Beloved Castaway (35 page)

It was the only way.

Chapter 29

J
osiah whistled a tune all the way to the boardinghouse. This day had certainly been an eventful one. “Afternoon, Mrs. Campbell,” he said as he left the empty bucket beside the kitchen door, then stomped the sand from his boots before stepping inside.

The scent of stew made his mouth water. “I declare that was the best lunch I’ve ever had, and I should remind you I’ve dined at both the White House and Monticello.”

“You have not,” Mrs. Campbell said with a giggle, “but I’ll take the praise all the same.” In truth, he had, but he’d not correct her. “It is praise well deserved. Micah Tate sends his compliments, as well.”

“You tell him I’m most happy he enjoyed it.” She looked up from her work. “What’s that you’ve got slung over your shoulder?”
 

“That,” he said, “is a set of clean clothes given to me by Micah Tate.”

“Well, now.” The boardinghouse owner rested her hands on her hips. “Is that so?”

“Aye.” Josiah grinned. “ ’Tis my first day’s pay as helper to Micah Tate. As of tomorrow, I’ll not be troubling you for a roof over my head, either.”

“Well now.” The older woman reached for a length of toweling and mopped her brow. “That part of your pay, as well?”

“It is.” Josiah leaned against the doorframe and watched Mrs. Campbell turn to stir the simmering broth. “Until the proceeds from the
Jude
’s auction are distributed, I cannot pay for the hospitality you’ve shown to my brother and me, but rest assured, you will be fully compensated when that occurs. I also intend to reimburse you for the cost of hosting the ladies.” He paused. “I insist.”

“Do you now? I reckon a man of your character would insist.” She draped the towel over her shoulder and studied Josiah for a minute. “However, I also figure a man like you isn’t one to disagree with a lady.”

A disagreement with Isabelle over whether to kiss her came to mind. Once again, Josiah did not contradict Mrs. Campbell.

“So, Josiah Carter, I’ll come right to the point. I love my husband, but he’s not perfect. In fact, in all the years we’ve been married I can’t recall a single time that the judge apologized for anything.”
 

Josiah shook his head. “Really, Mrs. Campbell, it’s not neces
sary to—”

“I’m not done, young man.” She pointed in his direction. “I may just be a woman, but I know my husband used the unfortunate sinking of your ship to his own gain. What you don’t know is that you very likely saved my husband’s job.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible.”

“No, I don’t suppose so. Still, I’d say we’re more than even, Mr. Carter, since the judge is a mite less irritable now that his job is safe again.” Mrs. Campbell went back to stirring the stew. “So I’ve decided in addition to you taking your meals here, your brother and the ladies will be welcome under my roof as long as they would like to stay. You, too, although I do have concerns about the propriety of Miss Isabelle staying under the same roof with you after what I hear is quite the romance you two have struck up.”

Isabelle. His heart did a flip-flop at the thought of seeing her again. Yet that was not under his control. Not since he vowed it was she who must come to him.

I am an idiot.
“I would argue,” he said.

“But you won’t.” She smiled. “Go on now, and get yourself cleaned up. That girl’s worth the effort, least that’s what I’m told.”

“Who told you that?”

“Now never you mind,” she said with a wink.
 

“Aye, well, that she is,” he said as he raced out of the kitchen. “Oh, and thank you,” he called. “Thank you very much.”

Josiah reached his room and thankfully found a note from Emilie saying that she and William were out working on a study of the constellations. Any other time, Josiah would have been sorely tempted to join them.
 

Tonight, however, he counted the moments alone as a blessing. Working alongside Micah Tate had given him a new perspective on what could conceivably be his future.

And the thought of a day’s worth of hard work and a night spent with Isabelle did have its appeal. Josiah frowned.
 

Still, Josiah washed quickly and dressed in the clothes he’d earned with the day’s hard work. Odd, but he looked forward to the next time he could use his skills and work alongside the other wreckers.
 

Tate had boasted to the others that Josiah was a natural as a wrecker. He’d also offered lodging aboard his vessel in exchange for helping to make her seaworthy. It was a daunting proposition but one Josiah looked forward to.
 

At least until Isabelle accepted his offer of marriage.

The thought made him smile. He couldn’t ask her tonight; she was still weak. And so was he.

No, another week or two, and Isabelle would make a full recovery. Then he could make his proposal.

That thought carried him down the street and to the steps of the infirmary. Before Josiah could knock, the door flew open.

Viola Dumont offered him a wide smile. “Good evening, Captain Carter. To what do we owe this visit? I thought you weren’t coming back for a while.”

“Just Josiah now,” he said. “I’m afraid my days captaining a vessel may be behind me.”

Unless it’s a wrecking vessel.

The thought took him by surprise, yet it held an appeal that could not be denied. There would be plenty of time to consider such things later. Tonight, he sought only to think of Isabelle.

“And I know what I said before. Josiah returned his attention to Viola. “But I am here to pay a visit to Isabelle. How fares she tonight?”

“She fares quite well, actually,” Isabelle said.

Josiah looked past Viola to see Isabelle standing a few steps behind. Unlike the last time he visited, Isabelle did not seem to be under the influence of any sort of medication.

“You look lovely,” he said.
 

She touched her hand to her throat, then smiled. “Thank you.”

Viola cleared her throat. “Excuse me, won’t you? I’m just going to go and see to the. . .well, I’m going to see to something. But I won’t be far.”

Though Josiah felt shy as a schoolboy, Isabelle’s smile emboldened him. “I thought perhaps we might discuss the future tonight.”

An expression Josiah could not identify crossed Isabelle’s face. “I suppose tonight is a good night for that type of discussion. You see, I’ve made some plans.”

He took a step toward her. “As have I.”

Isabelle gestured to the front door. “It’s a lovely evening. I wonder if we might sit outside.”

Josiah escorted her to the front steps, then helped her get comfortable on the topmost step. A moment later, he sat beside her. The last rays of the sun sparked across her golden hair and lit her smile. Any traces of ill health were gone from her visage.

Still, he needed to be sure. “I should ask, Isabelle, whether you’ve taken anything today.”

“Taken anything?” She gazed at him with what looked to be a truly astonished expression. “Of course not. I put my foot down and told that doctor I’d rather be ill than medicated. You wouldn’t believe the things Viola told me I said while medicated. It’s rather disconcerting, actually.”

That settled it. He would never tell her of the things she said to him.

Unless she asked.

“What’s so funny, Captain Carter?”

“Just Josiah, please.” He restrained himself from reaching out to touch her. “And nothing is funny. I am merely happy to be with you tonight.”

His admission seemed to trouble her. “I’ll get right to the point, Josiah.” She looked past him rather than at him. “I understand there is a mail packet, the
Amberjack
, due soon. I intend to be on it. Emilie told me William was to start the new term at school in England. I propose to see to his passage and his safe arrival at school before completing the rest of my journey. The deed to the house in Clapham was lost with the
Jude
, but Emilie has agreed to write letters of introduction that should suffice until her attorney in New Orleans can handle the transaction.”

She smiled sweetly, acting for all the world as if she hadn’t just destroyed the happy life Josiah had planned for the two of them. The life he intended to tell her about tonight.

“So,” she said, “what was it you wished to discuss with me?”

“I, well, that is. . .” Josiah rose. “It wasn’t anything nearly as ex-citing as your news. When does that ship arrive?”

“Soon,” she said.

Soon. His heart nearly stopped at the thought.
“I see.”
Don’t let it happen, Lord.

“So, what’s your news?”

---

“My news?” Josiah looked as if he’d forgotten for a moment, then shook his head as if remembering. “I will be, that is, I am employed as a wrecker.”

“Is that so?” The thought of him working alongside the men this afternoon intruded on her thoughts. She gently pushed it away. “How did that happen?”

He told her without enthusiasm of his work alongside Micah Tate. “So after today’s adventure, I decided this might be the job for me.” He shrugged. “I can’t complain. It comes with a place to stay and all the fresh air and sunshine I can stand.”

She said nothing for a moment.
 

“Are you surprised?”
 

“No,” she said, then thought better of it. “Yes, actually, I am. I thought you would always captain some sort of ship.”

“And I thought you would always be with me.” Josiah’s expression told her he hadn’t intended to speak the words.

It would be so easy to give him the answer he wanted. The answer she wanted. Instead, she said what she felt would give them both lives of ease and comfort rather than prosecution and persecution.

“What do you mean?” she said, choosing her words carefully.

“Us,” he said. “I thought perhaps. . .” His expression changed. “You don’t remember, do you?”

Rather than give an answer, she remained silent.
Let him think what he will. I am only protecting him.

Josiah rose abruptly and helped Isabelle to her feet. “I shouldn’t keep you out long. You’ve got your health to guard.”

“My health is fine,” she said, “but I appreciate your concern.”

He ducked his head, then looked away. “Have you already purchased your tickets for the voyage?”

“Not yet,” she said slowly, “although I understand Emilie will be taking care of that soon.”

He swung his attention back in Isabelle’s direction. “And you remember nothing of the journey to this place?”

She would not lie, yet Isabelle could not admit all the memories that plagued her. “I wouldn’t say that.”

Josiah moved close, too close. She did not move. “What do you remember?”

How much to tell?
Guard your heart, Izzy. No, guard Josiah’s future. Your heart will heal.

“I remember your great kindness at allowing the ladies and me aboard the
Jude
. I recall a fire on the docks in New Orleans and your fall into the river along with your miraculous return.”

“
Miraculous.
You use that word deliberately.”

“Don’t you believe it?”

“Aye,” he said softly, “I do believe.”

Isabelle’s heart soared, but at the sight of his forlorn expression, it sank once more. “Perhaps you could let Emilie know whether William will accompany me.”

“Yes,” he said, “perhaps.”

“Of course,” she said as casually as she could manage, “if you prefer, you could see him to school yourself. I’m sure there is ample room aboard the
Amberjack
.”

“I’ll give that some thought, as well.” Josiah reached out to shake Isabelle’s hand. “It’s wonderful to see you looking well. I would love to show you around before you leave. After tomorrow, I shall be staying aboard the
Caroline
. William, too.”

A thought occurred. “It is not necessary for you to move out of the boardinghouse. I’m perfectly content to stay here. I’m sure Viola and the doctor would prefer it.”

“Isabelle.” His voice caressed her name. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“I see.”

“I am a man,” he said as he inched forward. “And a man provides for himself and his own.”

Her heart thudded against her chest. “Perhaps I shall see you before my departure then.”

Josiah ran his hand through his hair. “And when is the vessel to leave again?”

“At any moment,” she said.

---

Three days later, the vessel
Amberjack
had not yet arrived, much less left with Isabelle or anyone else aboard. Isabelle took to watching the docks in between helping Emilie with William’s lessons and assisting Mrs. Campbell with light housekeeping at the boardinghouse. When the vessel did not arrive on time, she refused to panic. Instead, she wondered whether the Lord or the devil was the cause.

Certainly, arguments could be made on both sides.

---

One week after the funeral, Andre Gayarre’s vessel headed back to New Orleans carrying two notes to his father: one from Judge Campbell detailing the manner in which Andre died, and the other from Emilie.

Isabelle never asked her sister what she’d written to their father, nor had Emilie offered to tell her. Rather, she’d handed off the letter to Mrs. Campbell one morning before breakfast with the request that she give them to her husband for inclusion in the packet being sent back to New Orleans.

As the vessel’s sails caught wind, Isabelle watched from the safety of the dock. Viola had chosen to accompany the doctor on his morning rounds rather than join them, but Emilie stood beside her.
 

“I’m sorry,” Isabelle said as the vessel seemed to grow smaller.

Emilie’s dark brows rose. “Whatever are you talking about, Isabelle?”

She linked arms with her sister. “If not for me, you could have been on that vessel, heading for home.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she said. “Because of you, I’ve found a purpose for my life.” As if embarrassed by her uncharacteristic show of emotion, she shook her head. “We do have to be mindful of one thing. When that vessel arrives in New Orleans, certain persons will be apprised of our location—if, indeed, they do not already know.”