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“Oh, I had assumed we would be here longer…”
“I want to get you home, darling.” He crossed the space between us, resting one hand on my cheek and the other on my skirts, where my round belly lie underneath. “I want you to be resting, in your condition, traveling must be a strain.”
I scoffed. He raised his eyebrows as if beckoning me to continue.
“It is truly humorous that we have to go through all this trouble for whatever you are expecting,” I said, waving my hand in the air. A small smile spread on his lips.
“Please, do go on.”
“One would imagine you could run faster than this whole journey took. Seems like a waste of time to me,” I explained, cold as ice. William smirked, tucking his hands in his pockets.
“Why, you’d be right, Mrs. Blackwell. But, of course, you most certainly cannot run as I can, and therefore, we are resigned to travel in this manner.” Indignantly, I met his gaze, tart from his response. I could feel the anger building once more in my belly and I huffed, slamming the trunk shut.
“What would you have me do? Leave you in Boston without knowing where Noel is? Or bring you with me to Charleston, where I know you’ll be safe?” He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him seemingly as a truce. I turned my head so he could not kiss me or otherwise try to persuade me into acquiescing. “Yes, Clementine and Horris are courting, in a way. I do not believe marriage is something they are interested in, however.”
I finally looked at him, flabbergasted that he would say such a thing.
“And how do you know that?”
“Horris is not a marrying man. They seem very much in love, though, so I am happy for them.” William’s hand wound around the back of my neck, his thumb rubbing so nicely against the side of it. I loosened under the touch.
“What is it you are expecting?” I asked after a moment, my voice slurred with the contentment of his massaging.
“We have gone over this, beloved.” He kissed my temple, slowly working his mouth down to my neck. I relaxed into him, grateful for his touch after such distance between us. “We will be settled in Boston soon enough.”
***
Dinner with Horris and Clementine was a pleasure. He had his staff prepare fresh fish, stuffing, roasted vegetables, and yeast rolls all adorned with a delightful sauce. I had been queasy from much of the food on the train, but having skipped a meal earlier in the day, I was utterly famished. I noted most curiously that although Clementine devoured her meal happily, the gentlemen did not eat. Instead, they enjoyed two bottles of German Riesling. It was becoming more apparent that whatever William was, so, too was Horris.
Watching William with Horris was a treat in itself. He roared with laughter, spoke of old times in New York and London, and relaxed in his chair, rolling up his sleeves and undoing the top buttons of his shirt. All rules of decorum seemed to fly out the window in the presence of his friend, his brother as he often referred to Horris. I looked upon him with intrigue and love, seeing this playful and authentic William was a gift to me.
The following morning we ate fresh cream and berries from the local farm for breakfast, rather,Clementine and Iate. The staff had made a delightful sourdough bread to accompany it, and in my state, I was ravenous. William and Horris talked of business in the south, and I learned they had been partners for many years, but, Horris said, always brothers first.
Horris leaned across the table toward me, “He might not look it, but Will really is older than I am,” he chuckled, giving a wink. His gray eyebrows bounced up and down in mischief causing Clementine to giggle, her hand coming to rest affectionately on his shoulder.
“I suppose one could say some of us age better than others, Horris,” William’s shoulder rose and fell, “I could practically be a father to you.” His tone was light, teasing and yet there was a certain undercurrent to it. I cut my eyes at him, adding this to my growing list of suspicions while Horris roared with laughter.
“It is true, shall I call you Pa from now on?”
“I expect to be addressed as such accordingly!”
After breakfast had been cleared away, and entirely too much wine had been consumed between the two of them already, William sauntered into the foyer where he collected his hat and walking cane.
“Where are we off to?” I inquired, from my peripheral I watched Horris whisper something in Clementine’s ear.
“Not ‘we’, my love. Horris and I are heading to the docks. My shipment is arriving early, we won’t be long.” He gently pecked my lips. “Clementine will keep you company, perhaps you can go for a stroll together?”
“Oh, that sounds lovely! We can also enjoy the gardens out back, Mrs. Blackwell, it is your choice.” Clementine hooked her arm through mine. Horris bowed at the waist and rushed out the door with William on his tail. I stood immobile, anger filling every cell in my body.
“I’ll have them put the kettle on for some tea,” Clementine said after a moment, moseying into the kitchen.
I couldn’t sit there, idly twiddling my thumbs waiting for him. Not when he’d been so secretive, not when I’d given him as much grace and understanding as I could muster. I quickly grabbed one of Clementine’s straw hats from the rack by the door and hurried out after them.
I would keep my distance, watching from afar and perhaps gain some sort of inkling as to what William–and evidently Horris–was hiding. My intuition told me this was not to do with business, and I would listen to it. The street in front of Horris’s home was quiet, only the ocean waves lapping against the sea wall could be heard. The sun shone brightly on the sapphire blue water, glittering like jewels. I peered to the left and noticed the docks at the far end of the street, bustling with people. My main interest, however, lie in the two gentlemen walking toward it in the distance.
I began a slow pace, keeping them measured and locked in my sight. Rather inconspicuously, they turned left away from the docks and down an alleyway. Betrayal flared in my chest like a hot poker and I hurried to catch up to them so as not to lose direction. The alley was shaded and damp, opening up on the opposite side to a much busier street. Dammit, I was going to lose them.
Hiking up my skirts, I ran, peeking around the corner of shops and the hustle and bustle to find them again. My heart hammered in my ears, and I began to panic that I’d lost them as I stepped into the walkway, craning my neck for William’s hat.
