Miss Whittier Makes a List (42 page)

“
Hannah, has my mother been speaking out of
turn
?
”

She turned wide eyes upon him a
nd the words rumbled out of her,
even as her face reddened.
“
Daniel, she is already encouraging me to take a lover when we are
married
and thee is at sea!
”

“
My God,
”
he exclaimed softly.
“
I would prefer that you did not
,
of course.
”

“
How can thee joke about such things!
”
she shouted,
leaping from the davenport and crossing to the window, where she hugged herself and stared at the driving rain.
“
And it does nothing but pour in
London
! I am weary of small talk and ratafia makes me gag!
”

He was at her side in a moment, pulling her into his amts, letting her sob out her misery against the cold comfort of his medals and buttons.
She
pulled away and he removed his coat, tossing it onto the floor, then drew her close again to rest against the softness of his linen
shirt
.

Her arms went around him finally.
“
I think I like thee better this way,
”
she said and then stood back in his arms to look at his face so close to her own.
“
Suddenly there are too many medals and buttons, and ideas and modes of doing things. It
’
s all getting in the way of what I feel.
”

He tugged her close to him again, his hand on her hair and then his forefinger running idly inside her ear.
“
My mother is from a generation that raised infidelity to a fine a
rt
.
”

She wanted him to continue his careless examination of her ear and then her face
,
but he was too distracting. She freed herself from his embrace.
“
It is more than that, Daniel,
”
she said,
wishing that she did not feel so breathless when he touched her.
<
“
The younger ladies are so ... so vapid! I do not suppose one of them has ever cooked a meal, or washed a dog.
”

He laughed out loud, opening his arms for her again.
“
I am sure you are right, Hannah! Oh, come here! That
’
s better. And they
’
ve never dressed grisly wounds, or even made coffee for a grumpy sea captain.
”

She let him kiss her then, and even raised her arms to encircle his neck as he picked her up off her feet.
“
I woul
d wish at times that you were tal
ler,
”
he murmured and then
k
issed her again.
“
Perhaps you will grow yet,
”
he said, his voice unsteady as he set her down.

She was at the window again, staring out at the everlasting drizzle. He came up behind her and circled her in his arms. She leaned against him, secure in his arms, but still gnawed by a vague unease.

“
See here, sir,
”
she began and stepped away.

He kissed the back of her neck as she retreated.
“
I am coming to dread those pronouncements that begin,
‘
See here, sir,
’
 
”
he
murmured.

She turned around and then pushed him off at arm
’
s length.
“
I must tell thee, Daniel, that when I am in your
ar
ms, everything is fine.
”

“
Better and better. I like that, too,
”
he said and smiled.

She took a deep breath and plunged ahead.
“
I also do not doubt that if you wanted my body this minute, I would give my virginity to you right here in your mother
’
s salon and not care a snap what anyone thought
.
”

“
I
know that,
”
he replied softly, but made no move to touch her.
“
It
’
s fairly obvious to me.
”

“
I thank thee, then, for being more in control than I am,
”
she continued relentlessly, pressing her hands to her blushing face.
“
There have been so many times I would gladly have let you make love to me.
”

“
I know that, too. What
’
s the matter, my hea
rt
? Won
’
t my love, when it finally comes, be enough?
”

“
Suppose your mother is right,
”
she began, pausing to choose her words carefully.

“
She is not. I know that much about you,
”
Spark said.

“
Daniel, thee will be a long time on the blockade!
”
she burst out passionately.
“
And I suspect that I will greatly enjoy lovemaking.
”
She paused, mortified at her words.

He only smiled.
“
I am certain you will. I also suspect that you will save it for me alone.
”

“
You are so sure?
”
she murm
ured.

“
I am so sure,
”
he replied.

She could only sigh.
“
I wish I knew what to do,
”
she said finally.

“
I wish you would say yes when I propose again.
”
he commented as he walked with her back to the window and draped his
arm
over her shoulder in a friendly gesture that had nothing of the lover in it
.
“
It would only be a morning
’
s work to have y
ou declared a ward in chancery—I
have
been
to my solicitors, my dearestnah, and so they assure me. We could be married in a few weeks after the banns.
”
He peered around to look at her face.
“
Hannah, thee is a trial to me.
”

‘
Then why does thee persist?
”
she demanded.

“
I cannot imagine life without your
‘
thee
’
s
’
and
‘
thy
’
s
’
, and your quaint, funny ways, and the indisputable suspicion that you will love me within an inch of my sanity,
”
he said. He laughed as she blushed again.
“
And the way you blush! Are you always going to do that, even when we have children, and know each other better than any couple that ever lived? I suspect you will.
”

She couldn
’
t help but smile. He patt
ed
her back
and took her hand, walking her to the door.
“
Go pack your bags,
Hannah Whittier,
I think it is time you saw my estate in Dorset and we kissed London goodbye. It
’
s not doing you any good.
”

“
But Madame LeTou
rn
ier is comin
g by this afternoon for another
fitting
,
”
she said, even as her eyes lighted up at the prospect of leaving London.

“
And she can be easily dismissed by you.
”

“
I am afraid of her!
”
Hannah exclaimed, her eyes wide.
“
She is so ... so ... French!
”

Daniel laughed, grabbed her about the waist, and whirled her around in a froth of petticoats and protestations.
“
You, who have climbed riggings, teetered on window ledges, and told the great
Wellington
himself to cut his toenails? Hannah, get rid of her and pack yo
ur
gs. I mean to have a yes out of you before I am too much older.
”

Ge
tt
ing rid of Madame
L
eTou
rn
ier was a daunting experience, but Hannah was equal to it, even as Captain Spark had suggested. It involved a lie, informing the redoubtable modiste that the captain
’
s favorite aunt had taken sick in
Devon
and required their presence at the family estate immediately. Hannah delivered it with such aplomb, and received such instant, solicitous response that she owned to considerable chagrin when Madame LeTou
rnier curtseyed herself out of the room,
closing the door quie
tl
y behind her.
“
Se
e
here, Hannah,
”
she scolded herself.
“
Thee is becoming altogether too adept at lies. What will thee do next
?”

The stumbling block to immediate removal from
London
proved to be Lady Spark, who would not be budged until she had blackmailed an additional two hats and two more dresses for herself from Captain Spark, in exchange for her necessary services as chaperon.

“
And we will leave in the morning, son,
”
Lady Spark ordered.
“
I have every intention of attending a loo pa
rt
y tonight ...
.
”

“
…
 
and losing your shift and ga
rt
ers,
”
he finished, snapping out the newspaper and retreating behind it.
“
Mama, you are a dreadful gambler. And who pays your bills when you find yourself at point non plus? It ce
rt
ainly isn
’
t your older son, the esteemed head of our family. I confess to a definite uneasiness over your gaming habits, pa
rt
icularly since they always seem to involve me in your rescue.
”

Hannah made herself small on the sofa beside Daniel, wondering what her own mother would make of this conversation. She would gather
me up, grab her bonnet, and run,
she thought as she watched the small muscle work in
Daniel
’
s cheek as he forced himself to be polite to his mother.

“
All the same, son, if you wish my presence in Dorset, and therefore Hannah
’
s, you will come up to snuff on this one.
”

“
Very well, Mama,
”
Spark growled behind his newspaper.
“
I haul down my colors.
”

“
Done, then!
”
she exclaimed.
“
We will leave in the morning, and not too early. I do not keep ship
’
s hours.
”
Her mouth turned down for a brief moment, and Hannah was struck by the resemblance between mother and son.
“
I do not know why you feel so strongly about that little estate, anyway, Daniel. It is nothing to our manor in Kent
.
”

Daniel folded the paper in his lap.
“
It has the virtue of being entirely unencumbered with debts, madam. It is mine alone, and my dear wastrel brother cannot lay a finger on it.
”
He nudged Hannah.
“
It is also well timbered, shipshape and draft-free, with a wonderful view of the ocean. I could even mention my bailiff, who would never dream of cheating me, and his wife, who makes almond cake the way I like it.
”

Any comments Lady Spark may have wished to express on the view or the hired help remained to herself as the butler showed in Mr. Futtre
ll
, who nodded to the dowager, winked at Hannah, and drew himself up before the captain.

“
You wished to see me, sir?
”
he asked.

“
O
h
relax
,
Fu
ttr
ell.
”
Daniel said, and indicated a chair opposite the sofa.
“
It is merely a small matter. I wish you to keep in daily contact with the Admiralty House while we are in
Dorst
. I want to know the moment they decide on another ship for me.
”

“
Consider it done, sir,
”
he said, grinning at his captain.
He looked at the floor then, divided between embarrassment and pride.
“
And thank you for naming me your number one.
”

Hannah clapped her hands.
“
Mr. Futtrell! Such good news!
”

He grinned again, looking ten years younger, and then stared down at the floor one more time.
‘
Trouble is, Hannah, the only other person I would want to share the news with is Mr. Lansing.
”

Daniel nodded to his first lieutenant.
“
I
know how that feels, Mr. Futtrell.
”

“
Sir, does it ever hurt less?
”
the lieutenant asked quietly.

“
Well, I will put it to you this way,
”
Daniel replied after a moment
’
s reflection.
“
When it doesn
’
t
hurt at all,
then it is time to leave the sea for good.
”

“
I do not know why navy men have to be so morbid,
”
Lady Spark said as she left the room.

It is something I understand perfectly, Hannah thought as she reached over to touch Futtrell
’
s
ar
m. He looked up at her and nodded.

“
Surely thee can think of something more pleasant,
”
she urged.
“
Is thee not on leave now? Does the
e
have a young lady?
”

Futtrell leaned back in surprise, his eyes wide.
“
No, ma
’
am! I couldn
’
t be so
heartless
as to actually expect a female to dangle after a seagoing man!/font>
”
He glanced at Captain Spark
’
s glowering countenance and reddened.
“
Beg pardon, sir, but I would not.
”

“
First my mother, and now you,
”
Spark said.
“
Futt
rell, perhaps you have some urgent business elsewhere.
”

The lieutenant grinned.
“
Aye, sir!
”
He stood up and winked at Hannah again.
“
This might amuse you, Miss Whittier. I hear there is a lively betting po
o
l at White
’
s as to whether the little Quaker will actually succumb to a certain sea captain
’
s proposal. Isn
’
t that famous?
”

Hannah
’
s jaw dropped. Captain Spark groaned and slapped his forehead with the newspaper.
“
God damn your eyes. Mr. Futtrell,
”
he roared, as though he stood on his quarterdeck.
“
Another remark like that and I
’
ll break you right down to powder monkey!
”

Futtrell was out the door before Spark got to his feet. The captain stood at the door a moment, as though gathering his forces, then turned back to Hannah, who had retreated to the window again, to stare out at the everlasting rain.

“
My dear, I had heard something about that,
”
the captain mumbled.
“
I had hoped to spare you the knowledge.
”

Hannah continued to stare out the window, seeing nothing of the rain that sheeted against the glass and spilled into the gutters. People are gambling with my name, she thought, and closed
her eyes
in shame.

Spark cleared his throat.
“
Some would think it amusing,
”
he ventured, but there was no assurance in his voice.

“
I think it infamous,
”
she said, leaning her forehead against the cool panf glass.
“
Surely thee does n
o
t approve.
”

He crossed the room quickly and pulled her into his
arms
, resting his chin on her head as he held her as close as he could.
“
No, I do not,
”
he whispered into her hair.
“
My love, there is only one place on land where I do not feel out of place, and believe me, it is not in this damned city,
with creatures who have nothing better to do than gamble and toy with a lady
’
s good name.
”

She stood in his arms, her ear pressed against his heart, and listened to its steady beat until she felt calm enough to look him in the face.
“
Please tell me that if I marry thee, I will not have to come back here ever again.
”
she pleaded.