“I assure you our relationship is purely business.” Blake picked up the explanation. “Miss Anderson convinced me we should try our hand at shipping, and here we are with our first delivery.”
“I see.” Mr. and Mrs. Thornton exchanged a glance before Mrs. Thornton continued. “Then I trust you and your business partner had a pleasant first voyage.”
Blake nodded but saw Lily shaking her head. “We had the ill fortune of running our boat on a sandbar. Although we were blessed to be towed back into the channel by a passing steamship, I’m afraid we sustained some damage.”
“Praise the Lord you made it to New Orleans.” Mrs. Thornton put a hand to her chest. She stepped around the end of the counter. “But what do you plan to do until your beautiful boat is repaired?”
Blake cleared his throat. “We haven’t gotten that far. We arrived only a little while ago.”
Mrs. Thornton looked at her husband, an unspoken question in her gaze. Mr. Thornton removed his spectacles and nodded.
These two seemed able to read each other’s thoughts. Past sermons from Blake’s childhood came to mind. Could two people really become one? Or did one simply find a pretty, compatible female and marry her?
“All of you will come to our house and stay until your boat is fixed.”
Mrs. Thornton’s words made Blake’s jaw drop.
“We couldn’t do that. It would be too much of an imposition.” Lily’s words had a wistful tone. “There are seven of us not counting the crew.”
“Our town house seems so empty now that Eli and Sarah are gone. Tell them, Lloyd.”
“Charlotte is right.” Mr. Thornton cleaned his spectacles with his handkerchief as he spoke. “You would be doing us a favor. You can tell us about her parents and what’s happening in Natchez.”
“We do need somewhere to stay.” Blake added his support to the Thorntons’ suggestion.
Lily looked at him as though he had betrayed her. “I thought we’d stay in the Hattie Belle. Make sure the repairs are carried out properly.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I doubt workers will appreciate having women and children running underfoot. Jensen and I can stay on board and supervise the work.”
“That makes no sense.” Lily frowned at him. “You’re more exhausted than I. You deserve a chance to recoup your strength.”
That was true enough. Blake would pay a large sum for a bed as long as his frame. “But—”
“I won’t hear of it.” Mrs. Thornton overrode both of them. “We may have to ask the gentlemen to share a bedroom, but we can manage things. Now go on back to your berth, gather your belongings, and come back here. Lloyd will wait for you while I make sure everything is ready.”
Lily opened her mouth, but Mrs. Thornton raised a finger. “You’re coming to stay with us. That’s the end of it.”
Mr. Thornton joined his wife, putting an arm around her waist. “I learned long ago when to let Charlotte win an argument. Besides, she will enjoy having you to fuss over. So you may as well give in gracefully and let us coddle you a bit.”
Blake could tell the moment Lily decided to stay with the Thorntons. He breathed a sigh of relief. The Thorntons’ generosity was like being dealt a royal flush—a stroke of good luck no gambler would ignore.
“Thank you so much.” Lily smiled at the couple. “We would be happy to pay—”
Mrs. Thornton laughed. “Don’t be silly, child. I won’t hear of such folly. We can afford twice as many guests. Besides, you will be doing me a favor. Since my daughter, Sarah, got married, I have had no girls to discuss fashion and shopping with. We’ll have such fun together.”
“I can also arrange for a reputable company to do your repairs.” Mr. Thornton moved back to the counter and began searching through some papers. “I’ll have all the information together by the time you return.”
Blake led Lily back to the wagon by the light of a gas lantern. On the ride to the boat, she was uncharacteristically silent. Did she regret agreeing to stay with the Thorntons? “I think you made a good decision. Who knows how long it will take to complete the repairs on our boat?”
She turned her face up to him. “Please promise you will come with us.”
Warmth filled him, traveling outward from his chest in a flood of emotion. Was she worried about him? Or maybe she wanted his company. He really liked that idea. She was growing fond of him in spite of their differences. He patted her hand. “I won’t desert you.”
As soon as the words escaped, Blake wanted to call them back. Wasn’t he ready to wash his hands of Miss Anderson and her troublesome troupe? Then why had he given his word to stay at her side? The question had no answer, or at least no answer he wanted to consider.
Early the next morning, Blake rolled his shoulders as he waited for the repair crew Mr. Thornton was sending over. He hadn’t seen Captain Steenberg yet. Maybe the man had decided to disappear. Good riddance. It would save Blake the trouble of telling him his services were no longer required. The sound of footsteps on the back stairway drew his attention.
“I feel like a herd of buffalo’s running through my head.” The captain winced as a shaft of sunlight landed on his face.
Stale waves of alcohol washed over Blake. Was Steenberg still drunk? Or drunk again? “You should be glad we didn’t leave your sorry carcass on that sandbar.”
“For making a mistake?” the man said, his face showing surprise. “Don’t I deserve a little relaxation?”
Guilt speared Blake as the man used the same excuse he’d given Lily when she’d discovered him playing cards. Had he been negligent in expecting the captain to shoulder all the responsibility of piloting? He shook his head. “You ran us aground. We could still be stuck out there on the river or trying to walk our way through the swamp to New Orleans.”
The captain shrugged. “But we’re not.”
How could the man be so dense? So careless? And how could Blake have been so wrongheaded as to ignore his intuition about Steenberg? It was time to take action. Time to stop letting Lily Anderson call the shots.
“No thanks to you. Clear off this boat.”
The man’s jaw went slack. “What do you mean?”
Blake remained silent.
The captain’s face hardened. “You didn’t hire me. You don’t have the right to tell me to leave.”
“I most certainly do have the right. I can assure you Miss Anderson and I are of one mind on this matter.” Blake winced inside as he made the statement. Surely Lily would agree once he explained the situation. “Get your things.”
Fear and regret replaced the captain’s rebellion. “Please give me another chance. I promise I’ll do a better job. Besides, you need a licensed captain.”
Blake shook his head. “Don’t worry. We’ll find someone.”
“Lots of luck.” The captain spat and took a step forward. He shook a finger under Blake’s nose. “Where do you think you’ll find someone to replace me? Do you think anyone else is going to take a chance on this doomed boat?”
He knew he ought to remain stoic, but curiosity overcame Blake. “What do you mean?”
“Everybody knows having a woman run a boat is bad luck. And I’m sure word has gotten out about her running aground. No one’s going to want a berth, much less a job, on the Hattie Belle. You might as well change her name to the Flying Dutchman.”
Blake laughed. Superstition? Ludicrous. He’d seen a lot of men blame luck and superstition for their own shortcomings. It seemed the captain was ready to take it one step further. “You’re trying to blame your mistake on Miss Anderson?” Laughter bubbled up again. “Go ahead. Any man with sense will be able to see the truth.”
A sound turned Blake’s attention to the wharf. The repair crew. He wondered how much they had heard of the argument. At least no one was running away. “I’ll be right with you.” He turned back to the captain. “You have five minutes to gather your gear and get off this boat.”
“You’ll be sorry.” Steenberg’s brava
do faded as he hissed the threat. “Everyone’s going to hear about the way you’ve treated me. I’ll make sure you and all those Anderson girls pay for this.”
Blake shouldn’t have been surprised at the threat. They were the weapons of a coward. “That’s enough.” He advanced two steps and pointed a finger of warning at the man. “Believe me, if anything ever happens to this ship or to any of the Andersons, I will find you, and you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
The captain backed away, stumbled over the bottom step, and then practically ran to his quarters.
Blake hoped he’d convinced the troublemaker to leave them alone. He turned back to the repair crew. “I’m glad to see you.”
The burly man who boarded first nodded. “We’ll just take a look at your paddle wheel and let you know how long it’ll be.”
The minutes dragged by, and Blake paced the deck, torn between his desire to oversee the repair crew and his need to make sure Steenberg wasn’t packing any more than he’d brought. Loud footsteps took the decision out of his hands. The irate captain reappeared, a black leather bag slung over his back. Shouldering his way past Blake, the man stepped onto the wharf. “You’ll be sorry for this.”
“Are you threatening me?” Blake clenched his fists.
Captain Lars held his gaze then looked down. “No. I’m just saying captains aren’t standing on every corner, waiting to find a boat.”
“That’s my problem, not yours.” Blake strode to the rear of the boat to check with the workers.
He found the burly foreman taking measurements and recording them in a small book. “It’s going to take at least two weeks to get your boat ready.”
Blake took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”
A nod answered his question. “You’re lucky to have made it to New Orleans. I’m not sure how you did without breaking up. You must have had an angel riding with you.”
His lips turned up in a grin. He wouldn’t exactly describe her as an angel. Lily was a little too forceful to spend her time strumming a harp. He dreaded telling her how bad the damage was. She was probably planning to get back on the river this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest. If she did have a halo hidden away somewhere, it was going to get a little bent.
Blake gave the order to proceed and left to check with Mr. Thornton on available captains. At least he had plenty of time to conduct interviews and find a suitable candidate. That should please Lily if nothing else did.
Chapter Twenty-six
Lily left Tamar helping her sisters get dressed and hurried downstairs, wondering how long it would take her to get back to the boat. She exited their bedroom on the third floor, surprised to realize she was eye level with a beautiful crystal chandelier that held dozens of candles. She reached out one hand for the wooden railing as she began descending the U-shaped stairwell.
Last night she had not noticed the intricate woodwork on the posts or the number of doorways in the Thorntons’ town house. The craftsmanship signaled the luxury in which their new acquaintances resided.
Reaching the end of the stairs, she had a choice of direction. The door through which they had entered the home stood in front of her. She remembered the parlor was to her left, so perhaps she would find the dining room to her right.
Lily bypassed the first door since it was closed. She doubted their hosts would close the entryway into their dining room. Light spilled from the second doorway, and when she reached it, she found a spacious room with a large table at its center. The dining room.
Lily entered, surprised to find the only other occupant was Mrs. Thornton. “What a beautiful home you and Mr. Thornton have.”
“Thank you, dear. I am glad to see you are looking less bedraggled this morning.” She smiled. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lily slid into the seat her hostess indicated.
Mrs. Thornton rang a bell. “Someone will be here with your food in a moment. We normally eat croissants with marmalade or fresh fruit for breakfast, but I can instruct our cook to fix something else if you prefer.”
Lily picked up a snowy-white napkin and placed it on her lap. “Oh no, thank you. Your breakfast sounds wonderful.”
A round-faced girl in a plain dress appeared and served Lily a plate with two rolls that had been twisted in a spiral and bent into a half-moon shape.
Lily thanked her and picked one up, breaking it open to see steam rising from the flaky interior. She placed a dab of butter on her croissant and bit into it, her eyes closing as the bread melted in her mouth.
Mrs. Thornton smiled. “Our cook is an artist with food.”
Lily nodded. “I’m rather surprised Blake and your husband are not here. Have they already left for the office? I was hoping to talk to Blake before they departed.”
“I’m sorry, dear.” Mrs. Thornton picked up her fork and speared a fresh strawberry. “Mr. Matthews must have decided to stay on the boat last night. He never made it to the town house. But don’t worry. I’m sure he simply decided to guard your cargo since it could not be unloaded last night. Lloyd was going to check on him this morning, make certain he has all the help he needs to get your riverboat repaired.”
“I see.” Lily’s appetite fled. While she had been sleeping in luxury, Blake had been guarding the boat. They had worked hard to get the boat free from the sandbar yesterday. They all deserved to sleep well.
“If you’re worried about Mr. Matthews, I can send one of the servants to check on him.”
“Thank you, but that’s not necessary. I’m sure he’s fine.” Lily pinched the end of one of her croissants. She still wasn’t hungry, but her hands needed something to do. Besides, she did not want to offend her hostess by not eating the sumptuous meal.
As she continued to pick at her food, her mind was consumed with plans. She had thought they might have time to tour the fabled city of New Orleans, but that would have to wait for a future trip. As soon as her sisters ate breakfast, they would all have to go to the boat to help out with the repairs. Even if they couldn’t do the heavy work, they could at least prepare meals and keep the rest of the boat clean. Maybe they could make up nice flyers to advertise for passengers.
Camellia and Jasmine made an appearance then. Lily was thankful for their nonstop chatter as it allowed her to concentrate on the proper wording of the advertisements, as well as the apology she owed Blake.
When her sisters had finished breakfast, Lily rose from her place at the table and turned to tell Camellia and Jasmine to come upstairs with her. All of them needed to change into their working clothes. The outfits they were wearing were more suited to a day of sightseeing.
Before she could issue her instructions, however, a commotion in the foyer diverted her attention.
Mrs. Thornton checked the watch suspended on her fleur-de-lis chatelaine pin. “I cannot believe we have visitors this early.”
A familiar voice made Lily’s heart race. “I believe it may be my business partner. He’s probably come to tell me how much our repairs are going to cost and how long they will take.” She ignored the wide smile on Mrs. Thornton’s face and walked out into the hall.
Blake was striding toward the dining room but checked himself when she appeared.
Lily thought he looked a bit haggard and wondered if he’d spent the whole night standing watch at their boat. A wave of shame swamped her. She remembered how ugly she’d been to him right before the accident. Again. Was she turning into a shrew? Pushing the thought aside, she composed herself and produced a welcoming smile. “I’m so glad to see you. We have many things we need to discuss.”
No answering smile turned up the corners of his lips. “I suppose we can make use of the Thorntons’ parlor.”
Lily’s heart stuttered. Blake must have bad news. Her smile slipped away. What could be wrong now?
Blake followed Lily down a black-and-white-tiled hallway and entered a well-appointed parlor. She sat on the upholstered sofa and fluffed her black skirts around her, fussing with the
material as though it was imperative to have it just right. “Mr. Matthews, this is difficult for me—”
Blake held up a hand to stop her. “I want to apologize, Lily. You were right. I should not have been playing cards. If I had been in the pilothouse, I could have stopped the captain from overimbibing.” He didn’t realize that he’d been staring at his feet as he delivered his apology until Lily’s skirts appeared before his gaze. He looked up, his gaze meeting her wide eyes, eyes that seemed filled with remorse. What was this?
“You’re not at fault as much as I am, Blake. I seem to remember your trying to warn me Steenberg might not be a good captain. Because I refused to listen to you, I share a large portion of the responsibility. Please forgive me for placing the blame on you yesterday.”
Surprise rippled through him. He who prided himself on being able to understand others was always caught off guard by Lily’s behavior. Where was the puritanical firebrand who had condemned him? “You had every right, Lily. But please believe me when I say I’ll make it up to you.”
“I know you will, Blake. I’ve learned that you’re a man I can depend on.”
Was she manipulating him? No. A glance in those deep brown eyes told him she was being honest. He wanted to enfold her in his arms, dance about the room. She had faith in him. In that moment he knew he would do whatever it took to get their boat running again. He would make sure her dreams came true, even if he had to swim the Mississippi from end to end to find cargo for the Hattie Belle.
“How long will it take to complete the repairs?” Her question brought him back to reality.
Blake paced in front of the fireplace. He wished he could give her better news, but he couldn’t lie to her. “At least two weeks.”
“Two weeks!” She croaked out the words. “I thought you said it would be one week. We can’t afford to be off the river for two whole weeks.”
Lily (Song of the River) Page 16