“Why nothing. I’d just gone for a walk while waiting to speak with you and he followed me.”
Raven had never seen a more innocent expression than the one Eden wore, and not wanting to sound like a jealous husband if there was no reason, he let the matter drop. With a slow smile, he scooped his bride up into his arms and started back toward the docks. “I will tie you to your bed if I must, but you are going to stay there until sundown tomorrow.”
“No, I can’t stay in bed while my father’s here. Please believe me when I tell you I’m well. If I get in the least bit tired, I’ll go to bed early, but I don’t want to miss seeing my father.”
Raven frowned slightly, but since he had not granted her request about Yadira, he decided to allow this one. “All right, I understand why you don’t want to worry your father, but you must be certain not to worry me again either.”
Eden had already slipped her arms around his neck and gave him an enthusiastic hug. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Raven replied. The day was warm, Eden’s perfume as enticing as her slender figure, and he would have liked nothing better than to carry her off the path into some secluded arbor to make love. Thinking he would have to control that impulse until a better time presented itself, he continued on up the path but his body ached as badly as his heart that he had to keep such a tight rein on his emotions.
Chapter Twenty
September 1863
Nathan Sinclair came to dinner again that night, this time bringing the six officers who had been on duty the previous evening. The smaller party was no less elegant, however, and the conversation was just as spontaneous and enthusiastic. Raven could
not help but compare the recent gatherings in his home to the stilted dinner parties he had abhorred in London. He had not thought he would enjoy the company of Confederate officers so much, but these men were so honest and open a group he found it impossible to dislike them. That they had dedicated their lives to a cause that would never prevail saddened him more than he had thought possible.
“Raphael Semmes, who captains the Alabama, had a head start on us, but the Southern Knight has sunk her share of merchant ships,” Nathan boasted proudly. “We don’t loot them. All we confiscate are the nautical instruments. We take the crews on board, and then scuttle the ships. We’ve never had a captain put up much of a fight. Usually all we have to do is identify ourselves, and the ship surrenders.”
“I assume you’d fire on any vessel that refused to do so?” Raven asked.
“Of course. Our mission is to cripple the North’s maritime fleet. The Alabama, Florida, and the other raiders, we’ve done all we can to make the North suffer the same shortages of goods that we’ve had to endure.”
“And your prisoners?” Eden inquired hesitantly. “What becomes of them?”
“We’ve had days when we could hardly move around the deck for the captured crews underfoot. When that happens, we demand a ten-thousand-dollar bond from the next ship we take, and send the prisoners ashore with them. We’ve not harmed civilians, sweetheart, nor turned over any to our prisons.”
“From what I’ve read, most of the owners of ships you’ve not sunk, or intimidated into keeping their vessels in port, are transferring their registries to foreign countries. Haven’t you found it increasingly difficult to find a merchantman flying the United States flag?” Raven asked pointedly.
“Yes, but those we do find still go straight to the bottom,” Nathan replied with a satisfied grin.
“And when the War’s over, you’ll make a fortune replacing those ships, won’t you?”
Nathan was not certain whether or not Raven was deliberately trying to insult him, but he had succeeded. All trace of humor left his expression as he responded. “I’m going to assume you didn’t realize the implications of your question, Lord Clairbourne, but I am most definitely not fighting for the Confederacy in hopes of personal gain. You’d be wise not to make such slanderous accusations when your own conduct is so far from exemplary.”
Eden was appalled by how swiftly the mood of the party had gone from lighthearted to venomous, but all conversation at the table had come to an abrupt halt. Fearing Raven would end the uncomfortable silence with a demand her father again back up his opinions with his fists, or worse, the weapon of his choice, Eden rose from her chair. “Gentlemen, our brandy is excellent. Shall we return to the drawing room?”
Raven remained in his chair as the men wearing gray uniforms filed out of the room. When his bride came to his side, his glance was filled with cold fury. “My question was so damn obvious, I can’t believe no one else has ever asked it.”
“Yes, it was obvious, and you should have known the answer without asking it too. If the South loses the War, I doubt my family will be left with the resources to build a dinghy, let alone a merchant vessel. That you’d accuse my father of sinking ships to create business for his shipyard is every bit as despicable as he claimed. I imagine you’d prefer your own company to ours for the rest of the evening.”
Eden’s full satin skirt swirled about her ankles with a dramatic flourish as she turned away with all the dignity a countess should possess, but even without her rebuff Raven had no desire to follow. Alex had often cautioned him that he was too honest for his own good, and he had certainly proven it that night. While he and Nathan had not developed the warmest of friendships, they had at least been able to get along together with some accord until now. Perhaps no man ever truly admired his son-in-law, but Raven feared he had just made it impossible for Nathan ever to like him.
Even without Raven’s company, the conversation in the drawing room was strained and Nathan soon suggested he and his officers return to their ship. After the others had said good night, he took his daughter aside. “We’ll sail before dawn, sweetheart, so this will be goodbye.”
“But Michael said you’d be here for a week,” Eden protested anxiously. She reached out to clutch at her father’s sleeve, unwilling to let him go so soon.
“Well, obviously Michael isn’t all that good at estimating the time required to get things done. Now don’t waste what time we do have, just listen. I asked Cliff Endecott to question Dr. Ryan and he’s satisfied the man is a competent physician. He went to visit him at his home this morning, but I think that was mainly to have a chance to speak with Rebecca again rather than to see Julian’s medical facilities.”
Having no interest in whether or not Dr. Endecott thought Rebecca Yardley appealing, Eden frowned unhappily. “I’ve no doubts about Julian’s competence. You’re the one I care about and I don’t want you to leave when you and Raven have nearly come to blows again.”
Nathan laughed at her fears. “I’d say this is precisely the time to leave because your husband came dangerously close to getting his nose broken tonight.”
“I realize he was being difficult, but—”
“Sweetheart,” Nathan scolded gently. “What I’m trying to say is that, with Julian’s care, you’ll be fine. I doubt I’ll be able to return before the War’s end and until then you’ll have to get along with Raven as best you can. I certainly don’t trust him, despite the fact he’s been more than accommodating while we’ve been here, and it’s plain he doesn’t trust me.”