“It will be enough room for everybody and everything.” His grin was so boyish, it almost melted her heart. Why could he not love her as she loved him? “If it had not, my groom would have stayed behind to bring what was left across.”
“Where are the horses?”
“In the hotel’s stables. They traveled by easy stages and arrived early yesterday. They all look to be in good condition.”
“I hope they do well on the crossing.” Thinking of that, she should speak with the landlady about remedies formal de mer. Many people suffered from seasickness.
“The ship should be at the dock. I’ll take a look at our quarters. Which trunks would you like to have taken on board first?”
Elizabeth was trying her best to be cool toward him, but she was so excited to be on their way, she almost forgot. Still, if she wanted him to want her, she had to keep up the pretense. “I shall coordinate that with Mrs. Robins, and meet you at the ship.”
That afternoon, all the trunks with the household items had been placed in one of the holds. Elizabeth was amazed at how much the ship could carry. Accompanied by her housekeeper, she toured the area where the horses would be stabled. “How do you get them in hold? I cannot imagine they can climb down the ladder.”
Mr. Havers, theSally Ann’s first officer, chuckled. “No, my lady, we’ll have a sling rigged up and lift them from the pier into the boat. They’ll come out the same way.”
“That’s clever, don’t you think, my lady?” Vickers said, gazing at the ship.
Elizabeth nodded. “I do think it. Exceedingly clever.”
He went on to tell them that the crew would load the carriages on the boat in the same fashion.
“What about the wind?” she asked. “My husband seems sure we will be able to depart tomorrow evening, yet I have heard one can wait for days waiting for it to be in the right quarter.”
“We’ll have a few days of good wind before she changes. Always happens like this, my lady. If the captain says we’ll be in good skin, you can trust him to know.”
“Thank you.” With her questions answered, she and Mrs. Robins bid him adieu and headed down The Quay toward Church Street and the hotel. When they were almost at the hotel, Elizabeth asked, “Have you ever been on a ship?”
“Yes, my lady. I’ve been to Ireland and back. Don’t worry for me. I never get seasick. I know those who do, and it’s not fun to nurse them.”
Elizabeth imagined it would be a great deal of work. But if any of their people fell ill, she would do her part. By the time she returned to the hotel, the landlady assured her that all the remedies she likely needed would be ready.
Luckily, she and Geoffrey had each been so busy they had not had time to exchange more than a few sentences all day. Elizabeth dressed for dinner, dreading the meal. It would be the first time they were alone since she discovered that he did not love her.
However, the Fates must have been with her. Just as she was about to go down to the parlor, Geoffrey came running up the stairs.
He eyed her warily. “There are a group of fellows with the 73rd Regiment staying at the Black Bull. They’ve been waiting a week to leave here, and they are out on the morning tide. If you do not mind, I’d like to find out what I can from them.”
Elizabeth almost gave him a heartfelt smile, but remembered her role just in time. “Have a pleasant evening. I shall be fine by myself.”
For a second his lips pinched together as if he was displeased. Would he finally mention her behavior? But all he said was, “Very well. I will. Do not wait up for me. I shall likely be late.”
She took great gulps of air as he turned and walked down the stairs.
I will not cry, I will not cry.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Geoff’s excitement at seeing two of his old school friends and meeting other members of their unit died under Elizabeth’s frosty reception.
At some point he was going to have to address the problems they were having. Yet, he couldn’t seem to bring himself to the point. Tomorrow, after they sailed, he would insist they work out what was upsetting her.
But tonight, he was going to discover what he could about the situation into which he was taking his wife and his household, such as it was.
The officers had a private room off the taproom of the Black Bull while their soldiers filled the common room.
“We’re the last of us to arrive,” Captain Lord Thomas Prendergast, one of Geoff’s Eton friends said. “Thought we weren’t going to make it in time.”
“I don’t mind telling you that I’m concerned about all the new recruits we’ve got.” Another officer drained his wineglass and refilled it.
