Allan nodded, so serious. ‘“Time and tides” is what my papa says. Isn’t that it?’ he asked John.
‘Aye, laddie. Time and tides, Signorina Sofia, and one thing more: we are doing our best to get you to safety.’
‘I thank you,’ Sofia said.
Anna saw the sympathy in his eyes. So much for Royal Navy captains being made of iron. She took Sofia’s hand and gave it a squeeze, touched by answering pressure from a young lady made old too soon, another child of war.
John rose. ‘I must take my leave.’ He turned to Madame Durand, who had brought in more toast. ‘Did Hector arrange for that pony trap?’
‘Oui, Capitaine,’ she said. ‘Will you return soon?’
‘I never know,madame, but I do know someone will be here soon for our lovely guest.’ He nodded to Sofia, his eyes kind.
‘Thank you for bringing me here, Captain Beattie,’ Sofia said. ‘I promise to be a good guest.’ Her expression was a curious blend of apology and good will. ‘I probably didn’t need my list of demands.’
‘You shouldn’t need them where you are going,’ he said. ‘I hope you won’t be seasick on the yacht. I didn’t see anything on your list aboutmal de mer.’ He turned to Anna. ‘Kiss me quick, Mrs Beattie.’
And he was gone again. Madame Durand gave a piece of toast to Allan, and he piled on the marmalade. Sofia took another sip of her tea. Pru left the room, saying something about making her bed. Dame Routine had reasserted herself. Now it was time to miss the Captain all over again.
But there he was at the door. He motioned her outside.
‘Did you forget something?’ she asked.
‘I did indeed. Something I was going to show you.’
He handed her a picture of herself, the drawing done by a child, but the artist had captured her big eyes. She smiled, guessing who had drawn it.
‘Admiral Collingwood told me Allan sketched this when you and I were in Gibraltar,’ he said. ‘He gave Allan a box of coloured chalk he had been saving for his girls.’
‘I had no idea. How kind. You know, Allan is rather talented,’ she replied, touched and delighted at the same time. ‘Thank you.’
He took it back. ‘I want it. I have a place for it on theSwallow.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I have a picture of Cathy.’
‘I know,’ she said quietly.
‘Be patient with me,’ he said, his voice soft, too. He kissed her and closed the door.
Anna returned to the gardener’s shed to gather the sheets and empty the night jar, homely tasks that reordered her worldagain. She noticed Pru walking up from the steps to their inlet. Pru hurried to her, eyes wide.
‘Where were you?’ Anna asked.
‘I don’t like it when Captain Beattie leaves. I… I wanted to see theSwallowone more time, you know, from our own little inlet.’
Anna held up a finger. ‘I did ask you to tell me before you went down there, do you remember?’
She nodded, her eyes troubled. ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.’ Then Pru came closer and whispered, as if conspirators lurked. ‘There was a flaming torch. What does that mean?’
Chapter Thirty-Two
What, indeed? Anna knew she could brush it off with a laugh, but this was Pru, who watched over them all. She knelt beside the child. ‘Perhaps someone is interested in us.’
She knew she could not say something like that to Allan, but Pru was older than her years. Her reply gave voice to Anna’s fear. ‘More like the Captain’s business.’
‘More like,’ Anna agreed. ‘Say nothing of this to anyone, my dear.’
‘Can you… Is there any way to tell the Captain?’
‘Only if we lived in a magical world far different from this one,’ she said frankly. ‘We must wait until he returns.’ She managed a smile. ‘You and I are good at waiting. We are also good at saying little to others.’
