In Hiding by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-908303-66-0
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER SIX

Tamina gulped as her foot touched a body lying on the small metal platform that formed a junction between two ladders vanishing down into the dark depths of the great ship.

She staggered as the ship rolled again. The seas were getting much rougher and it was harder to keep her balance.

“What? Who – Joe is that you?”

Another grunt and then young Joe appeared from the shadows looking white and worried.

“Joe! There you are – but then who is – Oh! – ”

As Tamina stared down at the deck, her eyes became more and more used to the dim light.

She could see that what she had thought to be a heap of rags was in fact a young woman, lying wrapped in a dark blue travelling rug that boldly showed the golden insignia of the Earl of Daventry in one corner.

Beneath it she appeared to be dressed in male costume of some dark green colour, but in the poor light it was hard to be sure.

The girl’s face was very pale and even her lips were white.

She had long bright red hair that was spilling across the rug down onto the cold metal deck. She was moaning gently and was obviously very unwell.

“Joe? What is happening? Who is this girl? Why are you hiding her down here?”

Joe turned anguished eyes in her direction.

“Oh, Miss Waites, please don’t tell the Earl! We’re not doin’ any ’arm, but Nancy ’ere has been so sick with the movement of the boat. I can’t get ’er to eat or drink anythin’.”

Tamina knelt beside the girl and stroked her pale forehead, which felt damp and hot under her hand.

She looked up, her beautiful face serious.

“But Joe, who is she?”

“My betrothed, Miss. Her name’s Nancy Rider. We was runnin’ away to Gretna Green to get wed, then the Earl announced he was goin’ on this boat for a long time and I was to go with ’im. So I ’ad to bring Nancy with me.”

Tamina struggled to understand the story.

“Why were you eloping?”

“On account of ’er rotten old father, Miss. He beats’er somethin’ brutal, so he does, and I’m not havin’ it any longer. I reckoned if we was wed, then he couldn’t touch’er again. She’d belong to me.”

Tamina stood up, her blue eyes filled with concern.

“But Joe, Nancy cannot possibly stay down here! She’s obviously very seasick and has a fever. She should be helped to bed and given some care. You must let me tell the Earl at once.”

Swiftly Joe reached out and grabbed her arm.

“No, miss! You mustn’t be doin’ that! I’ll lose my position and then be turned out onto the street without a reference. And if I don’t ’ave a job, I can’t marry Nancy.

“She’s just feelin’ the motion of this boat badly, that’s all. She’s never been to sea before. Well, nor ’ave I, but I reckon it’s a bit like ridin’ on the back of the big coach when the ’orses move it along fast. I can cope easily. When it’s calm, I’m sure she’ll be all right.

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