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Langworthy in turn described his failed attempts to dissuade Harry, including the morning’s rough-seas experiment.

“I confess he fared better than I in the chopping waves, though I managed not to humiliate myself. When Harry wants to learn and wants to please, I would back him against any boy the Marine Society might send us from London. And as for pay, he would be one of the captain’s servants and receive up to ￡3 per annum, though some of this would go for his clothing and such. It isn’t much, I admit.”

The baron nodded thoughtfully. “Mrs. Barbary would be spared Harry’s keep, however, in addition to the pound or so he could send home, which means she might make a small gain of, say, seven or eight pounds.”

Sarah had not known the baron the past three years without learning something of his character, and she was not surprised when he said, “I wonder, Mr. Langworthy, if you would participate in a little kindly deception…?”

Unfortunately Mr. Langworthy is no stranger to deception, she thought with a smothered sigh. Kindly or otherwise.

But his sleeve brushed hers again, and when she glanced up, he was watching her. Even as he answered, “Say on, sir.”

“Well, suppose we were to tell her Harry would be able to send home a pound per month? That’s a nice, round number.

I suspect Mrs. Barbary would feel quite satisfied to have her son embarked on a profession, young as he is, for a pound per month.

Instead of paying for an apprenticeship—which she would not have been able to do without help—she will herself be paid! ”

“You propose making up the difference, sir?”

“Er—yes,” admitted the baron. “In these times, it would almost be my patriotic duty, to train up another sailor. I have never made a gift to the Marine Society, though they do such important work, giving boys with no prospects a possible career, and this will atone for that. What do you say, Langworthy? I might advance the money to you, and you might in turn ensure Harry sends it to Iffley whenever letters get through.”

“But—” Sarah hesitated as both men turned at the sound. “But it might be that Mr. Langworthy—that you, sir—would prefer not to be responsible for Harry on board. As Miss Pence observed before you came in, he is quite ‘harum-scarum.’”

With the door to the parlor shut, the passage was dim, but Sarah thought he colored.

“He…is certainly that, Mrs. Sebastian,” he murmured.

“I think we would all agree. But I would not be alone in watching the boy. I have warned him, ad nauseam I daresay, that his lowly position would render him answerable to the Gazelle’s full officer complement, and, if he were to be found wanting, there would be nothing I could or would do to protect him from the consequences.

Nor would there be anything to be done if there were such a one aboard as that Lieutenant Beeton I told you Barstows about.

And there always does seem to be a Lieutenant Beeton, unfortunately. Still, Harry persists in wanting this.”

“But what if we are making a bad decision for him, in giving him his head, and he ends in hating it?” she persisted.

Langworthy’s mouth twisted in rueful awareness. “Then let us say he would not be the first young boy who ever deserted. If he turns up again in Iffley, you will have your answer.”

All this while, Sarah had simultaneously been casting about for how she might pass Mrs. Barstow’s message to him, and her heart drummed faster at this reference to turning up in Iffley.

Would Mr. Langworthy himself ever turn up in Iffley again?

Suppose those on the Gazelle were granted leave, and Mr. Langworthy thought Harry should see his mother?

Who knew. There was no telling what the future held.

But one thing was certain: if they were all agreed now that Harry would remain in Portsmouth, their mission was ended, and the Barstows and Lord Dere would likely leave the following morning.

“Come,” said the baron. “Let us tell Harry the good news.”

Mr. Langworthy opened the door, stepping back to let the baron and Sarah precede him. And just as Sarah steeled herself— I must tell him I require a word with him! —he lifted a hand a few inches from his side to arrest her.

“Mrs. Sebastian,” he uttered, so low it might have escaped ears which were not tuned to every note of his voice. “I must speak with you.”

Her hand flying to her throat, there was no time to do anything but nod, once.

There, then.

He might only wish to explain himself, defend himself, but if he was determined to do so, at least he would make his chance before they were gone. And when he had done so, she would say what she needed to say, and they could be quit of each other.

Dear heaven , thought Horace Langworthy, settling Harry Barbary’s fate was the easy part!

But he felt the tightness in his shoulders lessen a fraction, to know that she would hear him out.

Whatever she made of Mary Pence, and whatever Mary had already said, and whatever was going to happen when they re-entered the parlor, Sarah would hear him.

He would have the final word, and not Mary.

If only he and Mrs. Sebastian could march straight out the street door at once and not have to return!

He could see immediately that Mary was in a state. She and Miss Barstow must have had an awkward time of it while the rest of them were out of the room, because Miss Barstow expelled a relieved breath and smiled widely at them. “Have you reached a verdict?” she asked.

“We have,” said the baron. He smiled at Sarah. “Will you tell it, my dear?”

“Harry, we have decided you may stay and go to sea as the cabin boy on the G —” That was as far as she got before the boy erupted in a whoop, jumping up and hurtling to throw his arms about her. “Hurrah! Hurrah! Hur rah ! I’m going to sea! I’m going to sea!”

“Goodness me, what a hullabaloo,” Miss Pence said crossly. “I can’t say I think much of your judgment, if that’s what you decided, sending such an infant into who knows what peril!”

Confusion checked Harry’s celebration, and he wrinkled his nose at her in perplexity. “But you said it would be great larks, and that of course I should go, Miss Pence.”

She shrugged. “Did I? Well, and what if I did? I hope you don’t get blown to bits an hour out of Spithead.” Taking up the clothes she had been sewing, she almost hurled them at him. “Here, then. Take your linens. I won’t be needing them.”

Langworthy stiffened, his eyes narrowing at these words, but then Mrs. Sebastian was saying, “So generous of Miss Pence to prepare them for you, Harry, and to have let you stay here until you sail. You will be a good boy, won’t you, and prove our trust in you is justified?

And perhaps when you are at sea, you might write to your mother from time to time.

If you direct your letters to me or to Miss Barstow, we will be glad to pay the postage and to read them to Mrs. Barbary. ”

Harry agreed to this, of course. Having got what he wanted and already dismissing Miss Pence’s mercurial moods, he was prepared to love all the world and to promise all sorts of things.

Not so Miss Pence.

She invited the visitors to stay to dinner, but in such a tone that the baron needed no hint to decline, instead proposing a walk to the waterfront with Harry. “Then you might show us everything you have already discovered,” he suggested.

Much as Langworthy would have loved to join them, having secured Mrs. Sebastian’s promise to talk to him later he let her go now, resigning himself to stay behind to have it out with his erstwhile betrothed.