Henrietta and Roseanna spent the rest of the morning in the library, well away from the disorder, though Henri suspected her cousin was keeping a low profile in case her father should change his mind about allowing her to sail with them. Rosie was subdued as they played a game of snap, clearly desperately worried about Tristan. Although she was aware of the possibility that her fiancé might actually be the heir to a French title, Roseanna was no gold digger – her concerns were entirely for Tristan and the risk he was taking. In truth, she’d have much preferred to forget she’d ever heard the name Montclair.
Henri too felt restless and anxious, though initially she couldn’t pinpoint the cause of it. After a cold lunch delivered to them in the library, Roseanna retired to their shared bedchamber to rest since neither of them had got much sleep the night before.
Once on her own, Henrietta tried to read but found herself unable to concentrate – until the sudden squawking of seagulls fighting outside finally explained what had been bothering her.The unknown sailor in the garden.While it wasn’t that uncommon for members of Fortune’s crew to come up to the house, the whole episode had made her uneasy. After mulling it over in her head for another half an hour, she finally decided to speak with her father.
Climbing to her feet, she went looking for him, only to find out a few minutes later that both her parents had gone into Torquay. Muttering under her breath about family members who leave the house without informing other family members, Henrietta wondered what she should do.
Of course, there was always her grandfather – he would undoubtedly have a theory or two. With a sigh, Henri went searching, only to discover that he, Percy and Dougal had gone with her father to show Finn around the ship. Her muttering became slightly more colourful.
By now Henrietta was feeling entirely overlooked, unconsidered and, quite frankly, unappreciated.
Andit was beginning to get dark. Fifteen more minutes and walking alone down to the harbourside would be out of the question.
Gritting her teeth, Henrietta went to fetch her coat. Then, without telling anyone where she was going, slipped out ofthe front door. The sensible part of her knew she was being extremely childish by not informing anyone she was leaving the house. She was also well aware that her Aunt Hope would have welcomed her company in the drawing room now that most of the trunks had been taken…
Unfortunately, the path ofpetulancewas not quite as easy to get off as it was to get on, and marching down the hill in the gathering dusk, Henri stubbornly nurtured her grievances, until by the time she reached the harbourside, the little voice in her head was telling her she was the most unfortunate person alive. The fact that she’d spent the whole walk completely oblivious to her surroundings did not occur to her until she realised she’d missed the turnoff toFortune’swharf and was now standing on an unfamiliar, disturbinglydarkquayside - completely alone.
Raucous laughter erupted from a nearby tavern – undoubtedly filled with dockworkers and sailors, and glancing round, Henri felt the first stirring of fear. While Torquay was on the whole a safe town, young ladies were not generally seen loitering around the seedier areas of the harbourside - unless they were of a particular kind, of course.
Biting her lip, Henrietta turned round and hurried back towards the main quayside. To her left, she could see her father’s ship rocking at anchor just beyond the wharf as the wind changed direction with the tide.
‘Lookin’ to earn yersel’ a bit o blunt, darlin’?’ The drunken words came from her right. With a small scream, Henri swung towards the voice. Panic gripped her as her eyes initially struggled to pierce the gloom, then a second later she stepped backwards as a huge hulking form lurched out of the darkness. ‘’Ow much fer a kiss?’ he slurred, taking a long swallow out of the tankard hewas carrying. He followed his words with a loud belch and a grin revealing a mouth full of rotten teeth.
‘Don’t come any closer,’ Henrietta stammered, thrusting out her arm as if that would somehow ward him off. She continued to back away, her heart beating like a sledgehammer in her chest. How could she have been such a deuced widgeon?
‘Unless you’re looking to end your sorry life as fish food, I suggest you do not come one step closer.’ Another voice, this time wintery cold.
Panting now, Henrietta looked over her shoulder at the new speaker, and let out a sob of relief as she recognised Raphael.
But this was a Raphael she’d never seen before. He barely glanced at her except to ask if she’d been hurt. At her murmured denial, he returned his attention to the man standing three feet away, who was rapidly sobering up. ‘I was jus’ bein’ friendly to the lady,’ he protested, taking a step backwards and holding his hands up in a conciliatory gesture.
‘She has no interest in the type of friendship you are offering,’ Rafe bit out, without taking his eyes off the assailant.
The man was larger than Raphael by far, and Henrietta could tell the second he realised it too. With a sneer, the brute stepped forward, drawling, ‘I think we should let the little lady decide that.’
Henri had no idea what happened next, except that a moment later her would-be attacker was rolling on the ground holding his stomach and moaning.
Eyes wide, she turned to Raphael, who looked barely winded. She just had time to notice that his eyes were like flint before hetook hold of her hand and marched her towards the lighted area of the quay. He was walking so fast that Henri struggled to keep up with him. For a second, she didn’t realise he was speaking, but eventually, his stony voice pierced the fog in her mind.
‘What the devil did you think you were doing wandering around Torquay harbour at this time of night?’
‘It’s hardly night,’ she protested, running to keep up with his long strides. ‘I wanted to speak with my father.’
‘I doubt he has the time for a conversation with a foolish chit who doesn’t know when to stay out of harm’s way,’ Rafe retorted through gritted teeth.
‘Err… excuse me one moment,’ Henrietta snapped, yanking her hand from his, causing him to stop with a muttered oath. ‘What qualifies you to decide whether I should or shouldn’t speak withmyfather? Or indeed what I should speak to himabout? The last time I checked, you certainly hadn’t developed any divine attributes.’
Raphael stared at her as though she were some kind of rare species he’d never observed before.
‘You could have been hurt – or worse,’ he finally said at length. The censure in his voice was gone, replaced by… in truth, Henri wasn’t quite sure. But the look in his eyes was unmistakable.Fear.
Abruptly, her heart slammed against her chest for an entirely different reason. The Frenchman had been terrifiedfor her. She told herself it meant nothing. He’d have come to the rescue of any woman in her position – and been equally concerned for their welfare.
Biting her lip, she looked down towards her feet. She was well aware that she’d been above foolish, and not only that, she’d told herself a complete Banbury story on her way down to the harbour. She looked up at Raphael, who was now regarding her much as he would a wild animal he was seeking to preserve.
‘I think I owe you an apology,’ she murmured, looking anywhere but into his eyes. ‘You are perfectly correct; my actions today have been those of a sulky child.’ She gave a small sigh before continuing matter-of-factly, ‘Will you believe me if I say that anxiety has turned me into the mutton-headed harpy you see before you.’
‘Mutton-headed harpy?’ Raphael raised his eyebrows at the term, and after a second, they both started to laugh. At length, shaking his head, Rafe held out his arm. ‘Please allow me to escort you to theFaith and Fortune. I believe your father is still onboard.’
