Page 10 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)
“Is this not better than a dreary old ball?”
Olivia exclaimed as they entered Vauxhall Gardens with Tristan and Elaina.
“You will not be leaving my side,”
Tristan warned.
This was now the third outing that his brother had insisted that Harrison attend. First the shopping, second the theatre, and now Vauxhall Gardens because Olivia insisted that she had to go and Tristan feared what may occur if he left her alone while he danced with Elaina. Therefore, he insisted that Harrison be there to watch when he could not.
If it was so difficult to keep an eye on Olivia then they should not have brought her. Did his sister usually do such foolish things that she needed to be watched or was Tristan being overly protective? Then again, their other sister had been compromised after being alone with a man, so perhaps he hoped to prevent it happening to another sister.
“There is little difference. Is there not an orchestra and dancing?”
Harrison asked, hoping that his sister would grow bored and then they could all leave. Not that he had anything better to do this evening.
“Acrobats,”
Olivia announced. “And fireworks.”
“Just so you do not wander off,”
Elaina warned.
It was only then that Harrison remembered that Vauxhall Gardens was also notorious for their dark walks and the dangers they held to innocent misses.
The only reason he could assume that he had forgotten was because he spent his life on a ship and had not been here in years.
He would not mind escorting Miss Perdita down a dark walk. She was already temptation enough with her very kissable coral lips and generous bosom, but too innocent for most of the thoughts that had tortured his mind and dreams since they’d met.
Then again, was there any harm in a simple kiss?
Yes!
“Oh, there is Miss Perdita with her sister and brother-in-law,”
Olivia cried as she pointed ahead.
“I assume they are lining up to watch Madame Saqui.”
“Who is Madam Saqui?”
Harrison asked.
“A tightrope walker and her act should begin soon since the other acrobats are already entertaining.”
He nodded, but he was not watching the acrobats or anyone else. Only Perdita.
Why was she everywhere that he went? He knew that it wasn’t intentional, but the coincidences were making him question fate.
Bloody hell!
Fate!
He was not so foolish.
Coincidences were just that, and since she was here Harrison had no intention of ignoring her. “If you will excuse me.”
Harrison walked away, not caring if they followed or not. “Miss Perdita. What a pleasure to see you again,”
he greeted as he approached.
“Captain Trent. Have you come to see Madam Saqui walk the tightrope?”
“I had not been aware such was taking place. I only came to Vauxhall Gardens with my family. Olivia just informed me of the entertainment.”
“You remember my sister and brother-in-law,”
Perdita gestured to the couple.
“Yes, of course,”
Harrison said and turned to greet them.
“We were just about to watch Madam Saqui. Please, join us.”
Lady Felding smiled at him.
Harrison’s stomach tightened. This was the very sister set on seeing her sisters wed. He would need to be careful not to give her any ideas that he intended to court Perdita, even though that was exactly what he would do if he was settled on land.
“It would be my pleasure.”
The four of them then turned to face the grand walk along with others and set their sights on the east from where the tightrope walker would begin. Beneath were acrobats performing for the guests and when it finally grew dark enough, the orchestra began with a jaunty tune as fireworks exploded in the sky.
When someone bumped Perdita from behind, Harrison drew her close by taking her hand and placing it on his sleeve. Better protection would be his arm around her back, but Lady Felding would likely have them betrothed and likely married within a fortnight.
“Is this not delightful?”
Perdita asked as someone did flips along the walk before them.
Harrison chuckled at the exclamations of amusement uttered from Perdita’s lips. So childlike in her enjoyment, except Perdita was far from childish, but a beautiful adult whose blue eyes sparkled with delight and her smile infectious when she found joy in her surroundings. He had never met anyone so at ease and simply happy.
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder and some pointed as fireworks lit up the sky and music from the orchestra filled the air.
Perdita sucked in a breath and her hand clutched his arm, fingers nearly digging into him.
On the rope, high above the ground, was Madame Saqui. He had assumed that she would be slow and cautious with each step. At least he would be, but she was confident, smiling, and did not appear to be at all nervous and she walked quicker than he would have been comfortable doing.
And even though the fireworks continued around her, some startling in the loud bursts and the orchestra played a lively tune, she was not affected at all and continued her journey, sometimes appearing to run, until she reached the end and was once again safely on the ground.
Only then did Perdita breathe a sigh of relief.
“Did you hold your breath the entire time?” he asked.
“I do believe I did.”
She laughed. “Was that not magnificent? I do not know how she could find the courage to walk a rope so high from the ground. I could never do such.”
“We are going to return to our box,”
Felding announced.
Harrison wasn’t ready for her to do so. “Would you mind if Miss Perdita and I strolled the grand walk? I will return her to you shortly.”
Felding arched an eyebrow as if he did not trust Harrison.
Perhaps he shouldn’t.
“We will see you soon.”
Lady Felding tugged on her husband’s arm and pulled him back toward their dinner box.
“I wonder how one does learn to be an acrobat,”
she pondered as they began to stroll. “Is it training or natural talent?”
“I would assume training. One does not simply wake up one morning knowing how to do a cartwheel or flip.”
“What of walking a rope?”
“Practice,”
Harrison offered with a chuckle. “I am certain there are men on my ship that could have done what Madam Saqui did.”
“Your men walk ropes?”
she asked with alarm.
“They climb rigging, as I have, but they have on occasion stood on ropes. The difference, that often happens in high winds. I would wager that if I took one of my men and placed them at the top of the rope, they’d do the same as Madame Saqui.”
Goodness, the very idea of seeing Captain Trent, in shirtsleeves and breeches, climbing ropes, high above a ship filled her with warmth.
He must be incredibly strong, muscular…Mouth suddenly dry, Perdita cleared her throat and fought the urge to fan herself.
What was wrong with her? She’d never been overcome with attraction for anyone before.
It was all the talk she’d heard today at Westbrook House and why she should avoid dark walks. She’d dismissed the possibility, but was it so wrong to want Captain Trent to take her away for a kiss?
Yes, it was! But that did not change the fact that she wanted a kiss—her first, and likely only kiss ever—to be from Captain Trent.
Perdita let out a sigh. Such was her fate, to become a spinster without ever being kissed.
“Is all well?”
Captain Trent asked.
“Of course,”
she forced a smile.
“I fear I may have erred when I approached.”
“I did warn you,”
she chuckled, but was glad that he had not been deterred. “I saw the gleam in my sister’s eyes as well. I fear she will now hold onto hope until you set sail while I go about my duties at Westbrook House.”
“I feared that Felding would not let me walk with you.”
“As he is not my guardian, he has no say in what I do,”
she reminded him.
As they neared the walk that was lined more fully with trees, Captain Trent drew her to the side.
“You are very pretty and if I were not a confirmed bachelor, I would risk taking you into the shadows so that I might kiss you.”
Her heartbeat increased with excitement even though he rejected her with the same breath. “You assume that I would let you,”
she teased.
“Your words wound, Miss Perdita.”
He placed a hand over his heart.
“No more than your words that I am not tempting enough for the risk.”
“Ah, but you are,”
he whispered and for a moment she wondered if they were truly teasing.
“I made a decision long ago to remain a bachelor,”
he explained.
“Why? A broken heart.”
“Nothing so dramatic, I assure you.”
He chuckled. “The sea has always called to me and still does. If I were going to be on the water most of the year, it would be unfair to leave a wife behind on land.”
“Ah, I have heard of the sea being a demanding mistress.”
“She can be,”
Harrison chuckled.
“Could you not take a wife with you?”
Perdita asked as they turned to stroll back toward the supper boxes. “Not that I understand the desire to have feet planted on the deck of a ship instead of on solid ground.”
Oh, she did want to see marvelous places but was just as content to do so in a carriage. Though, a trip to the Continent would not be so difficult since the body of water between France and England was not so large, unlike traveling to America.
“I fear she would grow quite bored with only me for entertainment or staring out at an endless ocean while removed from family and friends.”
“I fear you might be correct,”
she admitted. “It would be too tedious for me. Not that I fear you would not be entertaining when you had time, but I would need so much more to occupy mine.”
She stopped and turned to him. “Therefore, I am glad that you did not kiss me for I would not like to find myself compromised and thus living on a ship, or in a house and seeing you but a month out of the year.”
He chuckled. “That is truly a shame because I think I would like to kiss you very much.”
Blood heated in her veins and her heart gave a little flip. “I, as well, but it is a temptation that we cannot risk.”
If circumstances were different, in that he lived in England, Perdita was confident that Captain Trent would indeed risk kissing her. And as much as she would like to experience his kiss, she appreciated his honesty for not doing so. Especially since it had nothing to do with a rejection of her.
“Besides, as I have already told you, I am not so certain that I want a husband at all, at least not yet in my life. I enjoy my position at Westbrook House. I need to be there. If I wed, I would be required to abandon it and be a proper wife to be cared for and oversee a household.”
“You make being a wife sound nearly as tedious as a long ocean crossing.”
“I can only assume it is since I have not experienced either.”
“If not a husband, what do you hope to gain by a Season in London?”
“My sister hopes that I gain a husband,”
Perdita laughed. “I would much prefer to gain a friend.”
His green eyes darkened and Harrison’s smile turned gentle when he stared down at her. “Aye, a friend is something one can never have too many of and I fear that I lack as many as I once had when away at school.”
“Because you sail so often.”
He nodded.
“Then instead of kisses, perhaps we should be sharing a friendship, Captain Trent.”
“Yes, I believe I would like that.”