The Promise Keeper: Sea Heroes of Duxbury

by Lisa Norato

  “Grandfather,” Iris cried out in pity.

  Johnny had been unaware she stood behind him. His breath caught.

  He hustled to his feet and turned to face her. She looked at him with tears welling in her eyes. Her long, ash blond hair, the color of moonlight, swirled around her, blowing and dancing on a sea breeze, just as it had done all those mornings he had watched her from the tower of Pilgrim Light as she stood on this very spot.

  She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

  “May God have mercy,” she said.

  Johnny took her in his arms. He held her fast and tight to his chest. In return, Iris clung to him. He didn’t know whether she shivered from cold or shock. What comfort could he offer her for the tragic scene she had witnessed?

  “I am sorry you had to see that, Iris. I regret I failed to take Treybarwick into custody and force him stand before a magistrate in answer for his crimes. But it is over. There is nothing to fear anymore. You are safe. Your father is alive. We have survived the worst and are, all of us, together. We are still standing. For that I am grateful to God.”

  He could hear the men below filling the ballroom and calling out their names. Iris pulled back to smile into his eyes, and Johnny saw the relief that he himself was feeling.

  “Yes, Johnny,” she whispered. “I am grateful also.”

  The night wind blew around them, and as it swept softly across his cheek, Johnny caught the scent of tuberose.

  Chapter 27

  A funeral had been conducted without delay for Lord Treybarwick with the necessity of getting him into the ground before it froze over for the winter. He was laid to rest in a lonely section of the Duxbury burying ground with only Iris and Johnny in attendance.

  For most of them, the physical scars he had inflicted had faded with the passing weeks. The welt on Iris’s face, the bump to Peter’s head and Johnny’s bruised cheek — all healed. Captain Moon’s gunshot wound would take longer to mend, as would memories of the earl’s violence, but this morning marked a giant step in the captain’s recovery and everyone’s peace of mind.

  Now, three weeks later, this was Captain Moon’s first day out of bed and he insisted on spending it below stairs.

  Johnny held him by the arm, helping to support his weight while the captain gripped the railing with his other hand. Together they descended the stairs one at a time while Iris walked alongside, carrying blankets.

  “Hold him good and firm, Johnny,” Nurse Hastings called from the rear. “Careful now, Captain. Don’t rush yourself. We’ve all the day long, if needs be. It wouldn’t do to have you stumble. And for mercy’s sake, watch out for that dog. Get along, Snow. Out of the way.”

  The white Labrador descended before them, turning every few seconds to check on Captain Moon’s progress, barking in confusion when he seemed unable to keep up with her.

  “I don’t believe it is physically possible to move any slower, Hetty,” the captain said as Johnny eased him down another step. “Besides, I think I could manage on my own.”

  “Oh, I’ll hear no talk of that,” the old woman snapped back. “You’ll have Johnny’s assistance without complaint or I’ll carry you back up to bed myself!”

  Johnny chuckled, for which he received a stern glare from Captain Moon. “Shall I escort you to your rocker in the keeping room, sir?”

  “No, thank you. I shall pass the day in the sitting room. Perhaps Iris or Hetty would be kind enough to sit with me while they do their knitting and sewing.”

  Johnny noticed Iris raise a brow and cast Hetty a look of pleasant surprise.

  “But the fellows shall be coming in for their morning grog soon,” he said. “I thought you might enjoy their company.”

  “The fellows can visit me in the sitting room.”

  They had reached the central hallway, and instead of walking the captain down the long corridor that led to the darkened rear of the house, Johnny directed him into the sitting room.

  Peter was already there, cleaning the grate in preparation of laying a fire. A smile lit his eyes at the sight of Captain Moon, and after greetings were exchanged, he returned to his work.

  Iris brushed past on her way to the sofa, where she turned to her father and patted the salmon pink cushion. “Over here, Father. Have a seat and I shall make you comfortable.”

  Johnny delivered him to the spot and Captain Moon clutched the armrest while he gently eased himself down, wincing slightly as he settled upon the cushion. Johnny thought that, if this was all the discomfort the man felt, then God be praised, for the captain had come as close to death as a fellow dared.

  The open draperies allowed the morning light to shine in, brightening the yellow cream walls. The Hepplewhite sofa backed up to ocean front windows which provided a widespread view of Duxbury Bay. Iris shook out the blanket she carried and draped it over her father’s lap then tucked her yellow and green crocheted shawl around his shoulders.

  Before she could draw away, he grabbed her hand.

  “From this day forward, I promise to be a better father to you.”

  She scoffed. “You have always been a wonderful father.”

  “No, Iris. I have not. I have been neglectful and absent, and henceforth I promise you shall no longer see me grieving in moody silence, sitting in my rocker in the darkest part of the house. We shall take our meals in the dining room and once again entertain guests. Perhaps we might even host a ball once I have recovered. Would you like that?”

  “Oh, yes, I would.” Iris’s blue-gray eyes shone bright with tears.

  Captain Moon gave a nod of approval. “This house shall be full of love and light. Your mother would want it so. I shall be with her again one day, but until then the best thing I can do in her memory is to live life as fully as she would wish.”

  Iris took her father’s white-bearded face in hand and leaned forward to bestow a kiss to his ruddy cheek.

  Peter climbed to his feet and stepped forward, wiping sooty hands on his trousers. “I didn’t mean to, sir,” he said, addressing Captain Moon. “It was bad of me to keep a secret … even for a friend. The bad man was not my friend. He’s gone, ain’t he? He won’t come back?”

  “He’s not coming back,” Johnny said. “He can never hurt or deceive anyone ever again.”

  “You needn’t keep apologizing, Peter,” Iris said. “Johnny told us how brave you were. You ran home to collect your father and others to come and help us.”

  “Let me also say, if I may — thank you, all of you, for being so understanding and supportive of Peter. Not just during this time but every day,” said Alice Bliss from the doorway.

  “He’s a well-meaning lad, your boy,” Hetty said. “We know he would never intentionally do anyone a harm.”

  Johnny hadn’t noticed the woman arrive, though his sight was now completely restored, but he was pleased to see her. “Mrs. Bliss, you are just the woman I need. May I be so bold as to beg some bacon strips from you again today?”

  “I’m afraid Salty shall have to wait for his breakfast this morning, Mr. Mayne. Two gentlemen have arrived to speak with you on urgent business. A Mr. Read and a Mr. Hersey, Esquires, both from Salem. Where would you like to meet with them?”

  Johnny exchanged a puzzled frown with Captain Moon. He could tell they were both thinking the same — that this visit might very well have something to do with the payment of his debt or lack thereof. After all Captain Moon had done for him and all the trials they had endured together, would he now be forced to return to prison?

  “Did they mention the nature of this urgent business, Alice?” asked Captain Moon.

  Alice clasped the fingers of one hand with the other and straightened, sensing something was amiss. “Why, no, they did not, Captain. I got the impression their business was of a personal nature. Would you like me to enquire further?”

  “That won’t be necessary, Alice,” he said. “You can show them in here and perhaps you’d be so kind as to bring in a tea tray for their
refreshment.” Turning to Johnny, the captain added, “We’ll leave you to your privacy, Johnny, if that is your desire, but if you don’t mind, I’d prefer to remain and hear what news they bring.”

  Johnny nodded. “I would prefer that, sir. I’d also like Iris and Nurse Hastings to stay as well,” he added, looking to them both in turn. “Whatever these men have to say to me can be told in front of all those I regard as family.”

  Iris smiled warmly.

  “Of course we shall stay,” said Nurse Hastings.

  Iris moved to his side in a show of support as two formal-looking gentlemen were shown into the sitting room. One stood quite tall, the other short. The tall fellow was of advancing years, while his companion appeared quite young. Divested of their overcoats and hats, Johnny took stock of their crisp, white cravats and dark suits of the latest fashion. Johnny felt rather ill-prepared for this meeting in his frayed, mended garments, but then it was all the clothing he owned.

  A light January snow covered the ground and beads of melted snow reflected the morning’s light on their highly polished boots.

  “Mr. Jonathan Mayne?” inquired the taller fellow.

  “I am,” Johnny confirmed and the attorney offered his hand.

  As they shook, he explained, “I am Nathan Read of the Salem law firm of Billings & Read. This is my associate, Harrison Hersey.”

  Johnny politely expressed his confusion at the call along with his desire to have the Moon family present for their meeting. Once introductions were made, tea was served and seats taken. Mr. Read, Esquire, addressed Johnny in all earnestness.

  “Mr. Mayne, you may not be aware of this, and if not, then it is with my deepest sympathies that I must inform you that your uncle, Simeon Mayne, passed away some months ago.”

  Of all the things he had been prepared to hear, this was not one of them. Uncle was dead. Johnny hadn’t spoken to him since the day he ran away to board Captain Moon’s ship. The news left him with a strange regret and an odd emptiness. He was now the last of the Maynes. All of his relations were dead.

  “I had no idea,” he said numbly. “My uncle and I have been out of touch for a great many years. I wrote to him on a number of occasions to let him know what I was doing and how I was getting on, but he never responded. After a time, I assumed he had no interest in me and gave up.” Johnny swallowed against the lump in his throat brought on by the memory. “Uncle always resented my mother and I. He mistakenly believed we had stolen away his older brother’s affection. My father raised him from a very young age.”

  Both lawyers sat at the table with Johnny. The younger Attorney Hersey rested an elbow on its mahogany surface. “We apologize for the delay in informing you, Mr. Mayne, but it has taken us thus far to track down your whereabouts.”

  “And it is those letters you speak of which brings us here today,” said Attorney Read. “Your uncle may not have replied, but he stored your correspondence in a carved wooden box in a place of safekeeping, along with other important documents. And may I mention that the letters were all opened and apparently read, which leads me to believe Simeon Mayne did hold you in some regard, whether he let it be known or not. Our firm has the box in its possession, Mr. Mayne, and rest assured it shall be restored to you. We were left with no alternative but to read the letters in our efforts to locate you. We learned you once sailed with Captain Ezra Moon out of Duxbury on the Mad Colonial. Further research led us to the discovery that Captain Moon had lately recommended you to the post of keeper of Pilgrim Light in this very bay. Upon our arrival today, Mr. Hersey and I were quite distressed to learn that the light had been destroyed in a storm. Still, we are very pleased to have found you.”

  The lawyer gave his colleague a quick glance and, with a tug of his cravat, leaned back in his seat and sighed. “Our search is over.”

  “Yes,” said Attorney Hersey. “And from Duxbury Town, it was quite easy to learn where we might call on you. Tales of your heroism were repeated to us from the time we reached the stage stop until we secured a room at the inn. We had several offers of a ride here to Nook House.

  Johnny sat in confusion. There was something about this whole exchange he found strange. “That is all quite amazing and very kind of you, sirs. To go to such lengths to inform me of my uncle’s passing, but if you don’t mind my asking, why travel all this way to return my letters and not bring them along? Why should my correspondence as a boy require safekeeping at a law office?”

  Attorney Read chuckled. “I am afraid, Mr. Mayne, we have gotten off track. Your letters are not the reason for our visit, but merely our guide to finding you.”

  “Then, Mr. Read, please ease my mind and tell me why you gentlemen have sought me out.”

  “Of course. The matter of your uncle’s estate was assigned to me by the court. Simeon Mayne died without a will. For reasons unknown, he chose not to have one made. Therefore, in short, Mr. Mayne, with you being his only living relation, the whole of his estate passes to you. And might I add, Simeon Mayne died a very wealthy man.”

  “Johnny you are rich,” Iris said before his spinning head could draw that conclusion for himself.

  “Daughter, take care, the man has just lost a relation.”

  “I daresay,” said Nurse Hastings, “the poor dear looks like he could use a good swallow of something stronger than tea.”

  “So, then … my Uncle Simeon cared enough to preserve my letters but not enough to make me his heir?”

  Captain Moon exhaled heavily from the sofa. “Perhaps he was angry for the way you left. And perhaps too, he was hurt that you were able to get on so well without him. We shall never know for certain, because he had too much pride to reach out to you, but he surely must have realized that his estate would go to you regardless. Forgive him, Johnny, his weaknesses.”

  “That is exactly correct, Mr. Mayne,” Attorney Hersey confirmed. “With or without a will, he knew you were his only living relation.”

  Johnny felt a melancholy for home and family like he’d not known since his tender youth. Long before he was born, his father, Justin Mayne, established a chandlery along Derby Wharf. He married a local Salem girl then brought in his younger brother as a partner, so he could spend more time at home when Johnny was born. Uncle Simeon remained distant, though his mother tried her best to make him feel part of the family. It grieved his father that his own brother had not come to accept and love his wife and child. It placed his father in a difficult situation, dividing himself between business, the little brother he loved and the family he worshiped. But when forced to choose between them, Johnny and his mother always came first. Uncle Simeon resented this and when Johnny’s father died, his uncle legally dissolved the partnership, paying off his mother with a paltry sum and depriving her of future profits.

  She was a gentle, Christian woman with no desire to enter into legal battles with her late husband’s brother. They managed to live comfortably without his assistance, until she took sick. Medical expenses forced them to sell the family home to Uncle. They moved into rented rooms where they lived until his mother’s passing. At that point, Johnny was turned over to his uncle’s custody where he worked each day at the chandlery.

  “… and we urge you to leave with us. There is an afternoon stage, and if we journey through the night we can be back in Salem come morning.”

  Pulled from his memories, Johnny realized Attorney Read had been speaking. “Leave? But, why?”

  “Sir, do you not wish to see what’s become of your family home, view your holdings and take possession of your fortune?”

  “Of course I do, but why so soon?”

  “Mr. Mayne, we cannot impress upon you enough the need for your swift return to Salem. Affairs must be put in order. The chandlery was once a thriving enterprise but your uncle’s death has sent business into a slow decline. The shop requires more management than we can continue to provide. Also, your family home has fallen into disrepair. Only you can authorize investments in the home’s maintenance. The
re are other properties to be transferred to your name that require your attention as well. You are urgently needed to manage affairs if you are to preserve your holdings and your family’s fortune. Is there some responsibility holding you here? We were of the understanding that the lighthouse was destroyed, relieving you of your duties.”

  “Aye, that is true, except… .” Johnny turned to Iris and for a moment he thought he saw the same wistfulness he was feeling. Emotion burst inside him, yearning to be expressed, and then suddenly she redirected her gaze to Attorney Read and the moment was broken.

  “No exceptions,” she told the lawyer. “Mr. Mayne is relieved of all his obligations here in Duxbury. Is that not correct, Father?” Sitting by her father on the sofa, she turned pointedly to Captain Moon for his response.

  “Mr. Mayne is indeed free to leave with you, sirs. He has been of invaluable service to the entire town and most especially to my own family. We could not have managed without him. He’s been a great comfort to us these past weeks and shall always have a home here at Nook House, but I think we all realize he must go,” the captain said, looking at Johnny.

  There was sadness in his eyes but also clarity and purpose. “This is your time and you must not hesitate, Johnny, for clearly the Lord has been guiding your steps. And now He has presented you with the opportunity to rebuild all you’ve lost. Mayne Bros. Chandlery is rightfully yours — your father’s legacy to you. And with it, you can now wipe the slate clean on your past debts. You shall enjoy a prosperous livelihood and a secure future.”

  Nurse Hastings nodded in agreement. Tears sparkled in her eyes. “You shall make a fine success of yourself. I am happy for you, my brave Jon.”

  “Indeed, fortune has found you,” Iris said, avoiding his gaze.

  They were right, of course. He had to go. What other choice was there? He must take up residence in Salem and claim the chandlery his father had founded. If not, it would be a matter of time before the authorities came knocking and he’d be forced to leave Duxbury. Still, walking away from Nook House would prove to be his hardest challenge yet.