If Gray stopped to think about the devastation of Annabelle’s betrayal, it would sink him. Instead, his first order of business after leaving her at the koi pond was to cancel the sale of the Pelican. His life in America was eroding quickly, making it impossible to predict how things would unfold in the coming months. He wanted his options open, and that meant keeping his ship. Suddenly, life on the far side of the world felt irresistibly tempting.

His banker was appalled at the prospect of canceling the deal. George Wagner would earn a generous commission from the sale of the steamship, but his fees would evaporate if it was scuttled.

“It will be very difficult to cancel at this date,” he stammered from behind his huge desk at the bank.

“I know it will be difficult. Can it be done?” It would surely involve some hefty penalties, but Gray was willing to pay them.

Wagner still hesitated. “This sale will make you an extremely wealthy man.”

“I’m already wealthy. I want to scrap the deal. I’m rich enough.”

“That may be,” the banker said delicately. “I fear that is not the case for your brother. This morning I was notified of the third bad check written against your brother’s account.”

Gray instantly went on alert. “What are you talking about?”

“Luke Delacroix has written three bad checks in the past month. If the situation is not remedied soon, the bank may assess overdraft fees against his account.”

Gray almost wanted to laugh. The world would be a brighter place if the only problem Luke had to worry about was an overdrawn account.

“How bad is the damage?” he asked.

“Three checks totaling six thousand dollars.”

That was a lot richer than anticipated, but Gray would settle the debt. Where Luke squandered his money was always a mystery, for he earned a decent income from the family business but always seemed strapped for cash.

“Who needs to be paid?”

“I’m not at liberty to say,” the banker replied. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard your brother’s privacy.”

“And yet you’re asking me to cover his debts.” The banker hadn’t exactly stated that, but they both knew where the deep pockets were. “I’m not paying money to unknown persons. I need to know the nature of those payments.”

Mr. Wagner shifted in his chair, the corners of his mouth turning down. “All I am at liberty to say is that the checks were written to private individuals in the Philadelphia area.”

Gray froze. It was in Philadelphia where Luke had run into trouble four years earlier. Was he being blackmailed? It would explain his penury these last few years.

“Give me the names.”

“I can’t do that,” the banker demurred.