‘And I love you, Anna,’ he said. She heard his truth at last, as something finally settled in her heart, never to leave.
She felt him chuckle as he disentangled himself but didn’t leave their bed. ‘Now that you’re not moaning in my ear, I hear Duty demanding my time.’
‘Wretch! Ahem, I can be dutiful, too. May I assume that theSwallowis tucked away close by?’
‘Aye, lass.’ He laughed softly, keeping her close. ‘In case you’re interested in nautical matters now, my amiable wench, we’re anchored in our inlet below the house.’
‘How did you get into the house?’
‘That veranda door leading into the sitting room never had a good latch,’ he said. ‘To be honest, I made sure it didn’t when I left, and so informed Bartleby. He was waiting for me downstairs and helped me with something else that needed to be done.’
‘Which was…’
‘We must have been especially quiet.’
Anna sat up, nerves on edge. ‘The Durands!’
He tugged her down. ‘No worries. He met me with two hammers, long nails and three wicked-looking slats.’
She held her breath. ‘Breathe,’ he commanded. ‘Monsieur was drunk so he was no problem. Marines are good at what they do! Bartleby stuffed a rag in Madame Durand’s mouth and held her down with his knee on her back while I took off that rattling belt of keys and found the one to the pantry. I shoved the drooling Hector inside and Bartleby tossed in the woman. I locked them in, then we used those boards to secure the kitchen door. It’s perfect. No windows. Food, so they can’t complain wedidn’t feed them. Oh, and I took out a sack of bread for you three, and that wonderful stuff they make here and callmahonnaise.’
‘Husband, you amaze me.’
He laughed and patted her shoulder. ‘Anna, I never thought of myself as the swashbuckling type. I’m a captain in the Royal Navy, not a member of a pirate band. Believe it or don’t, I am inclined towards modesty.’ He shook his head. ‘This adventure seems to have brought out my derring-do.’
‘I’m not complaining,’ she teased in turn. ‘Write your memoirs some day, if you have the nerve. Otherwise, when we’re old and grey, no one will believe our sojourn on Menorca.’
He sat up. She knew what was coming and stood first, putting on her chemise, then taking his hand and kissing it.
‘I know you cannot stay,’ she said quietly, ‘you and Private Bartleby.’
‘Heisstaying here. I won’t leave you defenceless. Thank you,’ he said as she handed him his smallclothes. ‘We of theSwallowowe him a great debt. He was there at the inlet when we sailed in, and told us to dock out of sight.’ He shuddered. ‘Good God, Marines. He cheerfully announced that he had twisted the schoolmaster’s neck, so both torches would keep burning. Captain Tyler and theHartfordare pulling out about now. We’re next.’
As he dressed, Anna tried to memorise everything about him, this confident lover, this highly skilled captain, who only months ago, as a distraught father, had knocked on her door and changed her life. There was nothing desperate about him now, and she rejoiced.
He held out his hand to her. ‘Come, Anna. Toss on that dress and see me out.’ He rubbed his hands together, partly, she suspected, to make her smile. ‘I do like a good surprise. Imagine how surprisedLa Guerrewill be.’
When he put on his uniform jacket, she tucked in Cathy’s note. ‘Keep it with you as long as you need it, dear heart,’ she told him.
He patted the note. ‘There is room for both of you, Anna.’
‘I thought there might be,’ she said softly. ‘I do have a question, though.’
‘You want to know how you are so lucky to have married such a prodigious lover? Eh? Is that it?’
‘You are a rascal,’ she said calmly. ‘Where did Mrs Beattie go? You have called me that for so long.’
He bowed his head. When he looked up, she knew.
‘Mrs Beattie was a convenient wife,’ he said. ‘She had her place. But Anna is my dear heart. And I am hers.’
Anna kissed him, just a simple kiss, until it filled their universe.
She went down the stairs with him, nodding to the Marine who stood at the foot. In fact, she held out her hand to him. ‘None of this bowing,’ she said simply. ‘Shake hands with me, David.’
He shook her hand, glanced at her husband, then kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll keep them safe for you, Captain,’ he said.
Her husband kissed her other cheek. ‘You’ll probably hear the battle, Anna,’ he said. ‘Be strong.’
