My heart beat hard, knowing what would happen next.
“Nadine will be cared for,” I assured him. “She’ll sleep here tonight, and you can collect her tomorrow. Mrs. Drywell will give her some medicinal herbs to calm her nerves and to heal any lingering ailments the miscarriage might have created.”
“Thank you,” he said, his brown eyes filled with a myriad of emotions too tangled to unravel.
I took a deep breath, hoping—willing—for him to tell me that he was having second thoughts about letting me go.
“I suppose I will head toward Middleburg,” I said, trying to push back the tears that wanted release. I couldn’t even look at him. It hurt too much.
“I can’t let you return to your grandfather in such a state, lass.”
I had been dirty for so long, I hardly noticed anymore. “I can’t walk back to Huger alone dressed as a woman. It would be too dangerous.”
“I will escort you home, if you’ll allow me.”
I finally looked at him, though it felt as if my heart was tearing. The longing in his eyes was so keen, it took my breath away. I wanted to shake him and ask him why he was letting me go when he didn’t need to.
“I’ll see you safely home before I return to theOcean Curse,” he promised. “I’d go mad with worry if I didn’t take you myself.”He touched the sleeve of my shirt—his shirt—and said, “But first, I’ll take you to buy a gown, and then I’ll get you a room at an inn where you can take a proper bath. We’ll rent a carriage, and I’ll return you home in the morning.”
We could have one more day together. The thought was both a relief and more agony.
It took me so long to respond, he asked, “Will it please you, Caroline?”
I nodded, unable to find words to convey how much it would please me.
He took me to Broad Street, where we found a dressmaker’s shop. If the woman was surprised to find two men enter to purchase a gown, she didn’t show it. She seemed too interested in making a sale, and I didn’t blame her.
There were three ready-made gowns on display that would fit me. One was yellow, one was blue, and the third was maroon. Each was exquisite, made of the finest silk or cotton, with stomachers, bodices, petticoats, skirts, panniers, and lace.
“Choose whichever you prefer,” Marcus said quietly.
I didn’t even want to touch the fabric for fear I would soil it. “They’re too fine,” I told him.
“Nay.” His eyes were on me and only me. “They are not fine enough.”
I turned from him, needing to protect my heart. “Which color do you prefer?” I asked him.
He approached the blue gown, which was the most stunning of the three and no doubt the most expensive. It had fine lace trailing from the sleeves and a stomacher with intricate needlework of darker blue flowers.
“Blue, like the waters of the Caribbean near Nassau.” He turned to the shop owner, who was watching us with wide eyes, and said, “I’ll take the dress and anything necessary that goes with it.”
Her eyes grew wider, if possible, as she nodded and went to work gathering all the necessary undergarments, stockings, shoes, and more.
“I cannot ask you to spend so much,” I told him, grabbing hold of his sleeve to stop him. “I’ll use my own money.”
“Please don’t deny me this small pleasure.”
His words made me ache, but I nodded.
He pulled several gold coins from his pocket, which caused the shop owner to increase her speed, calling on a girl in the back to come and assist her.
“Could you recommend an inn nearby?” Marcus asked her.
“Indeed, sir.” She scurried out from behind her counter and went to the door. She pointed to the west, away from the harbor. “The most beautiful inn is just down the street. A fine establishment with a good reputation. Called the Lining Inn. Tell them I sent you.”
Soon, we were walking out of the shop with the owner’s young son, who was carrying all our packages.
I felt conspicuous, but Marcus seemed not to notice the attention we generated.
