Trade Wind by M. M. Kaye Read Free Book Online Page A

“The Lord’s Will be done,” when there are so many things being done that cannot possibly be the Lord’s Will. One should start right in and do something about it.”
    Captain Fullbright observed dryly that he could see that she was going to have plenty to keep her occupied in Zanzibar.
    “I know it,” agreed Hero calmly: “That is largely why I made up my mind that I must go there at once. You see, there was nothing for me to do at Hollis Hill. And I wanted to get right away from Boston—the house seemed so empty after Papa died, and I couldn’t bear…”
    Her crisp, confident voice wavered unexpectedly, and she did not complete the sentence but said hurriedly: “Besides Cressy—my cousin Cressida—particularly wished me to come. We have always been great friends and she was lonely in Zanzibar; and it seems that the climate does not suit Aunt Abby. So I felt that since they both needed me, it was my duty to—” She paused briefly, as though examining this statement, and then said a shade ruefully: “No, I am not being quite honest It was very pleasant to feel really needed.”
    Captain Fullbright’s lips twitched and he remarked in a deceptively innocent voice that he seemed to remember hearing something about someone else needing her. Maybe Mr Clayton Mayo?
    Miss Hollis blushed, and Captain Fullbright, who had not believed her to be capable of such a thing, was mildly astonished. The rush of bright colour suited her, and he thought idly that she should do it more often.
    “You’ve been talking to Amelia!” accused Miss Hollis.
    “Sure. It’s usual, “twixt husbands and wives,” admitted Captain Thaddaeus with his slow smile. “But I weren’t aware that there was any secret about it. Your cousin, Mr Josiah Crayne, told me that it was kind of understood in the family that you were planning on becoming Mrs Clayton Mayo, and that was why he’d allowed you to sail.”
    “Indeed?” said Hero haughtily. “Well, he is wrong. As it happens, I have not yet made up my mind about Mr Mayo. I have always esteemed him, and I know that Aunt Abby and Uncle Nat hoped that we should marry some day. But Papa took against him. Not that I should have allowed such a thing to over-influence me had I been convinced that we should suit, but I do feel very strongly that marriage is not an estate to be entered into on the basis of mere pleasure in another’s society, and that one should look for more than that.”
    “Oh…er…sure. Sure,” agreed Captain Fullbright, disconcerted and more than a little shocked by the unmaidenly frankness with which Miss Hollis was prepared to discuss such delicate matters as marriage and affairs of the heart. Surely a certain show of coyness—something more in keeping with that blush—would have been more fitting?
    But Miss Hollis, though she might not be able to control her blushes, obviously had no patience with coyness, for she proceeded to tell him that she already knew Mr Mayo to be serious-minded and eager to do good, because they had enjoyed many talks together and found themselves to be in complete agreement on a wide variety of subjects. And that he had also proved himself to be truly honourable by steadfastly refusing to countenance any suggestion that they should elope.
    “Whose suggestion?” enquired Captain Thaddaeus, interested.
    “Mine, I regret to say,” admitted Miss Hollis with a disarming twinkle. “Though I guess I only made it in the heat of the moment, because I was exceedingly annoyed with Papa, and I don’t believe I would ever have carried it out But Clay—I mean Mr Mayo—would not hear of it, and though my cousin Arabella Strong said that it was only because he knew quite well that Papa had threatened to cut me off with a quarter if I married against his wishes, I had enough sense to realize that Bella had a fondness for Clay herself and was only speaking out of jealousy. He is very handsome, you know.”
    Captain Fullbright controlled his features