Free Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall Page B

fancy.”
     
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” Marianne snorted. “I assure you, nothing but disdain spurred him on.”
     
    Agnes brushed a lock of Marianne’s hair from her face. “Poor dear, you seem so out o’ sorts aboard this ship.”
     
    Marianne’s throat burned at the woman’s kindness. She hadn’t realized how much she needed a friend, someone whom she could confide in, someone who cared. “I worry about my mother. She is very ill.”
     
    Agnes patted her hand. “I am sorry t’ hear of it, miss. It is so hard to be away from those we love, especially when they are not well.” She clucked her tongue. “How unfortunate you wandered aboard when you did.”
     
    “Indeed.” Marianne twisted the ring on her finger as a hundred scenes crept out from her childhood memories—scenes of Noah’scruel antics and how he always got the best of her. “Do you have family in America?” she finally asked Agnes.
     
    Agnes’s eyes drooped in sorrow. “We did. Mr. Hobbs and I. We had two sons. Both died of the grippe before they reached manhood.”
     
    The ship creaked and groaned as it rose over a swell. Marianne’s heart shriveled. She couldn’t imagine such a horrific loss. “I am so sorry, Agnes.”
     
    Agnes cleared her throat, and the momentary moisture disappeared from her eyes. “It was a long time ago. I suppose that’s why me and Mr. Hobbs have latched onto Noah. He’s like another son to us.”
     
    Marianne wondered how such a self-centered boor could make anyone a good son, yet the woman seemed sincere in her approbations. Perhaps the bond between them afforded Agnes some sway over the thickheaded rapscallion—a sway Marianne could use to her advantage. “Would you speak to the captain for me?” she ventured. “Beg him to turn the ship around?”
     
    “Oh no, no, no, dear.” Agnes gave an incredulous laugh. “When Noah sets his mind t’ make port and sell his goods, there ain’t nothing can stand in his way.”
     
    Marianne shook her head, her hopes crushed once again. “With men, it seems everything revolves around wealth.” Just as it had with her father.
     
    Agnes jerked her head back. “Money? No.” Her eyebrows drew together. “That’s not the way of it with Noah. It’s his father who drives him so hard.” She leaned toward Marianne. “If you ask me, I’d say Noah don’t care much for the money itself.”
     
    “Then why did he leave our engagement party in order to set sail as if the delay would cost him more than he could bear?”
     
    “Did he, now?” Agnes huffed and put an arm around Marianne, drawing her close. “Shame on him. Not like him at all.”
     
    Marianne grew weary of everyone’s approval of the man. Even though she’d seen little of him these past eleven years, she’d observed nothing about his recent behavior to indicate he’d changed from the churlish imp he had been as a young boy.
     
    “I’m sorry he pained you, miss. Noah lives under a heavy burden these days. Lord knows, I’ve been praying for him t’ let it go.”
     
    Marianne bit back a snide remark. What burden could the man possibly have that compared to hers? He worried about pleasing his father, about making money, while she worried about saving her mother’s life.
     
    Agnes studied Marianne’s expression, obviously mistaking it for one of curiosity. “As his wife, you’ll find out soon enough.”
     
    The thought brought Marianne no comfort, neither the marrying, nor the discovering of Noah’s burden. For now all she needed him to do was turn the ship around and return to Baltimore.
     
    Beads of perspiration lined Agnes’s forehead, and she dabbed them away. “He’s a good man. I’m sure you’ll be very happy.”
     
    Marianne swallowed. “I do not seek happiness. Why should anyone expect happiness in this life? Doesn’t God’s Word portend of trials and troubles and tribulation?” The cheese turned to stone in her stomach, and she pressed a hand over it. In