Redemption of a Fallen Woman Page 0,78

of very little.'

Jack nodded. 'It's a real art is that.'

'The poor learn it early.'

'That they do, lass. They learn about hunger an' all.'

'After we entered the service of Dona Elena's late, honoured father, hunger never troubled us again,' said Concha.

'He were a good man by all accounts.'

'The best of men,' she replied. 'But for him we would both have perished. When want drove my mother to steal fruit from his orchard, Don Pedro's steward apprehended her. If it had been up to him she would have hanged and I would have starved. However, Don Pedro listened to her story. Instead of hanging her he gave her employment in his house, and he permitted her to bring me too. We never gave him cause to repent it.'

Jack's expression was hard to read but his eyes said a great deal more. 'I'll wager you didn't. Such men are rare indeed.'

'Yes, they are. I was privileged to have known him.'

'Aye, you were. Would that I'd met such a man when I were a lad.'

Elena reflected that her father would probably have liked Jack Hawkes. While Don Pedro wouldn't stand any nonsense, he had ever been a man to recognise determination and courage. Unfortunately the point was academic now. Jack would never meet her father and neither would Harry. She would never see her parent again. She smiled sadly and then got to her feet.

'I'll take the first watch.'

Harry looked up quickly. 'Would you not rather rest awhile? It's not so long since your accident, after all. I'd be happy to take the first.'

'It is no matter, truly, though I thank you for the offer.'

She strolled away and, finding a suitable spot, settled down to wait. Although they had encountered no more brigands it didn't pay to be careless, especially as they were so close to their goal now. She glanced up. A clear starlit sky gave promise of more fine weather to come. That was a relief anyway. In the cooler winter season rain tended to arrive in short intense bursts which lasted a few days and then were followed by spells of unbroken sunshine.

Her thoughts went thence to England, by all accounts a much wetter land. She smiled to herself. Dolores had accustomed herself to it, so there was no reason why she should not too. She tried to visualise Castonbury Park. From what Harry had said it must be a grand house and, no doubt, a fine estate. Would his family welcome her? Would they be prepared to accept a foreigner in their midst?

Soft footfalls penetrated her consciousness. In seconds she was on her feet with a pistol in her hand.

'It's all right.' Harry hove into her line of vision. 'It's only me.'

Elena lowered the pistol and relaxed a little. 'You move so quietly.'

'Now that is hurtful. I was trying to make a noise.'

The plaintive tone raised a smile. 'Next time try harder lest you get a ball through your heart.'

'I'll bear it in mind.'

Elena regarded him quizzically but the darkness hid his expression. 'Did you wish to tell me something?'

'To ask if you're all right. I was afraid the conversation about your father might have upset you.'

'No, it didn't. I miss him but it doesn't pain me to speak of him.'

'I wish I might have known him.'

'You would have got on well, I think. The two of you would have found much common ground.'

'He's a man whose behaviour I should wish to emulate,' he replied.

In truth it was only part of the reason he was there. While he had wondered about her private reaction to the earlier conversation it also served as an excuse to be alone with her. He hadn't realised until then how much he wanted that. Fond as he was of their two companions Elena had become as necessary to him as breathing.

'We haven't spoken much since we left town,' he said. 'I didn't want you to think it was deliberate policy.'

'You've had other things on your mind.'

'Yes.'

Their earlier conversation about Captain Radcliffe had opened up a dark place to the light of day and it didn't make for pleasant viewing. At the same time he couldn't be sorry that he'd told her. Pretence was at an end and she knew now who he was. He just hoped that, in time, they could draw a line and move on.

'I hope to make up for it later,' he continued.

Her pulse quickened a little at the implications. 'I'll remember you said that.'

Harry grinned. 'I shall not need reminding.'

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