Smuggler's Kiss (14 page)

I blushed. ‘That would scarcely be decent,’ I objected.

‘There’s no time to trouble ourselves over that,’ said Will impatiently. ‘We’re almost in. And you’ve clearly forgotten that I’ve undressed you once already.’ He barged past me in through the door, ignoring the blush that this brought to my cheek.

‘I don’t know how you can be so ungentlemanly as to remind me of that,’ I said. Will laughed. The other men hesitated just outside the door, more considerate than Will, or perhaps just more embarrassed.

‘I’ll need one other to help,’ said Will. ‘Jacob, come on in and close the door.’

‘If only we had some other women on board,’ I said, horrified at being semi-naked before two men.

‘I thank God we have not,’ said Will, undoing the lace on my leg. ‘They would be horribly in the way. This is far too loose, Isabelle. It will fall off before you are halfway to the shop.’

‘I know. I couldn’t get it to stay.’

But Will could. Before long, he and Jacob had trussed me up like a chicken. They pushed and turned me this way and that, lacking the care and politeness of dressmakers or maids. I had lace wrapped in layers around my middle, around my bust and draped over my hips like petticoats. My arms and legs were bulging like bolsters, leaving me scarcely any movement in them. I stood like a statue, as unwieldy and far less elegant.

‘Now for your hoop and gown,’ said Will, picking them up. ‘Good thing I asked the dressmakers to make them adjustable.’

I looked at him suspiciously as he tied the tapes and buckles of the hoop around my waist. ‘You had better tell me the worst,’ I said. ‘What lies did you tell them to explain
that
?’

Will merely shook his head and continued to fasten the hoop. But Jacob started to chuckle; a rich bubble of laughter deep in his chest.

‘You might as well tell her, lad,’ he said. ‘It’s a story as will get out sooner or later.’

I looked sharply at Will who looked very sheepish indeed. ‘I told them you were expecting a
petit paquet
,’ he confessed.

‘You told them … ’ My voice failed with the enormity of what he had said. I lifted cold hands to my suddenly burning cheeks. ‘No, Will, how
could
you? I will never be able to show my face there again. What must they have
thought
of me?’

Will threw my gown over my head. As he pulled it straight, I found I couldn’t meet his eyes. Had the women assumed it was his child I was expecting? How unbearably shameful. ‘And you’ve told everyone on board
The Invisible
what you told them. And they’ve all been laughing behind my back for days?’

‘Only a little,’ Will assured me unconvincingly. He straightened up and tilted my chin up so that I was forced to meet his eyes. ‘Forgive me?’ he asked. When Will dropped his taunting, there was something disarming about him.

I nodded briefly, surprised by the sudden impulse to cry this small sign of kindness caused. It caught me as I was already feeling upset; that must be why. I turned my face away to hide my emotion.

‘There,’ said Will, giving my gown and petticoats a last tweak. ‘I said I’d never be lady’s maid for you again, and here I am arranging your finery. But I think you’ll do now.’

I looked down at myself. ‘I look horribly stout,’ I remarked, noting that I barely had a waist and my arms were bulging. But the main quantity of lace was over my hips and legs. I could understand now why Will had insisted on a dress with a hoop. It concealed it all admirably.

‘Now, listen close,’ said Jacob, leaning back against the cabin wall, arms folded across his chest. ‘The Revenue officer ain’t allowed to rummage a lady. So you should be safe. But that might not stop him being suspicious of us in general and of you in partic’lar. So you look out for him.’

‘Will it be the same man as at Poole?’ I asked anxiously. ‘He would smell a rat at once, surely, to see me dressed as a girl.’

‘No, it won’t be. We’ve thought of that. This is a different stretch of coast and under a different section of the guard. There should be no danger of being connected with … whoever it is you really are.’

I nodded. ‘Very well. I’m ready. I think.’

Butterflies fluttered uncomfortably in my stomach. But I wasn’t going to reveal my anxiety. We’d run a cargo of brandy onto Studland beach late last night in high winds, and the whole crew had shown such bravery, battling the breakers and darkness. I wasn’t willing to show less courage than they had done.

We emerged from the cabin onto the deck and Jacob accompanied me to the gangplank. ‘You know where you’re going and what you’re to say there, don’t you?’

‘Will has explained,’ I said.

‘Remember, we’ll be close by you, even if you can’t see us. Walk confidently and hold your head high.’

‘I will,’ I said and smiled, despite my nerves.

The moment the mooring ropes were tied and the gangplank was laid, I walked across it to the quayside.

Customs men were already heading towards the ship, and one in a blue coat cast me a curious glance as he walked by. I looked straight ahead, feigning not to notice.

It wasn’t easy to walk, all bundled up as I was. I felt heavy and cramped. I tried to walk with my natural stride, but couldn’t quite manage it. It was fortunate that it was winter now, and cold today, or I would have been uncomfortably warm. Last night’s storm had dropped, but a sharp wind still swept the quay, making my hoop sway and bounce around me.

I felt everyone’s eyes were on me. They must see through this ludicrous disguise and guess what I was up to. But when I gathered the courage to glance around me, no one was looking my way at all. Men were loading and unloading cargoes from various ships, women were walking with their children, and couples were pacing along arm in arm. None of them spared me a glance.

Feeling slightly more confident, I walked on towards the town. As I entered the first of the cobbled streets, a young man fell into step beside me. A quick look at him made my heart jump into my mouth. He was wearing the blue coat and cap of the riding officers. He was the man who had passed me near the ship, and been about to board. He must have followed me.

‘Good morning, Miss,’ he said, doffing his hat to me politely.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. ‘Good … good morning, officer,’ I stuttered. Badly done, I told myself fiercely. Showing him I was afraid made me look guilty. I had to be more confident.

‘Nippy this morning, isn’t it?’ the officer said, keeping pace with me easily, though I’d lengthened my stride. He was a young man, mid twenties perhaps, with a moustache that would benefit from a few more years’ maturity.

‘It’s very cold,’ I agreed. ‘Easy to tell that winter’s coming.’

‘And where might you be going this morning?’ he asked in a chatty, relaxed manner. ‘Seeking amusement in the taverns perhaps, or going shopping?’

‘Oh, just a little shopping, sir,’ I replied. Could it be that he was simply polite and friendly, passing the time of day? My fears and my instincts told me differently. There was a sharpness in his eyes as he glanced at my clothes. I breathed steadily and worked at not panicking. He’s not allowed to search me, I reminded myself, recollecting Gentle Jacob’s words on the subject. By law, women are exempt from rummaging. It wasn’t hard to see why. Otherwise every officer who wished to get his hands on a pretty maid could do so. Somehow though, this knowledge wasn’t a great deal of comfort.

‘May I enquire as to your name?’ asked the young man politely. ‘I am Lieutenant Oswald, by the way.’

‘Pleased to meet you,’ I lied, thinking swiftly. ‘I’m Miss Bryden.’

I coloured as I told him such a barefaced lie. Miss Bryden had been my last governess, and was the first name that popped into my mind. Still, at least I hadn’t blurted out my real name.

‘Well, Miss Bryden. As we’re agreed it’s an unseasonable day, and the weather uncommonly chill, will you allow me to invite you for a warming drink in this charming local hostelry?’ He indicated the inn we were passing as he spoke. I caught my breath. How was I supposed to get out of this one?

‘Oh sir, that’s very kind of you, but it wouldn’t be proper.’

‘Nonsense! You won’t be alone with me. There will be plenty of other guests in the tap room at this time of day. We residents of Weymouth like to extend a friendly welcome to visitors, you know.’

My feeling of panic increased. Had he mistaken what class of woman I was? Or was this really the custom in a coastal town? I kept walking. Lieutenant Oswald put a hand on my arm to halt me. I snatched it away, terrified that he would notice the layers of lace on my arm. I judged it wisest to stop walking so that he didn’t feel the need to touch me again.

‘Miss Bryden,’ the lieutenant smirked slightly and I wondered whether he even believed it was my name. ‘I would be truly honoured if you would accept my invitation. My only intention is to extend a courtesy to you.’

‘Really, I … ’ my voice faltered. ‘I don’t think … ’

‘Ah, you cannot refuse me!’ he cried jovially. ‘You are feeling the cold, I can see. This way.’

He drew my hand through his arm and led me to the inn. I followed him helplessly, noting the name on the sign: the Nag’s Head. There was nothing remotely charming about either its name or its peeling paintwork. I wasn’t even sure it sounded terribly respectable. I wondered frantically what the officer’s motivation could possibly be for this invitation. Did he hope I would betray myself somehow by something I said? If I offended him, would he have me arrested? He could do that, perhaps, whether he was allowed to rummage me in the street or not. And in prison, my secret could not long be concealed.

The lieutenant led me to a secluded table at one side of the tap room and handed me into a seat. ‘What can I get you? A drop of warming ale? Or perhaps a glass of good French wine to ward off the autumn chill? They have unusually good wines here, you’ll find.’ He smiled wolfishly, and I wondered if he’d referred to French wine as an allusion to the smuggling trade. This inn was almost certainly a customer of ours. I’d learned that most of the wine and cognac served along the south coast had paid no duty at the port.

Now that I was looking directly at the lieutenant, I could see he was a handsome man. He had wavy brown hair, combed neatly, and warm brown eyes. He was tall, with a fine figure and carried himself well.

‘I’d like a lemonade, if you please,’ I answered him nervously.

‘Lemonade? Are you sure?’ the lieutenant asked. Perhaps he hoped a glass of wine would loosen my tongue and make me careless. He wasn’t going to be that lucky.

The lieutenant ordered drinks and then sat down opposite me. Those warm brown eyes drew mine and held them. But I felt they were deceptive. Not mild and kind like Jacob’s. There was a keenness lurking under the surface. And every now and then they left my face and flicked over my bulky figure.

Our drinks arrived, and I saw that I’d been brought a glass of wine after all.

‘The landlady has no lemons, I’m afraid,’ said the officer smoothly. He took a deep draught from his tankard of ale, wiped the foam from his moustache and smiled at me. Nervous knots tied themselves in my belly.

‘I’ve been posted here for six months now, Miss Bryden,’ he said. ‘I’ve never seen you here before.’

‘Oh, I don’t live here,’ I said. ‘I’ve just come ashore to do a little shopping. I’m in need of a few things.’

‘I see. And where are you on your way to and from?’

I hesitated, unsure of what might have been said to him aboard
The Invisible
if he’d had time to go aboard before following me. I didn’t want to arouse his suspicions further by contradicting anything they’d said. ‘I took berth in the New Forest,’ I told him. ‘At Buckler’s Hard. I’m heading for Devon where I have family.’

‘A strange mode of transport for an unaccompanied young lady. Such a beautiful young lady, if I may take the liberty of saying so.’ He kissed his fingertips to me.

I was too used to extravagant compliments to be flustered by this one. But his air of disbelief, his detailed questions, were making me squirm. I looked at my hands on the table twisting at the napkin I’d been given, and attempted to still them. ‘It must seem so to you indeed,’ I agreed with a nervous laugh. ‘But I have an uncle aboard. He undertook to care for me.’ I laughed again. ‘Indeed, he has often said he is like a second father to me.’ Jacob had said something vaguely similar. Lies were easier to tell if they contained a germ of truth, I was fast discovering.

‘His name?’ The officer sounded a little thrown and this gave me confidence.

‘Uncle Jacob,’ I said more smoothly.

‘And yet your good uncle allows you to walk abroad quite unaccompanied?’

‘Oh, he will be keeping an eye on me,’ I assured the lieutenant, hoping fervently I was right.

‘And the trade that these good men ply aboard
The Invisible
? There is no sign at all of any gainful occupation, which I find most strange. No catch of fish, no goods to trade or carry.’

‘So many questions, officer. Am I on trial?’

Lieutenant Oswald laughed falsely, and laid his hand over mine where it lay on the table. I withdrew it swiftly, but not before his fingertips strayed to the lace at my wrist.