Page 7 of The Captain’s Valentine (The “Other” Trents #3)

It was good to spend the evening with his family and Harrison was glad that he had not continued on to Cornwall after his ship had docked or he would have missed them, and he would not have spent more time with Perdita. However, how his youngest sister, Olivia, had managed to talk him into accompanying her to Harding Howell & Company the following afternoon was beyond him.

It had been an absent-minded agreement because at the time he was wondering if he should ask his older brother what he knew of the Valentines. Before he realized what he had agreed to, it was too late.

In the end, Harrison had decided it really was not necessary that he learn any more. If he had questions, he could always ask Perdita directly. Besides, what more could there be to learn. She’d told him about her parents, the missionaries, and how she had been raised by an aunt and uncle and was the youngest of ten children. Undoubtedly her life had been quite uneventful until she came to London.

“Why are we here, again?”

he asked Olivia. “I do not recall.”

Which he did not because he had not been mindful of what she was saying.

“Fans, lace, gloves, ribbons, perfume and bonnets, of course.”

He nearly groaned. “You intend to purchase all those items today? How much pin money did our brother provide?”

She grinned at him. “Credit, dear Harrison. Tristan made arrangements with this shop, and only this shop, so that he could be aware of what I spend.”

She then rolled her eyes and picked up a painted fan.

“Are you truly in need of a fan, or do you simply enjoy spending money?”

“I wanted free from the house, if you must know,”

Olivia admitted. “If Elaina is not with me, making certain that I am careful in all that I say or do, a maid is following ready to report everything that she observed. With you, there is some freedom.”

She then narrowed her eyes. “There is, isn’t there?”

“What do you intend to do?”

he asked with alarm.

“Nothing!”

Olivia shrugged. “You just won’t watch every move in fear that I may misstep.”

“Just see that you do not,”

he insisted as she set the fan aside to examine another one.

However, he was now more alert. If his sister-in-law and the maid were concerned with how Olivia conducted herself, he would make certain that she did not do anything to draw unwanted or ruinous attention.

He also decided that they had good cause because Olivia had lingered around the same selection of fans since they had arrived and kept glancing at the door. Who was she waiting for? Certainly, she had not made arrangements to meet a gentleman here, had she? Or was she hoping that a gentleman that she had an interest in would be coming through those doors without him knowing that Olivia lay in wait for a chance meeting?

He was just about to ask when she brightened and abandoned the fans.

“Deborah,”

Olivia nearly cried in excitement, and rushed forward. “I was afraid that your mother would not let you be free of the house.”

His sister then quickly looked about. “Or is she here?”

she questioned in a whisper.

“I have been given permission to shop with my brother, Nate, and I am to act as chaperone for him and Miss Isabella Valentine.”

She grinned. “However, I must promise not to become betrothed to anyone who is not worthy.”

At the Valentine name, Harrison glanced about. Was it only Miss Isabella?

It was obvious that this meeting had been prearranged, though he could not understand the subterfuge or why Lady Deborah would be kept at home, unless her family worried that she might speak out of turn or draw attention to herself as they feared with Olivia. Though, he did not fear that his sister would suddenly become betrothed while shopping.

“Come, let me introduce you.”

She pulled Olivia forward. “Then we can admire the fans and furs.”

“Lady Olivia, please allow me to introduce my brother, Captain Nathaniel Storm, Miss Isabella Valentine and her sister, Miss Perdita.”

“It is very nice to meet you,”

his sister politely murmured then turned to him. “My brother, Captain Harrison Trent.”

Miss Isabella raised an auburn eyebrow as if intrigued. Had Perdita mentioned him to her?

He shook Captain Storm’s hand, nodded to Miss Isabella and Lady Olivia then greeted the one person in their group that he knew. “Miss Perdita.”

“Captain Trent,”

she returned.

“My brother was a captain in the footguards. What kind of captain are you?”

Lady Deborah asked.

“Captain of a merchant vessel. Now come along.”

Olivia linked her arm through Deborah’s and pulled her away from their guardians.

“We shall supervise,”

Miss Isabella offered and took Captain Storm with her, leaving Harrison and Miss Perdita standing alone, staring at the other.

Though he should not inquire, he needed to know why Miss Isabella responded in such a manner.

“Have you mentioned my name to your family?”

“You must excuse Isabella,”

she insisted. “Your name was mentioned, but not by me.”

“Your other sister?”

“Yes.”

Perdita laughed. “Rosalind was complaining that of all the gentlemen that I have met that the one she has seen me with more than once will be sailing away soon. I fear she has lost all hope for me.”

Harrison couldn’t help but laugh. “You are certainly refreshing, Miss Perdita.”

“I am certain your family has not pressured you to be available for courtship. Unless a title is involved, men are left unbothered. It truly is unfair,”

she said as they slowly followed behind Miss Isabella and Captain Storm.

Harrison chuckled. “No, I have not been pressured to wed, with the exception of my older sister for the short time she was in England. But they do often hint that I should give up sailing.”

That was rather unfair. Though she certainly understood their reasoning because despite how irritating her siblings could be at times, she would hate to go months without seeing them.

“Where is the furthest you have sailed, Captain Trent?”

“I have crossed the Atlantic twice.”

“You visited America?”

She would be thrilled to visit any country that was not England.

“I never went so far. Both voyages took me to Jamaica.”

It was still more interesting than Hampshire and London. “Why Jamaica and what was it like?”

“The reason was for sugar. As for what it was like—paradise,”

he answered with one word. “The long sandy beaches bordered by a clear blue ocean and reefs. It also has mountains and waterfalls and the weather is warm, sometimes too hot, but never too cool. Even when warm, there is a breeze to bring relief.

She smiled, warmth in her blue eyes. “You loved it there. Why only visit twice?”

“The opportunity did not arise again,”

he answered. “Though on my first visit I wondered if I would not rather live there and visit England instead of living in England and only visit Jamaica.”

“Is there a reason you did not remain?”

“Storms.”

He answered. “Not simple storms that you find in England, but hurricanes that can destroy ships and homes, bring down trees and leave ruin in their wake. Even storms that are not hurricanes can be fierce and do nearly as much damage. I did not want to have to keep repairing or rebuilding my ship year after year.”

“I suppose no place is perfect.”

“Jamaica would be if not for that.”

“Where else have you traveled?”

“The furthest south would be Morocco.”

Perdita couldn’t imagine traveling so far or the sights he must have seen. “What was it like?”

“Fascinating and as beautiful as Jamaica, though completely different.”

“Did you want to live there as well?”

“It occurred to me on occasion as I did sail their often enough to bring back silk, leather, ostrich feathers and ivory.”

“Oh, Captain Trent, I find that I am envious of your adventures.”

“What may sound like an adventure could be very tedious as there is little variety in tasks and fewer entertainments when one is at sea for weeks at a time.”

She had never given much thought to the workings of a ship, but imagined the captain standing at the wheel, only taking a break to sleep and leaving the chore to a first mate. She supposed that might become boring after a time.

“What of danger?”

she asked with excitement as they continued trailing after the others as they made their way to the haberdashery. No doubt Lady Olivia and Lady Deborah intended to visit every display within the building.

“What kind of danger do you mean?”

he asked quietly.

“Did you ever encounter one of Napoleon’s ships?”

“I did my best to avoid them,”

he assured her.

“Yes, I suppose you would,”

Perdita murmured and was beginning to wonder if sailing on the high seas was not as exciting as she had imagined.

“You seem rather disappointed,”

he wondered aloud. “Would you rather I was a pirate, taking loot from others and all that?”

“Oh, I do not think so,”

Perdita offered. “Pirates are not at all respectable. However, a privateer would be adventurous, sneaking into another country and thwarting the enemy and such.”

Captain Trent arched a brow and studied her. “Is that so?”

“It would be an adventure,”

she admitted, though she truly hoped that she had not insulted him being he simply captained a merchant vessel and had hidden from Napoleon.

He leaned close. “What of a smuggler who brought prohibited goods under the noses of the authorities to avoid taxation?”

he asked in a near whisper.

“I suppose anything that required not being caught would be an adventure,”

she whispered in return. “At least, while on a ship. As for on land, visiting any place new would be an adventure as well.”

“Perhaps one day I will share with you some of my more harrowing voyages.”

He glanced about. “But certainly not in the middle of Harding Howell & Company.”

Her heart raced with excitement. “Were you a smuggler, Captain Trent?”

she asked very quietly.

He leaned close to her ear. “Jamaica does make the finest rum.”

Then he straightened.

Perdita glanced up to note a small smile, as if he had a secret. Was Captain Trent truly a smuggler?

Now, that was very exciting…as well as illegal.

“Whatever you may do, please do not get caught,”

she whispered. “It would be dreadful if I was forced to visit you in Newgate.”

Harrison chuckled as she glanced about the store to make certain they had not strayed from their party when she noted the same woman who had been outside of Westbrook House. She was also watching Perdita.

“There is that woman again.”

“What woman?”

Captain Trent asked.

“The one that I keep seeing. She is here today.”

“Where?”

Perdita nodded in the woman’s direction.

“I do not see anyone.”

When Perdita turned to look, nobody was there. “How very odd.”

“I am certain that it is merely a coincidence.”

“I suppose you are correct.”

Yet, it bothered her and Perdita wished to know what she was about and why she was watching her.

Or even more disturbing—was she going mad and only seeing things, or people in this case, who were not really there?