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Chapter Quote: "Good God...are you all right?"

Chapter Six

Change of Plans

How long I knelt there in the cool sand, I didn't know. But suddenly there was someone at my side, a hand on my shoulder. "Miss Summers?"

I blinked, looking up into the someone who was now kneeling next to me. It was Edmond. I couldn't manage a smile, I couldn't manage anything. I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, couldn't move. Tears were still streaming down my cheeks, it was almost dark, the sun was setting. There was something I needed to do...something important...but I couldn't remember what. How long had I been here?

"Good God, are you all right?"

I sniffed a little, wiped my eyes.

"Come, my horse is just this way."

I couldn't reply, I was so weak I barely had enough strength to stand. Edmond stood, I could feel his kind eyes looking down at me. With the gentlest of movements, he lifted me into his arms and carried me across the beach. I remained motionless in his arms, resting my head on his shoulder. He mounted me astride his horse, then seating himself behind me he nudged it forward and encircled his arms around my waist to keep me steady.

"I insist on taking you to my home Miss Summers, do forgive me." He said softly. I again did not answer as the horse started to canter, only sobbed a little. I soon lost consciousness of all things.

"Thomas? Is something wrong?" Tom looked back at Sarah as he closed the door. The last of their guests had only just left and now it was only the two of them still in his shop. He smiled, patted the wooden frame of the door absentmindedly. He hadn't realized he'd been frowning until now.

"I'm fine."

Her blue eyes shined kindly and her lips formed into a compassionate smile. "You've had a busy day." She said, looking up into his face as she neared him. Tom caressed her cheek, but the warmth he had felt earlier seemed to have seeped from his hands. He pushed a stray of her wispy, blond hair behind her ear.

"I do think something is wrong with you." She said, concern edging into her words. She reached up and touched his cheek, then his forehead. He took her hand in his and bringing it to his lips he planted a kiss upon it.

"I'm tired is all. Don't worry about me."

"That is all." She corrected, smiling again and nodding with a sigh. Turning, she gracefully picked up her cloak from it's place on the table and draped it over her shoulders. "Will you come to my place for supper? Mother invited you."

"Did she recently go to confession? What's this sudden burst of kindness?" He asked in jest.

She playfully smacked his arm. "You know Mother likes you Tom, she just takes a little warming up to people."

"And I like her, her cooking that is."

Sarah drew up her hood while a clear, musical laugh escaped her lips. "Have it your own way, will I see you tomorrow?"

"I would die otherwise my love."

She smiled once more, then standing before him placed a kiss on his cheek before turning to the door. "Say you'll come tomorrow for supper then?"

"I'll consent, consider it an act of love."

"You may laugh all you want Tom, but she'll soon be your mother as well."

He nodded, though his gaze was still drawn to the window and not to the woman he was getting married to.

"Tom?"

He turned to her sharply, smiling apologetically. "I'm sorry Sarah, my mind is elsewhere tonight."

"I know it is. I often see that look in your eyes. Are you sure your all right?" Her head was cocked slightly to the left as she peered into his face.

"I'm fine Sarah, really. I promise I'll be all here tomorrow."

Her radiant smile returned. "Then I'll hold you to your word Tom. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

She waved through the window before disappearing into the darkening streets. Tom sighed, running his calloused hand through his hair. The curls had long since grown out and the long locks were pulled back into an Englishmen's braid. The old signs of his Irish roots had slowly started to seep in his British life-style a few years ago. It had started a little while after he'd opened his shop. He wanted to go upstairs to the rooms he owned and to sleep. But he couldn't get the events from the past day from his mind. That girl...well... she hadn't been a girl, but a young woman. She had looked...shocked...amazed...horrified. And her eyes, he had seen eyes like them somewhere before. They were a memory from some distant face of long ago.

He shook his head, trying to shake that haunting look from his mind. He had other work to attend to before he locked up. He grimaced as an unwanted memory seeped into his mind. That day on the beach. That day he had kissed her. It hurt to think of Jacqueline, when he had learned of her death it had nearly drove him insane. But then he had met Sarah...sweet Sarah. He banished the memory of the emerald eyes and her warm lips from his thoughts. He had no time to think on that right now. He didn't want to think on it right now. He never wanted to think of those eyes again. What had brought the memory from it's exile? He had kept it buried for almost three years now. It was time to move on.

I awoke in one of the softest beds I have ever slept in. I felt lost, drowning in white clouds of comfort. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes, sat up and peered around at the surrounding room. It was a comfortable room, elaborately decorated. The bed was large and there was a window with a balcony. I pushed the blanket off of my body. I was in a white nightdress, my bare feet tip-toed across the cold, wooden floor to the balcony.

I reached out to open the glass door, hesitated, then turned the golden handle to open the window pane and stepped outside. I stood there, silently, basking in the sunlight. Letting my hair blow in the sea breeze. My eyes strayed to the harbor and to the beach beyond the nearest cliffs. I froze, my heart stopped beating. The far beach beyond...my ship...

I had forgotten my ship.

Late Evening

The Night Before

"Lieutenant Davis?"

Natalie turned from the rail for the first time in hours. It was Claw.

"Lieutenant, what are your orders ma'am?"

He knew as well as any how hard the decision was for their new commander, but what could they do? Get caught by the Brits so close to their hidden position? Natalie stared at him for a minute, then looked again at the sandy beach. The sun had set long ago, and sill no reassuring figure of her friend had appeared on the short. Should she keep her promise? Her orders? She could hear Jacqueline's exact words, to leave if she didn't return by dusk.

To abandon her to whatever fate had in store. She sighed, rubbed her forehead. "Damn it to hell Jacqueline." She muttered under her breath. She glanced hopelessly at the shore one more time, then turned back to Claw.

"Call all hands on deck Claw, we're setting out for sea."

TO BE CONTINUED...