At the Captain's Command. Louise Gouge M.

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      He chuckled. “Do tell me about it.”

      “Why, we have teas and parties and balls and picnics and no end of merry times. And of course the men go hunting.” She gave him a sidelong look. “You will be in great demand, Captain. Every mother of a marriageable young lady will seek your company.” Her teasing words threatened to stick in her throat. As before, she could not think of a single young lady worthy of this man, not even dear, wealthy Elizabeth Markham, for the girl rarely had a serious thought. Still, Dinah found herself nattering onward. “In fact, if you attend services at St. Peter’s Church this Sunday, I shall make certain you are introduced to the cream of our society.”

      Again her words gave her pause. Growing up the son of an English earl, the captain no doubt had met truly exalted personages, perhaps even the king. Ignoring her uncertainties, she eyed him. “What do you say to that?”

      Again he laughed. “I say that it would be imprudent of me to ignore your invitation if I expect to escape boredom in your fair town. In fact, I try never to miss attending worship services when I am ashore. And if I can be introduced into St. Augustine society at church, all the better.” He raised one eyebrow the way Jamie did when he was about to tease. “Speaking of social matters, I must tell you that my lieutenant, Mr. Wayland, was quite taken with you. ’Twas all I could do to keep him from following me here this evening. If he asks me as your kinsman for permission to call on you, what shall I tell him?”

      “Oh, my.” She could still feel the young officer’s too-firm clasp of her hand and see the overeagerness in his eyes. “You must tell him he would do better to pursue another.” She kept her tone cheerful. “You see, I have vowed never to marry a seafaring man, for I will not live as a widow while I am wed.” The slight dimming of his smile caused her a pang of regret, for she did not intend to disparage Thomas’s profession. Nonetheless, she would not have sailors, even officers, coming to call. Of course, she would not count Thomas among the unwelcome ones, but then, he was her brother-in-law.

      “Then I will do all in my power to protect you from such suits.” He looked toward the house and offered Dinah his arm. “Miss Templeton, pray let us put Mr. Hussey at ease.”

      She thought she detected a tiny smirk on the captain’s lips, but she dared not surrender to the giggle bubbling up inside her. “And let us escape these mosquitoes as well. This is the time of evening they come out to bother us.” She waved away the insects trying to land on her bare hand. Inside they would be protected by the fine mosquito netting over the windows, an expense even Artemis had been eager to indulge in.

      Halfway on their trip to the side door, the captain stopped, serious once again. “Are you well protected in this house, Miss Templeton?”

      She blinked in surprise. “Wh-why, yes, Captain.” Her heart warmed at his concern. Every word, every gesture endeared this man to her. Were he not a seafarer, she might even set her cap for him. But that was nonsense. He was a seafarer. And he was practically her brother. And he had made it clear at their first meeting he regarded her a sister. She need not even consider the difference in their ages…or their social ranks.

      No, she would put away all such featherbrained thoughts of romance this very instant.

      Thomas could not guess what had come over him. Somehow this delightful young woman’s warmth and kindness had brought forth his tenderest emotions, not to mention his protective instincts. Perhaps his familial sentiments, so long submerged beneath his military responsibilities, were resurfacing in light of his imminent meeting with his brother and sister. Whatever the cause, he felt…at home with Dinah Templeton.

      And now nothing would do but for him to discover the cause of the tension between the lady and Mr. Hussey. Overdone manners aside, the fellow had not hidden his annoyance with her. But why did she displease him? At first, Thomas had considered that the man might have designs on her. But Mrs. Hussey appeared to be as virtuous as she was attractive, as insightful as she was kindhearted. If the husband desired Dinah, the wife would surely not comport herself with such serenity.

      Thomas searched his memory for scraps of conversations he’d had with Jamie Templeton regarding his sister. He could recall only that she had a modest inheritance to sustain her. Ah, perhaps that was the issue. Money. Thomas would not be hasty in his judgments but would watch for confirmation of his suspicions. His first impressions generally proved true. And when he met Hussey, a single line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar had come to mind: “Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look.” If Hussey revealed himself to possess the same depth of wily ambition as the scheming Roman Cassius, all the more reason to investigate his treatment of Dinah.

      As for the young lady’s assertion that she would not wed a seafarer, Thomas acknowledged her decision was a wise one. As her friend, he wished only for her happiness. Still, the military man within him felt a bit of challenge, a surge of pride, even, that he could conquer that resolve, should he so desire.

      Which, of course, he did not. But he was pleased to have a confidant who seemed to understand his situation. He should like to see Dinah well cared for. Even if he couldn’t personally guarantee her happiness, he could not allow her to stay in an unsuitable situation. He would wait and learn what he could and if need be, he would act.

      Chapter Five

      Seated in St. Peter’s Church, Dinah sensed someone’s gaze on the back of her head, so she opened her prayer book, trying not to look over her shoulder. Her attempt failed. A glance across the aisle and to the rear revealed Mr. Wayland’s bold stare and impudent grin, both of which ceased the instant a frowning captain nudged the young lieutenant with his fist.

      Her heart lightened by the captain’s protective gesture, Dinah turned back to face the altar, taking care not to knock loose her wide-brimmed straw hat by bumping into Anne’s smaller chapeau. Anne gave her a smile, then returned her attention to her open Bible.

      Dinah tried to refocus on her own prayer book, but the playful invitation in the lieutenant’s expression lingered in her thoughts. Did he have no respect for this place of worship? While other unattached young ladies might find church the perfect place to engage the interests of young gentlemen, Dinah thought the practice bordered on heresy. It was all well and good to introduce Thomas to her friends after the service ended. However, one attended church services to consider God’s mercies and worship Him. Indeed, this was the only place where Dinah ever felt the presence of God.

      Pray though she might every day, believe in Him as she did with all her heart, she could never quite attain the serenity Anne had exhibited since they were children. Anne seemed to know God intimately, which surely gave her the grace to endure her marriage and even to love Artemis. For Dinah, God seemed distant, inaccessible, unheeding of her cries, uncaring about the loneliness she had felt all her life. Other than Anne, whom had Dinah ever loved who had not abandoned her?

      She shook off her self-pity. Even if God chose not to speak to her, she would still choose to believe in His goodness and serve Him as best she could, just as Anne did. Anne, who sat here without complaint because there was no Friends meeting in St. Augustine. Here in St. Peter’s, the lovely liturgy and insightful sermons bore little resemblance to Nantucket’s quiet, but equally spiritual Quaker meetings, in which no one spoke unless guided by the Inner Light. Yet Anne often said how important it was to meet with other Christians to worship God, whatever form that worship took.

      Although Dinah had never felt the Inner Light, she did find joy and comfort in repeating the prayers and singing the songs with the other congregants. Moreover, Reverend Kennedy’s sermons always inspired her. No doubt Thomas would agree СКАЧАТЬ