"I'm not afraid for myself," she whispered, "but of ruining your life."

Huntley smiled patiently. "Hope, the only way you could do that is if you walked away."

Exquisite anguish penetrated her soul and she almost cried aloud.

"Tell me what bothers you?" He entreated. "Is it because I am not the man I was? Because I walk with a limp?"

"Of course not."

"I see your distress, but don't understand. Please, I have to know, my dearest, tell me."

"If...if I married you..." she stuttered and then the words spilled out, "the gossips would eat you alive, and any chance of a Naval career would be gone forever. Your reputation in tatters."

Huntley sat back "Tis true," he said, "the Navy was my life, my reason for existing, to smell the salt air, the adventure, risking life and limb..."

Her heart chilled, after all his protestations of love, she was right.

"But that was before...before I had a better reason for living...you! I've had time to come to terms with my situation and I don't mind so much now. Before, those were empty years, I was restless, to give life purpose I sought to right wrongs, to do my best by King and country. But now I have a greater reason...you.

Hope Tyler-marry me!"

"I....I don't know what to say."

"How about yes?"

She clutched her gown, she could not let her selfish desires color what was best for him. At the very least she needed time.

"I need to think."

"Very well," Huntley looked grave, "Never have I met a woman I wanted to spend more than ten minutes-let alone a lifetime-until you. So I can wait."

Hope looked down to hide her confusion. Huntley stood.

"You look exhausted."

She nodded. "I would like to leave now."

"I shall summon the carriage. Will you be alright here alone for a few minutes?"

Hope nodded, but couldn't look at him for fear she would crumble. She felt the air move as he bowed and heard his uneven steps as he left to find Lady Ryevale and summon the carriage. Only once he was out of sight did her shoulders sag and she gave way to tears.

For several minutes she sat quietly weeping as she struggled to compose herself."Excuse me, Miss Tyler, but are you alright?" A figure stepped out from behind the shrubbery.

"Mr. Oswald!" Hope gasped. "How long have you been there?"

Oswald looked awkward. "Ah, I was hoping you wouldn't ask that-only I was pa.s.sing when Captain Huntley made his proposal-I didn't like to interrupt and so I dropped into the shadows."

"Ah. So you heard...everything?" The thought of Oswald knowing Huntley's feelings made her uncomfortable.

"It was certainly not my intention to eavesdrop."

"Then I can rely on your silence?"

"As a gentleman, that goes without saying. But the reason I made my presence known..."

"Yes?" Why couldn't this annoying man leave her to wallow?

"...is because, you might want to consider an alternative offer. I would have bidden my time, but it seems Huntley has got there ahead of me, so best I show my hand."

"I don't follow?"

"Miss Tyler, you are a very attractive woman... and I would like to court you."

Hope's brow shot up in surprise.

"It would be an arrangement pleasing to both sides. I am well-off, I keep a comfortable home and have much to offer the right woman."

"Such things do not interest me."

"And I believe we have a link in the Isle of Wight. I believe I have heard of your father-William Tyler."

Hope regarded him in shock. "You know my father, but how?"

He smiled indulgently, as speaking to a child. "My business sometimes takes me to the Island. Your father is well known among the fishing community."

"You deal in fresh fish?" For some reason this surprised Hope, he wasn't like any fish merchant she knew.

"In a manner of speaking..."

But before Oswald could elaborate further, and to Hope's immense relief, Captain Huntley returned.

"Hallo. Oswald isn't it? Fancy meeting you here."

"Indeed, at your service." Oswald bowed in an obsequious manner. "I saw Miss Tyler was alone and thought to keep her company."

"Very thoughtful of you," Huntley said in a tone which implied otherwise, "but I'm back now, and Miss Tyler and I are about to leave."

"Such a shame. I couldn't entreat you to change your minds? Miss Tyler and I were having such an interesting exchange of ideas."

Hope started to bristle. "Really? I thought our conversation at an end."

"In that case, please consider what I've said." Oswald narrowed his eyes like a reptile. "I shall take my leave."

Even though fatigue soaked her bones, sleep eluded Hope as she listened to a distant clock mark the pa.s.sing night hours. Every time she closed her eyes, the gossip's bile spilled over into her mind and she woke again. If she married George, his career would be over and if he loved her now, she wasn't so naive as to think he wouldn't hear gossip, and start to resent her. Hope finally fell asleep just before dawn, confirmed in the opinion that if she truly loved George, she must leave.

As morning light flooded through the curtains Hope was woken by a feeling of dread. For a moment she was confused as to why, then remembered the Captain's proposal and her heart sank afresh. She couldn't face him. He would try to talk her around and she wasn't sure she had the strength to resist. She would slip away-leave a note. But something was wrong, something overlooked. Then it came to her, Lady Ryevale had been so kind, it was wrong to leave without an explanation, she owed her that at least.

Reluctantly, Hope pushed aside the bedcovers and rose. Ruby had been in while she slept and laid out a fresh gown. Mechanically, Hope dressed and said goodbye to the familiar walls. She remembered the first time she had seen this room, how she had felt so overwhelmed. Perhaps that was the problem, she thought herself grander than she was and had forgotten her roots. With a renewed sense of purpose, Hope decided to write Lady Ryevale a letter, with the intention of being far away when she read it.

But a surprise awaited Hope in the office, in the form of Lady Ryevale already seated at the desk, papers spread around her. Hope blinked in bewilderment.

"What...?"

"Come in, come in, dear." Lady Ryevale peered over the top of her semi-lunette gla.s.ses. "I didn't expect you up so early."

"I thought you'd lie in....after the ball."

"The accounts were on my mind so I decided to deal with them head-on."

Hope glanced nervously around, half-expecting George to be hiding in the shadows.

"And Captain Huntley?"

"Don't speak to me about George! He was acting most oddly at breakfast, said he had business in town, but wouldn't tell me what and he had the most peculiar look in his eye. Took the gig and went-I don't suppose he said anything to you last night?"

"No, Ladyship." Hope struggled to keep her face composed.

"Oh well, I'll find out in due course. But in the meantime, the accounts. Now be a dear and make notes."

Without knowing how, Hope found herself sitting at the desk, quill in hand. In the cold light of day, leaving a letter seemed cowardly. She would speak to Her Ladyship and explain, but she must pick the moment, perhaps later that morning, once the accounts were done...

"Did you get that, Hope?"

Hope jumped, startled as she realised Her Ladyship had been talking to her. "Sorry, I was miles away."

"I can see that. I can manage by myself if you're too tired."

The idea of escaping had appeal. No, Hope decided, the least she could do was finish the job she'd started.

"No, no, I'm fine, please do go on."

Her Ladyship looked at her with suspicion. "Are you sure George didn't let anything slip last night?"

"Quite sure." Hope stared fixedly at the ledger.

"Hmm, very strange." Her Ladyship gazed out at the misty grayness which veiled the lawns and turned shrubs into hunched ghosts. "Hardly the sort of weather for a pleasure trip."

"No, Ladyship."

"Oh well. Now, where was I?"

"The miller's invoice, Ladyship."

They worked steadily, bills filed and the amounts tallied in the ledgers. The effort of concentration soothed Hope's nerves, distancing her from the moment when she said goodbye. She was so deeply immersed in the columns of figures that when the maid entered, it came as a surprise.

"Beggin' pardon, Lady Ryevale, but there is a gentleman to see you."

"At this hour?" Her Ladyship removed her gla.s.ses. "The caller's name?"

The maid narrowed her eyes with effort of remembering.

"A Mr. Oswald."

Hope shrank back. After what Oswald had overheard last night, and his proposition, the last person she wanted to see was him. She prayed Her Ladyship would decide it too early to receive visitors.

"Strange time for a call, I wonder what he wants? Show him to the morning room. We shall take tea."

A short time later Mr. Oswald joined them in the parlor. He looked a perfect gentleman in a striped waistcoat, high-collared shirt and stock. Hope's toes curled in her slippers as he made a show of greeting Lady Ryevale, bending over her hand and kissing it.

"Utterly charmed, Ladyship."

"Mr. Oswald, what an unexpected pleasure."

"I was pa.s.sing. I do hope I'm not disturbing you?"

"No, indeed. Miss Tyler and I were in need of a break. Please, be seated."

Oswald arranged himself on the settle, flicking out his coat tails, then he turned to Hope and his face brightened.

"Miss Tyler. Delightful as ever."

Hope colored, but from petulance not pleasure. "Mr. Oswald."

"I'm so pleased you are here, for the truth be known, I wanted to speak with you."

"Really?" She frowned. If Oswald thought to court her, then he was mistaken. If she refused George, she was certainly not going to accept his suit.

"I have business on the Island this afternoon. If I happen to see your father, have you a message for him?"

"Oh." Her ire deflated a little.

"Isn't that considerate of Mr. Oswald?" Lady Ryevale prompted Hope. "Most kind...isn't it?"

Oswald's compa.s.sionate expression curried no favor with Hope.

"That is indeed kind, and yes, please tell my father you find me in good health." She bit her lip, for she would be seeing her father herself in the near future.

"Well, Hope," Lady Ryevale said, puzzled by Hope's reticence, "have you nothing else to add?"

"Have a think, Miss Tyler, don't rush yourself. I know how important family is. I just thought you might wish to let your father know any good news, that sort of thing."

Hope p.r.i.c.kled, was he referring to the previous night's proposal? A thought occurred to her. "What business have you with my father?"

Mr. Oswald laughed lightheartedly. "You misunderstood me. My business is on the Island, not with your father, but it occurred to me to seek him out on your behalf."

The maid arrived with tea, saving Hope from further immediate comment. Nonplussed, Hope sat silent, resolved to say as little as possible. Lady Ryevale turned to Oswald.