Memory of Morning (20 page)

I could not be offended, his tone was too lightly playful. "It was a scandalous incident, sir. It involved a spilt cup of tea and a gentleman's injured dignity."

"I am shocked that you can bear to speak of it."

"Confessing one's crimes is good for the soul, I am told."

We chatted nonsensically like this for several blocks, making our way through the double shadows thrown by the moons, until such time as Star decided it was time to evacuate her bowels.

His shout of laughter was loud enough to wake the neighborhood. At least, a light appeared in a window of the building we were standing in front of.

He stepped back a pace and gave me a formal bow. His smile showed deep dimples. "Very well, ma'am. Since I may not perform this personal service for you, I will accompany you to the receptacle."

We walked on, and I noticed how the lit street lamps began to grow farther apart as we approached Madder Square. "Does the glow moss suffer from plight?" I asked.

He snorted. "I believe I mentioned that some rocks were thrown earlier."

"Ah. But why...?"

I understood more fully when a pair of large men, one holding the leash of a dog as big as me stepped out of the shadows ahead of us. Star yipped nervously. I took her up in my arms. The men looked us over. There was a moment of menacing tension. The one with the dog stepped forward.

My companion stepped in front of me. "Good evening, gentlemen!" he said. He gestured toward me. I nodded to the men. "Have you met the newest physician treating patients at Mercy Home? Perhaps you or yours will have need of her services as some point."

I liked this approach, an appeal to the needs of the men themselves. I also noticed that the apprehender turned to show his badge to the men.

I pretended I wasn't frightened and held a hand out for the behemoth dog to sniff. I received a snuffle, and a tentative lick that soaked through the paper glove.

I began to turn; though I really didn't like the idea of putting my back to these men, it had to be done. I had forgotten my errand, but the apprehender snatched the waste bag from me and tossed it to one of the men. "You obviously know where you can deposit this. Thank you for helping us with it."

We then walked back to Mercy Home. Swiftly. Every now and then one of us let out a stifled laugh.

When we arrived by at the Home's main door, he took my hand for a moment. "You are such pleasant company that I could almost kiss you," he said.

"And you are such pleasant company I could almost let you," I replied. But I scampered up the staircase and through the door before conversation or actions could go any further.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The next day was Songday, and Rassi's mother arrived early with two huge baskets of fresh-baked breads and rolls to share for breakfast. Syd Fisher tended to time her visits to the rental palace for Songday, so as not to offend the staff, who I swear would have preferred Tennit's mother-in-law be allowed in through the tradesman's entrance. Have I mentioned that the cook's name was Cook, and the butler was Mr. Butler? Loudon is truly the most conservative, old-fashioned place in the entire Empire. Of course, Mother and Aunt Gwin had to have a bit of an altercation about the appropriateness of hosting Mrs. Fisher the first time she visited, but after the Owls got a taste of the woman's baking they were as eager to greet her on Songdays as we Cliffs were.

I informed people of my invitation to Captain Copper at breakfast, and was not surprised that the notion of taking in this visitor was considered a pleasing addition to our household. A famous war hero houseguest was agreed to be quite a feather in our caps. I phrased my reasons for the invitation as a kindness to a man who I admired in a professional sense, but, of course, there was teasing about my taking this chance to court the man at close quarters. I tingled with a certain amount of eagerness at his arrival. I also ignored the charges rather than denied them and tried to turn the conversation instead.

"Has anyone received anything interesting in the post?" I asked.

"A letter from Miss Apple just came," Mother said. "I do miss her."

"Mother, please," Tennit said. "Our Miss Apple has a right to her summer holiday. Where did she and Professor Diamond travel this year?"

"They are staying in Avan," she said. "She might as well have invited him to stay here if they aren't going to have a proper holiday. Professor Diamond might find Loudon diverting."

"Oh, no, he would not!" Cousin Corle declared. "The man is a social and cultural radical. I like him well enough, but I like him at a distance this summer."

"There's a mention of your book, Meggie," Mother said.

"Really?" I perked up, then terror set in. "Professor Diamond doesn't like it, does he?"

"On the contrary. Let me read what Miss Apple says:
I should keep this as a surprise for Megere, but Diamond is much taken with her seafaring novel. In fact, he likes it so much that he has ordered several copies to be printed as a gift for her. I believe he also wishes to distribute copies to the best libraries and to use the story as teaching material in his autumn classes. He will write to Megere about this soon himself."

I sat back in my seat, completely stunned.

"We all told you it is good, Megere," Abethe said. "Now you have official confirmation of your writing skill."

"Congratulations, Meggie," Cousin Corle said. She eyed Mother critically. "This novel will not appear anywhere near Loudon during the Season, will it?"

"It takes a while to have books printed," Father said. "Perhaps Professor Diamond will have proofs sent to the house for Megere's approval, but there's no chance of any public infamy for my youngest for some months to come."

"Well, that's all right then."

I wasn't sure it was all right. I had never planned on seeking a wider audience for my book. I had written it for my own pleasure, and as an exercise to see if I could manage the fictional art form.

"I wish the man had asked me," I said. I looked at my father. "Will you please write to the professor and ask him to keep whatever copies he has made up until he and I can speak in person about publication?" He nodded. "I will write him myself as well," I added.

"But it's good!" Abethe said.

"But it's
mine!"
I countered.

She was thoughtful for a moment, then said. "I can see how you would not want the decision to publish taken out of your hands."

I nodded. "But I am flattered," I had to confess.

After breakfast we left for Songday services, and by the time we returned Captain Copper had arrived with his daughter. A footman acting as butler for the day had shown him into the green parlor, where we found him reading aloud to the little girl seated beside him on a sofa.

I do not believe there was a woman among us whose heart did not melt at the sight of the fine figure of a man in his naval uniform so tenderly looking down on his child.
He's mine!
I wanted to shout as the chorus of silent "awws" went up around me.

Captain Copper looked up, and stood, helping his daughter to her feet. She held his hand tightly and curtsied prettily as I stepped forward and made introductions between everyone in the room.

Tea, conversation, and all the other social conventions followed throughout the rest of the day. I remember a discussion of finding a governess for the girl - it was Seeli who brought this subject up. And we made plans to take her shopping for new clothes. The household adjourned to the back garden and outdoor games for a while. Much to the ladies’, and especially my, annoyance, Captain Copper's attention was taken up by the gentlemen of the household, who seemed endlessly fascinated by the details of battles Copper had fought and won.

I had been at some of those battles, and no one in my family had ever asked me a thing about them since I'd returned home from the sea.

Since pouting is not something I like to indulge in for very long, I abandoned it to concentrate on a cutthroat game of Wicket, which I won.

Captain Copper was prevailed upon to attend a reading of
Legend of the Silver Moon
with us after dinner. While the story is as old as the gray moon itself, the performers gave an excellent recital. And this was an acceptable entertainment to be seen and see at. The intermission was long enough for visits between boxes. I stayed put, though two of my suitors briefly came calling. I remained in our family box because this gave me the first chance to speak with Captain Copper, who also saw no reason to get up and walk about.

He moved to the seat next to mine. "This has been the most pleasant day I have had since we docked in Seyemouth," he told me. "I have you to thank for that, Dr. Cliff."

"We do. That is likely because her mother and my father are twins. But tell me, have you any news from the
'Runner
? How goes the refitting of the ship while you have duties at the Admiralty? How are the crew? Does Mr. Waterman use his library subscription? What of Lieutenants Egg, Eel, and the rest?"
How is Samel Swan
was what I was thinking, but kept myself from asking.

He looked so woebegone I barely kept myself from reaching out and touching his arm. We were in too public a place for such a gesture.

"Tell me about your crew, Captain Copper," I said. "I find gossip always takes my mind off my own cares."

He sat back in his chair and gave me a summary of his crew's whereabouts and activities. I was pleased to hear of promotions, retirements, a marriage, the birth of puppies to Star's mother. I was delighted to hear of Mr. Anvil's application to officer training school, and, finally, news of Dr. Swan.

"Since we eliminated the southern pirates, and there's the truce with Framin, Samel took the opportunity to visit his mother's estate on Corf. We think the Framin invaders still have a small force stationed in the port town, but they've withdrawn from the interior of the island. He believed it was safe enough to check up on his family."

I found the news of Dr. Swan's journeying into enemy territory - even nominally enemy territory - quite frightening. I begin to wish I had not longed to hear news of him. Now I would worry until his safe return to Ang.

Before he moved back to his own place, Captain Copper asked me quietly, "Do either of those Seeker lads who paid you respects have a chance?"

"Most certainly not," I whispered back.

"Good."

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I had had a very good morning. Which is to say I had performed an appendectomy and assisted in the removal of a large bowel tumor. I do enjoy my chosen profession. I was also relieved that I had performed my duties well despite only three or so hours sleep the night before. I had not been out wildly celebrating at some Seeker event, but sitting in my nightgown in the bedroom I shared with Seeli, all of us cousins dissecting our suitors with the same precision and sharpness as any master surgeon wielding a scalpel. Of course, I don't know of any surgeons who use wit to eviscerate their patients, but I am still rather new to the profession.

Recalling the long hours of conversation as I made my case notes for the two surgeries, I found myself wishing I had not been so discreet about keeping my preference for Captain Copper to myself. I'd taught myself to try to show nothing of my feelings on board the
Moonrunner
, though I suspect some people on the frigate were not fooled by my show of indifference. Seeli was throwing herself at the man and I was not in the least bit happy about it. But I had not said anything to her at any point over the last week of watching her talking to him, playing with him and his daughter, sharing duets with him at the pianoforte, discussing his finances with him - well, I had suggested she help him organize himself that way – and listening to his tales of adventure which were exciting new subjects for her.

I had to go over my case notes once more after I finished writing. And as I suspected, I had allowed my bout of jealousy to get in the way of my professionalism. I rebuked myself, made necessary corrections and additions, then, with my duties for the day at Mercy Home completed, I made my way back to the rental palace. The Owls and Cliffs were hosting a huge nuncheon party this afternoon and I needed to make myself beautiful for the occasion so I could pour tea without giving offense.