‘John, you need to know something else. It may not matter, but it might.’
‘Tell me.’ He sighed. ‘If you could make it good news, I’d be grateful.’
‘I don’t know what it is. After you sailed last time, Pru went down those steps again. You remember, the ones down to the inlet.’
He smiled at that. ‘What a delight! I have to admit it was grand of you to give us a send-off from our own private inlet last time. All the same, better tell Pru not to do that again by herself. Those steps look risky.’
‘I’ve already mentioned it to her. But you might find this useful,’ she told him. ‘She went down near dusk after you’d left this last time, and discovered a torch burning. There were two torches by the rope ladder. Do you think…?’
She knew her man. He raised up on one elbow to look at her.
‘We have wondered how someone always seems to know when we are in port. One torch? That might be the signal for theSwallowleaving port.’ He lay back and stared at the ceiling. ‘Two torches probably mean our arrival.’
He pulled her close this time, as if wanting to burrow inside her forhiscomfort. ‘This changes everything. We have to be certain, Anna. Up you get. God forgive me, but I am about to tell a monumental lie to our children.’
She heardour childrenthe loudest and longest, untilmonumental liepushed its way through, shouldering aside the sweetness. He opened the door, stepping back in surprisebecause the children still waited there. Anna watched John kneeling down to gather Pru and Allan close.
‘We heard Missy crying,’ Allan said, his expression troubled.
‘She was overjoyed to see me, laddie. That is all,’ her generally truthful husband said, and then, ‘I’ll admit I was near tears of joy myself, to learn that Sofia is now in the care of her uncle, who will see her to a better place.’
You can be a shrewd liar, she thought.She is certainly in the care of her uncle. As for a better place? Unlikely. Still, it sounded true enough to satisfy the children. She glanced at Pru watching, not wary now but considering. Maybe she would always be that way.
Anna exchanged glances with her husband. ‘You or me, dear?’ she asked.
She was right. ‘Me,’ he said, then smiled at his son. ‘Allan, I have something for you in my duffel. It’s right on top.’
Allan brightened. ‘Where?’
‘I left it inside the front door.’
When Allan hurried off, John held out his arms to Pru. ‘We haven’t much time, but Allan is too young to hear this. Come here, Pru.’
She settled on his lap.
‘Pru, I didn’t want to tell you what really happened, but I know you are more aware than I have given you credit for.’ Another breath. ‘The man who came for Sofia was her uncle, aye, but let me tell you what happened to her other uncle. It’s not a pretty story.’
He was economical with his words. Anna watched Pru’s face and saw the sadness.
‘I was hoping it would be different,’ she said at last, then half turned on John’s lap to look at his face. ‘You told Allan and me that Sofia was in safe hands. You’re not really very good at lying, Captain Beattie.’
‘Maybe I don’t do it enough,’ he replied, which made Pru shake her head.
Anna took Pru’s hands in her own. ‘Tell us how you knew he was lying.’
‘Your voice changed, sir. You looked at me then looked away.’
‘You’ve had too many people tell you one thing and do another, haven’t you?’ he asked. ‘I won’t do that again.’
‘I would know if you did,’ Pru said. ‘What isreallyin your duffel?’
‘It really is a sack of lemon drops. I know Allan likes them. Do you like lemon drops?’
‘I’ve never tried one,’ she said longingly.
‘Tell Allan to share, Captain’s orders.’
‘Aye, sir,’ she said, and darted away.
