The Shipmaster's Daughter by Jessica Wolf

Author:Jessica Wolf [Wolf, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-08T18:30:00+00:00

“Did you always love plants, Miss Renaldi?”

Luciana paused to consider. “Yes, I think so. Mia madre was the one who started the garden at our house. She taught me all I know.”

“Do you miss her?” Esther looked away from the window pane.

“Every day.”

“But you can still see her. She’s in Italy, right? One day when you go home–”

“No, my mother is dead. She’s been dead for a long time.”

Luciana began scrubbing the window pane again. Her elbows were sore and her fingers pruny from the water. The pair had been working all morning on the windows and it seemed they hadn’t made much progress. At least the panes were large. Had they been smaller, Luciana didn’t know if they would ever finish.

“Like my mother?”

“I suppose,” Luciana said. She motioned for Esther to return to her work. “But you have your father. I don’t. You’re a lucky girl, Esther, to have a father who cares for you so much.”

Esther giggled and dipped her rag into the bucket. “I know.”

“Miss Hargrave?” Both Luciana and Esther turned to see Brigette standing in the doorway.

“Yes, Brigette?” Esther lowered her hand from the window pane.

“Mr. Hargrave would like to see you.”

Esther gulped. “He does?” she whispered, barely loud enough to hear.

“Yes, miss. He’s waiting in his office.”

Luciana took the rag from Esther’s hand. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Go on up. I’ll be here when you’re done.”

Smoothing her hands over her dirt-stained dress, Esther walked from the room, her chin held high. Luciana shook her head. Esther proved to be good company while working. She chattered quite a bit, but the noise was comforting. Luciana wasn’t sure she would have been able to work in silence. Her thoughts would have meandered to places she’d rather not visit.

Her arms continued their work, and she forced her mind to remain focused. When her limbs could take it no more, she rung out her rag and dropped it beside the bucket. Raising her arms above her head, she cracked her neck and stretched her back. Her stomach growled. Breakfast had come and gone, and Luciana had missed her chance. Just as well. She wasn’t sure she could face Reed now, not with her heart so vulnerable. Every time she looked at him, she remembered all that he had done for her, all that he was beginning to mean to her. It was best she kept her distance. For her own sake, as well as his. She didn’t want a husband. And he certainly didn’t want a wife.

“Have you seen Esther?” The sound of his voice coming from the doorway made her heart skip a beat.

She cursed under her breath and turned. His face was contorted with worry, a look she had never seen him possess before. She faltered, her brow turning down into a frown.

“I saw her earlier, not fifteen minutes ago. She was on her way to your office.”

He stepped into the room. His hands twiddled together in anxiety. “She never showed.”

“I’m sure she’s here somewhere, Signore Hargrave. She’s probably just…hiding.

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