Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes [121]
Was in Norfolk. He made a number of journeys to Norfolk. His plantation was nearby, but that simply afforded him opportunity and access . . . Yet why wouldn’t Kendall marry Sally? He was a widower, and she came from a good family. Surely she was more dangerous to a politician unwed than as his wife.
“No, not Kendall,” Tabitha said. “It’s Wilkins, and he’s frightened you into lying.”
“No, no,” Sally cried.
Charles began to wail.
“I—he—” Sally cuddled the baby close to her chest. “No, he hasn’t been here.”
“Which he?” Tabitha knelt to be at eye level with the younger woman. “Wilkins or Kendall? Kendall or Wilkins?”
“Wilkin—I mean, Ken—” Sally paled. “You tricked me.”
“Why did you lie to me?”
“I . . . didn’t.” Sally turned her head to wipe her wet face on her shoulder. “I swear I didn’t.”
“Not when you said Wilkins, did you?”
“No. That is—he’ll take my baby away if he finds out.”
“No, he won’t.” Tabitha stroked loosened hair back from Sally’s brow. “He doesn’t want that much trouble. But he won’t find out. I promise you that. I never tell on my patients unless they require me to testify for them in court.”
Was that why Wilkins was frightening Sally into lying? And slipping poisonous snakes into Tabitha’s basket? Just to protect his reputation? But of course, if he wanted to be the next mayor of Seabourne and maybe Norfolk if he amassed enough of a fortune—
She reined in that line of thinking. Not now. Not yet.
“Sally, listen to me,” she said in a gentle but authoritative voice. When the girl looked at her, Tabitha continued. “You must stop putting Charles under blankets in this heat, and no more brandy.”
“But Momma—”
“Tell Mrs. Belote I said so. And if she tries to make you, you come to me. It’s twenty miles away, but there are always wagons traveling to the sea. Someone will give you a lift. Do you understand? You will harm your baby, maybe even kill him, if you continue this treatment.”
“I don’t want him to die,” Sally wailed. Charles wailed along with her.
Tabitha hugged them both, held them for a full minute. “I believe you, child. And don’t let Harlan Wilkins frighten you. If he tries again, get a message to me. I’ll manage him.” Slowly she rose and pulled the key from her pocket. “This is what you should be hiding. You need fresh air and sunshine.”
With another long look at the baby’s sweet face, she rose, then turned her back on the pair and left the room. She kept the door open behind her. She wanted Sally to be able to stay at home and receive the loving-kindness of her family. At the same time, she wouldn’t be the least ruffled if she added Sally to her household. Sally and Charles.
Thinking of the joy of having a baby around, she rounded the house and climbed into her wagon. She nearly directed Japheth to take her home. Then she recalled her plan to investigate whether or not Mayor Kendall had been in Norfolk over the past few days, as he claimed, and directed her driver into town. If she obtained her information quickly, she would be able to go home, with the days so long this time of year. Part of the journey would be in the dark, but she was used to traveling at night.
Not much remained of Norfolk after the fire of five years earlier, not to mention the destruction caused by the British during the revolution. It was still the largest city within a day’s travel, and the anchorage in Hampton Roads brought numerous merchant vessels to drop anchor and unload nearby. For Kendall to go there to enact legal business was likely.
To go there to enact illegal business was just as possible.
Armed with news of Raleigh’s and Donald Parks’s disappearance two days before, Tabitha began inquiries about Kendall at the wharves, where sailors looked at her askance, and at warehouses, where she wasn’t treated much better. At the first two inns upon which she called, the landlords sneered at her. The second one went as far as to say that his establishment allowed no solicitation.
“I am not soliciting.” Cheeks hot, stomach roiling, Tabitha stalked out and proceeded to the third inn.
“Why