The O'Malley Legacy by Kate Sweeney

Author:Kate Sweeney [Sweeney, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781933113951
Amazon: 1933113952
Publisher: Intaglio Publications
Published: 2008-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

The O'Malley Legacy

Chapter 16

The young woman looked around the seaport in the Carolinas. She had the look of an aristocrat about her. She was dressed in expensive silks, and her dress ruffled and billowed as she made her way through town. Completely lost, she frantically tried to find her party.

“Mon Dieu,” she said, angry with herself and her guardian for being separated at the dock. “I should have stayed in Paris,” she said, her accent obvious. “This backward country,” she continued as she looked down every street.

It was 1820, and the seaport town of Charleston teemed with traders, sailors, and businessmen. Many watched with an interested eye as the young, flaxen-haired, woman looked about in confusion. Her dress of pure green silk rustled as she whirled around, then walked down another unknown street and headed toward a dark alley.

The two men sat in the tavern drinking their rum from pewter tankards. The young one, a redheaded Irishman, took a deep reflective breath.

“The capt’n will never let us back aboard.” He sighed and took a healthy drink. “The Pride of Charleston sails tonight.”

The older, a short, educated man from Charleston, sported a more hopeful demeanor. “Oh, I don’t know, Thomas.”

“Are you crazy, Will? If we hadn’t gotten drunk, the capt’n would be halfway ’round the Cape by now. We’re doomed.” He buried his head.

Will looked fondly at the youngster. “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” he said with a grin.

Thomas shot his head up and glared at his old friend. “Myself? I believe you were the one who said, ‘One more, Thomas, won’t hurt us,’” he said, and Will laughed.

“It’s not as bad as you think. Now let’s put our heads together and think of a solution. What would make the capt’n happy?”

Thomas thought for a moment and grinned evilly. “A wench. God, William, you’re a genius. Of course,” he agreed, seeing light at the end of the tunnel for the first time. He leaned back in a dejected heap. “Where are we gonna find a woman this late in the day?”

“Well, you never know, my boy. Something—”

Both men looked up as the heavy wooden door opened and in walked the answer to their prayer.

“Mother of God,” Thomas exclaimed and took a healthy swig.

William watched her; she was dressed in silk, nervously looking around the dingy tavern.

“Excusez-moi?” she said and shook her head. “Pardon, me?” she corrected herself, knowing her French confused the tavern owner.

Suddenly, William was on his feet as he made his way to her. “May I offer some assistance, mademoiselle?”

“You speak French, oui?” she asked hopefully.

For the next minute or two, Thomas sat mesmerized as William and the woman conversed in French.

William tried to keep up with the rambling. He nodded in understanding, put a hand on the woman’s arm, and guided her to their table.

Thomas immediately stood and pulled off his cap. He gave William a curious look.

“This young lady is lost,” he said and winked at Thomas. “She believes the party she was with is searching for her, but she doesn’t know where to start.

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