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Hester moved so quickly that she knocked her mug over, spilling tea on the table top, which she ignored as she leaned closer. ‘So you do know something about her?’
‘Is this necessary?’ Nancy asked anxiously. ‘It’s very personal.’
‘It’s all right, Nancy.’ Harding met Hester’s questioning look with a serious face. ‘I know that my mother was very young, possibly a housemaid. It happens sometimes that girls in service are taken advantage of by someone of a higher rank in the household.’
‘Yes,’ Hester said softly. ‘It does. If you’ll excuse me, I feel rather tired. I’m not as strong as I thought I was.’ She rose somewhat unsteadily to her feet and lurched out of the saloon.
‘I’d better go with her,’ Nancy said, rising to her feet.
Harding reached out to catch her by the hand. ‘No, let her go, Nancy. She needs time on her own.’
‘How can you say that?’ Nancy asked angrily. ‘I’ve known Hester for most of my life. She’s upset.’
Harding released her as he stood up. ‘I’ll go, Nancy. I think I know the truth now. I suspected it the first time I spoke to Hester, but it was just a feeling. Now I’m sure, and I need to speak to my mother.’
Nancy stared after him. Of course, it should have been obvious to her from Hester’s first meeting with Tobias Harding that there was something between them. It had never occurred to her that the first mate on the Bonaventure was Hester’s long-lost son, but it seemed as though a miracle had happened and now, however strange the circumstances, they were reunited. She could only imagine the touching scene but she knew better than to interrupt them as they came to terms with their newfound relationship.
The rest of the voyage passed without incident. The sea was calm and each day was warmer than the last. By the time they docked in Bridgetown everyone on board knew that Hester was Harding’s mother. Captain Mockridge gave Tobias permission to see Hester and Nancy safely ashore with orders to find them suitable accommodation. The fierce heat of the sun was made worse by their winter clothing, tight stays and flannel petticoats. Nancy could see that Hester was suffering even more than herself as they walked beside Tobias to a small hotel not far from the waterfront. They shared a room from choice this time, as both of them were slightly nervous of being in a strange land so far from home. Tobias left them with instructions to remain in their room until he returned with news of Alex and Leo. He said he would check first on the Cyrene, and if it was still being repaired he would seek out the captain or the mate and ask them where he might find Captain Blanchard and Mr Wilder.
Hester took off her woollen gown and unlaced her stays as she lay on the bed, fanning herself vigorously.
‘I wouldn’t have been so keen to come with you had I known how blooming hot this island was.’
‘But if you’d stayed behind you would never have found your son. It was fate, Hester.’
‘I still can’t believe it. Tobias is a fine man, and he doesn’t seem to blame me for giving him up.’
‘He understands how it must have been for you in those days. He’s a man of the world, Hester, and he’s a very nice person. I like his sense of humour and his kindness.’
‘But he’s a seafarer, Nancy. When the Bonaventure sails, that might be the last I ever see of my son.’
Nancy went to sit by the open window, although there was very little breeze to relieve the relentless heat.
‘I don’t believe that for one moment. Tobias will visit you whenever he comes home on leave. His adoptive parents are both dead. He told me that, and he has no other relations. Of course he will come and see you.’
‘I hope so, but I gave him away, Nancy. I can’t forgive myself for that.’
‘How would a fifteen-year-old maidservant have raised a child?’
‘That’s true. My ma was too ashamed of me to do anything other than find a home for my baby. They all told me it was for the best. I had no say in the matter.’
‘There you are then. Stop feeling guilty and be glad you’ve found each other.’
‘You’re right. We have to concentrate on finding Alexander and Leo. They will know where Piers is and when we’ve convinced him to return to Cornwall, we can all go home.’
Nancy sighed. It sounded so easy when Hester said it, but she had a feeling that it was going to be more difficult than they imagined. Hester fell asleep, giving herself away by snoring gently, and Nancy gazed out at the view, hoping to catch sight of Tobias on his return.
During the long wait her imagination ran riot. Alex and Leo might not have found Piers, or perhaps he refused point-blank to return to Cornwall. The difficulties that this would raise were unimaginable. Without his guidance Lady Pentelow would be unable to save Trevenor or the clay mine. Aurelia would stand little chance of meeting someone willing to marry a penniless widow, and the feud between Lady Pentelow and Hester would go on and on …
Nancy jumped at the sound of someone knocking on the door. She went to investigate and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Tobias standing in the corridor.
‘Did you have any luck?’
‘The Cyrene is still in dry dock. The repairs have taken longer than expected, but I haven’t managed to find Captain Blanchard or Mr Wilder. I did get word on Piers Blanchard’s whereabouts.’
‘Where is he, Tobias? I want to see him.’
‘He’s just arrived back from Bermuda where his ship delivered a supply of arms and munitions to be taken to Savannah.’
