by Jo Goodman
“Please call me Alex.”
Kenna nodded and offered the same informality of address. “They arrived just as you said they would and, according to the housekeeper, were plainly shocked that I was not at home to greet them. Imagine, expecting me to be there just because they had come calling!”
“It would be considered something of an honor that they deigned to visit you at all. The usual thing would be for them to simply command your presence. They left invitations though, didn’t they?” Alexis said wisely.
“Yes. How did you know?”
“It is the expected thing. They are all curious about the Cannings. You must know Roland wielded a great deal of political power in this state as well as nationally. Richard was considered by many to the likely winner of a senate seat in the next election. Their deaths shocked Boston. Naturally there is a lot of speculation about Roland’s estranged son.”
“I was prepared for that,” said Rhys. “I am fated to disappoint them. I have no political aspirations whatsoever. Canning Shipping is enough to keep me occupied for quite some time.” He hesitated slightly. “The captain of the Carasea led me to believe my father did not have much respect for the Garnet Line. Frankly, I’m curious as to why that was. Kenna and I have been impressed by what we’ve heard and seen.”
“If I may speak plainly,” Tanner said, raising his eyebrows in question.
“Please.”
“Roland was an astute business man. There was much about his management of the line that I admired. But Canning Shipping became the means to an end in his hands. His end was power; for himself and for Richard. He used political leverage to win special concessions for his business and he used money from the line to further his political ambitions. I spoke out against sending him to London to work out the terms of peace treaty and I was opposing Richard’s bid for the senate seat. Roland took exception to my right to free speech.”
“What did he do?” Rhys waved away Tanner’s look of surprise. “I knew my father well enough to know he would not take exception quietly. He must have acted against you in some way.”
It was Alexis who spoke. “It’s unimportant. We did not ask you here tonight to speak of these matters or to insist you do anything differently than your father has done. I will tell you this, your father’s displeasure with us existed before Cloud spoke out against him.”
“Alex,” Tanner said warningly.
She touched his hand lightly. “It’s all right. I want to tell them.” Her gold flecked eyes traveled from Rhys to Kenna. “Roland believed I was responsible for the death of one of his dearest friends.”
“Were you?” asked Rhys directly without the slightest fear of offending her.
Alexis’s admiration grew. Not many people would have asked, preferring to reach their own conclusions based on the slim body of evidence available to them. “Two years ago I was responsible for the arrest of Senator Howe on charges of treason. He was a popular man here in Massachusetts and, as I mentioned, a good friend of your father’s. He was found guilty after a short trial and later he hanged himself in prison.”
Rhys grimaced in disgust. “That is hardly your fault.”
“Roland thought differently. When the war was officially declared at an end in December of last year, Cloud and I came to Boston to help his sister and brother-in-law with the Garnet Line. Roland made it quite clear that not only were we not welcome, but that we were to blame for Howe’s death. Reasoning with him was out of the question. He remained adamant.”
“Yes, he would. He did not stray easily from a course once it was set.”
“Not an entirely unadmirable quality,” said Tanner. “I admit to a stubborn streak myself.”
Alexis feigned surprise, laughing lightly, easing the strain in the room. “You do?” She spoke to Rhys and Kenna. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
The conversation continued in a bantering manner throughout the remainder of the dinner. A plate of cheese and fresh fruit was served for dessert. They took the tray and their cups of hot spiced coffee to the music room where Kenna was coerced into playing something on the spinet.
“Alex doesn’t play,” Tanner told her as he put out the sheet music. “She keeps threatening to learn.”
“She has other accomplishments,” Kenna said a trifle wistfully. “I should love to learn to sail.” She ignored Rhys’s affected groan. “I lived along the Channel my entire life and never once was allowed to put out in a boat.”
“The Channel waters can be treacherous,” said Alexis.
Rhys added quickly and significantly, “And so can these waters.”
“I take your meaning, Rhys,” she laughed and began playing.
Shortly after Kenna’s impromptu concert was at an end she and Rhys bid the Clouds goodnight. Kenna sat in the carriage beside Rhys, her head on his shoulder.
“It was an enjoyable evening, wasn’t it?” she yawned sleepily as the carriage rocked them gently over cobbled Boston streets.
“Yes.”
His quiet, single-word response gave Kenna pause. “What are you thinking?”
“That my father was a true bastard.” The cords of his neck were knotted with tension. “I know he found a way to retaliate against the Clouds. I only wish they could have told me what he did. I could set it to rights. They don’t deserve my father’s revenge for speaking their minds.”
“I think I know what he did,” Kenna said quietly after a long silence had separated them. “There were things…. they didn’t make sense then, but now, after tonight’s conversation, well, I think I know what they mean.”
She had his complete attention. “Kenna, what are you saying?”
“I found some items in the accounts that I was going to discuss with you because they made no sense to me. Were you aware your father was making regular payments to the lumber mills and iron forges and getting nothing in return? He was also making payments to certain individuals like foremen, carpenters, and laborers who were not employed directly by Canning Shipping. Not only that, but I found contracts with some merchants, no doubt good friends of your father’s, that set ridiculously low prices for importing or exporting their goods. Rhys, Roland was paying people not to supply materials or work for the Garnet Line.”
Rhys swore feelingly under his breath. “That he could be so vindictive. It is nearly beyond belief.”
“I want you to look over everything, so you can be certain in your own mind, but I believe you will find that the evidence is there. The payments date back years, probably beginning at the time of Howe’s suicide. That Tanner and his family have been able to keep Garnet in operation must have sorely taxed their resources, even with Quinton Shipping becoming part of the entire business.”
Rhys could not take in the depth of Roland’s treachery. His flinty eyes narrowed as he stared out the carriage window. “They would have had to import the materials to build that schooner and cut their own prices to compete with Canning. And do you know what makes no sense?” he said bitterly. “My father was slashing his own throat to achieve his ends. He was so bent on destroying Garnet that he was sacrificing his own business.”
Kenna folded her arms around Rhys’s. “I suspect that he believed when Garnet was finished there would be time enough to recover what he paid out and more. Roland was in the stronger financial position. The Clouds would have had to declare bankruptcy eventually.”
“I think my father seriously underestimated Tanner Cloud. Garnet Shipping would have held on for years.”
“I don’t know that Roland cared how long it would take, Rhys. I think he believed, however erroneously, that he was avenging a friend.”
“A treasonous friend,” Rhys said tightly. “I shouldn’t wonder that my father had something to do with that.”
“Oh, Rhys! Don’t even think it.”
He said nothing in reply, remaining deep in his own thoughts during the rest of the drive home.
Rhys’s withdrawn mood had not changed when they went to be
d but when he reached for Kenna in the darkness of their room, she went to him gladly, laying her arm across his chest and her head in the crook of his shoulder.
Her soft breath caressed him. “I love you, Rhys Canning,” she said. “Nothing your father ever did can change the way I feel about you. I hope it hasn’t the power to change the way you feel about yourself.”
Rhys stared unblinkingly at the ceiling. “I could not love my father, Kenna. But until this evening I was never ashamed of him. I feel it so deeply within me now that I ache with it.”
“Don’t do this to yourself,” she pleaded softly.
“We’re going to be very alone, you and I,” he told her, his voice rasping. “I will not let his injustices stand, Kenna. In the morning I will begin putting a stop to wages given for no work and bribes that were used to keep Garnet without lumber and iron. I am going to tear up the contracts that kept fares unreasonably low. In fact, I’m going to tear them up in front of the merchants who signed them. You know what will happen once the word is spread, don’t you? When the reserve of Canning money is no longer in circulation, we are going to be shunned. Have no doubt, my father’s business friends are going to revile us for laying open their immoral conduct.”
“You’re hardly going to put a notice in the Gazette, Rhys.”
He smiled as if the thought appealed to him and knew a moment’s pleasure. “No, I’m not going to do that,” he said and then sighed. “This affair does not have to reach the public. It will be enough that those men who entered into agreements with my father learn from me that it is finished. We won’t be welcome in many homes after that.”
“I can think of one place where we would be welcome, even if you had not discovered Roland’s dealings a year from now. Alexis and Tanner don’t bear any ill-will, Rhys. Why, they wouldn’t even speak of what Roland had done this evening, which is why I remained silent about my suspicions. They certainly did not invite us into their home to win our support. If you had not asked about Roland, I sincerely doubt the topic would have been broached.”
“You’re right, of course. And I value their friendship, too. But aren’t you in the least curious why they never fought my father publicly on this count? They could have stopped him by acknowledging openly how he was trying to ruin them. He would have been afraid of the scandal.”
“Perhaps they had no tangible proof,” she suggested. “Or it simply may be that they thought they could overcome the pressure Roland was placing upon their business. Does it really matter?”
“No, I suppose not.” But still he was curious. Something that Tanner had said about his notorious wife refused to be silenced. Was it more than a lover’s tease between them? A truth, perhaps, that his father had known? His thoughts strayed from Tanner and Alexis to his wife, who was rubbing the sole of her foot along the length of his calf. “I never asked what you think, Kenna. Do I have your support in this? It will not be easy on you either, you know.”
“What do I care for being sought after for every social affair?” she said, mocking his question. “Of course you have my support, darling. We are hardly going to be pariahs. Alex and Tanner will see to that. There are hundreds of people in Boston who had no dealings at all with Roland Canning.” Her hand slipped across his abdomen and pressed against his thigh. “Can we speak of this on the morrow, please. I would dearly love…” She whispered her desire in his ear.
“Kenna!” Rhys pretended shock. “Where did you learn those words?”
Her teeth tugged on his ear lobe. “From you, dearest. Where I learned everything.” She slid down his body and her tongue flicked across his flat male nipples, arousing them as he did hers.
“Not everything,” he denied huskily, brushing his fingers through her hair. “You’re very…” She pinched the back of his thigh. “Creative! I swear I was intending to say creative!”
She lifted her head and looked into his dear face which was graced at the moment by an impish smile. “I love you.” She kissed the faint dimple in his chin. “You can’t imagine…” Her mouth brushed his and the kiss deepened as desire swelled between them.
Kenna was an impatient lover that night, rousing them both to a fiery passion that left them breathless in its aftermath. Their skin misted with love’s labors, their bodies tensing and arching, then curving into one another as pleasure’s demands were surrendered to. They curled spoon fashion, Rhys’s arms beneath the tender curves of Kenna’s breasts, and slept that way most of the night.
In the morning Rhys went to the warehouse alone, but promised Kenna he would review the ledgers before he did anything. He admitted to himself that he had harbored a niggling hope that Kenna was wrong in her assessment of the irregularities in the accounts. That hope was extinguished by early afternoon. There was simply no other explanation that made sense. Rhys had a lengthy conversation with Joshua Grant but was finally satisfied that the man was guilty only of not questioning some of Roland’s practices. Grant had never concerned himself with finances, his position demanded only that he make decisions about the cargo and sailing schedule and report back to Roland’s lawyer, Mr. Britt. Britt, in turn, notified the bank to release funds for wages or made the deposits for Roland. Entries were made in the ledgers on a weekly basis by Britt’s clerks.
Rhys’s meeting with Britt lasted less than twenty minutes, long enough for him to terminate their business relationship. Though Britt protested he was only directing payments according to Roland’s wishes, Rhys knew the man had understood all along what Roland was really asking him to do.
“I told you I advised your father to turn the profits back into his own line,” Britt argued heatedly, pushing back his wire spectacles until the lenses seemed to press against his eyes.
“The fact remains that you did as he wanted,” Rhys said coldly.
“He employed me, for God’s sake! He was my most important client!”
Rhys opened the door, tipping his hat with mocking politeness. “Then I hope you can find other clients, but I will not be among them.”
Rhys managed to pay a visit to three merchants on his list before the closing of the business day. After informing them their contracts with Canning Shipping were void, he told them the new rates and left it up to them to decide if they wanted to continue using the line. He did not wait around to hear their protests or their decisions.
Before returning home Rhys visited the two ironworks that supplied anchors and chains, nails, hooks, and tools, to Canning Shipping. And none to Garnet. Neither of the owners were at the works and Rhys decided against explaining the problem to the foremen, preferring to deal directly with the owners.
When he arrived home Kenna was already dressed for their evening out. She was wearing her lemon gown with the garland of flowers embroidered on the hem and looked achingly lovely to his weary eyes.
Kenna turned from the mirror where she was adjusting the pearl choker around her neck and stood, walking quickly toward Rhys to greet him. She brushed a lock of hair away from his brow, noting the lines of strain, and kissed him on the mouth.
“Would you rather not go this evening?” she asked, concern making her eyes the color of sweet dark chocolate. “We could send the groom with our excuses. Alex and Tanner will understand.”
Rhys shook his head, shrugging out of his coat. “Thank you for asking, but there’s no need to change our plans.” He brushed her cheek with his mouth. “Mm. I like your perfume. Help me out of this shirt. I’d like to wash. I shouldn’t wonder that I feel dirty after this day’s work.”
Kenna loosened the studs on Rhys’s cuffs and shirt front. “Was it difficult for you?”
“I don’t know that I thought about it,” he said as she drew the shirt off his shoulders. “I went through the motions, but I didn’t let myself think.”
Kenna set out his evening clothes while Rhys poured water from the pitcher on the nightstand into a white porcelain bowl. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
Rhys began washing. “I confirmed your s
uspicions after a few hours. My father and Richard, and later Britt’s clerks, kept excellent records. I spoke with Grant and he cleared himself to my satisfaction. My conversation with Britt was briefer. We will not be doing business with him any longer. I spoke with Franklin Anders, Thomas Hamilton, and Harris Feilding and let them know our rates would be increasing. Neither Brown nor Sampson were at their ironworks so that will have to wait until Monday.”
“What was the response from the men you did speak to?”
“To a man it was the same. Incredulity, sputtering protests, and then resignation.” He threw down his washcloth and turned to Kenna. “On Monday, after word has traveled, I expect the denials of wrongdoing to flow smoothly from glib tongues. I doubt I shall be amused.”
“Can I help in any manner?” she asked.
“Knowing that you are willing to is help enough. Just keep loving me, Kenna.”
Her heart went out to him as he stood there, vulnerable with his open hands at his sides and a pained look in his glistening eyes. She had not suspected that he needed the same reassurances that she did. Lifting his hand to her breast, she held it there a moment, then raised it higher, touching her lips to the center of his palm. “That I should ever stop loving you is the last thing you should worry about.”
Rhys’s eyes closed and he pulled Kenna into his embrace. “I don’t want Tanner to know about what I’ve done today. Let us put business aside this evening.”
“They’re going to find out.”
“But not tonight, please.”
“Of course, Rhys. Whatever you wish.”
Alexis and Tanner were waiting for them at Forrest’s, though they swore they had only arrived minutes before. They were shown to a private booth at the back of the tavern by Forrest himself, a gruff man with an impatient air about him who kept calling Tanner Captain Cloud in spite of Tanner’s objections.
When Forrest left them Alexis patted Tanner’s hand consolingly. “You’ll always be the captain to him, so you may as well save your breath. Besides, you know he was doing it in part to needle you.” She turned to Rhys and Kenna. The delicate silver necklace at her throat sparkled in the candlelight. “We have been promising to come here for over a month and never found the time. Forrest is not about to let it go lightly.”
