to curl up and die.
‘Come,’ Daniel coaxed, when she managed to put up a feeble show of resistance at being led across the deck. He would willingly have carried her had he not needed one free hand to steady himself and prevent them both from stumbling. The Channel seemed to be growing rougher with every passing minute, but he somehow managed to maintain his balance and succeeded in getting them both down the few wooden stairs which led to the captain’s private quarters, without either coming to grief.
Once safely inside the cabin, Daniel wasted no time in removing Katherine’s outer garments. Which was perhaps just as well, for no sooner had he helped her on to the narrow cot-bed than he found himself having to snatch up a bowl.
‘You’ll feel better soon,’ he tried to assure her, once she had made use of the receptacle, though he was far from certain himself. She looked deathly pale, even though her forehead felt clammy to the touch, but there was little more he could do for her except bathe her face with the fresh water he had discovered in a bottle, and then cover her with a blanket.
He very much feared that she wasn’t over the worst quite yet, and his prediction proved all too accurate. Unfortunately he wasn’t quick enough with the bowl the second time, and Katherine succeeded in badly soiling the front of her shirt.
It took him a few moments only to come to a decision. The captain, although undoubtedly a rogue of the highest order, had been generous enough to put his cabin and its contents at their disposal. Consequently Daniel didn’t hesitate to rifle through a large chest, and take out a clean shirt. Whether Katherine felt too weak to put up any resistance, or simply in the throes of sleep was unaware of what he was doing, Daniel wasn’t quite sure. However, she didn’t attempt to open her eyes or voice any protest when he peeled the shirt over her head, gently sponged her body and then hurriedly dressed her in the clean linen.
He then wasted not a moment in taking himself back up on deck in order to empty the two bowls over the side, and to take some deep steadying breaths, before seating himself on the coiled rope and marvelling at his powers of restraint. He was certainly no stranger to feminine charms, but he couldn’t recall setting eyes on a female form more perfect than that.
With a decidedly rueful grin on his lips, he gazed beyond the starboard side of the boat into the darkness. He could only hope that when she discovered what he had done, which assuredly she would, she would understand that his actions had been prompted by the purest motives, though he could not deny that it had been difficult to resist the temptation to look his fill.
‘Your young friend is feeling better, I trust?’
Daniel raised his eyes in time to catch a roguish grin on their captain’s lips. He had guessed at once, when Josephine had introduced them the previous evening, precisely in which profession her friend was engaged. A smuggler and out-and-out scoundrel the man might be, but he wasn’t lacking sympathy, and he was certainly no fool.
‘It didn’t take you very long to guess my companion’s a female,’ he remarked as the captain appeared inclined to linger.
He received a shout of laughter in response. ‘I am a Frenchman, monsieur. You no doubt had your reasons for attempting to conceal her sex. But she is far too enchanting to be a boy.’
Lovelier than you imagine, Daniel mused, as the tantalising image of that perfect, naked torso appeared before his mind’s eye to torment him.
‘I’ve been paid well by our mutual friend to take you across to England. I’ve always made a practice of minding my own business. It is safer that way.’ The captain raised his blond head to stare out across the sea. ‘The wind is dropping. We’ve made good time. You shall see your homeland again at dawn.’
Relieved by this assurance, Daniel settled himself more comfortably on the coil of rope. ‘You do not envisage having any difficulty in landing us at the location requested?’
‘I know your coastline as well as I know my own,’ the captain assured him. ‘And I’m a master at avoiding your patrolling vessels. No, I do not envisage any trouble. Why do you not go below and get some rest? You shall not be disturbed.’
A further rueful smile tugged at the corners of Daniel’s mouth. ‘I think it might be wise if I remain on deck, I thank you. I’m in need of a little air.’ He chose not to add that he knew his limitations. He was a man, after all, and he didn’t wish to be tempted into doing something of which afterwards he might well feel very ashamed.
* * *
Katherine opened her eyes to see the lamp suspended above her head swinging to and fro and, uttering a groan, quickly shut them again. She had hoped it might all have been some diabolical nightmare; that she could not possibly hear the creaking of timbers or be rocking to and fro as though she were in a cradle, but it was all too real. She was still on board that wretched vessel!
‘Ha! So you’re awake, are you? Good! It saves me the trouble of having to rouse you.’
Katherine forced just one eye open this time to see Daniel, appearing disgustingly hale and hearty, negotiating the last few narrow steps down to the cabin. ‘No, I’m not awake. Go away!’ she snapped pettishly, as a vague memory of his being here not very long ago and pouring something fiery down her throat filtered through her mind. ‘I’m not having any more of that wretched draught you gave me.’
‘It was brandy, young woman. And it wouldn’t hurt to take a drop more. You must get up,’ he announced with what she considered a callous lack of sympathy. ‘The rowboat is already over the side, and two members of the crew are waiting to row us ashore.’
His last disclosure possessed the magical effect of some powerful restorative, and Katherine sat up, swinging her feet to the floor. ‘Do you mean we’re back in England?’
‘Not quite, but we very soon shall be,’ he assured her, helping her to don both hat and jacket, before swirling the cloak about her shoulders. Then, taking a firm clasp of her wrist, he led the way up on deck, where the captain stood waiting to help her over the side.
Daniel offered to toss her over his shoulder and carry her down the rope-ladder; a suggestion which she instantly declined. Her legs might still feel slightly wobbly and she certainly wasn’t fully restored, but she had no intention of suffering the indignity of being handled in such a fashion with the captain and his crew looking on, though she was thankful when Daniel insisted on descending first.
Although they seemed a fair distance away from the shore, Katherine was amazed, once she had managed to scramble into the rowing-boat, just how quickly they reached the beach. The relief of stepping on to dry land almost restored her spirits completely.
‘Where in the name of heaven are we precisely?’ she asked, after watching the two sailors head back towards their vessel.
‘We’re on the Dorset coast.’
For a moment she thought she must have misheard. ‘What possessed you to have us set down here? How do you propose we reach London …? Walk?’
‘I’m not taking you to London. I’ve funds enough remaining to get us safely to my home, which is about twenty miles from here, where I’ll be able to keep an eye on you.’
Puzzled, Katherine joined him on the huge rock a little further up the beach, where he had settled himself. ‘I do not perfectly understand, Daniel. Sir Giles wished me to travel to the capital.’
‘I know what that old
