Page 39 of Her Summer Duke

Chapter Fifteen

Margaret’s mind wrestled with her fears, as they strolled along the promenade. Would he be there at twelve? They reached the area of the pier, and she looked about, hopefully, though it was not yet quite twelve. Towards one side, a cluster of sailors stood, speaking agitatedly. She wondered what it was that they were so seemingly upset about.

“Hello!” She waved her gloved hand. “Do you know of Captain Halstone’s ship?”

She had simply been unable to resist asking, although Lady Peabody looked at her askance.

One sailor looked at her with sad brown eyes.

“I do. The ship set sail this morning.”

“Set sail? But it will return, will it not?”

She wanted to add, it will return by noon, will it not?

He shook his head, his features wreathed in gloom.

“No, she wasn’t due back for a few months. But now… she will never return.”

“But… I thought that they were not due to leave for another day, at least. Why did they leave early?”

The sailor took his hat off his head.

“They had to my Lady. There was a bad storm coming and they hoped to outrun it, to be a good long ways from the coast before it hit them. That way the ship could ride it out easier. But they were not quick enough.”

“Outrun it. Oh, my.”

Her eyes filled with tears. Her heart was breaking inside her – he was gone, their meeting would never happen. Was all of her love doomed to be lost forever?

She shaded her eyes as she peered out at the sea. She fidgeted with her sleeve and produced her handkerchief. The sailor looked at her, and his voice was full of sadness when he spoke again.

“Aye, but they didn’t. She’s been taken by the rocks below the cliffs, not too many miles from here. Likely they’re all lost with her. Can’t say for sure, but the messenger’s description of the scene did not give us much hope.”

Margaret stared at him, her mind trying to process his words.

“Are you saying… saying that… the ship sank?”

“Yes, my Lady – wrecked on the rocks below the cliffs, and likely no survivors, although we haven’t heard that yet for sure.”

Margaret collapsed onto a nearby bench.

She stared straight in front of her, her eyes unblinking. Barely aware of Lady Peabody rushing towards her.

“Everyone is gone? No one alive?”

“Most likely. She broke up on those rocks fast, they say.”

Margaret sobbed uncontrollably into her handkerchief. Lady Peabody tried to console her, but she could not. She sat, unaware of the people around her, unaware that the sun was high in the sky, that the clocks nearby had begun to strike twelve.

~~~~~

Adam was both relieved and annoyed with himself – it was past twelve, and he was late – what if she had come, found him not present, and left, despairing? He stepped down from the hackney cab, ignoring the clusters of sailors all about, who spoke of the shipwreck. At least he now knew that there had been no deaths amongst the crew, and that those men injured were being well cared for. The ship was a total loss, however. He looked about, his heart in his mouth, terrified that she would not be there.

But she was. On a bench just past the end of the pier, near where a large group of sailors stood, telling the tale of the shipwreck to passers-by. She held a handkerchief to her face, and an older woman sat with her, her arm about Lady Margaret’s shoulders – but he would know her anywhere. It was definitely his Lady Margaret.

Moments later he walked up to where Lady Margaret sat.

She was wiping tears from her face as they rolled down her cheeks. Why was she crying? His steps quickened. He dropped onto the bench beside her, and spoke, his voice sounding hoarse to his own ears, and full of concern for his love.