“You place a great deal of trust in me, sir.”
He smiled and placed a hand over hers. “I do. I suppose many years at sea have accustomed me to assessing at speed the character of those I meet. I have known you to be a person of intelligence and decision since first we met. There are many things in this life I am uncertain of; you are not numbered amongst them.”
It was time to retire. The information from her mother and Mrs Gardiner was running through her mind. He had said he would make no demands, but perhaps she might offer? No, that would be beyond bold, and even if she had not feared to look in some fashion unladylike or even wanton, how did one say it? She undressed and got into her second-best nightgown, for somehow she had never retrieved the one Jane had borrowed. Maria came in, brushed her hair, and removed the warming pan. Then she giggled, wished her mistress a goodnight, and vanished.
Elizabeth could hear him moving in the dressing room next door. There was a bang, the sound of something metal hitting the floor, and a muffled something that was probably an oath. She dared not get out of bed, so she called out, “Is everything all right?” Gathering her courage, she added, “Fitzwilliam?”
He appeared in the doorway in his dressing gown and nightshirt, gripping the side of the door. “I am sorry if I disturbed you. I am afraid it is the da…dashed dizziness again. I knocked my purse onto the floor and when I bent down to pick it up—there it was. My own fault for not sleeping properly last night.”
“Where will you sleep?”
He came into the room and gingerly made his way to the bed. “You must not think I have come to make a nuisance of myself, but it occurs to me that it would be as well if I spent the night here. It would not do for word to get out that I did not, as it might raise suspicions about the marriage that my brother’s lawyers could exploit.” She must have looked alarmedor something, for he quickly added, “I can easily sleep in that armchair. One thing about a life at sea is that it teaches one to sleep almost anywhere.”
She looked at his face. He appeared sincere, and why should she doubt his word now? He had never been anything but kind and considerate of her feelings. He closed his eyes and held on to the covers, his knuckles whitening. She made up her mind. “This is a great nonsense, sir. We are married, and the very least I can do is offer you a bed in your own home.” She held up one side of the covers and then hopped out of bed, went round the other side, helped him out of his dressing gown and then into bed.
When she climbed back in, she found him lying on his back, his eyes still tight shut. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it.
“You are being very kind,” he said softly.
“It is no more than you deserve,” she replied. “How is your head?”
“No worse than before. I can usually sleep it off.”
“Then you should do so now. Goodnight, Fitzwilliam.”
He raised the hand he held to his lips. “Goodnight, my dear.”
Somewhat to her surprise, they were both asleep in minutes.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
She had never before shared a bed with anyone quite so large, and several times in the night, she turned over and bumped into an unexpected shoulder or knee. Once she awoke with a large, heavy arm round her waist and lay awake for a moment wondering whether he had awakened too and whether this were a preparatory move before…but she must have been more tired that she had thought, for she fell asleep again before she could decide whether or not she would welcome his attentions. When she awakened the next morning, she was alone.
She sat up, suddenly afraid he might have left before bidding her goodbye, until the sound of someone singing softly in the dressing room reassured her.
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies
Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain
For we’ve received orders to sail for old England
But we hope in a short time to see you again.
He had a pleasant, tuneful voice, and she lay in bed for a few minutes listening to it until a glance at the curtained windowsshowed it was getting light, so she hurried to wash and dress, anxious to make the best of what little time they had left. She passed Starkey on the landing with her husband’s shaving water and stopped to have a word with him, only to find that she could think of nothing to say that would not sound foolish. It was obvious, however, that the man was no fool, for he ducked his head to her and said softly, “Never you mind, missus, I’ll look after ’im.” Then he bolted before she could express her thanks.
They had breakfast in the little dining room, and she was startled to see what a six-foot sea captain considered a proper breakfast. Her own little plate was quite dwarfed by the beefsteak, eggs, bacon, and toast he devoured. When he reached for his sixth slice, he caught her looking at him and grinned. “Once you’ve lived on ship’s biscuit, you can never get enough soft tack,” he said, and she made a mental note to always have new bread in the house when he came home.
The clock in the hall, a gift from her aunt Philips, chimed eight. The coach would be arriving soon. “Fitzwilliam, are you sure you are well enough to go to sea? After last night, I wonder whether you should not be given a sick ticket as well. Can you not leave your ship with another captain until you are quite recovered?”
He drained his coffee cup and took her hand over the breakfast things. “I wish I could. It is difficult to explain because my mission is confidential.” He bit his lower lip and then said, “This is strictlyentre nous,you understand?” She nodded. “I am ordered to make contact with…certain forces on land that might change their allegiance and join with us against the Corsican. These people know me personally and are not disposed to deal with anyone else. It is not a question of the great powers, merely of smaller principalities and such that might be persuaded to offer us aid. You can have no idea how much wood and water aship requires, and any assistance I can obtain will be extremely useful.
“Frankly, I consider the whole business a great nonsense, and if anything comes of it, I shall be amazed. However, the attempt must be made, and it is up to me to make it.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“There is little enough in this war that is not,” he replied and then raised his head at the sound of a carriage stopping in the street outside. “I think it is time.” Starkey came in with his greatcoat and hat, and she flung a shawl about her shoulders and followed him into the street.
Her father was sitting in the carriage, swathed in shawls and rugs. His man Jessup, who was scarcely any younger than his master, sat on the box looking glum.
