Surrender the Stars by Cynthia Wright Read Free Book Online Page A

thought of little else." She spoke in a whisper, glancing over her shoulder as if worried that a redcoat might be lurking at the garden window. "You said that he hadn't made up his mind, and he told that senator in Philadelphia he wanted to think it over, but hasn't this catastrophe with the ships decided the matter? There's nothing to keep the captain here now, and it's occurred to me that the Lord may want you to go to England. I believe He has plans for this family!"
    "Might your enthusiasm be influenced by my wish that you and Able accompany us?" Devon teased.
    Eyes twinkling, Cassie allowed, "I won't deny that I'd love to see England, ma'am. I have relations in Cornwall that I've never met, and Able was raised in Kent and his family live there still. Also, I can spy with the best of them!" She glanced suspiciously under the table.
    Devon laughed fondly. "I don't doubt that for a moment!"
    "Still and all, I meant what I said before. I'd call that senator's request to Captain Raveneau a blessing in disguise."
    "I hope you're right, Cassie, because Andre has decided to agree to Senator Hampshire's plans. Not that he really had a choice since the request came from President Madison himself, but my husband has a mind of his own. Like you, he realized that he isn't really needed here now that the ships are gone, and in any case, I think that the scent of new adventure attracts him more than he has been willing to admit."
    Cassie beamed with satisfaction. "I wish I could've seen Miss Lindsay's face when you told her the news! Gracious, but London will do her a world of good. I don't mind telling you that I've been concerned about that young lady. She sorely needs some excitement—parties, gowns, dancing—and beaux! Now more than ever. This past week, she's kept even more to herself than usual, behaving as if she's seventy-five instead of twenty!" The housekeeper shook her head, then brightened. "What did Miss Lindsay say when you told her she's going to London?"
    Devon sipped her tea. "Actually, I've been delaying that... I plan to tell her today, when she arrives home from school and I'm a bit worried about her reaction. Cassie, you mentioned Lindsay's behavior this past week. We've noticed that she's been unusually quiet since our return, but then the entire town seems subdued. How did Lindsay react to the British attack? Was she terribly frightened? Naturally, Andre and I feel sick that we were away. Thank God the British didn't raid private homes and that you and Able were here so that Lindsay didn't feel abandoned and defenseless!"
    Rising, Cassie stirred the stew and wondered how to respond. She hadn't said anything to her employers about their daughter's behavior the morning of the British attack because it wasn't clear to Cassie exactly what Lindsay had been doing. She'd tried to talk to her since, but all the girl would say was "When the alarm was sounded, I put on Nathan's breeches to go down to the Point to see if anything could be done to save Papa's ships. Captain Coleraine brought me on board the Chimera and kept me safe after that. There's nothing else to tell."
    Cassie had pressed, "But when we saw the two of you in front of the Griswold Inn—" Lindsay cut her off. "I was upset, and Captain Coleraine was afraid I would make a scene. It was a horrible day, one I'd like to forget. Please, don't ask me about it again."
    It occurred to Cassie that Devon might welcome the tale of her daughter's apparent bravery in the face of an enemy attack, but she decided to opt for discretion. The memory of Ryan Coleraine hauling a flailing, breeches-clad figure barely recognizable as Lindsay away from the gathering on Main Street never failed to strike bemused concern in Cassie's considerable breast. She might have deduced that the British attack on Pettipauge's ships had caused Lindsay to go mad, but the very next morning the girl had risen at dawn to teach school, just as she always had. Lindsay had appeared in the kitchen