Love Thine Enemy. Louise Gouge M.

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ a playful wink. “Who knows? Maybe one of these handsomely uniformed soldiers will catch your eye and you’ll be married before I return.”

      “You may wager all the Fair Winds’s profits that no Englishman will ever win my hand.” Again she cast a cross glance at the soldiers across the hall, who now harried Sadie, the innkeeper’s daughter, demanding rum despite the early hour.

      Jamie shoved away his teacup. “It’d be a winning wager, no mistake. Now, may I escort you to the store? The captain will keelhaul me if I make you late.”

      “He’d do no such thing to his nephew and new partner.” She scooted her wooden chair backward across the plank floor. “Wait while I fetch my bonnet.”

      He sent her a playful smirk. “By all means, protect your face. The English value a fair complexion.”

      She wrinkled her nose and laughed, but not too loudly for fear of drawing the soldiers’ attentions. In spite of Jamie’s assurances of their protection, she had no doubt that, given the chance, they would harass her as much as they did the innkeeper’s women.

      As she hastened up the rickety steps to the inn’s second floor, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks that soon she and Papa would move into their own more stable home above their store. Under the supervision of Mr. Patch, the carpenter from Papa’s ship, the crew had labored for weeks to raise the roof and build the apartment. It was almost completed.

      From her room at the end of the inn’s second-story corridor, she snatched her straw bonnet from a peg on the wall. Passing the room next to hers, she heard a soft whimper through the slightly open door. She glanced toward the stairway, then peered into the room.

      There, in a rough-hewn pen no more than three foot by four, sat the innkeeper’s grandson, his dark, soulful eyes staring up with sudden hope when he spied her. Flies buzzed about the two-year-old’s face and crawled over a dry crust of bread beside him.

      “Up. Up.” His winsome, tearful expression nearly undid her.

      “Dear little Robby.” Unable to resist his entreaty, she lifted him. “My, my, you need a change. And look at all these mosquito bites.” She felt a twinge of anger that the innkeeper had not provided his grandson with mosquito netting, but perhaps he could not afford it.

      Several clean diapers hung on a rope line near the window. Rachel started to call the baby’s mother, but compassion filled her. No doubt Sadie was kept busy serving those awful soldiers and could not care for her child as she ought to. Laying the child on the bed, Rachel quickly changed him, cooing to him all the while.

      “There, little one. I’ve not forgot how to do this. Gracious knows I changed my nieces and nephew often enough these past few years.” And the three of them healthily plump, while this wee tyke’s ribs were all too visible.

      The baby whimpered as she set him back down in the pen, a splintery structure made from an old shipping crate and far different from the sanded, polished beds her sister’s children slept in. And nothing more than an old tin cup, empty at that, for a toy.

      “I must go, sweet boy.” Rachel thought her heart would break. “I’m certain Mama will come feed you soon.”

      Only by force of will could she hasten down the stairs to join Jamie in the entry hall.

      “What is it, Rachel?” With a frown, he stared into her eyes. “You look distraught.”

      “Sadie’s little one.” She bent her head toward the staircase. “He spends his days alone in her room while she must fend off those dreadful soldiers.”

      Jamie’s face softened. “You have a kind heart, cousin. Hmm, didn’t Sadie say her husband is a soldier, too?”

      “Aye, but that doesn’t seem to protect her.” She lowered her voice. “And I’ve learned he’s serving under General Gage. Perhaps he even fought against our men at Concord.”

      “Rachel—”

      “Yes, yes, I know.” She moved past him out the inn’s front door.

      The East Florida heat blazed down on their covered heads as they walked the sandy road toward the sturdy wooden structure Papa had purchased for his mercantile. But Rachel could be concerned with only one matter—a poor, hungry little baby left alone in a room all day.

      “I’ve changed my mind,” she said as they reached the store. “There is something I want you to bring me when you return.”

      He swept off his broad-brimmed hat and gave her an exaggerated bow. “Name it, milady, and I’ll sail the seven seas to obtain it.”

      She dipped a playful curtsy. “Why, thank you, kind sir. But there’s no need for that. Just bring a toy for little Robby.” She sobered. “Do you mind?”

      “Anything for you, milady.” He caught her hand and placed a noisy kiss on it.

      “Ah, such gallantry.” Caring not a whit what onlookers might think, Rachel reached up and kissed his cheek.

      

      After a week of planning with Mrs. Winthrop, Frederick rode into town to invite more guests to his party. His first visit had been to Major Brigham, the garrison’s new commander, who along with his stylish bride had responded eagerly to his invitation. Several others also promised to attend. With a similar response from the merchants, the party would be complete.

      Frederick rode past the inn and saw the innkeeper’s wife and daughter hanging laundry on a line. Mrs. Winthrop had been aghast when he had suggested inviting them, and now her wisdom was confirmed as he observed their unkempt appearance and heard their uncouth language.

      A half mile from the inn, he spied Miss Folger with a brawny fellow who was bent over her hand like an adoring swain. The young lady then reached up to kiss the man’s cheek, and an odd pang coursed through Frederick’s chest. Did she dole out kisses to every man, or was this one a particular friend? He shook his head. Why should it matter to him?

      The fellow straightened and offered his arm, and the two entered Folger’s Mercantile. Frederick tethered his horse to a post under a nearby oak tree and followed them inside.

      The door had no sooner shut behind him than the three inside turned to him in surprise. Was that a glare emanating from the young lady’s face, or were her eyes merely adjusting to the inside light, as were his?

      “Good morning, sir.” Mr. Folger limped forward to welcome him. “How can I help ye?”

      “Good morning, my good man. Miss Folger.” Frederick removed his hat, nodded to the father and daughter, and cast an inquisitive glance toward the big man behind Folger.

      “Ah, ye’ve not met my partner.” Folger urged the man forward. “Mr. Moberly, this is my nephew, Captain Templeton, who now commands my old ship.”

      The younger captain’s steady gaze was a clear and bold appraisal of Frederick.

      In an instant, the air seemed sparked with invisible lightning. Instinctively, Frederick took on the unassuming pose he had perfected as the youngest of four sons to keep from being whipped into his proper place. Hating himself for it, he nonetheless feigned amiability and reached out to shake the other man’s hand rather than meet his challenge and put СКАЧАТЬ