Page 85 of Unlikely Heroes
I wonder,she thought. The bells continued to ring throughout Portsmouth. Now she had to wait patiently upon the Lord, as her older sister had told her years ago. Her man was coming home; she knew it, he had to be. Perhaps Grace’s was even closer.
Chapter Thirty-eight
The bells pealed throughout the supper hour and Meridee learned a little more, brought to her by Mr. Ferrier. This time he sat down to Mrs. Perry’s good fish stew and muffins and wasted not a moment. “Here is what else we know, Meridee.”
He planted his elbows on the table, which meant Ben gave her an inquiring look and opened his mouth. Meridee gave her son the grave look that Able had dubbed, “Mama’s admiral squint,” and he closed his mouth. She knew he would ask her later, when Mr. Ferrier left, whythat manwas allowed to rest his elbows on the table when a small and earnest child could not. “Small and earnest child.” That had been Benjamin Six’s latest ploy for avoidance of a well-deserved scold. She must remember to tell Able that one.Please be safe, my love.
“What?” she asked calmly, feeling like a small and earnest wife badly in need of her husband.
“ThePicklebrought the news to Admiralty House,” Mr. Ferrier said. He took his elbows off the table, which made Ben sigh and dish himself more potatoes.
ThePickle? Hadn’t Able told her that thePicklehad challengedMercuryto a race mid-Channel, andMercuryhad won handily? Her brain might not have raced at the speed of light like her husband’s, but she quickly considered two surmises. TheMercuryhad been nowhere near that major battle, so could not carry the news to London. That encouraged her. Her next thought was less encouraging: TheMercuryhad been in the heat of the battle and sunk by enemy fire, all hands dead or missing.
“Meridee?”
“Oh! Yes, Mr. Ferrier, thePickle. Does anyone know anything else?” Dear me, she had raised her voice. She glanced at Ben, saw his sudden distress, and kissed his potatoey cheek. “Forgive me, son. I’m a little on edge.”
“Papa?”
“…is fine,” she said firmly. “Remember to use your serviette.”
She walked Mr. Ferrier to the door after supper. Dear, competent Mr. Ferrier. Able had been so right to ask him to teach in his stead. Mr. Ferrier had shouldered more and more burdens as Headmaster Croker weakened.
“Come over when you can, my dear,” he said. “I fear that Thaddeus hasn’t long.” She heard endless meaning in his softly spoken words. “Grace might need to…to stay longer than usual tonight.”
“She might. Thank you, sir, for your reassurance. I wish I didn’t worry so much.”
“You worry because you love,” he said simply.
She did. For a while, placing Able’s pillow next to her side had helped. Sniffing a shirt he left behind did, as well. If his only assignment had been to return his father to Spain, Able should be back by now. Able had teased her once, asking if she would follow him to a longhouse in the Iroquois nation, if things ever fell out poorly at St. Brendan’s.I would follow you anywhere, she thought,unless anywhere is a watery grave off the Spanish coast, where I cannot follow.
She spent a lengthier time than usual cuddling Ben before bed. He wanted to read to her from Isaac Newton’sPrincipiaMathematica, so she humored him, then followed up that august tome – the English translation – with nursery rhymes.
Before she crossed the street to St. Brendan’s, Meridee gave herself the firm administration of her own admiral stare as she looked in the mirror, reminding her worried image to present a serene face to someone who had lost a husband only months ago, and was soon to lose a brother. Meridee stared at her face, looked around to make certain no one was within hearing distance, and whispered, “Euclid, watch over my man.”
Why that made her feel immediately better, she couldn’t have told anyone, but she did. Even entering Thaddeus Croker’s sickroom couldn’t dispel her sudden buoyancy. Her heart went out to Grace St. Anthony, who sat so calmly beside her brother. What made the moment both poignant and sweet was Captain Ogilvie standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders.You’re not alone, Grace, she thought, as she sat quietly on Headmaster Croker’s other side.
“He isn’t conscious, Meridee,” Grace said. “I fear this is his last night.”
Meridee nodded and glanced at Angus Ogilvie. “Captain, were you in time?”
“Aye, Meridee,” he replied. She heard all the relief in a man who seldom showed any feelings at all, much less personal ones. “He accepted my apology.” He smiled shyly, looking suddenly like a schoolboy. “I also took care of another matter.”
“He won’t tell me what that other matter is,” Grace said.
I know what it is, Meridee thought.Give her time, Angus. She’ll be yours.
When Grace leaned closer to her brother and gave him all her attention, Meridee put her hand to her heart and smiled in the captain’s direction. He nodded, his eyes kind.
She sat in silence with the others until Thaddeus Croker opened his eyes and looked around. “I am tired,” he said. “God bless St. Brendan’s.” He closed his eyes and died.
Rest in peace, good man, good headmaster, good soul who took a chance on my genius, Meridee told herself as she covered her face with her hands for a moment of privacy. She breathed in and out the fragrance of buttery potatoes and knew she should have washed her hands better after cleaning up after Ben. Still, it was a pleasant aroma, and reminded her where she needed to be.
Beyond a quick kiss, Grace didn’t need her at the moment, not with Captain Ogilvie kneeling beside her, his arm around her waist. Meridee quietly let herself out of the room.
Serene, at peace, she knew what to do for the man sobbing in the corridor. “Bertram, thank you for your splendid care of this man,” she said, her hand on the valet’s arm.
She thought he might shake her off, because he was Bertram, after all. Instead, he let her gather him close for a gentle embrace. “Thank you even more for your wisdom in putting Headmaster Croker in this old ruin and demanding that he do something for workhouse boys.”
