Close to the Wind Page 17

  Georgiana smiled. ‘Of course. You know how much I look forward to our walks.’

  Since the storm, Georgiana had been overwhelmed by the warmth of her fellow passengers, warmth sparked by the care she’d given them during those turbulent days. The captain was not above giving her cheek a paternal pinch from time to time, commenting on what an invaluable help she’d been. Dr Carmichael, more circumspect, had embarrassed her greatly with an earnest speech expressing his gratitude for her ministrations. Most heart-warming of all was the motherly interest to which Mrs Roper now gave free rein.

  Their walk that morning, however, was interrupted by Julia racing up, crying, ‘Oh Miss Trent. Come quickly!’

  ‘What is it?’ Georgiana’s mind immediately filled with terrible images of Sebastian covered in blood.

  ‘It’s Muffin!’ said Julia, agonised.

  ‘Muffin?’ Georgiana was mystified.

  ‘The cat. Something awful’s happened to her leg.’

  Georgiana looked at Mrs Roper who smiled, making a shooing gesture. ‘Go and help the poor creature.’

  Julia seized Georgiana by the hand and dragged her to where Sebastian was standing by a nest of ropes. There lay the cat, sides heaving, eyes clouded in pain. Its lower back leg stuck out at an awkward angle.

  ‘Oh, poor thing,’ said Georgiana, falling to her knees.

  ‘Can you fix it?’ asked Juliana.

  ‘I don’t know.’ Georgiana stared helplessly, then brightened. ‘Julia, go and get Mr Mellors. He grew up on a farm and knows all about animals.’

  Julia scampered away and Sebastian squatted down next to Georgiana. ‘We will be able to help her, won’t we?’

  She couldn’t bear the entreaty in that small voice. ‘Of course. Mr Mellors will know exactly what to do.’

  But when Tom arrived, he glanced down, pursing his lips. ‘It’s broken. Best to put it out of its misery.’

  ‘How will you do that?’ Sebastian asked.

  ‘He means we should kill Muffin, don’t you, Mr Mellors?’ Julia’s face was pinched with fury.

  ‘No,’ Sebastian said, ‘he wouldn’t do that. Miss Trent said he’d fix her.’

  Georgiana looked up at Tom. ‘Please, isn’t there something you can do for her?’

  He shook his head. ‘No. I’m sorry, Sebastian. But I promise I’ll dispatch it quickly and painlessly – I’ll break its neck.’

  Julia looked at his hands and shuddered as Sebastian erupted, all previous hero worship forgotten. Flinging himself over Muffin, he shrieked, ‘You won’t murder her, you won’t! Tell him, Miss Trent.’

  Georgiana, trapped in the middle, didn’t know what to say when Harry’s voice cut calmly in. ‘Sebastian, what’s all this noise for, you abominable child?’

  Immediately both children took it upon themselves to explain, gesticulating wildly first at Muffin then at Tom, who by this stage was looking harassed.

  ‘It’s what needs to be done,’ he insisted.

  Harry squatted down and ran a hand very lightly along the leg. Muffin hissed and spat. ‘Language!’ he said reprovingly, then looked sideways at Georgiana. ‘The break feels clean, far as I can tell. It’s a pity Carmichael’s wrist is sprained, but I could try setting it if you can help.’

  ‘Set it? Have you done it before?’ Tom demanded.

  ‘No,’ Harry admitted.

  ‘So what are you going to do? Maul the poor cat around, playing doctor to be hero?’

  ‘Oh, Mr Mellors!’ Julia was shocked at his tone.

  ‘He didn’t mean it like that, Julia,’ said Georgiana. ‘Did you, Mr Mellors?’

  ‘No, I’m sorry I said that. But it riles me to see dumb animals mistreated.’

  ‘I’ve no intention of mistreating, ah – Muffin did you say?’ Harry looked at Sebastian who nodded vigorously. ‘I haven’t done this sort of thing myself, but I’ve assisted doctors setting bones. I’ve an idea of what must be done.’

  Tom shook his head. ‘Fools rush in. Trap a nerve and the animal will go berserk with pain. Set it wrong and it’ll limp for life. It’s a working cat, not a pet.’

  Tears welled up in Sebastian’s eyes. ‘But I love her.’

  ‘What do you think?’ Harry turned once more to Georgiana.

  For a minute she hesitated, but one look at Sebastian convinced her. ‘Let’s try.’

  Harry nodded. ‘That’s the spirit! I knew I could rely on you.’ The intimacy and approval in his smile caused her ungovernable senses to spiral giddily upwards. ‘I’ll go see John, the ship’s carpenter, and see what he has that could serve as a splint. Do you have bandages?’

  ‘I can get some.’

  ‘Good. I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.’

  Determined not to remain the villain of the piece, Tom volunteered to stay with the cat and children, and Georgiana was grateful not to have her charges with her in the cabin, asking questions as she pulled out one of Charlie’s shirts to rip up.

  She met Harry on the way back.

  ‘John was most helpful and I think these will do,’ said Harry, as he showed her two thin pieces of wood. ‘Light enough for the cat to manage, but strong enough to protect the leg. Well, that’s the theory at any rate. Now G— Miss Trent, could you hold Muffin in your lap? It might be an idea to use your shawl to control her front legs. Have you got a good grip?’ His eyes were very blue as he smiled into hers. Georgiana’s pulse tripped as she nodded. ‘Right then, old girl,’ he continued in a soft voice to the cat, ‘no more of that language in front of the children.’

  Julia and Sebastian giggled, but watched wide-eyed as his fingers very gently manoeuvred the leg until it lay on the splint at the correct angle and then bandaged it.

  Time slowed as if under enchantment. Georgiana was vividly aware of the hot sun mantling them both and casting strong patterns as their shadows merged and mingled on the scrubbed deck. Harry was close enough for her to feel the warmth from his body, his thick black hair only inches from her fingers as he bent over his work. It took great restraint not to lean forward and inhale the smell of soap overlaid by the masculine tang of perspiration tinged with oil. His voice was low and mesmerising as he spoke to the cat.

  On another level, life continued in real time. Muffin struggled and spat, but Georgiana maintained a firm grip and surprisingly quickly the cat, though very ruffled, was all trussed up. Harry stood and contemplated his handiwork. ‘Not beautiful, but I think it will do.’

  ‘Neat enough,’ Tom admitted, having watched the proceedings. ‘Seems I may have been wrong.’

  Harry gave Tom a swift smile. ‘No, you were right to have reservations. It could have all gone horribly wrong and then we’d have had to put her down, as you said. Still, it’s always worth taking a risk I believe.’

  ‘That is where we differ. I am a cautious man.’

  ‘Oh, Mr Miller, you were wonderful,’ Julia said.

  ‘Thank you. Now sprats, Muffin will be off duty for the next few days and will require nursing – that’s where you come in. Let’s go find a place where she will be safe and out of the way and then we can discuss what you’ll feed her. How good are you at catching rats?’

  Picking up the cat, Harry smiled again at Georgiana, but there was something in his expression that caught her breath as she realised something had shifted in their relationship. When he’d first joined the ship, his manner still contained much of the captain dealing with an errant crew member. Today he’d actually deferred to her, giving her the responsibility for Muffin’s fate, and together they’d worked to save the cat. Could he finally be seeing something more to her than just a troublesome girl? A strange anticipation – exhilaration – began bubbling up inside her as she watched him walk away, the children dancing beside him with suggestions of mousetraps and fishing.

 
Tom held out his hand to Georgiana. ‘Well, I’m glad we didn’t have to kill it.’

  With some difficulty she pulled her attention away from Harry and accepted the hand up. ‘Me too! The children would have been heartbroken.’ As she shook out her skirts, Georgiana looked at him. ‘Could you really have broken Muffin’s neck, just like that?’

  ‘There’s no room for sentiment on the farm, Miss Trent. I’ve never shirked from what needs to be done, however difficult. You did a fine job holding it steady.’

  Georgiana laughed. ‘That was nothing. It was the cap— Mr Miller we have to thank.’

  She glanced at Tom, but he was watching Harry go and didn’t seem to notice the slip. When he turned to Georgiana, his face was troubled. ‘Miss Trent, may I be frank?’

  Georgiana was taken aback. ‘Of course.’

  ‘I may be sticking my oar in, but there’s something I should perhaps have told you sooner, though there hasn’t been the right moment what with the storm and all.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘That man – your fiancé.’

  ‘Jasper?’ she said. ‘What about him?’

  ‘I didn’t tell all of the truth about that day. After my appointment, I chanced to see Mr Miller.’

  Georgiana’s heart stilled. She didn’t want him to continue. Didn’t want him to break the spell that lingered. Didn’t want the harsh jarring of reality. ‘I don’t believe Mr Miller went to the dentist at all. You see, when I saw him, he was deep in conversation with your fiancé. Did he mention it to you at all?’

  ‘No,’ she said, ‘he didn’t. Could he have been warning him off?’ Her voice sounded strained, even to her own ears.

  Tom shook his head. ‘I don’t want to draw conclusions, but it seemed to me that they were quite chummy.’

  ‘Surely you must be mistaken.’ But Georgiana could see from his apologetic expression that he wasn’t. Despite the heat of the sun, she shivered as memory of the pirate fighter flashed into her mind. How could she allow herself to be duped, yet again? She was such a fool!

  ‘I wish I were. Maybe there’s a perfectly good explanation, but it’s strange Mr Miller didn’t mention it.’

  Georgiana was silent and Tom looked down at her. ‘There now! I shouldn’t have reminded you of that awful incident. I’ve upset you and I didn’t mean to. I just wanted—’ he broke off.

  ‘Just wanted what?’

  ‘Wanted you to be on your guard, that’s all.’ His words came out in a rush. ‘I’m not wanting to insinuate anything and we don’t want to go adding two and two and make five, but it is strange and would pay you to be wary.’

  ‘Thank you, Mr Mellors, for your concern.’

  Though stricken, she tried to smile, but her feelings must have shown, for he caught her hand and held it in his big, comforting paw. ‘Won’t you please call me Tom? We have been friends so long now, don’t you agree?’ Georgiana nodded and he smiled. ‘And don’t you worry, Miss Trent – Sarah.’ His voice dropped gently on the word. ‘If anything should happen – and I’m not saying it will, mind – but if it does, I won’t let any harm come to you. You have my word.’

  Georgiana looked into his eyes, so earnest and sincere. ‘Thank you. It’s good to have a friend – Tom.’

  ‘There’s one more thing. He might not like to know you have someone to protect you and try to drive a wedge between us. I’m not saying he will, but he might.’ He patted her hand and smiled. ‘You will be on your guard, won’t you?’

  ‘I will.’

  Tom had no idea just how much on her guard she would be.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  As it turned out, Georgiana saw little of Harry, even at meal times, for his duties continued to claim almost all his time. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or not. When he wasn’t at the table, the conversation had less sparkle. But when he was there, it took all her resources to maintain a veneer of indifference.

  The sensible thing, she knew, would be to tell the captain of Mr Miller’s true identity. It was only right to clear up the situation one way or the other. She quailed, however, at the thought. If he was guilty of murder, he should, of course, be accountable for his actions. But then he would go straight to the gallows.

  Over and over again she remembered his casual tousling of a cabin boy’s hair, his punctilious manners upon discovering her sex, his leaping at Jasper’s gun. His deep blue eyes with their lurking warmth, his beautiful mouth always slightly tilted in readiness to smile. She must be wrong. Yet what other explanation was there? What on earth would Harry have spoken about to Jasper? To warn him off ? Or to plot? Surely not. He had been, after all, the first to rescue her.

  While there was a question in her heart, she could not betray him. Instead she surrounded herself with people to avoid any chance of being alone with him.

  The ploy worked well and two weeks passed before Harry approached her on deck one morning. He must have been watching for the opportunity as the children had only just left her. His smile was warm. ‘Miss Trent, you’re looking very well.’

  Suspecting a tease, Georgiana’s hand went to her head where curls had pulled free of their pins and were dancing about her head. But the expression in Harry’s eyes was soft. Then he stepped closer, his voice low. ‘I’ve been trying to talk to you for days, now. It’s impossible to get you alone.’

  She stepped back. She could not meet those blue eyes. Must not. ‘Why?’

  ‘Oh George, we have to get past these games. You still haven’t told me the full story and I need to know. How can I help you if you won’t trust me?’

  He’d made a remarkable recovery from the shattered man during the storm. The sunlight gilded his face, casting faint shadows under strong brows, beneath high cheekbones, underlining the long jaw, the squared chin. He must have read the reticence in her eyes, however, for the habitual humour now faded from his face. He looked baffled but at the same time his mouth set in a determined line. Georgiana felt again an urge to run a finger over that firm lower lip. Then the image of Harry talking to Jasper came into her mind. ‘What about you, Mr Miller?’ she asked. ‘What’s your full story? Why don’t you first tell me more about why you are going to New Zealand.’

  His eyes slid from her face for the merest second. ‘That’s not relevant at the moment and has nothing to do with you.’

  ‘Indeed?’

  She loaded the word with scepticism and took perverse pleasure in seeing Harry, usually so unruffled, flinch as though caught on the raw. ‘We don’t have time for this. Look George, while you are my responsibility—’

  ‘But I’m not.’

  ‘The hell you aren’t. Here you are, travelling alone—’

  ‘I’m not alone,’ she flashed and at that moment, almost miraculously, Tom appeared with Mrs Roper on his arm. The older woman greeted them.

  ‘There you are, my dear. We’ve been looking everywhere for you. Good morning, Mr Miller. We’ve hardly seen anything of you since the storm.’

  ‘Mrs Roper.’ Harry bowed, all frustration immediately erased from his face. Georgiana thought how good he was at dissemblance. Then, of course, he’d have learnt at school how to produce a façade that could both charm and conceal. She needed to remember this, whenever she felt herself begin to weaken. ‘I’ve been very busy at my duties, but it’s good to see you fully recovered, ma’am.’ With a curt nod he added, ‘Morning, Mellors.’

  Tom’s smile was affable. ‘Good morning. Sorry to hear you’ve so much on your plate. However, we’ve come to beg Miss Trent’s company in a game of cards, so we won’t hold you up.’

  His soft country tones neutralised any hint of discourtesy but left Harry little choice. Harry smiled – Georgiana was sure she was the only one to see the acid beneath it. ‘Then I will wish you every pleasure in your game and return to work.’ He bowed to the w
omen. ‘Your servant, ma’ams.’

  ‘Such a gentleman,’ Mrs Roper sighed, looking at his retreating figure, ‘and so handsome.’

  ‘Aye, pretty as a picture,’ Tom agreed, but he threw Georgiana a look of concern. She smiled back, grateful for their arrival. When it came to Harry Trent, she simply had no defences. Tom, her self-appointed guardian, seemed to understand this. He would keep her safe from Harry – and her treacherous heart.

  The pattern was set then, for the remainder of the voyage. Harry was very busy and on the occasions when their paths did cross, Georgiana forced herself to be cordial but distant. Good as his word, Tom was always quick to be at her side, forming a quiet but implacable shield. She was glad of this for it was impossible to stop her eyes from searching for Harry, to stop her pulse kicking whenever she did see him. Impossible not to ache for their old familiar ease, to wish to recapture the closeness she’d felt when he’d confided in her. Because she yearned so much, she became far colder towards him than intended.

  Initially Harry could not account for this change in Georgiana. Then as he thought back, he remembered the revelations he’d let slip during the storm when he’d been so tired. What a fool he’d been. She may have been born into a circus but she’d also been reared in drawing rooms these past seven years, and he cursed himself for confiding in a moment’s weakness. What must she think? This was exactly why he’d left England. He hadn’t wanted to see the cold distancing of former friends, once they knew he was either illegitimate or the son of a thief. Now, feeling humiliated fury whenever he saw Georgiana turn away, he knew he’d been right never to be completely honest in the past.

  Rebuffed, Harry was forced to watch the growing closeness between Georgiana and Tom. He noted all Tom’s tiny attentions towards Georgiana and her laughing acceptance of them. He saw their two heads bent together over Sebastian’s drawings and burned at the sight of Tom’s hand cupping Georgiana’s elbow as she stepped over a coil of rope.