His appeal for her assistance on the journey, of playing upon the softness of her heart, was his way of ensuring she accompanied him.
Christian deplored even that subterfuge in regard to this young woman who had surely saved his life the previous night. And he fully intended to make his feelings on the subject known to Aubrey Maystone when he made his report to the older man; Lisette was not to come to any harm or Maystone would answer directly to him. But, powerful as the Duchy of Sutherland undoubtedly was, Christian knew that would still be no guarantee in regard to Lisette’s future safety.
‘I suppose that will have to do, if you are set on the idea...’
‘I am,’ Christian confirmed tautly. ‘To that end, François has already arranged for my bags to be packed and the coach to be ready to leave for the docks in one hour’s time.’ And on this occasion Christian would ensure that the groom and driver accompanying them would be armed and ready to fight off anyone who tried to stop them from reaching the dockside.
Lisette realised, by the determined set of the Comte’s jaw, that nothing she had to say would succeed in persuading him into altering those plans.
Having only just removed and hung up her new gowns and put away the pretty undergarments, Lisette now realised she would have to repack them all; grateful as she was for the new clothes, she still blushed to think of the intimacy of having Christian Beaumont order such things for her. No matter what he said to the contrary, it had the definite feel of a patron bestowing largesse upon his mistress.
Perhaps once she was in England, she would be able to find respectable employment for a time, and in that way repay him for the purchase of the new gowns and undergarments?
If so, Christian was right; she would need to learn and speak English. ‘Very well, monsieur.’ This time Lisette ignored his frown of disapproval; if they were to travel to England together, then the formalities must be maintained in order to keep a distance between the two of them. A distance that had already been breached. Several times... ‘I will return to my bedchamber and pack my own things now, and be ready to leave within the hour.’
Christian nodded his approval; he could not abide a woman who fussed and flounced and generally made a hullaballoo when it came to doing anything asked of her. Not that he had expected that of Lisette; she had already shown, time and time again, that she was made of much sterner stuff than to throw a tantrum because her plans had taken a sudden turn.
And he would protect her once they were in England, he vowed fiercely.
Against all and anyone who tried to harm her.
* * *
‘I had no idea that sailing could be so invigorating as this!’ Lisette smiled her happiness as she swept into Christian’s cabin aboard the elegant sloop the following morning.
Any doubts that Christian might have had in regard to Lisette being a ‘good sailor’ had been dispelled the night before when, once on board the fast sloop, she had stayed up on deck conversing with the captain, who could speak and understand a rudimentary smattering of French—despite Christian’s urgings for her to stay below deck—during the whole process of the ship setting sail and leaving the harbour.
This morning she looked even more bright-eyed and happily flushed in the cheeks.
Whereas Christian was in great discomfort from the wound to his thigh. Indeed, he had only managed to remove his boots the previous night before collapsing onto the bunk bed in which he now lay. He had then tossed and turned for most of the night, the swaying of the ship not helping in the slightest.
‘At least one of us is pleased with the arrangement,’ he snapped in disgruntlement.
Lisette’s eyes widened at this show of bad temper from Christian; he had always seemed to be so calm and unruffled in their acquaintance to date. Even when he had been shot.
She studied his appearance more closely; his boots had been removed, but otherwise he seemed to have slept in his clothes—possibly because he had been unable to undress completely without assistance?
Assistance Lisette was ashamed to admit she had not thought to offer the previous night, in her enchantment with remaining on deck to watch as they set sail for England.
Christian’s hair was also tousled and unkempt, there were dark shadows beneath those lavender-coloured eyes and his face had a greyish cast to it. Not a particularly good sign, but far better that he be pale in the face than flushed with a fever.
‘I believe you will need to undress, so that I might look at your wound again,’ she announced lightly—in an effort to hide the embarrassment she felt at the thought of the two of them being alone here when she helped Christian to remove his clothes.