Page 27 of Snowbound Regency Christmas
‘He’s been alone all these years. It got about among his mates that all he ever wanted was for a pretty girl to see him off on a voyage. They say he always watches with the other men.’
That breaks my heart, Rosie thought.Dear, dear man. ‘What should I do? Where should I stand?’
‘Wait right here,’ her escort said. ‘I will wait in the Mermaid’s Tears over there and watch. I won’t have you walking through the Barbican back to the Drake by yourself. Cheers, dear.’
Rose stood in front of theAlbemarle, not a large ship, not like the really big ones anchored further offshore. She was already familiar with the prisoner hulks closer to the jetty, where French prisoners suffered. She had seen this harbour view many times in summer, when several of Mr Gooding’s employees, her among them, watched ships come and go.
She waited patiently, supremely unsure of herself. Their one kiss had been memorable, but he had never spoken his mind to her. Whatever happened, it was already a Christmas to remember.
There he stood, hands on the rail, his smile filling the entire universe, her universe. He doffed his hat and bowed to her.
To her embarrassment, she heard a great cheer rise up from the deck of theAlbemarleas Sailing Master Hadfield, her hero and evidently theirs, as well, hurried down the gangplank, grabbing her just as she hoped he would. As he kissed her, the cheer spread to adjacent ships.
‘We are making a scene,’ she said when she could speak.
‘Aye, we are,’ he agreed. ‘Youwouldchoose this morning to oversleep, dear lady.’ What did he do but make it worse, nuzzling her neck and whispering, ‘Good God, that flannel nightgown…’
‘Oh, hush. I was awake all night, waiting to hold your hand,’ she explained. ‘Did you really sleep all night?’
‘Aye, for the first time since I shimmied naked down that rope. I owe it to you.’
Oh my but that next kiss was a barn burner. The observers cheered again. She held him off. ‘You are my hero and don’t you dare deny it. I love you.’
‘Not the wisest thing you ever did.’
‘It is,’ she assured him. ‘Must I propose toyou? I will, you know.’
‘No need,’ he said, his voice close to her ear so she could hear him above the commotion. ‘I love you. Please marry me, Rosie Harte.’
‘Aye,’ she said promptly, which made him gather her scandalously close. ‘It’s like this—theAlbemarlehas been in dry dock over steering issues. We are making a shakedown cruise only as far as Portsmouth. Here’s what you need to do.’ Lord have mercy, could hegetany closer? ‘Pray that I will find some defect that will mean a few more weeks in dry dock. Steering and trim are my domain aboard ship and I am a master of it.’
She laughed, her hand to her mouth. ‘Do you think you will find something wrong?’
‘I am positive,’ he said. ‘I will get a special license in Portsmouth and marry you the moment we dock back here in, oh, let us say four days.’
She nodded, even as the practical side of her wanted more information. ‘Master Hadfield, will therereallybe anything wrong with theAlbemarle?’
‘You will never tease that out of me.’
It was still daylight, but Andrew’s new boat cloak was all encompassing. ‘Even if I touch you here and here?’ she whispered, amazing herself. ‘Maybe even here?’
‘Miss Harte, you are a menace to mortal man,’ he said, as his breathing became more rapid. ‘No, not even there, there or there.’
‘I am a menace and you are my hero.’
He kissed her once more, then stood at attention at the bosun’s whistle, signifying the captain was moving up the gangplank now. ‘We’re sailing with the tide. Mrs Fillion will find you a quiet berth on the third floor. Keep that berth warm.’
‘Andy… .’
‘When I get back, we’ll house hunt, well, later. Kiss me quick and wish me Happy Christmas.’
She did, and held his hand all the way to the gangplank, where the bosun took out his timepiece and winked at her future husband. Andrew looked toward the stern of the vessel and frowned. ‘Uh-oh. I see something that will need adjusting when we return in a few days. I’d better tell Captain Matthews.’
‘Andrew, you’re the menace.’
He whispered in her ear, ‘I remember something even more important. Hush now.’ He gathered her close again. ‘Dearest, I give you my whole heart, as you give me yours.’
Epilogue
