Page 62 of A Captain For Clarissa
“I understand.” Rafael nodded seriously. “I will wait, meu amor. As long as I must.”
Her heart felt full to bursting as he called herhis lovefor the second time, and she clung to his hand for the precious seconds permitted by the pattern of the dance. “And I will marry no one but you, no matter what you might hear, please believe it. But it isn’t that which I have to tell you, Rafael. I’ve found out who the saboteur is.”
His sea-green eyes flittered dangerously as she told him what she had discovered, not revealing that Dalton’s actions had resulted in her being sold to the corsairs, only that Dalton had accidentally let slip his guilt about the sabotage.
“He was trying to ruin me,” Rafael muttered, before letting slip a few words in Portuguese which Clarissa didn’t recognise – but from Alex’s expression of amusement as he passed them, were probably curse words.
“He’s a coward,” Clarissa said. “I’m fairly sure he has fled London – I told him that I would reveal the truth to you. I doubt either of us will ever lay eyes on him again.”
“He had better hope I do not,” Rafael growled menacingly.
“I hope that expression doesn’t bode ill for your father, Clarissa,” Marianne said lightly as the pattern of the dance forced them to switch partners. Clarissa could tell from the look on her aunt’s face that she was only half-joking.
“Rafael and I are agreed that we will wait my father out. As long as it takes.” Knowing that Rafael was willing to wait gave Clarissa a surge of confidence. She would wear her father down, eventually.
“Arthur is being quite ridiculous. High time I had a word with him.” Marianne’s jaw set determinedly. “I shall visit tomorrow morning, Clarissa.”
Clarissa could not imagine what her aunt might say that could change her father’s mind. She would just have to enjoy thesefew stolen moments with Rafael, because the dance was drawing to a close and she could see her father approaching, his face a thundercloud.
“I can’t let him ruin Diana’s ball,” she told Rafael, and saw the understanding on his face.
“Do whatever you must,” Rafael said, and she wanted to fling herself into his arms and kiss him. Instead, she gave an impeccable curtsey at the end of the dance before walking briskly away and latching onto her father’s arm.
“Please don’t embarrass Diana,” she said quickly, before the earl could say a word.
Her father took a deep breath, the mottled colour in his cheeks receding. “You will not leave my side again this evening,” was all he said.
Clarissa bowed her head penitently, but as her father led her away, she sneaked a glance back at Rafael. He was watching her, smiling as their eyes met, and the warmth of that smile carried her through the rest of the evening.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Clarissa was with hermother in the drawing-room the following morning when Marianne arrived. The butler showed her in, but Marianne only made them the briefest courtesies before stating that she was there to visit the earl, and marching off to his study.
“Well,” the countess muttered. “Marianne certainly has a bee in her bonnet today. Is this something to do with you, my girl?”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you mean, Mama.” Clarissa feigned innocence, though inwardly she was dying to know what her aunt was saying to her father.
“Excuse me, my lady.” The housekeeper entered the room with a respectful curtsey. “There is a slight problem in the kitchen, if you might have a few moments to spare?”
“Very well!” The countess sighed and rose to her feet, and Clarissa was left alone. She lost no time in sneaking out into the hall and hurrying along to the study door, crouching to listen at the keyhole.
“...being utterly unreasonable, Arthur,” Marianne was saying in clipped tones that signalled her impatience. “The girl is clearly in love. Forbidding the match will only drive her into his arms all the faster. Is that what you want?”
Clarissa held her breath, heart pounding as she awaited her father’s reply.
After a tense pause, the earl heaved a heavy sigh. “No, of course not. But dash it all, Marianne, the man’s a foreigner. And penniless to boot. How can I endorse such a union? Clarissa deserves better.”
“You’re quite capable of changing your mind when shown the error of your ways, Arthur,” Marianne pressed on relentlessly. “It’s one of your finer qualities, loath as I am to admit it.”
Clarissa could practically hear her father’s bristling indignation from the other side of the door. She imagined him drawing himself up to his full height, his face flushed with outrage at the very notion that he, the Earl of Creighton, could be wrong about anything.
“Error of my ways?” he blustered. “I’m only trying to do what’s best for the girl. She’s my daughter, for God’s sake. I have a duty to see her well settled.”
“And you don’t think she would be well settled with Captain de Silva?” Marianne asked, her tone softening a fraction. “A man who clearly adores her, who has proven himself honourable and hardworking? A man to whom, I might add, she owes her life? She would not be here without his intervention with the corsairs, Arthur, a fact of which you must be well aware.”
“He’s Catholic!” the earl protested, but Clarissa wondered if he was beginning to weaken, as his voice was noticeably quieter.
Marianne scoffed. “What is that to you? Buy a special licence and have them marry from Creighton House. Lavinia will survive the disappointment of not being able to see her daughter married at St. George’s in Hanover Square, I am sure.”
