Captured by Love (Michigan Brides #3)(16)

She sagged against the wall. She couldn’t keep from overhearing the click of the door beneath her room, the squeak of the bed frame, and Ebenezer’s low voice followed by Betty’s higher one.

Quickly she began to hum, and she reached up to the rafter, to the makeshift shelf that doubled as a hiding spot for the only worldly possessions she owned. She skimmed the board until her fingers brushed against the smooth ivory edge of the comb that Jean had once given her. She brought it down and caressed it.

At the sound of Ebenezer’s grunt from the room beneath, Angelique squeezed her eyes closed and hummed louder. She wrapped her fingers around the comb.

If only God would hasten the day of Jean’s return. Then she’d finally be free. She’d finally be able to have the family and stable life she’d always wanted.



Angelique awoke to the scraping of the ladder against the wall.

“Come down this instant, Angelique” came Ebenezer’s call from below.

She sat up and glanced to the far end of the attic, to the light filtering through the cracks in the roof. From the slant of the rays, she could tell it was still early morning.

“You must hurry.” Ebenezer’s voice held an eagerness that Angelique heard only when he was counting his coins. “You have a visitor.”

A visitor? She rose from her sleeping pallet onto her knees, bumping her head against a beam. Who could possibly be calling? And why?

Miriam. Had something happened to Miriam?

She grabbed her mobcap from the dusty floor and pulled it on over her tangle of long curls. Then she scrambled toward the hatch.

Maybe Pierre had come to deliver bad tidings regarding Miriam.

When she lifted the door open, Ebenezer was there, scowling up at her, his all-seeing eyes taking in her disheveled appearance. “You’re in no condition to be seen by anyone.”

She hastily shoved the curls into her cap out of sight as he required, then straightened her high collar so that it brushed against her chin.

He glanced down at her dirty bare toes before he spun away and hustled down the hallway, clearly expecting her to follow him as quickly as possible.

He didn’t stop until he stood in the kitchen by the door leading into the spacious tavern area, where the guests congregated to drink and eat. The mustiness of stale tobacco lingered with the scent of fried fish, making Angelique’s stomach rumble, reminding her of how hungry she was.

Ebenezer wiped a hand across his bald spot, polishing it. And then he furrowed his brow so that his ring of hair dipped. “Whatever she wants you to do, you do it.”

She?

Ebenezer was already striding into the dining room, a wide smile plastered onto his face.

Angelique knew she had no choice but to follow him.

“Miss McDouall,” Ebenezer said. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Miss McDouall? Angelique froze halfway through the doorway.

There in the dining room stood the beautiful young woman who’d come ashore yesterday from the ships. She was clothed in a gown just as flouncy and frilly as the one she’d worn previously, with a high waist and lines of ruffles layered over the skirt. Angelique didn’t know much about British fashion, but she could tell from the style and embellishments that Miss McDouall was every bit a lady.

Behind her, in the shadows of the doorway, stood a British soldier who’d likely been sent to accompany and protect her.

“No need to apologize, Mr. Whiley. If you would be so kind as to introduce me to your stepdaughter, I would be ever so grateful.” She smiled brightly at Angelique, her attention flitting to Angelique’s soiled skirt, but then just as rapidly returned to her face, as if she were making an effort not to gape at the filth.

“Ah, yes, Miss McDouall.” Ebenezer frowned at Betty, who’d stopped her work of clearing the remains of last night’s drinking to stare with open mouth at Miss McDouall. The mugs and pitchers were drained. The tables glistened with sticky spots, which was all that remained of Ebenezer’s overpriced rum.

“This is my stepdaughter, Angelique MacKenzie.” Ebenezer waved her forward. “Her poor mother, God rest her soul, gave me charge of the girl and made me vow to take care of her until she’s properly wedded. And I’ve taken my duties very seriously.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Miss MacKenzie,” the woman said, her pretty face alight with interest.

What exactly did the woman want? Why had she come?

Angelique’s empty stomach cinched. Miss McDouall’s presence didn’t bode well. Angelique knew she’d be better off staying far away from the woman. But at the warning glint in Ebenezer’s eyes, Angelique nodded at Miss McDouall and forced out the greeting expected of her. “Thank you. I’m pleased to meet you too.”

“Wonderful.” Miss McDouall clasped her gloved hands together. “From the second I saw you, I just knew you would benefit from my help.”

Angelique started to shake her head. Everyone on the island looked gaunt and hungry after the winter. They could all benefit from Miss McDouall’s help. In fact, if Miss McDouall had been on the island all winter she wouldn’t have looked quite so fresh herself.

“Perhaps you’re just the influence Angelique needs,” Ebenezer said before Angelique could formulate a response. “The Lord knows I’ve tried so often over the years to teach her to be a good Christian. But unfortunately I still have more trouble with her than I’d like.”