Read Online Beloved Captive by Kathleen Y'Barbo - Free Book Online
Authors: Kathleen Y'Barbo
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Emilie’s makeshift classroom school in the parlor of the boardinghouse. Emilie held the letter to her chest as she counted the weeks until the judge’s deadline.
“I’m an idiot. I’ve been so busy worrying myself with the past that I forgot about the future of these children.”
The thought carried her all the way to the docks where, under the watchful gaze of Nate, she secured passage on a respectable passenger ship originally headed for Cuba. A few well-placed coins and a stern discussion between Nate and the captain regarding the fact that Emilie was a lady of quality bought her direct passage to Fairweather Key, where she would be deposited before the vessel continued on to Havana.
This accomplished, Emilie walked back toward the carriage with mixed feelings. The portrait now bounced and jostled against her leg from its hiding place in the pocket she’d sewn into her skirt. Two days hence, she would be headed home.
* * *
Surely they all knew of tomorrow’s departure, but no one who lived inside the gates at the Gayarre home seemed willing to mention the fact. Cook greeted Emilie with the same smile at breakfast and said not a word. When the older woman returned with a tray for Papa, Emilie regarded her with surprise.
“I figure you’ll be wanting to take this up yourself,” Cook said as she turned and made haste out the back door.
“Subtle,” Emilie muttered as she rose to fetch the impudent woman. But as she reached the back door, she changed her mind.
Only a coward would slink away without saying good-bye. “And I am not a coward,” Emilie shouldered the tray and headed upstairs.
Thankfully, Papa was sleeping, so she left the tray and slipped out of the room without waking him. The same thing happened when his dinner was delivered, making Emilie wonder if the old man was as fearful of holding a conversation as she.
The evening of the twenty-second of May, with her bags packed and waiting by her door for the next day’s sail, Emilie decided the ruse was over. Rather than bring Papa his tray, she instructed Cook to do so, then waited until she heard the sounds of his spoon scraping the plate before she entered the room.
“I’ve been caught,” he said. “Come in and close the door.”
She did as he asked but remained near the exit lest he repeat his vile behavior. “Have you been informed of my departure?”
His expression remained unreadable. “According to Delilah, you sail at dawn.”
Emilie nodded rather than speak.
His arms were thinner, his breathing more labored, but the embrace was as welcome and comforting as the rare hugs from her childhood. More so, she decided, for this might be the last time he offered one.
“I don’t have to go,” she whispered against his already damp shoulder. “I can stay here until. . .” She couldn’t say it.
“You’ll go because you’re needed there.”
She looked up into his eyes. “How did you know?”
He waved away her question with a sweep of his hand. “I’ll not allow you to travel unaccompanied. Allow me to send Nate with you.”
“Absolutely not, Papa,” she said. “You cannot spare him, and I have no need of him. The vessel I’ve chosen is a respectable ship whose captain produced impeccable references. Nate negotiated the fare and had what appeared to be quite a stern discussion with the captain.” She forced a smile. “I’ll be traveling directly to Fairweather Key, so the trip will be brief.”
Papa seemed to consider her statement. “It will be as you say then,” he said as she rested her head against his chest once more.
“Thank you, Papa, for understanding.”
“Yes, but, dear Emilie, understand this: I’m an old fool,” he said softly as he patted her hair. “You’ve filled a place in my heart that will remain long after you’ve gone.” He paused again, and Emilie could hear his ragged breath as it seemed to catch in his throat. “Will you forgive me for all I’ve done?” He
“I’m an idiot. I’ve been so busy worrying myself with the past that I forgot about the future of these children.”
The thought carried her all the way to the docks where, under the watchful gaze of Nate, she secured passage on a respectable passenger ship originally headed for Cuba. A few well-placed coins and a stern discussion between Nate and the captain regarding the fact that Emilie was a lady of quality bought her direct passage to Fairweather Key, where she would be deposited before the vessel continued on to Havana.
This accomplished, Emilie walked back toward the carriage with mixed feelings. The portrait now bounced and jostled against her leg from its hiding place in the pocket she’d sewn into her skirt. Two days hence, she would be headed home.
* * *
Surely they all knew of tomorrow’s departure, but no one who lived inside the gates at the Gayarre home seemed willing to mention the fact. Cook greeted Emilie with the same smile at breakfast and said not a word. When the older woman returned with a tray for Papa, Emilie regarded her with surprise.
“I figure you’ll be wanting to take this up yourself,” Cook said as she turned and made haste out the back door.
“Subtle,” Emilie muttered as she rose to fetch the impudent woman. But as she reached the back door, she changed her mind.
Only a coward would slink away without saying good-bye. “And I am not a coward,” Emilie shouldered the tray and headed upstairs.
Thankfully, Papa was sleeping, so she left the tray and slipped out of the room without waking him. The same thing happened when his dinner was delivered, making Emilie wonder if the old man was as fearful of holding a conversation as she.
The evening of the twenty-second of May, with her bags packed and waiting by her door for the next day’s sail, Emilie decided the ruse was over. Rather than bring Papa his tray, she instructed Cook to do so, then waited until she heard the sounds of his spoon scraping the plate before she entered the room.
“I’ve been caught,” he said. “Come in and close the door.”
She did as he asked but remained near the exit lest he repeat his vile behavior. “Have you been informed of my departure?”
His expression remained unreadable. “According to Delilah, you sail at dawn.”
Emilie nodded rather than speak.
His arms were thinner, his breathing more labored, but the embrace was as welcome and comforting as the rare hugs from her childhood. More so, she decided, for this might be the last time he offered one.
“I don’t have to go,” she whispered against his already damp shoulder. “I can stay here until. . .” She couldn’t say it.
“You’ll go because you’re needed there.”
She looked up into his eyes. “How did you know?”
He waved away her question with a sweep of his hand. “I’ll not allow you to travel unaccompanied. Allow me to send Nate with you.”
“Absolutely not, Papa,” she said. “You cannot spare him, and I have no need of him. The vessel I’ve chosen is a respectable ship whose captain produced impeccable references. Nate negotiated the fare and had what appeared to be quite a stern discussion with the captain.” She forced a smile. “I’ll be traveling directly to Fairweather Key, so the trip will be brief.”
Papa seemed to consider her statement. “It will be as you say then,” he said as she rested her head against his chest once more.
“Thank you, Papa, for understanding.”
“Yes, but, dear Emilie, understand this: I’m an old fool,” he said softly as he patted her hair. “You’ve filled a place in my heart that will remain long after you’ve gone.” He paused again, and Emilie could hear his ragged breath as it seemed to catch in his throat. “Will you forgive me for all I’ve done?” He
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