“Don’t lose your courage now, Claire–not when it has carried you so far. I admired your strength before this journey, and my admiration has increased tenfold since.”
She offered him a tremulous smile and then fell silent again. He looked at his watch and caught his coachman’s eye. “Merlin, now you’ve finished eating every crumb on the plates, I would like you to bring the carriage as close to the ship named The Bonny Rose as you possibly can.”
“At once, my lord.”
“It is time for us to leave now, Claire.”
Simon watched as she opened her reticule and handed him a purse. “This is for payment, Simon. It is not quite enough, as I had to use some–”
“To flee from me in the middle of the night,” Simon said.
She gave one abrupt nod before continuing. “So if you could see your way to paying the rest, I will repay you when I return to London.”
Simon took the bag and counted the money, adding some of his own before closing it. He then stood and held out his hand. She clutched it, and together they walked down towards the boat. He was getting used to the feel of her hand in his.
They heard gulls, and the tang of the sea air surrounded them as they strolled down to the ship. Other people passed, and Simon doffed his hat while Claire forced a smile onto her stiff face, and then the ship was before them, tall masts rolling gently from side to side.
“Do you see him, Claire?”
She followed his gaze and then came to a sudden halt as her eyes fell on the small child standing beside the man they had met in the Anchor.
“Oh lord, he has Anthony’s hair, Simon, almost the same color as mine.” She started walking again. However, now she was dragging him. Her strides were long and hurried as she closed the distance in seconds. The man saw them coming and bent to whisper something in the boy’s ear. The child, in turn, moved away to stand with two men at the foot of the gangway leading up to the Bonny Rose.
“You have seen the child. Now hand over the money.”
“I want the letter, too,” Simon said, holding out the pouch. The man pulled the letter out of his pocket and passed it to him. He counted the money and then signaled for the boy to be brought forward.
“This is your aunt and uncle, Louis. You will be going with them now.”
Another man placed a small bag at the boy’s feet, and then they all left without another word, climbing the gangway. There was no hug or brief word or pat on the head from the boy’s real uncle. The man had left his nephew alone with two strangers without a backward glance.
The breath caught in Claire’s throat as Louis looked up at her. It was her brother’s face and brown eyes that stared back at her. Fighting tears, she dropped to her knees before him and smiled. Dear lord, if she had not come, what would have become of this child? Her heart ached for him as he waited silently to find out would happen to him next. Claire did not know many children, yet the ones she did know were continually moving, talking, or crying. This one, however, was solemn and still. Tentatively, she took one of his small hands in hers. He didn’t flinch, which she hoped was a sign that he had not been mistreated.
“I understand you are scared, Louis.”
“He will only speak French, Claire.”
She gave Simon a grateful smile before continuing this time in French. “I understand you don’t know me or this man beside me whose name is Simon, yet I want you to know we will never hurt you. I am your aunt, Louis, and I want to care for you, if you will let me.”
He didn’t move, just studied her with that emotionless expression. He had not been starved, as he was healthy enough to the eye, nor were his clothes ragged. However he needed both a wash and a comb, as he smelt of fish and his hair was matted. She wondered who, besides his mother, had hugged him and kissed his soft little cheeks. Had anyone wiped his tears when he cried or sat him on their laps?
“Will you come with us, Louis, for a ride in a carriage?”
Simon lowered himself to his haunches beside her. “Hello, Louis. Are you hungry?”
Claire smiled as the little boy nodded. Simon knew the exact thing to say to make the boy feel more comfortable. It was a trait of his, the ability to weigh a tricky situation and then take the measures necessary to resolve it.
“Come, then, and we shall fill that little belly of yours.”
She held her breath as Simon reached for the boy, his hands lifting him high to settle Louis against his shoulder. Standing, he turned to her.
“Come on, Aunty Claire. Louis and I are hungry.”
Hurrying to her feet, she took the hand Simon held out to her. She had never really liked to be touched, and yet now she found that she liked it very much. Well, what she actually liked was Simon’s touch. Picking up Louis’s bag, she let him and Simon lead her back up the hill to the carriage. As they arrived, she turned for one last look at the ship that had brought her nephew to her, and it was then her eyes fell on the couple walking towards them. “No!” she cried out softly.