Page 10 of Miss Debenham's Secret
“There’s a rogue wave comes along the rocks out there,” the fisherman had informed them.“I’ve lost count of ‘ow many folk get upturned by it.You’re not the first, sir.”
“The first second lieutenant in the navy, I’ll bet,” Alistair murmured to Clarissa with a wry smile.“I wouldn’t want word to get out that I can’t even stay afloat in a dingy.”
She bit her lip but her eyes must have shown how amused by it she was because he shook his head at her.“You have a cruel twisted sense of humour, Miss Debenham.”
Did she?she wondered now, shivering before the fire.Or was it just that these days she was more willing to find the humour in most things, even being overturned in a sailing boat?
The truth was Alistair made her smile, even when he wasn’t trying to.Mr.Marly only made her feel inadequate and rather worried about her future.How could her father think it was better for her to marry Mr.Marly and spend her life with him, when she just knew she would be miserable?As handsome as he was it seemed incredible now that she’d actually ever considered the thought—that she would have counted herself fortunate indeed had Mr Marly suggested they might have a future together.What a cold man he was, she realised, when compared with Alistair McKay.She would be better off alone than married to another like her own father.
Because it seemed extremely unlikely that Alistair had any intention of asking her to marry him.
“I’ll find you some clothes to wear, miss, and you can come down to the parlour and have something hot to eat and drink.”Annie, the maid must have thought her sad expression was to do with her current state.
“Thank you so much, Annie.”
It was no use thinking about the future now, Clarissa told herself sternly.She should enjoy the moments she had left with Alistair and not try to imagine the long days ahead.Besides, he’d promised to write to her and that would give her something to look forward to.
“You’re the school teacher over in Lyme, aren’t you?”Annie was hovering in the doorway, eyeing her curiously.
Clarissa smiled.“That’s right, I am.Clarissa Debenham.”
The girl hesitated a moment more and then burst out with, “I always wanted to learn to read and write, but my Ma couldn’t spare me.I had to help with the farm, and then ...well, I missed out.”
Clarissa gave her a thoughtful look.“You know, I can help you to learn.If you really want to?We could meet once a week, if you could manage it, and I could set you lessons to do at home.Or here.I’m sure the inn-keeper wouldn’t mind, he seems a nice man.Would you like that?”
The girl looked amazed at first and disbelieving, then her expression changed to one of hope.“Oh yes,” she whispered, “I would.”She hesitated and then said shyly, “I would like that very much.”
“Good.Then come and visit the school in Lyme and we can see about getting you started with your reading and writing, Annie.”
Downstairs, wearing a homespun brown dress and clogs, she found Alistair in a jacket and trousers which looked rather small, borrowed shoes which looked rather big, and a grin on his face.
“How the mighty are fallen,” he laughed, when he saw her.
“I am not so mighty as you,” she said primly, “so I have not fallen as far.”
That made him laugh again.
The inn keeper seemed keen to help in any way he could and gave a little speech about the debt England owed to its navy.“For without you we’d all be under Napoleon’s rule,” he declared.He brought them some hot stew, full of vegetables, with crusty bread to one side, and a jug of the local beer.Clarissa found she was starving.They ate in companionable silence, and when they had finished they sat by the fire and warmed themselves while outside the sun gave way to some rain.
“We will be late getting back,” she said, peering anxiously toward the window.“My father will be worried.”
Alistair had his own thoughts on that—Debenham deserved to worry about his daughter, it would do him good—but he agreed they must start back as soon as the rain eased.“I’m sure he will understand,” he soothed her.
But he doubted it and knew from the expression on her face that so did she.
Outside the rain was getting heavier, sending up little splashes from the puddles already on the ground.The sky was low and dark grey and there was no sign that the weather would be clearing soon.
“It can’t be helped,” Alistair said, stretching out before the fire.“Might as well rest while we can.”
Clarissa sighed and sat beside him, placing her own stocking feet beside his on the hearth.It was lovely and warm and the heat began to soak into her chilled body, relaxing her.She smiled at her companion and found him watching her through half closed eyes.Suddenly he reached to take her hand in his, in that impulsive way he had, and turning it over he kissed the centre of her palm.
“I’m sorry things turned out like this.”
His lips were warm and sent a tingle right through her, an achy feeling that she had never felt before.At least, not until he’d kissed her on the sand earlier.
“It isn’t your fault,” she said breathlessly.
His eyes met hers and then slid down over her cheek, fixing on her lips.Slowly he leaned forward, giving her time to stop him, but Clarissa did not want to stop him.She did not want that at all.
