Page 44 of My Gentleman Spy
“Ow! You are hurting me! Letgo!”
He softened his grip, but still held onto her arm. In his eyes she saw confusion andhurt.
“Come back inside the cabin,” hepleaded.
The last place she wanted to be was alone with Will. He was a man not used to being told no, and therefore would do everything he could to bend her to hiswill.
“Let go,” she groundout.
His gaze lifted from her, and settled on something over her shoulder. Hattie turned and saw a good number of theCanis Majorcrew, working on deck. They had all stopped their tasks and were watching the unfolding argument with keeninterest.
Memories of the traders at the market in Gibraltar speared into her mind. Will had played the crowd and won them over. Could she do thesame?
After all he had done for her Will did not deserve what was about to come. But, he had now backed her into such a tight corner that Hattie could not see any other wayout.
I’msorry.
“You cannot make me marry you! I know you only want me for my dowry. You are cruel and selfish,” shecried.
A look of horror appeared on Will’sface.
“Don’t do this Hattie. These men are not simple market stall holders,” hepleaded.
“No. No, I won’t stay silent any longer. When we get to London I am going to tell my uncle exactly the sort of man that you are, youbeast.”
All movement on deck came to a standstill. The crew were rivetted by the unfoldingdrama.
Hattie pulled out of Will’s grip. She staggered away toward the crew, doing her best to bring herself to tears. The first mate reached out and put a comforting arm aroundher.
“It’s alright young miss, you won’t come to harm,” hesaid.
Will, hands clenched in tight fists, marched over. His breath was heavy and his stance ramrod straight. The master of the illusion was being beaten at his own game and he waslivid.
“Gentlemen, you are being played by this young woman. Now if you would let her go, she and I can go back to our cabin and resolve this matter privately,” hesaid.
Hattie leaned in closer to the first mate. She managed a sob for addedeffect.
“Mr.Saunders?”
As Will turned, Hattie caught sight of the ship’s captain. The goings on out on the deck had now been brought to hisattention.
‘My fiancée and I are having a small disagreement. I am sorry that she has disturbed your crew and taken them from their work,” explainedWill.
Will was an intelligent man, and more than capable of talking himself out of any situation. Hattie also knew the captain liked him. Over the past days, she and Will had spent time with the soon to be retired old seadog. On several occasions they had taken supper in the captain’scabin.
As Will had judged the situation in the town, Hattie knew the stakes were high. She had to rise to theoccasion.
“Disagreement? You wait until my uncle hears of the terrible things you have done to me. I will show him the bruises. He will see you for the wicked brute that you are, he will save me fromyou.”
She buried her face in the shoulder of the first mate and wailedloudly.
“Help me, I beg ofyou!”
Two other members of the crew mustered behind the first mate’s back in a clear show ofsolidarity.
“This is a bloody farce,” saidWill.
Hattie sensed the shift in the mood. Will had sworn in front of a young lady. Doubt of how much of a gentleman he was would now be in the minds of the crew. She sensedvictory.
