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Mia giggled, “If I write that story it’ll be long after he is gone or I’m sure I’ll find myself stranded on some shoal some place.” Again, everyone laughed. There was no secret not everything done on the seas was above board. Some things were just less despicable than others. “But we’re going to speak about sailing, aren’t we?” Mia said to change thesubject.
She’d accepted the invitation to the duke’s estate to apologize about causing worry and to maybe hear what they remembered about the woman from the office. It was a pointless endeavor. They were no more help than any of Papa’s crew who’d been going about the city looking for the woman, but saying nothing to Mia of what they’d learned. She knew Devin was being tight-lipped though she thought to be wearing him downsome.
It was rather late when they left, but it was with genuine calls to return and an open invitation to Grim to come whenever he might like as he carried three children at once to their beds. Mia was so touched by the offer to the man she almost cried. She hardly remembered why she always thought nobility to be the damnedest people in the world. She got a sharp reminder a few days later and the stab went right into herheart.
* * *
“Mia Winthrop?”
Mia turned at her name being called to see an elder woman step into the offices followed by Captain Mallory, no less. “Yes, that’s her,” he said stepping in and closing thedoor.
Mia saw the woman look her up and down with a sneer. “You’re Mia Winthrop, formerly MiaCadley?”
“I am. How might I help you?” Mia asked, her eyes going between the woman and the captain. Something rather bad was about to happen and Mia discreetly reached for the pistol under the counter and drew itcloser.
“You have something that belongs to me and I want it back,” the womansaid.
“I’m sure you’re mistaken. What do I have that is yours?” Mia asked, and watched as the woman stepped up to the counter and set a small case there. She opened it and turned it so Mia could see the contents. Tears burned her eyes, and she quickly blinked themback.
“You have one like this?” the woman asked, indicating the elaborate brooch. Mia could only nod. “When that woman, yourmother, seduced my son she gained access to it. It’s mine, it was stolen from me, and I want it back, now.Today.”
Mia jerked back and stared at the woman in disbelief. Was she really looking at her grandmother? They bore no resemblance at all to each other, though Mia couldn’t say what the woman might have looked like years ago. And why such hatred from her? Such disparaging remarks when it was her son who acted the coward, acted dishonorably. “It was my mother’s and you’ll have it back… never.” Mia said shoving the one in the caseaway.
“Your mother stole it from my family and you’ll surrender it to me now or I’ll see you arrested and jailed,” the woman said, taking back the one she’d brought with her. “There’s nothing at all that makes you worthy of having it.” And that was the answer to Mia’s question. She didn’t see Mia or her mother as good enough for her family, her son. How much of her complete disapproval led to what fate befell Molly Cadley? “I’ll call on the authorities, girl,” the woman threatened with a sneer. And while Mia was not overly worried that she didn’t have enough clout on her own, she also knew she could make requests of her new friends. Unless this woman was also royalty she had no real ability to harm Mia. However, she might have had enough to hurtMama.
“Then see to it, and see your way out of my office.” She pointed towards the door. “Good day,madam.”
“You may want to rethink that, Mrs. Winthrop,” Mallory said, as he stepped up and took the woman’s arm. “A wife in prison would make a career in the navy hard to manage. But if your husband’s wellbeing is of no concern to you, Lady Briskbee will take the matter to the magistrate,” he said, helping the woman out the door. “Expect a visit. Good day, Mrs.Winthrop.”
Mia managed to wait until they were out of sight before she grabbed the counter and eased down to the floor on shaky legs. That woman had a brooch just like her mother’s. Claimed it was her son Molly seduced. Both tied them together. Who could she be other than a grandmother? Who was she though? Briskbee. Mia reached for a sheet of parchment and the pen she’d been using earlier and wrote the name. She’d need to find out what she could about the woman. Though she didn’t know how she might if they were a family also from Cornwall. It was more than a day’s sailing indistance.
Papa might know her. But how would he and if he did why hadn’t he said something to Mia? Did Papa know Mama stole someone’s property? If he did why then give it to Mia that it could get her into trouble? Something about this wasn’t right. Mama wasn’t a thief. Of everything she might have held on to when she was put off the ship only the brooch made it. It wouldn’t have been something she held onto after her very life depended on it, if it was simply something she stole. She’d have offered it to the ship’s captain or crew when they were putting her in the life boat if it was nothing to her. But she hadn’t she’d held onto it. She gave it to a man who she knew would hold it for her. No, her mother wasn’t a thief. That woman waslying.
Hell with it. How could she even prove Mia’s brooch was once hers at all? Perhaps they were just from the same craftsman. Mia would demand to see a bill of sale if it came to it. But perhaps asking Papa would settle thematter.
Pulling herself from the floor, Mia wiped her face and headed out the door. Instantly, she regretted leaving the pistol behind. She knew she was being watched this time. She made sure to stay with the crowds as most of them knew her. Once on the long dock where Papa’s fleet came in, she felt safer if not still watched, so she didn’t pause to speak as she hurried down to theMolly.
“Ahoy the ship,” she called and stood at the end of the plank waiting for aninvitation.
“What are you doing down here, sea witch?” Smithe asked, causing Mia to nearly come out of her skin. “Avast now, what has youfloundering?”
“Is Papa here?” she asked, and tried to clear her throat so she might speak without sounding like she was about to cry, which shewas.
“No. Now what’s got your rigging all in aknot?”
Mia sniffed and giggled at the ever so common words aboard ships. Devin used the same phrase on her all the time. This wasn’t so bad. How could it be? She sniffed again and wiped at her nose. “Do you know when he’ll be back? I have to ask him something veryimportant.”
“Could be a week or more,” Smithe said, taking her hand like he used to when she was a child and leading her up the plank to stand on deck. The rolling motion was the most soothing thing at the moment. “What do you need toknow?”
Mia would rather hear directly from Papa but said, “I’ve trusted you my whole life,” she started and gained the man’s full attention. “I need to trust that you’ll speaktrue.”
“May be best you wait for the commodore,” Smithe said and Mia knew he’d lie for her papabut…
“I may not have a week to wait. Please Bart, please be honest. You were on board theFlying Jigwhen the skiff with Mama in it wasspotted.”
“I was,aye.”
“And when Mama traded her brooch for passage, you were theretoo?”
