It was a veiled dare, to see if she truly wanted to be rid of him.He waited for her to march off, sweeping her skirts clear of a man like him.
Her face reddened, but she held her ground.“I don’t want to just yet.”Taking a deep breath, she confronted him.“I think we are both capable of being civil to one another.We’ve agreed that there will be nothing improper at all about our behavior.”
They had?He raised an eyebrow, but she seemed completely unaware of it.
“As traveling companions, we have no other choice, if we wish to avoid future gossip.”She squared her shoulders.“If we attempt to avoid one another, that may cause further talk.Instead, I suggest that we behave with politeness and decorum.”
It was with great difficulty that he held back his own opinions.Instead, he studied the other passengers on board the ship.
“Well?”she prompted.“Is that acceptable to you?”
His gaze fixed upon Mrs.Turner at that moment.It occurred to him that he could not watch over the widow at night.He needed someone to protect her, in case she suffered from one of her spells.
Facing Lady Hannah, he said, “You want to pretend as though we’re strangers.As though I never kissed you.”
A slight shiver passed over her, but she nodded.
“Then I want a favor in return.”Before she could protest, he continued, “There is...an elderly woman I’ve known for many years.Abigail Turner is her name, and she has joined our travelling party.”
Though he could have found another place for Mrs.Turner, he didn’t trust anyone else to handle the widow’s welfare.Others wouldn’t understand her condition, nor would they sympathize.He didn’t want Mrs.Turner sent to an asylum if she suffered from one of her spells.
Hannah didn’t answer, and he wasn’t certain she’d heard him until at last she said, “Go on.”
He stepped in front of her line of sight, forcing her to look upon him.“Mrs.Turner is starting to grow forgetful.Sometimes she doesn’t remember her name or where she lives.
“She needs someone to look after her,” he continued, in all seriousness.Staring directly at Hannah, he added, “She tends to find trouble when she isn’t looking for it.”
Hannah shielded her eyes as she stared behind him at the tall funnel.“What is it you want from me?”
He raised his voice above the din of the engines.“Would you allow Mrs.Turner to join your maids?I cannot watch over her at night, and there are no other female servants traveling with us.”
“She may join us.”Then Hannah studied him, searching his expression.“Why is she so important to you?”
He had never been asked the question, and he didn’t really want to explain it.Abigail Turner had lived near his family all his life.She was the woman who had slipped him sweets when his mother wasn’t looking, allowing Henry and him to build fortresses in the bedroom out of sheets and old pillows.As long as he could remember, she’d been like an aunt or a godmother, watching out for him.
“She saved my life,” he admitted.“After I was shot at Balaclava, I was sent back to London.Mrs.Turner nursed me back to health.”He pointed out the widow to Hannah as the woman strolled around the deck.
“How badly were you hurt?”
He sobered.“I’m alive.Which is more than I can say for most of my men.”He thought of Henry Turner, whose body he’d lain beneath.There wasn’t a day that went by when he didn’t wish he’d been the one to die instead of Abigail’s son.The loss of Henry had shattered her mind.
“I should be glad to look after her for you,” Hannah offered, holding out her hand for him to shake.
He stared down at her gloved hand, and she snatched it back, caught off guard by what she’d done.But he reached forward, taking her palm in his.The sudden touch seared his consciousness.
He took a step forward, and in turn, she stepped back, her shoulder brushing against one of the ratlines.Interesting.
He hadn’t truly intended to start this game of cat and mouse, but her reaction was intriguing.She appeared flustered, as though she didn’t know what to do about his sudden attention.
But her eyes held no fear.No, there was anticipation in them.
Michael reached up and took hold of two of the ropes.Though he didn’t touch her at all, it was the hint of an embrace.Hannah colored, but held her ground as though it were the most natural place to be, with her back against the ratlines.She glanced around, to see if anyone saw them, but they were farther back on the ship, with no one nearby.
“Why would your father force you to travel with strangers?”he asked.
“The Graf isn’t a stranger.He’s Papa’s friend.They’ve known each other for years.”
Michael took a step closer, lowering his voice.“How well do you know him?”
