Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes [148]
“But Dominick can’t testify as a bondsman, and I’m a female,” Tabitha pointed out. “Where are your witnesses?”
“Roscoe will testify.” The admiral compressed his lips into a thin line.
Kendall reddened. “And I understand there’s a paternity matter you can testify on.”
“Hardly proof of treason,” Tabitha said.
“But enough to persuade him he’s perhaps better off in prison than leg-shackled.” Dominick grimaced.
Tabitha shuddered. “I suppose now I know that Mrs. Wilkins wasn’t just rambling the night she died. I think he pushed her. She likely found out about his activities.”
“We think so.” Kendall blinked. “Poor lady. She was a lovely young woman.”
“I tried to save her.” Tabitha’s stomach knotted around the meal she’d consumed. “Can we ensure he pays for the upbringing and welfare of his child before he loses all his assets?”
“With your testimony,” Kendall said, “he’ll lose a paternity suit. I . . . ahem . . . anticipate no difficulty in having the town council reinstate their confidence in your ability as a midwife, my dear.”
“Yes, yes.” The admiral cleared his throat. “If she still wants to practice.”
“She will.” Dominick took Tabitha’s hands in his and lifted Tabitha to her feet. “She’s told you her story three times already without a word changing. Now, Mayor Kendall, Mayor Bland, with your permission . . .”
“Be back by sundown.” Kendall smiled as he spoke.
Dominick laughed and drew Tabitha’s hand through the crook of his elbow, then held her fingers against his forearm. “With this mist, who can say when sundown is?”
“It’s not a nice evening for a walk,” the vice admiral called. “Take her into the dining room. It should still be warm in there.”
Dominick ignored him, and Tabitha willingly followed him into the cool dampness of the misty evening.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“To take a walk with you.” Dominick led the way down to the beach. “To talk about our future.”
Tabitha’s heart skipped a beat. “What . . . future?”
“What it holds for us.” He paused at the water’s edge, where the surf made the mist lift and swirl like the gauzy gowns of dancers. “My uncle will pay whatever price Kendall requests to set me free so I can return to England. Once this news reaches the Navy Gazette, few people will care about the scandal I caused, except maybe my father. My uncle is afraid, though”—he rested his hands on her shoulders—“that you will be a hindrance to me finding a good position in the government or even a private house.”
“I thought as much.” Tabitha blinked salty mist from her eyes. “But I—”
He touched a finger to her lips. “So I turned him down.”
“You what?” She grasped his lapels. “Dominick, you didn’t.”
“Kendall said if I’ll stay and work the full term of my indenture, he’ll give me permission to marry you right away.” He smiled. “If you’ll have me. Will you give up being a midwife and come to Richmond?”
“I—I—” Her head spun. “I promised Phoebe Lee I’d take her on as an apprentice because I thought I’d never have a daughter.”
“I hope you have daughters.” He touched his lips to hers. “But you don’t have to disappoint Mrs. Lee either. Kendall was teasing you back there. He has no intention of leaving Seabourne now. He’ll even let us live in your house.”
“Dominick, is this possible? I mean—” She didn’t know what she meant. She couldn’t think of anything but the joy of him staying with her.
“I mean we can spend the rest of our lives together, have a family.”
“But your upbringing, your position.” She shook her head. “How can you give all that up?”
“It’ll take me longer than we have here tonight to explain it all. Suffice it to say that God has shown me another path, one not based on my family name but on the gifts He has given me. I’m not really going to be Kendall’s butler. I’ll work as his factor and man of business, and we’ll see where God takes us from there.”
“And He will take us if we let Him.” Tabitha laughed from sheer joy. “Oh, Dominick, is this real?”