Veil of Pearls Read online

  Sir Walter’s nostrils flared. A vein pulsed in his forehead. Lifting his blade, he barreled toward Morgan.

  Ching! Ching! Ching! The deathly chime tolled over the crash of waves. Both men were now fully engaged. The lines on Morgan’s face grew taut and deep with determination. The aloof confidence had faded from Sir Walter’s eyes, replaced by pure hatred.

  Back and forth they parried, dipping, swooping, spinning with extraordinary skill. The only difference being that Morgan remained calm, focused, barely winded, while Sir Walter spewed curses into the wind between gasps for air.

  Growling, and with sword pointed before him, Sir Walter rushed blindly at Morgan.

  Morgan stepped aside with ease and struck Sir Walter’s back with the hilt of his sword. Sir Walter stumbled, arms flailing. A wave struck his shoes, spraying water onto his trousers. Catching his balance, he swerved around. His eyes took on a maniacal gleam. He circled Morgan, taunting him just out of sword’s reach. Methodically, calmly, Morgan followed him. Sir Walter spun and dove in to Morgan’s right. Sunlight flashed on metal. Blades clanked. Morgan thrust the tip of his sword into Sir Walter’s shoulder.

  The villain yelped and dropped his blade. Maroon blossomed on his shirt. Pressing a hand on his wound, he tumbled backward, shock and rage screaming from his face. He plucked the pistol from his breeches and pointed it at Morgan.

  Adalia screamed.

  The pistol fired. A red flame jetted from the weapon. Black smoke coated his face. Adalia struggled against Griggs’s meaty grasp, terror choking her, but he wouldn’t let her go. Yet no blood appeared on Morgan’s shirt. He shook his head in disgust and sheathed his blade, then wiped the sweat from his brow.

  “Why, that cheating toad tried to shoot you!” Mr. Griggs spit to the side.

  Mr. Granger shouted, “A fair fight, to be sure! Morgan has won.”

  “Aye’s” sounded from the men on both sides.

  Sir Walter dropped to his knees and nodded toward Mr. Milson.

  The overseer leveled his pistol at Morgan’s chest.

  Captain Bristo’s men began plucking their pistols out of braces and trousers, but the foreman held up his other hand. “Put them away, or I’ll shoot Mr. Rutledge where he stands.” Yet a slight tremor, a hesitation, broke into his authoritative tone.

  Plucking a bag of gunpowder from his pocket, Sir Walter scrambled to reload his pistol. “Shoot him! I order you to shoot him at once!”

  Adalia’s chest felt as if a thousand horses stampeded over it. Sweat trickled down her back. Morgan snapped the hair from his face and folded his arms over his chest as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

  The overseer’s eyes bounced between Sir Walter and Morgan. Adalia knew he wouldn’t hesitate to kill an innocent man. She’d seen him whip a boy to near death without so much as a flinch.

  “I said shoot him, you fool!” Sir Walter finished reloading and pointed his pistol at Morgan.

  Without warning, Mr. Milson swung his pistol toward his boss and fired. The shot echoed across the blue sky. Shock widened Sir Walter’s eyes. His mouth opened, and he glanced at his overseer before a vacant expression claimed his face. His body went limp, and he fell backward with a thud.

  Adalia’s knees gave out. She sank to the moist sand, hand on her mouth. For seconds that seemed like hours, the two bands of men stared each other down. Sun glared off the hilts of their swords and the silver on their pistols as their eyes twitched beneath drops of sweat. But then one by one, Sir Walter’s men turned to leave. Mr. Milson gave Morgan a nod of approval before he followed the others, disappearing into the web of green. Leaving Sir Walter’s body to bake in the sun. A wave bubbled over him, depositing foam on his shirt.

  Oddly, the sight saddened Adalia. Though it was a fitting end for the vile man, she sickened at the thought of where his spirit might have gone.

  Struggling to rise, she clutched her skirts and rushed into Morgan’s arms. His warmth and strength surrounded her.

  It was over. It was truly all over. She peeked at Sir Walter one last time then turned away. She would never be his again. Morgan held her for several minutes, rubbing her back. He settled his chin atop her head, and the muscles in his chest loosened. Twice now he had dueled for her.

  Could she ask for a more dashing, chivalrous prince?

  At her insistence, the men buried Sir Walter in a shallow grave at the tree line before heading down the beach in a much more jovial mood than before. As soon as they spotted the ship anchored off shore, the men went ahead to ready the cockboats.

  Morgan tugged on Adalia, stopping her. “I need to ask you something.” He brushed a curl from her face. “Actually, I’ve already asked you, but after everything … I need to ask you again.” He took her hands in his, caressing her fingers, his green eyes shifting between hers. Then he got down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”

  Adalia drew in a breath of surprise. “I haven’t changed my mind.” She ran her fingers over his stubbled jaw. “I’ll always love you, Morgan.”

  “But after what I did …” He dropped his gaze.

  Though Adalia tried to prevent it, the memory of Morgan’s look of disgust flashed in her mind, renewing her pain. “You don’t mind marrying a woman with Negro blood?”

  He shook his head, stood, and cupped her face with both hands. “I care not whether you are Negro, French, Arabian, yellow, purple, or green. I love you.” Lowering his lips to hers, he caressed her mouth, deepening the kiss until Adalia’s toes tingled with delight, and whistles assailed them from the men down shore.

  With a chuckle, Morgan drew her into his arms.

  She laid her head on his chest. “I can’t believe your father agreed to the marriage after he discovered who I was.”

  “Well, I didn’t say that.”

  Adalia tensed and backed away. “He didn’t agree?”

  Morgan chuckled. “If I recall, my father’s words were something more like”—he mimicked his father’s harsh tone—“‘If you marry her, I will toss you on the street without a coin in your pocket.’”

  Adalia bit her lip, finding no humor in the impression. “But your status, your wealth, they are so important to you.”

  “Not anymore. Honestly I can’t fathom why I ever valued them so highly.” Salty wind blasted over them, drawing his gaze out to sea. His eyes held a sparkle she’d not seen before.

  “I’ve given my life to God,” he said. “I’ve had much time to think—and pray—on the voyage over here. A veil has been lifted. I see everything so clearly now.” Excitement sped across his face.

  Adalia flinched. “Did I hear you say God?”

  “Yes, shocking, isn’t it?” He grinned. “It took the possibility of losing you forever to bring me to my knees. But once I did, God was right there like you said He’d be.”

  Adalia’s breath escaped her, and she flung her arms around his neck. “I’m so happy, Morgan!” She had no idea how to process so much good news at once! “I, too, wandered away from God. I hid behind a veil—ashamed of who I was, of who God made me to be.”

  Wind flapped the hem of her moist gown across her legs.

  “I don’t fault you for it. There was a huge price to pay for your honesty.” Morgan eased a lock behind her ear. “And what I thought was a huge price to pay for mine.”

  “It is a huge price, Morgan.” Her vision blurred with tears. She loved him too much to see him lose everything that was dear to him. “I thank you for rescuing me, but I release you from your promise to mar—”

  “Do you think I care about such things anymore?” He pulled her arms from his neck and squeezed her hands. “Without you they are meaningless.”

  Adalia searched his eyes for any hesitation, any untruth. She found none. She wanted to sing, dance, frolic in the waves! Instead, she wiped a tear away before it had a chance to spill down her cheek. God had worked a miracle in both of their lives. He had removed their shackles and set them both free. Truly free!

  “What will you
do?” she asked.

  His gaze shifted to Captain Bristo’s brig floating off shore as the wind fingered his light hair. Purpose and confidence tightened his expression. He wasn’t the same spoiled, aimless man she’d met six months ago. He had grown up. Like her, with God’s help, he had faced his deepest fears and found them naught but cowering dwarfs. He turned toward her, brows lifted. “How would you like to be married to a merchantman or perhaps a privateer?”

  Adalia squeezed his hands, elated. “It’s what you were meant to do, Morgan. I know it.”

  “But I’ll be away from home a lot.”

  “Good thing I won’t be there to miss you.” She gave him a coy smile.

  His brows crossed. “And just where will you be?”

  “Why, with you, of course. You’ll need someone to cook and tend to the sick on board the ship, won’t you?”

  He frowned. “No. I won’t stand for it. It’s far too dangerous.”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight, Morgan Rutledge.” Adalia speared his chest with a finger. “Not after all we’ve been through. You are my prince. And a prince never leaves his princess.”

  “Hmm. Then I suppose I don’t have a choice.” He gave her that disarming grin of his. “Besides, having my wife on board will have its advantages.” He lifted his eyebrows.

  Adalia smiled. “Of what advantages do you speak?”

  “Why, getting started on a family, of course. I did tell you I want lots of children.”

  Heat swirled in Adalia’s belly and flushed her face. “Well, then, I shall be happy to comply.”

  Offering her his arm, he gave her a delicious wink. “Our ship awaits, milady. Let us not delay.”

  AUTHOR’S AFTERWORD

  By the time Morgan and Adalia arrived in Charleston, war had indeed broken out between the United States and Britain—the War of 1812. It may please the reader to know that Morgan accepted Captain Bristo’s offer and became the captain of his own privateer, the Liberty, but not before he and Adalia were married in a small ceremony at St. Mary’s, performed by Father Mulligan. Also present at the joyous event were Caroline Johnson, Doctor Willaby, Hadley Rutledge, and Joy.

  Doctor Willaby repented of his prejudice and, soon after, freed Joy and his other slaves. She continued to work as a maid in his house, and he came to care for her deeply. Though it took much help from God, the doctor finally released the bitterness in his heart over his family’s death and forgave Hadley for his part in the tragedy. Afterward, he became the most joyful doctor in all of Charleston!

  Hadley and Emerald were also married in an extravagant ceremony at the Rutledge estate that was the talk of Charleston society for the entire season. Adalia and Morgan were not invited.

  Soon after, Hadley moved his new wife into the big house and took over the running of the plantation. It didn’t take long, however, for him to realize that what he’d so desperately longed for in Miss Emerald Middleton was but a mirage of beauty cloaking a shrewish woman who was never satisfied with anything. Consequences can be hard to live with.

  When Adalia wasn’t at sea with Morgan, she continued her work with the doctor, as well as helping tend the orphans at St. Mary’s. In her spare time, she instructed Joy in the art of herbal healing and found that the young girl had a quick mind for learning.

  Disowned by his father and shunned by society for marrying Adalia, Morgan tossed their opinions aside like so much chaff and began his new adventures at sea, his wife by his side. With Morgan as her captain, Liberty became one of the most successful privateers sailing from Charleston, capturing over fifteen British merchant brigs, five sloops, and two schooners.

  Adalia overcame her seasickness and became an invaluable part of the crew, assisting with the cooking, mending of sails, and ministering to ill seamen. Though Morgan feared for her safety, he was glad to have her aboard and thanked God for her every day. By the time the war was over, he’d made a fortune in prize money, enough to purchase a beautiful and spacious home in Charleston close to Doc Willaby’s. Soon after, Morgan joined forces with Captain Bristo and became a successful merchantman, while Adalia became equally successful at bearing children.

  In the years to come, when the citizens of Charleston happened to be strolling down Calhoun Street in Charleston, they would hear nothing but words of love, laughter, song, and gaiety pouring from the Rutledge home, and inevitably, they would scratch their heads in wonder at how a simple, common family could be so happy.

  Discussion Questions for Veil of Pearls

  1. Slavery is one of the themes throughout the book. At the beginning of the story, Adalia is a physical slave, but after she gains her freedom, she becomes a new kind of slave. What did she become a slave to?

  2. How did that affect the way she behaved? How did it affect her values, her relationship with God?

  3. Morgan Rutledge was one of the wealthiest men in Charleston. He had money, charm, wit, status, and the eye of every lady in town. Yet he was a slave too. What was he enslaved by? How did that affect him and his life?

  4. Almost everyone in the story was enslaved by something. Can you name what the following characters were slaves to? Emerald, Caroline, Drayton, Hadley, and Doctor Willaby? What about Sir Walter?

  5. The Bible says that whatever we put above God is an idol. And whatever we worship, we become a slave to. In each of the characters in question 4, how did their slavery affect their lives? How did it keep them from what God had planned for them?

  6. The fear of man is an unhealthy, consuming concern with what other people think of us. It has its roots in pride, which is a sin that can destroy your life. Don’t believe me? Read about the kings of Judah and Israel in the Old Testament! But, let’s face it, it is human and natural to want to be liked. Amazing how the devil can take something that is an innocent desire and pervert it into an atrocity that can ruin our lives. Have you ever felt an overwhelming need to fit in? To be popular? If so, what are some things you did to make people like you? Have you ever compromised who you are, your values and beliefs, just to be liked? I have.

  7. If you answered yes to the question above and you named some things you did, what was the result? Did it work out as you planned, or did it backfire on you? Where are those people now whose good opinion you sought? Are they still your friends? Funny thing, I haven’t kept in touch with anyone in that popular crowd in school that I so desperately wanted to belong to (and never did, by the way). I wonder if they had accepted me into their group, whether we’d still be friends.

  8. As an author, I deal with the opinions of others quite often. Some are good. Some are not so good! It’s been a difficult journey for me to learn to shrug off both the good and the bad. The good can puff me up. The bad can depress me and lead to stress. You may not be an author, but I’m sure you are bombarded daily with opinions about your performance. What did you learn from this story about the opinions of man? What did the characters say about Charleston society’s favor?

  9. The Bible says the fear of man is a snare. In other words, it traps you and keeps you from going forward. It literally keeps you from the abundant life God has for you. What happened in the story to both Morgan and Adalia to make them realize their bondage? How did they get set free?

  10. The first step to breaking free of the fear of man is realizing how valued and precious you are to God. Once you accept that and begin to know how much He loves you, you are on the road to freedom! In the end, His opinion is all that matters. On Judgment Day, do you think God will ask you how many Facebook friends you have? Do you think he’ll ask to see all your awards and accolades, your promotions, your status, your wealth? Aside from whether you believe in Jesus, what is the one thing you think God cares about the most?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  MARYLU TYNDALL

  MaryLu Tyndall dreamed of pirates and seafaring adventures during her childhood days on Florida’s coast. She holds a degree in math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters
as a writer. Her love of history and passion for storytelling drew her to create the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series. MaryLu now writes full-time and makes her home with her husband, six children, and four cats on California’s coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but also expose Christians to their full potential in Christ. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her website at www.mltyndall.com or her blog at crossandcutlass.blogspot.com.

  Other books by MaryLu Tyndall

  SURRENDER TO DESTINY SERIES

  Surrender the Heart

  Surrender the Night

  Surrender the Dawn

  CHARLES TOWNE BELLES