The next morning Renna gave her reflection one last glance. She smoothed the waist of her pale green and cream gown. She’d never owned a dress so fine. Despite her birthmark, she actually felt pretty beneath all the frills. It made her wonder how she’d tolerated her black garb and pinned-on white smock for the last decade.
But, perhaps, until she’d met her pirate, she simply hadn’t any interest in dressing up.
Renna re-pinned several locks. She’d neatly plaited her auburn hair then braided it from one side to the other, although several curls still refused to be confined. Having done all she could with her appearance for now, she left her enormous bedroom.
Walking through the long, impressive hallway, she wondered if she could ever be comfortable residing in a house as large as this one. Brian was proud of his home, to be sure, but she thought it felt rather impersonal.
In the dining room Mum and Da were sitting with Brian, who headed the long, linen-covered table. The men stood as Renna entered.
“Well, now, don’t you look pretty!” Da beamed.
Brian wore his dark spectacles, which shielded his unseeing eyes. His lips parted as if to reply but closed again. Finally, he said, “I’m sure Renna looks as beautiful as always.”
“Thank you.” Feeling embarrassed, she glanced at Mum, who sent her a pleased smile.
Minutes later a plump and jovial-looking woman named Isabelle served up a generous fare that rivaled Mum’s meals, except Renna knew her mother enjoyed the break from cooking and dishwashing.
“I think you all should be aware that Richard and Sarah will soon be moving to the farm on which Richard’s parents reside.” Brian took a quick sip of his coffee. “That’s where the children stayed last night, and they love it on the farm. I’m grateful to the Navises—Richard’s parents included. I’m sure you’ll meet them at some point during your stay.”
“And will your children arrive back home soon?” Renna cut off a small piece of a flapjack covered with syrup and ate it. Thick and sweet, the maple flavor awakened her senses.
“Yes, although they’ve all made it perfectly clear they’d rather live with Richard and Sarah than with me.”
Renna swallowed. Her heart went out to Brian. He looked so downcast. “You’ll win them back quick enough.”
“That’s right, Captain.” Mum wore a determined expression. “Children are amazingly resilient.”
“Thank you. I’ll need all the help I can get, I’m sure. But as much as I hope to win my children’s affections, I want to reinforce the fact that Richard and Sarah will always remain a part of their lives.”
“How good of you.” Da gave an approving nod.
“Well, it’s only right. Richard and Sarah stepped into parental roles after I was presumed drowned. They love my children, and I’m indebted to them.”
Renna wondered if there was room in Brian’s children’s lives for her. She’d seen the portrait of their beautiful mother hanging above the mantel in the reception parlor. Would they compare Renna to her? Renna wouldn’t come out on top. The artist had captured the essence of Louisa Sinclair’s loveliness with his brush. Likewise, Sarah Navis possessed an outward, innocent sort of beauty all her own.
First they lost their mother, and now Sarah would be relieved of the role. Renna cringed at the vacancy in those poor, dear kids’ lives. They’d been through so much already.
And what about Brian? Renna slid a glance his way. His hair was neatly combed, his face shaven. He’d managed extremely well for an unseeing man. What’s more, dressed in his dark suit and crisp white shirt he made an impressive sight.
He smiled, looking amused, and Renna lowered her gaze. But before she had a chance to blush, she remembered that Brian couldn’t have intercepted her admiring glance. He couldn’t see!
“How are you feeling today, Brian?” Renna gently lay down her fork.
“I’m feeling fine, although . . . ”
He fingered the open top button of his shirt. “I seem to have forgotten my cravat.”
“I’ll help you with it later, Brian,” Da said. “Not to worry.”
Renna breathed a sigh of relief. He’d merely laughed at himself for forgetting. Even so, what kind of monster was she that she could wish for Brian’s sight to return and for him to remain blind at the same time?
Perhaps the sort of monster that his children wouldn’t want around. Had she been guilty of wanting people to need her because that’s all she expected out of life?
•••
Hours later, the children arrived in the Rockaway, a multi-passenger carriage. Richard was in the covered driver’s seat, while Sarah and the children sat all bundled up inside.
As Richard drove the carriage around to the side of the house, Renna watched from the windows of the enormous solarium. Her limbs tingled with nervousness as the four kids alighted and ran for the house. What would they think of her? Would they like her?
Renna was only too glad that Brian planned to ask both Richard and Sarah Navis to stay for a few days. To ease the transition, Brian had decided to keep the children out of school for the week, and Renna hoped Sarah would help her get to know the children quicker.
Now if she could only help Renna find her way around this manse!
Turning from the windows, she had to laugh at herself. She’d gotten so mixed up minutes ago just trying to find her mother in the ladies’ parlor. Her own home could fit in just the foyer of Brian’s house.
Leaving the solarium, Renna heard voices wafting in from the kitchen as Brian welcomed his children back home. But she didn’t hear responses. She stopped in the foyer, unsure what to do.
Finally Mr. Navis ambled into the foyer with the kids in tow.
“And here’s Miss Fields.” He shrugged out of his wool coat. Hester appeared from nowhere and hurried to hang it up. “She’s the lady we told you about.”
Murmurs of hello echoed through the vestibule.
“Don’t be shy now,” Richard coaxed them. “Introduce yourselves.”
“I’m Libby.” The taller of the two girls stepped forward. Her straight, ebony hair hung in two braids on either side of her impish face. “I’m six years old, and Miss Sarah is teaching me to read.”
“She’s not Miss Sarah anymore,” one of the boys groused. “She’s Mrs. Navis now . . . and she’s supposed to be our new mom.” He sent Renna a challenging glance.
Renna ignored it. She wasn’t about to try to compete with Sarah, their beloved former governess. “Hello, Libby. I’m pleased to meet you.”
The girl smiled. She resembled her father. Why, she even had his ebony eyes and thick lashes. The only thing Libby possessed that Brian didn’t was a pretty pink rosebud mouth.
“I read too.” The smallest of the Sinclair bunch stared up at her siblings. Her physical traits were opposite her sister’s. Where Libby had black hair and eyes, Rachel was fair-headed with hazel eyes.
The little one whirled toward Renna. “I’m six too.”
“No, you’re not. You just turned four—and you don’t know how to read, either!”
Richard set a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Easy, Gabe.”
“But she’s lying.”
“She’s pretending.” He grinned and looked at Renna. “May I present Gabriel Sinclair, Captain Sinclair’s eldest. He’s almost twelve years old.”
“Nice to meet you, Gabriel.” Renna gave him a smile.
“And this little one . . . ” Richard scooped the smallest girl into his arms. “ . . . is Rachel. She just had a birthday last weekend.”
“A birthday?” Renna brought her hands together, smiling all the while.
The little one nodded.
“We had an early celebration in Chicago,” Richard explained, “but unfortunately you were working at the hospital.”
“Brian didn’t tell me that.” Perhaps he hadn’t wanted her to feel any guiltier than she already had. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
“We could have another one.” Brows raised, hope filling her gaze, Rachel obviously thought she’d made a grand suggestion.
“You’ve had two,” Sarah said on a laugh. “I think that’s all the birthday parties you need until next year.”
“I can’t wait for my birthday. I love parties!” Libby twirled around.
Richard chuckled. “Let’s move on with introductions, shall we? Over here next to Gabe is Michael. He’s ten years old.”
The boy leaned his brunet head in closer to Richard. “She doesn’t look like some of Dad’s other ladies,” he whispered loud enough for Renna to hear.
“A very good sign, I’d say.” Grinning, Richard set Rachel onto her feet.
Sarah walked in and wrapped her hand around her husband’s arm. They exchanged adoring looks while Gabe neared Renna.
“What’s that thing on your face?” Curiosity coupled with cynicism edged his tone.
Renna’s fingers flew to the purplish mark. “It’s a birthmark, which means I was born with it.” She couldn’t blame the boy for wanting to know. At least he was honest and forthright instead of sneaking pitying glances her way and whispering behind her back the way many of her peers did.
“Will it ever go away?”
“Gabe!” Richard shook his head. “It’s rude to be so personal with an adult.”
“It’s all right.” Renna smiled, looking directly at the boy. “No, it doesn’t come off, which, I’m sure, makes me less pretty than all the other ladies who’ve visited your father.”
Gabriel’s expression softened as he took several steps forward. He shrugged off Richard’s hand on his shoulder and came up to Renna, boldly appraising her tarnished cheek.
The small veil of confidence she possessed unraveled quickly.
“Gabe.” Richard’s voice was thick with warning.
“I find your birthmark interesting, Miss Fields.”
Richard’s sigh was audible.
Sarah spoke up then. “Gabe, I must insist—”
“I don’t mean any harm.” With a frown he glanced over his shoulder at Richard then turned back to Renna. “You were fortunate enough to be born with something different about your looks.”
A laugh burst out of her. “Fortunate?”
“Well, yes. Otherwise one lady is just the same as any other, really.”
“I’ve never considered that perspective. Thank you.”
Richard said, “Gabe is our resident artist. He likes to draw and paint. He tends to see things that we simpletons overlook.”
In that moment Renna decided she liked Gabe Sinclair. “You’re a fine young man,” she told him just as Brian entered the foyer. He used a polished and carved wooden cane and continued to wear his dark protective lenses.
“I hope my children aren’t making pests of themselves.”
“Why, no.” Renna felt a bit taken aback by the remark. She took a look at the girls, clinging to Richard and Sarah, then the boys’ scowling countenances. Clearly the girls were afraid of their father, and the boys resented him. “We were just getting acquainted.”
“Good.”
Renna saw Libby tug on Richard’s arm. “Are you and Miss Sarah going to keep living here with us?”
“No, sweetheart.” Sarah’s voice sounded constrained. “But your father invited us to stay for a few days, and we said we would.”
“But why can’t you stay forever?” A heavy frown settled on her brow.
Richard hunkered down. “Libby, things have changed. Your father is alive. Aren’t you happy about that?”
“Yes, but—”
“It’s only right that things go back to the way they were before that big storm hit with your father and Aurora in the middle of it.” Richard cupped the back of the little girl’s head and hugged her to him. “We talked about this before. Remember?”
Libby pouted.
Rachel eyed her father speculatively.
“Gabe said that if we can’t live on the farm with the Navises,” Michael began, “then me and him’ll run away and be stowaways.”
Gabe nudged Michael. “Why’d you have to tell, stupid?”
“Oops.” Chagrin spread crimson across the younger boy’s freckled face.
“Stowaways, eh?” Brian tipped his head.
Renna glanced at him, noting the grim lines around his mouth.
“That’s a serious offense, boys. If you’re caught, you could be beaten—or worse. And if you live, you’ll be sentenced to a life of hard labor.”
Gabriel was stone-faced, but Michael looked downright scared. His dark brown eyes widened with horror.
“They’d beat kids?”
“Well, Michael, it depends on who ‘they’ are. But, yes, I’ve heard of it happening, so I don’t want to hear another word about stowing away. Is that clear?”
“Yessir.” Michael muttered the reply.
Gabe said nothing.
“Now get your bags from the carriage, go upstairs to your rooms, and unpack.”
Michael turned and ran up the stairs, but Gabriel paused in front of his father.
“Are you really blind?” A challenge loomed.
Brian hesitated. “Yes.” He’d softened his tone.
Then Gabriel stuck out his tongue.
Renna brought her hand to her lips in shock. Such a bold display of rebellion! Sarah gasped, and Richard narrowed his gaze.
Gabe grinned and followed his brother upstairs.
“Daddy!” Libby walked over and tugged on his hand. “Gabe did a bad thing. The worst thing I ever saw him do. He sticked his tongue out at you.”
Rachel copied her sister. “He sticked it right out.”
“Are you going to whip him now?” Libby asked. “He should get a belt-whipping, don’t you think so, Daddy?”
Renna bit the side of her cheek in an effort not to smile. She couldn’t help it. She recalled numerous times in her childhood that she’d wished her brother would get a whipping.
Saying nothing of the sort, however, she glanced at Sarah, who peered at her husband. But no help there. Richard stood staring up at the ceiling.
“Libby, darling, I appreciate your concern. It was good of you to tell me. Gabriel probably deserves a whipping, but I think I’ll settle for a good talking-to.”
“All right.” Libby’s slender shoulders sagged with disappointment.
Just then the housekeeper reappeared, and both little girls ran to hug her. “Granny Hester! Granny Hester!”
“Well, now, look who’s here.” The older woman embraced the girls with a quick hug. “My two little chickens!” She placed kisses on the tops of their heads. “Isabelle’s making cake in the kitchen, and if you hurry, she’ll let you lick the spoon. Mrs. Fields is in there too. That’s Miss Fields’s mother, you know,” Hester explained to the girls before setting them in the right direction. “Go see what’s happening in the kitchen.”
Libby turned to Richard. “Can we, Mr. Navis?”
“Best to ask your father.”
Two small heads turned his way. “Can we?”
Brian smiled. “Yes, you may.”
The girls skipped off down the hallway.
“Isn’t the kitchen that way?” Renna said, pointing down the other hallway.
Sarah nodded. “You can go that way too.”
Renna blew out a breath. “Oh, dear.” She looked at Brian. “I think I need a map.”
Brian chuckled. “Renna, in a few days you’ll know this place like the back of your hand. I promise. Now then, turn me toward the front staircase. I need to deal with my eldest.”
“Shall I guide you up the stairs?”
Brian shook his head. “I know my way very well.”
“All right, then.” Renna took his hand and walked him to the first step.
“Thirty-six steps in a curving staircase.” Brian smiled. “Don’t be surprised, Renna, if you see a couple of boys sliding down this banister from time to time.” He paused. “And maybe a governess too.”
“Captain Sinclair!” Sarah marched forward. “I never did such an undignified thing.”
Richard cleared his throat. “That would have been the governess before Sarah, sir.”
“Ah, yes . . . ”
Confusion engulfed Renna. “How many governesses were there?”
“Too many to count, I’m afraid,” Richard replied.
The children must have felt a measure of confusion over so many people walking in and out of their lives. Did Brian understand what he had put them through?
His next words allayed her fears
“Pray for me, Renna,” he said softly. “My relationship with my son is already strained. I can’t imagine what I might say to change his mind about me.”
“I will.” She watched him ascend the staircase. “I’ll pray.”
•••
Brian made his way to Gabriel’s bedroom. He knocked once and then, without waiting for a reply, walked in. A large satchel sat in the middle of the room, still unpacked, while Gabe lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his jaw clenched.
“Gabriel, we need to talk.”
No reply.
Brian walked farther into the bedroom. He glanced around at all the unframed artwork tacked to the walls. Why hadn’t he seen it before? The watercolors, ink sketches, and chalk drawings were all very well done.
“What?” He blinked as he stepped closer to examine one of the pictures. “Are you the artist of all these pictures, Gabe?” Immediately he realized his blunder. He was supposed to be blind.
Turning slowly toward his son, Brian saw that Gabriel scrutinized him with a puzzled frown.
Brian removed his dark glasses. “I’d best be honest with you, son, although I pray I’m not endangering your life by doing so.” He took in a deep breath. “I’m not blind, Gabe, although I was for a long time after the boating accident. But I’ve agreed to pretend that I’m still blind so the authorities can discover if someone tampered with my schooner the day of the killer storm on the lake. That same person—or persons—may still be trying to kill me.”
Gabriel sat up and swung his legs off the bed. “You mean you can see?”
Brian nodded and watched the color drain slowly from his son’s face. “And, yes, I saw you stick out your tongue at me minutes ago.”
Gabriel swallowed hard, obviously expecting impending doom.
“You deserve a good thrashing for that one, but I think you’re old enough now that we can . . . discuss the matter. Will you agree to that? A discussion?”
“I suppose so.”
Brian moved to the round table at the far side of the room. Four chairs surrounded it, and pens, ink, paints, and brushes covered the top. Brian sat down and gently moved the art supplies toward the middle of the table. Gabe took a chair across from him.
“You’re a very talented young man.”
Gabe shrugged in reply, and Brian noted the wary look in his eyes. No doubt his son feared that after their discussion he might still get his thrashing.
Brian tried in vain to stifle a grin. “You know, I remember when I was your age. Aurora didn’t know what to do with me, so she did nothing. I was very bored one summer and spent my free time down at the docks. I met a man down there whom everyone referred to as Corky. Captain Corky.” Brian chuckled at the remembrance. “Corky was an old man with a sharp tongue, but he took pity on me that summer and taught me many things about ships. Once he even took me on a two-day journey across Lake Michigan. Aurora never even knew I was gone. But then the fall came, and I was talking of seafaring men and using bad language. Aurora was so aghast, she packed me off to boarding school. I never got to say good-bye to Corky and his crew. I hated my mother for that.”
“Aurora never liked kids much.” Again, Gabe rolled his shoulders. His hazel-eyed gaze was fastened to the tabletop. “Maybe she liked the girls more cuz they could shop for dresses and hair ribbons.”
“Hmm . . . well, I must agree with you there.” Brian sat back. “I resented my mother for a long time. Then, after a couple of years at boarding school, I realized that, even though Aurora had no mothering skills to speak of, she wanted the best for me, and soon I wanted the best for me too. I married your mother, and we had four beautiful children, but I didn’t know how to be a father because—well, except for Corky that summer, I had no father figure in my life. Even so, I wanted the best for my children . . . just like Aurora had wanted the best for me. Do you understand what I’m trying to say, Gabriel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, what I mean to say is I know I haven’t been a good father, but I want to be. And now I have faith in God, and He will help me. But you’re going to have to be patient, son.”
Gabriel looked him squarely in the eyes. “Are you going to marry that lady and then send me off to boarding school like Aurora did to you—and like Mrs. Kingsley wanted to do to Mike and me?”
“No, not if you don’t want to go.”
“I don’t.”
“Then you won’t go to boarding school.”
Gabriel narrowed his gaze suspiciously. “How do I know that you’ll keep your promise? You never did before. Or maybe you’ll just forget.”
Brian dipped his head. He hated the fact his son spoke the truth. “Before my accident, Gabriel, I had no use for God. But lately I’ve been studying His Word. I’m learning. I’m different. Everything is new now. I’m a changed man. Give me a chance to prove it.”
“I guess I can do that. I’ll give you one more chance.”
“Only one more?” Brian sent the boy a patient smile. “What if I need fifty more chances? If I remember correctly, Jesus said we’re to forgive ‘seventy times seven.’ That’s four hundred and ninety chances, Gabe—for the same transgression.” Brian leaned toward his son. “What about you? Do you have faith in God?”
Gabriel nodded. “Mr. Navis talked to me about Jesus. Miss Sarah did too.”
The admission caused Brian to smile. “I’m glad. Richard and Sarah have been good to step in and take care of you while I’ve been gone. But now that I’m back and—well, a changed man for the experience—I’d like us all to be a family. A real family.”
Gabriel studied him earnestly now. “You seem different.”
“I really am, but I’m still learning. As I said before, I’m going to need your patience.” He chuckled. “Miss Fields even said that I’m not half the pirate I used to be.”
“Pirate?” Gabriel’s young face split into a grin. “I remember all those pirate stories you used to tell Mike and me.”
“I remember them too.” How could he have neglected his son so long? Gabe was a fine boy.
He leaned his elbows on the table, looking more at ease now. “How long do you have to pretend that you’re blind?”
Brian sobered. “I hope it’s not much longer. But, please, Gabriel, keep this a secret from Miss Fields. She still thinks I’m blind, and I have to be the one to tell her the truth. I hate deceiving her this way.” Brian chose not to disclose the entirety of the situation. “However, I don’t want to put her life in danger too.”
“So are you going to marry her now that Mrs. Kingsley is dead?”
Remorse filled Brian. He’d used Elise like a bar of soap. “Gabe, the next time I get married, it will be because the woman blends into our family and loves you and your brother and sisters.”
“Like Miss Sarah?”
“Well—”
“She’s married to Mr. Navis now.”
“I know that.” Brian also knew he needed to apologize to Sarah for his despicable ways.
“Maybe Miss Fields will be nice enough for you to marry.”
“Time will tell. At least Renna is aware that my first priority is my children. I have a lot of years to make up for.”
“You never cared about us before.”
“It may not have seemed like it, but I did—and do.” He gave his son a heartfelt glance. “I just hope I haven’t endangered your life by telling you the truth about my eyesight. Oh, God, may it not be so!”
“Don’t worry.” Gabriel squared his shoulders. “I’m brave and strong. Old Mr. Navis even said so. Besides, people don’t pay much attention to children, but we listen a lot.” A gleam entered his eyes. “I’ll bet I can find out a whole ton of stuff.”
“Now, Gabriel, I don’t want you to involve yourself. Leave this to the authorities. They know what they’re doing. Another man has already lost his life because he knew too much.”
“Really? Who?”
More regret assailed him. “Someone I had dealings with down at the docks. He repaired ships and had worked on my schooner just days before the accident.” Brian paused and gave his son an earnest look. “Gabe, you mustn’t repeat any of what I’ve told you to anyone. Understood?”
“Don’t you trust me?” Gabe lifted his chin in silent challenge. “You never did before. Maybe you don’t trust me now.”
Brian lifted a brow. “Are you a trustworthy man?”
“Yessir, I am.” The boy squared his shoulders.
“Well, then, I trust you, Gabriel.” Brian got to his feet. “I trust you with my life!”