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‘I know that, ma’am.’ He looked faintly guilty. ‘But I had to do something.’
‘It’s our job.’ Robert’s voice sounded stern.
‘But...’ She felt the blood drain from her face as the full horror of the situation dawned on her. Without Robert and the lifeboat, the crew of the stricken vessel would be doomed. But if he went, he’d be risking his own life. She felt appalled by the impossibility of the choice.
‘It might not be possible anyways.’ The sailor seemed to be trying to comfort her. ‘In this weather, they’ll have a job getting the lifeboat past the harbour wall. And even if they manage that, they’ll be fighting the current just to get round the cliff.’
‘But isn’t there some other way to help?’ She didn’t know which side she was on now.
Robert met her gaze, holding it sombrely for a few seconds before his expression cleared abruptly.
‘There is. We won’t go around the cliff. We’ll go over it.’
‘You mean carry the boat over?’ The sailor nodded appreciatively.
‘It’s been done before. Then we can launch from the other side.’
He strode back into his office, re-emerging a few seconds later wearing a large oilskin overcoat. ‘It’ll take a few hours, but it’s the safest option. There’s no lightning, only rain and wind.’ He rested a hand on the sailor’s shoulder. ‘Go over to the workshop and ask for my foreman, George. Tell him I need volunteers. Then you have a rest. I’ll be there in a few minutes.’
He advanced towards her as the other man ran outside, grasping her shoulders as he stared down into her face.
‘I’ll take you across to the workshop, too. You can stay there until the storm passes and then...’
‘No.’
He frowned. ‘Ianthe...’
‘I’m coming with you.’ She jutted her chin out determinedly. ‘You said you needed volunteers.’
‘You can’t carry a boat!’
‘No, but you’ll need someone to look after the crew you bring back to shore. I can do that.’
‘I’ll have enough to do without worrying about you, too.’
‘But you’ll leave me here to worry about you? No!’ She stamped her foot angrily. ‘You said you wouldn’t stop me from doing anything I wanted!’
‘What?’
‘When you proposed. You said I could do whatever I wanted.’
‘Within reason!’
‘This is a good reason. The crew on that ship need help. I want to help them and you said you needed volunteers.’
‘That’s not what I meant and you know it! Dammit, Ianthe, see sense!’
‘I am seeing sense. And you’re wasting time! Now are you going to let me come or not?’
‘Fine.’ He swore violently before kicking open the door of the other office, wrenching another oilskin off a peg by the entrance. ‘Put this on and stay close to me. It won’t be easy, but once we get going, you can’t change your mind.’
‘I know that.’ She pulled the coat over her shoulders. It was several sizes too big and smelt of oil and tar, but it felt reassuringly thick, enough to keep out the worst of the elements. ‘I’ll keep up, I promise.’
‘All right.’ He looked her up and down approvingly before taking hold of her hand. ‘If you’re sure about this then let’s go.’
He opened the door, and she staggered backwards at once, caught off guard by the force of the wind. Fortunately, Robert seemed not to notice, pulling her on towards the workshop as she clutched the hood of her coat tightly around her face.
‘Mr Felstone.’ George met them at the door. ‘He says you’re planning to go over the cliff?’
