Page 54 of Miss Whittier Makes a List
“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 murmured.
“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 hisarmover her shoulder in a friendly gesture that had nothing of the lover in it.“It would only be a morning’s work to have you declared a ward in chancery—Ihavebeento 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 pattedher backand 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 LeTournier is coming by this afternoon for anotherfitting,”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 greatWellingtonhimself to cut his toenails? Hannah, get rid of her and pack yourgs. I mean to have a yes out of you before I am too much older.”
Chapter Fifteen
Getting rid of MadameLeTournier 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 inDevonand 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 LeTournier curtseyed herself out of the room,closing the door quietly behind her.“Seehere, Hannah,”she scolded herself.“Thee is becoming altogether too adept at lies. What will thee do next?”
The stumbling block to immediate removal fromLondonproved 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 party tonight ....”
“…and losing your shift and garters,”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 certainly isn’t your older son, the esteemed head of our family. I confess to a definite uneasiness over your gaming habits, particularly 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 gatherme up, grab her bonnet, and run,she thought as she watched the small muscle work inDaniel’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. Futtrell, who nodded to the dowager, winked at Hannah, and drew himself up before the captain.
“You wished to see me, sir?”he asked.
“Ohrelax,Futtrell.”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 inDorst. 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.“Iknow how that feels, Mr. Futtrell.”
