Lady Star

by Claudy Conn

  She laughed, “So he has always told us. You know, Duncan was Papa’s rival in all those races years ago.”

  “Yes and he always lost. Thinks it was because of papa’s schooner. That is why he wants it so bad, but that isn’t the reason. It is his inferior sailing skills.”

  She laughed, “Well then, I suppose it is all settled. I wish you lads well. When do you leave? Do you take a crew?”

  “That’s a good girl, now, need some things…no crew,” he said going to his writing. “I’ll make a list.”

  “When do you leave?” she repeated.

  “At dawn,” he answered absently.

  “Ah,” she said. “And how do you propose to return.”

  He eyed her, “That is where you come in. It will take us the better part of the morning to get to sail into Hastings Harbor. I should think you wouldn’t have to leave before ten or eleven. That will put you there by noon or so.” He smiled at her. “Things should move along now, for we’ve got it sewn up right and tight.”

  “Indeed, yet I have this awful feeling of impending doom.”

  “Nonsense,” he said and shook his head. “Women have absurd notions.”

  She watched him for a long moment before leaving him to his list and going to the kitchen to see what Cook was preparing for a lunch.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  JULES SAT BACK in his coach and watched the rain as his driver made their way to Madison House. He could still hear Edward’s voice in his ears.

  “Jules, you and I both know Star would never suit you and you and I both know why your face lights up whenever you look toward Georgina Madison.”

  “Don’t be absurd,” he had told his friend. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”

  “Oh, but I do. What is more, I am going to tell you straight to your face, don’t let her get away from you, for you will regret it all the rest of your life.”

  Those last words of Edward’s kept repeating themselves over and over and his sleep had been a fitful effort. When he awoke, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what he had to do next. He would call on her. He hadn’t liked the way they had left things. Why, she very nearly called him a libertine and he was not…well, not like Edward had been. It disturbed him that Georgie thought so poorly of him and he had suddenly realized that he wanted to shine in her eyes.

  The coach pulled up at her front doors and a few moments later, the Madison butler had taken his hat and cloak. He put a hand to his hard chest and took in a long gulp of air as a door opened and closed and he imagined a servant advising Georgie that he was awaiting her.

  She appeared, a vision in blue with her tawny curls piled high on her perfect head and her eyes glinting brightly at him.

  “Jules,” she said softly.

  “Georgie,” he answered.

  “Would you like to have tea in the morning room?” she asked as she moved closer to him.

  He reached for and took her fingers, stared at them as he played with their lengths, held them tightly in his two hands and met her gaze, “I would like to have tea with you…anywhere on this earth if you would allow.”

  She smiled and he saw that it was a quirky curve of her lips. It tickled him and suddenly all his fears, all his tensions were gone. He barked a laugh and hugged her to him. “I am forgiven?”

  “Yes, you are forgiven. Now…do come so that we may be comfortable,” Georgie said and led the way, a secretive smile playing with her face.

  * * *

  Dusk had settled, the rain had drizzled itself out, and a quiet softness had fallen over Berkley. Star turned from dream gazing out her window and returned her attention to her brother.

  “Here Star…sign here,” he said and handed her the quill.

  She eyed him quizzically and laughed. “I thought women couldn’t own property and such? Georgie is always going on about such things.”

  “Papa put a codicil on the deed. The yacht belongs to both of us…you, unlike I, did so enjoy sailing, so I suppose he thought you might like to keep it.” He stopped and looked at her, “I swear, sis, if I ever get things turned around, I shall get you your very own sloop.”

  She smiled softly and touched his cheek, “I know you would, but honestly, I am not certain I want to sail. It was something I enjoyed with Papa,” she sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “Never mind…where do I sign?”

  He pointed to the line and he sat back, his hands going behind his head, “Again, Star…I am so sorry…I hope you know that?”

  She waved it off, “Nonsense, there is nothing to be sorry for.” She heard something out in the hall and looked around to the sound.

  Dilly had already left for the day and they had left the front door unlocked as they were expecting Miles to arrive for the night.

  This was not the first time Miles Denning had let himself in. He opened the door wide into the dimly lit central hall, turned, closed and locked it before taking his firm hard strides down the corridor much as he always did. He called out for Vern, “Vern ‘ole boy!”

  “Here, in the library,” Vern answered him and smiled as his sister giggled.

  “Honestly, you two will never grow up,” she said fondly.

  At the library doors he patted his flat belly and stepped inside, “Ah,” he said happily, “When do we eat?”

  He went forward as he could see brother and sister were at the desk with a set of papers laid out before them.

  He went immediately to Star, took her hands in his and kissed her fingers fervently. “Star, as always, you soothe my eyes.”

  “Oh, are they sore?”

  “Vixen, yes they are sore, when they don’t have you in their sights,” he returned gallantly.

  “You twiddle-poop,” Vern said with a shake of his head.

  She laughed, “Come sit with us. Dinner will be served shortly, but we want to just finish these last forms for the bank. Mr. Port left them with us, you see.”

  “Ah, then you know?” he said on a frown.

  “Know what?” Star asked and saw that her brother looked puzzled.

  “About your mortgage being bought out from under you?” Miles said frowning. “I must say I was surprised. I did not think even he would stoop quite that low.”

  “Well yes, we knew that,” Vern said.

  “Stoop…who has stooped?” Star interrupted worriedly.

  “Sir Edward. I was at the bank this morning when he was just leaving. I saw him shaking hands with the bank president who congratulated him on his acquisition. Told him that Berkley would fetch a wondrous penny when it was refurbished,” He shrugged, “I was shocked and hoped I had somehow misunderstood?” He eyed them, “Have you sold out?”

  “Devil you say! No, we have not!” Vern returned sharply. “I don’t know what all this stuff and nonsense is, but yes, we knew that someone had bought up the mortgage from the bank, and yes, I had heard something that led me to believe it was Sir Edward who had purchased it. We hoped that they meant to allow us time, with interest, of course, to continue to make our payments until we were in a position to retire the loan,” Vern growled.

  Star had gone white. The room started to spin for her. Had he betrayed them? Had Sir Edward used their ill fortune to increase his own? And what was that wrenching sound in her chest? Was that her heart breaking in two?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  DAWN ARRIVED AND Star saw her brother and Miles on their way. They trotted their horses sedately down the drive and she sighed as she watched them go. They made their slow progress down the drive, with Miles amiably complaining about the earliness of the hour.

  Luckily it was a fine summer’s morning. The air was crisp and she took a long gulp of it before turning away from them. They had agreed with her that they would leave their horses at the Rye livery before boarding the Vision and sailing her to Hastings, where Star would hopefully meet with them around noon.

  She closed the door, sighed wearily and she smoothed her white silk robe around herself. She had not slept ve
ry much. Troubled over what Miles had told them about Sir Edward buying out their mortgage. Her mind had felt swollen with her chaotic thoughts.

  She couldn’t believe Sir Edward would serve them such a trick. He wouldn’t buy up their mortgage just to turn a profit. Yet, there was no other reason for doing so. She could think of no other viable reason.

  She could see his dear handsome face as he told her to remember the moment they were last together. She had tried to remember it all, the feeling, the look in his eyes, the hope she had felt. Now, in the face of this new development, it seemed like a fairy tale.

  In addition to her awful doubts, was the fact that she had an awful ‘feeling’. Every instinct in her body made her dread the upcoming day. Why? She could not find a reason why she should feel this way. It was as though she knew, absolutely knew, that something quite dreadful was about to take place. But what?

  She hurriedly bathed because she had a full day ahead of her.

  It wasn’t an overly long journey to Hastings, the good part of an hour or more and she knew she shouldn’t drive the gig there alone. Hmmm, what to do?

  It wasn’t quite the thing. She never minded breaking rules, but although it was one matter to go into town alone, it was quite another to take on such a lengthy trip in an open gig. Of course, she would be met by her brother and Miles, but what if they were late? Hastings was a large seaport town and she would subject herself to social criticism if she were seen unattended there.

  Jeffries couldn’t be spared from the stables and thus, taking the coach was out of the question. It would have to be the gig as she would have to drive herself.

  Dilly then? She could ask Dilly to accompany her.

  Her mood immediately brightened as she realized she could ask Georgie—she would ask Georgie to accompany her.

  Why hadn’t she thought of this yesterday and sent a note around in time? Georgie could have spent the night. Well, never mind, she told herself, she would send a note round to Georgie at once. No—she had better just take a quick ride over there, just in case, Georgie’s mother, needed some gentle persuasion. In fact, she would just have the gig hitched up and if Georgie could attend her, wonderful. If not, she would return for Dilly and only lose thirty minutes.

  She called to Dilly to get word to Jeffries to hitch up the horses to the open gig and have it ready for her.

  Yes, Georgie was just who she needed with her cool common sense. She would tell Georgie as much as she could and see what she thought.

  * * *

  Early morning magic swept through the streets of Rye, bringing it to life in quick stages. On Mermaid Street, milkmaids were already making their rounds. Several of the popular inns found their innkeepers up and about and making certain a robust breakfast would be waiting for their guests.

  Ally, one of Farley’s men, perhaps his favorite watched the passing bustle of the morning scene, stopped to look at the harbor. He loved looking at the boats. He should have been a seaman, he often told himself. He shrugged and watched a fisherman taking out his boat. There was an honest man, living an honest man’s life.

  He wished he could do the same. It had always been his plan to squirrel enough ready away and do just that. He’d been with Farley for more years than he cared to count. Perhaps it was time to pull up stakes and do what he always dreamed of, taking to the sea and making his living at it.

  Suddenly he went dead still.

  He watched Vern of Berkley and his friend laughing as they boarded The Vision’s deck. His eyes narrowed and his thoughts bumped into one another. Here was something Farley should know about right away. Mayhap the little sister was all alone? Mayhap this was how they could get enough ready together?

  Ally hurried up the sloping cobbled streets and rushed into the inn like a man on fire. All he could think was this was his last chance for a last job.

  He found Farley sprawled out across the table and took hold of the large man’s shoulder, grabbed at the material of his coat and shook him. “Farley…eh Farley…”

  Farley lifted his head and through the fuzz in his mind he managed to recognize Ally and said on a slur, “Whot’s that? What the devil are ye doing?”

  * * *

  Miles and Vern were in their shirtsleeves. They both felt the anticipation of adventure. Miles grinned and told his friend, “Buccaneers, that’s what we are…riding the high seas, making our fortune.”

  Vern laughed, “Grow up.”

  “Why?” Miles bantered and sighed. “It is a shame you let the decking get caught by the salt air. It will need some sanding in places and a good polish.”

  “Aye, but I won’t be the one having to do it,” Vern said happily and tripped over the mainsail he was attempting to stretch.

  Miles burst out laughing and snickered, “Aye, then mate, ye need to get yer sea legs on.”

  Vern chuckled good-naturedly, “As though you have them already.”

  Miles bent and picked up the object that had caught his eye and held it up, “What is this loose spar doing here?”

  Vern shrugged, “Didn’t know what to do with it. It was one left over so I thought I’d keep it near till we found where it goes.”

  “One left over?” Miles cried righteously. “Dunce. ‘Tis a good thing you sold this for you’ll never make a sailor.” He set it in its rightful position and stopped short.

  Vern followed his friend’s line of vision and sighed to see a very pretty flowergirl passing by. He shook his head as Miles made her a sweeping bow and hailed, “Hull-lo, sweetheart.”

  She looked up and rewarded him with an inviting smile. His hand went to his heart and he cried out to her, “I am won, I am yours…as soon as we return, I shall find you.”

  She threw him a kiss and he caught it and turned to Vern who was mumbling something incoherent. He grinned and told him, “She has slain me with her eyes.”

  “Aye, has she? Well, I mean to do one better and slay you with my fist if ever you make eyes at m’sister again. She is quite right. You are past redemption.”

  Miles laughed and returned, “Aye, I fear I wasn’t made for just one beauty.”

  “Work the boom, fool,” Vern told him on a short laugh.

  “Giving your fair share of orders since we got here,” Miles complained good-naturedly.

  “Well and why not? I am the captain,” his lordship smirked.

  “That is another thing. Why are you the captain and I only the first mate? It should be the other way around since you don’t know a lick about sailing?”

  “Because this was m’father’s boat and I am the captain. However, I mean to leave all the sailing matters to you.” Vern grinned broadly as his friend made a fist and planted it in his shoulder.

  A great deal of high spirited name calling ensued along with a great deal of mirth before they were finally under way.

  * * *

  “Farley…sit up…we have to talk,” Ally said pulling up a chair and straddling it.

  “Why? What is wrong with ye?” Farley grumbled.

  “It queers me how ye can sleep loike a babe when just outside the window at yer back the hawkers are shouting enough to blow m’ears clean off,” Ally said shaking his head. “Now give me yer full attention.”

  “Lor’ bless ye, Ally boy,” Farley said, yawning and stretching his arms high over his head. “Right, Oi’m listening to ye.” He rubbed at his eyes. “So whot’s got ye all set on fire?”

  “Seen his lordship, Oi did…”

  “Lor’ lad, is that why ye’ve been shaking me till m’head aches?” Farley gave him an ugly frown.

  Ally grimaced, “Oi am not such a blubberhead, and ye know better. Farley…”

  “Whot?” Farley shouted. “Spit it out and be done with it.”

  “He looked loike he might be going on a little trip, he did. Had that finified friend with him. They was on a ship…The Vision…his Oi think. They looked loike they were about to set to…”

  Farley’s buzzing head cleared enough to digest
this. “Eh, now, laddie, eh now? Oi suppose little sister is up at Berkley all alone and unprotected?”

  “Aye, so Oi thought meself,” Ally replied nodding.

  Farley’s eyes narrowed. Sir Edward had given him a fair warning to stay away from the Berkleys. But, now, his pockets were nearly empty, and no hope in sight of making a quick sou. He grinned broadly and told Ally, “Whot then…think today is the day?”

  “Mayhap,” Ally agreed.

  “Right then, laddie. This time we’ll make no mistakes and it’ll be just you and me. That’s the ticket, just you and me. We’ll manage this rig with none the wiser and when our pockets are full, we’ll leave Rye behind us, we will. Sad to say for Oi’ve grown accustomed to this place, but we don’t have much choice, do we?”

  “No, and Oi mean to take to the sea, Oi do,” Ally said.

  “Ye’ll have to, for Oi do think that flash will hunt us down and we’ll have to leave without a trace, we will.”

  “Aye, but the lads…we could land in trouble with them if we don’t include them and give them a share…” Ally hesitated.

  “’Tis no more than a lark we’ll tell ‘em. But, ye and me, we’ll end up with a bundle we will.”

  “Right then, Oi suppose we’ll do.”

  “That we will,” Farley patted his stomach. “Have ye eaten yet? We best have some breakfast…eat hearty, for we ‘ave a day’s work ahead of us, we do.”

  They grinned at one another and Farley felt a wave of satisfaction sweep through him. He wanted his revenge against the flash, Sir Edward, and now was his chance.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  FARLEY’S HORSE FIDGETED under him and he slapped the gelding’s long sturdy neck with a harsh rebuke. “Hold still, brute.”

  He and Ally sat their horses hidden in the woods bordering the Berkley drive, just behind the stables. His horse’s antics might cause them to be noticed as they were closer than he normally would have liked.