“Too long.” He dropped a kiss on her head. Her hat was stuffed under a thick line to keep it from blowing away. He grinned. The last thing her mother had said was to remember her bonnet. No wonder Eugénie was always tanned. How would she feel about moving to cold, damp England, where bonnets were mandatory? For him England was home, but for her . . . Will wished he knew how Eugénie would like it.
His friend’s wife, Emma Marsh, had got used to England fairly easily, perhaps Eugénie would as well. She knew they would live there, yet he had the feeling she didn’t truly understand what it all meant. “Do you mind if we go inside for a while? I’m hungry.”
She turned to face him and smiled softly. “I think you want to ensure Jeanne is all right.”
“And Charity.” Will had told Eugénie what he’d woken up to this morning.
She laughed. “Of course. The doll would bedésolée.”
Taking her arm, he was about to lead her toward the salon when he remembered her hat. He rescued it from the rope. “We can’t forget this.”
“No,” she said, taking it from him and plopping it on her head. “Maman would not be happy.”
Despite her attempt to appear light-hearted, Eugénie was worried about something. Was it only the wedding? She leaned against him as if she needed his support. “Is everything all right?”
She flashed him a quick smile. “As long as we find this pirate priest, I shall be fine.”
“We’ll find him.” If only he were as sure of that as he sounded.
The instant they entered the parlor, Jeanne, with Charity in her arms, attached herself to him. “Charity says she is much better.”
After he sat, Will picked Jeanne up, putting her on his lap. “I’m glad to hear it. I take it you’ve impressed upon her she should be more careful in the future.”
Jeanne nodded. “Yes.”
Eugénie blinked as tears misted her eyes. She was so glad he loved children and related to them so well. She could see him with their brood, giving advice, meting out fair punishments as needed. Despite their shaky beginning, she was lucky to have found William.
An hour later, word came from the captain that they were approaching Great Carot Bay. By the time she, William, Cicely, Andrew, and Josh were ready, the dory was waiting for them.
“We can’t stay anchored out here all day,” the captain said.
Eugénie took in the exposed bay. “We’ll be as quick as we can be.”
She tried not to think of what she would do if Mr. Petherick wasn’t there. It was only nine o’clock. Surely they would catch him before he left his house. Her little group walked around the village, searching for anything resembling a church and found nothing.
Beneath her hand, William’s arm tightened, and he blew out a frustrated breath. “Where the devil is the place?”
“We shall find it.” She’d have to ask someone. This wandering around was getting them nowhere, and irritating them all.
A woman walking toward them stopped. “Good morning. I am Mrs. Leonard. May I help you find something?”
“Good morning, ma’am. Yes, thank you,” William answered. “We’re searching for Mr. Petherick at St. Michael’s church.”
She pulled a notebook and pencil from her skirt pocket, then pointed north, talking as she wrote on the paper. “Stay on this road and it will go up that hill. Right at the top you’ll see St. Michael’s and the rectory. It’s not far. I haven’t seen Mr. Petherick yet this morning, so I assume he’ll be either at home or at the church.”
Mrs. Leonard handed the directions she’d drawn to Eugénie. She could have hugged the woman. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Leonard. We would never have found it on our own.”
Cicely and Andrew turned and began walking north.
William and Eugénie followed. When they arrived at the end of the village the path rose.
“Another hill,” he muttered.
Poor William. Eugénie looked at what appeared to be a series of zigzags created by goats. “This is what Mrs. Leonard drew.”
Andrew slapped William on the back. “If you want to get married, Wivenly, you’ll climb it.” He took Cicely’s hand. “Come, my love.”
“A moment, my dear.” She glanced at William. “You really do hate walking up hills, don’t you?” Without waiting for his answer, she said, “Perhaps we can convince him to marry us on board the ship. Then you won’t have to walk up the hill twice. Josh, go back to theSong Birdand tell Mama, Papa, and the Wivenlys that if we haven’t returned to the yacht in an hour, to join us at St. Michael’s.”
