June bowed her head and smoothed her skirts. “Still, I should have listened.”
“Think of it no more. Besides, we are free of the Devil of Dunbar.” Lord Corbett held his tea cup up in toast to his wife.
“You are certain?” Lady Corbett stopped fidgeting and regarded her husband coldly.
George shivered at the look on his spouse’s face. Sometimes, June could be quitebloodthirsty. “Very. I made sure to tell the captain to be leagues from Bermuda beforeNick Shepherd.” George winked “Meets his demise between the jaws of a shark. Can’t have bits of him washing up on shore, can we?”
* * *
Tally O'Dell stood waiting,his hand raised to knock on the door of Governor Lord Corbett’s morning room. He hesitated upon hearing the way in which Corbett decided Jemma’s future and lowered his hand. The name Dunbar meant nothing to him, and he wasn't surprised that Lord Corbett was having Shepherd fed to the sharks. The man deserved it after what he’d done. His only concern was Jemma and the promise he'd made to his friend, Willie.
When Willie asked Tally to retrieve that packet of papers from the armoire, Tally knew this day would come. Willie did not trust George or June Corbett, at least not in the last six months of his life. He outlined for Tally exactly what must be done for Jemma. The packet, along with a bag of coins, Willie entrusted to Tally as well as a sealed envelope. Willie’s instructions were very specific, particularly in regards to Lord and Lady Corbett. “Do not trust the Corbetts, Tally, no matter what they tell you.”
That was fine by Tally. He'd never cared for George Corbett, his meddling wife nor their son, Augustus. Dorthea, their daughter had been a lovely lass, but she was long gone from Bermuda and unlikely to return. Not that it mattered.
Do not trust the Corbetts.
Tally wasn't an educated man, though Willie had taught him to read, but he was smart. Smart enough to know that Augie Corbett’s IOU’s fairly littered Bermuda and that the Corbetts were in debt up to their eyeballs. The amount of money Willie loaned to the Corbetts in the last two years alone staggered the imagination. The Governor could never repay the debt to his friend, nor could the Corbetts ever cover Augie’s expenses. Their only hope was to access the wealth of Sea Cliff, and the only way to do that was for Augustus to marry Jemma.
Tally’s heart ached for the girl he considered a substitute daughter. Had she given the slightest inclination that she wished to marry young Corbett, Tally would have thrown that packet of Willie’s into the ocean. He cursed under his breath as he thought of that scoundrel who’d taken her innocence. Tally failed Willie in that. He would not fail his dearest friend now.
Counting to five, he knocked lightly at the door.
“Come.” Lord Corbett's command answered.
He opened the door, determined to play the obliging manservant. Not that Corbett would ever expect anything but total obedience from Tally. Governor Lord Corbett considered him to be of little importance, and Tally meant to keep it that way. “My lord.” He doffed his hat and bowed. “Your ladyship.”
“Tally, my good man.” When Lord Corbett smiled, as he did now, he reminded Tally of an alligator.
Lady Corbett clasped her be-ringed hands on her lap and acknowledged Tally with a brief nod.
“Lady Corbett and I require your assistance.”
“I am at your service.” Tally clutched his hat in both hands.
“Thank you, dear man.” Lady Corbett raised a handkerchief to her eyes and dabbed. “We are so concerned about Jane Emily.”
Tally thought Lady Corbett’s true calling should have been the stage.
“She is so overwrought with grief. I fear it has,” Lady Corbett hesitated as if finding it difficult to voice such painful thoughts, “brokenher.” She gave a small sob.
“Broken her?” Tally asked, knowing full well where the conversation was headed. He thought of Willie’s packet and instructions, safely hidden along with the Sea Cliff account books under a loose brick in the stables.
“Yes.” Governor Lord Corbett interjected, his features drawn down into a mask of paternal concern. “Her childish indiscretion with Nick Shepherd combined with the death of William have brought about abreakdown, I fear, of her mental state. She has become quite fragile.”
Jemma was the least fragile female Tally had ever known, but he wrinkled his brow in concern at Lord Corbett’s words just the same.
“I see from your expression,” Lord Corbett continued, “that you share our concern and affection for Jane Emily.”
“Indeed, my lord,” Tally answered, wishing he could punch the self-satisfied look off of Lord Corbett’s face with his fist.I will enjoy getting the better of the Corbetts.
“I fear she has become addled.” Lady Corbett shook her shoulders and stuck her nose in her handkerchief.
Tally shifted back on the balls of his feet and nodded in agreement, though he didn't agree. Not in the least.
“I know that Sea Cliff is Jane Emily’s home, but William’s funeral was weeks ago, and it is time for Mrs. Stanhope to return to her husband and the vicarage. Jane Emily, an unmarried young woman, can certainly not remain alone in that house with only servants around her. She needs a proper chaperone. You understand? We are worried that she mayinjureherself. She would be far better with her family,” Lady Corbett waved to herself and Lord Corbett, “to watch after her. After all, she and Augustus will soon be married. She must be brought here.”
And there it was, just as Willie predicted.
