Jewel of the Pacific Read Online Free PDF Page B

had also driven him to want to marry Eden into another powerful island family, and he was displeased when she became a nurse at Kalihi hospital working with her Aunt Lana in leprosy research.
    From the garden, Silas’s voice rose above the others. “So that’s the way it is.”
    A moment later Silas emerged from behind the banana plants, followed by a man and woman.
    Eden stood motionless.
I’ve seen them recently … somewhere
.
    The man was tall, thin, and gloomy looking in black clothing and a sleek top hat. The woman wore a scarf rather than a stylish hat. She also wore gloves, and a satiny black dress. Were they in mourning?
    Silas climbed the steps to the lanai. Eden expected the couple to follow, but they turned toward the front gate. Eden didn’t recall seeing a carriage parked nearby.
    Suddenly Eden could hear familiar voices in the entryway and footsteps coming into the parlor. She turned and looked at Silas again. He saw her standing there, and his eyes flickered with something like surprise.
    Silas was a pleasant-looking young man with wavy chestnut-brown hair and the same light blue eyes as his father and Zachary. Recently he’d received as many invitations to picnics, dinners, and balls as Zachary.
    Silas, while of a husky build, showed little interest in outdoor activities, and did not care for breeding thoroughbred horses as Rafe and Zachary did. Silas once commented that if they’d race their horses against each other, then he’d be interested. Such talk only bolstered Zachary’s claim that Silas was an “untrustworthy gambler from New Orleans.”
    One of Silas’ walking sticks had a heavy silver handle designed like a wolf’s head. Zachary had recently accused Silas of “bashing me on the side of the head” with that stick. The head injury had occurred weeks earlier in the darkened Hunnewell garden. Eden was there that night, and so were Silas and Rafe, but the culprit had proven to be someone else. The accusation, though, did show Zachary’s suspicion of Silas.
    Candace and Zachary Derrington entered the parlor with Great-aunt Nora. Eden went into Great-aunt Nora, anxious for the latest news on Rafe.
    “My dearest child!” Nora’s face was etched with worry. “How could such a horrid thing happen! Are you well, my dear? That rapscallion nephew didn’t hurt you?”
    Eden forced a smile and they embraced. Eden planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’m safe, Aunt Nora. And what’s the news of Rafe?”
    “No change, my dear. Your father remains nearby. He is in contact with other doctors. Everything possible is being done.”
    Zachary stepped forward and hugged Eden.
    “Poor little cousin,” he said emotionally. “It must have been wickedly evil for you.”
    Eden patted his shoulder. “And you! Are you badly injured? I was horrified when I saw him attack you on the
Lilly of the Star.”
    “Just bruises and probably a sprained arm.” His light blue eyes turned icy with anger. “Sprained where ‘dear old Dad’ kicked me with his boot.”
    “Let’s forget that now,” Candace said, stepping forward.
    Silas had entered the parlor just behind Eden. Caution flamed his eyes when he met Zachary’s glower.
    “Well,” Silas said with forced cheerfulness, shoving his hands into his pockets and rocking on his heels, “you look as though you’ll be right as rain in another day or two, Zach, old boy.”
    “Disappointed?” Zachary sniped.
    “Not at all, little brother.”
    Zachary smirked. He moved to the parlor door. “I’m going to my room.”
    “I’ll bring up some tea,” Great-aunt Nora told him. “Get into bed, my boy, just as the doctor advised.”
    Great-aunt Nora recently had begun to show Zachary more attention and sympathy than she had before. Perhaps their growing closeness was due to his working for her at the
Gazette
, and his hints at the dinner table recently that he might just change his mind and decide to support the queen rather than annexation. Any political change