Threads of Faith Page 12

  “Did you enjoy your birthday, little one?” He held onto her hand as he waited for a reply.

  She heard the endearment, and it only made this night all the more special. “It was perfect.” It was the only word she knew to describe it.

  A satisfied smile worked its way into the captain’s handsome face, and beneath the far-reaching glow of the front porch lamps Julianna saw those irresistible dimples winking at her.

  He closed the carriage door and took her arm. Julianna lifted her hems with her other hand and felt as though she didn’t walk but instead floated to the massive double-door entrance.

  In the grand front hallway Mrs. Ramsey bid them all a goodnight and took to the stairs. Her husband entered the house just seconds after the captain and Julianna.

  “Join me in the study, Daniel?” Mr. Ramsey glanced at Julianna, although he didn’t meet her gaze. “Goodnight, Miss Wayland.”

  She was obviously dismissed. “Goodnight. Thank you for a lovely evening—and for everything.”

  As she headed for the stairwell, she heard the captain murmur, “Sleep well.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Julianna watched him disappear into the study. Mr. Ramsey followed, and then the door closed firmly behind them.

  CHAPTER 11

  O N MONDAY MORNING Julianna pulled back the curtains to see another glorious day. The weekend’s weather had been fine, although Saturday was much less eventful than her birthday. Then yesterday they’d ridden to church in the morning and attended a formal mass, spoken in Latin. More affirmation that a convent wasn’t her destiny.

  “Miss, the train leaves soon. Captain Sundberg detests tardiness.”

  Turning from the window, Julianna smiled at the stern-faced maid and allowed her to assist with her morning toilette, although she was tired of being pampered. As she slipped into the comely beige skirt and pulled on the multicolor printed blouse, flutters of anticipation filled her insides. Would she enjoy farm life? Thoughts of living beyond the clutches of the city certainly appealed to her.

  Finally dressed, Julianna gazed at herself in the looking glass. She was getting accustomed to seeing the pretty, well-groomed young woman who stared back at her. Scrutinizing her traveling outfit, Julianna enjoyed the way the bodice of her dress formed a V where it adjoined with the full skirt, which bustled in the back. The many colors complemented her dark hair, and—Julianna moved forward—only a slight trace of bruising under her left eye was visible, mostly because she stood in a pool of bright sunshine that streamed through the bedroom window.

  With her primping completed, Julianna made her way downstairs. The sweet aroma of fresh bread caught her nose, and she began making her way to the dining room. But then she heard her name and turned on her heel. The captain, dressed handsomely once again, stood in the doorway of Mr. Ramsey’s study. With his hand palm-side up, he motioned for her to come forward. She did.

  “George and I would like a word with you before breakfast.”

  “All right.” Julianna smiled, although she thought he seemed rather abrupt.

  The stench of tobacco lingered in the darkened room, and Julianna was reminded of Mr. Tolbert’s den.

  “Good morning, Miss Wayland.” Mr. Ramsey, also impeccably dressed, stood behind his large desk. “Please come in. It’s about time we discussed business, don’t you think?”

  “Of course.” Her passage and new wardrobe. She needed to promise to repay all but the birthday gift from the captain.

  “Please be seated, Julianna.” Captain Sundberg’s tone was more cordial now. “Would you care for a cup of tea?”

  “Yes, please.”

  A half smile moved across his mouth. “I figured as much and took the liberty of pouring out.”

  “Why, thank you.” She accepted the dainty porcelain cup and saucer. “How very thoughtful of you.”

  He sat on the corner of Mr. Ramsey’s mahogany desk. “I wanted to tell you that Devlin Griswald, also known as the Grisly Devil, will never harm you again. He’s been ordered to return to London and stand trial on charges of attempted murder and insubordination at sea, as well as mutinous behavior. ”

  “What will happen to him if he’s found guilty?” And he was. Julianna hoped he’d hang from a short rope.

  “My guess is that he’ll be sentenced to a life of hard labor or institutionalized in an insane asylum. I believe he’s mad.”

  Julianna didn’t doubt it for a moment.

  “But you’re not to give the man another thought, all right? He’s out of your life forever.” The captain’s steady gaze held a promise that touched Julianna’s core.

  “I’m more than happy to never think of that man again.” She sipped her tea and noticed Mr. Ramsey eyed her with an odd expression.

  “You look lovely today. Are you rested for our journey?”

  Mr. Ramsey cleared his throat in what sounded to Julianna like disapproval, but the captain didn’t appear to pay the man much mind.

  “Thank you.” Her gaze returned to the captain. “And, yes, I believe I’m ready.”

  “Let’s begin, shall we?” An impatient note sounded in Mr. Ramsey’s request. “Now, Miss Wayland . . . ”

  Again, she sipped from the cup. Mmm, just the way she liked her black tea, good and strong in the morning.

  “ . . . let’s get right to the point here. What is it, exactly, that you want from me?”

  Julianna frowned. “Sir?”

  “What do you want? The deed to my home in Virginia, perhaps?”

  Noting the derision in Mr. Ramsey’s tone, she quickly looked to the captain. “But I thought I was going to a place called Wisconsin.”

  He said nothing but studied the cufflink on his ivory-colored shirt.

  “So you want money, is that it?” Mr. Ramsey’s voice raised several decibels. “How much money?”

  The teacup in Julianna’s hand clattered against the saucer. She didn’t like this man. Not a single bit. What was he talking about?

  Leaning forward, she set the cup and saucer on the edge of Mr. Ramsey’s desk. “I want nothing more from you, sir. You’ve been most generous. In fact, I thought we were going to discuss me passage and wardrobe.”

  The captain still didn’t acknowledge her with a glance.

  Julianna felt suddenly very alone. She rose from the chair.

  “So you want more clothes and money for passage, is that right?” Mr. Ramsey demanded.

  Julianna gaped at Mr. Ramsey.

  “For heaven’s sake, name your price!”

  “But I . . . ” Julianna didn’t understand what was happening. Her hackles went up. She looked over her shoulder at the closed door. Should she make a run for it?

  A hand clamped over her forearm, and she startled. But then she saw the captain beside her.

  “That’s enough, George. Now we do this my way.”

  Wearing a scowl, Mr. Ramsey reclined in his chair.

  “Julianna?”

  She gave him a wary regard.

  “The new clothes are a gift. From me. I want you to have everything you need to start a new life in Wisconsin.”

  “So I’m still going there?” She blinked, confused.

  Before the captain could reply, Mr. Ramsey erupted again. “Where else did you have in mind, Miss Wayland? The south of France, perhaps? Paris?”

  “George!”

  Julianna pulled out of the captain’s grasp. “Are you both mad? What’s wrong with you?” She leaned closer to the captain and inhaled. He didn’t smell like he’d been drinking.

  Mr. Ramsey clambered to his feet and drew back until he peered down his nose at her. “Be warned, Miss Wayland—if that’s really your name—I have notified Scotland Yard. I’ll find out the truth.”

  “The truth? But my name is really Julianna Wayland. I never lied about it.” Suspicious, she tilted her head. “And why have you contacted London’s finest?” She swung her line of vision back to the captain. “I’m not going back to London with the Grisly Devil, am I?”


  “No, of course not.”

  “Then you’re sending me back to Mr. Tolbert and the young master?” Even as she spoke those words, her mind screamed against the idea.

  “No, never. I would never do something like that to you.” He spoke in that commanding tone of his, and Julianna believed him. “Your wardrobe and accessories are a gift from me. You have a job in Wisconsin if that’s what you want.”

  She felt suddenly so unsure of everything. Did she have other options? But where would she go?

  She gazed into the captain’s blue eyes, trying to discern his thoughts. “You said you would take me to Wisconsin to help your mother on the farm.”

  “Is that agreeable to you?”

  Julianna thought he asked sincerely. She replied with a timid nod.

  “Fine,” Mr. Ramsey said. “Then let’s make an agreement. We’ll exchange your passage from London to New York and your fares from here to Wisconsin for your signature stating you expect nothing more from our shipping company or from Daniel and me personally. Is that fair enough?”

  She didn’t know what to say. How was it fair? Seemed to Julianna like she’d gotten the better end of the bargain.

  Looking at the captain, she caught a flash of his pained expression. “I never expected all the kindness and generosity in the first place.”

  “This is business. Daniel and I must ensure the safety of his investments.”

  “Oh, well, all right.” If this was the way men conducted business, then it was little wonder they ended up shooting each other.

  “So, do we have an agreement, Miss Wayland?” Mr. Ramsey’s voice sounded constrained, as if he still wanted to shout at her.

  “I suppose so.” Julianna still sensed something was amiss. “And you’re really not sending me back to Mr. Tolbert?” She moved toward the captain. “Are you?”

  “Have I ever lied to you?”

  She shook her head.

  The crinkles around the captain’s eyes softened just before his gaze moved to Mr. Ramsey. “Add a line into the agreement that states Miss Wayland is in no way obligated to return to Mr. Tolbert’s employ. In return, she will forgive any wages he owes her up to the date of her leave.” He looked at Julianna again. “The latter will most likely silence Tolbert or his son if they have a mind to track you down. However, I highly doubt his influence is as far-reaching as America.”

  “If you say so.” The captain hadn’t betrayed her trust so far.

  Mr. Ramsey sat down and penned the addition across the pre-written agreement. “There.” He handed it to the captain.

  “Allow me to read this in its entirety, Julianna.”

  She gave a single nod, glad she didn’t have to read it herself. She managed well enough with printed words, but not hand-scribed documents.

  The captain read from the paper in his hand. It listed the sum of her travel expenses, a dizzying amount. In exchange for it, Julianna would not ask or require anything more from Ramsey Enterprises, the Ramsey family, or Captain Daniel Sundberg. Then he read the lines about not being required to return to the Tolbert residence.

  “So, what do you think?” The captain set the agreement on the desktop once more.

  She scrutinized the captain’s expression. “This is awfully kind of you, Captain. No one’s ever done anything nice for me before—not like this, anyway.”

  His jaw muscle worked. Was he angry?

  When no further comment came forth, she stared at the agreement. “I guess I’d be a fool not to sign the paper, wouldn’t I?” Julianna walked closer to the desk. “Just one more thing.”

  “What is it?” Mr. Ramsey’s face reddened.

  Julianna longed to get this over with and leave this place forever. “May I borrow your pen—or is that asking too much?”

  From the corner of her eye she saw the captain rub his neck. He seemed to stave off a grin. She hadn’t meant to be funny or sassy.

  Mr. Ramsey thrust the ink pen at her. “Sign, and be quick about it.”

  Daniel watched as Julianna printed her name. He sensed George’s impatience and aggravation but cast him a frowning innuendo to hold his temper. He’d warned George to tread lightly if he wanted the agreement signed. Daniel knew Julianna didn’t trust many people, and he’d won her over. She thought of him as honorable, and yet here he stood, watching this young woman innocently sign away her rightful inheritance.

  His conscience pressed in on him, but he held his tongue. George was sure their futures were at stake.

  At last Julianna set down the pen. “Is there anything else, sir?”

  “No. That’ll be all, Miss Wayland.”

  Daniel winced at George’s tone. He sounded as though he spoke to one of his hirelings, not his own flesh and blood.

  Julianna glanced at Daniel. Questions still pooled in her eyes.

  “We’ll leave for the train station in about an hour.”

  “I’m ready to go whenever you say.”

  He replied with a single nod.

  She whirled around and practically ran to the door.

  When it closed behind her, something in Daniel’s gut twisted. He felt like a hypocrite. If he was any kind of an honorable man, he’d go to her and tell her the truth right now. Instead he remained silently loyal to George.

  “Well, it’s done. I’ll get this document over to my attorney’s office.”

  “You ought to tear it up this minute. She’s your daughter!”

  “Now, Daniel, think of the consequences—for both of us. She can’t learn the truth. If news of this got out, it would result in a scandalous firestorm that would never go away.” George slowly circled Daniel. “I’d never be able to face my friends or the public. Why, Eliza would never forgive me. What’s more, you could forget all about marrying a countess anytime soon. Instead, you’d be forced to share your inheritance with that . . . scamp.” George stepped closer.

  “Consider everything you’ve worked so hard to accomplish in the last twelve years. Are you willing to give away a portion to . . . to her?” He extended his manicured forefinger toward the closed door.

  Daniel narrowed his gaze and swallowed a retort.

  “That’s right, think about it, son. Think hard!”

  George made some inarguable points. Daniel couldn’t deny it.

  With a smile he clapped his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “And while you cogitate, let’s eat some breakfast, shall we?”

  Daniel had lost his appetite, but he walked alongside George as they left the study. A busy maid scurried through the wide foyer, stopping only for a quick curtsey when she saw them coming.

  Daniel nodded politely and then remembered his request. “That reminds me, George. Did Eliza speak with you about two of your staff accompanying me to Wisconsin?”

  “Yes, and I made the arrangements. A neighbor hired a lady’s maid and valet, but it’s not working out, so she’s sending them back to Chicago. I have agreed to pay half their fare, provided they accompany you and, um, Miss Wayland.”

  Daniel didn’t care. At this point he wasn’t selective. Any two hirelings would be better than none at all.

  “Oh, and I almost forgot . . . ”

  George pulled a folded piece of paper from his waistcoat’s pocket. “A telegram arrived this morning around the same time as the written agreement from my attorney.”

  Daniel opened it and saw that it came from his mother—a reply to his telegram the day they’d dropped anchor in New York. He read, Poppa lives. Please come home soon.

  Relief coursed through him. His father was still alive. There was still time for Daniel to see him.

  “Good news?”

  “Yes.” He refolded the message. “My father is still alive.”

  “Your biological father?”

  “Correct.” Daniel pushed out a grin.

  “Well, do what you must, son, to sever any remaining ties in Wisconsin. And, for heaven’s sake, deposit that Wayland girl and hurry back. We have a trip to London to make. You’
ll propose marriage to the countess and then there will be a seemingly endless string of parties and balls to attend.”

  They stopped to finish their conversation.

  “Of course, the countess will be eager to get that ring on your finger.” George elbowed him and laughed. “She’ll have captured the elusive prince of the sea captains, eh?”

  Daniel forced an amused grin. He disliked his husbandly role being equated to captivity.

  “You and the countess will make a fine couple, and a very wealthy one at that.”

  Wealth overrode captivity, didn’t it?

  He caught sight of Julianna entering the foyer, and his heart squeezed with some inexplicable emotion.

  “Mrs. Ramsey asked me to fetch the two of you. She says breakfast is on the table and getting cold.” Her gaze fixed on Daniel as she spoke. “Apparently our train leaves soon.”

  “Then we’d best eat a hot, tasty meal while we can.” Stepping forward, he offered his arm to Julianna, but she evidently didn’t see the gesture in time and strode back to the dining room.

  George’s voice came from just behind him. “And she’s an ill-mannered scamp to boot!”

  CHAPTER 12

  T WO DAYS LATER Julianna sat alone at a table in the Trackside Inn’s eatery. Only eight more hours to go before the train would arrive at Chicago’s dockside depot, where they’d board a steamship for Manitowoc.

  She’d been practicing the city’s pronunciation whenever possible. Man-it-tow-wok.

  Sipping her tea, Julianna decided she’d be glad to leave the railroad behind. The passenger car had been stifling, and the collective smell of human perspiration and tobacco, nauseating. If the windows were opened and the wind blew in the wrong direction, thick black smoke from the locomotive wafted into the car on the hot summer air. The sleeper car had been just as warm and uncomfortable, so it had been an enormous relief when the captain announced they’d take the layover stop. While the Trackside Inn had been noisy, it was a far sight better than some places she’d slept, and since she’d been able to enjoy a cool bath before bed, Julianna hadn’t a single complaint.