Page 30 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
It was only a minute or two that he was gone, but to Maria, the seconds ticked slowly by. When the handle of the coach rattled, she raised the rifle, ready to shoot.
Lisandro appeared in the doorway and, after giving an appreciative nod, took the weapon from her hands and disarmed it. “The coast is clear. Let’s go.”
The dockside was empty of other people. Apart from a small rowboat, there were no vessels to be seen. Maria searched the harbor, frowning when Gus pointed to a yacht moored some way offshore.
“The sooner you are onboard my ship, the better, but we will have to row out to it,” he said.
Maria’s gaze fell on the rowboat and her stomach lurched. She had never been one for the sea, and the idea of getting into such a tiny craft made her want to be ill.
With a tight smile firmly painted on her lips, she turned to Stephen. He wouldn’t be making the short trip out to the yacht; rather, he would remain dockside, rifle at the ready.
“Thank you for all that you have done for me. I don’t expect you and I shall ever see one another again, but please know that you and Toby will always have a place in my prayers,” she said.
He held out his arms and gave her a brief but hearty hug. “I am just glad that you are on your way home. And that you have Lisandro to protect you. As for not seeing us again, you are sadly mistaken, Doña Maria. Before we left, Toby had already informed me of his grand plans to come to Spain next summer.”
I owe so much to that little boy.
Eyes brimming with tears, she turned and accepted Lisandro’s hand as he helped her down into the boat. Gus cast the line off and climbed aboard. Maria sat in the bow, grimly holding onto the sides with both hands. Stephen lifted his arm and waved farewell; the best she could manage was a nod.
Before they had moved away from the small dock, he turned and headed back to the coach. As the boat slipped from shore, her last sight of him was Stephen rifle in hand looking toward the stone roadway which led down to the water.
“Ready, and pull,” cried Gus.
He and Lisandro were seated side by side, each with an oar in their hands. Maria took in long, slow breaths, then let them out again as the boat sailed out of the protected dock. The occasional loud huff from either Lisandro or Gus soon became the only noise which rose above the slapping of the waves.
When they finally drew alongside the yacht, Gus scrambled out of his seat and tossed a line up to one of the sailors onboard. A rope ladder was thrown down to them.
Maria accepted Lisandro’s hand and he pulled her to her feet. With arms wrapped around her waist, he then lifted Maria up to the ladder. “Put your foot on the first rung and your hands either side, gripping the rope. Then pull. I will be behind you, making sure you don’t fall,” he said.
She might well have been a gently bred noblewoman, but Maria de Elizondo was experienced in the art of riding. Climbing the ladder was very similar to putting her boot into a stirrup and getting onto a horse. In fact, she found it was easier. She would challenge any man to get into a sidesaddle as elegantly as she quickly managed to get onboard the yacht.
With her feet firmly on the deck, Maria breathed a sigh of relief. While the yacht itself wasn’t an overly large vessel, it appeared sturdy. The crew, who were bustling about, all seemed to know their places and tasks.
This should make it all the way to Spain. I hope.
Quick introductions were made to the captain. She was just beginning to feel comfortable when Gus and Lisandro shook hands. They then embraced in a back-slapping hug.
“Next time don’t take so long to come to England. And make sure you arrive ready to stay for more than a few days. Monsale and George will be most disappointed that they have missed you this visit,” said Gus.
The thought of it only being her and Lisandro facing the long road home had Maria’s nerves back on edge.I hope that these days at sea will allow us to talk and build on our budding friendship.
Gus turned and bowed low. “Doña Maria, thank you for being such an excellent hostage. It was a pleasure to rescue you. I hope we shall meet again someday, preferably under less dramatic circumstances.” He righted himself, then leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Take the time while you are at sea to consider your future. You could do a lot worse than Lisandro. And don’t think for one minute that he isn’t watching you with more than just your safety in mind. I think you may have stolen his heart.”
Maria’s gaze shifted from the chopping waves to the overcast sky, and then back to Gus. She looked everywhere but at Lisandro. “Thank you. And yes, I will take your advice and give that matter much consideration.”
She moved away from the side of the boat as Gus gave Lisandro one final hearty slap on the back. “Take care and make sure you return this young woman safely home. We shall see you again, Don de Aguirre.”
The master smuggler climbed down and back into the rowboat. For an average-sized man, Augustus Jones was in possession of a strong set of shoulders. Within minutes of taking his leave, he was well on his way back to shore.
Lisandro glanced at her. “There goes someone used to hastily fleeing in a rowboat late at night. He is built strongly as an ox. Come, let me show you down to the cabin.”
Down?
Maria quickly surveyed the deck once more. Unlike a proper ship, the yacht didn’t appear to have a captain’s cabin on the weather deck. In fact, apart from the mast, ropes, and sails, there was little to be seen topside.
Lisandro met her gaze. “No point in having a nice fancy cabin up top if the local militia or navy are firing at you. Much safer to be below deck.”
Below deck. Small spaces. Oh dear.
