"Shh, you're going to wake the whole bloody household," Bones whispered, giving a poke to Jolly's belly.
Jolly ignored the jab, sniffed the air, and walked to the source of the tempting aroma. "Fruit tarts."
"Shhh," Bones warned again. "We should have never come through the cooking quarters. I knew it was a mistake as soon as I heard you sniffing like a bloodhound."
Jolly spoke in the same low tone as Bones. "Haven't had fresh fruit tarts since —"
"Since last week when that Bertha woman over at the captain's manor made them for you. Now quit sniffing out food. We have work to do, and remember the captain's warning."
Jolly reluctantly withdrew his hand from the cherry tart.
"The captain will have our heads if we don't bring his lady to him safe and sound. And besides, don't you want to go home? I hate this bloody place."
"I'm with you on that and anyway the tarts back home are a lot sweeter and meatier than the tarts they make here."
"Good, then let's get Lady Catherine and get going," Bones said, moving around the large wood table and toward the door.
"You think she's in her bedroom?" Jolly whispered as they entered the hallway.
"Where else would she be this late at night?'
"We'll have to wake her," Jolly said as he walked on tiptoes behind Bones, rounding the staircase to climb to the second floor.
"We'll be gentle," Bones assured him, about to climb the stairs.
"That won't be necessary, gentleman."
Both men collided with each other in their haste to turn. Jolly's bigger and wider girth sent Bones to bounce on his bottom.
Catherine stood and walked out of the corner shadows. The full moon cast enough light through the tall narrow windows in the dining room that it extended into the entrance foyer, bathing the three in a dim light.
Bones rushed to his feet, his eyes widening with Jolly's as they took notice of Catherine's rounded stomach.
Catherine placed a protective hand on her belly, smoothing the pink linen smock she had placed over the lavender shift Dulcie had stitched to accommodate her expanding waistline and give her more comfort when sleeping.
"The captain didn't tell us she was with child," Jolly said nervously to Bones.
"The captain doesn't know," Catherine informed both men.
Each man looked at one another and shook their heads.
"Where is the captain?" she asked wearily, tired from her late-night vigil.
Bones answered. "He's at the cove waiting for us to bring you there."
"And if I refuse to go with you?"
Bewildered, both men stared at her.
Jolly finally spoke, removing his stocking cap to twist it nervously in his hand. "The captain says we were to bring you back or else. We have no choice. We've got to bring you to the cove."
Bones agreed. "Jolly's right. The captain, he was adamant about us returning with you. We can't fail him."
Catherine sighed. She had realized she had no choice but to confront Lucian tonight. She had planned to stay hidden in the night shadows and demand that he talk with her father and settle this problem once and for all. Whether she would have been successful in convincing him or not was another matter, but then that depended on why he had come to England in the first place.
"Why are you to meet him at the cove with me?"
Bones looked down at his scuffed boot when he spoke. "Guess he feels it's the safest place."
Catherine immediately worried for his safety. "He's all right, isn't he? No one knows of his identity?"
"Always best to be safe than sorry," Jolly said, "Why don't we just take you to him and then you two can talk."
Bones rushed to agree. "Right he be, mum. Let's get you to the captain."
Catherine hesitated. She felt safe in her house, but down by the cove, by the sea where he was so much at home, he'd have a distinct advantage. But she needed to talk with him, convince him that he must speak with her father. He had to learn the truth. He had to. Then he could heal and possibly one day forgive.
"Let me change my slippers to ankle boots and get my cloak. I'll only be a moment," she said.
The two men separated, clearing a path to the stairs for her. She disappeared into the darkness and they anxiously paced the entrance hall waiting for her to return.
"What do you think the captain will do when he sees her condition?" Jolly asked.
"Don't know," Bones said softly. "But I do know one thing."
Jolly quit pacing. "What?"
"The captain loves her."
Both men smiled and sat on the bottom step to wait for Catherine to return.
Catherine wrapped her long black cloak around her, concealing her stomach and warding off the late-night chill from the sea. Bones and Jolly fussed after her as they walked with her to the cove.