“We are not allowed coffee,” the child said.
“Then cocoa. That should keep you happy.”
“Cocoa?” Ruth asked suddenly interested.
“Yes. I brought supplies back to make some—cocoa, chili, allspice, vanilla, maize…I had assumed that you had already drank it.”
The sisters looked at Tempest, accusations in their eyes. Had they not known about the cocoa?
“You drink cocoa, Mr. McNaught?” Nicoll asked with disbelief.
“I may have a liking for it,” he reluctantly admitted. “I do not always drink rum.”
“I am coming with you,” Tempest announced.
“You are not going into Fort-de-France! Are you mad?”
Tempest pursed her lips, tilted her chin and stared him down, as if he were a clodpoll. “To find a place for shelter. I am no fool, Mr. McNaught.”
No, she was not. That had been confirmed yesterday. However, it was best if he did this alone and stood back to take in her appearance. She still wore the deep rose gown that she’d had on yesterday when they fell into the sand and the one that had exposed a good portion of her legs.
“You are not traipsing through the forest in a dress,” he argued. “It will get torn and dirty. I can find a cave on my own.”
“I must insist.” Tempest pushed the cup of coffee into his hand then pressed her palm against his chest and maneuvered him out of the house. “You will wait for me,” she said right before she shut the door on his face.
He could leave while she changed and made use of his clothing again, but then she’d probably try and track him down and end up getting lost in the forest.
Besides, if he did find a good place to hide, she would need to know where it was since it was for them and their safety.
He paced and whistled until she finally emerged in a pair of his dark brown trousers and ecru linen shirt.
“Shall we search?” she asked brightly.
There were far more pleasant things that he would like to do, several of which came to mind when she bent to slip on her shoes, revealing her bum when the shirt rose up. Now she simply stood beside him waiting.
“What of your sisters?”
“I told them not to go beyond the terrasse.”
“It is better if they do not leave the house at all.”
“Yes, well, we cannot keep them prisoner and I do not think more French soldiers will be in the area today.”
“How could you possibly know that?” His exasperation of her assumptions was not concealed in his tone. “What if the captain was upset at not having turtle soup and sends more soldiers to find one?”
Tempest rolled her eyes. “Then the girls will hide again.” She then marched past him without a care.
Rhys snatched up the torch that he’d stuck in the sand at the corner of the terrasse, which he had used previously when he ventured through the forest at night and assumed it would be needed to inspect a cave, if one was found.
“Why did you insist on coming with me?” Rhys demanded as he caught up with her.
“Ruth is afraid of spiders and Ann is attracted to snakes and has to be warned constantly that they bite and could kill. Margaret does not like complete darkness and Nicoll does not like being in close, narrow spaces. Then there is Ellen who likes to wander so the cave cannot be so deep that my youngest sister could be lost.”
“Would you like me to dig one out of a hill to your exact specifications?” he suggested, sarcasm at the edge of his voice.
“While that would be preferable, it is far from expedient.” Tempest marched on.
“You do realize that we are not likely to find the perfect accommodations if we find a cave at all.”
