Northern Lights Trilogy

by Lisa Tawn Bergren

  Elsa hurriedly finished packing and followed her luggage, Kristian, and Mrs. Hodge over the edge to the skiff below. Eve was carefully lowered in a basket and, as usual, she slept through the entire escapade.

  “That child is the most relaxed thing I’ve ever laid eyes on,” Mrs. Hodge exclaimed, wiping a sheen of sweat from her brow. Clearly, climbing the lines was not her cup of tea. Kristian bounced up and down in his seat beside her.

  “God knew we had our hands full with that one,” Elsa said, nodding at Kristian. She turned to the servant in charge. “Carry on, gentlemen. I believe we’re all here.”

  The man, dressed in elegant attire despite the sweltering heat, nodded and turned to the two native oarsmen. Without another word, they dug deep, carrying the group toward a distant point on which Lady Bancock’s estate lay. In half an hour, they had arrived, and Lady Bancock met them on the edge of her green, manicured lawn, just beyond the white sand beach and tropical foliage. “My dear Captain Ramstad,” she exclaimed, reaching out to Elsa. “What a pleasure and privilege it is to have you here in my home!”

  “It is my pleasure,” Elsa said. “It is good to see you again. Thank you for your invitation. May I present my children? Kristian and Eve Ramstad, as well as our nanny, Mrs. Hodge?”

  “A pleasure, a pleasure,” the lady smiled, clearly delighted that she had snagged the elusive Elsa Ramstad for her party. Elsa knew a female captain was something of an oddity. She was bound to draw attention; it had to be the reason for all the invitations awaiting her. When she had passed through Honolulu on many occasions previously she had received perhaps two or three invitations to call. Peder’s death, news of her public accusations against Mason Dutton, and her recent choice to captain a ship herself, had apparently tripled her fame. But Lady Bancock had always been kind to her, so she didn’t fear being exploited by her as she might be by others. It was primarily for that reason that Elsa had accepted her invitation.

  “Let me show you the way to your rooms,” Lady Bancock said. She was dressed in the superior linens of a proper lady, and wore a fine-gauge straw hat that could only have come from France on the latest ship through the islands. She had little shape, just the rounded lines of well-to-do maturity, and she had merry eyes that Elsa wanted to draw.

  “Right behind you,” Elsa said. She took Eve from the perspiring Mrs. Hodge and followed Lady Bancock up the stone path toward the house. Two greyhounds ran circles around them, glad for the unexpected company.

  “We will get you situated and then share a refreshing glass of tea on the lanai,” her hostess said.

  “It sounds delightful.”

  “Yes, well, you take all the time you need to get settled, dear,” she said, opening the koawood doors to a grand suite that could easily have housed half of Elsa’s crew. “Here you all can have your own rooms,” she said, opening door after door. The house was decorated in fine island Victorian style. While the walls were a pale ivory from the floor to the edge of the tall ceiling—where they met a massive molding also painted eggshell white—the furniture woods were rich and dark hued. Linens were soft and gauzy, beckoning her to retire to the huge four-poster bed that reminded Elsa of her own bed in Seattle. Each bed had a mosquito net over it, giving it an exotic air, and once again Elsa congratulated herself on accepting this invitation.

  “Kristian, get off there at once!” she hissed, seeing her son bounce on his bed.

  “Ah, boys will be boys,” Lady Bancock said. “We went through five beds getting our two sons raised to manhood.”

  “That’s very gracious,” Elsa said, her eyes commanding Kristian to get down anyway. He slid off the bed and came to her, taking her hand. “We are guests in this fine lady’s home,” she said to him. “I expect you to be a little gentleman.”

  Kristian said nothing, and the tour went on. In their suite’s private room were a massive porcelain tub on clawed brass feet and an indoor water closet and bidet. There were two freestanding sinks and a mirror edged in gilt that crossed an entire wall of the room. And the floor was of huge white marble tiles, streaked with gray.

  Elsa followed her hostess to the next two rooms, situating the slumbering Eve on a bed between four feather pillows and then Mrs. Hodge in a smaller room that would have suited Elsa just fine. At each stop, she nodded to servants, motioning at the bags to be left there. At the main door, Lady Bancock turned and asked, “Is there anything you’ll need immediately?”

  “No. You are too kind. This is just lovely. I’ll simply rest for a few moments, freshen up, and join you on the lanai.”

  “Only if you are up to it, Captain,” she said, obviously relishing the use of the word. “If you’d prefer to wait until supper—”

  “Not at all,” Elsa said. “I will join you within the hour.”

  “Very well,” Lady Bancock said, clearly pleased. She reached for the knobs of the double doors and closed them behind her, leaving Elsa alone in the giant suite’s hall.

  “Can I go swimmin’, Mama? Can I?” Kristian yelled, tearing out of his room as fast as he could. “I saw a pool on the way in here.”

  “It is a fountain,” Elsa said with a smile.

  “Well, then, can I go to the beach with Mrs. Hodge?”

  Elsa glimpsed Mrs. Hodge through her bedroom door as she lay down on her bed. “Perhaps. Let her rest for a moment. I’m going to lie down as well. You, young man, need to keep still. There are toys in your trunk, as well as some books.”

  “Oh, Mother,” he whined.

  “Kristian,” she warned. “Give me half an hour to settle in. I’m sure Lady Bancock has an afternoon’s worth of entertainment for you without a swim. But give me half an hour. Yes?”

  “Yes,” he agreed reluctantly. “But hurry.”

  Elsa smiled. “Just as fast as half an hour can be hurried.” She watched as he returned to his room and dug in his trunk. Satisfied that he was sufficiently distracted, she retreated to her own room, lay down in her luxurious bed for five minutes, then rose to feed her suddenly squalling daughter. Afterward she pulled an afternoon garden gown in pale gray from her trunk. It was a bit mussed, but she doubted if Lady Bancock would hold it against her.

  Eve lay on her bed, moving her arms with delight as the island breeze swept through the room and made the mosquito net dance in the warm afternoon light. In minutes Elsa was dressed and her hair was redone in a graceful knot at the nape of her neck. A servant had come to collect “Young Master Ramstad” to visit the toy room, which—if it was anything like the rest of the house—was no doubt extensive. Yes, being a sea captain had certain advantages, she mused, quietly leaving the snoring Mrs. Hodge behind to attend Eve, who would tire of the mosquito net and demand more attention shortly. Until then, Elsa would let Mrs. Hodge rest.

  Two days later, Elsa smiled into the full-length mirror. Outside, the sounds of surf and sliding waves on the evening breeze came floating through the suite. The rumblings of a gathering on the lanai, where Lady Bancock’s party was to begin, could already be heard, punctuated with laughter and the faint smell of cigar smoke.

  Tonight would be Elsa’s first formal evening occasion since her mourning had begun, and although she was still draped in black, Madame de Boisiere had done a marvelous job in combining faille and lace to make an elegantly sedate but still flattering gown just days before her departure. From twin rosebuds at her shoulders, the gown tapered to a narrow waist. At her breast was a fan of material that modestly covered any cleavage. The skirt had a small bustle and cascaded to the floor in a simply fluted pattern with a small train behind her.

  She worked on her hair for an hour, wishing Kaatje were there to assist her, but finally managed to create a simple yet elegant French twist with two fine ebony combs Peder had given her the year before. She dabbed some light pink color on her lips and pinched her cheeks. Who are you dressing up for? she silently asked her mirror image, frowning. Peder would have celebrated her beauty tonight, but Peder was gone, never to return. As she thought a
bout it, Elsa decided that she simply enjoyed the ritual of preparing for such an event with or without someone to dress for. There was an inherent excitement, a pleasure in anticipating what might lie ahead.

  “Peder would be proud of me,” she whispered at herself. “It’s been nine months since I buried him. He would want me to laugh. To try to get on with my life in this arena as well.” Having decided to make the best of it and not feel guilty for the enjoyment, she laced up her evening slippers, pulled on long gloves, and then grabbed her mourning handkerchief and black fan from Japan. Although the breeze was cool, and her arms and shoulders were largely bare, she felt more comfortable holding something, even if she didn’t need the fan. It gave her a sense of security, not that she could truly hide behind it. But she felt nervous. How long had it been since she had attended a party without an escort? she wondered. Not since Bergen. Not for years.

  As she bid good night to Kristian and Mrs. Hodge, she fretted about whom she would speak with and what all she should say. Kristian said, “Mama, you are beautiful.”

  Elsa smiled and bent low to kiss him. “Thank you, dearest. You helped me.” Turning, she walked straight toward the double doors and opened them with as much confidence as she could muster.

  Awaiting her on the other side was Karl Martensen.

  He was dressed in a finely seamed double-breasted coat of black with bound edges, with a crisp white shirt and cravat at his neck. He winked at her and then bowed. “Captain Ramstad,” he said.

  “Karl!” Elsa exclaimed, finding her breath at last. “Whatever are you doing here?”

  “I was due to ship out three days ago, but Lady Bancock insisted I stay for the gala. Told me it was my duty to remain and escort you to the ball. I gladly agreed.”

  “You’ve been here all this time?” she asked, taking his proffered arm and swatting him playfully with her fan. “Why haven’t you come to call?”

  “I assumed you had been as busy as I in gathering supplies and preparing for the next leg of your voyage. And I had other … responsibilities that needed attention.”

  “You are at sea again?” she asked in wonder.

  “Aye,” he said with a wink. “Captain Martensen, at your service. Made the acquaintance of a fine fellow in San Francisco, and the path was laid out before me.” They neared the noisy banquet hall, in which refreshments were being served. Karl pulled her to a stop. “I am sorry I haven’t come sooner, Elsa. We have much to talk about.” He glanced around and bent nearer to her. “You must be warned. Mason Dutton frequents these waters.”

  Elsa frowned. “Dutton? Still? He still manages to roam these waters freely?”

  “It is uncanny. He is as slippery as an eel. Each time the military attempts to curtail his efforts, Mason escapes. And he’s bought off most of the local authorities, as well as any captains who sail Hawaiian waters. It’s even rumored that King Kalakaua frequently entertains him here at the palace.” He glanced up, spotting Lady Bancock coming to collect her prize guest. “We must speak again. Later on this evening?”

  “Yes,” Elsa said seriously, staring into his gray eyes. He had let his hair grow out a bit and she spotted a glint of gold in his left ear. Karl Martensen was wearing an earring? Obviously, he had much, much to tell her.

  Although he was her escort, she saw precious little of Karl as the evening wore on. She was introduced to guest after guest, and soon the dancing began. Although her slippers were elegant and up to the minute in fashion, they were killing her toes.

  She was just wishing someone would rescue her when Karl suddenly appeared, took her in his arms, and confidently danced her straight out onto the lanai. Once safely there, they were served drinks and went for a walk on the Bancock grounds. Near the crashing waves, they found a secluded marble bench nestled in a copse of swaying palm fronds. Elsa sat down with a sigh, raising her skirts just enough to release her aching feet from the strapped slippers.

  “Captain Ramstad!” Karl said in mock surprise.

  “Will you quit calling me that? I’ve heard enough of it tonight. And these shoes are as pleasurable as wearing a crab on each toe.”

  “That nice, eh?” Karl said, sitting beside her. She liked his jovial, confident mood.

  “What has happened to you, Karl?” she asked in wonder.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You are different somehow. Happier. Are you in love?” she asked with one eyebrow raised. She did so hope that he would find the right woman someday.

  “No, no. Well, yes. I am in love with the sea. I am happy because I am on the right path again. The path that God would have me take. I had no idea how my heart yearned to be on the sea. I guess I was missing it all that time. More than that, I made things right with God.” He turned toward her. “And as best I could, with Peder. After that, with myself.”

  Elsa met his intent gaze. “I am so glad, Karl. Peder would be glad too.”

  Karl nodded. “He was the one who led me to Christ. Although he was quite angry at me, I don’t think even he would have wanted me to suffer over it for so long.” He smiled suddenly. “Realization of that, and what I was missing in not following my Lord, set me free.” He thumped his chest two times. “I’m a new man, Elsa.”

  “I can see that,” she said, finding his smile contagious. She felt a deep camaraderie with him, and was glad he had stayed around to escort her tonight. “So, your ship comes from San Francisco?”

  “Yes. And you’ll love this—she’s a steamer with sailing capabilities.”

  Elsa laughed, remembering Peder’s long debates with Karl over the use of steam. “Perfect! How does she handle?”

  “Fairly well,” Karl said, his head cocked to one side, his eyes again on the sand at his feet. “She’s difficult in rough waters.”

  “Oh, Karl, do be careful.”

  “Always. At least on this run from San Francisco to Japan, there is no Cape Horn to face.”

  “Thankfully.”

  Karl sobered. “But as I was telling you earlier, Elsa, there are other dangers to face. Last time I was here, I ran into Mason. I challenged him in a tavern on the wharf. We had to leave under cover of dark, and hightailed it to Japan. I haven’t seen him yet, but expect him at any moment.”

  He turned to better face her, intent on making sure she understood the danger Mason represented. “He’ll hide for months at a time, and just when everyone considers him gone, he appears and attacks. Elsa, you made an enemy of him with your column. Because of you, both British and American naval forces have doubled their efforts to find him. If he finds you first, it will not be well. And he’s looking for you.”

  “He told you that?”

  “In so many words.”

  Elsa shivered. Her stomach tied in knots, thinking of Mason circling her like a shark. And she had her children to think of too. For the first time since setting sail, she had doubts about what she was doing.

  “Who is your first mate?”

  “Riley,” she said, staring out at the surf.

  “Your men carry weapons?”

  “Whatever they brought aboard and was approved by Riley.”

  “Double them. Here on the island. Do not leave without adequate ammunition. And tell Riley to rig extra sails. From here to the Far East, Mason roams the waves and strikes with little conscience. It is my fear that he will hunt for you.”

  She remembered the night Mason and his men attacked Peder’s ship, sending her diving for the water and swimming for her life. Had it not been for Karl, she would have been taken as part of the bounty, and who knew what Mason would have done with her. Elsa was so scared her heart was in her throat. “What have I done?” she whispered, wringing her hands. “I have the children to think of now. Kaatje tried to warn me.”

  Karl took her trembling hands in his own large, warm ones. “You are a captain now, Elsa. You must face these dangers with God. Wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, right? You need to show your men that you are aware of the danger and prepared to face
it with valor. It will win their devotion, and their respect.”

  She looked at him steadily. “You think I can do this? You really do?”

  His mouth was set grimly. “If any woman can, you can, Elsa Ramstad. Take courage in your position. You run one of the finest shipping yards in the world. You have means. I have had little luck speaking with the local authorities. Perhaps they would respond better to you. Use every means you have—money, feminine wiles, the power of the press. Use all of it, Elsa. You have the best chance of anyone to put a stop to this madness with Dutton. Before he finds you.”

  twenty-five

  As it turned out, the Skagit Valley’s soil was not ready for planting when Kaatje returned to it in May. She spent the time waiting for the final thaw to arrive, spring-cleaning the house from top to bottom, preparing her home and heart for another year’s work on the farm. Each time she looked at the dusty plow in the barn, and at tired old Nels, she felt weary. How could she again manage to break the earth’s crust and plant more than twenty acres? It was hard, heavy work, but she had little choice.

  Or did she? The question came to her as it did on any given day that she allowed her soul to search for God’s lead. He clearly wanted her to go to Alaska. To seek out Soren. To find the opportunities that remained for them there. Kaatje stared out her small, square kitchen window. But surely it would be no easier than this. Yes, farmwork was grueling, but she knew her way with it. What God asked of her was impossible—he wanted her to face the unknown, to take on people, animals, and land she knew little of. And to take her children with her!