‘All the time,’ John said, which touched Anna deep in that place only he had reached inside her.
‘Then how…’
Yes, how? I want to know, too, Anna thought. She hesitated, then put her hand on his leg.
He was silent for a long moment, this husband of hers, silent until he looked up at Admiral Collingwood’s ‘Hello!’ across the little commons ground, where he stood by the donkey and cart, their luggage already loaded. John raised his hand in acknowledgement.
He looked at her, so serious, then down at Allan. ‘I do it for you, son, and Missy and Pru. It is my duty to swallow my fear and protect those I love and our nation, God save it.’
His smile was for Anna alone. ‘Let’s go and see our new home. Allan, I’ll wager you can outrun Pru.’
The children took off towards the admiral and Bounce.
‘Was I wrong to say that?’
It was her turn to think of some way to express how she felt to this man she admired more every moment. She thought of the grinding war that had been going on for more than a decade now.
‘You were perfectly right,’ she said softly, for his ears only. ‘Counting the cost is more mathematics than I can do. I will never know your sort of courage.’
He kissed her hand. ‘Though painful at times, it’s also easy when you consider the alternative. As for your courage, don’t underestimate yourself. I shan’t.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Exploring a new house, more exotic and grand than she ever could have imagined—hers was a logical mind—convinced Anna that she could overlook those little green lizards that even invaded houses. She clapped her hands with pleasure to see an actual bed.
Evidently Allan had a logical mind, too. ‘Missy, it’s only a bed. Pru and I have already found two more rooms with beds just down the hall.’ He grinned at his father, who listened to this whole exchange with something more than glee, if the slow wink he gave Anna was any indication.
When the children raced after Admiral Collingwood, her husband sat her down on the bed. ‘Will it work? We could try it out right now.’
‘You are absurd,’ she countered, then smiled at his Navy humour. ‘Very well, let’s close the door, but if one of those lizards I see on the balcony decides to land on us, one of us—I volunteer—will scream and the children will be back here. Care to explain that?’
‘Mrs Beattie,youare the rascal,’ he said. ‘I can wait.’
And he did, happy to explore the house with her, starting with its amazing view from their second-floor balcony, once he’devicted the lizards. ‘What a sight. I can’t see the bay from here, but I am certain we can from the beach, as the admiral said. Perfect.’
After a long look, they followed the children down the corridor. She watched Allan and Pru, hand in hand with the admiral. ‘John, it’s heartbreaking; all he wants is his family with him.’
‘I know.’
‘He’s been so kind to us,’ she said simply, not wanting to consider even a month without her husband but knowing she’d have to.
‘Aye, Mrs Beattie. I can give you no guarantee how often I can drag myself up the Pigtail Steps to…um…test the bed.’
‘Then we will leave it in God’s hands,’ she told him. ‘And you’re still a rascal.’
Where was this silliness of hers coming from? She asked herself that as she adjusted her tattered cloak of dignity around her and was all politeness when the admiral introduced them to Hector and Hermione Durand, the house’s caretaker and cook. They were an older couple. Anna smiled to see one friendly face, and a pretty one. Hector Durand appeared to possess a permanent frown. He was mannerly enough, doffing his frowsy cap but replacing it immediately. She sniffed. And where had that cape been?
Maybe it was John’s guarded expression that the admiral noticed. ‘Come, come, John. Aye, the Durands are French in origin—I was aware of that when I hired them—but they hate the turmoil of revolution as much as we do! All Menorca does. What say you, Hector?’
The glum-looking caretaker was in no hurry to reply. Finally, he put his hand to his heart. ‘Capitaine Beattie, you may repose all faith and trust in us. Our names are French; we are not, after a lifetime on both Mallorca and Menorca.’
‘Good to know,’ John replied, equally formal. ‘This lady is my new bride, and I rely on you to treat her well.’
The caretaker smiled at Anna, or at least as much of a smile as he could muster, apparently. ‘We are here to serve,madame. Hermione will sit with you soon and you will plan meals together. We will never disappoint you.’
The Durands bowed and returned to the kitchen. Admiral Collingwood watched them, then whispered, ‘Hector is a bit of an eccentric. He never takes off that ugly cape and cap, so don’t stand downwind of him if you can help it.’
‘Please tell me Madame Durand has redeeming qualities,’ John said.
