Caroline couldn’t be expected to know. They’d lost everything during the war, but Gray remembered every one of their ships. His earliest memory was of riding on his father’s shoulders as they strode on the deck of the Eastern Wind. As a boy, Gray had been dazzled by how loud it sounded as the canvas sails snapped and billowed in the breeze. The Eastern Wind was one of their four merchant vessels confiscated by the government during the war. None of them had ever been returned. They were a forfeiture of war.

“It was one of Dad’s ships,” he said, determined not to let it get under his skin. The loss of their ships was the past. They’d rebuilt their fortune. It was time to move forward and quit obsessing over—

He recoiled as a horrific possibility smacked him in the face. The government could confiscate property intended to aid or abet a rebellion against the United States. It was the excuse they had used to seize the Eastern Wind.

“The Pelican,” he choked out. “Luke is part owner of the Pelican. That means the government can seize it.”

Caroline’s face went white. He didn’t need to explain further. They both ran back toward the Pelican and shouted until someone lowered the gangway so they could board. Gray was out of breath by the time he raced to the bridge and grabbed Captain Haig.

“I want this ship loaded and out of American waters within twenty-four hours,” he ordered.

An article announcing Luke’s treachery had just been splashed across the pages of The Washington Post, and it could plant ideas in some bureaucrat’s mind about a quick way to enrich the government coffers. The Pelican represented most of his fortune. It was insured for full value, but insurance wouldn’t pay if a ship was seized in a legal manner by the government.

And if that happened, Gray would be broke once again.

Thirty-Six

Try as she might, it was proving impossible for Annabelle to shed the memory of Gray with that woman. The tangible proof that he was moving forward with his life had been encased in a form-fitting sheath of lavender silk and wrapped in smugness.

But it was time to put Gray Delacroix out of her mind and concentrate on ensuring Elaine’s wedding day was perfect. Their mother had brought her own wedding dress for Elaine to wear, and Annabelle smiled with relief when it fit almost perfectly. The hem would need to be let out at the bottom, but she and her mother could do that this evening. She beamed with pride while fastening the last of the dozens of buttons on the high-necked wedding gown.

“You look gorgeous,” she told Elaine. Their mother didn’t seem to share the opinion, but nothing pleased Maude Larkin these days.

“Do I?” Elaine asked.