Northern Lights Trilogy (43 page)

She was innocent. Time and again Peder came to the same conclusion, chastising himself for thinking her capable of anything else. She was kind and loving to all and undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Karl, who had also known Elsa since childhood, became infatuated with her from afar. The life-threatening drama played out in the West Indies had brought it all to the surface, tempting Karl to reveal his feelings.

God has a purpose for all things
, he told himself. “And there had better be a good one for this,” he muttered, anger building again.

With renewed resolve, he opened the letter to see what Karl had to say.

Peder let the letter fall to his desk. How could Karl have gone so far? Henry Whitehall and James Kingsley, when gently probed, had had little good to say about John J. Hall. The man was known for shady business practices and ruthless ways. Now Karl was about to marry the man’s daughter? Or already had … And invest in his business? Peder shook his head. Karl was headed on a dangerous path. But he was getting ahead of himself, Peder thought. Perhaps what Whitehall and Kingsley had shared was merely hearsay.

Tora opened her fan and closed her eyes as a wave of warm, humid air swept over her. Dressed for dinner and riding in Trent’s carriage, she felt as if she would suffocate in the heat.

“Warm?” Trent asked mildly from the bench seat across from her.

“It is stifling. Never in my life have I felt such heat.”

“Bergen was never this warm?”

“Warm, yes, but not so hot that one perspires. It is not even ladylike to shine like this.”

“But hardly avoidable. The East Coast is similar once you leave the ocean.” Trent frowned slightly. “Which reminds me, Tora, I would appreciate hearing how you came to live in Camden-by-the-Sea. If it is not prying, of course.”

Tora licked her lips. “Not at all. I’ve told you of that terrible night when my ship and loved ones went down to the bottom.” She frowned, working up some tears.

“If it is too much—”

“No,” she said, raising a hand. “It is only that when I think of my dear parents and sisters drowning, and that I am all alone in this world, it overwhelms me.”

Trent nodded, his look compassionate, yet a bit wary. She had not yet hooked him, but he was intrigued. Tora was sure of it. Perhaps this evening would be the clincher.

She shook out a handkerchief and dabbed at her face and neck.
“Papa was quite wealthy and bound for America to increase his resources. We were all excited to come to the new frontier.”

“What did you say your father’s business was?”

“Mining, of some sort,” she said vaguely. “Papa never did want us girls to meddle the business. He thought it was thoroughly men’s work.”

Trent nodded, apparently accepting her explanation. “Unfortunately, all he owned was sold and carried aboard that ship in gold,” she said.

Trent frowned, and Tora immediately understood that such a move would have been a poor decision for a good businessman to make. “I will never understand why he did things the way he did.” A tear crested one lid and slowly rolled down her cheek. She smiled bravely. “He was a stubborn old man, and we never did see eye to eye. Nevertheless, I loved him and my family.”

“Of course. It is a miracle that you survived.”

“By the grace of God and a floating, broken mast to which I clung.”

“What a horrible thing to have gone through.” Trent sat back and studied her as the coach came to a stop in front of the restaurant. “It is interesting that I did not read of such a disaster. Shipwrecks almost always make the headlines.”

Tora had not thought of that angle. “It was an old clipper ship, mostly used for cargo. We were practically the only passengers aboard. Perhaps it was not newsworthy. Or perhaps you missed the newspaper that day.” She leaned forward. “But enough of sad memories. Really, Trent, I would prefer not to speak of it again. It is simply too painful. Should we not go in and eat? Hopefully it will be cooler indoors. And you will make me laugh like you always do, dear Trent, rather than bring a poor girl to tears.”

“Indeed,” Trent said.

She could feel his eyes upon her as she exited the coach, clinging to his hand. But she did not dare to meet his gaze.

Karl stared at himself in the mirror as he wearily dressed for dinner. Alicia, proclaiming dining at home to be dreary, demanded they eat elsewhere each evening. Feeling inadequate and guilty for being unable to treat Alicia in the manner to which she was accustomed, Karl had procured a small loan from his future father-in-law to afford such niceties as dining in a restaurant each evening. Soon enough his own investments would begin to pay out, and he would find himself in a more affluent position. Until then he would simply have to swallow his pride.

What continued to puzzle him … nay, trouble him … was the fact that Hall must have seen this predicament coming. Indeed, there was little doubt in Karl’s mind that John had thoroughly checked him out before hiring him. So why had he allowed such a poor Bergenser close to his daughter when his promising future still lay far off? Alicia had had far more prosperous suitors, but for some reason, she and her father both had favored Karl from the beginning. He knew that Alicia was given to frivolous ways, and her devotion could be attributed to love. But what was Hall’s motive? The question plagued Karl.

Certainly John appreciated the stature it gave him to have what he called a swashbuckling, prosperous sea captain for a future son-in-law, regardless of the fact that Karl had not captained his own ship prior to reaching Saint Paul. But why bet his daughter’s future on the promise of Karl’s until it was a sure thing? Instead, John had moved as he always did, making quick, sure decisions and never looking back.

“Just never prove him wrong,” Brad had said when Karl voiced his qualms. “Never
ever
prove him wrong.”

Karl had laughed uneasily, nodding as if he understood. But what would transpire if his future did not unfold as golden as they all anticipated?

He wondered about this as he climbed into the Halls’ coach and tapped the roof with his cane. Alicia was lovely, and in her arms, he
was able to push Elsa out of his mind. She was a delight, often making him laugh at her antics. How long had it been since he had laughed as he had these last weeks? Not to mention her powerful feminine wiles, which made him long for the physical pleasures of a married man. He had sailed long enough to hear many a bawdy story from the sailors aboard ship. He had even been tempted more than once by the women who worked the docks, but had abstained, conscious of the purity the Christian life demanded. Now the few kisses and embraces Alicia had allowed him were enough to drive him mad with anticipation.

At the Hall mansion, where he waited for Alicia in the front parlor, Karl retied his ascot, watching his long fingers in the Tiffany-wrought mirror. His hands were getting soft, the calluses fading away. He thought of Elsa and the island as if they were a half-world and a lifetime away. Memories of Peder saddened him. For he knew that if his best friend dared to kiss his Alicia as he had Elsa, his own fury would burn bright. Why had he been so foolish? So weak? He shook his head at the madness of that night. He closed his eyes for a moment, searching for God in his heart. Why did he still feel so distant? Karl could make little sense of it.

Alicia swept into the room, looking glorious in a deep green gown. She smiled brightly. “I thought we would try Chez Pierre tonight, darling. It’s all the rage about town. Janice said the food is unlike anything you have ever eaten in your life.”

“Well, we cannot pass that up, can we?” Karl asked indulgently, glancing carefully around before taking her into his arms. She finished tying his ascot for him. “Unless of course I can persuade you to stay home and cook for a change.” He grinned as her expression turned to exasperation.

She straightened to her full, petite height. “I am afraid it will be a long wait before I ever make you a meal. You can, however, join the family for breakfast or luncheon any day you wish.”

“I figured as much.”

“And that means?”

“That I am better off eating all the crazy nonsense at Chez Pierre than daring to eat a meal you would cook.”

Alicia giggled and relaxed. “Why, Karl, I believe you are developing a sense of humor.”

“I thought it time to do so. Shall we go?”

“Indeed,” she said. She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they strolled out to the foyer. “Mother?” she called.

Mrs. Hall appeared at the top of the stairs. “Going?”

“To Chez Pierre.”

“Have a good time. Good night, Karl.”

“Good night, Mrs. Hall,” he said with a nod.

After they entered the coach and the driver had pulled out into traffic, Karl turned to his fiancée and asked, “Alicia, what can you tell me about the Parkers?”

“The Parkers? Not much. Mr. Parker and Daddy once worked together.”

“And now?”

“They had a parting of ways. Daddy wants nothing to do with him. I hear,” she said carefully, looking Karl in the eye, “that Bradford has been seeing Virginia.”

Karl nodded slightly. “Is that a problem?”

“No.” She shrugged. “Why ever would it be a problem?”

“I wondered how the association might affect your father, since Brad works for him.”

“I cannot say. Yet I would not be surprised if Mr. Bresley is soon called upon to demonstrate his loyalty to Daddy.”

“In what fashion?”

“How should I know? Really, Karl, can we not speak of something more interesting than business? It’s all I hear from Daddy.” She reached into her beaded purse, and for the first time, he noticed how her hands trembled. He looked at her more closely. Her face was pale.

“Alicia? Are you well? Should we return to the house?”

“No, no. I am fine.” She unlatched her purse and fumbled in it. “I simply need some smelling sal—” Suddenly she slumped forward in a faint. Karl knelt and caught her, laying her gently on the seat as he yelled for the driver to stop.

Alicia’s open purse spilled its contents on the floor. Face paint, a handkerchief, smelling salts. As he reached for the smelling salts, the coach came to a halt … and so did his hand. There, peeking out of the purse, was a small vial labeled
Laudanum
.