“I know exactly what kind of woman she is,” Chloe whispered, so softly it was very nearly unheard.
Ghost changed Chloe’s position in his lap to a more protective one, so she was now leaning over against his chest. His voice reverberated deep in her ear as he spoke. “Mrs. Cates sold Chloe into slavery,” he said, his eyes narrowed and furious.
“The solicitor found that out,” Carlson said softly. “He brought it up to her, the day before he was found murdered in his bed.”
Chloe gasped and turned her face into her husband’s chest.
“When that happened, the investigator resigned from the case the next day. Had I known he’d done that, I might have refused to be transferred.” He paused a moment. “It was a few months before Mrs. Cates put the ad in the paper, suggesting that Chloe was unstable and must be returned to her family for her own welfare.”
Gregory nodded. “My wife’s father, Baron St. John, caught wind of that and went to see her. At first, I think he believed she was right—that Chloe was a runaway. The reward was substantial, and he was deep in debt, so I don’t think it mattered much to him whether it was the truth. He needed the money. He and the baroness were visiting our house when Chloe played for us in the music room. I saw his eyes gleaming, and I knew it wasn’t Chloe they were seeing. It was gold sovereigns in his pocket.”
Chloe, at that moment, sat up in her husband’s lap. “Wait. Did my father leave my stepmother nothing?” she asked.
“He did.” Carlson nodded. “However, she wasn’t satisfied with that. She wanted her share and yours. So, she hired the Davies brothers to bring you to her. They weren’t supposed to kill you, Chloe, only to deliver you to her. She wanted to be the one to do it.”
Gregory added, in a quiet voice, “That’s what the baron was trying to tell me today, when he kept begging us to stop. I believe he honestly didn’t know she wanted you dead, Chloe. He had visited her again today and was horrified when he realized it. He had just left her when he saw us all come through town and saw me with my head out the window. I believe he was alarmed for his own sake, as well.”
Chloe’s eyes were full of disbelief. “I knew she hated me... I thought it was because I was of mixed race.”
“I’m sorry.” Carlson was shaking his head sadly. “I believe it was jealousy, simply because your father loved you so much and was determined to look out for you. But she has lost, Chloe. What’s there for her and her own children will likely be put in their names. If she is allowed any of it, now, once the solicitors and the courts get finished with her, I’ll be surprised.”
He turned toward Gregory, a moment later. “I hope the baron is willing to testify against her. Without the possible testimonies of both the Davies, and the solicitor…” He raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “We do have the reports, however, in the solicitor’s handwriting. And we have a letter, written in your father’s hand, Mrs. Miller. I won’t ask you to read it right now. But it explains the reasons your father thought it was important to take care of you. It’s incriminating for your stepmother, all on its own. We are fortunate enough, however, to have one other witness.”
“Another witness…” Gregory echoed thoughtfully, before speaking up once again. “When Chloe was kidnapped before our eyes, the first person I thought of was the baron, but he didn’t seem inclined to talk to me. I had also seen the two men, Basil and Nigel, although I didn’t know their names then. The other two men I saw were Tiny.” He grinned. “And Smiley.” He turned to Ghost. “You, Miller, I didn’t even see. And you took her right in front of my eyes. As I left that day, I had only one witness who said he’d seen you and described you as the Ghost.”
Ghost turned to Gregory, scowling. “If you didn’t see me on the wharf that day, then how did you know where to find me?”
Gregory turned to Carlson, as if waiting for him to explain.
“I’ll explain, if you’ll allow me to back up a little, Mr. Miller. When I met Captain Smythe the first time, in New Orleans, I was not only clearing up the case of fraud against Picou for his plot to benefit from the demise of two ladies traveling with the captain. I was searching for you.”
Chloe glanced upward, watching his face, and he leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I suppose I must ask,” he said, frowning. “Why me?”
“At first, we were told that you had been waylaid by pirates, and your father was searching for you. Meanwhile, the investigator, Mr. Miller, was working on your claim.”
Ghost had been looking down at his little wife. Now, his head snapped up. “My claim? Taken out by whom?”
Carlson held out a folder, and Ghost stared at it with trepidation.
Gregory held up a hand. “Before you look at it, Miller, I need to explain something.” His voice was soft. “In my searching, I visited the gaming halls in both Liverpool, in Ainsley, and in Bickerstaffe. And a few other places, including London. I was looking for information—any information I could find. The information I received was regarding two men. One was my father-in-law, the baron. The other, whose name kept being thrown about as a major debtor, was this gentleman.” He nodded toward the folder, and Ghost took it from Carlson’s grasp, frowning.
Slowly, he opened it and looked down at the signature on the policy for a long time.
“My God,” he whispered. “My brother, Marcus.” His mouth became a flat line.
“You realize you can prosecute,” Gregory prompted.
Finally, he shook his head slowly from side to side. “He’s my brother. I won’t have him incarcerated. It would kill my father. I know what it’s like, Mr. Carlson, to lose hope that you’ll ever be allowed to see the light of day again.”
Carlson leaned forward. “But you must understand, sir. If there is condemning evidence against him, the company may take him to court, themselves, and you may have no control over it.”
The room was quiet. Chloe turned in his arms and put both hers around his neck. Tears were trickling down her cheeks. Tears he knew were for him. His arms tightened about her fiercely.
He turned toward Gregory, once again. “Captain, you still haven’t completely answered my question. How did you know to find us here at Hartwycke?”
“I didn’t. When I was in the alehouse, again this morning, asking more questions, I heard a familiar voice. I realized it was Carlson. I followed him to his office and saw the daily with the ad in it sitting on his desk. When I began asking questions and told him about the two men driving the coach the day Chloe was taken, he immediately knew who I meant.”
Gates leaned forward this time. “Part of that, I’m afraid, was my doing, sir.”
Ghost’s eyes narrowed. “Explain,” he demanded.
“Hear me out before you come to a judgment.” Gates’ soft voice began speaking in its quiet manner. “Carlson and I met each other, when he came here, by accident. I’d already taken the job as your gatekeeper. He didn’t know that, however, and I didn’t tell him. We discussed the fact that your brother might be looking for you; we also knew your father wanted you protected at all costs. It would be just a matter of time before others knew where you were, as well.” He put up a hand as Ghost opened his mouth to speak.
“Please bear in mind, sir, I came to work here to protect you. I didn’t know you would be bringing Miss Tucker—pardon me—Mrs. Miller, here. By the time I knew that, I was no longer an investigator. My loyalties, Ghost, were to you. And, by that time, to Chloe. So, I never told Carlson she was here.”
Carlson’s scowl was fierce. “You knew, all the time. And you didn’t tell me.”
At the same time, Ghost was grinning. “Good man,” he said in approval.
“My goal was to keep both of you safe by then.” He turned to Chloe. “However, it scared me out of my wits, this morning, when you ran. Had the hounds not gotten your scent and come running, it’s quite possible I’d never have known you were gone until it was too late. Knocked me out of ten years’ growth.”
Chloe let out a sigh. “I’m s
orry, Gates. Thank you for bringing me back, sir.” Suddenly, she sat straight up in her husband’s lap. “Wait. The sound!”
For the first time, everyone in the room turned to her. She spoke insistently. “The eerie, awful sound I heard at night, sometimes.” When no one spoke, she leaned over against her husband’s chest. “I heard it, this morning, after I passed out—I was just about to come to, and it terrified me so badly I passed out again.” She sounded suddenly determined as she announced, “I demand to know, and I won’t let anyone leave this room until I do.”
Gates grinned at her. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a long silver object and put it to his lips. Immediately, a low, eerie sound filled the house, and she cringed at the noise. Ghost brought her back against him, enfolding her tightly in his arms and kissing the top of her head.
“That, my darling, was the signal between Gates and me. A simple whistle. If he saw someone or something—anything—suspicious on the property, he sounded the alarm, and I met him outside with the mastiffs. We investigated until we knew Hartwycke—and you—were safe.” His gaze rested on Gates, however. “But even though I eventually came to trust you, Gates, I still don’t know who you are. Or how you came to know Carlson.
Gates leaned back. “It’s quite simple,” he said, at last, jamming the silver whistle into his pocket. “I was the original investigator.”
Ghost was staring as they sat in silence, waiting for the next question.
Gregory leaned forward. “I’m not satisfied,” he said, staring at Ghost. “Look, Miller, it’s not that I don’t trust you…”
Ghost threw back his head and laughed. “Captain, you have every reason not to trust me. But go ahead.”
“I fully intend to. How is it that you knew Chloe was in danger before we did?”
Ghost’s voice was soft as he explained. He didn’t take his eyes from Chloe’s beautiful face. “It was quite by chance. The day before, I sat in the alehouse, overhearing a conversation between the Davies brothers. They were planning on earning some blood money—quite a significant sum, and when they left, they failed to take the daily with them, and I picked it up.”
Chloe snuggled closer, and he ruffled her hair. “I knew something had to be done. At first, I thought the target was your wife, Arabella, or possibly the commander’s wife, Lily. But when I read the paper, I knew it was Chloe they meant to harm. When I came home, I met with my loyal friends here, and we decided to take care of the matter, ourselves, to protect her.”
“It would have been quite nice if you’d gotten in touch with me.” The captain’s voice implied that he was not convinced.
Ghost stared at him blankly. “I’d already been declared dead. To do that, or to go to the police, might have taken away the life we—all of us—have here. And I had killed a man, if you remember. I had no wish to remind anyone of that.”
“You’re talking about Poche,” Gregory’s voice spoke up.
“Indeed, I am.”
“Then I have good news for you, sir. There’s no need to hide in seclusion any longer. I spoke to the constable, a few days ago. They were already fully aware that you shot Jean Luc Poche, in the defense of yourself and the defense of my wife and me. There have been no charges filed, nor will there ever be. Had you not shot him, he’d have turned on you next and killed you.”
Ghost looked back at him. “He’d have had to. There was no way I would have allowed him to take me prisoner again.” He glanced from Carlson to Gregory. “There is also the matter of Chloe’s escape from the owners and her stowaway aboard the Charlotte.”
Gregory stood to his feet. “This has been taken care of, as well. I’ve been working on it since the time we reached England. The owners have been repaid for purchase from your stepmother, Chloe. I bought you. And Benny, and Sarah—and all the crewmen who stayed on to work for me. All of you are now declared free.”
Chloe squealed. She attempted to run to Gregory, but Ghost’s arms tightened around her and kept her in his lap.
Carlson rose. “Gentlemen, it’s time to go. Chloe, please give us another week to clear all this up and have our facts together and our witnesses ready to testify. I’ll notify your husband personally, when you’re to meet us at the office. Will you promise to stay in seclusion until then? It’s preferable that Mrs. Cates not know you’re still alive until we are ready for her arrest. And Gates will stay here until then.”
“I promise, sir.” Chloe nodded, grinning up at her husband.
Ghost leaned down into her ear and spoke quietly so that only she could hear, “It’s quite possible, my darling, that I won’t even allow you out of my bed until then.”
Gregory also rose. “I need to be getting back to my wife. Arabella has been worried sick about you, Chloe. If it weren’t for the babe she was carrying, I think she would have put off eating completely. I warned her you would have her hide if she didn’t take care of herself.”
“Oh, I feared as much, sir. I longed to let you both know I was safe, but in his haste to protect me, my husband limited my communications with the outside world.”
Gregory paused at the doorway. “I still cannot believe you managed to wed in the short time you have been missing.”
“It was love at first sight,” she told him. “I’m afraid I have been holding a torch for Ghost ever since he disappeared with the Charlotte.” She reached up to touch Ghost’s face gently. “Arabella sang his praises and told all the wonderful tales of him coming to our rescue on the ship. I couldn’t understand my feelings myself, Captain, but I found them growing stronger after he brought me here, even before I realized who he was.”
Ghost smiled into her eyes. “And while no one was there to fill my head with fanciful stories of heroics, Chloe had been on my mind since the day she shoved the crate of apples off on my head. My destiny was set that day. I was never able to forget her.”
He kissed his wife, and his men gave a cheer.
Gregory waited for the room to quiet down before he spoke again. “Although it might be considered an intrusion, sir, might it be possible for me to bring Arabella by, in a week or so? She will want to see for herself that Chloe is safe and sound. And I will never hear the end of it unless I do.”
“And Lily and her baby, as well?” Chloe asked eagerly.
Ghost chuckled at her excitement, but Gregory felt it necessary to warn his friend. “Before you agree, Miller, I must point out Lily’s baby is just like her mother. She’s quite demanding and cries non-stop unless all attention is on her.”
“Hartwycke is filled with lots of loving people who will be glad to dote on a baby,” Chloe promised. Ghost gave her an incredulous look. So did the crew. Gregory and Carlson chuckled at the pained expressions they saw as they took their leave.
Chapter 18
Names…
Smiley stood up and adjusted his wooden leg, frowning. “Ever since you whacked Ghost in the head with it, somethin’s off,” he muttered. “Well, missy, you are officially one of us now. You’ve been here long enough to earn yourself a name. Pick one.”
Chloe searched each of the men’s faces and frowned. Ghost noticed her hesitation and reached up to smooth out the little crease forming down the bridge of her small nose. “Why the scowl, my love? My men have just claimed you as one of the family.”
“I was thinking,” she told him. “Half-breed?”
The crew collectively rejected that idea outright. Ghost’s eyes narrowed as he pinned her with a look. “Absolutely not. Try again.”
Woody pulled off his hat and winked at her with encouragement. “Won’t do. Ye be thinking while I try and figure out where this new hole came from. He was scowling down at his hat.
Chloe’s expression was incredulous. “Where?”
“There.” He held it up, poking his finger through and wiggling it.
Chloe threw her head back in laughter. “You can actually tell?”
But her giggling was met with a frown by Woody. “Need a new hat now. And don’t b
e trustin’ Chubs with a shotgun again.” He glared across at the butler.
“’Tisn’t me who shot a hole in yer hat, ye old coot,” Chubs returned.
Ghost looked over at him. “I believe she’s trying to think, gentlemen.”
When they silenced, Chloe began considering the names her friends went by. She became serious again. “Mixed breed?”
Ghost let out a frustrated sigh. He lifted her chin and stared down at her before muttering an emphatic, “No.”
“I know,” she said, unsure of why everyone was getting so cross with her. Coming up with a new name that would follow her for life was no easy task. “Metis.”
“Misses?” Tiny asked. “Did she say misses? I wish people talked as clearly as animals did.”
Ghost sent a frown Tiny’s way, before settling it on his wife. “Metis. M E T I S…” His hand reached down and tilted her chin upward. “Did you think you’d get away with that just because it’s French, young lady?”
“But—” She paused. “Oh, wait. I see why you all are rejecting my names. Tiny isn’t small, and Smiley hates to smile. You could call me Pedigree.”
Woody let out a curse, and everyone told him to watch his language. But he refused to quiet down. “Me thinks we ought to step outside and let your husband tan your stubborn, sassy backside.”
Ghost nodded agreement. “One more term like that, young lady, and I will borrow Smiley’s leg to paddle you.”
“And I’ll lend it to him,” the cook added.
She sighed. “I give up. I don’t understand what you want. Why don’t you all suggest a few possibilities and see how easy it is?”
“As it happens,” Ghost announced, glancing briefly toward his men, “We talked about this, earlier. Smiley, tell her what we came up with.”
Conquered by the Ghost (The Conquered Book 3) Page 18
