Love Thine Enemy. Louise Gouge M.

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СКАЧАТЬ His smile seemed almost boyish. “Good afternoon.”

      “Yes, sir. How may I help you?” You just asked him that. She gazed up into his dark gray eyes, transfixed by the intense look he returned. At the memory of his rescuing her from the soldier, she felt her cheeks grow warm. Now, as then, she thought perhaps some Englishmen might not be purely evil. His black hair was swept back in a queue, but one stray lock curled over his forehead like an unruly, and utterly charming, black sheep.

      “I, well, um,” he said, “I wondered how your father’s business is faring. I have been telling everyone they should patronize your store. Even written the news of your establishment to other plantations along the St. Johns River. Settlers have done without many necessities and nearly all luxuries here in the wilderness and waited a long while for a proper mercantile close by…” He pursed his lips. “Now who’s being too loquacious?”

      Rachel laughed. Her face grew hotter. To think he had recalled her silly comment. “Papa will be pleased to hear that you are, um, pleased.”

      “Yes.” He glanced around the store and then back at her. “Ah, I should have asked straightaway. How is your hand?” His right hand moved toward her slightly, then retracted, as if he would take her injured one but thought better of it. “Did Dr. Wellsey serve you…well?” He grinned.

      “Oh, indeed, he did.” Forbidding herself to laugh again, Rachel flexed her fingers to show the hand was on its way to complete recovery. “Although I must say he seemed to regard my little injury as a scientific experiment.” The pleasant young doctor had never once looked at her face and seemed disappointed at the ease with which the splinters came out. “But, gracious, the smell of that salve.” She waved her hand beneath her nose at the memory.

      “Dreadful stuff, I agree.” Mr. Moberly gave her a comical frown. “Yes, the good doctor is a serious scientist. But a competent physician must be, do you not think?”

      “Why, I’ve never considered—”

      “What’s this?” Papa’s voice boomed from behind Rachel as he entered from the back room. “Ah, Mr. Moberly. What can I do for ye today?”

      Jamie followed close behind Papa and raised an eyebrow to question Rachel. She shrugged one shoulder and hoped Mr. Moberly did not see their silent communication. For some strange reason, she felt an urge to remind the Englishman that Jamie was her cousin, not a suitor. But why should he care about such things?

      “Good afternoon, Mr. Folger.” Mr. Moberly extended his hand. “Mrs. Winthrop has sent me for thread and, oh, several other items. I can’t recall them all.” He pulled a crumpled paper from his pocket and handed it to Rachel. “Do say you have everything she wrote down, Miss Folger, so I may continue to recommend this establishment for its many and varied wares.”

      “Yes, sir.” Rachel walked to the counter and pressed the paper flat with her hand so she could read it. Mr. Moberly reminded her of a little boy who had not yet learned to be entirely neat, but she found it charming. Darning needles, twenty ells each of red and blue bunting, cinnamon, black pepper, several shades of thread, plus other needs. She gathered the items on the front counter but kept her ears open to the men’s lively conversation.

      “I did not know if I would see you again, Captain Templeton.” Mr. Moberly’s tone was jovial, as if chatting with an old friend. “Were you not to sail to England this week?”

      “I’ll sail day after tomorrow, weather permitting.” Jamie’s expression brightened to match Mr. Moberly’s. “But since you’ve been here for some time, I hoped to ask your advice about the merchandise I should bring from London.”

      “Of course.” Mr. Moberly clapped Jamie on the shoulder. “This is truly fortuitous. We have had many newcomers whose needs we failed to anticipate. I shall make a list for you.”

      “Very good.” Jamie grinned. “List as you will, and I’ll obtain it. And if you give me a letter of introduction, I shall be pleased to call upon any of your associates for you.”

      “I shall prepare that letter this very day. Do you have time to ride to my plantation this afternoon?”

      “Sir, that is most agreeable.” The last reservation fled from Jamie’s expression, replaced by a broad smile.

      “Excellent.” Mr. Moberly perused several items on display: knives, flintlock pistols, a barrel of cast-iron nails. “While I am here, I should like to enlist your assistance.”

      Rachel’s ears tingled, and she leaned closer to the men.

      “Ask as ye will, sir,” Papa said.

      “A dissident agitator has entered our settlement and tried to stir up sympathy for the rebellion in Massachusetts and the other colonies.” Mr. Moberly toyed with a length of rope coiled for sale. “The chap slips into the Wild Boar Inn or Brown’s Tavern and makes a few remarks while men are in their cups, then slips away before anyone can apprehend him.”

      Rachel’s heart raced. Another patriot, right here in St. Johns! She must learn his identity and try to contact him.

      “Of course, no man here is of that mind.” Mr. Moberly settled a placid smile on Papa and Jamie.

      “Not that I’ve discerned,” Papa said.

      “Certainly not.” Jamie sent Rachel a warning scowl. She wrinkled her nose in return.

      “In any event, a reward awaits the man who can supply any information leading to his apprehension.”

      The men continued their business discussion, and by the time Rachel had assembled and packaged all of Mr. Moberly’s purchases, they seemed to be lifelong friends. The gentleman paid Papa, bowed to her and afterward left the store.

      “Don’t that beat all?” Papa crossed his arms and watched Mr. Moberly leave. “Looks like the path is smooth before us.”

      “To be sure.” Jamie sent a glance Rachel’s way. “With Moberly’s letters, we’ll have access to the best products London can offer.”

      “Indeed we will.” Papa moved behind the counter and pulled out a logbook. “Now let’s take a look at those figures.”

      The two men hovered over the book and continued their discussion of Jamie’s imminent voyage. To Rachel’s annoyance, they never once mentioned the dissident agitator.

      She wished they would include her in their consultations, but most often, they shooed her away. Her heart torn between wanting Mr. Moberly to come back and longing to go find the patriot right away, she returned to her corner. Inez was stitching the last inches of lace to the gown’s neckline, and Rachel resumed her own work. With their shoulders almost touching, Rachel felt Inez shake and looked over to see the older woman working to hide her mirth.

      “Shh. What is it?” Rachel glanced toward Papa. As kindhearted as he was, he had no patience with chatty or giggling servants.

      Inez leaned toward her and whispered, “Señorita, I think we both make mistake.”

      “Oh?”

      “Sí. My mistake is thinking the physician is for you. No, no. It is el patrón who admires my mistress, and more than a little.”

      “What nonsense. СКАЧАТЬ