Where Seagulls Soar (3 page)

Alex hated complimenting her, but swallowed his pride to say stiffly, ‘It was good of you to raise the money.’

‘All it took was a signature. I used the
Charlotte May
and the
Clara Jane
as security. Lord Durrington witnessed it and Henry Wetherall endorsed it.’

Anger surged, then ebbed, leaving him drained. He paled as the pain in his side came back to nag at him and was hard pushed not to double over and retch. Sweat coated his forehead. ‘You
signed over half of the company ships? To whom?’

‘Barnard Charsford.’

‘That usurer! Are you insane? You didn’t have the authority to do that. How much was the loan, for God’s sake?’

‘Considerable. But it didn’t take long to persuade Henry Wetherall that the signature I had was genuine. Your signature is easy to copy and, after all, it was all for the
company’s good.’

‘Like hell! There were other ways of raising the money than compound a fraud with another fraud. I could have you and Durrington arrested.’

‘Don’t be tiresome, Alexander. It would simply be your word against ours. Lord Durrington is a peer. He witnessed your signature and backdated it. And Barnard Charsford is a friend
of ours, who will swear on oath that you lodged the document yourself, before you went gallivanting off after that girl.’

‘Joanna is my wife, and I’d have you talk of her with more respect.’

‘We will never have respect for each other, since we are sworn enemies.’ She gave a small, tight smile and her eyes suddenly became as cold and as hard as ice. ‘May I remind
you that Oliver used to own half of this company before your
wife
persuaded him to sell it cheaply to her. Do you ever wonder how she managed that? Perhaps she spread her legs for him, in
the same way she did for you.’

Clara gave a light laugh when his fists clenched. ‘You didn’t imagine I’d bailed Oliver out with my own money, did you? I haven’t got that much left. The cards have
proved unlucky, of late.’

‘I did think for a moment that he might have roused some motherly spark in you. I should have known better. And you can only apply your own low standards to the situation, since I never
knew who my father was until recently. Certainly not the man you were married to at the time. But don’t imagine Joanna is the same. She has more love and compassion in her little finger than
you have in your entire body. Now, get out.’

And his voice was so hard that Clara left rather quickly.

Later, Alex heard Henry Wetherall come in. His manager came straight to his office, a wry smile on his face.

‘I’m sorry, Mr Morcant. I wanted to be here when you arrived. There’s something I need to discuss urgently with you, regarding a loan taken out against the company
assets.’

‘I’ve already talked to my mother, Henry. She forged my signature on the document.’

Henry looked shocked. ‘Mrs Nash said the loan was authorized by you. I’m sorry. If I’d known I’d have never endorsed it, for the interest rate was extremely high.
However, I was led to understand it was an emergency.’

Alex shrugged. ‘I believe it was. Don’t feel bad about it, Henry, it’s not your fault. But I’d be obliged if you kept what I’ve told you to yourself, for there were
extenuating circumstances. I’d have done something similar under the circumstances, I expect, though I’d probably have sold the
Nightingale
rather than take on such a
loan.’

‘I did suggest that, but the guarantor wouldn’t consider it, because of her age. It was the clipper ships, or nothing. They threatened to impound them, otherwise. At least the
Joanna Rose
is free of debt. I insisted that the ships were insured for the sum required, and was able to prove it, so
Joanna Rose
wasn’t included as collateral.’

‘Aye, there’s that, but you can be sure they’ll seize her too if the need arises. We’ll have to try and keep her at sea, with a quick turnaround every time she’s in
port, Henry. Fetch the books. It looks as though there’s going to be some hard work in front of me before the company’s solvent again.’

‘You could take in a partner, sir, cut your losses. I know Lord Durrington is interested in purchasing a share of the company.’

Alex tried to keep a sour look from appearing on his face. Durrington was the man who’d fathered him, but Alex detested him, and knew he’d never publicly acknowledge him as his
father.

‘I could, except for one thing.’ He smiled broadly at his manager. ‘I married Joanna Darsham, and my wife has recently presented me with a healthy son. So, you see, I have his
future to prepare for. That future doesn’t include Lord Durrington, believe me.’

May had ticked over into a flawless June when Joanna threw the door wide to allow Tilda Lind inside the house.

She stared hard at her childhood companion and friend, amazed by the change in her over the previous year or so. The last time they’d met, Tilda had still been building up her strength
after being reduced to the point of starvation and degradation by her family. Joanna could hardly believe this was the same woman.

Tilda had always been considered plain, with her brown, heavy-lidded eyes and angular face. Now she was glowing. Apart from her trim figure, Tilda’s other claim to beauty was a glossy
sweep of brown hair, now almost hidden under her dark blue bonnet.

‘Oh, Tilda, you look wonderful.’ Joanna took her in a crushing hug. ‘I’m so happy to see you again.’

The pair clung to each other, their eyes moist, Joanna remembering a time when they’d only had each other to rely on.

Eventually, Tilda pushed her to arm’s length and looked at her severely. ‘I should be angry with you for going off to Melbourne without a word. The continent of Australia is so far
away and you missed my wedding.’

‘There was a good reason for it, Tilda, one I couldn’t tell you about at the time.’ And she still couldn’t tell Tilda all of the story, for the fewer the people who knew
the truth, the better. ‘Alex told me all about your wedding. Being married to the Reverend David Lind obviously agrees with you.’

Tilda’s smile was the most spontaneous and engaging that Joanna had ever seen from her friend.

She gazed from her to the grave-faced child clinging to Tilda’s skirt. The girl was named Grace and was a child born to Tilda’s elder sister. Mary Rushmore had died from a disease
brought about by plying her trade as a prostitute on the streets, when Grace was about four years of age. It was Grace’s good luck that Tilda had been in a position to offer the girl a
home.

Joanna shuddered at the thought of being forced to live such a life. She was thankful she’d had someone to turn to when she’d been in trouble. Neither she nor Tilda would have
survived without help.

‘Hello, Gracie,’ she said. Smiling at the little girl, Joanna held out the rag doll she’d made for her on the ship. She’d just been stitching the eyes when she’d
seen her visitors come up the path. ‘I don’t think you’ll remember me. You look very pretty.’ Grace
was
pretty, with her dark curls and glowing brown eyes.

Smoothing her hands down over her smock, the girl gazed up at Tilda.

‘It’s all right, dear,’ Tilda said. ‘This is my best friend, Joanna. Remember, I told you all about her?’

Grace gave her a shy smile as she took the doll and held it tight against her. ‘Joanna went away on a ship,’ she whispered and hid her face in Tilda’s skirt.

‘Now I’m back home again, and we’ll soon become reacquainted. Come through to the drawing room and I’ll fetch some refreshment for us, since Mrs Bates has gone to the
market. I’ve got a surprise for you.’

The most pressing, of course, being the existence of Toby, who had managed to roll off his rug, and who looked pleased with himself as he sucked noisily on his fist.

‘You renegade,’ she scolded, ‘You’ll get dirty on the floorboards.’

Tilda sucked in a slightly shocked breath. ‘A baby! Joanna, is he yours?’

‘Of course he’s mine. Because you married a clergyman, don’t you dare go all prissy on me, Tilda. Toby is Alex Morcant’s son. We were married on board ship by Thaddeus
Scott on the way home.’ She picked Toby up, cuddling him close, enjoying his milky baby smell and falling in love with him a little bit more. ‘Isn’t he the most beautiful baby in
the world?’

Grace detached herself from Tilda’s side and came to inspect him. Toby stared solemnly at her for a moment or two, then he grinned at her.

‘The baby likes me,’ Grace exclaimed, smiling at Tilda.

‘Of course he likes you, and so do I.’ Joanna was unable to hide her smile as she stooped to kiss the little girl’s cheek. Handing her son to Tilda to mind, Joanna took Grace
by the hand. ‘Come through to the kitchen with me while I make some tea. You can carry the napkins, then open the door for me while I bring the tray through. I hope you like muffins, because
my housekeeper has made some. And there’s some gooseberry conserve to spread on them.’

While they were gone, Tilda gazed at Joanna’s son, wondering why her initial reaction had been disapproval. She couldn’t help but smile at him, though. ‘Your
mama is full of surprises, young Toby, but I imagine you’ve learned that already. And how handsome you are, the very image of your papa. I have a surprise for Joanna, too, but not one as
great as you are to me.’

When the pair came back, Tilda noted that Joanna had drawn Grace out in the short time they’d spent in the kitchen. Grace was usually cautious of strangers, but she was chattering away
about anything that came into her head. Joanna listened intently to her, any comment she made complimentary to Grace. Joanna had always possessed a knack of making people feel better about
themselves.

‘David and I are going back to Portland to live,’ Tilda said when they’d settled down to having tea.

‘But why?’

‘The Reverend Prosper Quinby has died, and the parish has been offered to David. Besides, we’re tired of living in two small rooms when we could live in the house David’s uncle
left him. We’re not impoverished, so why should we choose to live amongst the poor and act as if we are? That’s no way to earn respect. I don’t want to spend my life serving the
poor, and giving away everything I own. David is so gentle, and they take advantage of his good nature.’

Tilda sounded a trifle disenchanted with playing the role of good samaritan.

‘What about . . .
your family
?’

Tilda drew in a deep breath. ‘David and I have talked the situation over. I think I can cope with them. They can’t hurt me now, since my position will place me above them. I
certainly wouldn’t socialize with them after what they did to me.’

‘I do wish you wouldn’t go, Tilda. I know I’m being selfish, but you’re the only friend I have in London. Oh, I know I’ve neglected you over the past few weeks, but
it wasn’t deliberate. I’ve been trying to get the house and garden back in order, and time has just flown by.’

‘I meant to contact you sooner, too, but David expects me to help him carry out his duties. Both of us are married now and have to consider our husbands’ wishes first.’

‘Mine always makes sure I do that,’ Joanna said darkly. ‘Alex is as arrogant as ever and does as he pleases. I’ll miss you.’

‘No doubt we’ll visit each other from time to time.’

‘Well, on my first visit we’d better arrange for Alex and I to wed properly. Thaddeus Scott wasn’t sure whether a ship’s marriage was legal or not.’

‘Joanna!’ Tilda cried out. ‘Why are you always so headstrong? You should have waited until you’d stepped ashore, and then arranged things properly.’

‘I had Toby to consider. Alex and I became lovers long before I came to London. Remember in Poole when he took me out for the day and caused an argument between my . . . self and Charlotte
Darsham. We were caught in the rain, and made love in a barn in the straw. It was so exciting.’

Tilda couldn’t stop a scandalized expression from spreading across her normally placid features. ‘It’s not polite to talk about matters which should be kept private.’

‘Oh, will you stop that, Tilda. Have you forgotten we were brought up on an island where it’s natural to lie with a man and prove your fertility before marriage?’

‘We’re not in Portland now. David told me the custom was passed down by the pagans. Did you deliberately become pregnant so Alex would marry you?’

‘Indeed not, since I didn’t know I was with child until a few weeks after the ship sailed. But I needed to find out whether Alex wanted me for the company, or whether he truly loved
me. So I put everything I owned in his name and sailed away.’

Trust Joanna to come up with a plan so outrageous, thought Tilda. She had to admit, though, it was a romantic notion. ‘What if Alex hadn’t gone after you?’

Joanna shrugged. ‘As you know, Alex was raised with the expectation that he’d inherit the company. Tobias Darsham had made that clear to him. Alex had worked towards that end all his
life. He deserved to have the company, Tilda. I wanted him to have it.’

‘Knowing pride would bring him running after you, and knowing a man with any honour would have had no option.’

When Joanna’s cheeks flamed, Tilda knew it was caused by anger rather than shame. ‘That thought didn’t enter my head, Tilda Lind. I was hoping he would, I admit, but only
because I was in love with him.’

‘But what if he hadn’t followed you?’

‘I would have made a life for myself and Toby in Australia. I liked it there. It’s not as primitive as people would have you believe. Melbourne is a fine city. The air is clean and
there’s room to move. Believe it or not, I didn’t know about Toby when I left England.’ Her mouth pulled into a smile and her voice softened. ‘You should have seen
Alex’s face when he set eyes on his son for the first time. He looked so proud I nearly cried. He adores Toby.’

‘You would have stayed there all by yourself . . . for ever?’

‘Oh I wasn’t by myself. Tob—’ Joanna bit down on her lip. ‘Toby apart, there was someone there I’d known before.’

‘Someone you’d known before? Is it a man?’

Joanna gave a small, secretive grin. ‘It is a man, but before you give me another lecture allow me to tell you about him. His name is Gabriel Tremayne, and I would trust him with my life,
and the life of my son. He and his wife have a hardware and ironmongery establishment. I could have worked there and lived in their house. They’re a respectable couple. Jane helped deliver
Toby when he was born, and she’s expecting a baby herself now.’