Chapter Eleven #3
His green eyes fixed upon her, watchful and assessing. "I am of service where I can be, Miss Bennet."
He released each word carefully, giving his speech a slightly staccato quality that made Bella suspect he was choosing them with great care. She tipped her head and continued to observe him, doing her best to keep her expression bland and neutral.
"That is a very imprecise answer."
"We are only just acquainted, madam. Would you have me impart all the details of my private business?"
Lydia's eyes widened. "My dear Bella, he means no harm. And Captain, you must forgive her. She is a little too inquisitive for her own good. Rather like her dear Mama, I fear." She turned to Bella. "Darling, that was rather rude. Please apologise."
Bella felt heat creep into her face. "I apologise for any offence given."
Captain Harwood's expression softened and, to her surprise, he stretched one hand across the small table and touched the back of hers lightly.
It was the briefest contact, hardly enough to be considered improper, but once again her skin seemed to heat beneath his fingers.
He appeared to feel something of it too.
His eyes widened almost imperceptibly before he withdrew his hand and rearranged his features into their former calm.
"No offence taken, Miss Bennet."
The air between them felt different somehow, and Bella could not bring herself to meet his gaze again.
After another moment, he pushed back his chair. "I thank you both for the company, but I do have some urgent business to attend to. I shall wish you a good day."
"Good day, Captain Harwood," Lydia said brightly.
Bella managed a quiet farewell, but Lydia's eyes remained upon her as he made his way across the little shop and out into the street. The door had scarcely closed behind him before her aunt leaned forward. "My dear, what was all that about?"
Bella glanced towards the window. "Do we know anything about him? I saw him speaking with a most wild-looking character before we encountered him, and then he would hardly tell me what he does. Does that not seem a little suspicious to you?"
Lydia gave her a reproving look. "Bella, he was a decorated captain in His Majesty's Navy and may be a wealthy gentleman for all we know. It is hardly for us to enquire into his private business. This is a port town, and life here is a little different from what you are used to."
"He could be a smuggler."
"Bella!"
Her aunt's voice was sharper than Bella had yet heard it, and she immediately sat back.
"Do not even whisper that word around here.
The Customs men will be in my cellar before we can blink, and I have far too much good wine to explain.
" Lydia lowered her voice. "Captain Harwood is a fine man.
He has always been kind and courteous to me, and I know he supports a number of good causes in this town.
Besides, he is so handsome and gentlemanly-looking that I can hardly imagine there being any great shadow in his character.
" She paused, then gave a small grimace.
"Although I suppose I have been burnt by that particular assumption once or twice before.
In any case, I have never heard a bad word spoken of him. "
Bella picked another small piece from her cake. "I have perhaps read too many novels about pirates and smugglers not to be a little suspicious."
"Novels, exactly. Not real life." Lydia took another sip of tea before looking suddenly concerned.
"Oh, goodness, I hope he did not take too much offence.
I want him to come to dinner next week. Do you think you can endeavour to put the whole thing out of your mind and return to politeness before then? "
"I was perfectly polite, Aunt."
Lydia gave her a look which suggested otherwise.
"Well, in any event, mostly polite."
"That will have to do. Of course, that is assuming your mother and father have not descended upon us by then. Heavens, I suspect they set off the moment they received my missive."
"Oh," said Bella in a small voice. Once again, she had become so caught up in where she was and everything happening around her that she had almost forgotten the circumstances that had brought her there in the first place.
She shook her head and tried to push the reckoning that was surely to come out of her mind.
As they exited the shop, they nearly walked into a small, neat man with a white beard and well-cut coat.
"Good morning, Mr Trevethan," Lydia called brightly.
The gentleman stopped and removed his hat. He was entirely nondescript except for his eyes, which were piercing and gave Bella the feeling of being examined under a magnifying glass. She took a small step back.
"Mrs Bennet." His eyes moved briefly to Bella. "And you have company. How charming."
Lydia introduced them, and Mr Trevethan bowed with perfect civility before continuing towards the harbour. They turned their feet towards home and did not see Captain Harwood staring coldly at the man from his position in the alleyway.