Page 25 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)

Worry for Perdita’s wellbeing plagued Harrison through the night. Not that he feared that she would suffer any physical injury, but what had become of her emotions once she was alone with her thoughts.

Had she managed to sleep at all?

Did he go to her or wait for her to contact him?

Likely she returned to her duties…except her arm may not be healed enough to do so.

What had she told Lady Victoria and Lady Sinclair? If they knew she had spent the night at Westbrook House, would they demand answers? How much would she tell them?

He did his best to work on his ship to make sure that it was prepared to sail in four days. However, by the afternoon, he gave in and called on Perdita at Westbrook House. This time Lady Victoria did not leave him to cool his heels until Perdita was free for the day, nor did she remind him that Perdita was an employee and this was not a place for afternoon calls. Instead, she showed him to the parlor and left him to wait.

When Perdita appeared in the parlor, she offered a tired smile. There were also smudges beneath her blue eyes. She had not slept well.

“How are you?”

“I am well, I suppose. Tired.”

“Your brother was waiting for me when I returned home last evening.”

“Which brother?”

“Demetrius, but I did not tell him where you were.”

She nodded. “Thank you, but he made the determination himself.”

“Did he come for you here?”

“Yes. As did Benedick, Orlando and the Duke of Clare. All wishing to speak with me. Lady Victoria told each that this was my place of employment and could not be bothered and if I continued to receive visitors that my position would be in jeopardy.”

“Does she realize that such may not matter to them even though it is very important to you?”

“That is my fear or perhaps they will find it as an encouragement instead of deterrent and return tomorrow.”

“She did not warn me away this time.”

“She knows that you helped me yesterday.”

Before they could continue their conversation, Lady Victoria returned. “Perdita, will you remain with us again tonight? If so, we have a spare bed so that you do not need to sleep on a cot in the kitchen.”

No wonder she hadn’t gotten much rest. That could not have been comfortable.

“I will return to my sister’s home,”

Perdita offered. “I belong there.”

“Then you should go,”

Lady Victoria said gently. “You are tired and your arm is still healing. Rest and take time to sort everything out.”

Perdita’s blue eyes widened with concern. “Am I being sacked?”

Lady Victoria laughed. “No. Of course not, but you should take some time. A few days at least. And I do not want you back here until Dr. Valentine has decided your arm has healed enough.”

“I will take a day, or two, but not more,”

Perdita insisted.

“We will discuss it when the time comes.”

“Thank you, Lady Victoria.”

If she was leaving then Harrison was going to wait for her. “I will see you home.”

“It is not necessary.”

“It is to me. I will even carry your valise.”

“Do you wish to see her ruined?”

Lady Victoria asked with a chuckle. “I can read the gossip rag now. Captain HT was recently seen carrying the valise of a certain Miss PV as she walked from Westbrook House to the home she shared with the Marquess of F. Where had she truly spent the night and why was the captain carrying her personal belongings?”

Perdita groaned as did Harrison.

“I will walk you home and your valise can be delivered,”

he offered.

“Thank you.”

“I will have my sister take it to her husband to give to Dr. Valentine and then it will not seem odd if he is seen entering the home with a valise.”

In that, Lady Victoria was correct and an easy answer. No doubt Perdita had more clothing at her sister’s and would not go without.

“Shall we?”

she asked.

“Yes,”

Harrison answered then led her to the door and outside where she paused, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, which she did every day that he had left with her.

“It is a beautiful day, is it not?”

“It is indeed.”

At least she was in better spirits today than she had been last evening, which gave him hope that her world would settle to rights sooner than he feared.

“I have been worried about you,”

he said quietly as they began the familiar trek to Lord Felding’s home.

“You should not be,”

she returned with a weak smile. “All will be well.”

“Even after all that you have endured, you are still positive.”

“We cannot change the events of the past, only in how we think and feel about them. Sometimes, the answer does not come to us right away.”

“Which is where you are?” he asked.

“I am simply letting it all settle. I understand why my brothers and uncle said nothing and forgive them. As for my recently discovered brother, I am not so ready to rush to his home.”

“I assume you want to come to know them.”

“Of course, and I will. I think I just need to become used to the idea.”

Any other woman who learned that her father had been a duke would have been thrilled with the change in their life circumstances, but Perdita was not like most women and thus, one of the reasons he loved her. People mattered, not rank or wealth. If they did, she would not have chosen to work in a foundling home but attempted to catch a husband in a ballroom.

Perdita could not help, nor did she fight the happiness that rose within when Harrison once again walked beside her.

She needed him.

She loved him.

She had loved him, been in love with him before she needed him. Now he was everything, but she needed to keep matters in perspective and be careful to guard her heart. He could still decide that the sea was where he wanted to be and she would need to be happy for him.

“When will you meet His Grace’s family…your family.”

“Tomorrow, I think,”

she decided in the moment. “I do owe it to them and myself to come to know the family I was born into.”

“I will go with you if you wish.”

“Truly?”

Some of the fear she held for such an audience released. If there was anyone that she wanted by her side it was Harrison.

“I have known His Grace since we were in school together at Eton.”

She blinked. How could she have forgotten how Harrison had stood up to Clare even though he was a duke? “Yes, please, accompany me.”

“I would be happy to do so, Perdita. Shall I call for you at three?”

“Yes.”

She took a deep breath and blew out a sigh. “It is all rather odd to know that I have another family and that if a nurserymaid hadn’t believed in superstitions that I would have been raised in Ireland and by a duke.”

“Your life would have been that of privilege.”

She chuckled. “That does not matter to me. I may have been raised in a humble household, but there was much love and warmth. I cannot imagine living a life that would have been different and I am not certain I would have exchanged that for what I was denied.”

They stopped just outside of Felding’s house.

“Would you like me to come in with you?”

She never wanted him to leave, but Perdita did not dare voice her desires. “I will do this on my own. They are my family and I am no longer upset.”

“Will you be attending any entertainments this evening?”

“Even if Rosalind has something planned, I will not be in attendance. I think I simply need a quiet night at home, and sleep.”

She smiled.

“Get rest and I will see you tomorrow. Harrison then lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “Until tomorrow, Perdita.”

His green eyes warmed and she nearly changed her mind and asked him inside but kept the request from her lips. She truly meant what she said. She wanted to be alone to rest, think, and prepare for tomorrow.