“Far enough away, for now.”
She opened the door further and he walked in to find the girls glaring at him.
“Men are not to enter a room where women are not decent,” one of the children chastised.
“There were extenuating circumstances.”
Besides, he did not even see them, he just tossed the clothing and told them to be quiet. However, Miss Driscoll had been standing directly in his line of sight and wearing only a shift. He’d been too anxious for their safety and what the soldiers were about to truly note her appearance, but now he remembered and unfortunately, she was fully clothed.
He frowned.
She was wearing one of his shirts and a pair of trousers!
As was the oldest of her sisters.
The younger girls were wrapped in blankets and the clothing was draped over the table and benches apparently still drying.
“Where were they?” Miss Driscoll asked.
He explained how he had followed them and what he had overheard. “None of you are to leave the hut until I tell you so,” he ordered.
“You cannot tell us what to do.” The girl who had chastised him for entering stomped her foot.
“Enough, Margaret. We will do what Mr. McNaught says, in this instance.”
“I will keep watch and may go and check and make sure that they remain where I left them. I’ll let you know when it is safe to come back out.”
“Thank you, Mr. McNaught.”
“Why did you launder your clothing?”
“Because it was soaked with salt water and the fabric became stiff and rough. They needed to be washed and rinsed.”
At least he hadn’t run in on them naked.
“I borrowed a set of your clothing so that I was somewhat properly attired in the event you stormed in here again without knocking.” This time she pursed her lips in disapproval.
“I am very sorry but I believed your safety was a priority.”
“You could have knocked quietly,” she said.
“I will remember that next time and hopefully the soldiers won’t be near enough to hear me.” He stomped across the room and took some bread, fruit and dried meat. “Stay inside until I come back.” He then left and slammed the door behind him.
Tempest had wanted to die of mortification when Mr. McNaught had entered the hut while she wore only her shift but soon realized that he had other matters on his mind. Had he not mentioned the French, she might have chastised him, but he had only been looking out for their safety, therefore she could suffer through some embarrassment.
She did like the freedom of being in trousers and a loose shirt and would likely continue to wear this clothing until she was forced to wear a dress when they were rescued.
Why were the French walking about the island?
That was a deep concern because she and her sisters could not be found.
Then again, she could always tell them the truth, that the boat had sunk, except if they wanted to know which one and if it had been attacked on purpose, they may think she was a spy and where would that leave her sisters?
It was better not to be caught before a boat came for them.
With a heavy sigh, she stopped by the window that looked out to the forest and realized that the shades should be dropped so that nobody could see in and that was when she realized that Mr. McNaught had not left but was sitting on the terrasse.
“I will be one moment, girls,” she said as she walked to the door.
