Page 13 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)
When Harrison was once again summoned to his brother’s home, he assumed that he would be required to escort Olivia and possibly Elaina again. Instead, he enjoyed a dinner with his family and then he and Tristan were off to White’s.
He was glad for the opportunity to have his brother alone and after a second brandy, he ended up telling him what he had shared with Perdita—that he may give up sailing, and his fears of doing to.
Tristan said little and only asked a few questions for clarification and when he was finished, sat back in his chair, cradling his glass of brandy, studying Harrison.
“What? No words of advice or an opinion on what I should do?”
“Does she know that you have fallen in love with her?”
He had not mentioned any of his emotions where Perdita was concerned. He referred to her as a friend and gave no indication that his heart was involved, so how did his brother know?
“She has nothing to do with this. I was already wondering if I should give up sailing before we arrived in London.”
“Yet, you told her before you told me.”
“She is a friend.”
“You have not known her so long that confidences should be shared before they are with a family member.”
Tristan was correct, but Harrison was not ready to admit anything because his brother would tell him to live on land and take a wife, though it would be for a more selfish reason because he hated that his family lived all over the place and few near home. “I was not certain what you would think.”
“I think you should do what would make you happy.”
“I just explained that I do not know what that is and I am afraid of making a mistake.”
“You are afraid of taking a risk.”
“Is it not the same thing?”
“No,”
Tristan answered.
“Explain!”
“How pressing was this decision before you met Miss Perdita?”
Did he dare admit to his brother that it had only grown more difficult because he had met Perdita? Harrison had not even realized that it had, but the more he came to know her, love her, the harder it was to decide on his future.
“It was pressing,”
he finally said.
“If you simply gave up sailing and found that you were not happy living on land, you have enough money to purchase another ship and sail again. Or simply return to your old ship. It is not as if you could never return to an earlier passion.”
In that Tristan was correct.
“It seems to me that you want one foot on land, because you grew tired of the long voyages, and another foot on the ship for shorter voyages and to maybe sail to see your family. Neither is a risk, simply a decision.”
“Where is the risk?”
Harrison asked though he believed that he already knew.
“That would be Miss Perdita.”
Harrison groaned. His brother did know him well.
“If you court and wed her, you will give up the sea for life, and that is what truly scares you—that you will not be as happy as you hope and worse, that you will be miserable.”
His thoughts were not so grave, he was simply being cautious because he had only known her a short time. Of course, that was what he told himself when his heart said otherwise. If he relied on his heart, he would have declared himself and they would be courting now, if she would have him.
If!
“Do you fear she will reject you?”
How the hell could Tristan know what he was thinking? When they were young, it was far easier because they had all been close, but not nearly as much in the more recent years.
“I do not know how she feels about me and I have not confessed anything to her, because this has all happened rather quickly. I thought these matters took longer and I would like to be certain before I did or said something foolish.”
“It took me three years to win Elaina, but I knew she would be my wife that very first Season,”
Tristan smiled as he lifted his glass of brandy. “Sometimes matters move slowly, other times, they can appear rushed. In time, you will know when it is right.”
“Or if it is not,”
Harrison reminded him.
“Just do as you planned. Think on matters during this next, possibly last, voyage and by the time you return to England, you will have your answer.”
Tristan seemed so certain, just as Perdita had been, but it was not so simple for him. But he knew one thing that he must do before he left, which would help guide the decision he needed to make.
“Why are you here?”
Lady Sinclair asked when she saw Perdita descend the stairs in Westbrook House. “Your sister is getting married tomorrow. We did not expect to see you for another few days.”
“I needed to check on Oliver. He was very distressed yesterday when I left.”
“Perhaps it would be good for you to be away for a few days. He is far too attached to you.”
“I know, but I do worry about him. Any other child would have adjusted to their new circumstance by now.”
“I know.”
Lady Sinclair agreed then turned toward the parlor. “Join me for tea and tell me about the wedding plans.”
Perdita bit her bottom lip because she did not want to refuse her employer, but Oliver was not the only reason she was at Westbrook House. “If I am to be honest, I had hoped to speak with Dr. Sinclair. But, as he is not here, I will call on him at his office.”
Lady Sinclair frowned and took her hand. “Are you ill? What ails you?”
For the first time in longer than she could remember, tears came to Perdita’s eyes. She supposed she was more worried than she even allowed herself to know. “I fear that I might be seeing things…or people, that are not there.”
Her employer’s eyes widened then drew Perdita into the parlor. She paused only long enough to tug on the bellpull then led her to the settee.
“Why do you think you are seeing what is not there?”
“Visions! Are you now clairvoyant Miss Perdita?”
Dr. Sinclair asked with a chuckle as he entered the parlor.
Oh, she wished it were so silly, but when she swiped a tear from the corner of her eye, he grew serious.
“You rang, Lady Sinclair,”
Edith said as she entered the parlor.
“Please, bring us tea, and close the door.”
Edith nodded then did as requested.
Dr. Sinclair settled across from Perdita and gently asked her to explain.
She did so, listing all the places she had seen the woman, what she had been looking at, and she was always alone. “I have come to find myself looking for her so that I am not startled by her sudden appearance. Except, whenever I have been with someone else and mentioned her, when they turn to look, she is gone.”
Edith entered and placed the tea service on the table then quietly left them alone once again.
“Either I am imagining her, or she can turn invisible,”
Perdita said as Lady Sinclair poured tea.
“I do not believe she is imagined,”
Dr. Sinclair finally offered.
“How can you know such?”
“Have you seen her in your home?”
“No.”
“Here, inside Westbrook House?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen her inside anywhere?”
“Harding Howell & Company, once, and only briefly.”
“Only when you are out, in public, on the street or in a park or gardens, where crowds are likely to be.”
“Yes.”
“If she was in your imagination, where she appears would not be limited to such locations, but she would appear in your bedchamber, or in the dining room and such.”
“Are you certain?”
Perdita asked, though not necessarily relieved by his assessment.
“I cannot guess who this woman is and why only you see her, but it gives me concern.”
“Do you think she is being followed?”
Lady Sinclair asked her husband.
“I am not certain, but until she is seen by someone else, or approaches you, you should not be alone when out.”
“I do not need to be guarded,”
Perdita argued.
“It is likely she is not dangerous, but we cannot know that either. Therefore, my wife and I will be delivering you to your house and then I intend to have a discussion with Felding.”
“No!”
“He should know so that the servants can keep watch.”
“Isabella is getting married tomorrow. They have enough to concern themselves with.”
“Very well, but you must promise me that you will remain with people, at all times.”
Dr. Sinclair’s voice was hard and authoritative, ordering even, and Perdita nodded.
She had been afraid that she was losing her mind when she first broached the subject, now she feared that she was in danger.
Maybe she was also making something out of nothing and seeing that woman was only a coincidence.
Oh, she truly hoped that was the case.
“I will also mention the matter to Orlando.”
At least was the more reasonable of her brothers and the least likely to see her guarded.