Close to the Wind Page 15

  ‘There’s been a misunderstanding. I love you, and I’ve come to take you back with me.’

  Georgiana hated the way he could talk of love when his eyes stayed so cold. She gave a brittle laugh.

  ‘Misunderstanding? I don’t know what you mean. I simply decided we would not deal well together, after all.’

  ‘No, I know something happened to change your mind. What was it? You must know that all I want is to marry you.’

  His lies were tinder to her temper. ‘I know exactly why you want to marry me, Jasper. Nothing in the world would induce me to take you as my husband now.’

  ‘I knew it. You read the letter, didn’t you.’ Her eyes widened involuntarily and he nodded. ‘Ah yes, you thought you were being so clever, leaving the letter in the drawer, but you dropped the key.’ He pulled her closer still, forgetting all about being placatory now. ‘What I want to know is what made you look there in the first place?’

  She remained defiantly silent.

  ‘Did you overhear something?’

  He was guessing and she pressed her lips tighter together, determined he would not discover the extent of what she knew about Walsingham’s plans.

  Her silence enflamed him. ‘Dammit, Georgiana. You left me in a devil of a predicament with your games,’ and Jasper twisted her arm hard. She cried out and lashed back with the only weapon she had available, her soft pouch. It whipped across his face and, though it weighed nothing, the tassels caught him in the eye. With a curse, he dropped her arm to rub his face. Immediately she turned to flee, but in a flash he’d grabbed her again.

  ‘Try that again and I’ll wring your neck.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ said a voice behind them. Jasper whirled around and a fist caught him square on the chin, sending him staggering.

  ‘What’s this? Another man wanting to throttle you, George?’ asked Harry, as with his other hand he swept her behind him, away from Jasper. His voice was light but despite his uniform, Georgiana recognised this Harry right away. The pirate king was back. Dangerous lights danced in his blue eyes, his half-smile taunted. Light on his feet, every muscle corded, he was tense and coiled, ready to spring. This was a man who knew how to fight. A man, she realised with a shiver, who would kill if need be.

  Jasper worked his jaw to check it wasn’t broken. ‘This is nothing to do with you,’ he said. ‘I am speaking with my cousin, who also happens to be my fiancée.’

  The dangerous lights in Harry’s eyes sharpened. ‘You … surprise me.’ His voice was soft, but edged. He circled Jasper, still keeping Georgiana behind him. ‘However, it would appear that your fiancée does not wish to speak to you.’

  Jasper swivelled on his heel, keeping Harry in sight, and pulled a gun from his pocket. Georgiana gasped. ‘Jasper!’

  He ignored her as he trained the gun on Harry. ‘This has nothing to do with you,’ he repeated. ‘Leave now and you won’t get hurt.’

  With a derisive laugh, Harry lunged. The sound of the gun going off as Harry knocked Jasper’s arm upwards was deafening. In a movement almost too swift for Georgiana to see, he’d twisted the gun from Jasper’s grip and sent it spinning down the alley. Jasper leapt at Harry with an oath and the two men locked together in swaying combat. Georgiana looked wildly around and spied a broken piece of wood. Swinging it like a club, she brought it crashing down with all her might to hit Jasper. Except, at that moment, the men stumbled and Harry caught the ringing blow on the side of his head. Stunned, he lost his grip, staggered and fell. With a horrified cry, Georgiana dropped the plank. Jasper laughed.

  ‘Much obliged to you, coz.’ He scooped the plank up to hit Harry again.

  ‘No!’ cried Georgiana, springing at him, but she was too late. Another hand had grabbed Jasper’s wrist.

  ‘Drop it.’

  ‘Mr Mellors!’ Georgiana felt weak with relief.

  Jasper whirled around and the sight of Tom stopped him short. ‘What the—?’

  He had no chance to say anything further, for Tom, using his considerable strength, forced the plank from Jasper’s grasp as he growled, ‘I don’t know what’s going on here, but you make yourself scarce, fast. The lady is safe with me now so you’ve no further business here, understand?’

  For a second there was a stand-off, Jasper staring in furious disbelief at this new rescuer while Tom, unusually severe for a mild man, stared him down. Finally Jasper seemed to realise he was indeed outnumbered, for he nodded wordlessly, retrieved his gun and left without so much as a second glance at Georgiana.

  Tom called after his retreating back, ‘And if I ever see you again, I’ll personally kick you around the market square at noon!’ Then he turned to Georgiana who was already beside Harry, helping him to sit. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine but I’m not sure about Ha— Mr Miller.’

  Harry’s eyes were not quite focused, but he managed a smile. ‘I’m not dead, despite your best efforts, Miss Trent.’ All trace of the dangerous pirate had disappeared. Harry had turned once again into the equable officer, a thread of laughter running beneath his words. She was too relieved, however, to wonder at this transformation. Instead she laughed, though filled with contrition. ‘I am truly sorry. I just—’

  Harry nodded and closed his eyes, ‘—rushed in without thinking. I know.’

  Tom squatted down and checked the swelling coming up behind Harry’s ear. ‘It’s a nasty one, but it’ll heal. No doubt you’ll have a terrible headache, tonight.’ He helped Harry to his feet. ‘What happened?’

  Georgiana said quickly, ‘I haven’t been entirely honest. That man was my fiancé, but I don’t wish to marry him. That’s why I must get to my brother in Dunedin, for his protection. Jasper’s quite unhinged when crossed.’

  Tom whistled. ‘Yes, so I see.’

  ‘He’s pursued me all the way from England, but it was bad luck that we met. He dragged me here and Mr Miller must have seen because he suddenly arrived and they fought and then you appeared – and I’m so grateful to the two of you.’ Georgiana finished in a tumble of words.

  ‘You’ve thanked me very well already,’ said Harry a little unsteadily, but Georgiana was glad to see the corner of his mouth lift. ‘You’d be a handy person in a tavern brawl I imagine, Miss Trent.’

  She shot him a quelling look before turning back to Tom. ‘But Mr Mellors, where did you come from?’

  ‘I was walking up Adderley Street when I saw Mr Miller dart down this alley. Then I heard a gunshot. You don’t have to thank me, I did nothing.’

  ‘Nothing? You saw Jasper off before he could kill Mr Miller here,’ she said, indignant at his modesty.

  ‘You had already half-murdered me yourself,’ Harry pointed out.

  She did not deign to respond, and instead looked at Tom. ‘You were wonderful.’

  But Tom would have none of it. He held up his hand to stem any more thanks. ‘Truly, not a word more.’ Then he touched her arm. ‘Are you all right? Did he hurt you?’

  ‘No,’ she assured him. ‘Mr Miller arrived just as Jasper was turning ugly.’

  ‘I’m relieved.’ Tom smiled down at her, solicitude evident in both his eyes and his voice. Then he glanced at his watch. ‘Much as it pains me to depart at this moment, I must beg you will excuse me, Miss Trent. I have an appointment I cannot miss. I hate to abandon you, though. Will you be all right?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Harry, straightening. ‘I’ll look after Miss Trent.’ Tom hesitated, clearly unhappy at leaving her with the officer, but as he turned to go, Harry added, ‘And Mellors, I believe I’m now in your debt.’

  Tom smiled. ‘Don’t mention it,’ he said and disappeared into the sunlight.

  Harry offered Georgiana his arm as they began walking back down to the wharf. Though there was no sign of Jasper, Georgiana clung to the strength of arm an
d muscle she could feel through his sleeve. One thought went round and round her head. He saved me. Harry saved me from Jasper. She saw several women’s heads turn as they walked past and had to smile. Wanted to laugh out loud. Only Harry Trent could come from a fight looking so splendidly tousled. Still she felt dazed with the swift turn of events.

  ‘How did you know?’ she asked.

  ‘I was some distance down the street when I saw you ahead of me and alone. I thought we could talk so began making my way to you. Then I saw that man accost you – your cousin did you say?’

  She nodded. ‘Jasper.’

  ‘Well, he’s a most determined suitor to pursue you around the world. What happened? Lovers’ tiff?’

  Harry’s tone was a shade too casual.

  ‘He wants to marry me because he thinks I’m rich.’ The bitter words slipped out before she had a chance to think.

  Harry was surprised. ‘And are you?’

  ‘No! Well – maybe. My brother thinks he’s found gold.’

  She watched Harry, but he seemed genuinely perplexed. Surely Walsingham would have explained the situation to his man and Harry was quick enough to start making connections. Just at that moment, the town clock began striking the hour and Harry stopped dead.

  ‘What is it?’ she demanded.

  ‘Twelve o’clock! I’ve just remembered I too have an appointment. Good, isn’t that the Taylors over there?’ He waved and Sebastian and Julia began running to meet them. ‘I’m sorry, I must rush away, but you are certainly safe now,’ he said softly. Then he vanished into the crowds, leaving Georgiana to stare after him, bewildered and furious with him and with herself.

  He’d had the effrontery to once again abandon her in the most peremptory of fashions. Of all the unconscionable bounders, unspeakable curs – Would she never learn?

  ‘Miss Trent, there you are!’ said Julia. ‘We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been?’

  Chapter Eighteen

  Georgiana did not see Tom or Harry again until dinner time. She hadn’t mentioned the incident to anyone and she hoped neither man would either. Fortunately, they took their lead from her and nothing specific was said, although Tom could not help checking on her as the main course was being served.

  ‘Miss Trent, I trust you found Mr Taylor in good time today and passed a peaceful afternoon.’

  She could not suppress the feeling of warmth Tom’s evident concern created, a sharp contrast to the stab of chagrin she still felt at being so summarily dropped by Harry. He hadn’t even asked her how she was after her horrible ordeal – had simply plunged back into the crowd.

  ‘Yes, thank you. We came upon one another shortly after your departure.’ She did not look at Harry as she added, ‘It was just as well since Mr Miller had to immediately rush away.’

  The look of reproof Tom shot at Harry further gladdened her heart. ‘Indeed? If I had known escorting Miss Trent was inconvenient, Miller, I’d never have left.’

  Harry looked up from the cutlet he’d been struggling to cut. ‘It wasn’t inconvenient at all. I restored Miss Trent to the Taylors and still made my dentist appointment on time.’ His voice was all airy unconcern.

  Julia looked at Harry’s teeth with interest. ‘What did the dentist do? Pull a tooth out?’

  ‘No, I just had a filling.’

  ‘Did it hurt?’

  ‘Like the dickens,’ he told her with a grin.

  ‘Then how can you eat such tough meat tonight?’

  ‘I shouted so loud when he began drilling the dentist gave me nitrous oxide. It makes you laugh,’ he added.

  ‘I know that,’ Julia said. ‘Sebastian and I went to the dentist with our governess and she came out all silly.’

  ‘Silly-er,’ Sebastian corrected her. ‘Miss Sackham was always silly even before the gas.’

  ‘Thank you, that’s enough,’ said their father.

  ‘Well, she was,’ muttered Sebastian.

  Georgiana intervened quickly to save her charges from being banished from the table before dessert. ‘How about you, Mrs Roper? Did you purchase that silk you’d lost your heart to?’ and the conversation turned to other matters.

  They left Cape Town later that night and, as a special treat, the children were allowed to stay up – just this once. They danced at the railings beside Georgiana.

  ‘Goodbye, Table Mountain!’ shrieked Julia.

  ‘Goodbye, monkeys!’ cried Sebastian.

  Goodbye, Jasper, Georgiana thought. I hope I never see you ever again.

  The strength of her antipathy shocked her, but this was the first moment she’d had to take in what had passed that morning. After Harry had left her, she’d started shaking and had wanted to do nothing so much as either kill her cousin or sit down and indulge in a good bout of tears. Instead, Julia and Sebastian had swept her up in their usual cascade of questions and demands and there had been no time to privately reflect on the matter. Now, as she stood at the railings, watching the flickering lights of Cape Town slide away, she began to shake again and clutched her hands together. Tom appeared at her side.

  ‘Miss Trent,’ he said, ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier. Are you recovered from the appalling attack?’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’

  Her voice was steady, but something must have betrayed her. Remorse combined with Tom’s look of concern. ‘Oh Miss Trent, I should have stayed with you. I would have, had I known that Mr Miller was going to abandon you.’

  ‘Not exactly abandon,’ said Georgiana. ‘He did take me back to Mr Taylor.’ Why was she defending that pirate?

  ‘Even so,’ said Tom, and in her heart of hearts, Georgiana could not but agree. Even so! Then she chided herself. If Harry was the assassin, there was no reason why he would take care of her – it’s just she’d become used to Harry looking out for her. Well, looking out for George at any rate. It was all very confusing.

  ‘It is none of my business, of course,’ Tom went on, ‘and I don’t mean to pry, but it appears your troubles are greater than you first admitted to, Miss Trent. If you should need a friend to confide in, I do hope you will consider me. You know I am wholly at your service.’

  Tears sprang into her eyes and for a minute she was tempted to tell him everything, but here was neither the time nor the place. He seemed to read her mind, for his fingers closed over hers and he said, ‘Of course, you may not want to speak about it just yet. But when you do, please know that I will be there, waiting for you.’

  He squeezed her fingers then withdrew his hand just as Julia and Sebastian came running up.

  ‘Oh Miss Trent, do come to the other side. The moon is coming up and it is enormous and orange.’

  She and Tom both laughed, the moment broken.

  Later, after she had the children in bed and asleep, Georgiana pulled a shawl about her shoulders and made her way across the deck to a quiet corner overlooking the wake. It frothed white under the moon, but black clouds were gathering overhead. Africa was merely a dark silhouette on the horizon. Jasper was now well and truly behind her.

  At last she could give the incident proper thought. Harry had rescued her, as had Tom. If Harry was working for Walsingham, then he had unwittingly scotched Jasper’s plan. Walsingham would not be pleased. The thought should have amused her but she could not laugh. It just didn’t make sense. Why had Harry left her so abruptly and then made up that ridiculous story about a dentist? It must have been her mention of her brother’s gold that had suddenly alerted him, making him realise what he had done. Had he gone in search of Jasper to sort things out?

  ‘I’ve been watching out for you, wondering if you’d slip aft the way you used to on Sally.’

  Harry’s voice directly behind her made her jump. She hadn’t heard him steal up on her. ‘I’ve been wanting to find out exa
ctly what was going on today, George, and what the hell you are doing on this ship.’

  His manner was calm but with an undercurrent of anger which she instantly reacted against. ‘Since you left me in Madeira, I can’t see it’s any of your business.’

  ‘None of my business?’ He caught her arm in a grip as hard as Jasper’s and gave her a little shake. ‘Some man claiming to be your fiancé tries to kidnap you and kill me and you say it’s none of my business! You’ve been holding out on me.’

  His grasp hurt and she clawed at his fingers. ‘Let go of me!’ Fury boiled over, swamping the fear that she’d been carrying around all day. ‘Let go!’ she hissed.

  He dropped her arm, but said again. ‘Tell me what this is all about.’ His voice was low but, unlike Tom’s solicitude, his tone was fierce. ‘You’ve been telling only half-truths from the moment I met you and I’m tired of it, Georgie. I want to know what the hell is going on.’

  ‘All right,’ she spat. ‘I didn’t tell you the whole truth. I was running away from my step-cousin, my fiancé. I’d agreed to marry him, but then found out what sort of person he is. You saw how he behaved today. Can you blame me?’

  Harry’s eyes were narrow in the moonlight as they searched her face. ‘No,’ he admitted gruffly. ‘But why didn’t you just tell him you wanted to break off the engagement? Why this mad dash to New Zealand?’

  ‘I couldn’t just tell everyone I’d changed my mind. My aunt dotes on my cousin. There was no one – no one – who could help me, except my brother.’

  ‘So you ran away?’

  ‘Yes. I disguised myself and ran away.’

  He sighed in exasperation. ‘Why didn’t you tell me all this before?’ he demanded. ‘How can I help you if I don’t know the full story? If I had known about your betrothal, I’d never have tried to send you back to England.’

  ‘Oh no?’

  ‘No! What sort of cad do you think I am, George?’

  An assassin, she thought.

  Or maybe not, her heart whispered.

  Georgiana stayed silent. Harry stepped closer and tipped her chin up with one hand, staring down into her eyes. At that moment the moon was blotted out by the clouds and the wind blew cold. Georgiana shivered.