take her by force. Your father would never allow that, but it does stir things up and keeps everyone busy and away from the ship.”

  “What purpose does that serve, Mr. Duran?” Elise knew if she stayed here much longer, she’d say something she’d regret.

  “With the authorities busy with that, they aren’t concerned about me.” He smiled and crossed his arms.

  “I believe you have work to do, Mr. Duran,” Nick said, dismissing him.

  Duran sauntered past them. “I expect you to honor our bargain, Miss Wright. Otherwise, Nelson Worthington will know everything.”

  “I made no bargain with you, Mr. Duran. That would be akin to making a bargain with the devil himself, and that will never happen.”

  He paused at the stairs and gave her a smirk. “We’ll see about that.” He left them and made his way on deck.

  “Why didn’t you say anything about the posters?” Elise asked in a whisper.

  “I think we need to have the authorities at hand when we do that. I’m more and more convinced that Duran is the man they’re searching for. That makes him very dangerous. Too dangerous to risk not having help.”

  Elise felt a terrible sense of dread. She gathered the packages Nick had earlier dropped to the floor. “Let’s go back to my uncle’s house. I worry that my sister’s husband will return. Maybe with the police.” She put two parcels on the table, then went to her cabin door with the others. “Take those, and I’ll leave these here.” She disappeared into the cabin for only a moment, then returned quickly. “I have a terrible feeling things are going to get much worse.”

  Nick nodded. “With men like Duran, they usually do.”

  There were several carriages on the half-circle drive at the Monroe house when Nick and Elise arrived. Elise had no idea what was happening, but something felt very wrong.

  She gripped Nick’s arm as they made their way up the walk. “Let’s go in through the servants’ entrance.”

  “Do you think something has happened?”

  “As far as I know, we weren’t expecting company, so this must be Nelson’s doing.”

  Nick nodded and shifted the parcels he carried. “The servant’s entrance is probably wise.”

  They made their way around back and entered the kitchen, only to find the cook and several of the household staff standing at the doorway, looking out into the dining room. There was some loud arguing going on toward the front of the house. Elise could hear her sister shouting.

  “I will not come back to you, Nelson. You’re a beast, and after what you did to me, I will not be left alone with you.”

  “If this is how it’s to be, Nelson, you will not receive another cent of your grandfather’s money.”

  “That must be Mr. Worthington, Nelson’s father,” Elise said.

  At this, the staff realized they weren’t alone and turned in unison. At the sight of Elise, they hurried back to their positions.

  Nick set the packages by the back stairs. “Perhaps we should get out there. I don’t know who else might be here, but your sister may need your support.”

  Elise didn’t need to be encouraged. She hurried through the dining room and into the music room. From there she came out into the hallway that ran behind the stairs.

  Everyone stood at the base of the staircase. Her father was there, as well as Uncle James. Nelson and his father were there with another man she didn’t know. The latter was older and quite distinguished-looking—perhaps a lawyer. Caroline stood on the first step and looked grateful when Elise came into view.

  “I think we’ve heard more than enough from both parties,” the older man said. “I believe, Mr. Worthington, that it is time for us to discuss this further in my office.” He spoke to Nelson’s father rather than Nelson.

  “I won’t leave here without my wife, Judge Marcus,” Nelson declared. “We are legally married. She is mine.”

  “She doesn’t have to come back to you unless she chooses to do so,” Papa said in a calm and precise voice. Elise knew it was a sign of his increased anger when he spoke like that.

  Caroline turned on the step and started back upstairs. “I won’t ever come back to you, Nelson, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

  Judge Marcus waved a hand. “It would be better to discuss this apart from the others.”

  Caroline was nearly to the top of the stairs when Nelson broke from the group and charged up after her. He grabbed her roughly by the elbow. “You’re coming home.”

  She jerked free and attempted to push him away, but he dodged her shove, and Caroline lost her balance. She fell backward down the stairs.

  Elise screamed but could do nothing to save her sister. She pushed her way through the men and rushed to Caroline’s side as soon as she landed at the bottom of the stairs. Blood immediately began to pool around her head.

  “Someone send for the doctor!” Elise cried. “Hurry!” She took Caroline’s hand. “Caroline. Please say something.”

  “That wasn’t my fault,” Nelson said, staring down at them. He didn’t even try to care for his wife. Not that Elise would have let him touch her sister. “You all witnessed it. She pushed me. She tried to kill me,” he continued in his smug, superior way.

  Elise looked up at him. She had never hated anyone as she did this man. She tried to pray, but in her rage, she had no words. She knew in that moment that if she could have pushed him down the stairs, she would have.

  Papa carried Caroline to her bed. The wound on the back of her head didn’t appear all that big, but there was plenty of bleeding. Elise refused to leave her sister’s side. She shooed the men from the room and even asked Aunt Martha to leave. When they were gone, Elise and Etta undressed Caroline and put her in a simple nightgown. Etta had already placed several towels under her head to soak up the blood.

  “Please wake up, sister. Please,” Elise whispered against Caroline’s ear. “You must live.”

  When the doctor arrived, Elise asked Etta to leave. She followed the maid to the door. “Don’t let anyone else come in. The doctor will need privacy.”

  “Yes, miss.” Etta looked concerned but said nothing more.

  The doctor was already examining Caroline, who was starting to come to. “What . . . what happened?” she asked.

  Elise rushed to her side. “You fell. You fell down the stairs.”

  “Just lie still,” the doctor ordered.

  “She’s with child,” Elise blurted. “She doesn’t look it, I know, but she’s five months gone.” She looked to Caroline in apology, then glanced at her sister’s relatively flat stomach. “I’m sorry. He needs to know in case you miscarry.”

  The doctor continued his examination, and after nearly half an hour looked more puzzled than conclusive.

  “You have a concussion and a cut on the back of your head. I will need to put stitches in the head wound,” he explained to Caroline. “I don’t know quite how to ask this, but what made you suppose you were with child—much less five months along? I find no evidence of that. Your abdomen is soft, and there’s no sign of a baby. At this stage I should be able to feel the formation, especially in one as thin as you.”

  “Perhaps she miscarried.” Elise looked at her sister. “Have you bled?”

  “No. Not since before our wedding. In fact, I stopped bleeding a month or so before. You know how nervous I get, and the stress was so great.”

  “You left us when you were fifteen. I hardly know anything about such things with you.” Elise tried to remember. “I do recall that you were given to throwing up when you were nervous. Even when you were young. Mama thought it was the motion of the water.”

  Caroline looked at the doctor. “She’s right. I am often given over to my nerves in such a fashion. I
s it possible that what I’ve thought of as morning sickness was nothing more than my nerves?”

  “It’s very possible,” the doctor said. “You have obviously not been eating right. You’re skin and bones.”

  “She hardly eats at all,” Elise declared. “My aunt has often said as much.”

  “I find it difficult when I’m upset. It usually just makes me feel worse. I generally eat little bits throughout the day in order to avoid becoming nauseated. Especially when I’m anxious.”

  “And have you been anxious these last months?” the doctor asked.

  Caroline nodded. “I have. It’s been most brutal—life-changing.”

  He rubbed his chin and nodded. “Then I would say that is our answer. You presumed because you were a new bride that you were with child.”

  A look of relief crossed Caroline’s face. “But I’m not. You’re certain?”

  “Quite certain. I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t understand. I did not wish to be.” She smiled at Elise. “One day I will desire children, but I am most happy not to be expecting a baby at this time.”

  The doctor shook his head. It was clear he hadn’t expected this. “I need to stitch your head. Perhaps your sister could let everyone know that you’re all right. You have a concussion and will no doubt be sore from the fall, but otherwise you are fine.”

  Elise felt as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. “I’ll let them know.”

  She walked to the door and paused to look back at Caroline. There were tears in her sister’s eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Duran, but I have no choice but to dismiss you from this ship,” Captain Wright declared. “After speaking to the first mate and Tom, it is clear you threatened the life of one of my crew. That, I will not tolerate.”

  Duran wished he could kill both the captain and his first mate. Then he’d go take care of that troublemaking boy once and for all.

  The captain shook his head as if dealing with a child. “Go get your things, and I’ll have your final wages ready and waiting.”

  Duran looked at Nick and then the captain. “You’ll regret this. I don’t let anyone push me around.”

  “I already regret ever hiring you on,” Captain Wright said. “I believe in giving all men a chance, however. One day, I hope you’ll decide to change for the better, Duran.”

  “There’s no need for change. My way suits me just fine.”

  Duran left the captain and Nick and went to the forecastle to get his things. The most troubling thing about all this was the location. Had this happened in Duluth or even Toronto, he would have felt better about being stranded. Now he wasn’t even sure he had enough money for a train ticket.

  The Wrights had caused him no end of trouble, but he still had the knowledge that Elise’s sister was pregnant. He’d find Nelson Worthington again and tell him that he had something more important to tell him regarding his wife . . . but it would cost him.

  Chapter 23

  “I’m glad Louis was able to change the train ticket for later this week. I think, given what’s happened, Nelson will surely stay away for fear of someone filing charges against him.” Elise leaned over and kissed her sister’s head.

  “I hope he does. Uncle James said he plans to threaten him with it if he refuses to sign the annulment papers.” Caroline smiled. “You know, I think this is the first time I’ve been happy in months.”

  “Even though you’re moving to Duluth?” Elise smiled. “It really has become quite a nice town. I think this winter will be a good time for both of us to explore.”

  “Are you going to marry Nick?” her sister asked out of the blue.

  Elise shrugged. “I want to, but I believe it’s important for Nick to get back to captaining his own ship. I can’t leave Papa and the Mary Elise, so I’m not sure what to do.”

  Caroline frowned. “You can’t give up your life for our father. He’s a good man, and he’s strong and capable. He wouldn’t want that for you.”

  “Yes, but I promised our mother.” Elise went to the window and looked out. The skies were growing dark, and soon she’d need to be on the Mary Elise. Papa had decided it would be better to sleep on board since they were leaving early in the morning.

  “Did Mama ask for that promise, Elise? I doubt she did, because she was never that selfish. You know that very well. She wouldn’t want you to forsake true love.”

  “I know she would want me to find happiness, Caroline. However, I know she would also like to know that Papa is happy. We shall have to pray on it, for God has all the answers.”

  “I’ve thought about that ever since talking to Nick. I’ve been praying more and reading the Bible. I see how He answered my prayers, and I know I must put aside my selfish ways. I don’t know what God has planned for me, but I want to change.”

  “You already have,” Elise replied. She stepped back from the window. “I’d better go bid everyone good-bye. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.” She went to Caroline and kissed her again.

  “Don’t tell him no,” Caroline whispered against her ear.

  “What?” Elise straightened.

  “Nick. When he proposes, don’t tell him no.”

  Caroline’s words echoed in Elise’s thoughts. The more she came to know Nick, the more she felt certain he wouldn’t feel whole again until he held the command of a ship. But her father would never give up the water and command of his own vessel. It was a dichotomy she found herself thinking about more and more. What could she do? To say yes to one was to deny the other.

  “There you are,” Uncle James said as Elise came down the stairs. “Your father and Nick are ready to return to the ship. They plan to leave by midnight. We were just starting to look for you.”

  “I was telling Caroline good-bye.” Elise embraced her uncle. “And now I will bid you the same.”

  “Just remember, you are always welcome here. Your sister too, although I know she wants to be as far away from here as possible. Poor girl. I’m afraid society will not be kind.”

  “Probably not, since they don’t know the truth.”

  Uncle James shrugged. “They probably know about Nelson and his mistress, but I doubt they care. Things like that are done all the time by men of power and wealth.”

  “Well, it isn’t right, and it’s certainly not of God.” Elise glanced back up the stairs. “It’s my deepest desire that you can keep Nelson Worthington from doing any further damage to her. The rest will heal in time. Caroline is a lot stronger than you might think.”

  He chuckled. “Oh, I know how strong she is. You’re both your mother’s daughters, and you inherited her strength and love.”

  A pounding sounded at the front door, and Mrs. Cavendish appeared in her mobcap and pinafore apron. Without waiting to be invited in, Nelson Worthington crashed through the door as the housekeeper started to open it. Mrs. Cavendish fell back against the wall, and Elise rushed to her side. She steadied the old woman as Nelson began to rail at her uncle.

  “I will sue you for every dime you have for alienating the affections of my wife and keeping the knowledge of my unborn child from me,” he yelled as he shook his fist at Uncle James.

  Elise felt her stomach tighten. Duran was responsible for this. But why? This information was his only hold over Elise. It must have become more beneficial to him to tell the news, and that somehow made the situation all the more worrisome.

  She let go of Mrs. Cavendish and stepped forward. “My sister isn’t with child. You can ask the doctor who was here earlier.”

  “I don’t believe you. I have it on good authority—”

  “You have it on the authority of a man who is most likely wanted for murder in at least two states,” she countered. “Booker Duran is nothing more than a vicious beast who enjoys threatening those who seem weaker and helping those who appear as evil as himself. Especially if money is involved.”

  Worthington looked at her in surprise. “I said nothing of Mr. Duran.”

  �
��You don’t have to. I already know it was him. He overheard Caroline and I discussing something and took it upon himself to use it as a threat to get me to do what he wanted. But Caroline is not with child, and I am not going to allow him to force me into any compromise.”

  “But he said that she admitted she was pregnant. He overheard it himself.”

  By now Louis, Nick, and Elise’s father had joined them in the foyer. They all seemed more than a little surprised by the discussion. For their sakes, Elise explained.

  “Caroline feared she might be with child because she hadn’t bled since before marrying you. Added to that, she was frequently vomiting and thought it was morning sickness. But the doctor examined her and assured her she isn’t with child. The condition is something she’s dealt with most of her teen years and into adulthood. When she is suffering a large amount of stress and fear, she has problems in these areas. She is not, however, expecting your baby, Mr. Worthington.” Elise looked around at the men and decided it didn’t matter that she was going to be shockingly bold. “Furthermore, unless you want her going very public with the circumstances of her wedding night, I would cooperate and give her a quiet annulment. Otherwise, I fear we will have no choice but to share the story with the newspapers. After all, Caroline has nothing to lose.” She smiled. “It seems to me that you’re the only one who has anything to lose.”

  Worthington paled at this. “You wouldn’t dare. A scandal like that would ruin me—ruin my family.”

  “You should have thought of that before you took a mistress, then raped and beat my daughter,” Elise’s father said, stepping forward. “I’ve only remained silent out of respect for Caroline, but don’t think I wouldn’t like to beat you to a pulp. Now, I suggest you leave before I forget my manners.”

  Elise took hold of her father’s arm, hoping to calm him.

  Worthington backed a couple of steps toward the door. It was clear he didn’t want to have to deal with the well-muscled ship captain.