Trade Winds (Choc Lit) (20 page)

‘Hmm, it sounds reasonable to me, but I don’t quite know how Mr Holm would manage that without someone noticing.’

‘No, nor I, but could you possibly ask him for me? There might be some way.’ She stopped again and raised hopeful eyes to his. ‘Please? At least then I’ll know I’ve tried.’

‘I don’t see why not. Leave it with me.’

‘You’re very kind.’ Her expression turned bleak. ‘Not that I’ll have much use for money where I’m going.’

‘And where exactly is that? You were told to pack, I heard, so I assume it’s a fair way off.’

‘He’s taking me to Askeberga again, where I’ll probably be staying for a long time. For ever maybe.’ Her tone was bitter and she strode along the road, rather than walking with ladylike steps, showing Killian just how agitated she was.

‘What or where is Askeberga?’ he asked.

‘It’s our manor house in Småland, a county quite a way inland from here. You remember I told you I was sent away once before, after Mr Adelsten proposed to me? Well, that’s where I was and it’s a lovely place, but I really don’t want to spend the rest of my life there all alone.’ She snorted. ‘To think I always thought it would be mine, but Robert owns it now of course, just like everything else.’

‘And are you really a virtual prisoner when you’re there? I mean, couldn’t you just leave if you wanted to?’

‘I suppose so, but where would I go, by myself and with no money? And Mrs Forbes will be with me again I’m sure. She won’t be very pleased about going back either, she hates it there. Although perhaps since she’s ill, she’ll be spared for a while.’

They had reached the Fergusson dwelling and she turned on the steps and hesitated for a moment. ‘Thank you for bringing me home and for promising to speak to Albert on my behalf. I − I don’t suppose I shall see you again, at least for some time, so I wish
you luck with your journey to China.’

Killian frowned, wanting to comfort her in some way, but he couldn’t think of anything useful to say and with the maid now standing nearby, he could do nothing except bow to her. ‘Thank you. I hope your banishment will be short.’

She gave a brittle laugh. ‘Not much chance of that.
Adjö,
Mr Kinross.’

Jess ran all the way to her room and threw herself onto her bed. She wanted to cry, but the tears were as frozen inside her as the weather outside. All she could manage were strangled cries of anger as she beat her pillow with her fists in frustration.

She had been so sure Robert wouldn’t go out on a day like this when he was needed at home. Ramsay had been asleep at long last and she hadn’t thought anyone would notice if she slipped out for a very short while. How was she to know Robert had a meeting with Mr Campbell that couldn’t be postponed? Although she should have realised he wouldn’t let his family stand in the way of any plans he’d made.

‘Hateful, hateful man!’ She hit the pillow again several times, wishing it was Robert’s angry face she was punching.

The sound of someone calling her name intruded on her furious thoughts and she hurried to answer her mother.

‘Yes,
Moeder
, I’m coming.’ She took a deep breath and made her way to the sick room. It was boiling hot since the fire was kept going at all times. Both boys were lying tucked up in their beds, flushed with fever and coughing intermittently. Matters were definitely serious and her mother had been right to worry for once.

James’s coughing bouts all ended with the same long drawn-out whooping noise that Ramsay made. Several times he vomited afterwards. Katrijna was kneeling by his side, trying to make him drink something, but he just turned his face away and whimpered. Katrijna looked at Jess, her eyes red-rimmed and dark with despair.

‘There you are, I’ve been calling for ages. Please, will you try to make Ramsay take some broth? He simply refuses to listen to me and I can’t leave James for very long at the moment.’

Jess did her best and managed to persuade her brother to take a few spoonfuls. He seemed listless and inclined to sleep in between the bouts of coughing, so she left him alone after a while.

‘Moeder,’
she began, wondering how to break the news to her mother that she was leaving the following day. ‘I, er, had a slight disagreement with Robert this morning and, uhm, well, he’s taking me to Askeberga tomorrow. Unless you could ask him to let me stay and help you with the boys?’ she added hopefully.

‘What? Oh, no, what have you done this time? Didn’t I tell you to be respectful to him? Really, Jessamijn, you
must
learn when to keep quiet. And why now? I need you, you know that.’

‘Well, then tell him he can’t send me away. I haven’t done anything wrong. I only went to see Albert. He was Papa’s friend, you know that. Where’s the harm in talking to him?’

‘You went out all alone? Today of all days?’

‘I took a maid with me, of course’

‘Yes, but why now? This was not the time, Jess. I’m not surprised Robert is angry with you.’

Jess had to acknowledge that her mother was right, although she didn’t tell her Robert had other reasons for being cross. She simply hadn’t thought it through. The discovery of the letter had made her act on impulse, but she knew now she’d been very foolish. She hung her head.

Katrijna sighed. ‘I’ll speak to him, but if he’s in one of his moods, I doubt I’ll be able to sway him. Honestly, Jess, as if I don’t have enough to worry about.’

Jess wanted to argue her case, but she could see that Katrijna’s thoughts were all for the little boys at the moment, which was understandable. She thought that the best thing she could do was to go quietly and leave her mother to concentrate on the two patients. She couldn’t expect Katrijna to help her at the moment. Perhaps when the boys were better again she would persuade Robert to allow Jess to come back. Swallowing down a lump in her throat, she went to begin her packing.

Killian was surprised to receive a summons to the Fergusson household later that day. When ushered into his employer’s study, he could see immediately that the man was still agitated.

‘Thank you for coming, Kinross. I have a favour to ask of you, and I wanted to do it in person.’

‘I’d be pleased to help. What can I do for you?’

‘Well, it concerns my stepdaughter.’ Fergusson hesitated for a moment, as if he wasn’t sure how to phrase his request. ‘She and I … well, in short, we’re not on the best of terms and I’ve had enough of her misbehaving recently, as you probably gathered this morning.’

Killian nodded, but didn’t comment.

‘Jessamijn needs to be taught a lesson,’ Fergusson continued. ‘I’ve decided to send her to my manor house in Småland to rusticate for a while with Mrs Forbes. I was going to take them myself, but the apothecary’s just been here. He tells us our little boys are suffering from whooping cough, which can be dangerous to the very young. Naturally my wife and I are both very concerned and I simply can’t leave her at this time.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Killian said, feeling sad for Mrs Fergusson. ‘But don’t you need Miss van Sandt’s help then in caring for her brothers?’

Fergusson snorted. ‘Hardly. She’s no help at all. In fact, she just makes my wife cross and gets in the way. No, I want her out of here, and that’s why I would like to ask you to go with the ladies tomorrow, if you wouldn’t mind? I don’t want them to travel without a male escort, just in case anything should happen, although the coachman is capable enough in his own way. It’s quite far, so of course you’re welcome to stay for a day or so to recover, before making the return journey.’

‘I’d be happy to. At what time do we leave?’

‘As soon as it’s light. Can you manage that?’

‘Certainly, I’ll be here.’

‘Thank you, that’s a weight off my mind. I shan’t forget.’

Killian left the house, wondering why Fergusson was so desperate to have Miss van Sandt out of the way. Perhaps his intrigues weren’t going as well as he had hoped? Or maybe what he perceived as her snooping had shaken the man’s composure? Either way, Killian was looking forward to spending some extra time with Miss van Sandt. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be bored at any rate.

‘You’re going to Småland, did you say? In this weather? You’ll be frozen stiff before you’re even halfway.’ Mrs Ljung had brought his supper and found him packing a few necessities.

‘Nevertheless,
Fru
Ljung, I have to go. My employer has asked me to, so I can’t very well refuse. What do you suggest? Should I bring some extra blankets perhaps? Or my eiderdown bolster?’

She stopped to consider, then a smile spread over her face. ‘No, I have the very thing for you.’ She bustled out of the room and came back carrying what looked like a huge brown animal. ‘Here we are, this belonged to my late husband. A big brute of a man he was, but that’s all to the good. If this doesn’t keep you warm, nothing will.’

She shook out a fur coat of enormous proportions, large enough to fit two grown men. Killian couldn’t help but wonder exactly how big her husband had been. ‘What kind of fur is that?’ he asked, eyeing the garment and trying not to cough while dust motes danced all around them.

‘Bear. As warm as they come. Take it, you can have it with my blessing.’ Mrs Ljung had developed a soft spot for her young lodger and treated him like a hen would her only chick. Having missed out on motherly affection for so long, Killian quite enjoyed it and so he never discouraged her.

‘I can’t just take it, I’ll pay you for it,’ he said.

‘No need.’

‘I insist.’

‘Well, pay me when you come back then, there’s no hurry. Only promise me you’ll wear this tomorrow or I won’t rest easy. Wouldn’t want you to catch pneumonia.’

‘Very well, I promise.’

The following morning, when he saw the open carriage they were to travel in for the first stage of their journey, Killian was profoundly grateful for Mrs Ljung’s kindness. He knew she had been right and without the bear coat he would most definitely have frozen to death.

Chapter Seventeen

Småland, Southern Sweden

Mrs Forbes was snoring loudly, her illness much worse. They had been travelling for three days now, starting off with a short boat journey up the Göta river and then continuing overland in stages by sleigh. Their only stops were to eat and sleep.

They had long since run out of topics of conversation, at least ones that could be discussed with Mrs Forbes present. The old lady kept interrupting with complaints most of the time anyway, making it all but impossible to talk. By the third day, however, she felt so awful she was quiet at last, which was a blessing.

Mrs Forbes had suffered continued bouts of coughing ever since they left the inn that morning. Each one left her exhausted with the effort, which was probably why she had fallen into a deep sleep. Jess could see her flushed face between the edges of her scarf and shawl. They were both wound round the woman’s head and chin several times before disappearing into her tightly-wrapped cloak. A blanket was draped over everything else, almost obliterating her from view. She didn’t look like she’d wake for hours, if she even survived the ride.

Pity for her gaoler briefly swept through Jess, but then she remembered that Mrs Forbes was in cahoots with Robert and the pity was replaced by anger. Despite Jess’ pleas, Mrs Forbes had refused to try and change Robert’s mind and allow them to stay, at least until the older woman was better.

‘If he’s sending you away again, it’s because you deserve it. The Lord knows I’d rather not go travelling at the moment, but on the other hand I won’t be sorry to leave for a while either. Could do with some peace and quiet. Your mother is a good woman, Jessamijn, but she drives everyone mad with her worrying and constant demands.’

‘I’d say she was justified this time,’ Jess replied angrily. ‘The boys both have the whooping cough and that can be dangerous.’

‘Only to newborns. The children will be fine.’

Jess wasn’t convinced, but she prayed Mrs Forbes was right.

‘Doesn’t look good, does she?’ The lazy voice beside her reminded Jess that she wasn’t alone with her companion this time. At least not yet.

She turned to look at Mr Kinross, whose arrival to escort them that first morning had surprised her. She found his face right next to her own as he peered across her shoulder at Mrs Forbes. His nearness was disconcerting, but the sleigh they were travelling in was very narrow, so it wasn’t as if the poor man could move over. Jess shifted slightly, but only succeeded in rubbing against him, which sent a frisson of awareness up her arm.

Feeling oddly flustered, she replied to his question rather grumpily. ‘No she doesn’t, but it’s no more than she deserves.’ One of the maids had told her that Mrs Forbes had been the one who alerted Robert to Jess’ absence the day he found her at the warehouse. That was another reason why Jess was out of charity with the woman.

One eyebrow came up in quizzical fashion and Jess stared at Mr Kinross in fascination, before realising that this was probably rude of her.

‘Saves us from her endless complaints at least,’ he commented, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

‘I suppose so,’ Jess replied.

She tore her gaze away, unwilling to be drawn in by his charm. He may have treated her better than most men, trusting her with the secret of the East India venture and promising to speak to Albert on her behalf, but she still didn’t quite trust
him
. He looked like another Karl, a handsome scoundrel, preying on innocent women. No doubt he spouted glib words and drew them in with eyes that promised everything but delivered nothing. Of course, she had no proof this was the case, but the fact that Mr Kinross was so good-looking had her convinced. Not to mention the way he was forever teasing her.