Iron Seas 03 - Riveted

was.
    David nodded, looking Goltzius over again. Despite the bandages, the man looked well enough. No sickly color, no fever. “How are you, then?”
    “Just torn up. Worse on the legs, but aside from the scars, I’m assured I’ll walk easily enough again. Your aunt has taken fine care of me.”
    “And she’s not the only one, I see.”
    “An unexpected reward for rushing headlong into danger withoutthe sense to first grab a club.” Goltzius’s smile seemed flat now, his humor strained. “But I did not ask you up here to wag on about my heart. I must confess a deception to you both.”
    Dooley’s bushy brows rose. “Oh?”
    “Yes.” He met David’s gaze squarely. “I was sent here by my cousin to determine whether rebuilding Dutch settlements would be a viable effort. We knew that di Fiore was bringing Castilian laborers in, and we didn’t want to lose the island through our inaction if it was worth having.”
    David exchanged a glance with Dooley, saw the same lack of surprise.
    “We know,” he said.
    Goltzius blinked. “You know?”
    With a laugh, Dooley claimed the chair beside the bed. “Kentewess and I have been out on expeditions too many times for such news to set us back on our heels now. There’s never been any place we’ve ever been that didn’t profit or benefit some Society patron. Sometimes, that purpose is well hidden, and we have to look sideways to see it. The moment you came on in place of our first botanist, though, we only had to look at you straight on.”
    “Ah, well.” A flush rose over the young man’s cheeks. He cleared his throat. “When we’re in New Leiden again, I’ll do what I can to see that the survey continues. I won’t be able to return, however.”
    “Well, we’ll still need a botanist, won’t we?” Dooley frowned. “Is it the dogs? You’ll heal up, get back on your feet. With our equipment, we’ll be prepared for them.”
    “Not the dogs.” Beneath the curling red mustache, his mouth firmed. “I have another interest now. I will soon be married.”
    There could be no question as to whom. Torn, David clenched his jaw. With Heimaey gone, Maria Madalena and her lover had almost no protection. A husband could provide it, and no one would think anything of her nurse accompanying her, remaining by her side.
    But did Goltzius know? Even if her attitude changed with him, even if she showed affection, that couldn’t be the love Goltzius hoped to have. Perhaps that would be enough for them both—and if Goltzius loved her, surely he wanted to protect her.
    David didn’t know what choice either one of them had.
    “Senhorita Neves?” A troubled expression tightened Dooley’s face. “You have spent a bit of time with her.”
    “Yes.”
    The older man made an obvious effort at humor. “And now you’re in love? You and Kentewess both. They must have been serving quite the dish at the captain’s table. Lucky for me, my heart’s already taken, or I’d be weeping over Vashon.”
    Goltzius managed a smile, but it didn’t last. “Yes, well. I believe it was something she ate after Heimaey. There was some talk about the women there, if you remember. We thought it best to put those notions to rest before she and her friend were hurt by them.”
    So he did know—and planned to sacrifice his own happiness to protect her. “You’re a good man.”
    “No doubt of it,” Dooley said.
    “And she’s a forceful woman.” Goltzius laughed a bit. “This wasn’t the adventure I expected, but I will see where it takes me.”
    Not far, if David didn’t start off soon and bring help. With a warm wish for Goltzius’s recovery, he took his leave, walking with Dooley out into the snow.
    A frown had etched itself across the other man’s forehead. “He’s a stronger man than many,” he said. “It would be easier to hurt her, I’d think. To force her into the role he wants her in.”
    Uncertain, David simply looked at him.
    “What, you were thinking that I don’t have eyes to see or ears to hear? My mother didn’t push me out squalling yesterday.”
    “Or even the century before,” David said dryly.
    “That’s a fact, and accounts for all the wisdom I’ve gained and you refuse to heed. So are you all right to go?”
    Aviators surrounded the troll. None of them seemed to be carrying anything, so whatever supplies they were taking must have already been loaded.
    “I think so.”
    The older man glanced up. “Not much snow to cover