Page 16 of The Captain of Betrayal
"Oh, Lud. Is it?" Alexandra's blue eyes widened in horror, "She'll lecture us until kingdom come about propriety, and engaging in public spectacles, if she spots us here."
The twins disappeared quickly, followed by Beatrice, who seemed afraid that Mrs Actrol would also catch her in the act of gawping at the local bachelor.
Polly allowed James a moment to bask in glory, watching from under her eyelashes as he handed the rescued kitten to Lottie Thompson, whose cheeks were stained with tears. The little girl glanced up at James with naked admiration, her awe filled gaze so innocent.
He'd make a wonderful father, Polly thought absently as she watched the pair. James had hunkered down, so that he was face to face with the little girl, rather than allowing his tall frame dwarf her, and he was calmly showing Lottie the kitten, explaining that it was unharmed.
Goodness, Polly started, where had that thought come from? She had never before held any inclinations toward motherhood--having already been somewhat of a mother to Emily--but watching James speaking with Lottie stirred something within her. It was like an ache, a longing for a life that at eight and twenty was long out of her reach.
The pining for a family of her own was so sharp that when James finally rose to his feet and ambled across the green to where she stood, Polly's nerves were frayed and her temper short.
"There you are," he said, as he came to a halt before her.
Polly had spent a lifetime wishing she were taller, and now as she gazed up at James Black, she once again cursed her small stature. He was enormous; true, he had been tall as a boy, but he had been lanky with it. As a grown man, James stood well over six foot, with broad shoulders and an athletic, muscular frame. He exuded power and confidence, whilst Polly felt like a child before him.
"Yes," she responded, bristling as his blue eyed gaze seemed to swallow her whole. "Here I am, standing on the green outsidemyhome. And here you are, standing in a place that is notyourhome, and where there's no welcome for you--though you're too pig-headed to see it."
"Goodbye Captain!"
"Thank you so much, Captain!"
"We're so glad you were here, Captain!"
As though to prove her wrong, half a dozen children filed past Polly and James, each child bestowing smiles and waves upon the latter, chattering loudly about how brave, strong and wonderful Captain Black was. Polly harrumphed with annoyance; what did they know, they were only children.
"Polly," James held out his hand. It was large, tanned from the sun, and rough from years of labour. Polly looked at it, but did not reach for out her own and after a moment James let his arm fall back down to his side, his hand empty.
"I don't know what you think you're about," Polly eventually said, her words laboured and a heavy feeling upon her chest. When had the mere act of speaking become so difficult, she thought, when it had always been as natural to her as breathing? "But whatever it is you're planning Captain, I suggest you reconsider. This is my home now, and you have no right to be here."
"It's a free country." James' words were given mildly, though Polly could see his blue eyes dancing with mischief and a determined set to his jaw. Was he deliberately trying to antagonise her?
"From John O'Groats to Land's End, aye it may be," Polly retorted,her accent taking on a stronger Northern twang in her anger. "But there's a small spot of this great kingdom that belongs only to me, and it's this village James Black. You're not welcome here, so you'd best sling your hook."
In her life time, Polly had taken on many roles as a means to support herself and Emily. She had worked as a seamstress, a shop girl, a lady's companion, and an office clerk for a shipping merchant —though it was the years spent pulling pints in the spit and sawdust taverns of Bristol that truly stood to her now. Polly cast James the same threatening glance that she once cast to drunkards in the Three Tuns on St George's Road in Hotwells. It was a perfect mixture of disdain, mixed with a mildly threatening glare--it had worked wonders on the reprobates in the pub--but James Black did not blink.
"I won't leave until I have won your forgiveness," he stated simply, though the square set of his jaw and the spark in his eyes let Polly know that behind his mild words lay a steely determination.
"If that's all it takes to get you to leave," she huffed, affecting a nonchalance she did not feel, "Then so be it; I forgive you. Now go."
"I won't be fobbed off that easily," James gave a lazy smile, his gaze so intimate it was almost improper. "You will forgive me properly Polly Jenkins, and when you do I'll make good on my promise to put a ring on your finger."
He was fit for Bedlam, that was the only thing that Polly could think as she digested James' words. Mind you, the fluttering in her chest at his proposal made Polly think that perhaps she was fit for Bedlam too. A sharp retort was on her lips, but it died as a voice broke across them.
"I knew it was you!"
Emily stood a few feet away, her soft face lit up with a smile of happiness that tugged at Polly's heartstrings. Her sister's expression was one of pure joy at having been reunited with her childhood friend, and Polly envied her sister her unsullied memories of James.
"Lud," James looked at Emily, his mouth momentarily open with shock, until it stretched into a smile that matched Emily's own. "Emily Jenkins, as I live and breathe."
"James Black," Emily gave a haphazard curtsey, "It took you much longer to return to us than you said it would."
"Indeed it did," James gave a gallant bow to Emily, who was visibly delighted by the gesture. "And for that I beg your forgiveness."
"There's no need for forgiveness between friends."
Polly envied her sister her straightforward view of the world. For Emily, life was very black and white, whilst Polly knew the world to be painted in shades of grey. Forgiveness was easy for Emily, because she knew it was the right thing to do, and whilst Polly too knew that forgiveness was right, and would ultimately bring her peace, she was loathe to exonerate James from his past sins.
As if reading her mind, James bestowed a loaded look on Polly, as though to say "If your sister can forgive me, then why can't you?".
