Miss Fanshawe's Fortune - Linore Rose Burkard Page 0,58
for me, I am sure he will do what he can to preserve the betrothal, no matter what his papa wishes.” She stared ahead unseeingly. “And if he does not, ‘tis better I know that now, isn’t it?” She shook her head again. “I cannot fault a man who wants a wife with a good dowry. Whitby is agreeable and I had no horror at the prospect of marrying him. But I will learn what his feelings are now, shan’t I?”
She looked so melancholy that Frannie vowed silently that she would do whatever lay in her power to ensure Catherine’s marriage. Though if this Lord Whitby’s interest in the match was purely mercenary, perhaps her cousin would do better to look elsewhere. But that was hers to decide. Not every woman, like Frannie, dreamed of marrying for love.
But suddenly her cousin looked up, smiling. “My father is the 1st Officer of a ship. Though my prospects without the expectation of the trust may not be of the aristocracy, I may be introduced to a bright young sea captain, yet! Many take prizes and do quite well for their families, you know.”
Frannie smiled back. Catherine had an infectious, bright air, but it was by no means without sense. “If my father returns tomorrow as expected,” Catherine said now, leaning forward in her seat as Frannie was, “We will shortly undo this mystery. Depend upon it, dear Miss Fanshawe—dear cousin—my father will confirm our connexion, and we shall know each other henceforth and have coses together and dinners and whatever you like! Now I have found a near relation, I’ll not lose you!”
Frannie’s lips curved into a grin, and she stood up to take the hands of the other girl. “I pray it is all just as you say! Dear cousin!”
“All your worries will be past,” she said, smiling. “You will wonder no longer about your parentage.” She paused. “How does it go? The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The following morning Frannie arose before the sun, determined to accompany Sebastian to meet Mr. Fanshawe’s ship. Any ship by name of Golden Sovereign must be dignified. She imagined the sight of it on the horizon, growing bigger as it approached, its masts and riggings coming proudly to a halt like a fashionable lady ready to accept a dance at a ball. But more thrilling yet was to think that the mystery of her parentage, of her whole life, was about to be solved!
A peek at the street from a window assured her Sebastian hadn’t left yet. The coach was at the ready, a groom holding the reins. But as she approached the morning room to see if he was having a quick breakfast before leaving, he came from it and met her in the corridor. He looked her quickly up and down, put his hands on her shoulders gently and said, standing only inches from her, “I see you’ve risen early and are in walking out dress. I’m afraid you cannot accompany me to the docks.”
Surprised by his nearness, by his touching her, assured by the spectacles that this was gentle Sebastian only behaving brotherly toward her, she tried to quell the strong pull she felt for him. With a shock, she realized she wanted to be closer still, to feel his arms about her. She couldn’t help but search his peculiarly sensitive eyes, looking sweetly earnest, into hers. She dropped her gaze, afraid that her longing would reveal itself.
He mistook her reaction for disappointment not to meet the ship. Lifting her face gently by the chin, he said, “I have only your best interest in mind. Ships are often delayed at sea and may even be days late. If it does come to port, Mr. Harley and I and a land agent will be there to meet Mr. Fanshawe the moment he steps off the plank.” She nodded, still mesmerized by her face being only inches from his. “By the time you see me next,” he added, “the mystery surrounding the trust and your parentage will be solved.”
What he did not tell Frannie was that he was endeavouring to spare her in case Fanshawe had the worst sort of news. Perchance Frannie’s mother, as he feared, had never married; perhaps the trust fund, despite Mrs. Fanshawe’s hopes, was non-existent. Nothing was certain, and if only bad news was forthcoming, Sebastian would rather break it to her himself with all the gentleness he could muster, than