“Yes, mostly,” Graham answered from beside Elizabeth. “But we have to support the mission, too, so we also farm vegetables and fruits and raise livestock.” He spoke as if it had always been his home. Then I realized that, to him, it was the only home he knew. The thought saddened me. He’d forgotten all about Scotland, his true home. It would be a constant struggle to hold back my tears. They were prickling at my eyes now and I blinked to ignore them.
“Shall we?” Elizabeth said. We followed her toward the big house.
I couldn’t fathom what we’d find there, other than the woman called Mary Bowers. Based on the picture Elizabeth had painted of her, I didn’t think she would turn us away, but would she welcome us? Would we be able to stay in the big house? Or would we be banished to theMaelstrom? I greatly wished to sleep in a house rather than a ship. I could only hope this Mary Bowers was as generous as she was kind.
Chapter 20
MaryBowerswasnotelderly, yet she had fully white hair already. Based on her smooth face, I assumed she could not have been older than fifty. Her eyes were extraordinarily shrewd and intelligent as she regarded us. We stood on the porch. Elizabeth had introduced us, and we were waiting to see whether she’d accept us as guests or not. Mr. Ashby had deposited the crate on the porch, and Mr. Ward left after greeting Mrs. Bowers.
She smiled and I immediately relaxed. “You’re all very welcome. I’m glad to know Graham has people who care enough for him to travel so far. It is by God’s grace that you’ve found us. We have tried to keep the harbor of theMaelstromhidden from the public. It would not have been easy to find us if you’d docked at Basseterre.”
“We’re truly fortunate to have run into theMaelstrom,” Mr. Ashby answered.
I stepped forward. “I understand we have you to thank for saving Graham. It seems we owe much to your mission.” I smiled at her, hoping she would see my sincerity.
“Well, we’ll have to put you to work, then.” She winked at me.
“You should have seen the bravery they all displayed. They have proven themselves allies.” Elizabeth nodded to me before bidding Mary farewell and leaving us there with her. Graham barely hesitated before nodding to us and trailing after Elizabeth. I’d noticed it a fewtimes, that he seemed to follow her. If she moved, he moved. The way he looked at her, too, made me wonder about the exact details of their relationship.
Mrs. Bowers pulled me back to the conversation. “If Eliza approves of you, I must as well.” It seemed she already had, so her words were only for humor’s sake. She waved us inside. “I’ll have someone take you to the guest rooms.” She spoke to a young woman with rich sepia skin who was holding linen with the intention of going upstairs, judging by her foot on the first step. “Lottie, will you see these tired souls to bedrooms? I’m sure they’d like to clean up and change their clothes. Find something for them, if you don’t mind.” She eyed Mr. Ashby briefly. “Oh, and for the gentleman, you can sort through Mr. Bower’s old dressing room. I think there are still a few breeches and waistcoats left among them.”
Lottie nodded. “Yes’m.” She turned her direct gaze to us. “If you’ll follow me, please.”
We went up the wide staircase and turned right at the landing. The first room was given to me, and I went inside alone and looked around. It was small, compared to my bedroom at home. But compared to the lodgings I’d endured for the past two months, it was a castle in itself. I didn’t dare sit on the lovely white bedspread or the embroidered chair in front of a vanity, which sat opposite a window. I went to the large open window and looked outside. Below me was an expanse of green grass and bright flowers in beds simply placed around the house. It was a garden, but without any design or statues to enhance it. I found it quaint and pleasing.
After a few minutes, two men brought in a tub. Three women followed in after them with steaming pitchers of water. It took several trips of multiple people to fill the tub, and I couldn’t wait to sink into it. Once I did, a sigh escaped me. It felt amazing.
I sat in the tub for much too long, and my fingers and toes were wrinkled by the time I wrapped myself in a robe. Thankfully, I had already been provided with a simple dress and shoes. Once dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror. My vanity made me want to cry, for the state of my skin was dismal. Dry, red, and peeling. My lips fared better than the rest of my face, as I was no longer parched. I wondered how long it would take to heal. I wished for the lotions I was so accustomed to at home; perhaps they would have helped. Without such luxuries, however, I decided to accept how I looked. And I even took it a step further.
I left my hair down. It wasn’t the most proper thing to do, but the tone of the island felt so different from any other place I’d been. It was so relaxed, so peaceful, so free. I felt like letting go of propriety a bit. I’d never liked most of society’s restraints anyway.
Patrice was outside my door when I opened it, poised to knock. She held up a tray with an assortment of food and my stomach growled. How had I not noticed my hunger before now? “I’ve already eaten with the crew, but I brought this for ye,” she said.
“Thank you!” I took it from her and sat down to gorge myself on fruit, ham, and toast. “Oh, this is divine!” I couldn’t remember the lasttime I’d had proper food.
“Ye’ve been up here for so long, I thought maybe ye needed help,” Patrice commented while watching me eat.
I spoke with my mouth full. “I’m fine.”
She looked at my hair, down and so long it touched my hips. “Are ye sure ye dinnae need help putting yer hair up?”
I grinned. “No. I prefer it down.”
Disapproval was evident in her eyes, but she let it be. She knew arguing wouldn’t change anything. “I thought I would ask Mrs. Bowers how I could help around the house. What are yer plans now that ye’ve found Mr. Anderson and we’re on land?”
I chewed thoughtfully. Then, swallowing, I placed my fists on the table. “I have one mission and one mission only. To bring Graham home and marry him.” This had been my goal from the very beginning, and I was determined to see it through. After all, if there was ever a man for me, it was Graham Anderson. I frowned at the memory of telling Melody that very thing.
“Are ye worried he willnae remember ye?” Patrice, always forthright and honest.
I nodded, dropping my gaze. “Nothing can be done until he regains his memories. Right?” I met her eyes.
“Aye. Ye have to help him remember.”
“He seems…happy, doesn’t he?” I played with the handle on my teacup, trying to work through my thoughts.
Patrice didn’t answer; instead, she stood and looked out the window. Seeing her like that, silhouetted against the late morning sky, made me think of the dozens of times I’d looked out the window at Edleroy. That memory made me jump to my feet. “Oh! Everyone must be so worried. I should write home.” I walked over to the vanity and searched the drawers. “Where do you think they would keep the parchment and ink?”
She looked around with me for a few minutes before we came up empty and decided to ask someone. We met with Lottie when we went downstairs. She was in the dining room, cleaning up after breakfast, it seemed. She eyed me, specifically my hair, when I spoke to her.
