Connor had been right about the trip and passage was rough. She was never so glad as to see dry land as when the ship arrived in Kingston. She sat on her trunk at the edge of the dock, her stomach heaving until the ground stopped its apparent movement under her feet. She climbed to her feet unsteadily and headed for the fort. She approached the captain of the guards, a gold chain glittering around his neck. "The father of understanding guides me. I wish to speak to someone in the governor's household for employment." She was escorted to the lieutenant governor's office and sat stiffly in one of the chairs. He sat across from her and studied her carefully. She swallowed but held her head up high. They favored strength in the Order and she had little leverage enough. "I've come looking for refuge and employment if it can be found." He surveyed the office. "I'm sure something can be found. We always have need of cooks and maids." She kept her chin level. "Then you would waste my talents. I'm good with books and ledgers or I can teach." He nodded and surveyed her outfit. "And you came alone?" She shook her head, her hand tightening on her skirt. She took a deep breath and ran a hand over her stomach. "Not alone. I should let you know now I am with child. It will be this summer." He sighed. "That will make employment more difficult you realize."
He glanced at the ring on her finger. "Was your husband a Templar?" She shook her head. "No, but my father was. I understand marrying outside the organization makes it more difficult, but he is gone now and with my father's service I was hoping an exception could be made. I'm not looking for a widow's support. I'm looking for the right to work to support myself and my child." The lieutenant shrugged. "We shall have to see. What was your father's name?" "Edward Blair" He let out an unexpected laugh. "So another Carolyn is it?" She looked up, startled. "I am Carolyn, yes." He shook his head. "Ahh, Carolyn Blair sank with the Sovereignty. You're not the first person to come trying to use her name looking for preferential treatment." Her voice was rippled with shock. "But I am Carolyn. I booked passage on the Sovereignty but did not sail with it." "How where you on the passenger manifest and reported as sailed but did not sink with the ship." She laughed bitterly. "I meant to sail. I booked passage, and came in the night before and registered for the manifest and visited friends." She swallowed and wet her lips. "There… there was a sailor I had met during the blockade. He followed me to Boston. The night before we were to sail he convinced me to stay and marry him instead. He sails ... sailed with the Lucinda. They were due back in port weeks ago but the ship did not come. It is believed to have sunk but nobody knows for sure." She allowed her roiling emotions to show in her voice. "I'm a known loyalist. With the ship believed sunk my welcome was no longer so sure." He eyed her face, the bruising around her eye still yellow and splotchy. "And I had no idea where else to go. I don't even know for sure if he lives." He waived her down. "Actually if you're speaking the truth it will be easy. We actually have a process. Come with me." She stood and he led her to a room with a large desk and a number of people standing around.
The lieutenant knocked on the wall as he entered and gestured to her. "Father! We have another Carolyn Blair." He glanced at the ring on her finger. "Actually I'm sorry. What is your name now?" She swallowed. "Carolyn Ramirez." He nodded. The governor looked up amused. "It's been months! Do you know you're the 4th woman appearing here claiming to be Carolyn Blair?" She shook her head. The lieutenant offered "To be fair she says she's looking for a job. Most of the rest wanted a hand out." The governor looked at his son, "Did you explain the rules, Jonathon?" He flushed slightly. "Not yet." He turned to her. "You'll be asked a series of questions the real Carolyn would know. If you get them right we bring in someone who can confirm if you say you are. We do not bother him otherwise. Get them wrong and you have to leave. Don't worry. We understand that you're probably desperate to try this. Though if we ever had a man claim to be Carolyn Blair we would probably hang him just for being stupid." She approached the governor and kneeling kissed the ring he wore marking him as head of the local order. The governor considered her and gestured to the rug before his desk. She took a breath and knelt before him. "I swear by the father of understanding that I am… was Carolyn Blair. My father was Edward Blair of Boston. I wrote to you asking for employment and you offered me a job as a secretary to your wife." The Governor laughed. "Well that is a good start. Though she has a secretary already now. If you're telling the truth you have nothing to fear. So far none has gotten every question right." She held her head up. "Ask me."
The people in the room turned to watch the spectacle growing before them. "What was your 12th birthday present?" Her hand went automatically to her side but she had left the dagger in Davenport. "A silver dagger… wet with the blood of the man who killed my father." He nodded and noted her movement. "Do you have it?" She shook her head sadly. "No. I gave it to my husband." "Shame. The second woman had a very nice dagger." He continued. "What was the general's name?" "Pensham" she spat the name like a curse. "When you first moved back to Boston you went by a different name for one day. What was that name?" She thought briefly. One of her first lessons from Haytham had been on people taking things as appearances. He dressed her as a boy and took her around town to see how people would treat her differently. "If you mean when I was supposed to be a boy I went by Jonathon. " She could hear people begin to murmur but kept her eyes on the governor. He nodded to someone in the back of the room. "Well done. The problem is of course each time we ask a question it becomes known and a new one must be added. If you will wait briefly?"
She nodded and kept her position kneeling on the floor. She could hear approaching footsteps and voices raised down the hall. "I don't know why you keep bothering me with these women. Carolyn Blair is dead." "She got the questions right. We need a new one." The door opened and the men reached the room. "I need only ask one question to know she is false. How many black birds where there?" Haytham's voice was hard and angry behind her. The shock of his voice ran through her and she fell to her hands. "Three! There were three blackbirds in the tree when they hung my father." She turned and scrambled to her feet to see him, her face wet with tears. He gaped at her, crossing the carpet in 3 long strides and grabbing her face in his hands. "You're alive!" She laughed and grabbed his shoulders. "So are you. You're supposed to be dead!" They hugged and Haytham turned to the governor his voice thick with disbelief. "This truly is Carolyn Blair." The governor laughed. "Actually not anymore it seems. Haytham, may I introduce you to the Widow Ramirez." He looked down at her and grabbed her hand and studied the ring. "You married?" She nodded. The lieutenant offered. "She's looking for a job. Something suitably light for an expectant mother. I thought perhaps our Port Master might be in need of an assistant." He gripped her shoulders and looked down at her flat stomach. She swallowed. "In July." She offered at last. He shook his head in disbelief. "Yes, of course I can find something for her to do. But first I think she should rest. And we have much to catch up on. There is a room near my suite, could she stay there?" The governor nodded and waived them off.
He took her by the hand and led her down a hall stopping briefly to order a room set up for her and her trunk to be brought up for the dock. He looked at her thoughtfully. "Are you hungry?" She nodded. "Starving. I was hardly able to keep anything down on the ship." Her voice was thoughtful. "Haytham, I haven't see you in the past year, have I?" He shook his head. "I have not left Kingston. Why do you ask?" She sighed, "I was very sick last year. I was having hallucinations. I thought you were there. Seeing you here alive made me wonder." He considered her. "You don't look well." He spotted her eye and grabbed her chin, turning her to see the bruising better. "Who did this to you?" She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. They're not here." He eyed her cautiously. "Come one, we'll go to my rooms." He caught the attention of a passing maid and requested tea service for two to be brought up. He escorted her to a set of rooms and sat her on a couch by the fire. The fire blazed cheerfully and the room was warm. He sat opposite her. "I recognize the ring. I'm sorry to ask this but I must know. Are you really married?" She nodded. "Yes, I really married. Last March. We had a church and vows. We even had a candle though he was not a Templar. We used my parents' rings as they fit and there was not a lot of money." She swallowed hard but she dare not tell him the truth.
He cleared his throat and asked "So did you find Connor?" startling her from her thoughts. She sighed. "Yes, I found him but I'm afraid it did no good. He's back to killing our people. At least I taught many of the people in town to read so they can get their own information." He nodded sighing. "I had hoped for more but he is stubborn." She leaned across the table and took his hand. "But how are you alive? I thought he killed you!" Haytham shook his head. "He almost did. He stabbed me but he did not kill me. He took my blade and told me to leave and not come back. I guess in the end sentiment won. Or he viewed me as no longer a threat" His eyes were thoughtful. "I would have come back for you but you were to come here and then the ship sank and you were reported as dead."
There was a knock at the door and he rose to answer it accepting a heavy tray from the maid and placing it on the table between them. She poured the cups and sugared hers liberally. He handed her a plate loaded with sandwiches and fruit. They sat in silence while they ate. Once she was done he leaned forward. "Tell me about your husband." She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it." He took her hand. "Is he dead?" She swallowed and tried to steady her breathing. "I think so. We fought and he left. Either way he's gone. I know it." Haytham held her hand. "Either way you're safe here." She nodded thankfully. "I'll work hard to make a new life. So you're Port Master?" he laughed. "Yes, Port Master for Kingston and Jamaica. Don't worry. For the most part the work is easy except for the smugglers. You've got a good head for books. You need not even come down to the port if you do not wish to. I can have them sent up here." She nodded. "Perhaps a little later. For now I think I should go about business as usual and join you at the docks." He smiled. "Good girl. Though you'll start tomorrow. I'll finish up the rest of the ships today alone. You should rest."
There was another knock on the door and he rose surprised to see the lieutenant governor standing there with an older woman. "We have the room next door ready for her. Her trunk has already been placed in there. My mother also sends up the midwife, Maggie to see that she is in good health." Carolyn blushed but nodded gratefully. She had not dared talk to Diana or Dr. White in town. She allowed herself to be escorted down the hall to a large if plain room. It did not have a formal sitting room and study like Haytham's but did have a small fireplace, a desk and a small sitting area with a table and two couches. Maggie shooed the men out and had her undress so she could exam her. "There is a good, strong heart beat and nothing seems to be amiss. Do you have any complaints?" Carolyn sighed "Only that I'm exhausted and this is the first meal I've been able to keep down in a week." Maggie laughed and patted her shoulder "That is to be expected. Though truth be told I do not recommend sea travel when expecting. But the exhaustion and nausea will pass. Try to rest now." Carolyn stood and walked her to the door. "Thank you." Alone at last she barred the door and fell into the bed exhausted to sleep.