Hiding from Love by Barbara Cartland

learn to ‘bite his tongue’ in company.  He had taken the caution literally and made his tongue bleed!  He had not thought like others since he fell out of a tree as a boy and landed on his head!
    The ship gave a sudden lurch and Leonora clutched Finny more tightly.
    â€œI don’t feel – quite myself,” she confessed.
    â€œI’ll go bring you hot water and sugar.”
    In her cabin Leonora sank gratefully onto her bed.  Finny knelt to remove her shoes and then tiptoed from the cabin as she lay back against her pillows.
    â€œThank you so much, Finny,” she mumbled as the cabin door closed behind him.
    She thought of Mr. Chandos, working away in his cabin across the narrow corridor and she was glad that he could not see her now.  Her forehead was hot and she was sure her face was flushed.
    She heard footsteps outside – it could not be Finny returning already with the hot drink he had promised.
    The footsteps stopped outside her door.
    The doorknob was turning, slowly and quietly.  She raised herself on an elbow, staring anxiously.
    â€œW-who is there?” she called.
    â€œA devoted admirer!” came the unexpected reply.
    The door then opened and there to her astonishment stood Señor de Guarda, a tumbler of whisky in his hand.
    Leonora stared at him in dismay.
    â€œWhat do you want?” she asked in a low tone.
    Señor de Guarda shrugged.
    â€œCompany.  It’s lonely on deck.  I hate the sea and the sea knows it, for what does it do, but send a great wave crashing over me!”
    Leonora closed her eyes for a moment as the ship gave a sudden plunge.
    â€œWell, I am afraid I am not fit company for anyone at the moment,” she muttered truthfully.
    Señor de Guarda swirled the whisky tumbler.
    â€œI know.  I pass that boy on his way to fetch you a drink.”  He eyed her curiously.  “When I meet you at the dock, this – Finny is your servant.  Now he is a cabin boy.  How is this?”
    Leonora felt her elbow grow weak.
    â€œSomeone found him the situation,” she answered.  “It was none of my doing.  Someone who obviously took an interest in him.”
    â€œOr in you,” murmured Señor de Guarda.
    Leonora felt very ill now.  Her elbow gave way and she slid down in the bed.
    Señor de Guarda regarded her for a second and then came towards her.
    Sitting on the bed, he put his free hand on her brow.  She shrank away from his touch, turning her head sideways on the pillow.
    Her door was still open and as she looked, the door of the cabin opposite opened and Mr. Chandos stepped out.
    As if in a dream she saw his gaze settling on the scene before him – Señor de Guarda bending over her, as she lay prostrate.
    Mr. Chandos’s eyes rested coldly on Leonora’s face for an instant and then he was gone.
    Leonora gave a moan of despair.
    â€œThere, there,” mumbled the Señor.
    She struggled up.
    â€œGo away.  You should not – have come in here.”
    He threw up a hand and rose.
    â€œForgive me, lovely lady.  I was just thinking you needed some comfort.  Another time, eh?”
    Winking, he then blundered out of the cabin.
    Leonora fell back, tears coursing down her cheeks.
    Mr. Chandos could not but misinterpret all he had seen.  She was utterly compromised in his eyes now!  He must think her an utter fool.  To set herself up as a girl who rejected the suit of a Lord only to encourage the advances of a trader in whalebone!
    Not that it would matter what Señor de Guarda was if she loved him, she told herself.
    Hearing Finny approaching, she hurriedly dried her eyes on the edge of the sheet.
    â€œHere you are now, miss.  Hot water and sugar with a dash of lemon.  That’ll settle you for the night.”
    He held Leonora’s head while she drank.
    â€œBetter, now?” he asked.
    â€œA little,” she lied.
    She did not