Rafe stepped closer to her and lowered his voice so the members of the crew who were on deck couldn’t hear. “I understand. My father never taught me anything useful.” Rafe cleared his throat. “At any rate, only a fool would drink and use pistols.”
Daphne would have loved to hear more about Rafe’s father. He never talked about his family. But he’d already changed the subject.
“I agree,” she said with a laugh. “I shall endeavor not to drink spirits when I’m practicing my shot.”
“Or when you’re practicing your knife throwing, either,” he added with a wink that made Daphne’s belly flip.
“Good plan,” she said. “I have to be honest. Until the other night when you told me you didn’t drink while working, I thought you couldn’t control your drinking.”
Rafe looked up from reloading one of the pistols. “I know that, Daphne.”
She pushed the tip of one of her boots along the wood-planked deck. “Why didn’t you tell me it’s not true?”
He raised both brows. “And ruin your bad opinion of me?”
She met his eyes. “Be serious.”
Rafe rammed the shot into the muzzle of the gun. “My father drank, to excess. He became angry and unreasonable when he drank. I vowed years ago that I would never follow suit.”
Daphne watched his profile solemnly. “I can’t imagine you ever being angry or unreasonable.”
Rafe shrugged. “My mother always said I didn’t take after my father, in temperament at least. Good thing, that. But still. I refuse to allow alcohol to control me.”
“Are you like your father at all?”
“No, I’m not, but—”
“But what?”
“I’m not like my father in any way that I can help. Mother always said I have his eyes. Other than that, I made my life a study of being the opposite of him.”
“How so?”
“He left us, when I was twelve. I haven’t seen him since.”
Daphne gasped. “That’s awful.”
“The man wasn’t responsible a day in his life. He was discharged from the army. He stole things, begged, got tossed in gaol a time or two. I was always ashamed of him.”
Daphne took an unconscious step toward him. “But you’re nothing like that, Rafe.”
He slid the hammer back on the pistol and handed it to her carefully. “On purpose. I vowed to live a life I could be proud of. A life in service to my country and fellow man.” He lowered his voice again. “I joined the army as soon as I could. I didn’t have parents to buy me a commission like Claringdon or Swifdon. I had to work my way up.”
She whispered, too. “And you became an officer? A spy?”
“Yes. After many years. My superior officers saw the potential in me. I was always good at talking myself out of any situation. I was stealthy, fast, blended in, got away quickly. Perfect spy material.”
Daphne swallowed. “And brave, Rafe. You’re uncommonly brave.”
“I don’t think of myself that way. I only think of doing my duty.”
“Did you always want to be a spy?”
“Yes. I think so. I didn’t know the word for it but I knew I had the ability to be in the military and do special work.”
“You are quite good at it, Rafe.”
Rafe ran a hand over his face. “Tell that to Donald.”
