The bell over the door jangled as they burst into the cramped shop.
“We’re closing,” called a woman from behind a curtain.
“This order will be worth staying open late.”
“Mr. Bloodworthy?” the woman questioned. She pushed through the curtain, smiling. The smile became fixed when she spotted Jaxon. Her eyes only darted to Jaxon’s momentarily. “Oh, Captain Bloodworthy. I thought you were your brother.”
“Grayson comes in here, Mrs. Jenkins?” Jaxon cast a knowing look at Charlie making her laugh.
“Mr. Bloodworthy comes in sometimes to pay your mother’s bill.”
“Of course.”
Charlie noticed immediately the woman looked everywhere, but at Jaxon’s face. She was obviously uncomfortable around him although she was making an effort to be friendly.
“This is my fiancée, Miss Sinclair.” The women smiled politely and nodded. “Miss Sinclair’s trunks were lost when she transferred to my ship and needs a complete wardrobe.”
“Oh, I was wondering why she was wearing Miss Imelia’s dress.”
“It’s so beautiful, I cried when I saw it.”
“You did?”
“She did. You see she’s been wearing—” He lowered his voice. “—Breeches since she came aboard my ship. When I say Miss Sinclair needs everything, I mean everything from the skin out, an entire week’s worth. If it’s something my sisters have, then Miss Sinclair must have it as well. Then we’re going to need things for special occasions. We have to have a black mourning dress by Friday.”
“Did someone die?” Mrs. Jenkins interrupted.
“My cousin, Jimmy.”
“Miss Pru’s Jimmy? Oh, I’m sorry. He was so young. How did your aunt take the news?”
“As you would expect, Mrs. Jenkins. The service is Saturday, so we need the dress no later than Friday evening. Do you want to write this down and have your assistant begin her measurements?”
“Of course, of course. I just didn’t realize this order would be so extensive. Come, my dear.”
She ushered Charlie into the back and introduced to the assistant, Mabel and returned to the front of the store closing the curtain behind her.
“Shall we choose fabrics?”
Jaxon was out of his element and he was certain that Charlie knew less of fashion than he did. “Uh, I know she likes silk,” he said hesitantly. This was why he wanted Imelia to accompany Charlie. “You’ve seen her coloring and you know what’s fashionable, so until I can get Imelia in here, I’m going to trust your judgment.”
“Surely, Miss Sinclair would like to have some input if you don’t.”
“Actually,” Charlie said from behind the curtain. “I’ve spent much of my time in the Far East of late where they wear saris and kimonos. I haven’t an inkling what’s in fashion.”
It wasn’t entirely untrue. She had been to India, China and Japan, but not recently.
“Also, she’s going to need some special occasion clothes. I’m sure Mother will want to throw us a small engagement party. It won’t be too fancy; the family is in mourning after all, probably something along the lines of a small dinner party, mostly family and a few of our closest friends. It should be the first thing you work on after the daily wardrobe. Then of course the wedding gown and veil.”
“There’s time for that.”
“We plan to marry in a month’s time.”
“Oh my. All this in a month?”
“Hire more girls if that’s what it takes, because I’m not finished. She’s going with me on the ship and I want her to have a uniform of sorts: navy blue wool skirts, not too full or too long, white high neck blouses and a navel style suit coat, double breasted with brass buttons, but short, cut off at the waist, and flannel night gowns. A week’s worth of each. And make sure the wool is fully lined.”
“Epaulets?”
Jaxon looked at her like she had lost her mind. “No,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I just changed my mind about the blouses. Make one white and the rest different colors with short sleeves.”
“Short sleeves? But surely Miss Sinclair would prefer a long sleeve,” she said lowering her voice. “One that would cover her arm.” She made a gesture towards her own arm showing where Charlie’s scar was. The woman didn’t miss much.
“Charlie, how long do you want the sleeves on your uniform blouses?” Jaxon called out.
“If I’m still to be your surgeon’s mate, no longer than my elbow. Jaxon, I’m not sure about skirts for all my uniforms. There may be times when they’re going to be impractical. Do you think I might have maybe two or three pairs of breeches?”
“Whatever you want, Charlie.”
“Oh, I’ll need thick aprons to protect my clothes from the blood, the kind butchers wear.”
“Got that?”
Mrs. Jenkins looked distractedly at the curtain. “Yes, sir.”
“It’s a long story, one that the family will want to hear first.”
“Of course. Anything else?”
“You would probably know better than I.”
“Then I will think on it overnight and send you an invoice of everything. I’m afraid an order this big will need a deposit. Fabrics will have to be purchased.”
Jaxon reached in his pocket and pulled out a pouch containing fifteen twenty-dollar gold pieces. “Here’s three hundred. Just let me know if you need more. Oh, and if you can bring tears of joy to her eyes again, there will be a bonus.”
It was dark outside when Charlie and Jaxon left the dressmaker’s shop. The pace was much different from the earlier run. They continued to walk hand in hand, but strolled around looking into the shop windows. Jaxon pointed out places of significance; his schools, his church, and the trees where Grayson broke his arm trying to jump from one tree to another after Jaxon dared him. He told the story with a little smirk.
When they returned, they ate the food Jaxon’s Aunt Pru sent then stayed up until the wee hours talking on the sofa—neither one wanting to go to their separate bedrooms.
Charlie didn’t meet the rest of the family until the funeral. Despite her protests, Jaxon insisted she sit with the family. Before the service began, many of his family casually turned around, their eyes always found her before turning back to the front. Then there would be whispers. Mostly, they smiled politely, but Charlie wondered if they were upset because she didn’t belong with the family. She certainly hoped Grayson had not told them about how he had gotten her drunk on Scotch. Only the twelve-year-old twin girls overtly stared at her.
“Who are they?” she whispered to Jaxon.
“The one on the right is Sloane. The other one is Grace.” He tilted his head towards her as he spoke and smiling at the girls.
“But who are they to you? Cousins?”
“They are my youngest sisters. You do know twins can run in families.”
“You are the first twin I ever met. How do you tell them apart?”
“It isn’t easy. They enjoy being twins and fooling people. It’s in their attitude and personality. Sloane is the quiet one and Grace is usually the instigator. But don’t let them know or they’ll switch on you. The littlest Bloodworthy is sitting next to my mother. His name is Eli and he’s ten.”
The organist began playing ending their conversation. Charlie made it through the memorial service without nearly the tears she shed the first time. Grayson, who sat further down on the same pew, glanced over at her every time she wiped her eyes. He eventually stopped when Jaxon turned and glared at him.
After the ceremony, as the people lingered in the churchyard, Jaxon introduced Charlie to his Aunt Pru.
“Jaxon tells me you were with Jimmy when he passed.”
Charlie picked up Pru’s hand and moved closer to her. “Yes, ma’am,” she said softly.
“Did he say anything?”
“No ma’am, he was unconscious when I arrived, so he couldn’t feel any pain, but I gave him a little morphine just in case. I held his hand li
ke I’m holding yours and I thanked him for rescuing our ship. I told him he was a hero. When the end was on him, I told him not to be afraid and prayed the Lord’s Prayer over him. I don’t know if he could hear me, but I hoped he could.”
Pru’s chin and bottom lip quivered. Suddenly, she embraced Charlie and wouldn’t let go. Charlie wished her mother had been alive as she grew up. Maybe then she would have an inkling of what to do. Women were supposed to know how to comfort someone, but Charlie stood there for a moment ramrod still. Slowly, her arms went around Pru and just held her while she cried.
“Thank you, Charlie,” Pru said hoarsely in her ear. “Thank you for being with him and holding his hand.”
“I wish I could have helped him.”
“Knowing he didn’t die alone helps me.”
Pru stepped away, but took a hold of Charlie’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “Jaxon, I’m so glad you snagged this one. She’s a keeper. I’m almost not mad about what you did with Jimmy’s body when I think Charlie was what you gained.”
“Have you noticed how Grayson keeps looking at us?” Charlie asked later as the family had gathered at Pru’s home.
“He’s looking at you. I think he’s waiting until I leave you alone to approach.”
“Well, maybe you should leave me alone for a minute so we can find out what he wants.”
Jaxon frowned. She didn’t know Grayson like he did. Everything Jaxon liked Grayson wanted. Charlie was not some toy Jaxon would ever share. Jaxon gave her a peck on the cheek and reluctantly left her standing alone next to the large oak tree in the yard. He entered the house and watched through the window sheers as Grayson made his approach.
“You are quite the little actress, aren’t you?” Grayson said snidely. “You didn’t even know our cousin so why would you cry over his death?”
“Grayson, I know this is not about Jimmy. What do you want?”
“I want you to come to my office tomorrow morning at 8:00 o’clock. I’ve decided to go to Charleston and help you with your inheritance. You will need to sign some papers giving me the authority to act on your behalf.”
“Oh.” People rarely surprised Charlie, but this took her off guard. “You couldn’t tell me this while Jaxon was here?”
“I didn’t know if you’d told him of our conversation. Attorney/client privilege prevents me from telling others what we discussed without your approval.”
“For future reference, I have no intentions of keeping secrets from Jaxon. You can discuss these things in front of him.”
“Good, I was hoping you would say that.” Grayson made a mock bowing gesture. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“We’ll see you in the morning.”
Jaxon was at her side within seconds of his twin’s departure.
“He wants me to come by his office at 8:00 tomorrow morning so I can sign some papers. He’s going to go to Charleston to take care of my inheritance.”
“I don’t buy it. He’s up to something,” Jaxon said frowning, looking off in the direction where Grayson had gone.
“You aren’t children anymore.”
“That is why I don’t know what he’s up to yet. If that was all he wanted, why didn’t he just approach you while I was with you?”
“Attorney/client privilege, he said.”
Jaxon continued to frown. Grayson never did anything without a motive. “I’m going with you in the morning.”
“Good, because that’s what I told him.”
Jaxon put his arms around her and pulled her close. He casually looked around to make sure no one was watching, but didn’t kiss her.
“We have an audience,” he said in her ear. “Come on. You haven’t met Jayne yet. You sit on one side of her and I’ll sit on the other or she’ll get away.”
Jayne sat on the edge of the porch pretending to read her book despite the fact Jaxon had seen her watching them seconds earlier. She was a petite eighteen-year-old with the signature Bloodworthy black hair, but her eyes were vivid green.
“Hello, Jayne. Whatcha reading? I bet it’s something naughty like Tom Jones or Moll Flanders.” Jaxon was nearly giddy as he teased his sister. He began pulling at the book and she pulled back slapping at his hands.
“And what if it is? I’m eighteen and out of the schoolroom.”
“Jayne! I’m going to tell Mother.”
“And I’ll tell her you gave me the books.”
They laughed companionably. It was Jayne who suddenly stopped remembering why the family was gathered together.
“Charlie, I want you to meet my favorite younger sister, Jayne.”
“Imelia is his favorite older sister and Grace and Sloane are his favorite twin sisters,” she said quietly not looking at Charlie.
“But I like you best because you’re the quietest.”
Jayne smiled, but kept her head down. “They can wear you out with all that chattering. It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.”
“I have a feeling you and I will be best friends,” Charlie said. “Do you ever lend your books? I would love to read Tom Jones and Moll Flanders.”
“So would I,” Jayne admitted quietly.
“Jayne!” Jaxon interjected with feigned horror.
“Well, I didn’t want to read them until you said they were naughty.”
“Jax has lots of books in his library. You should come by and see if there’s anything you’d like to read.”
“He’s never invited me over. Are you sure it’s all right?”
Jax put his arm around her shoulder. “How can you say I never invited you over? We’re family. The invitation is implied. You are always welcome. And,” he added. “I think there is a book of fairy stories for you to read.”
“It’s probably the only book there you’ve read.”
Jayne elbowed him in the side making Jaxon grunt in pain. She caught him right in his injured side. He tried not to react further, but Charlie realized his sister had hurt him, and he didn’t want Jayne to know.
“Jaxon, if Grayson is going to go to Charleston, there are some letters I need to write for him to take with him.”
Jaxon pulled his sister against his side and kissed her temple. “I always miss you the most.”
Jaxon and Charlie got up and went through the house saying their good-byes to his family members. When they were back in the rented carriage, Charlie asked him about his side and he insisted he was fine.
“I can see why you like Jayne. She’s sweet.”
“She’s really shy and it takes effort to draw her out, but once she gets comfortable with you, you’ll find she’s incredibly quick-witted.” Jaxon leaned toward Charlie. “Five years ago, when I got hurt, she would come to my bedside and beg me not to die. Sometimes, I’d wake up and she’d be sleeping at the foot of the bed or on the floor.
“I was twelve when she was born so we really had little connection. She was the shy little girl the children at school called Plain Jayne. I think I may have threatened to beat up a couple of them. It wasn’t until after I was hurt that I really understood how special she is. But she is so quiet, she gets lost in the clamor of a large family.”
“I can’t believe anyone would ever call her Plain Jayne. I think she may be the prettiest young lady I’ve ever seen.”
“Really? She’s my sister. I guess I never noticed.” Jaxon put arm around her. “I know someone prettier.”
20
Jaxon waited in the foyer as Charlie rushed to the library to retrieve the letters she had written the night before. Three of the letters were to Dr. Kirk and were all the same. Each letter told how to find her and explained what happened to the ship after he had been shanghaied. One was to be left with the harbormaster, one at the bank and the third at the post office. It was the only thing she could think to do. She wrote a letter to the harbormaster asking to be informed if the Arcadia showed up there. She thought it was a possibility since they tried to come back for her. Charleston was their homeport and several of the men’s families li
ved there, so at some point the ship should return to Charleston. Unfortunately, Lionel Byron was an Aussie. Since he had assumed the captaincy, he could take the ship anywhere and it would be lost to her forever.
It upset her to think about never seeing the Arcadia again. She was mad because it was her ship—well, half anyway—and it didn’t belong to him. She wanted to hire a new captain and continue running the shipping company. Her father and Brody Kirk had put away enough money to commission the building of brand new ship, but when the Atlantic Ocean became so dangerous, they decided to wait. It saddened her to think her father would never see that ship.
For now, she would leave half that money in the bank in Charleston with a letter to Dr. Kirk.
Just as Charlie rejoined Jaxon in the foyer, there was an urgent knock on the door. A teenaged boy stood on the stoop.
“Your sister, Imelia, asked you to come right away. I was told to tell you it was an emergency.”
“Did she say what was wrong?” Jaxon asked anxiously.
“No sir, I was just told to tell you it was an emergency,” the boy said breathlessly.
Jaxon handed the boy a coin and pulled the door closed behind them after they stepped out.
“Bad timing,” Jaxon said to Charlie as the boy scampered off down the street. “You go ahead and meet with Grayson. I’ll be along as soon as I can. Do you remember where his office is?”
She thought about it. “I’m not sure.”
“I’d walk you there, but Imelia’s home is in the opposite direction. Go two blocks past the dress shop. Take a right and it’s another block down on the corner.”
“She said it was an emergency. Go. I’ll find his office. Should I tell Grayson about the emergency?”
“Aye, but tell him I’ll send for him if he’s needed.”
He gave her a quick kiss before they head off in opposite directions.
Charlie wended her way to Grayson’s office. It was Sunday morning and all the shops were closed and there was almost no one on the streets or sidewalks.
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