to stand next to Nicola and helped her wrap the shawl around her shoulders. “I was hoping we could meet again tomorrow. The four of us could perhaps take a walk in the Domain, or take tea somewhere?”
“Yes, excellent idea, Hilton.” Captain Pollings nodded, smiling at Meg. “Shall we collect you around two o’clock?”
“I…we will look forward to it, Captain, won’t we, Nicola?” Meg’s eyes begged for Nicola to agree.
“Yes. Thank you.” Then she remembered the afternoon tea arrangement with Frances and Nathaniel. Warmth flooded her face as she looked at Warner. “I just remembered, I have guests tomorrow.”
“Then the next day,” Meg urged, eagerly staring from one to the other.
“The next day it is, Miss Robinson.” Captain Pollings kissed her hand.
They lingered outside on the deck, listening to the music drift across from the naval ship and staring up at the stars.
Eventually they headed down to find a transport home. The area was still busy and hired hansoms were in great demand despite the late hour.
“I’ll be counting the minutes until we meet again, Miss Douglas,” Warner whispered, his face shadowed in the street lamplight. “You have no idea what meeting you has done to me.” He raised her hand to his lips and the fluttering in her heart started again.
Before she could reply a couple sauntered past, and Nicola stared coldly at Tristan Lombard and his chattering female companion. Meg, thankfully, failed to notice him as she listened to the captain. Then, with surprise, Nicola stared at the next couple following Lombard.
Nathaniel West strolled with a bejewelled young woman clinging to his arm. The woman giggled up at him, her demeanour adoring. One of her hands travelled up his chest, her painted red nails playing with a button on his waistcoat. Nathaniel’s step faltered as he recognised Nicola. His benign expression became a grimace as he glared at her and Warner’s joined hands. He gave a stern nod in her direction and walked away.
Nicola was grateful the dim lighting hid her heated face. She felt tainted, that the whole evening was ruined, for she was certain Nathaniel would think the worst of her being out so late, that he wouldn’t consider a quiet dinner on a ship would be anything but innocent. He’d think she was no better than him, having a companion. Oh, she wanted to stamp her foot like a child. She wanted to slap his sardonic face. She wanted to… She wanted to go home to bed and forget she had seen him with another woman on his arm.
Well, again she’d been reminded how he gave his attentions freely. Frances had spoken of his liaisons before and this confirmed it. She had escaped from a commitment to which only one of them would have been loyal.
* * *
The following morning, after a dreadful night’s sleep, where she dreamed of being on a sinking ship and the only rescuer was Nathaniel, but he kept rowing away from her, Nicola was determined that work, and lots of it, would be the only way she could get through the day. As she counted the linen sheets returned from the laundry, she prayed that Nathaniel would cry off today and only Frances would call.
“Nicola!” Meg raced up the stairs as though the hounds of hell chased her.
Scowling at Meg, Nicola turned back to the shelves of linen in the closet. “Whatever is the matter? Can you not wait until you are near me before talking, instead of yelling the house down?”
“Come downstairs.” Meg’s eyes glowed with inner happiness. “Quickly, now.” She snatched the list and pencil from Nicola’s hands and flung them onto a shelf then pulled her from the closet.
“Really, Meg…”
Downstairs, Meg ushered her into the drawing room, which had been transformed to resemble a flower shop. They both stood on the threshold and stared in wide-eyed amazement. Every conceivable surface held stands of flowers. Perfume thickly scented the air and the riotous colour nearly hurt Nicola’s eyes.
“Where? Who?” Nicola crossed the room, gently touching the odd flower. “I’ve never seen so many flowers in one room before.”
“Captain Pollings and Mr Warner. Together. For us.” Meg twirled. “Oh Nicola. How they must esteem us to go to such length, such expense. Have you ever seen such a display of affection?”
“No…”
“Nor I. They must have bought every flower in Sydney!”
“How do you know the flowers are from those two gentleman?”
From a small occasional table, Meg fished out a square cream card from between two stands. “To two of the