When Eden entered the plantation house, Great-aunt Nora was not in her guest room but was waiting in the living room. Eden had always loved this room. She recalled the time when Rafe had shown her the house plans, saying he wanted her approval because it was being designed with her in mind—the bride who would reign here, as well as in his heart …
The room was walled on three sides, while the fourth had an archway with intricate wrought-iron scrollwork screen doors. The screened side accessed the lanai that faced an enclosed garden of tropical foliage, delicate ferns, and flowers. Her favorite tree was the poinciana, with blossoms in lush crimson, and there was an aged hau tree with a plethora of sunny yellow blossoms.
Through the background of thriving foliage Eden caught glimpses of an early moon rising in the tropical dusk, a gem from the Creator’s hand, appearing nearly within her grasp. As she glanced about she felt the romantic loss of Rafe, but refused to yield to the painful longing.
Great-aunt Nora, according to Silas, was to introduce him for the first time to Ainsworth as his “unexpected” nephew from California, the firstborn son of Townsend. Just how Grandfather Ainsworth would respond to the occasion of a new nephew, Eden would not hazard to guess. It was widely known that Ainsworth frowned upon Townsend’s immoral behavior. But the question remained; would he accept Silas on an equal basis with Zachary?
Townsend too, was supposed to be here with Silas as they faced the momentous introduction with Ainsworth, but Eden wondered if Townsend would show after that horrible episode between Townsend and Celestine that left Eden sickened. The introduction offered an opportunity for Townsend to position Silas as a Derrington with all rights and privileges, with Great-aunt Nora standing beside them, adding weight to the appeal.
Townsend was now absent, and only she and Silas knew why. His absence could not be explained easily without unmasking the tragedy that had occurred with Celestine.
Townsend’s absence would give Ainsworth and Great-aunt Nora the impression of irresponsibility, which in Eden’s mind was true, but emphasizing this would not help Silas. Sin, Eden thought, ruined whatever it came in contact with. It corrupted what God intended to be good and noble.
But in John’s gospel Christ had taught, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
She wondered about Silas, unsure how to feel about his character and motives. Was he a cousin who should have her loyalty, sympathy, and support? Or was he shrewd and calculating? After the confrontation with Townsend and Celestine, Eden thought he might be misunderstood. At times, he seemed to have humility and a heart that could be reached, that would respond. But then, his remark at the doorstep about the serpent in the garden had come with a mischievous, even sinister amusement.
Now, Eden left Silas in the outer hall looking at the paintings of the Eastons on the wall above the stairway and, in particular, the painting of Rafe’s father, Matt Easton. She entered through the archway into the living room, where Nora was seated in a rather royal-looking chair in front of the lanai. There was a magnificent vista of ferns, orchids, fragrant gardenias, and a quiet pond with white kea fish with diagonal designs in bright red, blue, black, and gold. Behind all this stretched the sandy beach, palm trees, and the oceans waves softened by an offshore reef.
Great-aunt Nora had never accepted the notion that older women should dress primarily in dark blue or black. For the dinner tonight she wore a smartly tailored burgundy gown of silky texture, the color flattering to her fragile skin and platinum hair worn elegantly in the style of Queen Victoria. She smiled warmly at Eden, closed the leather-bound journal shed been writing in, and placed it in a knitting bag. Nora could neither sew well nor knit. “Even as a girl of fifteen, I was all thumbs,” she had said, “so as soon as I was old enough to do as I pleased, I gave up on handwork and turned to writing during my free hours.”
Eden entered the living room and forced a smile, unwilling to worry Nora over Celestine at the present. “How’s the book coming, Auntie?” she said cheerfully, looking pointedly at the knitting bag with the journal. Eden had a genuine interest in Nora’s work. In the past, Eden had assisted her in gathering historical data. Sometimes she had even helped edit the manuscript before mailing it to the publisher. Nora’s first book, written on the early Hawaiian history of the Kamehameha I monarchy, was completed during the time Eden attended Chadwick Medical School. On one occasion Nora had come to San Francisco and lectured at the historic Palace Hotel, where Eden, Zachary, and Grandfather Ainsworth had been in attendance. Rafe was there, while the pineapple slips were aboard his ship, and his first meeting with Parker Judson occurred there to bring about their partnership in the pineapple plantation. From that moment onward Ainsworth had groaned over the fact that he had failed to believe in Rafe and partner with him.
Eden hadn’t read any of the manuscript Nora was working on, for she was too busy at Kalihi Hospital. For some reason, though, Nora seemed to be keeping the contents of the book wrapped in mystery. Eden did know that, unlike her first book, this one dealt more with family history than with the monarchy She had learned that both the Derrington and Easton history on the Islands was written from Nora’s perspective. Though Nora hadn’t come out and said so, Eden suspected some of the information would not please Ainsworth.
“Ah, there you are, my dear. The new book? It’s coming along too slowly. Celestine has the first chapters.” She frowned. “I seem to have mislaid some of the later chapters though. I can’t think what I may have done with them.”
“Perhaps you left them at Tamarind House,” Eden said of Great-aunt Nora’s big house near Diamond Head, willed to her by Eden’s Great-grandmother Amabel.
“Yes, that must be it. I won’t worry about it now.”
As Eden knew, Nora hadn’t been strong recently, though she wouldn’t admit to the fact, for it would mean she must be slowing down her routine. Eden scrutinized her for a moment through medical eyes and could recognize the signs of weakening stamina. She retrieved Dr. Bolton’s prescription from her satchel.
“Before I forget, here’s your new medicine. You’re to take it before dinner. Dr. Bolton insists you take it twice a day, when you first rise and at bedtime.”
Nora made a sound of impatience. “What is it? Heart medicine again? I don’t need it. I told him so.”
“Great-aunt Nora!”
Nora broke into a smile as though she enjoyed putting up a fuss just to see Eden’s reaction. Eden came beside Nora to a koa wood table and set the bottle down with a decided click.
Nora winced. “You sound just like a nurse. They always set the medicine down with that certain click. Obey, or else.”
Eden smiled. “Then I’ll live up to the reputation of an efficient one. If I find out you’re neglecting what’s good for you, I’ll tell Rafe. He’ll make sure you take it as prescribed.”
“Spare me. I won’t have him coming here twice a day to play nanny.”
Eden laughed at such a ludicrous image of Rafe.
Nora gestured at her empty coffee cup. “All I need is a good night’s sleep, which is proving impossible with all this dreadfully strong Kona coffee he has here. Keeps me awake. I haven’t slept soundly since I left Tamarind. I keep telling Rafe to grow tea. The rascal laughs at me.”
Eden laughed, too. Tea, in Hawaii.
“I understand there was an early attempt to grow tea here and produce silk as well,” Eden said. “I think sugar, pineapples, and Kona coffee are quite enough for one Island. And now, you must take the medication so you can stay strong enough to support the monarchy. You’re running the Gazette now, too. With Zachary’s help, of course, but he tells me you’re putting in many long hours.” Nora was considering making Zachary editor-in-chief, a position he desperately craved. Even now, he was the lead editor and writer.
“I must put in long hours at the Gazette. We’re having financial difficulties. Zachary believes he can get us a loan, but he won’t say who from, and I suspect it would come from Ainsworth, and I won’t have it. So I’ve told him to forget trying. Somehow we will bring the sales up to pay off the debt I’ve incurred for the last two years. If not, I may end up needing to relinquish the Gazette. That, to me, would be a tragedy.”
“Surely someone in the family can lend you money to pay the creditors?” Eden said, incredulously. The thought of losing the Gazette troubled her also.
“Ainsworth controls the Derrington purse, my dear, should you have forgotten. Townsend, too, is in debt, but for reckless reasons. Gambling. Ainsworth has finally refused to cover his debts.”
So that was the reason for her uncle’s desperation in wanting to reclaim Hanalei from the contract he’d made with Parker Judson.
“Anyway, Ainsworth’s the last person I’ll come to for a loan, though as his sister, I’ve as much right to the Derrington inheritance as he. Of course, I have Tamarind House and its sugar lands, but I should hate to let go of it. I want to leave it all intact, as an inheritance for one of my four nieces and nephews.”
One of the four nieces and nephews? Apparently Great-aunt Nora had decided to accept Silas as a true Derrington. This would alarm Zachary.
“Oh, Ainsworth would be delighted to lend me money, by all means. It would grant him the leverage to interfere in what the Gazette prints. He’d expect me to have articles in favor of annexation. What I need is for Rafe to come back,” Nora said wistfully. “Oh to have a few of those superlative articles he did a few years ago on the monarchy. He’s been difficult enough to get along with recently. I can’t get a simple yes or no out of him when it concerns supporting Liliuokalani. I do believe he’s a writer, not a planter.” Nora turned a sharpened gaze on Eden.“What’s come over him, recently? I would think you, at least, would be able to influence him to work for the Queen. Really, Eden. What a shame you’re delaying the engagement.”
“Please don’t mention the broken engagement in front of Grandfather or my father. Neither of them have said a word to me about Rafe. I want to keep the matter quiet until I know what his plans are.”
“Jerome’s plans? Or Rafe’s?”
“Dr. Jerome’s,” Eden said, more familiar with the term for his renowned reputation than for the term for relationship as her father. “I want to know what he plans for his research work in leprosy.”
Nora frowned. “Don’t tell me you still wish to go traipsing about diseased jungles with him like some devoted gypsy. It’s a dreadful risk to your own health. No wonder Rafe is difficult to get on with. He’s worried about you, both of the plantations—Hawaiiana and Hanalei—and Celestine. If that weren’t enough, Jerome arrives to sweep you off on some dubious research on rotting human flesh.”
“Nora, dearest, please. I’d rather not talk of leprosy, Rafe, or my father’s arrival now. I want the family dinner this evening to be a pleasant one.”
Was she being naive? Could this evening’s dinner actually be pleasant? She thought of Celestine’s miserable meeting with Townsend and cringed.
If Rafe was concerned for his mother before, what would he think now?
Even though Silas warned her to not mention the incident to Rafe, she couldn’t help feeling uneasy. What if Silas found something to benefit him personally from the unfortunate circumstance?
“I shall say nothing to Ainsworth and Jerome of the sad state of your relationship with Rafe,” Great-aunt Nora said soothingly and reached over to pat Eden’s hand. “I’ll even thank you, dear, for coming here to bring me Dr. Bolton’s prescription.” She reached over to the table, took the bottle, and put it inside her knitting bag.
Eden squeezed her hand. “It’s because we all love you. Do take it as prescribed.”
“Well, I’m pleased somebody loves me. Yes, I’ll take it, dear.”
Eden wondered if she truly would. “By the way, Silas is waiting in the hall. Did you tell him you’d introduce him to Grandfather before dinner tonight?”
“Somebody must get them to face each other for the first time. Townsend’s to be here as well, not that he’ll be much help, that malingerer.”
Townsend has returned to Kea Lani, thought Eden, but she couldn’t say so without having to explain how she knew.
“I can’t say I’m much pleased about Ainsworth returning from Washington so unexpectedly. He’s boasting about winning over the U.S. Senate. Such audacity—he and Thurston, both. Those two are cut from the same piece of cloth.”
Eden was about to tell her that she needn’t be awaiting his arrival, when a voice came from the doorway.
“Am I interrupting?”
Silas walked over to where Nora sat and brushed his lips against the upturned cheek of the lady who expected regal recognition from all of her great-nephews and nieces, especially a “new” nephew. But now she cast him an irritated glance.
“I wish you wouldn’t keep sneaking up on me like that, Silas. I could almost think you were deliberately eavesdropping,” she accused.
After what happened earlier in the evening with Celestine and Townsend, Eden felt uncomfortable.
Silas grinned disarmingly. “Now, Aunt, what other kind of eavesdropping is there but deliberate? And what else would you expect from a man accused of gathering secrets about the family for his own selfish ends?”
A second unexpected voice surprised them from the lanai. “And do you have ‘selfish ends,’ Cousin Silas?” Candace entered and stood looking at him. For a brief moment, Eden thought she caught a slight frown.
“Why, of course, Cousin Candace. Don’t we all?”
“No,” she said decisively.
“Well, I admit to having them—to win the warm affection of my new family. What else would you expect?”
“Yes, what else?” Great-aunt Nora repeated.
“Ah, dear Great-aunt! Always tart! But beloved nonetheless.”
“Nonsense. You’re a worse rascal than Rafe.”
He looked at Eden. “You shouldn’t say these things in front of Eden. You’ll convince her I should be avoided.”
“She doesn’t need much convincing,” Nora said. “And you’d better watch that tongue of yours around Rafe, or you might end up with a bruised lip.”
“Ooh!” he winced. “Yes, well. Then I wouldn’t want to offend my amiable host now, would I? Or is he also my brother?” He looked at Eden.
“I suppose he is, rather,” Eden said.
“You may be more of a scamp than even I think you are,” Great-aunt Nora snapped.
Silas looked amused. “You’re the one in this family with a true sense of humor, Nora. I’m becoming extremely fond of you.”
“Zachary would suggest it was my newspaper you’ve taken such fondness to.”
“Ah, yes … Zachary.” He looked at Eden with a glint in his eyes. “Need I say more?”
“No,” Candace said, walking around Nora’s chair and laying a hand on her shoulder.
“Hand me my shawl, Candace, will you? That evening breeze can feel a little chilly for a woman my age. That’s it—thank you. Where is Zachary by the way?” She glanced toward the front of the house.
“He was looking over that handsome horse tied out front,” said Candace. “He thought it belonged to Uncle Townsend. Townsend was here earlier—but couldn’t stay.”
Eden looked at Candace. How did she know? Had she seen Celestine enter the house or spoken with her?
“Then Townsend won’t be coming?” Nora asked, troubled.
“No, he returned to Kea Lani.” Candace walked over to the lanai and looked into the garden, as though uncomfortable about something.
“The horse does belong to Townsend,” Silas said unexpectedly. “I noticed her in the stables this morning. The stable boy told me Townsend bought the mare a few months ago to breed with Rafe’s stallion. He had the mare brought over by ship. There’s a fine breeder around Sacramento by the name of Wilder. I wonder if Rafe knows of him?”
“If there’s a good breeder somewhere, Rafe will have heard of him,” Eden said. “He and Zachary are both interested in fine horses.”
“Anyway, Townsend gave me permission to ride her this morning,” Silas said. “So I first rode up the lava slopes, then back here to Hawaiiana. The sights were incredible.”
“Silas, I don’t want anything unpleasant to occur between you and the other two young men,” Great-aunt Nora warned, changing the subject.
“I’m willing to get along. It’s Zachary who’d like to send me packing back to San Francisco.”
“Never mind Zachary. You just do your part to avoid trouble, or it will upset Eden.”
“I’m sure Eden has more important matters on her mind.” He looked at Eden as if he shared some little secret with her. His eyes were bright and curious.
“Such as my father’s medical research?” She spoke quickly to hide her uneasiness, and with a shade too much emphasis.
“That, too, is very intriguing. I was thinking, though,” his voice casual, “of Rafe’s new support for the annexation movement. That must be upsetting to anyone supporting the queen. Some would call him a turncoat.”
“Turncoat!” Eden said, momentarily disconcerted. He had her full attention. Rafe had told her earlier that day in the buggy that he hadn’t come to any firm decision. Then she remembered his anger at the Board of Health over Kip and his words against the monarchy. Could Silas have met with Rafe since then?
Nora stood. “Pah! Whatever are you saying, Silas?” An anxious frown tugged at her white brows.
“And in Rafe’s own house,” Candace said crisply.
“Yes, whatever gave you the right?” Eden said. “Turncoat, indeed!”
“My dear ladies!” He placed hand at heart, as he looked from one to the other in what Eden saw as feigned regret. “I seem to have spoken too soon on the subject,” he said. “I would have thought you all realized … but it appears I was mistaken. Perhaps we should let the matter go,” he said with unexpected deference. He stooped and retrieved the shawl Nora had let slip from her shoulders to the floor.
“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 appeared, 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 enough. 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.
Father, enable us as Your children in Christ to live wise lives with eternity in view. And for those who don’t know Your forgiveness and adoption, may their blind eyes be opened and their deaf ears hear what You are saying in Your Word.
She climbed to the upper hallway. There was no need to knock on Celestine’s bedroom door, for experience told Eden that the older lady would not wish to lay her dignified head on a shoulder to cry out her woes. Her crying would be done alone, with God.
Voices were drifting to her from the nursery. She recognized Noelani’s voice speaking rapidly to someone, certainly not to baby Kip. Eden straightened her shoulders. It was time she told Noelani about her mission here at Hawaiiana to bring the baby to Kalihi. It would break her heart, but if anyone would understand Eden’s dilemma, it would be Noelani, the loving, faithful woman who had become a mother to her after Rebecca was sent to Molokai.
I need a miracle, Eden thought. But the miracle was to be found in the inspired Word of God. She must depend upon eternal truths. Historical changes and fickle fads of modern culture did not change the Truth. Truth would be the final judge of all. What a comfort for those of us who love truth and fear the deceptions of darkness.
Yes, the times were uncertain, and trouble grew like thorns in the loveliest of gardens, but she could walk steadily forward knowing she was not alone, knowing that the future was known by God and that the path of faith grounded in His Word would ultimately lead her to His purpose.
She would pray that Silas and Townsend—and all of them, really—would, like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim, lay down their burdens in exchange for eternal peace.