Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book #3) by Elizabeth Ludwig Page B

recollection and the flood of emotions that accompanied it. “You were out exploring the city?” She croaked the words from a dry throat.
    His attention slid from her to the street ahead. “Aye. I’ve not been to New York before. Morgan has, of course, but not me. ’Tis a fascinating place. Did you know the city was once the nation’s capital?”
    “It was?”
    “Briefly. From 1785 to 1790.” He paused. “Is it true they’re thinking of dividing New York into boroughs? I’ve heard talk of it around the city.”
    She’d heard the same rumors. “Aye, there’s been talk of it. True or not remains to be seen.”
    He continued chatting, but to Tillie’s thinking it was morea way of keeping her from asking questions than to entertain. Why she should feel so, she couldn’t explain.
    The boardinghouse lay just ahead. “I’ll be glad to get home and rest my legs. Too much standing at the millinery made for a long day.”
    Cass glanced sidelong at her. “Do you always work so late?”
    “Not usually. I’ve a new position with Mrs. Ferguson, helping her manage the orders and such. It’s more pay, but it will mean later hours.”
    “It doesn’t bother you walking home alone?”
    Under normal circumstances she’d have answered no, but today the unease she’d felt earlier crept back on tenacious fingers. “Let’s go inside, shall we? Laverne will be most pleased to see what we’ve brought home.”
    She led the way up the boardinghouse steps and held the door wide for Cass to pass through. Very wide. His broad shoulders took up nearly the entire frame. What was it about these Morgan men that made them so very large?
    Cass patted the watermelon on his shoulder. “To the kitchen?”
    “Aye. That way,” Tillie said, pointing down the hall to a door that opened off the end. “Can’t wait to see Laverne’s face. It’s her favorite.”
    Indeed, upon catching sight of the large watermelon, Laverne welcomed them with a smile. “We’ll have our fill of the canned fruits once the cold months set in,” she joked, patting a spot on the counter and then bending to take a long whiff of the fruity rind. Rising, she gave a satisfied smile. “That’s a good one, and no doubt.”
    “You can tell by smelling it?” Cass’s brow crinkled. “How? What’s the difference?”
    Laverne’s eyes twinkled. “The good ones always have a sweet aroma about them.”
    Cass cocked his head and grinned. “Ma used to say the same thing about men.” He leaned toward Tillie. “What do you think, lass? Am I sweet?”
    “Enough, Cass.” The low voice startled them all. Tall and glowering, Captain Morgan made a formidable figure lingering in the doorway. He beckoned to Cass with one finger, then nodded to Tillie and Laverne. “Cass, the library, if you please. Ladies.”
    He bowed before exiting, leaving Tillie to wonder about his sour appearance.
    “As different as night and day, those two,” Laverne said, giving voice to the thought hammering in Tillie’s head. She grabbed a long knife and plunged it into the melon rind, releasing an aroma as sweet as she’d predicted. “One of them without a care in the world, and the other with all the world’s cares.” She clucked her tongue as she sliced the end off the melon and set it aside. “One would think a gal could find a man with the right balance of both.”
    Lowering her eyes, Tillie grabbed a bowl and carried it to Laverne to receive the slices of fresh fruit.
    She had found such a man. Braedon. Only she’d lost him. And ever since then she’d doubted she would ever be content with anyone else.
    Worse still, she doubted anyone else would ever be content with her.

13
    Donal swung off Broad Street and onto a less traveled side street, where a black carriage with a matching set of black horses approached at a brisk clip. Flat on top and trimmed in gilt, the carriage might have made a spectacle were it not for the locale and the sheer number of fine rigs passing by. This