by Kacey Ezell
“One and the same. Father’s business associate, that de Graaf. I know of none other.”
“Care to explain how and why you accepted this invitation?”
Lucia swallowed hard. “He sent a letter to Amelia, and I accepted, since she was to accompany me. I know it was reckless, but—”
“You knew I’d say no.” Edith sighed and rubbed her hand over her eyes, the blonde hair streaked with gray escaping from her hair combs as she regained her composure.
“You loved the last performance. Please join me?” Lucia pleaded.
“Just this once, and you arrange future social events through us, be it de Graaf or that odious suitor from last week, or I’ll have you packed off to your Aunt Sigrid on the next ocean liner heading out.”
“Norway. You’d send me to the mountains where the airships don’t care to fly? Clever. Just this once, and I swear, never again. It was spontaneous. He offered, and I accepted,” Lucia promised. “Come with us.”
“Go get dressed then. Hurry. I’ll wear my new dress,” Edith said, relenting.
Lucia bolted from the office as delicately as a lady could.
* * *
Edith Delsarte nodded in approval as Captain de Graaf stepped into the front hall of the mansion at sundown. The captain had dressed in his finest, and Edith had to admit to herself he cut a striking figure. De Graaf stood at attention and waited for Edith Delsarte to state her approval. If only he wasn’t Immortal, Edith thought, he’d be a good match for Lucia. She let the thought remain unspoken; no good would come of a burst of honesty.
“Welcome, Captain. I was informed earlier you had a social engagement with Lucia. Thank you for being prompt.” Edith nodded her assent at de Graaf’s presence.
Lucia stood next to her mother in a burgundy silk dress that skimmed her figure, with a coat to match. She gripped her mother’s hand, barely able to contain her excitement. Whether it was de Graaf or the social event, Edith wasn’t sure. Lucia looked radiantly happy and breathtaking in her dress. Heads would turn. Perhaps this would work as a diversion to more suitable men for Lucia.
“Lady Delsarte, I didn’t mean to disrupt your evening. Thank you for joining us.” Captain de Graaf bowed slightly, sweeping his hat in hand.
“I’m fond of the theatre and of keeping an eye on my daughter’s reputation. I could have forbidden this excursion, but I know how hard tickets are to come by. Foolish of me to put them to waste.”
Lucia breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll have Emme fetch your cloak, Mother. I’ll wait for you at the front door.” Lucia stepped into the hall and gestured for her mother’s lady servant.
* * *
Edith seated herself in the carriage, with a slight smile, between Lucia and Captain de Graaf. “This will be lovely. Thank you for your generosity, even if it was meant to be an illicit liaison.”
“Mother, it’s not like that. Don’t pester the captain. It was my idea as well as his.”
“Lady Delsarte, I wished to attend Marinport’s cultural events during my stay, and I didn’t want to go alone. My intent was purely innocent,” Johannes replied, as calm as the ocean breezes.
“And innocent it shall remain,” Edith declared.
“You have my word,” de Graaf replied. “I’d rather throw myself upon the mercy of the sun than sully Lucia’s reputation.”
Lady Delsarte maintained the seating space between Lucia and Johannes throughout the performance, and right into intermission. Wherever Lucia stood, Edith was there, physically blocking her daughter from the captain.
“I’ll go fetch some drinks. It’s a little chilly in the performance hall.” Johannes bowed and took his leave.
“Mother, I’m not going to engage in a passionate kiss with the captain in the lobby. You can let us have a bit of space,” Lucia protested as Johannes walked away.
“Amelia sent me a personal letter that had me alarmed,” Edith started.
“Oh, heavens, she promised she wouldn’t tell.”
“I guess she couldn’t talk sense into you any more than I could. You know where her wisdom originates. Listen to her counsel, if no other. You’ve always been a woman of your own mind. I should have guessed.” Edith sounded more annoyed than truly upset. She looked over at her daughter and saw no telltale bite marks at Lucia’s throat. Perhaps it was only a friendly social arrangement.
“Yes, Mother. Now, Amelia, what did she say?”
“She warned me to warn you. They’re seeing a new fever from the dockworkers, Sources, and prostitutes. She wants you to be careful, as do I. He’s charming, well-educated, and he seems like a gentleman. Your father wouldn’t do business with anyone but the most reputable, but I worry so much. It was so easy when you were away at school to keep you innocent of Immortals, but you’re an adult, and I guess there’s no hiding it anymore. De Graaf is a longtime associate of the family, but that doesn’t mean I want my daughter stepping out on the town on his arm. I’m not sure I’m ready for that level of social scandal.”
“We only went for tea. Amelia was there the whole time. We sat across from each other at the table and talked of literature and travel. It was as innocent as an Eventide gathering. I merely enjoy the company of educated adults. I dislike being so sheltered.”
“I won’t tell your father, but don’t do it again. Not before speaking to both of us,” Edith whispered as Johannes returned with china cups of tea. “If only he wasn’t Immortal.”
* * *
“Duke Delsarte, did I see your wife and daughter at the theatre last night?” Remy Elidon sat himself down uninvited across from Etienne Delsarte in the tavern after a contentious City Hall meeting.
“Indeed, you did.”
“Nearly unchaperoned; I didn’t see you there. Well, they did spend considerable time in the company of Captain de Graaf. I thought his ship had left by now. Surprising to see two noblewomen in the company of a NightShip captain. Is Marinport lacking suitors to your liking such that you’re looking at the Immortals?”
Duke Delsarte took a long drink of his wine to hide his surprise. Lucia and Edith had neglected to mention the small detail of de Graaf’s presence as a guest when they regaled him with the evening’s gossip.
“De Graaf is free to partake of events in the city. I have no reason to distrust him, if that’s what you’re implying.” Delsarte sipped at his wine and wished, not for the first time, that he’d left City Hall after the meeting before Remy could corner him in the pub.
“Perhaps if Lucia wasn’t so wild and defiant, she’d have found a good mortal man by now. Better move quick, the Immortals are luring all the nobility away to serve on ships. It worked well for Amelia, did it not?”
“Lucia’s an adult. I raised her to be polite, even to Immortal captains. He’s always acted with honor in our city, and while they didn’t tell me, I don’t entirely disapprove of her making his friendship. I do business with the NightShips myself, and with de Graaf. It’s none of your concern, at any rate. How’s Matthias? Still at the Academy? I bought the man a hot meal last week, and he made no mention of you or his studies.” Delsarte watched as Remy flinched at the name Matthias. It was no secret that Matthias was at the docks.
“You’re daring, sir. Rumor is, another of the sons of the Magniers has been down at the dockyards selling himself for rum and a bed.” Remy sipped at the wine Delsarte had offered.
“I hadn’t heard. I’ve been away on business frequently,” Duke Delsarte replied. “He’s in good company. Your son is well? My son made no mention of him at the Academy; they were once close, if I’m not mistaken. Did they have a falling out?” he pried again.
“Matthias has left the Naval Academy for a short sabbatical under advisement of his medic. Sylvain Magnier, the one at the Medical Academy, graduated and left on the next NightShip out. Such a bright future, lost. Keep an eye on your daughter and your son, Theo, when he returns from overseas. They’re luring away all the elites, and I don’t know how many of the working class. The promis
e of their generosity is apparently irresistible. Our Immortal business colleagues have a taste for rich blood, it seems,” Remy replied, evasive, with irritation in his voice.
“I guess Sylvain may have a future in a NightShip crew as a medic, but they don’t tend to live long aboard—not as humans and mortals, at any rate. His mother is heartbroken; she hasn’t left her rooms since her sons disappeared,” Delsarte added, then took a long drink of the ale before him.
“Yet you do business that brings those very Immortals to our ports. You’re not the least bit concerned?”
Duke Delsarte set his empty wine glass down on the table. “The city relies on that trade arrangement, and I trust Lucia. De Graaf would be foolish to risk our business arrangement by listening to lust over reason.”
“I hope your judgement is sound in this matter.” Remy rose from the table.
As Remy turned away, Delsarte saw the thin, tight smile that crept across his habitually sour looking face.
* * *
Lucia fidgeted as she waited at the Eventide gate next to the carriage she’d hired. The rain hammered down as the sun dipped down below the horizon. Her umbrella and oiled-wool raincoat only provided so much cover. She spotted Amelia hurrying along the walkway, holding her own raincoat around her blue habit.
“Amelia, quick, get in.” Lucia gestured to the carriage.
“Luce, I can’t really take the time. I thought you’d come to the Order with the supply shipment,” Amelia protested in vain.
Lucia shook her head, her damp hair dripping rainwater on the upholstery. She tucked her hair back under her cap as she spoke.
“It’s a large shipment. I couldn’t carry it myself. Captain de Graaf would bring it but he was called away. My father volunteered me to take the carriage. You want your supplies now, or whenever he gets around to bringing it?”
“I could use a break,” she admitted, slouching in her seat and rubbing one hand across her brow. “This fever is relentless. We clear a bed, and we have two more patients waiting for the space. The Brothers are helping relocate the children so we can repurpose the school and dormitories to wards.”
“So you need the supplies. I can help after you take a break and eat a proper meal. You won’t be gone long.” Lucia handed Amelia a handkerchief to dab rainwater off her face.
“Only if you stay to help. We need spare hands. I don’t know when Brother Stephan last had a break, and if you’re there, we may be able to convince him to take a short rest.”
* * *
The carriage pulled up to the same café Lucia had met the captain at previously.
“Wait for us, sir. We’ll bring you a meal, then we’re returning to the Sisters.” Lucia led Amelia into the cafe on a single-minded mission to find some brief respite for Amelia. Lucia placed the dinner order, with directions to take food and absolutely no wine or beer to the waiting coachman.
Lucia watched, bemused, as Amelia ate heartily, fairly scarfing down her meal of stew, thick, crusty bread, large mugs of tea, and then a slice of a cake.
“Goodness.” Lucia watched Amelia with a sense of awe.
“I know. I haven’t sat down to eat in days. I feel alive again. Thank you, Luce.” Amelia sighed and slumped a bit in her chair. “I need sleep.”
“You’re always welcome at home. Take a day or two.” Lucia reached for her cousin’s hand.
“Would that I could. We don’t have enough nurses or medics. I told you the children are being fostered out in the city? I believe your mother said your family could house a sibling pair. I’ll be by tomorrow to speak to her about that. Mother Claude wants the children away from the plague wards if at all possible. I can always count on the Delsartes to be the first in line to offer assistance. Thank the mercies for that.” Amelia sighed heavily, beaming, her face flushed from the warmth of the cafe and content in the meal.
“I’d better get you back to the Order before Mother Claude and Mother Ingrid send out the guards to find you.” Lucia handed the waitress payment for the meals. “You can wait in the carriage; I’ll pay the office master to load the boxes. Have a short nap.” Lucia gestured at the waiting carriage as the two of them huddled in the rain.
Lucia hurried off to the parcel drop as the rain picked up intensity and pooled in the cobbled streets. The drop was open ‘round the clock for the incoming NightShips, and for the day sailings.
“Good evening, Miss Delsarte. Didn’t expect you in today.”
“I’m here for the rest of the Eventide order. It had to clear customs. They need this urgently.”
The clerk slid papers across the desk and handed her a pen with a well-used nib. Lucia scratched down her signature and handed the shipping record back. “I have one of the Sisters waiting, so I can’t delay. Thank you.”
“We could have sent the parcels for you. No need to be out in this weather. More medicines for the Eventides? They’re using a lot lately. The docks have been so quiet. I know something’s up. Go, get this to the Sisters. Tell Mother Claude we’ll just have future orders brought over straight away. I have no idea why we didn’t arrange that before. Usually one of the sisters is around nightly to pick up after ministering at the docks.” The clerk gestured at the four large boxes on the floor by his counter labelled, “Eventides.”
Lucia hefted one of the boxes and sighed with the effort. “I’ll come right back for the next ones.” She lifted the box and heard the quiet clinking of glass—a box containing vials of medicines. She stepped back out into the rainy night.
“Miss Delsarte? What in heavens are you doing out here?” asked a familiar voice. Captain de Graaf. The man had a knack for turning up wherever she was. Lucia couldn’t decide if it was annoying or fortuitous. She turned around, stepped under a narrow awning, and set the heavy box down on a patch of dry sidewalk.
“Medicines for the Eventides. The errand you couldn’t run. If you want to be of use, you can fetch the other three boxes in the drop office. I have a carriage waiting,” Lucia said tartly with a raised eyebrow as she hurried to stow the first box in the carriage’s luggage compartment.
Johannes inclined his head, then returned with two of the boxes, hefted in his arms with ease. “You can fetch the third—wait, better yet, get in the carriage. You’re going to perish of fever in this weather.”
Lucia would have none of it. She simply flashed him a challenging look as lightning split the sky overhead and hurried back into the office. When she returned, she set the third box at his feet and waited as Johannes lifted it into the carriage. Her hand brushed his as she did so, and she startled.
“You’re warm. I didn’t expect that,” Lucia blurted.
“Just fed. That’s what was keeping me.” Johannes licked his lips. “I was only running late. I wasn’t about to leave the Eventides out of medicines.”
Lucia blushed. “Oh, of course. We just had dinner, too, Amelia and I. She needed the respite. She’s exhausted.”
“Your cousin the Eventide, I hope she’s well. You two are close.”
Lucia nodded as she fell in alongside Johannes. “Yes, she was orphaned young, and my family took her in. She is, after all, my family. We’re as close as sisters. Not the habit-wearing ones, siblings.”
Lucia led the way to the carriage, where Amelia sat quietly, contemplative in the shelter from the storm.
“Look who I found,” Lucia said as Captain de Graaf climbed in. “The boxes are heavy. He helped. You’ll need his help carrying the boxes up the lane.” Lucia sidled over on the bench next to Amelia. Amelia frowned, but moved over to accommodate their extra passenger.
“Immortals aren’t allowed on Eventide grounds. Gates only,” Amelia replied. “Sorry, Captain.”
“It’s pouring. Don’t be absurd. Surely there’s an exception to be made.”
Amelia pursed her lips. “To the main door and back. Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t look at anyone.”
“Of course. Thank you, Sister. I don’t wish to run afoul of the Eventides.”
<
br /> The trio made small talk as they clattered off to the Eventides, and the carriage jarred over the uneven streets. Amelia warmed to him slightly, Lucia noticed, as he talked fondly of his crew and travels.
“Sailing over the oceans, I get to see the lights of the cities, the dolphins leaping in the depths, the moonlight over the waves. I hope to set sail in the next week or so, when the repairs are finished. My true home is on that ship. When she’s wounded, I feel it, too, as does my crew. They would like their home whole again. Some nights, a few who have musical skill play on the front deck under the stars for the crew and passengers. I’m fortunate, and they’re loyal,” Johannes said.
Amelia looked as rapt as Lucia. “Pirates, storms. Never staying in one place. No family. I think I’ll stay at the Order; you can send me letters, Luce.”
Johannes grinned. “The pirates aren’t so terrifying, the storms can be beautiful in their power, I’ve had a family and lost it, and I’m content as I am. We know what Amelia’s calling is; what’s yours, Lucia?”
Lucia looked around and pondered things. “I’d like to work; my brother and I are set to take over the Delsarte Shipping business. I don’t have any set plans yet. Courting suitors is a chore, modestly entertaining, but it hasn’t led to any prospects. I have no desire to marry, as such. But don’t tell my mother that, she’ll be aghast.”
Once the carriage splashed up to the gates, the three of them carried the boxes into the compound, up the long slick walkways. Lucia felt her dress sticking to her skin through her soaked coat.
“I’m about to ask you to sail me away somewhere warm. I’m so tired of the rain.”
“At your request I’d be pleased to sail you anywhere your heart desires,” Johannes replied as the wind picked up. Lucia had little time to contemplate the promise of his words, as duty called. Yet a flicker of possibility lit like a candle in her mind.
Amelia led the two to the doorstep of the main hall. The heavy wooden door swung open, and there stood Mother Claude.