“Aye, they have that effect on a man,” her father concurred. “So, I went backstage and to my absolute surprise, she was as taken with me as I was with her. Her sister didn’t like that. Dora felt that your mother should be concentrating on her career and finding a wealthy patron, not some almost penniless captain in the British navy.”
“So my mother didn’t listen to her?”
“She didn’t take a blind bit of notice of her sister. We had the banns called a month after we met, but I was called back to my ship a week later without notice. I had to leave immediately for Portsmouth.” The captain paused.
Clarissa leaned forward eager for more of her parents’ history.
He continued his account, a small frown furrowing his forehead. “This was the height of the war with the French republic, you mind. I promised to marry her as soon as I returned to England. God alone knew when that would be though, and it was more than two years later. By then she was dead and buried in a pauper’s grave and you were gone to that orphanage, although I didn’t know about that at all.”
“What would you have done, if you had known of me?” Clarissa asked. Her heart raced as she waited for the answer.
“I would have got you out of there and placed you in my family’s care to raise. They would have seen you right.” His voice held absolute certainty.
Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of being raised within a family…her own family. Francis’s arm came around her. His warm hand on her waist comforted her.
“How did you learn of my existence?” The mystery of how he began his quest for her had plagued her mind since she learned of it.
“We docked in Gibraltar five years ago. “A letter from your mother was there. She was so happy to be expecting our baby. She loved you already, Clarissa, so much. The letter had been lying there for over fifteen years, because it had gotten mixed up with the letters for another ship of a similar name, gone onboard, and returned several times.”
Clarissa gasped. Such a small mistake had caused so much pain in their lives.
“Once I returned to England again, I searched for your aunt, but she must have left London. I went to your mother’s previous lodgings, but there was a new landlady. On a later shore leave, I tracked down your aunt, who told me of your mother’s death and claimed her baby had died too.
Finally, I found the landlady I remembered and she told me you hadn’t died but had been place in an orphanage. She didn’t know which one. Then I searched at every orphanage in London for a child born to Mary Bartlett. Eventually I found the Duke Street Orphanage, but you were gone with your aunt and I didn’t know where to look next. By then it was time to return to my ship and leave again.”
Evidence of Dora’s duplicity squeezed her heart again. A tear slid down Clarissa’s cheek. “Well, you’ve found me now. I was looking for you too.”
His face shone with hope at that. “I’m glad we’ve finally found each other. There’s so much of our lives to catch up on.” He turned to Francis. “If you will allow that, Reverend Brody?”
“Of course, you must, although I will have little say in the matter.”
Her father looked confused.
“I’m leaving London for Hampshire soon to take up a living there.”
“Congratulations! But won’t Clarissa be accompanying you?”
“Not at the first,” Clarissa answered for Francis.
Francis looked like he might say more but firmly closed his mouth.
“Tell me about your family? Is it a large? How many siblings do you have? I’ve always wanted a sister, so I think it would be wonderful to have cousins.” Her words spilled out in a rush.
Her father laughed. “It is a large family. My father is a baronet with an estate in Norfolk. I have six older brothers and sisters…all married with children. My mother keeps busy visiting their homes and her many grandchildren. Twenty and counting, I believe.”
Her eyes widened.My goodness, I have so many relations, and my grandfather is a baronet! “Will I be able to meet them?”
“I can’t see why not,” her father said. “At a time that suits your husband, of course,” he deferred to Francis.
“I make no call on Clarissa’s time. It is her own to do with as she pleases.” The slight undertone of tartness told her he had accepted they must part and return to the original terms of their marriage of convenience.
Clarissa heart shriveled inside her chest. Although he was granting her what she wished, his willingness to separate from her still hurt more than she’d expected.
Captain Harding seemed taken aback by Francis’s words. “That’s very liberal of you, Reverend. I thank you.”
Francis inclined his head.
“Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you stay with me, Clarissa, when Francis goes into Hampshire?” her father asked.“I’m retiring on my prize money and have leased a house in Soho. Then your husband will know that you are safe in his absence.”
