Straw in the Wind by Janet Woods Page A

said she heard what she did. She has strong . . .
instincts
.’
    Chapman didn’t as much as turn a hair. ‘A straw in the wind?’
    â€˜I expected you to laugh and call it a nonsense.’
    â€˜I discount nothing. You never know where seemingly nonsensical or unimportant details can lead. You’re a surprising man, Captain Thornton.’
    He shrugged. ‘You get to believe in instinct and signs when you spend your life at sea.’
    â€˜I imagine you do. I might as well tell you that I don’t want to jeopardize my relationship with either of the two families, or cause a further rift between you and them. This infant could prove to be a catalyst to cause further unrest within your family. If she still exists, as well as being a half-sister to Charlotte and Marianne she is possibly your daughter, a niece to your sister, a cousin to Nick and an aunt to the children of the family.’
    â€˜You pick things up quickly, young man.’
    Adam nodded. ‘Moreover, she will also be an adult now and may be perfectly happy with her lot in life. She might be married. She might be a whore. She might not want to know you or she might welcome you with open arms. Her situation, needs and wants will have to be taken into account, and you might end up disappointed. But as long as you realize that, if the other adults agree I’ll take an extra day here and see what I can find out before I decide.’
    Dismay closed wolf teeth around Erasmus’s tough seaman’s heart. He had not thought that far ahead. Perhaps it was a foolish idea and he should forget it. But he didn’t want to disappoint Marianne. Then he realized he wouldn’t have to, since her sister would do it for him. ‘Charlotte Hardy will never agree anyway.’
    â€˜She will if it’s put to her the right way. Better leave that to me. What did you say the name was that Marianne heard?’
    â€˜I didn’t, but it was Serafina,’ he said.

Four
    â€˜V ery well, Adam, since the others have agreed, I have little choice, unless I’m to suffer Marianne’s reproachful looks and sighs for the rest of my life. And if Erasmus Thornton doesn’t get your help, he’ll simply hire someone else. Why didn’t he ask me himself?’
    â€˜Because he knew there would be an argument and you’d turn him down.’
    Charlotte sighed. ‘I imagine I’ve given him enough reason to think that. At least I know you’ll be discreet, Adam. Just don’t ask me any questions.’
    Adam didn’t let his dismay show. ‘I was hoping to start off with you and Marianne. You must have memories of the night your mother died.’
    â€˜Yes, I do.’ She sighed again, the pain in her eyes there for him to see. ‘My mother was in agony, her screams went on and on until she was too tired to do anything but groan.’
    â€˜Where was Marianne?’
    â€˜She couldn’t stand it. She went out on the heath, and just as I was getting worried about her she came back. It was almost dark and I reprimanded her. She said she’d visited the gypsies, and one had told her that the baby would be a girl. But she was trembling and scared and I think she instinctively knew that our mother wouldn’t survive the birth.
    â€˜The baby was born during the night. It was a full moon. I remember looking out of my bedroom window, because the water and heath look so pretty in the moonlight. Marianne woke and crawled into my bed. She was scared and so was I, but we didn’t know why. I told her a story and we cuddled each other until she fell asleep. I stayed awake, and I went to see my mother. She was lying still. There was blood on her nightgown, and the baby was there too.’ Charlotte closed her eyes. ‘She was on the bed . . . so little and naked and quiet . . . then . . . Marianne called out in her sleep and I went to her.’
    Tears trickled from under her lids.