Spoils of Eden

by Linda Lee Chaikin

  “I believe you owe us an explanation, Silas,” Nora said gravely, as he carefully replaced the shawl around her shoulders.

  “You know how talk circulates,” he suggested. “You’re probably right, Nora; this isn’t the right time or place to discuss Rafe’s new ambitions.”

  New ambitions? Eden stared at him.

  Silas lowered his voice. “I’ve heard from Townsend that Grandfather Ainsworth—if I may be so bold as to address him in that way—would like to see Rafe run for the Legislature as an annexationist. The other planters and certain haole businessmen will back Rafe at the snap of a finger since they know he and Parker Judson are partners in this new pineapple venture. And what a venture, I might add. It’s bound to become a tremendous success. Fresh, sweet pineapples to ship to California? The idea seems to be the envy of many a planter and investor.”

  Eden resented his insinuation that because Rafe was backed by Parker Judson, he no longer exercised independence. If Silas thought Rafe Easton was owned by the powerful sugar interests, he certainly did not know Rafe. If he did cooperate with them, it would be because he believed in what they were doing. She recalled what Candace told her earlier about Ainsworth and Rafe. Was this the reason her grandfather wanted to talk to him alone?

  “If Rafe does humor the growers it means he’s willing to come out against Liliuokalani,” Silas reminded Nora.

  “Have you heard anything about this?” Nora asked Eden, sinking back into her chair as though her legs would no longer hold her up.

  Eden was tempted to vent her frustration by scowling at Silas, who had troubled the peaceful waters, but refrained. “Rafe has a keen interest in Hawaii’s destiny, as we all know.”

  “But not as a member of the Reform Party,” Candace observed.

  “He’s never favored annexation before,” Eden agreed. “So I can’t imagine why he would change his views now.”

  “People have a propensity for changing their minds when it benefits their bank accounts,” Silas suggested.

  Eden gave him a speculative once-over. “Yes, some people do, but not Rafe. He’s not a man who can be bullied into taking a stand he doesn’t believe in.”

  “Oh my,” Silas said, leaning on the back of a tall chair.“You’re not suggesting your Grandfather Ainsworth is a bully?”

  Eden refused to be trapped by his words. She was beginning to dislike Silas. Whether he meant to jab with his words or not, the effect was the same.

  “It looks as if we may have a new bully in the family,” Candace said, walking about restlessly. “I would advise, Silas, that you not put words in Eden’s mouth. She would never call her grandfather a bully.”

  “I do concede on that point, and beg your pardon. After all, it is for you, and not Eden, that Ainsworth is trying to arrange a marriage.”

  Eden held her breath as a perceptible silence froze the room. Then Candace eased matters by granting Silas one of her kindest smiles. “Yes, he is,” she said. “I’ve been told Oliver P. Hunnewell has returned to Honolulu. But that is neither here nor there. I wonder what Grandfather will have in mind for you once he realizes he has a new nephew?”

  “A boot, probably,” Silas said with a grimace.

  “I think not,” Candace said. “Evidently you don’t think so either, or you wouldn’t have come to Kea Lani. I think you’ll agree he’ll not only welcome you, but will bestow generosity.”

  Eden thought she saw a fleeting expression of satisfaction in Silas’s features. Well, why shouldn’t he? Eden rebuked herself. It’s not his sin that he was born out of wedlock, and he’s as much a great-nephew of Ainsworth as Zachary, Candace, and myself.

  Nora whisked the bright feather fan before her face. “I still think it’s possible to gain Rafe’s support. I haven’t forgotten those articles he wrote for the Gazette.”

  Silas pursed his lips. “Well … what I’ve heard is something different. Disturbing, actually. How Townsend ran Rafe out of Honolulu for writing those articles.”

  “Uncle Townsend did not ‘run him out,’ ” Eden said. “Rafe sailed for French Guiana on a business venture.”

  “Eden is right,” Candace told him. “And it looks as if Rafe’s foresight is reaping benefits. Townsend has regretted his impulsive decision to stand at odds with his stepson ever since Rafe returned with the new pineapples and won over Parker Judson’s support.”

  “Quite a rich plum Rafe pulled out of the pie, eh?”

  “And sour grapes for Ainsworth and Townsend,” Great-aunt Nora acknowledged, with an energetic swish of her fan. “Townsend was hoping to get rid of Rafe and reap Hanalei from Celestine. Now Rafe is back to stay, and Hanalei is also headed his way, as it should; Celestine is his mother, and it was Rafe’s father, Matt Easton, who built Hanalei.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard about Hanalei,” said Silas.

  Eden saw his gaze flick toward her, and she pretended not to notice. If he dared to say anything about what they’d overheard …

  “I must hand it to Rafe,” Silas went on. “He raked in the winnings all right in that venture to French Guiana. No wonder Grandfather Ainsworth has drawn up his political plans to include Rafe. Rafe not only has the plum, but the pie, and the Derringtons want a big slice. Can’t say that I blame them.”

  “I do hope you’re wrong, Silas,” Nora said. “At any rate, I must discuss this with Rafe before I return to Tamarind on Monday.”

  Silas apparently decided he would do better with Nora on a topic more to her liking, so he brought up the Gazette. Nora had purchased the Gazette for the single purpose of defending Liliuokalani against the Reform Party, and a year earlier she had turned over the running of the paper to Zachary. He had hounded Nora for the position, and she’d relented. Since then, he hadn’t taken a clear stand for the queen in the articles he’d written or in his choice of news stories for the front page, and subscriptions had tumbled, and now Nora was in debt. Although the Gazette had already been in a weakened state before Zachary took over, Nora’s dissatisfaction was growing, and Zachary was sure to reap criticism.

  Whenever Nora complained, Zachary became sullen, suggesting journalism should be unbiased. This, of course, provoked Nora, since she also defended journalistic freedom, but the debt continued, and so did her irate mood.

  Eden suspected it wasn’t Zachary’s belief in unbiased reporting that caused him to be timid in coming out for the queen, but nervousness over confronting Townsend and Ainsworth. Not only did they favor annexation, but they would decide which son became heir to the Derrington enterprise now that Silas had appeared. So Zachary was straddling the political fence, playing to both sides of the issue for as long as he could.

  “It’s really none of my business,” Silas was telling Nora, “but being a newspaper man myself, I can’t resist a comment or two on the way Zachary is running the Gazette.”

  “He’s doing a fair job,” Nora countered, but there was no enthusiasm in her voice. “We’re getting a few advertisers, mostly planters.”

  Silas rubbed his chin. “That’s just it. If the Gazette is ever going to compete in Honolulu and grab the hearts of the Hawaiians, it needs stronger fare than those watered-down articles on the monarchy and Reform Party. They don’t convince either side.”

  Nora looked troubled. “Yes, state your mind, Silas.”

  “I think it’s clear enough. You’ve seen what Zachary is printing. He hasn’t had a strong story yet on why Hawaii should keep the royal line of Kamehameha.”

  Eden noticed the gray pallor of Nora’s skin and was nettled that Silas had upset her.

  “I admit Zachary’s been overly cautious. It happens I’d already made up my mind to speak to him about the matter.”

  “Cautious? If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought Zachary’s articles were written by a member of the Hawaiian League.”

  A flurry of movement drew Eden’s attention across the living room to the lanai entrance. The horizon behind the tall palms was streaked with angry vermillion. Zachary ap
peared, his icy blue gaze honed in on Silas, like a hawk on a dove. Eden’s heart sank. It was clear that he’d heard Silas denigrating his journalism.

  “What did you say about my Gazette articles?” Zachary challenged, striding into the room.

  “Now, now, none of that,” Great-aunt Nora warned.

  Silas looked down at his shoes as though embarrassed. “Sorry,” he said.

  Great-aunt Nora went straight to the point. “Silas seems to think you’re not doing justice to the cause for which I bought the newspaper and made you manager. He does have a point, Zachary.”

  Zachary’s gaze remained fixed on Silas. Eden saw the pulse beat in his throat. “Maybe you think you can do better?”

  No, Eden thought. That’s just what he wants you to say.

  Silas held up a palm of peace. “Don’t get riled. I’m bound to have strong opinions on writing. I’m a journalist, remember? And,” he said with emphasis, “I’ve had years of newspaper experience, whereas you—” He left the word to hang a moment, then continued, “Why, you are just now entering the newspaper world. I would think you’d look me up for pointers. What are brothers for?”

  “One more crack like that—”

  “What troubles Nora,” Silas continued, “and I admit that it troubles me as well, is your writing lacks the zeal it needs for Liliuokalani. At times you even shadow-box with Stevens.”

  Mr. Stevens was the American Minister to Hawaii. Eden believed him to be a staunch proponent of annexation, working behind the scenes with men like Lorrin Thurston and Ainsworth. He was said to be almost in continuous communication with Blaine, the U.S. Secretary of State, about the troubled situation in the Hawaiian Islands.

  Silas now took center stage as he paced, tapping his chin and gazing at the floor as though it held the answers to the Hawaiian dilemma. “Isn’t it true that Minister Stevens is trying to learn from Secretary of State Blaine how far the U.S. president is willing to go, should circumstances warrant the overthrow of the monarchy?”

  Eden heard her own breath catch. Overthrow Liliuokalani? That would never happen, surely.

  “Rubbish,” Zachary snapped.“What are you trying to say? That the Mainland government is in cahoots with Grandfather Ainsworth and the Reform Party to raise guns against the queen?”

  “Not at all. The overthrow of Liliuokalani will be by ‘an orderly and peaceful revolution,’ ” Silas stated with light sarcasm. “It must be ‘orderly,’ by all means, and it must be ‘peaceful.’ That will soothe their democratic consciences.”

  Silas looked at Nora with a satisfied smile. “Now, I ask you, Nora, is that worthy news for the Gazette to come out with in morning headlines, or isn’t it?”

  Eden was speechless. She looked at Great-aunt Nora. Her face glowed pink with surprise and then outrage. She thrust herself up from her chair and stood, confronting Silas.

  “Where did you hear this? If it’s true, it’s shocking news. Where is Ainsworth? I want to talk to him now. If anyone knows, he will.” She walked briskly to the lanai, looking into the garden.

  “He’s out reviewing Rafe’s pineapples,” Candace said. “I think we should all step down from the present emotional level we find ourselves in. Let’s wait until we know more about this.”

  Nora turned on Zachary. “What do you know about this?” she demanded.

  Zachary reminded Eden of a trapped rabbit. Her anger at Silas began to burn. He was deliberately using rumors and falsehood to undermine Zachary before Nora. It was shameful.

  “Rubbish, I say. I’ve not heard a whisper about this,” Zachary said. “Any rumor of tactics for the overthrow of the queen is likely an outright lie.” He pointed his hand at Silas. “The question is, just where did you hear such inflammatory information? Or did you steal it?”

  “Zachary!” Nora rebuked.

  But Silas merely smiled. “My, you don’t think very highly of your humble half-brother.”

  “Should I? If you have access to inflammatory information, then it had to come from the office of John L. Stevens,” Zachary persisted.

  “Since when does a journalist disclose his sources?”

  “Stevens wouldn’t willingly give it to you. You’re bluffing.”

  “Bluffing?” Silas turned to Nora. “I admit not every news reporter in Honolulu is able to unearth the kind of story that should be printed. But that doesn’t mean the Gazette should settle for lax reporting, either.” He snatched the morning edition of the Gazette from the table and held it up. “‘Profitable sugar prices brought home to planters by Ainsworth Derrington.’ Followed by the comments of Lorrin Thurston on his successful meetings with the powerful Secretary of State in Washington D.C.” He tossed the paper down and looked from Zachary to Nora. “But not a commendable word on Queen Liliuokalani.”

  Zachary flushed with anger. He grabbed the paper from the table and shook it at Silas. “I reported the truth. Ainsworth and the members of the Reform Party did manage to work out higher prices in a treaty for Hawaiian sugar. And a treaty for a U.S. harbor at Pearl River, to be named Pearl Harbor. And Thurston held high-level talks with the U.S. Secretary of State, James G. Blaine, bringing greater American interest and control to Hawaii.” He then tossed the paper aside. “These events actually happened, and we reported on them. So what about the ‘planned overthrow’ of Liliuokalani? Where did you get those facts?”

  Silas shrugged, becoming languid. “As I said, old fellow, a journalist rarely reveals his sources. You should know that. The point, Zachary, is that it’s true.”

  “Prove the accusation you’ve leveled against the U.S. minister,” Zachary demanded, “and we’ll print it. Won’t we, Nora?” He stepped up beside her chair. “We will never rush to press with lies or intentionally start a political fire raging in Honolulu. If the Gazette prints sensational stories and half-truths, they’ll become self-fulfilling.”

  Eden breathed easier. Zachary was making headway with Nora.

  “If you print the sensational without having facts to back it up,” Zachary said, resting his hand on the back of her chair, “the newspaper won’t last through the year. They’ll soon be onto us. You won’t need to borrow money to pay off the debt. We’ll be out of business instead.”

  Silas wore a faint smile as he watched Zachary with a spark of interest. Caught in a losing situation, Zachary had managed to turn things his way.

  “Poppycock,” Nora snapped. “You know me better that, Zachary. There’ll be no rush to judgment. Still, what Silas suggests of Minister Stevens sounds suspiciously like the truth. I’ve met the man on several occasions, and I never did trust him. He’s certainly for annexation. He doesn’t fool me. I want the full story on this, and I want it printed.” She turned to Silas. “Well? Have you facts to back up your charge?”

  Silas grinned. He walked to a chair and sat down comfortably, crossing his legs at the knee. “No.”

  There was an intake of breath and a moment of startled silence, then Zachary folded his arms and gave a humorless laugh. “Lies. I said as much. What are you trying to do, Silas, ruin Nora and the Gazette?”

  “Not at all. The facts are there,” Silas said, looking not at Zachary but at Nora. “It just takes a newspaperman to ferret them out into the open.”

  “Nonsense,” Zachary scoffed. “What facts? Everything the Reformed Party is doing is legal and in the open.”

  “Is it? What about the Honolulu Rifles, the secret club for annexation started by Thurston?”

  Eden recalled her brief showdown with Rafe over the club. Zachary’s mouth tightened, and he made no comment. Silas smiled his victory. Nora watched Silas with sharp attention.

  “If what you say is true, Silas, then go ahead and ferret out the facts. If you get hold of them, we’ll print them for all to see.”

  “Nora—” Eden protested.

  “Hush, Eden. Well?” Nora asked Silas.

  “And if I do ferret the facts out?” Silas mildly challenged her.

  The answer was plain enou
gh. Eden glanced from Nora to Zachary. He must feel as though the ground were breaking up beneath his feet.

  “And if you do,” Nora said, “and prove them to be accurate, well then, the two of you will need to learn how to work together. That should stir up Thurston’s Hawaiian League and put Ainsworth on shaky ground.”

  “That’s all I was waiting to hear,” Silas said, on his feet again. “A word of caution, though. This kind of unveiling will make you unpopular with powerful entities. They’ll want to put you out of business in a hurry.”

  “Oh, I’m sure of it. But the Gazette is already in debt, so I’ve little to lose. Maybe the truth will attract more readers.”

  Silas turned to Zachary. “Together, my lad, we’ll make the Gazette sizzle.”

  Zachary’s jaw flexed. Eden, who knew him so well, guessed that he was already sizzling. He turned abruptly and without a word strode from the room.

  “He’ll get over his temper,” Nora said.

  “But not his injured pride,” Candace said quietly.

  Eden excused herself from the others. As she walked past Silas, she paused and looked at him. It was difficult to keep the disappointment and anger she felt from showing in her face. He had used clever tactics against Zachary before Nora, and at a time when the Gazette was in financial turmoil and needed an experienced leader. Zachary was right when he said it seemed that Silas had arrived on the Islands on a dark cloud. Pride and jealousy could slither into the heart and strike, leaving their venom to ruin and destroy.

  Once in the wide hall she stopped. Zachary must have gone out the door. Would he even attend the dinner now? Would Celestine?

  Except for the loud ticking of the great grandfather clock standing against the far wall, silence settled in, and adversarial voices faded. She walked across the polished wooden floor toward the stairway and begin to ascend, troubled. A figure moved below, and she paused to look down. It was Townsend moving down the hall. He must be going to see Nora, she thought and went on her way.