Understanding Mercy Read online

  Mr. Berkeley dashed back across the lawn with a look close to panic. “What happened?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to worry you. The bee bit me.”

  “Bee’s don’t bite. They don’t have teeth.” Before she knew what was happening, he lifted her arm and carefully pulled the stinger out of the crook of her elbow. “Now suck on it to remove the venom, but don’t swallow.”

  She lifted her arm to obey his command, but couldn’t reach it with her lips.

  He chuckled as he watched her struggle. “Oh, let me do it.” He leaned over and brought his lips to her arm and began to suck.

  Feeling his warm mouth on the sensitive part of her skin made her forget all about the pain of the sting. Truly, she thought she might faint.

  Pulling his mouth away, he looked up at her. “You’re not going to faint are you?”

  She merely shook her head, unable to speak.

  “Good.” He continued to suck on her arm and she felt the earth move under her feet. Finally, he stood and the spell was broken when he spit to the ground, wiped his tongue off on his sleeve and then declared, “I hate bees.” He looked around with an agitated expression. “Imagine if the neighbor’s saw that. We would give the Beacon Hill elite something to gossip about for months.”

  Glancing about, she sighed in relief that no one was around. “Thank you, Mr. Berkeley.”

  “My pleasure,” he proclaimed with a knowing smile that did the strangest things to her insides. He straightened and put his hands on his hips. “Well, I think I shall be on my way, unless you need anything else from me.”

  “No, I don’t need anything else right now,” she giggled while shaking her head.

  “Then good day again.” And this time he turned and kept walking in that authoritative stride of his that drove her crazy. The man was insufferable.

  ****

  Addison strode down the street wishing he could send that bee a thank-you note. But he was dead. The little insect had sacrificed his life so Addison could touch Mercy again. The silkiness of her skin beneath his mouth was just as he imagined it would feel. When he allowed himself to imagine such things. Which wasn’t often. Normally, he would reprimand himself severely, as he needed to do now.

  Last night’s ball was a harsh reminder that he didn’t belong in her upper class world. Being at that ball made him feel like a fish out of water, flopping around embarrassingly on the slickly polished floors. Besides a small handful of people who made him feel comfortable, the rest of the crowd made it clear he didn’t belong.

  After signing some papers at his office and meeting with a few captains at the docks, he noticed a small box being unloaded bearing the stamp French perfume, with pictures of roses and honeysuckles adorning the sides.

  With a crowbar he opened the crate and took out one of the carefully wrapped bottles. Removing the lid, he lifted it to his nose and smiled. Mercy would like this. He returned the lid and stuffed the little bottle in his pocket, deciding he’d give it to her the next time he saw her.

  Later, he walked over to the Redemption Church of Boston for the meeting young Able Cotton had told him about. Addison thought it was about time Boston had its own Abolition Society and he felt honored to be a part of the first meeting.

  As he strode into the room, he stopped abruptly when he saw Mercy, gorgeous in a light blue dress the color of a summer’s sky. She chatted animatedly to her mother and Able Cotton, but she ceased midsentence, sensing his presence and turning to look at him.

  Somehow he felt trapped in her green gaze. He wished he knew how she felt. It seemed she found herself drawn to him, but hated herself for it.

  Able waved him over with a wide smile. “Mr. Berkeley, I’m honored you are here. I truly hoped you would come.” He motioned with his hand. “You know Mrs. Creed, Miss Creed?”

  “Yes, I’ve had the honor of meeting them both.” He glanced down at Mercy’s arm which bore an angry red welt and remembered how it felt when his lips were on her delicate skin. He lifted his eyes to hers and could tell she remembered it too. Without saying a word, he gave them each a smile and then walked to the back pew.

  As he sat waiting, he could hear Mercy whisper, “Able, you invited Mr. Berkeley?”

  “Yes, remember I told you last night that I had heard of him. Well, I was going to tell you, but I needed to make sure. He donated money to the Abolition Society of Philadelphia, in the past. A mutual friend of ours gave me money from an anonymous donor. I found out it was from him.”

  “When you said you had heard of him, I assumed you were going to say something negative.”

  “Why would you assume that?”

  “Because most people only like to repeat negative information.”

  “I suppose that is true, but I have nothing negative to say about him. Even if I did, I’m sure I wouldn’t say it. I’ve no desire to be a talebearer. Anyway, I’m honored Mr. Berkeley is here.” He pulled out his watch and looked at it. “I should get this meeting started, Mercy, so go find a seat.”

  Addison wanted to jump up and pat the man on the back for being so kind. He hadn’t wanted anyone to know of his donation to get this society started, but at least the man was not telling Mercy negative things about him.

  He watched out of the corner of his eye as Mercy’s mother pulled her into the pew right in front of him. With her hair up under her flowered bonnet, he had a perfect view of her delectable long neck and found himself terribly distracted. He scooted over a bit and forced himself to stare at Mr. Cotton as he passionately spoke about how evil prevails when good men do nothing.

  “Human beings aren’t cattle to be bought and sold, and if we don’t put a stop to it, who will?”

  Addison liked this fiery, young redhead and thought he was the perfect man for this position.

  When the meeting finished, Addison made his way out of the pew and stopped in front of a wall when he saw rod iron letters spelling out the scripture— Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I’m meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11: 28-29

  Rest for his soul. That sounded good. Mercy came and stood beside him.

  She stared up at him and said softly, “That is one of my favorite scriptures.”

  Nodding, he continued to stare at the words as if they were there just for him. “Hancock quoted that scripture to me recently. It stuck with me and here I see it again. It must be a sign.”

  “A sign?”

  “I need to go to church. I think I’ll come here. It seems like ordinary people attend so they can know God better. I think I’ll come tomorrow.” He glanced down at her. “Do you think that is a good idea?”

  “Yes, I do. I don’t know much about this church, but I think it is good you want to come to it.”

  “I need to get a Bible. I think I’ll go to the bookstore right now and get one.”

  “You don’t have one?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’ve a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress that Benjamin Franklin gave me. It’s his favorite book. He carries it always. I like the story.”

  “Yes, me too.

  Mercy’s mother appeared with a sweet smile. “Darling, a book I ordered came in, and I would like to go pick it up now. Able mentioned that he needed to get something too, so we can walk there together.”

  Mercy let out a little laugh. “This seems to be the day for going to the bookstore. Mr. Berkeley just said he was on his way there now too.”

  Her mother beamed. “Well, that is nice. We’ll all walk together then. Thankfully, a breeze is in the air today and it’s not quite so hot.” She placed her hand on his arm and pulled him along. “Shall we be on our way?” As they walked outside, she suggested, “I think we should cut through the Commons so we can enjoy the shade of the trees?”

  “Good idea,” Addison agreed.

  He had to bite back a smile when she dropped his arm and said, “Oh, Able, dear, I have so
many questions to ask you. Walk back here with me so I can pick your brain.”

  Mercy looked up at Addison and shrugged. He offered her his arm, but she hesitated before placing her gloved hand lightly on him.

  Casually she pointed to a blooming tree and remarked, “I love crepe myrtle trees. Lagerstroemia indica.”

  “What?”

  “The Latin name.”

  “You know Latin.”

  “A little. Mostly, just for the trees though. All Bostonian schoolboys are required to know the Latin names of every tree in Boston Commons Park. Noah taught me all the names so I could help him study. Did you know all boys learn it in grammar school?”

  Addison let out a harsh laugh. “No, I didn’t know that. I didn’t go to school.”

  She looked at him in astonishment. “Noah went to the Boston Latin School, but I assumed you went to public school. The law of 1647 says that all towns of one hundred families or more must have a grammar school, and a law passed after that said penalties were to be given to families if their sons didn’t attend, unless you are apprenticed. Were you apprenticed to anyone?”

  “No. I was too busy trying to find food for myself and my father to have time to go to school or be apprenticed. As a Bostonian child, the Latin names of trees were not a big concern for me. If a tree didn’t have a nut or a berry growing on it that I could eat, I wasn’t interested in it.”

  A red blush washed over her face as she rushed to say, “I’m sorry, Mr. Berkeley. I really didn’t know it was that bad.”

  He saw pity in her eyes and didn’t like it. He hated when people felt pity for him. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I turned out all right.”

  “More than all right, I would say. You never went to school and look at you—one of the most successful men in all of Boston.”

  “Some of the most powerful lessons in life can never be taught in books.”

  She started to respond when a loud bark interrupted her and a large dog bounded up wanting some attention. A young man came running after him with a leash in his hand and stopped abruptly when he saw Mercy.

  He drawled in an affected upper class voice, “Miss Creed. I’m sorry. Bear is just friendly.”

  “It is fine, Mr. Sneed,” she assured him, and then let out a hearty sneeze.

  Mr. Sneed offered her his handkerchief but she waved it away. His eyes roamed leisurely over her. “You are looking lovely today.” He cast a dismissive glance at Addison and then turned to greet Mrs. Creed and Able Cotton.

  As they began to stroll again, she asked, “What is wrong?”

  No doubt, she already knew the answer. She just wanted to give him the opportunity to talk about it, so with a half hearted shrug, he muttered, “I don’t like people who have dogs—they lack the courage to just bite people themselves.”

  She smiled, but shook her head and muttered, “Sometimes I’m not sure about you, Mr. Berkeley.”

  “You are not alone. Sometimes I’m not sure about me either.”

  “Well, somehow I cannot imagine you actually biting someone.”

  “No?” An enigmatic smiled played at his lips. “I can imagine it.” His eyes lowered to her earlobe and he leaned in and whispered, “I’m actually working hard to restrain myself as we speak.”

  She squinted her eyes at him, looking perplexed. “Did you just say something naughty to me?”

  He laughed and shook his head. “I think I need to change the subject to something safer, like getting my Bible so I can be reformed.”

  They walked in silence for several moments before she asked, “Do you really not like dogs?”

  “Where did you get that idea? I never said I didn’t like dogs. In fact, I want to get one now that I’ve settled down somewhat.”

  “I wish I could get a dog. I’m terribly allergic though.”

  “How awful.”

  Just then three little street urchins came running toward him with beaming faces. “Mr. Berkeley. Mr. Berkeley.”

  “Hello, boys,” he called out in a friendly greeting.

  One of them smiled up at Mercy in admiration. “Who is she Mr. Berkeley? She’s mighty pretty.”

  “Yes, she is, isn’t she? This is my friend, Miss Mercy Creed.” And then turning to them, he motioned while saying, “And this is Jimmy, Thomas, and William.”

  Mercy’s face lit with delight. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  They all just stared up at her not knowing the manners of a proper response. Addison stared at her as well. Her smile was like a ray of sunshine, radiant and warm, and he felt it in the deepest and coldest places of his soul.

  Somehow he managed to pull his eyes away from her face and broke the silence by asking, “So what are you boys up to today?”

  “Jimmy just caught a frog.”

  Squatting down in front of the little boy, he gave him a nod of approval. “Is that so? Let me see?”

  The little boy carefully opened his hands just an inch so Addison could peer in at him.

  “A fine specimen of a frog, I must say. But I’ll make a deal with you. If you go put him back, I will give you money to get a toy you cannot kill.”

  “You’ll give us money again?” The boys asked.

  “But it’s based on a bargain. Do we have a deal?” Three heads nodded enthusiastically. “All right then.” He reached into his pockets and pulled out some coins and placed a few in each outstretched palm. “But I need to tell you each something important.” He brought their heads toward him and whispered something so no one else could hear. They all nodded solemnly and he patted each of their backs and called, “Be good.”

  When he and Mercy began walking again, she asked, “What did you say to them?”

  “Mr. Hancock started an orphanage in town and I’m trying to convince them to give it a try. They are reluctant, but I suppose I don’t blame them. When you are used to being free, confinement of any sort feels like jail.”

  Her thoughtful eyes swept over his face. “Do you miss your life at sea?”

  “Sometimes.”

  When he offered nothing else, she stated, “It’s nice you gave those little boys some money.”

  “Your father gave me money once and I was able to buy a warm coat and some shoes. I’ve never forgotten that.” He stopped and pulled her to face him. “That’s why it’s so important to me that you know I would never hurt your father. In fact, I want to help him if I can. Do you think he would let me?”

  The question obviously took her by surprise and as she contemplated her response, he continued, “Listen, Miss Creed, your father has been successful in shipping since before I was born, so I don’t mean to sound presumptuous, but I would be more than happy to sit down with him and try to figure out what is going wrong. I would feel honored if I could help. Do you think he would be offended if I offered to go over his books?”

  She turned away and kept walking. “I don’t know. My father isn’t a proud man, but he might not trust you. Many people have taken advantage of him over the years because he is so trusting. Good men have a hard time conceiving that other people can be truly evil.”

  “There are many truly evil people in this world unfortunately. Selfish, evil people that cannot see past their own reflection in the mirror.”

  “And you are not one of those people?”

  “I certainly hope not.” He asked sarcastically, “Are you?”

  She surprised him by saying, “I don’t think I’m truly evil, but I’m beginning to think I’m terribly selfish. But maybe you cannot separate the two.”

  “Why would you think you are selfish?”

  Looking away she bit her lip and he could see numerous emotions flickering across her pretty face. Finally, she looked up at him. “I want to be good and make my family proud of me, but…well, sometimes I wonder if Noah would be proud of me.”

  “I’m sure he would.” He had wanted to talk to her about her brother, and this seemed a good opening. “I’m sorry about your brother, Miss Creed. I heard he died in the war
? I wanted you to know that I met him. Once when I made a shipment of supplies to the troops stationed in Valley Forge, Washington sent a young officer to meet me in a coach. His name was Noah. I found out last night from Washington that this was your brother. He was a fine young man. I’m truly sorry he died.”

  “I’m sorry too. I miss him.” Glancing up, she asked, “How well did you know him?”

  “Not well at all. We chatted on the journey for a couple of hours and he told me he missed his family and worried about his little sister. As I said, just last night, I found out his little sister was you.”