A Grave Inheritance (5 page)

Shouts came from the upper deck, followed by hurried footsteps along the passageway behind me. A crewman soon appeared at my shoulder, a piece of parchment in one hand.

“What is it now?” the captain yelled.

The crewman handed the parchment to the captain. “The customs master sent a boat for some of the passengers.”

Captain Saunders read the note then looked at me. “It says your party is to be brought directly to shore.” He glanced over my shoulder at the crewman. “Have their belongings loaded at once.”

I could hardly see straight for thoughts of being arrested, not to mention what would happen to the other people in my party. What if the soldiers decided to arrest poor Lucy Goodwin for no more than association? Her nerves would never survive such an ordeal. “But Captain,” I sputtered. “Our safety is your responsibility. You can’t just release us to strangers.”

“I can and I will,” the captain said. “My responsibility ended the moment you became a person of interest to the king. I will not jeopardize my livelihood on your behalf.”

“Then at least let the rest of my party stay aboard. The king has no interest in them.”

Captain Saunders gave me a curious look. “That may be the case, but your entire party has been ordered to shore. To do anything less could mean the loss of my cargo. Possibly even my ship. Is that what you are asking of me?”

He made me sound like an unreasonable twit. “Of course not, Captain. We shall go willingly.”

The captain nodded, his relief evident. “Please escort Miss Kilbrid to the deck,” he directed the crewman. “And notify the other passengers that they need to disembark within the quarter hour. I’ve no intention to keep the king waiting.”

Chapter Three

Eyes Too Many

We were a subdued lot as the boat slid across the water toward the dock. Two burly men pulled the oars, their thick necks jumping with cords of muscle from the effort it took to move our party of five and accompanying trunks to shore. Though the men seemed pleasant enough, smiling and inquiring about our journey, I stared straight ahead, my eyes searching the docks for any sign of soldiers. Nora sat quietly beside me on the wooden bench we shared with her mother. It was James who answered the men’s questions, his voice joyful behind me. No eyes were needed in the back of my head to be sure of the smug expression on his face.

Less than an hour ago, I couldn’t wait to get ashore. Now my stomach felt like I had swallowed a flagon of ice. Before leaving the
Callisto
, I explained to Nora how the boat had been sent on behalf of the king. Her eyes had grown wide with curiosity, then narrowed slightly when I feigned ignorance as to his majesty’s purpose. I disliked lying to Nora but at this point I would do anything to prevent the Goodwins from being arrested with me. My plan, if it could be called such, was to discreetly approach the nearest soldier, offer my name and ask to be taken into custody. If all went well, I would be out of sight and on my way to the Tower before anyone was the wiser. During the voyage, James had always been friendly toward Nora, and I assumed he would make sure she and her mother were settled in my absence.

The river fell away, bringing us alongside the dock. One of the men jumped out to secure the boat, and I breathed a sigh of relief when no soldiers rushed forward. Thankfully, they had opted to wait above on the street, which would give me more time to get away from the others. Once the boat was tied, the man turned to help each of us onto the dock. I went first, giving my feet just a moment to adjust before starting up the wooden ramps. At street level, I glanced around for the soldiers, expecting to see them at the ready.

The dock swarmed with people, but to my great astonishment, not a single red coat could be seen amongst them. I looked back and forth, frantic to have my plan in motion while Nora remained preoccupied with her mother and the trunks.

“Ballocks!” I cursed under my breath, realizing too late that I should have gone straight to the customs house rather than running off into the street. Now if I didn’t act fast, my actions would be misconstrued for an escape attempt, with the Goodwins as unwitting conspirators.

In near panic, I started to turn toward the river to retrace my steps, when the crowds thinned in front of me, and I caught a glimpse of red. Spinning back around, two soldiers came into view on the opposite side of the street, leaning against the wall of what looked to be a tavern. They were deep in conversation, each holding a pint of cider. From their casual demeanor, neither man appeared to be on official business. But for my purposes, one red coat was the same as another, and these two offered the most direct route to mend my previous error.

Squaring my shoulders, I attempted to step forward when a hand caught my arm, pulling me back onto my heels.

“There he is,” Nora said excitedly, pointing down the street with her free hand.

Blasted! I had lost my opportunity. Somehow, I would have to slip away and get across the street. “There’s who?” I asked, keeping my eyes locked on the soldiers.

“Why Henry, of course. Look, he’s standing next to that black and gold carriage.” Nora raised a hand and waved.

I turned in time to see Henry wave back. My heart skipped and for several long seconds I forgot how to draw breath. He was there, a little more than a stone’s throw away, waiting for me. Nora pinched my arm just as my vision began to grow dim. “Breathe, Selah,” she said. “You’ll not be fainting on the street and making a spectacle of yourself.”

Her pinch did the trick and cold air rushed into my lungs.

“You had me so worried,” Nora laughed, “believing the king had sent for us. An ill omen, indeed, to be summoned like that, I thought surely our first night was to be spent in some dank dungeon. But it was Henry all along, using his uncle’s name to get you to shore all the more quickly.”

A few more breaths restored my vision, along with my senses, allowing the truth to flow over me. Henry had sent the boat out to the
Callisto
, not the king. Despite James’s earlier taunts, I wasn’t about to be arrested and dragged off to the Tower. I stood in place, gazing at Henry as happiness filled me from head to toe.

“Can you walk,” Nora asked, “or shall I call for assistance? I’m sure one of these fellows could make room for you in their fish carts. The smell might be a bit off-putting when you’re done, though I’m sure Henry won’t mind.”

“I would run if there weren’t so many people in the way.”

Nora linked her arm in mine. “Better we walk, lest Henry think you’ve become a love-sick puppy in his absence. Which you have, of course, but it’s best to keep him guessing.”

We started off together, Nora leading the way and keeping me at a respectable pace whenever I tried to speed up. The crowds faded into a blur as I focused on Henry. His face was all I could see, the serious expression and beautiful eyes watching my every step.

A girl stepped directly in front of my path. Oblivious to my immediate surroundings, I would have trampled over her if Nora hadn’t stopped me at the last moment. A frigid gust of air pushed aside my cloak and I shivered.

“A penny to spare?” the girl asked, peering up into my face.

She stood so close I could see the light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose beneath a thick layer of grime. She looked at me, studying my face with pale blue eyes that seemed out of place on a girl of about twelve years. A faded black kerchief covered all but a few strands of her silvery blonde hair. A dismal homespun shawl of the same faded black draped her thin shoulders.

I shivered again, unable to keep the chill at bay. “Pardon me, what did you want?”

Nora retrieved her moneybag from the folds of her cloak. “The girl needs a penny,” she said, handing over two coins instead. “Poor thing looks on death’s doorstep. Bring one penny to your mother and use the other to buy yourself a hot meal.”

The girl smiled at Nora and stepped aside. She brushed against me as we passed by, her small fingers groping beneath my sleeve. I barely had time to register the intrusion when she reached the top of my glove line, and a deadly cold bit into the unprotected skin. We gasped in near unison, and she released my arm, wide-eyed, from what had just happened. Rubbing her hands together, she ran off into the crowd.

“Have you changed your mind?” Nora asked, turning to look at me. With our arms still linked she stood half a step ahead of me.

I shook my head and glanced at Henry. Though Brigid’s blood ran in my veins, he was the one who looked like a god, standing straight, his hands clasped behind his back. Any thought of the little wretch fell from my head and I started walking again, practically pulling Nora along in my haste.

“I guess not,” she teased. “You would do best to remember my mother’s strong aversion to public displays of affection. Believe me, the woman has eyes like a hawk when it comes to such matters. Anything more amorous than a brotherly peck on the cheek will send her straight into a tizzy. It will be a week of morality lectures if you’re not careful.”

“I’ll do my best,” I promised, though in truth I wasn’t sure if Henry could be trusted to do the same. Before boarding his ship for England, he had taken me in his arms and kissed me for everyone to see. In front of hundreds of witnesses, he had publicly staked his claim and made it clear where his heart belonged. Despite Nora’s warning about her mother, I hoped he would do it again.

By the time the last remaining steps fell away I was smiling like a fool, unable to contain my happiness any longer. After so long apart, he was close enough to touch, and for a brief moment we stood as if frozen, just staring at each other. His light brown hair was tied back, revealing the lines and features of his face, all somehow even more beautiful than I had remembered. The strong jaw and full mouth, the straight nose and green eyes sent my heart racing. All rational thought fled my mind, as did any promise not to throw myself into his arms. I moved forward, expecting him to do the same when Nora’s hold strengthened, forcing me to a dead stop. I tried to pull free, but she refused to let go.

Henry bowed deeply. “Miss Kilbrid, Nora Goodwin,” he said, addressing us both. “I trust you had a good voyage.”

His demeanor brought me up short. “Henry,” I laughed, on the verge of chiding his formality when Nora’s arm grew even tighter around my own.

“You trust wrong, Henry Fitzalan,” she said pleasantly. “Poseidon was in mean spirits and tried more than once to claim us. I consider it nothing less than a miracle to be standing here today.”

A muscle twitched in Henry’s jaw. “Well, you are arrived safe and sound and for that I am thankful.”

I couldn’t believe my own ears.
Fifteen weeks apart and this was the best he could do?
Unless being thankful was really all he felt from our reunion.

My smile faltered, then faded altogether. It had never occurred to me that Henry would not share in my happiness, that his feelings for me might have changed since we’d been apart.

“Any news from Hopewell?” Henry asked, addressing Nora. “I assume the harvest proved a success.”

“The reapers were just beginning when we sailed, but I’m sure it went well,” Nora said. “And Anne and Gideon Boyle send their regards.”

I remained silent while they spoke, desperately searching Henry’s face for any sign of his feelings. What I had mistaken for a serious expression now looked like a mask, closely banked and devoid of any real emotion. He wouldn’t even look at me, focusing all of his attention on Nora.

You were nothing more than a diversion until his lordship could return to England.

The hateful words barged unwelcome into my head. But James had been wrong about the soldiers, certainly he was also wrong about Henry. So why wouldn’t Henry look at me? My heart panged in my chest, threatening to burst. If we weren’t in public, I would have demanded an explanation on the spot. Instead, I tightened my free hand into a fist, hard enough for the bones to groan and forestall my impending tears. If I had to feel something, anger was the safer path, holding my heart together and affording me the necessary time until we could be alone.

Henry glanced over my shoulder as James approached with Lucy and Beth in tow. “Welcome home, James”

The two men clasped hands in greeting. “It’s good to be back, my lord.”

I compressed my lips to keep from screaming.

“And Lucy Goodwin,” Heny said next. “I hope your stay in London is pleasant.”

“Thank you, Henry Fitzalan,” Lucy said, a bit stiffly, as though she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. “I shall find the city more to my liking once I’ve been settled into proper lodgings. If you would be so kind to call a carriage, we can be on our way.”

“I’ll handle any further arrangements, my lord,” James said. “The ladies’ trunks will be brought up shortly, and then I’ll see them safely delivered to Lansbury House.”

“Thank you, James, but that won’t be necessary. I’ve brought two carriages to accommodate the party. If you will accompany Lucy and Nora Goodwin in one carriage, Miss Kilbrid and I will ride in the other.”

I glanced at him, not sure what he was up to. Moments before he could hardly be bothered to acknowledge my presence. Now he’d made arrangements for us to ride alone together. Lucy was so busy counting the trunks and ordering Beth around that she didn’t raise a single protest to his suggestion. I straightened my shoulders and set my chin, prepared to give him a piece of my mind once we were out of the public eye.

Two exquisite black and gold carriages were parked in tandem, one directly across from us, the other some twenty paces behind. At least eight powdered footmen stood at perfect attention, clad in black breeches and coats with gold trim to match. Henry raised his arm to shoulder height and flicked his wrist, sending a rush of footmen in our direction.

“See to the trunks,” he said to the first man who approached.

“Yes, my lord,” the man said, bowing.

Henry placed a light hand on my elbow, not enough to really touch me, but more as a token of politeness. “This way, Miss Kilbrid.” Nora released my other arm without any further protest.