Page 7 of My Gentleman Spy
Chapter Three
The walkup the stone steps and into the town concentrated Will's mind. What could have possessed Sarah to make her jump ship? While he was prepared to accept that her fiancé was likely a blackguard, he also suspected she was holding back much of the truth. From the way she spoke, he deduced that there was an actual fiancé somewhere in the story. What was not so certain however, was whether he was the real reason behind her fleeing theship.
TheBlade of Orionhad been in port for at least several days, during which the passengers would have had to disembark and stay somewhere in the town. Why hadn't she sought help from the authorities while still onshore? Gibraltar was full of British naval personnel, anyone of whom could have been called upon to come to heraid.
He chanced a look in herdirection.
She was pretty; in a keep you happy in bed in the middle of winter way. Her warm brown eyes alone could capture a man's soul. Her face, while not beautiful, still held the promise of laughter, which to a man of Will's experience was far more alluring. Beauty often failed to live up to itspromise.
Her full lips were meant for long luxurious kisses. Instinct told him that whomever married Sarah Wilson would never feel the need to stray from the marital bed. She was a woman to cleave onto and be grateful for, for the rest of your life. If he had been asked to describe her in a single word he knew what it would be.Lovely.
Her fiancé had lost a special woman, though from the sound of the cad, he would likely never come to thatrealization.
With her sea soaked clothes still clinging tightly to her body, Will found himself appreciating the soft curves which were on display. Her ample breasts stretched the seams of the gown's water shrunkenbodice.
He checked himself. It had been a long time since he had allowed the thought of a woman's body to pervade so strongly into his mind. For the past few years he had buried those thoughts and desires deep in the black hole ofloss.
Grief was a thick, dark blanket to the joy of life. Once the sharp heat of it ebbed, it offered protection to theheart.
What am Idoing?
For the first time since the death of his wife, Will was forced to accept that the girl walking beside him stirred hislonging.
“So, we shall get you to the hotel, and you will be fine after that?” he asked. He was testing her, seeing how long she could hold her storytogether.
“Yes, yes of course. Thank you, Mr. Saunders,” shereplied.
When they finally reached the top of the stairs which led to the entrance of the largest of the handful of hotels in Gibraltar, Will stopped and held open the door. Hattie stepped inside and hefollowed.
On the climb up the hill, he had silently evaluated her situation. He doubted she had any money. If she had thought to take some with her before leaving the ship, those coins were more than likely now resting at the bottom of the harbor. If his theory held true, then it was only a matter of time before she would be forced to admit the truth of herpredicament.
As they reached the front desk of the hotel, which doubled as both reception and an extension to the tavern bar shestopped.
He could see she was ill at ease. The constant wringing of her hands gave her away. When she cracked the smallest knuckle on her left hand, he knew it was time toact.
His sister Caroline had the same nervous habit, one which made him grit his teeth every time he was forced to bear witness toit.
What sort of man are you? What could you possibly achieve from making her beg you for help? Will Saunders, you are a better man than this. She is not some operative you need to bend to your will. Offer her your fullassistance.
He waved the hotel’s head porter away and taking hold of Hattie’s arm steered her away from the frontdesk.
“You don't have any money, do you?” he asked, once they were out of earshot of the hotelstaff.
She winced. Her reaction confirming his assessment of her lack of skills as a liar. In his old life he would have viewed this as a character flaw, but in the young woman before him he knew this to be a sign of her true character andbreeding.
It was refreshing to meet someone who did not practice deceit as part of their normal day to dayexistence.
She pulled away and turning on her heel headed for thedoor.
Will who until that second had thought himself a canny predictor of the reactions of others, suddenly found himself wrong footed. Any other woman would have thrown herself on his charity. Called all societies dictates to the fore, but not thisgirl.
He watched in amazement as she screwed her courage to the sticking place and walked away. She was not going to ask for hishelp.
She was so like Yvette. So bloodystubborn.
Stop her youfool.
“Sarah!” he called out, but she did notreact.
