Persis stood very straight and chose her words carefully.
“I know very little about your personal problems, Captain Grillon,” she said quietly. “But as for your proposed bargain, that I find highly distasteful. Captain Leverett is now my host, in addition he saved my life and that of my uncle. At present he is bedfast because he suffered injuries attempting to do the same service for others. I think you must have a low opinion of either my intelligence or my honesty when you suggest that I aid his sister in actions he has completely forbidden. No, I shall not accept such a bargain. I bid you good day, sir.”
For the first time that half smile was gone from his lips. And something looked out of his eyes for a second or two which Persis believed she had not seen in Crewe Leverett’s even when irritation had reached a peak of his emotions. But she held her ground valiantly, meeting that gaze as bravely as she could.
Then, he laughed. “You are a proper miss, aren’t you? Do you tattle too, I wonder!”
Persis threw the note he had sent her at his feet. “I shall not dignify that with any answer, sir. But I intend to do as I have planned, go to Key West and consult with a lawyer. After that will be the time to make my own plans. But they will be my own plans.”
Ralph Grillon flung up both hands with a small gesture. “So be it, Miss Rooke. But Lydia cannot say now that I did not try. She worries about you, knowing your situation.”
“Which is no concern of anyone save myself.” Turning her back upon him, Persis marched up along the faint path. So he had discussed her with Lydia, and probably half the island knew by now that she was near penniless and had a dark future into the bargain. But that he would have dared suggest she play his game—she sucked in her breath sharply. Some men did hold a very low opinion of females, judging them incompetent to manage any affairs. Yet what man had ever tried to run a household smoothly, keep the peace between quarreling servants, make sure that the master under that roof had instant and excellent service? Perhaps were they to attempt all that for even a day or so, they would not be so quick to believe that females could be talked—or “sweet-talked” as Molly would put it—into some action which utterly lacked all principle.
She was flushed, not only with the heat of her walk, but also by her indignation that Ralph Grillon, and perhaps Lydia, would believe she would be party to arranging in some manner secret meetings between her host’s sister and a man he particularly disliked! Had Ralph Grillon thought his threat of impending ruin of her hopes would be enough to coerce her into such action?
More than ever she wanted to get to Key West, to find a reputable lawyer there, and learn just where she did stand and how much of Madam Rooke’s now seemingly illusive fortune she might be able to claim. She could make no real plans until she did learn that, and not as a second- or third-hand rumor from a man who wanted to use her for his own purposes.
Persis was so intent upon her own thoughts that she gave a start as she came up to the graveyard of the Key. Where she had left the already wilted bouquet earlier, a figure in a black coat knelt, both vein-ridged hands covering his face. But there was no mistaking Shubal.
The girl crossed quickly to touch the old man gently on the shoulder. “Shubal—should you be here? The sun is very fierce.”
He looked around and up at her, his face a worn mask of the man she had known for most of her life.
“Killed himself, he did,” the servant burst out. “The doctor told him it would be the death of him—I heard it with my own ears. I may be nigh as old as Master was, but I ain’t deaf! He went ahead, just like he always did, no matter the cost, when he thought he was doing right. But it ain’t right, Miss Persis, it ain’t right for him to be lying here, not able to do what he set himself out to do. He won’t rest easy—”
“Yes, I think he will,” Persis said slowly and distinctly, trying to break through the other’s wall of misery. “Because we are going to do it for him, Shubal. He knew that—when he talked to me he told me what was to be done.”
“Miss Persis, how are you going to do anything—?” It was plain, almost irritatingly plain, that Shubal considered her abilities scarcely higher than Grillon had done.
“We’re going on to Key West, Shubal, and see a lawyer. I have all of Uncle Augustin’s papers. He gave them to me. We’ll find out there just what our next move must be.”
Shubal shook his gray head. “The master—he had a way with him, Miss Persis. You never saw him face down angry men and him with nothing in his hands but his cane. He should never have come here.” Shubal pounded his fists together and his voice rose. “Never have come!”
“Could anyone have stopped him, Shubal?”
The old man sniffed and wiped the back of his hand across his nose. “I guess not, Miss Persis. He was never one to be reined in. His father was killed so young, you see, and the master had to grow up quick. Then he was an agent for the General—General Washington— rounding up supplies, trying to get support— He was just as much a soldier as his father, though he didn’t wear the coat, nor the name.
“There’s no one like the master, Miss Persis—” His voice trailed away and there was such a lost look on his old face as to hurt Persis more than the death of the man she had respected and felt a duty to, but whom she had never loved. Shubal had loved, and lost, and now his world was in pieces around him.
“I know. But, Shubal, he has left you something to do.” She added her own interpretation of what was needed to bring Shubal back to his old self again. “He wanted you to help me finish what he had begun. And you can, Shubal. You know more about Uncle Augustin’s affairs than I ever did and you must advise me.”
For the first time he looked directly at her as if he saw her clearly.
“Yes, many’s the time he said to me, ‘Shubal, you’re my left hand, the one which is needed to help along with the right.’ I was with him overseas, in some mighty queer and dangerous places—” Shubal’s head came up proudly. “Depended on me a lot of times, he did. Why, I’ve carried a pistol in my pocket with my hand near to it, ’cause he would never take anything but that cane of his. Yes, he depended on me then—”
“And even more now.” Persis pulled a little at his arm, drawing him to his feet. He stood straighter, a faint flush high on the cheekbones of his worn, gaunt face. “I’ll need you, Shubal, so we can do just as Uncle Augustin wanted.”
“And we will, Miss Persis, that we will!” There was more force in his tone than she had heard for days. “Fust thing is we must get to this Key West—”
“Suppose you find Captain Pettigrew,” she suggested action which would keep this alert interest alive in him. “See what you can discover about how he is going to get transportation there himself.”
“That I will!” And he turned away from the small graveyard with a firm step.
Persis watched him for a moment and then continued back to the house. The long evening was closing in. She wanted to go through the papers in the portfolio more closely. Perhaps there was some name therein to suggest who in the Bahamas might be considered trustworthy. Though after Grillon’s revelation she must be very wary of the lawyer of the Rooke estate. It could well be that he would be bound by family ties to serve this mysterious new claimant.
Also, there was Captain Leverett. She had been taking a night watch between Molly’s and Mrs. Pryor’s turns and she had no intention of shirking that. In fact, it was odd, but she found herself looking forward to those very quiet hours sitting by a shaded candle, listening for any sound from the big bed, but also able to think her own thoughts.
Her own thoughts—they were now in a queer muddle. Life had always been well ordered. There had been school. And, after she had been deemed of an age to quit Miss Pickett’s supervision, there had been the household to manage. A little shopping, sewing, reading—looking back now, those days which had seemed so well filled appeared empty. Oh, she had made herself useful; there were also the household tasks which were the mistress’ alone. But they had been very dull!