Jewel of the Pacific (30 page)

Nora had seemed quite troubled. She hadn’t wanted to stay here in the palace even for a few hours. Did it have anything to do with the queen?

Eden paced across the carpet, hardly noticing the rich decoration of the guest room. Maybe Zachary was right in asking this of her. Maybe this all had something to do with the gambling cartel, or granting an exclusive right to some group to sell opium to the Chinese working the cane fields? And why would the queen give such special concessions except for money?

Ambrose was certainly concerned about the selling of opium to the sugar workers. He’d spoken of the evils of making money by harming others. He’d mentioned that King Kalakaua had given a Chinese kingpin the right to sell opium. Walter Murray Gibson, the prime minister, had worked with the king, first promising that exclusive right to one drug dealer, taken ten thousand dollars—to later sell that same exclusive right to another dealer who offered twenty thousand dollars. He never returned the ten thousand to the first dealer.

Now Ambrose feared that Liliuokalani, a decent woman, would also compromise and sign the lottery and opium bills if they were passed in the Legislature.

Just who was this secret visitor that came late, so as not to be seen? What would be discussed at a clandestine meeting at one in the morning? Couldn’t the queen have spoken to this individual during the festivities?

Eden could understand the monarchy’s need for money. Hawaii was in debt from the reckless living of the past king and his prime minister, who spent as though they were ruling kings on the level of Europe’s monarchies. Now Liliuokalani had to try to undo the waste and raise revenue to pay off those debts. Nonetheless, the great debt should not legitimize bringing in more prostitution, more gambling, and more opium. She could see why Rafe wanted to know who was influencing the queen to get corrupt laws passed upon the Hawaiian people.

Eden’s heart beat faster.
All right. I’ll spy.

When the dinner in the State Room was over Eden could hear the many guests leaving Iolani Palace in their coaches, and the calls of
aloha
and other pleasantries.

It was time to make her move. She saw that Nora was sleeping soundly. Then she opened the door to the corridor and looked out. She had no idea which apartment was the queen’s and she wasn’t about to get herself into trouble by snooping in places she had no right to be.

A few minutes later she slipped out the door. Guards were posted, as she knew, at the bottom of the beautiful carved staircase, and also on the upper landing.

Eden moved down the corridor as silently as she could in her satiny skirts. Another door opened ahead and she stepped quickly behind a large potted palm.

A woman emerged from a room that seemed to be dark. She too, seemed as bleak as a shadow, dressed all in black, or a deep midnight blue. She wore a half veil that draped from her hat to partially cover her face.

Eden now remembered where she had first seen the woman. At the time a man had been in her company, a tall, slim man also wearing dark colors—rather unusual for the tropics. This had been at Kalihi hospital months earlier when she’d followed Dr. Jerome to Hunnewell’s garden.

She had seen them together again before she went to Kalawao—at Kea Lani the morning after the prayer meeting for Rafe in the mission church. Eden had heard voices in the garden. One of those voices had belonged to Silas—and the others had belonged to this same couple.

Eden was further surprised when the woman walked confidently toward the corridor that Zachary said led to the queen’s private apartments. She seemed to know the way. She heard voices as a man greeted the woman. Then she heard a door open and shut. A few moments later Eden heard other voices sounding as if they were coming up the stairway. Eden sped back to the guest room.

Inside with Great-aunt Nora again, she regained her composure. A few minutes later she answered the door to an attendant who had come from the queen. Was Madam Derrington feeling better? Was anything needed, or could anything be done to make them more comfortable? If they wished to stay the night they would be quite welcome to do so. If Madame preferred, the royal physician, Dr. Trousseau, could see her when he arrived early the next morning.

Eden thanked the attendant profusely, but assured him her great-aunt was much better, and they would both leave for Kea Lani plantation as soon as Dr. Jerome came. With a bow the attendant left, and Eden leaned against the door. After being treated so kindly, she felt ashamed she had been sneaking about spying.

Eden bowed her head and did the one thing she could to help. She especially prayed for Queen Liliuokalani, asking that she would be led into all truth and would escape the deceptive lures of the dark spiritual netherworld. “May the queen seek spiritual guidance only from the Spirit-breathed Word of God.”

Eden was waiting by the door to the corridor when Dr. Jerome returned. He checked Nora’s pulse, listening with the stethoscope.

“Good,” he said. “Then for some reason, Nora merely had a fainting spell. Perhaps it was all due to the excitement. Her age, you know.”

Where was Zachary? Eden stepped out of the room and looked along the corridor. She saw no one, not even the usual guard near the stairway. She had turned to reenter the room when Zachary came up the stairs.

He drew her away from the doorway.

“We need to be quick. Learn anything?”

“Yes, I recognized her,” she whispered.

“The woman with the veil, all in black?”

“Yes. But you seem to already know who she is.”

“Yes, but there’s been no proof of her contact with the queen until tonight. She’s German and called Fraulein Wolf. She went to the royal apartments?”

“Yes.” She glanced about nervously, hoping the guard wouldn’t appear. “I’ve seen her before tonight on at least two occasions. Recently, in the garden at Kea Lani.”

His eyes gleamed. “Silas, of course. I’ve got to let Rafe know.”

“What do you and Rafe know about her?” Eden inquired.

“Enough to know she’s probably been hired by a certain group to influence the queen to sign the lottery and opium bills. Rafe says she’s fortune-telling with tarot card readings.”

“Yes, but why would Silas—” She stopped.

“You’ve seen him with the fortune-teller?”

Reluctantly she nodded. “At Kea Lani.”

She told him what happened in the garden on that morning when she’d heard voices arguing.

“Ah! Did you hear any of the conversation?”

She told him what Silas had said. “There was a strong disagreement.”

Zachary frowned.

“I’d give anything to sit in on the meeting Fraulein Wolf and Liliuokalani are having right now,” he said.

Eden was troubled. “I wonder how much Silas knows?”

“Too much, as Rafe puts it. Anyway, Rafe will find out in a day or two. He’s going to confront him, but he’ll have Ambrose there, too.”

Eden was relieved. It was wise to bring Ambrose, and safer for Silas who would have an opportunity for spiritual guidance.

“I say Silas is working with those who are deceiving the queen with tarot cards and advice on who to pick for her cabinet. It’s all a ruse to get what they want.”

Eden was dismayed. Had Nora seen or heard something about Fraulein Wolf? If so, it could account for the shock that had caused her to faint. What would she do about supporting the monarchy?

Eden believed Nora, with all of her firm moral convictions would be troubled enough to stop supporting Liliuokalani. She was not likely to work for annexation, but she would do nothing for the monarchy either. She would probably quietly withdraw.

Eden now faced her own decision. She knew it would not be pleasant, either way. Truth divides. And in the world of spiritual truth it was the same: “He that is not for me,” Christ had said, “is against me.” A decision for or against the Savior is required of all.

“You should know,” Zachary whispered, glancing down the corridor, “that Rafe is sure Oliver is working with the cartel. He thinks Oliver came tonight to pass information to the soothsayer. She’ll then repeat these secrets to the queen who will then be amazed that the tarot card reader could know such private matters about her, as well as events occurring around her.”

“But where would Oliver get this kind of information?”

“That’s just it, Eden. As Rafe says, there has to be someone else. Someone close enough to the queen. That’s what Rafe and I are trying to learn. Grandfather Ainsworth will be devastated because I was right about old Silas all along.”

Dr. Jerome poked his head out the door. “There you both are. I almost thought you’d deserted us. Come along, Zachary, I’ll need your help. Nora is awake and anxious to leave.”

“I can walk on my own,” Great-aunt Nora said a few minutes later when Eden insisted that she let Zachary carry her to the coach.

“Now, Nora,” Dr. Jerome said firmly, “you may not walk yet. Zachary will carry you. Come now, no protestations.”

Zachary came to the daybed and offered her an elegant bow. “Your servant, my lady. Permit me.”

Nora smiled weakly. “Oh very well, dear boy. How can I turn down such chivalry?”

A
fter the Reform Party leader, Loren Thurston, returned to Honolulu from Washington, D.C., his plan on the annexation of Hawaii by the United States—as laid out in a treatise written aboard the steamer coming from San Francisco and then sent to Secretary of State James G. Blaine—was fast sliding downhill. His plan to influence the native Hawaiians to give up their monarchy was a dream. Rafe knew the native Hawaiians were far more loyal to the idea of their chiefdom and their ancient spirits’ religion than they were to annexation and allegiance to a republic or a democracy.

Rafe Easton stood with Parker Judson, Thaddeus P. Hunnewell, and a few other men from the Legislature’s Reform Party across the street from Iolani Palace. The event of the night before had not changed political viewpoints.

If they knew the queen was listening to political advice from a soothsayer with tarot cards they’d be even more determined to end the monarchy
, Rafe thought.

All of the men held strong views on the annexation issue. They had left Aliiolani Hale, the government building across the street from the palace, and stood by King Street waiting for the last member of their group to join them for a meeting with Queen Liliuokalani.

Ainsworth Derrington finally arrived from Kea Lani. Rafe was relieved to see that Silas Derrington was not with him. Of late Ainsworth had brought his grandson with him to every important meeting of the Reform Party. Rafe had not commented, however he was now certain Silas was walking a tightrope between loyalty to the Derringtons and to previous commitments to the Louisiana gambling cartel.

Rafe needed more information on Oliver, the cartel, and the soothsayer before he confronted Silas. Until then, it was wiser to say nothing of what he knew to the Reform Party men, especially with Hunnewell’s own son, Oliver, involved.

After the greetings, Hunnewell hauled out his gold timepiece. “It’s time, gentlemen. The queen expects us. Let’s register our disappointment in her choice of new cabinet members. Let’s make it clear we won’t support certain men.”

Ainsworth looked at Rafe. “Do you have the list of our Reform men, Rafe?”

“Right here, sir.”

Ainsworth snatched his walking stick and his hat. “Then let’s walk over together, gentlemen. We need to show unity in insisting at least one Reform Party member be admitted to her cabinet.”

Rafe was uneasy. As they walked it reminded him of a military cadence.
Only drums are missing
, he thought wryly.

Whenever Thaddeus P. Hunnewell was the spokesman for something, Rafe had discovered that the cause would usually end like the nursery rhyme he’d read to Kip the night before—“Humpty Dumpty.” Humpty was more than likely to have a great fall. He wished he hadn’t shown up this morning. He looked toward the ocean. On this sunny day with blue skies and blooming flowers he thanked Father God for His compassion and for the return of his vision.

But then Eden appeared in his mind as if to remind him he had not come to the throne of grace for help in time of need concerning her.

He frowned. No matter how much she had hurt him, he needed to forgive her, forget the injury, and leave any thought of “getting even” behind him. He must move forward in faith.

Rafe knew what to do. How often had he told others to do the same thing? He understood what was expected of him, and yet anger wrestled within, demanding satisfaction.

Don’t listen to sin’s demanding voice
, he kept telling himself.
It has no more authority over you. You have a new Lord, Christ. He is there for you, on the throne of grace. Therefore, go to Him for help with confidence—