They must have guessed right, for Mr. Finch turned gray as weathered cypress. “How? What? You looked through my belongings?”
“Now, now. All is well. Aunt Virginia and I plan to give it to Father after the ball.”
Finch swallowed, his eyes darting from one side to the other. “Why won’t this carriage move?” He reached for the door handle.
“But Percy, surely you don’t want to leave me.” She clung to his arm like a lovelorn girl. “What is a little matter like a lost inheritance compared to love?”
He tossed her aside. “Vixen.” He shoved open the door and jumped out. Turning back for a moment, he snarled, “Congratulations. You got what you want. May you suffer for it.” Then he slammed the door shut.
Through the carriage window Elizabeth watched him sprint away. To her puzzlement, Mr. Finch did not head for his boardinghouse but for the harbor.
“Good riddance,” Anabelle said as the carriage jolted forward.
Elizabeth pressed the side of her face against the curtained interior, exhausted. “I hope you’re right. He could still cause trouble.”
The most dangerous part was yet to come.
Father was not pleased to discover Mr. Finch gone.
“He ran off all of a sudden,” Elizabeth said, “as if he had forgotten something.”
Though Anabelle nodded, she could tell that her father did not quite believe her explanation.
He checked his pocket watch. “I hope he doesn’t take long. Nearly everyone is here. The band is tuning. Soon the dancing will begin, and we would then have to wait for supper to make the announcement.”
Thankfully Father did not consider making an engagement announcement without the prospective groom in attendance, perhaps because no one in town had any inkling they were courting. Oh, they must have known he had called at the house. The neighbors would have spread that all over town. However, courting was another matter, especially since she was still in mourning.
Elizabeth placed a gloved hand on her father’s arm. “Then you will be able to dance with me, Papa.”
At the endearment, his worried expression eased, at least for a moment. “I would like that, sunshine.”
She beamed up at him, content to limit this ball to the two of them—at least until she slipped away to join Anabelle. With Mr. Finch gone, she had only Captain Poppinclerk to avoid. The tension between him and Rourke had been evident on the Windsprite. She didn’t trust any man that Rourke disliked.
“Shall we join the guests?” Father motioned toward the entrance, where seemingly the whole of Key West society had gathered.
First Elizabeth unhooked the mantle.
Anabelle finished removing the garment. “If that’s all, miss.”
Elizabeth nodded, and Anabelle drifted away to join the other servants.
“How lovely you are, my dear.” Father’s eyes misted as he looked at her.
Her heart ached to know if he did indeed love her despite his sins and hers. Financial desperation and love for her brother had driven him to ask her for a tremendous sacrifice. He must have lost a great deal in the sinking of the Victory. On the other hand, he had dealt cruelly with Mammy and broke Mother’s heart. He risked censure to vilify Rourke in court. He would not even consider her feelings for Rourke.
The hall soon filled to overflowing. She and Father hadn’t gotten far inside the door when Justice Marvin drew him into a conversation about some matter of admiralty law. Elizabeth attempted to listen for a while before drifting farther into the room. Ladies stood in groups conversing or seeking a particular gentleman. Elizabeth looked for Caroline but couldn’t spot her petite friend among all the guests.
The musicians, situated at the far end, struck up a lively tune, and couples moved into position for an old-fashioned cotillion. That opened up the edges of the room so she could spot Caroline, who was standing with her mother and several women from the church. So much had happened since Elizabeth had last seen her friend, and even more would take place tonight. Though she didn’t dare tell Caroline that she would be leaving for Harbour Island, she could at least share a few moments with her.
A gentleman began calling the dance figures. As the dancers glided and swirled, Elizabeth wove through the guests to reach her friend, who was dressed in a rather plain ochre-colored cotton gown that did nothing for her complexion.
“You look beautiful,” Caroline said, “as always. Your aunt chose the perfect color to highlight your eyes.”
Would Rourke say the same? Would he remember that this was the exact color of the dress she’d worn on that fateful day four years ago? Would her appearance dazzle him so much that he would forget his misgivings and whisk her away? She hoped so.
“Too bad a certain someone has left port,” Caroline whispered behind her fan.
Elizabeth blushed and had to hide behind her own fan. “It’s already quite hot in here.”