She felt him pull back and set her away from him, oh so gently, and she wanted to scream. Blindly, she started to turn away, wanting nothing more than to escape. In answer, he tightened his grip and for a second the fear returned. Opening her eyes she looked up at him in panic… and gasped.
His eyes revealed his regret, but not only that. They exposedalonging– fierce and unmistakable.
‘I can offer you nothing at the moment, chérie,’ he murmured, staring down at her. ‘And I can make no promises that the future will be any different.’ He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, she saw clearly for the first time just how much he was torn between his unwavering sense of duty and the desire to live a different life. ‘All I ask is that you wait until this thing is done,’ he finished hoarsely.
She stared back at him, swallowing the sudden lump in her throat - there now for a different reason. She sensed his pain, his isolation and, above all, his overwhelming desire for peace.
A peace she knew she could give him.
Hesitantly, she lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. ‘I will wait as long as you wish me to.’
‘Oy, you in trouble, miss?’ They had entirely forgotten the lamplighter, who’d finished lighting the lamps to the top of the hill and was now on his way back down again.
With a mischievous grin, she turned round and gave a small curtsy. ‘I am perfectly well, thank you, kind sir. I fear my husband is a trifle disguised and consequently a little befogged. We are minutes from home, however, where a large bucket of cold water is ready and waiting.’ She ignored Raphael’s incredulous look and, tucking her arm in his, urged him forward, murmuring, ‘Come along dearest, not far now.’ As they passed, she smiled at her would-be rescuer, who gave a bemused shrug before continuing down towards the harbour.
‘He thinks you a light skirt,’ Raphael declared flatly when they were out of hearing distance.
‘Quite likely,’ agreed Henri. ‘But I doubt he would recognise me again in broad daylight, so no harm is done.’
‘I should not have…’ Rafe started but got no further as Henrietta stopped and shook her head.
‘There is nothing more to say,’ she declared bluntly, facing him. ‘At the moment, our focus must be on the task at hand. What comes after…’ She left the sentence unfinished and gave another smile, this time wistful. ‘We will see.’
‘Wise, as well as perceptive, observant and astute,’ he declared drily.
‘Don’t forget nosy…’
Fifteen minutes later they arrived at Redstone House, and as Raphael pushed open the gate, Henrietta immediately felt the earlier, easy familiarity begin to slip away. Instead of the light-hearted teasing that had felt so natural, their approach to the front door felt awkward and stilted.
‘I think perhaps it would be better if I speak with your father onboard the Fortune,’ he suggested ruefully as they faced one another on the doorstep.
‘Running already?’ Henrietta quipped, then could have bitten out her tongue.
To her surprise, his lips quirked. ‘I can assure you, Miss Carew, I have no intention of running anywhere. But your altercation with the lamplighter brought home the precariousness of your situation, and I do not wish to risk your reputation any more than I already have. In truth, I was not thinking straight when I offered to walk you home.’
‘Neither was I,’ Henri sighed after a moment. ‘Clearly, I’m not quite as astute as you imagined.’
‘Where matters of the heart are concerned, it’s very difficult to be objective,’ Raphael responded quietly, staring down at her.
‘Very,’ she repeated faintly, wondering if he was going to kiss her again.
Instead, he drew in a ragged breath. ‘Speaking of astute,’ he finally went on huskily, ‘I don’t believe we finished our conversation earlier.’
‘No, I don’t believe we did,’ Henri answered, her own voice barely audible. ‘What was it you wished to say?’
‘I would very much appreciate it if you would keep your eyes and ears open, Miss Carew,’ he murmured. ‘Even the smallest of incidences can make a difference when put into context.’
‘Especially when one is both astute and observant,’ Henrietta returned with a quirk of her lips.
He bent his head in acknowledgement. ‘My thoughts exactly. If you see the man again…’
‘…I will provide you with everything from the colour of his eyes to his shoe size...’
‘…And of course, his tailor…’
They stared at each other, the absurdity of their conversation abruptly knocking down the unexpected barrier.
‘So, you wish me to be your eyes and ears, Mr Augustin,’ Henrietta murmured at length. ‘Will I receive a salary?’
