Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie (5 page)

Bloody
hell.
What had come over him? Madame Lavigne would want nothing to do with him if he behaved like a brute, and he was beginning to think of nothing aside from taking her to his bed and breaking the hold she had over him.

He offered a contrite grin before sweeping a low bow. “Please accept my apologies, ladies. I forgot myself. Perhaps you’ll allow me to make amends over dinner this evening in my cabin.”

He glanced to Madame Lavigne for confirmation. Her grim expression didn’t alter, but she gave a sharp nod.

“Splendid.” Daniel captured Mademoiselle Vistoire’s hand and placed a kiss on her pristine glove. “Until then, I bid you farewell, ladies.” Madame Lavigne scowled when he didn’t offer her the same courtesy.

It seemed she was not indifferent to him after all, which lifted his spirits a bit. Tonight they must clear up a few matters, then he would ascertain how closely their desires aligned.

Five

A lone gentleman sat at Captain Hillary’s table drinking a glass of wine when Lisette and her family entered the ship’s great cabin at the dinner hour.

“Are we too early?” she asked.

“All present and accounted for, all but the captain.” The man stood as she and Serafine approached with Rafe between them. “I’m Mr. Ramsey, vicar of Trinity Church in Dunstable.”

Lisette returned his greeting and introduced her family.

“Madame. Mademoiselle.” Mr. Ramsey snatched his wine, raised the half-empty glass in salute, and drained it.

Her gaze flicked toward the main door, hoping she had misunderstood the vicar. She had been counting on the captain’s kin to provide a buffer between them this evening. “There was a young woman, Amelia, on deck earlier. Won’t she be joining us?”

“My brother and his wife are dining alone this evening.”

She jumped at the sound of Captain Hillary’s voice and found him braced against a second doorway. His intense and stealthy observation sent a shiver along her spine. How long had he been standing there?

He nodded in greeting as he entered the cabin. Dressed in a tailored coat of black, an ivory waistcoat with gold embroidery, and fitted black trousers, he resembled a gentleman of means. He was dashing to say the least, but fancy attire couldn’t disguise the edge of danger he possessed, the one she had witnessed at The Abyss. The air around him sparked with tense energy, affecting everyone around him.

Affecting
her
.

She intertwined her fingers and hugged her hands against her chest.

Captain Hillary flashed a crooked smile, one dimple piercing his left cheek. “I see everyone has made each other’s acquaintance. Ladies. Master Rafe. It’s a pleasure to dine with you this evening.”

“Likewise, Captain.” The captain’s inclusion of her brother in his address pleased her, and she dropped her hands to her sides. Most people ignored her brother as the vicar had. Perhaps it was easier than confronting his peculiarities.

Rafe reached for Lisette’s hand, rocking back and forth, gazing at the quarters with an unfocused stare.

Captain Hillary swept a hand toward the table. “Shall we?”

He pulled out Lisette’s chair then assisted Serafine to her seat. In addition to donning proper attire, he had borrowed some manners since their earlier encounter. She could almost mistake him for a gentleman.

“Thank you,” Lisette muttered.

Rounding the table, Captain Hillary assumed the seat across from her and cocked a wary eyebrow when Monsieur Ramsey motioned for more wine. The captain refilled the vicar’s glass with a slight grimace.

Monsieur Ramsey gulped half the crimson liquid, sighed, then launched into an insipid tale of his devotion to his great-uncle, who had passed away within the last month. It seemed the wine loosened his lips so much, words spilled from his mouth. “To think, I traveled all that distance from England, risking my own life, to handle his affairs. And blast it if the curmudgeon didn’t bequeath every possession he had to the nuns.”

A saccharine smile plastered Serafine’s face. “I can only imagine how honored you must feel, for surely your selfless actions in caring for your kin inspired his charitable gift.”

The vicar recoiled. “Indeed, mademoiselle? I hadn’t considered that possibility.” His shoulders drooped, and he stared into his goblet as he swirled his wine. “’Tis true then. No good deed shall go unpunished and all.”

Captain Hillary hid a smirk with a swipe of his napkin, but amusement glimmered in his eyes when he met Lisette’s gaze.

Rafe wiggled on the chair between her and Serafine, having eaten the only thing on his plate he liked, the bread. And then only the soft middle. His boiled fish and summer squash remained untouched.

Lisette exchanged his crust for her untouched piece and worried her bottom lip. Rafe was particular about what he ate. Unlike other children, he wouldn’t eat just anything handed to him if he became hungry enough. He limited his consumption to four foods—bread, rice, milk, and sweets, particularly rice pudding. Yet, the accidental inclusion of a plumped-up raisin in his dish could send him into hysterics. This would not be an easy journey for any of them, she feared.

Lisette had taken rice and flour from the larder at Passebon House, but there hadn’t been much room in the sack, and it had grown heavy. She didn’t know how long the supplies would last. In fact, she had no idea how long the voyage would take, much less how to determine if she carried enough staples. Tomorrow she must find the galley and speak with the cook. Perhaps she could bribe him to ration the foods Rafe required for survival.

She glanced up and discovered Captain Hillary studying her brother digging his fingers into the bread. The captain frowned but held his tongue. When her brother finished eating the middle from her bread, Captain Hillary reached across the table to place his serving on Rafe’s plate.

Rafe’s head popped up, but he didn’t look directly at anyone. “The
Cecily
is an Indiaman, a three-masted ship carrying three square sails on the fore and mainmasts. The mizzenmast has one square sail and a fore-and-aft sail.”

Captain Hillary’s brows lifted. “Indeed. You’re observant, Master Rafe. I believe you could replace my first mate. Perhaps you can make his acquaintance on the morrow and offer your assistance.”

Rafe sat on his hands, rocking, his eyes trained to his plate again. “A Baltimore flyer is a schooner. She has a narrow hull and is faster. She could overtake the
Cecily
.”

Lisette and Serafine exchanged a startled look. Lisette’s betrothed owned a ship. Rafe had toured the vessel once when Reynaud was courting her. She couldn’t recall the ship’s class, but Rafe wouldn’t forget. Surely her brother didn’t fear Reynaud would pursue them, not for her meager dowry or Rafe’s modest inheritance. Such an undertaking would be insane.

Lisette patted her brother’s knee as much to comfort herself as him. “I’m certain Captain Hillary knows all about dealing with overzealous Baltimore flyers. You needn’t trouble yourself.”

Rafe looked to Captain Hillary as if seeking reassurance, his large amber eyes so like their father’s, minus their sire’s spark of life.

The captain glanced between Lisette and her brother, his thick brows lowered. “As your sister says, Master Rafe, you needn’t concern yourself. Schooners know to use caution around an armed ship.”

“Thirty-two guns,” Rafe supplied with a wan smile. His response to the captain was unprecedented.

“Perhaps you would accompany me on a tour of the ship on the morrow to ensure all is operating as it should.”

Her brother tore off a piece of soft bread and didn’t answer. His connection to the man was severed so abruptly, Lisette wondered if her imagination had fooled her.

Serafine squared her shoulders. “Rafe possesses much knowledge on constellations as well as ships, Captain. Perhaps he will discuss his interest with you.” Her regal posture served as a testament to her pride. “He is a brilliant young man.”

“I can see he’s unlike other boys his age.”

Lisette and Serafine, who had been surrogate mothers to Rafe since his birth, shot glares in the captain’s direction, but he was looking at Rafe. His expression softened.

“He’s more intelligent than the average boy.” Captain Hillary rested his elbow on the seat back as he lounged on the unpadded chair. His relaxed demeanor chased away Lisette’s fears. Rafe’s differences were evident to the captain, but he wasn’t passing judgment.

Rafe began to squirm before Lisette finished her meal, but there was nothing to be done for it. With the disruption to his routine and lack of adequate sleep, his restlessness could quickly transform into a tantrum unless immediate action was taken. She and Serafine stood.

“I hope you will excuse us, gentlemen,” Serafine said. “It’s time to put this young man to bed.”

The captain pushed from the table as Lisette took her brother’s hand. “It has been a long day for Master Rafe, I’m sure.”

Lisette smiled. “Thank you for understanding, sir.”

As they shuffled toward the cabin door, Captain Hillary cleared his throat. “Could you spare a moment, Madame Lavigne? We failed to settle your account last evening.”

Lisette flinched. She had hoped to be farther away before she had to tell him she wasn’t a widow and preferred another method of payment.

Serafine placed her arm around Rafe’s shoulders. “I will ready him for bed while you conclude our dealings with the captain.”

Lisette nodded, her heart hammering.

But then she recalled the clergyman’s presence and her apprehension melted away. Captain Hillary couldn’t demand his outrageous payment with a religious man bearing witness.

“Perhaps we should postpone—”

Oh, Sweet Mary.

The captain was lugging the vicar from his seat. “How nice of you to join us for dinner, Mr. Ramsey.”

“But I haven’t finished my wine.”

Captain Hillary snatched the bottle from the table and pressed it into the vicar’s hands. “Take it to your quarters. I insist.”

Monsieur Ramsey’s protests ceased. He accepted the gift and rushed out the door as if fearful it would hit his backside if he moved too slowly.

Alone, Captain Hillary once again resembled the scoundrel from the tavern. “This way, madame.”

She hesitated before following him into a cabin located in the stern of the ship. Lisette assessed her surroundings to calm her nerves, as if taking inventory might delay the inevitable.

Merde.
It was a short list. The captain was much too tidy for a man.

The only features of interest were the windows running along the back of the space, but there was nothing but blackness outside. The silence became an entity unto itself, an intolerable creature.

“Why did we stop? Won’t this delay our arrival?”

“We’ll raise anchor at daybreak. It’s dangerous to travel the river at night.”

He sank into a chair behind his desk, which was secured to the deck with ropes and two iron rings. His furniture was as immovable as he was. Resting his elbows on the desk, he formed a steeple with his fingers and regarded her with unrelenting, dark blue eyes.

Lisette squeezed her fingers harder and broke into a light sweat. “Captain Hillary—”

“Call me Daniel. And I shall take the liberty of referring to you as Lisette.”

She issued an outraged gasp. “I will
not
. It’s highly improper.”

How ludicrous to argue the proper forms of address after the agreement she had made with him last night, but she needed to maintain some illusion of control.

He winked. “By the end of this journey, I hope our intimacy will extend beyond a first-name basis, my dear. I endeavor to move things along. I’m sure you will forgive my impatience.”

“I see.” She frowned, not sure she would forgive him anything. Gripping the back of a wooden chair, she steadied herself when the ship rocked and she almost lost her footing. “May I sit?”

“No.”

“I beg your pardon?” Really, the man was a complete cur.

“You neglected to tell me everything last night, madame. What ailment plagues your brother?”

She huffed. “This is absurd. I won’t stand while you interrogate me.” She rounded the chair and plopped on the seat, defying him to stop her.

A corner of his mouth kicked up before his expression hardened again. “Answer me, so we may commence our business before daybreak.”

She didn’t want to rush things along, given his uncouth behavior, but since they hadn’t cleared the great river yet, she didn’t dare push him too far. It was conceivable he might leave them along the overgrown bank for the alligators.

“I’m waiting, madame.”

“Raf—my brother was born different.
Special.
”

“Continue.”

She lifted her chin, tiring of the captain’s curt manner. “He spends much time in his thoughts and keeps his own counsel. He’s a brilliant young boy, as Serafine indicated. He holds vast knowledge on the constellations from perusing books he was never taught to read.”