An Acquaintance with Darkness - Ann Rinaldi [90]
The Ferryman took his time. He had all the time in the world, I minded; all night. He ambled back to me.
"Well?" I asked. I wrung the handkerchief in my hands. "What did they say?"
"They said it's awful peculiarlike that you showed up just now."
My heart fell. My knees were trembling.
"They asked if you had any identification."
"Identification?"
"Yes. They require proof of who you be. Or who you come for. They want a paper."
"Paper?" I asked stupidly.
"You know, a paper." He shrugged and winked at me.
I looked into his eyes. They were warm and kind. I hope you have it, they seemed to be saying. Robert, I thought. He has the paper. He wouldn't have let Marietta waltz in here without it. "Give me just a minute, sir," I said, "and I'll fetch it. I left it with my servant."
I would kill Robert for not giving me that paper. I walked back to the gate. "Robert," I whispered savagely, "the Ferryman wants a paper."
"You did it, then." He sounded unbelieving.
"Of course I did it! What did you think I was doing in there with him? Inviting him for tea? Give me the paper. And I hope my name isn't on it. Because you didn't tell me what it's supposed to be and I said it was Maria."
He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out two papers. "No, your name isn't here. It's a letter from John Collins, Sr., from Hagerstown, Maryland, requesting the body of his son. The second paper is permission from the Board of Health to take said body across state lines. Both counterfeit, of course."
"Why did you let me go inside without them?"
He had the decency to look shamefaced. "I forgot."
I took the papers, walked back, and handed them to the Ferryman. He inspected them. "Good," he said, "good. This will satisfy the Board. I'll keep the one from Mr. Collins. You'll need the other to get him across state lines. I suppose you want help getting the coffin into the wagon?"
"Yes, please."
He swung the lantern twice. A signal. Robert came in the gate. They lifted the coffin down the path and loaded it onto the wagon. "Get in the carriage, Miss Maria," Robert said.
I drew some coins out of my reticule and handed them to the Ferryman. "Thank you so much, sir. Your kindness will make my daddy happy in his old age."
"Have a safe trip, Miss Collins."
I got into the wagon. Robert walked the Ferryman back to the gate. They huddled in conversation for a minute, then Robert shook his hand and came back to hop up beside me. I was shivering. Robert reached for a blanket. "It's not from the grave," he said.
I wrapped myself in it. My teeth were chattering. I ripped off the lace mitts and rubbed my hands together in my lap. He reached out and put a hand over mine. I pulled my hand away.
"I'll take you right home," he said. "You'd best have something hot."
"You'd best take said body to the lab first," I snapped.
He gave a quiet chuckle. "All right. I'm sorry I gave you such an uneven time of it. Sorry I slipped up. But you covered my mistake. I never realized you were such a spirited little thing."
"There's lots you don't realize about me, Robert."
"You were good back there. The Ferryman said you were better than Marietta."
"If you're trying to make things up to me, don't. Not at the expense of Marietta."
He gave me a quick glance of admiration. I looked away.
"So, then? Are you going to tell Uncle Valentine about tonight? So I'll be off to Richmond for good?"
"I thought you wanted to go to Richmond."
"I don't. Not anymore. But don't let a little thing like that stop you."
He looked at the reins in his hands. "If you stay, I suppose you'll keep getting in my hair, won't you?"
"Yes," I said, "and I still hate your mustache."
"Don't push me too far, Emily Pigbush," he said. "I still haven't made up my mind whether to tell him about tonight yet."
"You do what you have to do, Robert," I told him.
25. Firecrackers on the Fourth
ROBERT DIDN'T TELL.
He came to breakfast the next morning and bade me a polite hello.