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By the time the fresh air settled the churning of his stomach and cleared his head, Aidan saw that he’d made his way to a less-than-respectable area of town. Good. One of the lounging drunks might make a move toward him; a sailor could stumble out of a tavern looking for a fight. But he walked on unmolested, unnoticed, until he finally arrived at the docks and made his way to the Valiant. She was small and sleek, and Aidan could well afford to repair her storm damage and get her sold quickly. A few repairs to make her seaworthy and she could be run up to London for a full rerigging.
There was nothing to keep him here, nothing but Katie, and he couldn’t hang about much longer with no more reason than a need to be near her. Still, he could stay to supervise the repair job—it would take at least a week, perhaps two.
A week or two. That would allow him time to make some peace with this situation. To say his farewells to Katie and send the past back to hell where it belonged. He kicked a cigar butt into the debris-strewn waters below, and as he watched the moon glint off the ripples it created, he wondered why his blood felt warmer beneath his skin than it had in years.
Chapter 6
“Mrs. Hamilton!”
Despite her weariness, Kate felt a genuine smile tug at her lips as she finished tying up a sample of ground coffee.
Lucy Cain had come to call. The woman was lively and bright and Kate actually liked her. Miss Cain was smart enough that she had decided not to marry. Despite her father’s grumblings, she told everyone who asked that she was happy without a husband.
“The day is finally here!” Miss Cain trilled. “This little dinner is my favorite of the year.”
Kate smiled. “A little dinner, is it? I understand half the town is invited.”
She tossed her red curls over her shoulder. “Pah. My father’s business associates and every married couple in town, if I’m not mistaken. And not a soul to gossip about gentlemen with.”
“I’m sure to be a disappointment as well then, I’m afraid.”
Miss Cain’s eyes narrowed with mischief. “Really? And yet I hear that you’ve been strolling with a handsome gentleman, Mrs. Hamilton.”
“You . . . I . . . Pardon?”
“Oh, indeed,” she giggled. “The baker’s wife saw you and has been joyfully spreading the news.”
Kate rushed to her tall counter and took a seat behind it so that she could shuffle ledgers about and look busy while she panicked.
“My word,” Miss Cain said. “You’ve turned red as a cherry, Mrs. Hamilton.”
“I’m sure I don’t know why.”
“Perhaps you’ve only taken too much time in the sun.” She aimed a pointed look at the gray light in the window. When Kate didn’t answer, the girl clapped her hands. “Well, I’m relieved to see you are not so awfully serious as you have seemed. From the moment we met, I knew there was something about you I liked.”
Kate had been confused by that from the start. Lucy Cain had brought a basket of cakes and breads before Kate had even finished arranging the shop, then she’d sat and talked with—or at—Kate for the next hour. She’d concluded that visit with the argument that there were so few young, lively women in Hull that they must band together.
So confusing. Kate was not young and lively and felt disturbed that Miss Cain could make such a strange assumption. Kate was nearly thirty, first of all. And she was so tired. Much as she loved her shop, she sometimes wished she could stay abed all day.
Miss Cain, on the other hand, fairly vibrated with energy. In truth, she made Kate feel very old. And she made her smile when no other could.
“Do you have a gown?” the girl asked.
“I do.”
Miss Cain cast a doubtful glance around the shop. “And a girl to help you dress?”
“I’m sure I shall manage.”
“Nonsense! I’ll send my maid along! And the carriage too!”
“Miss Cain, that’s unnecessary.”
“Yes, but it shall be fun. Don’t you wish to have fun, Mrs. Hamilton?”
Fun? It was a temptation. . . .
Miss Cain drew close to the other side of the counter and reached out to take Kate’s hands in hers. Her gloves were dainty and white, and Kate imagined her bare hands must be too. She was so very young.
