Chapter 8 / The price of resistance

Mary Kate was getting stronger. She could sit up and eat a full meal now.

"My husband's presence has given me strength," she said, smiling on Andrew as he walked her across the hotel's courtyard.

Andrew was grateful for anything that helped her recovery. He could not have endured long the wasted shell she had been a week ago.

Andrew watched as Mary Kate drank in the warmth of Egypt like a tonic, letting it sink in while walking with a parasol. She did this every morning before it got too hot. Andrew would sit with her, reading a newspaper and sipping tea.

Katharine was considering her blessings, her husband's presence, her survival of the attack, had old friends coming to her aid. She and Rebecca sat, talked, and laughed each day as long as she had the energy to stay awake. Now that Andrew was at her side, she still saw Rebecca daily, but Phileas and his friend Jules didn't come.

Now, a week after Andrew's arrival, Katharine was feeling much restored. She could walk for short distances, at least to the courtyard and back to their rooms. She ate better and was getting restless. Andrew turned her back toward the hotel entrance, walked her to their rooms. Out the window, she saw the harbor. Two of their ships were still anchored offshore.

Robertson, Sir James and several others from home were around somewhere. They had made few visits. Andrew made excuses. "They are busy with the search for your namesake. One of the two ships I brought is still at sea, but on its way here. They are more able to take care of those details than I am. I promise, you will see everyone as soon as you are stronger."

It all sounded sensible, but she wondered if Andrew had been deliberately keeping her to himself. Katharine smiled. I don't mind if that was the case. I'm happy having him to myself, too.

Their suite in the Grand Hotel had a sitting room and three bedrooms, one for each of them, and a servant's closet given to the nurse. She had been let go today, as Katharine no longer needed extensive care.

Andrew helped her out of her walking dress, unhooked and removed her shoes, and started unbuttoning her skirt and petticoats. He had made a game of this part over the last week. They would start by unbuttoning the lot of them, dress skirt, overskirt, and crinolines with her standing. He'd then push them down past her hips and lifted her off the floor, leaving a neat stack of skirts standing by themselves. With her lifted high off the ground over his head, Andrew deposited his giggling wife in the covers with a bounce and a kiss before her nap.

Today, Mary Kate got her hands around his neck when he kissed her. Out of instinct, he obeyed the request, deepening his kiss. His hands of their own violation went hunting sensitive places easily within reach. His lips trailed down her jawline to her ears and neck. Somewhere in the moment's sweetness, Andrew heard the French doctor telling him she needed rest. What was on the agenda right now was certainly pleasurable, but not very restful.

He untangled himself from her hold and kissed her hands. It was a subtle sign between them, sense their courtship for restraint. Mary Kate had had enough of restraint. She was feeling too much recovered to continue being treated like an invalid. She raised a hand to his face, running the back of her fingers along his cheek, behind his ear, and into his hair. "Andrew, I've missed you, so. Please come to me," she whispered.

Thoughts of leaving the room vanished.

After a morning in paradise, Andrew left Mary Kate's room while she slept. Sitting on a platter in the sitting room was a request from Rebecca Fogg to see him at the Embassy at two. That was an hour from now. He thought to send regrets, but attempted to get there on time, thinking there could be good news in it. Cleaning up, Andrew righted himself and left the hotel in a hired carriage.

Minutes into their meeting, Andrew sat staring at the official letter given to him in the Embassy offices. It was not the news he had wished. He knew what it would say before he looked at it. He read it in Rebecca Fogg's eyes when he walked into the room. She was all business right now, agent of the crown, not family friend. It was from England, the Prime Minister himself. It ordered that he turn over all the information to the Secret Service representative. Rebecca would handle the investigation of his stolen ship.

The recovery of his wife and the ship's property was applauded and considered enough to call off his fleet's participation. There was also a not so veiled suggestion that he see to his wife's health, letting the professionals handle the matter. To Andrew's mind, the professionals had been handling the matter. Three long time sea captains and a forty-year veteran of merchant industry security along with several friendly merchant companies sending them weekly reports.

This is my payback for taking the head of the Secret Service to task in his own office. It had been the thing to do, but in retrospect, a stupid move. Did I really think the man would be generous and forget that humiliation? No mention of that in the letter, but Andrew was sure this was it, at least in part.

He laid the letter down on the table in front of him and gave Rebecca a bow. "You will want all the reports and information aboard the Lorraine."

"Yes." She said.

A thought came to Andrew's mind as he took in Rebecca's confident air. A very devious thought. He was unaccustomed to such thoughts and was surprised at the conceiving. He congratulated himself and smiled at her warmly. "We will turn over all the information we have and be of any assistance you require."

"Thank you, my Lord," Rebecca said, surprised at his acceptance. That was not what she had expected. Rebecca had waited to make these orders known until Katharine and her husband settled in. She assumed he would take the news more calmly if he were removed from the chase and his previous anguish. This was an unbelievably gracious gesture. Rebecca could still remember him placing his own guards around Katharine at the ball two years before, despite the Secret Service agents.

"When would you like to come aboard the Lorraine? You will want to interview at least four of my people to get the entire picture and view our maps. We have and are still doing a thorough search of the coast where the ship was last seen."

"That, of course, will have to be stopped," Rebecca said.

"That will require time. Another ship will have to be sent with the order." Andrew said.

"Can I visit your ship tomorrow, perhaps?"

"I will arrange it, right after lunch with Mary Kate and I. I insist," he said before she could refuse. "Mary Kate would very much enjoy your company one last time. I assume once you begin your work, you won't be able to give her as much company.

The woman would never think to refuse with me adding that in.

"Sir James will join us, too. He was quite disappointed at missing you in London."

Rebecca took that without comment. Sir James had made himself her companion during their stay after the wedding. His visits to London weren't what one would call courting, but he was making a presence. He was a handsome man, very confident and accomplished one, too. Not the sort any woman would think to brush off. If he were working his way up to truly courting her, he would be in for a disappointment. The Queen's attitudes about family were quite strong. Rebecca would not be surprised to receive orders from her godmother to resign her position if she accepted him.

"And of course, your cousin Mr. Fogg and Mr. Jules Verne should come," Andrew was saying. "We can all meet at the hotel at eleven. Is that convenient?"

"Of course," Rebecca agreed.

"Sir James can escort you to the ship afterwards and show you everything we have."

"That is a very gracious offer. I'm sure I can speak for the others in acceptance of your invitation," Rebecca said.

"Till tomorrow," Andrew said, and left the room with a bow and polite kiss to her hand.

On the other side of the door, he called Robertson, who had been waiting in the foyer.

The old man looked up from his newspaper and followed him out. He gave Andrew a big, wolfish smile after he laid out his plan. "Didn't know you had it in you," the old marine complimented, visibly impressed.

"Neither did I."