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Sara was watching her with painful intensity. ‘So she was with you, chaperoning you all the time?’
‘Why, yes, from the first day in Spain,’ Hebe replied, crossing her fingers. ‘It was such a mercy that we found ourselves in Spain where the Major has so many connections with the guerillas.’ Provided no one realised that they had not arrived in Spain from the outset, they might brush through this.
‘Thank heavens!’ Sara closed her eyes in relief. ‘It must have been a terrifying ordeal for you, Hebe darling. This Mrs Wilkins: she is a respectable woman? Not a…I mean, not a camp follower?’
‘Goodness, no!’ Hebe was, and sounded, outraged. ‘A most respectable lady. I suppose, in English terms, her brother would be a yeoman farmer: the family would never have agreed to anything at all irregular. Now she keeps house for her brother, but such is her regard for Major Beresford she offered to come with us. He was obviously extremely anxious that I was properly chaperoned,’ she added.
She saw Sara exchange a rapid glance with her new husband and Sir Richard nodded and strolled towards the door. ‘Just leaving for a moment, dear.’ The faint sound of male voices reached them through the heavy panels, then faded as the men walked away. No doubt Sir Richard was having a frank man-to-man talk with Alex, who, thank goodness, would be able to answer him with a perfectly clear conscience in all matters except their exact point of landing.
‘And you are quite all right, Mama, other than your worry about me?’ Hebe asked anxiously. ‘You were so sick on the Audacious, and I was in terror of it having foundered in that storm.’
‘Quite all right, dearest,’ Sara reassured her. ‘Mercifully Sir Richard kept the news of your accident from me until the worst of the weather was over and I could at least think coherently. We tried to cling to the hope that you had been washed ashore—and, of course, the knowledge that Major Beresford had gone over with you gave us some hope.’
‘He was wonderful,’ Hebe said warmly. She did not care if she raised suspicions that she felt deeply for him, she just wanted everyone to know that he had saved her life. ‘I would have drowned at once if he had not been there.’
Sara dabbed her eyes. ‘I know, dear, he is a truly admirable man and one can only be sorry that—’ She broke off. ‘Still, it is no good repining, I am sure Lady Clarissa is a highly suitable match for him.’
‘And Maria?’ Hebe asked, not wanting to discuss the excellent Lady Clarissa.
‘Wretched girl!’ Lady Latham said with exasperation. ‘She could not help being sick, of course, but now she is declaring herself homesick and demanding to be sent back, but the minute she sees a ship she bursts into tears. Sir Richard says that she is going on the next one back to Malta if he has to tie her to the mainmast.’
Sir Richard came back into the room, looking relaxed and smiling. Hebe noted the reassuring look he sent his wife and knew that his interview with Alex had set his mind at rest.
‘Where is the Major?’ Sara asked. ‘I am sure I did not begin to thank him properly—not that one ever can give satisfactory thanks for such courage and care.’
‘Gone to report to the General, my dear. They’ll keep him busy and no mistake, with all the intelligence he will have gleaned, walking though Spain with the guerillas for days.’
‘And Anna?’ Hebe asked, fighting a ridiculous urge to burst into tears. She wanted to talk to Alex, be alone with him and now he was gone and they had never made up that stupid quarrel. ‘I would not want to neglect her, she has been the most wonderful friend to me.’
‘Indeed, yes,’ Sara said, getting to her feet. ‘Let us go and find her, Hebe. Do you know if she wishes to return home at once? Sir Richard—would we be able to help with that?—or could she stay a little? I would so like to show
my appreciation.’
Remembering Anna’s frank interest in finding herself a handsome sergeant, Hebe was quite sure she would enjoy staying in Gibraltar for a while and said so. ‘I think she would like to stay, Mama. She wishes to improve her English, she tells me, although it is very good, and I do enjoy her company.’
‘Here she is!’ Sara let go of Hebe’s hand and held out her own to the Spanish woman who was standing by the window in the adjoining salon. ‘Mrs Wilkins, I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for my daughter. The relief at knowing she was in the care of a respectable lady such as yourself was immense, and our feelings of obligation at the inconvenience, and perhaps danger, you put yourself to in order to escort her, are great.’
Anna took the proffered hand and dropped a very neat curtsy. ‘Thank you my lady. I am very fond of Hebe and I have a great regard for the Major: I could do nothing else but help.’
‘We all hope you will stay with us for a few weeks, Mrs Wilkins,’ Sara continued, sweeping her towards the door. ‘Perhaps you will join us in my chamber: I was going to discuss clothes with Hebe, and put off my own blacks. We can discuss how long you can stay.’
But by the time they had reached the chamber Hebe was already swaying on her feet. Anna caught her arm and pushed her gently into a chair. ‘She is exhausted, my lady. The sea, the fear, the long journey and her worries about you. Now she no longer has to be brave I think she will sleep for many hours.’
‘Oh, dear, I should have thought.’ Sara fluttered round. ‘I will call for a maid, dearest, and we must put you to bed.’
‘I will do it, my lady,’ Anna said firmly. ‘You too need to rest and Hebe is used to me: she does not need a strange maid at the moment. Show me her room, por favor, and I will look after her.’
Hebe found herself in the merciful quiet and cool of a lofty room with shutters closed against the afternoon sun and the comfort of a soft bed to fall back on. ‘Not yet, querida.’ Anna stopped her sinking down. ‘You must take off those clothes and get into your nightgown. We do not want anyone else seeing those bruises, no?’
Thank goodness for Anna’s quick wits, Hebe thought as she struggled out of her clothes and looked down at her body. The bruises, fading into green and mauve stains, were graphic on her thighs and upper arms. She touched the finger marks with tentative fingers, wincing.
‘He would not have hurt you, of purpose, ever,’ Anna said gently. ‘It is just that he is a very strong man.’
‘I know,’ Hebe said, sleepily struggling into the nightgown. ‘You will stay, Anna?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Anna agreed, pulling the covers up around Hebe’s shoulders. ‘I will stay: I think you may need me,’ she added, almost to herself as she watched Hebe’s eyes close.
The next morning Sara bustled in, her complexion restored, her clothing once more in pretty light colours, ribbons streaming. ‘How are you, my darling?’ She noticed Anna and smiled. ‘Mrs Wilkins, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have you here! Are you sure you will be able to stay a while? Will your brother manage without you?’
