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‘What about the ships out in the harbour?’
His expression turned sober. ‘Those aren’t the ones to worry about.’
‘You mean the ones at sea?’ She gasped at such a terrible thought.
‘This type of storm rises up out of nowhere. I don’t know of any ships due in port today, but if there are any out there and they don’t reach the harbour in time... It wouldn’t be a good place to be.’
She shuddered, and he put an arm around her before pulling away quickly again.
‘I’m soaking.’
‘It’s all right.’ She leaned back into his embrace. ‘I don’t care.’
‘Wait.’ He reached down and pulled his shirt over his head. ‘I don’t want you catching a chill.’
‘Me? What about you? Your trousers are soaking wet, too.’ She clamped a hand over her mouth as she realised what she’d just said. Bad enough that he was standing half-naked in front of her already. She oughtn’t to encourage him to remove anything else! ‘Not that you should take them off. I didn’t mean that.’
He arched an eyebrow sardonically as he pulled her towards him, resting his chin on the top of her head. ‘Tempting as that sounds, this may not be the best time.’
‘No.’ She bit her lip, listening to the howl of the storm outside and trying not to think about the feel of his skin against her cheek. His body felt warm and solid and surprisingly smooth. What did that mean, not the best time? The words implied there might be other occasions...
‘How long do these storms usually last?’ she asked the question to distract herself.
‘It depends. Sometimes twenty minutes, sometimes hours.’
‘Hours?’
‘Scared of being alone with me?’
She opened her mouth to retort, before practically leaping into his arms at the sound of a heavy pounding on the door.
Robert reacted at once, setting her gently to one side as he heaved it open to reveal a man in sailor’s clothes, soaking wet and wild-eyed, looking as if he were being pursued by some kind of monster.
‘Steady!’ Robert grasped the man’s arms as he stumbled inside. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Wreck... Saltwick Bay.’
‘What?’ Robert’s jaw tightened at once. ‘There’s a shipwreck?’
‘Aye.’ The man hauled in a deep breath, gasping between words. ‘I was up...on the cliffs. Saw it...hit sandbank.’
‘What kind of ship?’
‘Merchant vessel.’
‘How many crew?’
‘About a dozen.’
‘Is it damaged?’
‘The mast...doesn’t look good.’ He’d regained some of his breath now. ‘But it’s still salvageable. I ran down the cliff, went to the first yard I found. They told me to come here and find you.’
‘Why?’ Ianthe heard the quaver in her own voice.
Robert paused for a moment before answering. ‘I’m on the lifeboat crew.’
‘But you said it was dangerous out there!’ She whirled on the sailor in panic. ‘You can’t ask men to go out in this!’
