Dillard Beach Mystery – 82

Philippa continued sorting through the small box of buttons and did not interrupt as Rebekah spoke harshly against the rumors swirling around her and those who believed in them.

“There must be something I can do, Philippa. How can I stop these vicious rumors? If no one will trust my products, they will not buy and I will be ruined.”

“Ruined?” Philippa paused in her button sorting. “I think you exaggerate, Rebekah. You have placed too much weight on success in selling these new medicinals. You are a respected midwife and worth far more than the cost of a jar of ointment.”

“But the Captain has spent a great deal of money to support me in this venture, I do not wish to fail.”

“And you will not.” She studied her friend. Rebekah looked ready to burst into tears. “Consider this: the rumors are not about the ointments themselves. From all I have heard, your skin balm has met with great success especially with the dock workers and farmers. My own husband, William, swears by it. The fear people have in using your skin balm is focused not on the balm itself but on your part in its making. Foolish people who do not know any better, believe you pass on a sickness.”

“Then what am I to do?”

“The answer is very simple, Rebekah. Stop making the skin balm!”

Rebekah was startled at her answer. “That is no answer. I have a gift for making these medicinals and they are valued by my patients.”

“I am not saying stop making the ointment altogether. Pass the formula off to your friend Emma or better yet, give it to the druggist himself and have him do the making for you. John Philbert knows your ointment to be safe and he will have no trouble selling it in his apothecary. ” She paused and waited for Rebekah to respond.

In the silence that followed, the door at the back of the room creaked open. Both Rebekah and Philippa turned to see Jacinda standing just inside the room.

Had she heard their entire argument?

“Jacinda, I did not see you come in.”

The housekeeper stared at both women. “I am sorry mistress, I did not mean to startle you.” She looked from one woman to the next. “I wonder you are here at this hour. Is there anything you need?”

“No, nothing at the moment. Jacinda.

“Then I shall be getting on. I have checked with the kitchen maid and the fires are set for the evening.” She paused, waiting for either women to respond. Neither did.

“Dinner will be served at the usual hour.”

“Thank you, Jacinda.”

Once the housekeeper had left the room, Rebekah asked, “Do you think she heard us talking earlier?”

Philippa shrugged. “Does it matter? Everything I suggested is legal. Let her fume and fuss, but Jacinda will find no fault in our plan as there is none. And do not worry about asking the druggist to help in your plan. He will help you if he knows there is coin to be made. But you must change the name of the balm and make a new label. More than that, to avoid any rumors, you must stay out of it entirely and not claim any part in the creation of the ointment. Allow the druggist to sell the skin balm in his own shop under the new name.”

Rebekah did not like what Philippa told her. “How does this arrangement benefit me or the Captain?”

“In exchange for the formula, agree that Philbert give you a portion of the profits, either directly or through an intermediary. Keep your name and involvement out of any agreement. Your formula uses ordinary ingredients that should be easy for Philbert to obtain. Let him or one of his workers manage the production.” 

Rebekah was skeptical. “Is this legal, Philippa?”

“Perfectly legal. If Captain Chapman were here he would agree. Traders and men of consequence often make many such arrangements.” She looked at her friend and smiled. “You will be one of the first women to do so.”

Rebekah paused, considering all that Philippa had said. “How is it you know so much of these things, Philippa?”

“You forget, Rebekah, I have lived with a tradesman for over two decades. After a few years, you learn how things are done.”

“I wonder if Phillbert will even speak with me about such an arrangement. I do not think he trusts me after all the rumors he has heard.”

“Then, there is nothing for it but to wait until the Captain returns. Tell your husband what you intend and ask him to take the lead on negotiating with the druggist.” Philippa paused and studied her friend who had gone silent. “You do trust the Captain to negotiate in your name?”

“Of course. But I have no notion of when he will return to Hyannis. Last we spoke was several weeks past. I have asked Jacinda when she expects The Caroline to return, but she says she does not know. It all depends on the weather and trade. The weather we can predict, but trade is never certain.”

. . .

In the week that followed her first days at the Chapman House, there was no word from the Captain. Each morning Rebekah would rise with the sun, wrap herself in a wool shawl and walk across the town common to the corner of Sea Street, the highest point in Hyannis. From there, Rebekah could gaze out at the harbor below. If The Caroline had returned in the night, her tall mast would easily tower above the other vessels anchored in the bay. Each morning Rebekah stood and studied the horizon, anxious for her husband’s return. But each morning she was met with disappointment. 

After several days without word, Rebekah stopped at the warehouse to speak with George Curwen, the Captain’s manager of affairs.

“I heard from the Captain of The Golden Eagle that The Caroline was seen in New York last week. If true, I expect she will be back in these waters no later than the second week of November.”

“And will they shelter in Hyannis for the winter?” Rebekah asked.

“They may. That decision I leave to Captain Chapman. Before he sailed, he spoke of a return to the West Indies. There is a great deal of money to be made in the sugar trade.”

“But the Captain would return to Hyannis before traveling south, would he not?”

Curwen studied Rebekah. She was an attractive-looking woman. Tall, slender and with curls of red hair that peeked out from beneath her white linen bonnet. He wondered how it was the Captain could leave her on her own while off on a long voyage. 

“I expect the ship will be back to unload trade from their voyage up the Hudson before heading out again. He paused, then continued, “Is there anything I can do ye for, Miss? The Captain told me his housekeeper would be looking out for you. Are you in need of anything?”

“Thank you no, Mr. Curwen. Jacinda has been very thorough in her managing things at the house.” She pulled her shawl tighter against the chill fall air. “But please let me know first thing, when you hear any news of my husband’s return. I am anxious for him.”

“No need to worry, Miss, Captain Chapman knows how to manage things.”

The next evening after the evening meal, Philippa and her husband joined Rebekah in front of a warm fire in the front room. While Ezra played with his wooden boat near the hearth, William Pritchett’s head began to nod. Light from the flame filled the room with a soft glow and as she looked at the elderly couple, Rebekah wondered at how very lucky she was to have such good friends.

“We will be leaving by week end, Rebekah.” Philippa announced. “William is most concerned about the cold and we must have everything properly stored at the trading post and in good repair for the winter season. It has been good to visit and help you get settled here, but it is time we go.”

“Can you not wait until the Captain returns?” Rebekah asked.

“And when will that be, Rebekah?”

“Any day now, I am sure of it.”

“I know you leave the house at dawn each morning and walk to the top of the hill keeping watch for him.” 

She paused, waiting for Rebekah’s denial.

“I worry for you, Rebekah. You wait for his return, but you have no notion of when that will be. My William is anxious about our Trading Post. We left it in the care of good neighbors, but we must go home.