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Chapter Eleven
That evening—she hadforced herself to wait until nightfall hoping Zander would return and make this excursion unnecessary—Tallie put on a black cloak and slipped from Slattery Hall into the darkness.
Rushing to the docks, she had snuck from her home and hidden in the shadows as she walked. She counted herself lucky the night was clear as there had been storms over the time since Zander left Slattery Hall. Perhaps the change in weather was a good omen, she told herself with forced optimism.
Keeping her head down, she pulled the hood of her cloak low to cover her face. Not only was it unsafe for her to be out alone at night, particularly in such an unsavory part of London, but if she were to be recognized there would be untold damage to her reputation as well. Though based upon what Julia had reported earlier, there was little of her reputation left to be damaged. The unfairness of it all still angered her. She had told Zander she did not wish to marry Lord Banyon and though her father had made the arrangement and she hated to go against his wishes, she believed with all her heart that if her father had been alive, he would have seen reason and would not have forced her to marry Lord Banyon, who was clearly not suitable for her, regardless of what everyone around her seemed to say.
Well, that ship had sailed, so to speak, and she shoved those thoughts from her consciousness and concentrated on making her way through the city.
When she arrived at the docks, she still did not know exactly what to do to findThe Night Princess. It was not as though she frequented the waterfront or any of the businesses surrounding. Even a poverty-stricken daughter of privilege had no good reason to be there, particularly alone and after dark.
Heart pounding, she paused for a moment to take in the scene. During daylight hours, the entire area bustled with noise and activity. She recalled the occasion several years prior when she and her father had traveled with Zander to see him off on a trip to South America.
Tallie thought her heart would break then with the loss of him, though she was only a child. Looking back, she realized the sadness she experienced had been nothing to the soul-crushing anguish she felt now, wondering if he had in fact planned to abandon her.
Her face burned with the humiliation of it. Though she would never regret their night together, she still felt a fool at being used by him and then tossed aside. Did he think her a simpleton? Had she been such a disappointment he could not even bear to look at her to say goodbye?
No, she told herself. None of it was true. He cared about her and damn well she knew it.
Then why had he not returned as he had promised?
Well, she would not let him simply slip away. The least he could do was give her an explanation.
She recalled his instructions not to leave Slattery Hall until he returned. No doubt he had said that to keep her from following him and finding out his actual plans.
Though her temper often caused her problems, Tallie was grateful for her anger. It dulled the ache in her heart.
It also fired her footsteps and she set about findingThe Night Princess, though what she would do when she identified the ship, she did not know. Could she just walk on a ship and ask for Zander? Or his friend, Captain Wright?
Well, she would figure that out when the time came; first she had to find the ship. Staring down the length of the docks, she’d had no idea there would be so many ships of all shapes and sizes, waiting for cargo or passengers or both. To compound the problem, there was very little light, which made reading the names of the ships nearly impossible.
Determined, she continued walking along the waterfront, though she had no luck in findingThe Night Princess. Glancing around, she noticed she had traveled further from the main area of the docks than she realized. Prickles of apprehension flitted over her skin.
Scoffing at her own foolishness in making the risky trip at all, she turned to go home. Back to her life without Zander. She would have to make her own way, without money, her reputation, or even friends. She needed a plan to take care of herself. That’s what she ought to focus on, not gadding about in the dark.
As she turned, moonlight highlighted words on the side of the vessel closest to her.The Night Princess.
The Night Princess!
How had she missed it when it was right there in front of her eyes? Surely, fate had intervened on her behalf. Good fortune shone upon her.
Her heart pounded with joy. Yes, this was how it was meant to be. She would go to him, find him aboard ship. No doubt he had simply lost track of time and would be happy to see her. Grateful she had missed him.
Hurrying towardThe Night Princess, she did not notice someone coming up behind her and when a strong hand clasped her arm and spun her around, she smiled up with eager eyes. “Zander!”
