for help from the fund. He came to me privately and asked me to guarantee his loan at the bank. He didn’t want Sutton to know the company is in trouble. But the cat is out of the bag now, of course.”
“Won’t the insurance company pay for the loss?” Celia asked.
“The company went bankrupt last fall. Burke intended to buy a new policy, but so many insurance companies failed last year that the few that are left are charging outrageous premiums. Burke decided to take a chance on this one shipment. Now it looks as if both the schooner and the cargo are lost.”
“And the bank is looking to you to absorb the loss,” Celia said.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Can we weather such a loss, Papa?”
“That’s for me to worry about.”
“Poor Sutton,” Ivy murmured. “No wonder he didn’t feel like showing up for church.”
The carriage drew up at the door.
“Remember,” Papa said, handing Celia and Ivy out of the carriage. “Not a word of this to anyone.”
“Of course not.” Celia kissed his cheek.
Papa’s blue eyes held hers. “You are not to let this news spoil your day, darling. Joseph will drive you out to the track when you’re ready. The Warings’ daughter is going riding too. The groom is there now, taking care of the horses. He’ll help you tack up Zeus if Sutton doesn’t make it.”
“All right.” She tried to smile as she mounted the steps to the front door, but the joy had gone out of the day. Anything that worried Papa worried her. And now she was concerned for Sutton too.
Mackay Shipping Company was his life. His passion. His hope for their future. What would happen if it all fell away?
5
C ELIA CHANGED INTO HER RIDING CLOTHES AND HURRIED downstairs. The house was quiet. Mrs. Maguire had left early for mass and now was off on her usual Sunday afternoon visit with friends. Ivy had retired to her room. The door to Papa’s library was firmly closed.
Joseph was waiting at the gate. He handed her into the carriage and fixed her with a baleful stare. “Not a fit day to go riding, Miss Celia. We gon’ have rain ’fore this day is done.”
“I’m afraid you’re right, but I haven’t had a chance to ride in days. Maybe the rain will hold off for a while.”
“Maybe so.” The driver climbed up, spoke to the horses, and they began the three-mile drive to the track. The Ten Broeck Race Course had opened last year to much fanfare. The track formed a large oval anchored on one side by a long, low grandstand. On the upper level a sheltered platform provided a viewing stand and a judges’ booth. Down below were sheds where horses were stabled or readied for races. The Brownings had attended a few races, but Celia preferred solitude to the noisy confusion of race day. The deep woods surrounding the track provided a tranquil place for riding.
The stables were roomy enough, and clean, but Celia disliked having Zeus kept so far from home. After they’d acquired herbeloved gelding, Papa had mentioned razing the boarded-up carriage house behind their house to build a proper stable for Zeus and for the family’s carriage and horses. But so far that hadn’t happened. Papa paid Joseph to look into the carriage horses at Mr. Sweeney’s livery. But Mr. Sweeney, who ran the best livery in town, didn’t have room for Zeus.
She chewed on her lower lip as the carriage approached the race course. That Sutton’s father had needed a loan was worrisome. Perhaps Papa was in financial trouble, too, and waiting until his situation improved before undertaking construction of a new carriage house. How much money had he lent to Mr. Mackay anyway?
Moments later, Joseph halted the carriage. Celia stepped out and looked around, hoping to spot Sutton’s big bay, Poseidon. But only the Warings’ chestnut mare, her thick tail swishing, waited in the enclosure next to the grandstand. Finn O’Grady, the red-haired groom, lifted one hand in a little wave as she neared the enclosure.
“If you’re here
“Won’t the insurance company pay for the loss?” Celia asked.
“The company went bankrupt last fall. Burke intended to buy a new policy, but so many insurance companies failed last year that the few that are left are charging outrageous premiums. Burke decided to take a chance on this one shipment. Now it looks as if both the schooner and the cargo are lost.”
“And the bank is looking to you to absorb the loss,” Celia said.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Can we weather such a loss, Papa?”
“That’s for me to worry about.”
“Poor Sutton,” Ivy murmured. “No wonder he didn’t feel like showing up for church.”
The carriage drew up at the door.
“Remember,” Papa said, handing Celia and Ivy out of the carriage. “Not a word of this to anyone.”
“Of course not.” Celia kissed his cheek.
Papa’s blue eyes held hers. “You are not to let this news spoil your day, darling. Joseph will drive you out to the track when you’re ready. The Warings’ daughter is going riding too. The groom is there now, taking care of the horses. He’ll help you tack up Zeus if Sutton doesn’t make it.”
“All right.” She tried to smile as she mounted the steps to the front door, but the joy had gone out of the day. Anything that worried Papa worried her. And now she was concerned for Sutton too.
Mackay Shipping Company was his life. His passion. His hope for their future. What would happen if it all fell away?
5
C ELIA CHANGED INTO HER RIDING CLOTHES AND HURRIED downstairs. The house was quiet. Mrs. Maguire had left early for mass and now was off on her usual Sunday afternoon visit with friends. Ivy had retired to her room. The door to Papa’s library was firmly closed.
Joseph was waiting at the gate. He handed her into the carriage and fixed her with a baleful stare. “Not a fit day to go riding, Miss Celia. We gon’ have rain ’fore this day is done.”
“I’m afraid you’re right, but I haven’t had a chance to ride in days. Maybe the rain will hold off for a while.”
“Maybe so.” The driver climbed up, spoke to the horses, and they began the three-mile drive to the track. The Ten Broeck Race Course had opened last year to much fanfare. The track formed a large oval anchored on one side by a long, low grandstand. On the upper level a sheltered platform provided a viewing stand and a judges’ booth. Down below were sheds where horses were stabled or readied for races. The Brownings had attended a few races, but Celia preferred solitude to the noisy confusion of race day. The deep woods surrounding the track provided a tranquil place for riding.
The stables were roomy enough, and clean, but Celia disliked having Zeus kept so far from home. After they’d acquired herbeloved gelding, Papa had mentioned razing the boarded-up carriage house behind their house to build a proper stable for Zeus and for the family’s carriage and horses. But so far that hadn’t happened. Papa paid Joseph to look into the carriage horses at Mr. Sweeney’s livery. But Mr. Sweeney, who ran the best livery in town, didn’t have room for Zeus.
She chewed on her lower lip as the carriage approached the race course. That Sutton’s father had needed a loan was worrisome. Perhaps Papa was in financial trouble, too, and waiting until his situation improved before undertaking construction of a new carriage house. How much money had he lent to Mr. Mackay anyway?
Moments later, Joseph halted the carriage. Celia stepped out and looked around, hoping to spot Sutton’s big bay, Poseidon. But only the Warings’ chestnut mare, her thick tail swishing, waited in the enclosure next to the grandstand. Finn O’Grady, the red-haired groom, lifted one hand in a little wave as she neared the enclosure.
“If you’re here
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