Her Caribbean blue eyes widened with intrigue.
“I am good at what I do.”
“Until a grown woman and her younger sisters upset your plans.”
“It wasn’t you.” He shook his head with the answer. “It was the ship sinking.”
She supposed he was right. How would he get or receive messages, which was more important than her getting home since the British intended to invade Martinique any day. It was a shame that nobody bothered to tell her exactly what day.
Rhys blew out a sigh and stared back out at the sea.
“The hut is not safe for you and your sisters,” he said after a moment.
“It is all that we have.”
“There are caves. I plan on searching the area for one that will be a good place for you to hide if the hut is discovered.”
Tempest shivered at the idea of being inside a cave. Animals, rodents and reptiles lived in dark caves.
“I do wish we are rescued soon.”
“I, as well, but it has been what, five days, and nobody has come.”
“That is not to say that they are not looking for us,” she reminded him.
“I am certain that they are and it is my hope that when your uncle sends a ship to investigate, a ship from the Royal Navy may have noted the distress and told them where you put in or where the ship sank.”
“I do not recall seeing one,” she said.
“There had to have been. The island is surrounded.”
“It was also dark.”
All he could hope was that someone had seen them and would soon come to the island. “I also intend to get that boat fixed so we have a means to leave Martinique if necessary. That is twice French soldiers have been near and I do not trust that they won’t wander this way again.”
“How do you propose to do that?”
“After I have found a suitable place for you and your sisters to hide away from the hut, I will go into Fort-de-France and steal what I need from the harbor. Every supply that I need to keep the boat afloat will be there.
She hated the idea of him putting himself at risk for them, but he would likely need the boat even if it was only for him.
Further, he had been working for the Home Office for ten years so he was not without experience.
No wonder he was out of sorts when they arrived. One could hardly blame him.
“Well, I should get back. If I am gone too long, one of them may come looking for me even though I told them to stay inside,” Tempest said as she shifted her weight to stand, which tipped the hammock. Not only did she lose her balance but so did Rhys and they both fell back into the sand. If anyone asked, Tempest would never be able to describe exactly what had happened, only that she was starting to stand one moment and the next she was lying in the sand staring at Rhys, and far too close to be proper.
At least she hadn’t landed directly on him because that would be quite unseemly.
His green eyes warmed as a blond eyebrow arched and then he looked at her lips.
Her heart pounded and while her breaths grew short, Tempest tried to convince herself that it was because the fall had knocked the air from her chest. She knew it was a lie but it was better than admitting that she had wanted Rhys to kiss her.
“Um…yes…well.” She pushed herself to sit only to note that her skirt had slid up her thighs, likely because her legs had been in the air as she fell backwards, and exposed a good portion of her legs—the lower part, her knees and some of her thighs.
Before she could straighten her clothing, Rhys was already coming to his feet, but stopped when he noted her legs, which were without stockings because it was far too hot.
His green eyes only grew darker as he sucked in a breath.
