and served him tea in the drawing room after,’ retorted Sir Benjamin. ‘Hardly effusive behaviour, my love. I understand from Rooney that you are gone from the house before breakfast every day and do not return until late in the afternoon. Are there suddenly so many distressed families in Makerham that require your attendance?’
‘The summer has brought on a deal of sickness and ague, sir.’
‘Then you must send Martha with a basket of food, child. I will not have you neglect our guest.’
Eve cast down her eyes. ‘Yes Grandpapa.’ She stole a glance at Sir Benjamin and saw he was frowning at her. She put out her hands. ‘Oh, sir, pray do not be angry with me. It is such a novelty to have any man save yourself in the house and it is taking me a little time to grow accustomed.’
She might have added that she found her grandfather’s guest far too attractive for her comfort, but decided against it.
‘Well I consider four days is long enough for you to grow accustomed, as you put it. I don’t say that the captain isn’t excellent company, but it’s not me that he has come here to see. If you continue to absent yourself, he will think you do not like him.’
‘It is not that, Grandpapa—’
‘My dear child, I know this is very sudden for you. When I took you to Tunbridge Wells a few years ago I had hoped that you might form an alliance, but none of the gentlemen took your fancy, and you could not be persuaded to stay with your friends in London—’
‘I could not leave you, Grandpapa,’ she said quickly. ‘You were ill and I wanted to look after you.’
He patted her hands. ‘Your heart is too kind, Eve my love, but I should have made you go; imprisoned here with me, you have no opportunity to meet eligible gentlemen.’
‘But I have not been unhappy, sir.’
‘That is not the point, Evelina,’ Sir Benjamin leaned forwards, saying urgently, ‘I am growing weaker, my love. When I am gone there will be no one to protect you. Your cousin inherits Makerham, there is nothing to be done about that, but I do not like him. I have seen the way he looks at you when he is here. I would not have you left to his care.’
She shivered at the thought. ‘You are right, Grandpapa, I do not think I should like that.’
‘So you will consider Captain Wylder’s suit?’
‘Yes, Grandpapa. If he should offer for me, I will consider his suit.’ Eve smiled. She had made up her mind that she would not relax her guard until she had received word from London about Captain Wylder. Now, with her friend Maria’s letter nestling in her pocket, she had decided upon a course of action. ‘I am sorry if I have not been as attentive to our guest as you would like, Grandpapa. I promise you I am now quite ready to entertain Captain Wylder. In fact,’ she added with a twinkle, ‘I will start this very day!’
Nick looked up from the letter he was reading as Richard Granby came into the room.
‘Bad news, Captain?’
Nick shook his head.
‘No news at all,’ he said. ‘Our quarry has gone to ground.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ Granby hesitated and then said delicately, ‘And, if I might enquire, how are your plans progressing with the young lady?’
Nick tossed the letter aside. ‘They are not,’ he said shortly. ‘I am wondering if we should weigh anchor and try another tack. The admiralty wants answers and there are other leads to follow…’ his lips twitched ‘…though none so attractive.’
A knock at the door interrupted them. Nick hurriedly took up his letter and put it away while Granby answered the door. He heard a murmur of voices and turned to see his valet approaching, a folded paper in his hand.
‘A note for you, Captain.’
‘Well.’ A slow grin appeared as he read the missive. ‘Perhaps all is not lost. Miss Shawcross wants to see me. In the garden.’
Nick strode along the gravelled paths until he reached the yew walk. At the far end was a small clearing where a statue of Pan nestled against the surrounding hedge. On either side white-painted benches had been placed for those who wished to rest for a while in this sheltered retreat. Evelina was sitting on one of the benches, reading a letter. As Nick approached she looked up and gave a slight smile. He bowed.
‘You wished to talk to me, Miss Shawcross?’
She gestured towards the opposite bench and Nick sat down.
‘I did indeed, sir.’ Her soft brown eyes rested upon him. ‘You said at our very first meeting that you came here to marry me. Is that truly your intention?’
‘A direct attack,’ he said approvingly. ‘I like that.’
‘You have not answered my question, Captain.’
‘Then, yes. It is indeed my intention, Misss Shawcross.’
Her gaze did not falter. ‘Why?’
Nick’s brows rose. This was blunt indeed. ‘It is time I settled down. My family has been nagging me to do so ever since I came home from sea.’
‘But you know nothing about me.’
He smiled at her. ‘You are beautiful, witty, accomplished—and Sir Benjamin assures me you are an excellent housekeeper. Is that not enough?’
She dropped her gaze, a delicate flush mantling her cheek. ‘But you knew nothing about me when you sought out my grandfather at Tunbridge Wells.’
She raised her eyes again and Nick hesitated. How much should he tell her?
‘I did go to Tunbridge in search of Sir Benjamin,’ he admitted. ‘I planned merely to renew my family’s acquaintance with him. It soon became clear to me that Sir Benjamin was looking for a husband for you.’ A smile tugged at his lips. ‘He seemed to think I might be a suitable candidate.’
‘Do you mean that he suggested it?’ She looked shocked. ‘And you agreed to…to…’
He spread his hands, saying apologetically, ‘This seemed an opportunity not to be missed. I am glad now that I came.’
For a moment she looked delightfully flustered, but she soon recovered. ‘Very well, sir.’ She settled herself more comfortably on the bench and glanced at the papers in her hand. ‘Grandpapa may consider you suitable, but you have yet to convince me! I would like to ask you a few questions.’
Nick leaned back and crossed one booted leg over the other. ‘I am at your disposal, ma’am.’
‘We have already established that you are a sailor, and, one cannot deny it, a brave one.’
‘Thank you,’ he said meekly.
‘But you have something of a reputation in town, Captain.’ She stared down at the letter. ‘Last year your name was linked with a Mrs Stringham.’
He blinked. The chit had been checking up on him!
‘We were…friends for a few months, yes.’
‘I understand she is a lady with a somewhat tarnished reputation.’ She shrugged. ‘No doubt much more interesting for you than an ingénue.’
He choked, but she did not seem to notice and was again peering at her list.
‘Then there was Lady Alton.’
‘What of her?’ he asked warily.
‘She was your mistress, was she not? You look shocked, Captain Wylder. I thought you liked the direct attack.’
Nick sat up. By heaven, the wench was teasing him! ‘May I ask how you came by this information, Miss Shawcross?’
She held the letter to her breast. ‘You may ask, but I