hardly blame the younger man. Sebastian had known where Andrea’s location within a few hours of the story breaking in the papers. The cabbie arrived promptly on his doorstep, described her perfectly, and told him where to find her. Sebastian hired a dozen men to watch the place in shifts of four and to follow her discreetly, and if need be, protect her. He even had a man spending the night in the common room of the Red Hen each night and in the second tavern after she was forced to flee. Miles had lost track of her, but Sebastian never had.
Andrea had been careful, for which he had been thankful. If she had ever been in any kind of danger, his hired men would have been forced to show themselves. The game would have been over, and she would have been taken home where she would have found a strong ally in her mother.
Lillian had been dead set against the idea of Andrea marrying Miles the second she heard about it and would not consider it. In the months following his announcement of the betrothal, Sebastian had learned a great deal about the woman he had been married to for the last twenty years. Lillian was a single-minded social climber, and he began to have doubts about why she married him. Oh well, they were content together. There was no reason to go looking for trouble where it did not exist. In the end, Sebastian had to lay down the law and tell Lillian the matter was not open for discussion. It was his consent that was needed for the marriage to take place, not hers, and Miles was the perfect candidate to take his place when he was too old to run the shipping company.
There was another reason Sebastian had not brought Andrea home when he discovered her whereabouts. He was simply curious about her plans. In her letter, she said she had found out about the betrothal a year before. He doubted that her running away was spontaneous but was instead planned. Sebastian was baffled. It seemed logical that Andrea might take refuge with her friend Margarita, or escape to their country home. But when the cabbie told him she was in Wapping, waiting for the return of the Sea Vixen, he wondered if Andrea might already have met a man—a man from one of his own ships. She had spent enough time at the shipping office that she had met more sailors then any respectable young woman should. He only hoped if there was a man, that he had rank. The cabbie told him that she had mentioned the cooper of the Sea Vixen , but Sebastian immediately dismissed him. He was a salty old dog, with a weathered face and a surly disposition. After giving it more thought, he decided it might be the second mate. He was young and educated, and although not a particularly handsome man, Sebastian found him amiable. The man had signed on two years earlier, but he could not recall her meeting him except in passing. So, Sebastian was content to sit and wait until the man showed his face or Andrea tipped her hand.
When word came that Andrea had donned a disguise other than the ones she had taken from Lillian’s trunk, and had booked passage to New York, Sebastian became intrigued. Had she known beforehand who owned the H & O? Did she recognize Miles or know he was the man she was running from? Sebastian sent word immediately to New York that Andrea would soon be visiting New York. Should she make any request at the office, be it money, passage home, or anything else, they were to comply posthaste.
Sebastian looked down at the blank sheets in his hand and grinned. Damn if Miles didn’t remind him of himself.
10
Andrea was impressed with her accommodations. Her stateroom was as large as the captain’s quarters on several of her father’s ships. The bunk was wide enough for two with ample storage underneath for her luggage. A horsehair sofa sat across from two wing chairs that flanked a small table. One wall was filled with beautifully polished built-in lockers and drawers for
Andrea had been careful, for which he had been thankful. If she had ever been in any kind of danger, his hired men would have been forced to show themselves. The game would have been over, and she would have been taken home where she would have found a strong ally in her mother.
Lillian had been dead set against the idea of Andrea marrying Miles the second she heard about it and would not consider it. In the months following his announcement of the betrothal, Sebastian had learned a great deal about the woman he had been married to for the last twenty years. Lillian was a single-minded social climber, and he began to have doubts about why she married him. Oh well, they were content together. There was no reason to go looking for trouble where it did not exist. In the end, Sebastian had to lay down the law and tell Lillian the matter was not open for discussion. It was his consent that was needed for the marriage to take place, not hers, and Miles was the perfect candidate to take his place when he was too old to run the shipping company.
There was another reason Sebastian had not brought Andrea home when he discovered her whereabouts. He was simply curious about her plans. In her letter, she said she had found out about the betrothal a year before. He doubted that her running away was spontaneous but was instead planned. Sebastian was baffled. It seemed logical that Andrea might take refuge with her friend Margarita, or escape to their country home. But when the cabbie told him she was in Wapping, waiting for the return of the Sea Vixen, he wondered if Andrea might already have met a man—a man from one of his own ships. She had spent enough time at the shipping office that she had met more sailors then any respectable young woman should. He only hoped if there was a man, that he had rank. The cabbie told him that she had mentioned the cooper of the Sea Vixen , but Sebastian immediately dismissed him. He was a salty old dog, with a weathered face and a surly disposition. After giving it more thought, he decided it might be the second mate. He was young and educated, and although not a particularly handsome man, Sebastian found him amiable. The man had signed on two years earlier, but he could not recall her meeting him except in passing. So, Sebastian was content to sit and wait until the man showed his face or Andrea tipped her hand.
When word came that Andrea had donned a disguise other than the ones she had taken from Lillian’s trunk, and had booked passage to New York, Sebastian became intrigued. Had she known beforehand who owned the H & O? Did she recognize Miles or know he was the man she was running from? Sebastian sent word immediately to New York that Andrea would soon be visiting New York. Should she make any request at the office, be it money, passage home, or anything else, they were to comply posthaste.
Sebastian looked down at the blank sheets in his hand and grinned. Damn if Miles didn’t remind him of himself.
10
Andrea was impressed with her accommodations. Her stateroom was as large as the captain’s quarters on several of her father’s ships. The bunk was wide enough for two with ample storage underneath for her luggage. A horsehair sofa sat across from two wing chairs that flanked a small table. One wall was filled with beautifully polished built-in lockers and drawers for
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