The Affectionate Adversary
Visit Tyndale’s exciting Web site at
www.tyndale.com
TYNDALE
is a registered trademark of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Tyndale’s quill logo is a trademark of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
The Affectionate Adversary
Copyright © 2006 by Catherine Palmer. All rights reserved.
Cover illustration copyright © 2005 by Cliff Nielsen. All rights reserved.
Designed by Rule 29 and Stephen Vosloo
Edited by Kathryn S. Olson
Scripture quotations are taken from the
Holy Bible
, King James Version.
Scripture quotations in the epigraph and Miss Pickworth’s Ponderings are taken from the
Holy Bible
, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Palmer, Catherine, date.
The affectionate adversary / Catherine Palmer.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8423-7549-8 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-8423-7549-X (pbk.)
I. Title.
PS3566.A495A69 2005
813’.54—dc22 2005018812
Printed in the United States of America
11 10 09 08 07 06
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Becky Nesbitt and Anne Goldsmith,
who have guided and supported me for so many years. Thank you for reacquainting me with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and the joys of Jane Austen. If only you lived nearby, dear ladies, I might persuade you to follow my example and take a turn about the room. It is so refreshing!
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away very sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Mark 10:21-23
Contents
M
ANY THANKS
to the people who encourage and support me as I write. I’m grateful to my husband, Tim, for editing my books before I send them to Tyndale House. Kathy Olson, my beloved Tyndale House editor, thank you so much for the work you put into each manuscript. Anne Goldsmith and Becky Nesbitt, bless you for acquiring my books and guiding me along the way. Ron Beers, thank you for your vision and your faithfulness. Karen Solem, I’m grateful for your advice and efforts as my agent. To everyone at Tyndale—marketing, sales, editorial, warehouse—thank you for being a part of God’s work. Bookstore owners, managers, salespeople, may God bless you richly for your service. And to my Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for redeeming me. My life and my words belong to You. Make of me what You will.
The Indian Ocean
April 1814
Through the salty mist that blurred the lens of his spyglass, Charles Locke watched the pirate ship draw near. A large, stout vessel, it boasted thirty guns and more than a hundred hands.