‘And you would know this how?’
‘The usual way. You don’t mind if I show off my wares? Standard issue.’
If he could joke, she could, too. ‘I wouldn’t know standard issue from any other. You’re my only source of information.’
Oh, John. ‘In that case, I am well above standard issue,’ he told her as he stripped and tossed his clothes towards hers. ‘I dislike braggadocio, but the wordprodigiouscomes to mind.’No other word came tohermind, certainly. He lay down beside her. ‘This is turning into a delightful habit,’ he said.
She was more practised now, enjoying the slow rhythm, happy with how well he fitted, prodigious or otherwise. He was in no hurry, even as she felt her own desire grow. No stranger to suggestion, he increased the tempo, then fulfilled her every need as she gasped and clung to him. Then it was his turn, as she caressed his back then pressed down hard, hearing his groan of satisfaction.
‘Mrs Beattie…’
‘Yes?’
‘That’s all. Mrs Beattie.’
She enjoyed his weight, so nicely distributed above her. ‘I feel safe like this,’ she whispered finally. ‘Why is that? I mean, here we are in a garden shed, for heaven’s sake.’
‘It is because we are, at this moment, the only two people in the entire universe. Remember?’ He chuckled. ‘The garden shed is a new one for me, too.’
He kept her so close, her head on his chest now. Then began that wondrous part of marriage that probably no one ever tried to explain, but was, in its own way, pure joy: idle bedchamber chat.
She learned about how good the coffee was onSwallow, and the letter from a Fast Dispatch Vessel to theSwallow’s surgeon, announcing he was the father of twin boys, as of six weeks ago. ‘We teased him about that,’ John said, his hand gentle in her hair. ‘The sailing master wanted to know if they were called Pete and Repeat. I like that dress you abandoned a little while ago. You found a Port Mahon dressmaker?’
‘She made Pru two dresses as well, my love. Do you know, Madame Durand has a wonderful egg source. I’ve never seen yolks so yellow.’
‘The yolk’s on you, eh?’
And so on until she slept, content knowing they would do this all over again, until dawn turned them into rational human beings. The war would pick up where it had so mercifully left off. The difference? She knew she wanted more.
‘I treasure this,’ he told her after their second round of love-making, simply because who knew when they would have this chance again?
Still, she could try. ‘Do you have any idea when…’
‘I’ll be back? I never know. Up we get.’
He looked around for his smallclothes. She watched from the bed as he dressed, admiring this captain of hers.
‘Captain Tyler—Dan and I—have been keeping an eye out for each other,’ he told her. ‘I don’t want to be in port long, becauseLa Guerreknows theHartfordis a small ship and as nimble asSwallow, but without the firepower.’
‘I saw that, too,’ she said, remembering that frightening time inJaunty’s hold. ‘WhenLa GuerreattackedJauntyas we were making our way to Admiral Collingwood, the French backed away whenHartfordshowed up.’
‘Exactly. The bully is less brave when it’s two against one.’
He buttoned his trousers, mind obviously on business of a nautical nature again. ‘The man on the yacht said you can expect someone to fetch Sofia Callona soon. I hope she is not a trial to you.’
‘Under the noble mantle, she’s just a frightened girl,’ she said. ‘We will manage well for a few days.’
‘Good. You know, sometimes I feel sorry for the petty princes, dukes and counts of Italy, with their little city-states and puffed-up importance. Quarrelling, always quarrelling. If they ever unite into one country, I’ll be astounded. Hand me my neckcloth, oh, Port Mahon wench.’
They teased each other as they walked hand in hand to the house, Anna certain that to do anything else might bring tears.Breakfast was a feast of bacon and eggs, toast and spicier Port Mahon delicacies that made Allan hesitate. Anna watched Pru eat everything without complaint as she always did, knowing she watched a child used to deprivation and too wise to leave anything uneaten.
Sofia Callona picked at her food, then put down her fork. ‘I am desperate to see my parents,’ she admitted, and bowed her head.
Anna half rose in her chair, but Allan reached Sofia first. Anna watched, her heart full, as the child patted her shoulder. ‘You’ll see them soon,’ he said in his earnest way. ‘There was a time I didn’t think I would see Papa again, and here he is.’
Anna held her breath, hoping Sofia responded kindly to this child who still stayed close to her and spent a lot of time watching the water, waiting and hoping for his father’s return. She let her breath out slowly when Sofia turned sympathetic eyes on him.
‘If you can wait, I can, too.’
