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‘At this rate we should make Calais in three days,’ Jay said to Sam on their second day at sea, as they stood at the rail watching the wake they left behind them. ‘Two, three days to Paris and then—’
They heard a cry and a scuffle behind them and turned to see Lieutenant Sandford ushering Lisette towards them. ‘Found her hiding in the ship’s boat,’ he said.
Jay surveyed the dishevelled woman. ‘I might have known,’ he said, shocked and angry with himself for not having foreseen what she would do. What a fool he had been to assume that because he said no, she would meekly accept it. She had already shown she could be wilful and determined and she had said she wanted to come, too; it ought to have alerted to him, especially when she did not appear for breakfast. ‘How did you manage to get on board ahead of us?’
‘I rode across country and before you say anything, the stable boy rode alongside me and took the horse back…’
‘I’ll have his guts…’
‘You will not. I had the devil of a job to persuade him, but the threat that I would abandon a valuable horse finally overcame his reluctance. Do not blame him.’
‘We will have to put ashore.’
‘Why?’
‘To take you back, of course.’
‘I won’t go back. You cannot spare the time. Michel could be thrown into prison, even executed, any day, and unless I miss my guess, the errand you have been given by the British Government won’t allow you to loiter.’
‘You are the most infuriating woman I have ever met,’ Jay said, furious with her, even as he admired her courage. ‘Very well, you may stay on board. And I do mean stay on board.’ He turned to Lieutenant Sandford, who had been listening to the exchange with curiosity and no little amusement. ‘Have my cabin prepared for Miss Giradet, if you please, and put my things in the second one.’
‘Thank you.’ She gave him a winning smile, which threatened to disarm him completely. ‘I am prodigiously hungry. I have only had a piece of bread and cheese since I left.’
‘And food,’ Jay called after the lieutenant, who was disappearing down the companionway.
‘You are not angry with me, are you?’ she asked as Sam, who could not stifle his grin, took himself off to the other side of the yacht and they were alone.
‘Very angry,’ he said.
‘I am sorry for that. But it was a risk I had to take, surely you understand that?’
‘I could understand it of a man, but a gently brought up young lady is not expected to be so hoydenish.’
‘I fear It was the way I was raised,’ she said, remembering Maurice Chasseur had made the same comment. It was a kind of stigma she had lived with for years and to have this man, whom she revered, say the same thing hurt dreadfully. ‘Michel and I were always into mischief and where he went, I went. I did whatever he did, I would not be left behind.’
‘Then it is no wonder your father thinks of you as a second son.’
‘Yes, Michel had his heart. When he went away to court, I tried to take his place.’
‘Impossible!’ He laughed.
‘I know that.’ It was said with a sigh. ‘It is why I must do what I can to restore Michel to him now.’
That she chose to interpret his comment in a way he had not intended, he let pass. ‘That is why I am going to France. There was no necessity for you to come, too.’
‘You are going to need me.’
‘Oh, you think so, do you?’
‘Yes.’
‘No, because you will stay on board and not set foot in France. That is my last word on the subject.’
Lisette did not think there was anything to be gained by pursuing the argument. She was a good sailor and might as well enjoy the voyage and try not to think of what lay ahead. As the seaman who was also the cook came to tell them there was a meal prepared in the captain’s day cabin, they repaired there and afterwards took a turn round the deck. The crew, many of whom had known Jay for years and had never known him bested by a woman, watched and awaited developments with covert amusement.
The wind, though decidedly cool, was fair for France and all sail was set to take advantage of it. She was determined to be pleasant and unargumentative in order to dispel his annoyance with her and asked questions about the yacht and how it was navigated. When that subject seemed exhausted, she asked him about his life at sea, which had begun when he was ten years old as a cabin boy. He had progressed to midshipman, then lieutenant, then captain and lastly commodore, he told her.
‘Do you miss the sea?’ she asked.
‘Sometimes, but I am content at home with my children.’
