Read Online A Leap of Faith (The Hands of Time: Book 2) by Irina Shapiro - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Irina Shapiro
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his thoughts. He had grown up in that house, and could still remember his beautiful mother sewing by the fire or playing the lute, and his father coming back from months at sea and sweeping him up into a bear-like embrace; asking him about all the things he learned while his old dad was away. And there was always Caro, who loved him unconditionally. He’d been very sad when she married and went to live with her husband at Court. He missed her dreadfully.
Kit thought that all boys had such loving and gentle families, but he later came to realize that he had been very lucky. He’d been surrounded by love growing up, and later when he married Helena; and that was such a stark contrast to his life now. He had no financial need to go to sea. He could live comfortably in his London house, or Essex country estate, for the rest of his days, but he felt stifled at home with time weighing heavily on his hands.
It had been nearly seven years since his father died , and just over two since the Black Death took his wife and mother. He supposed he should think of marrying again, but the young ladies he met on his visits to Court seemed shallow and calculating; their only desire to snare a husband with a title and as much property as they could. Kit had both the title and the property, but his heart was at peace only at sea.
Kit was distracted from his thoughts by a slight movement on the deck. He couldn’t see the face, but he could tell from the walk that it was Mistress Jamison. Mrs. Collins was too portly and Miss Collins too timid to come up on deck by herself in the middle of the night.
“ Mistress Jamison,” he called out softly. “Are you quite all right?” She looked up at him, her face bleached of all color by the moonlight and her eyes nearly black. “Would you like to come up?”
Mistress Jamison lifted her hem to avoid tripping and walked up the steps to the bridge. She looked anxious and tired.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said quietly. “It’s so lovely up here whe n no one is about.”
“Yes. I like to be here at this hour, just before the sun starts to come up and everyone rises and reports for duty. Were you worried about something?” He knew he had no business prying, but he wanted to know what was keeping her awake.
“I was worried about arriving in Virginia.”
“Do you have family there?” Kit saw her whole body tense and felt terrible for asking.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Louisa looked out over the shimmering water toward the invisible line of the horizon. “I ’m searching for my sister. I know she was in Virginia in 1610, but I’ve heard nothing since, and I’m terrified that she won’t be there anymore. What will I do? Where will I go?”
“Would you return to England if you did not find her or settle in the New World?” Kit thought, quite irrationally, that he would like her to return to England.
“I honestly don’t know. Everything depends on what happens when I get there.” She looked so scared that he wished he could take her in his arms and comfort her, but he pushed the thought away. It would be bad enough if someone saw her up here alone with him , without him making matters worse.
“If there is anything I can do to assist you ; just ask. I will not return to England until I know that you are safe with your sister and have no wish to return.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sheridan. I appreciate your offer more than you know.” With that Louisa turned and left the bridge, bound for her cabin.
Kit looked up at the sky. The stars were beginning to fade, just a hint of light visible on the horizon. He loved the moment when the first fiery glimmer of the sun began to appear above the water, painting the sky pink and gold. Kit suddenly felt sorry that he couldn’t share the beauty of the sunrise with Mistress Jamison, and turned away.
Chapter 14
“Oh, he is a fine figure of a man,
Kit thought that all boys had such loving and gentle families, but he later came to realize that he had been very lucky. He’d been surrounded by love growing up, and later when he married Helena; and that was such a stark contrast to his life now. He had no financial need to go to sea. He could live comfortably in his London house, or Essex country estate, for the rest of his days, but he felt stifled at home with time weighing heavily on his hands.
It had been nearly seven years since his father died , and just over two since the Black Death took his wife and mother. He supposed he should think of marrying again, but the young ladies he met on his visits to Court seemed shallow and calculating; their only desire to snare a husband with a title and as much property as they could. Kit had both the title and the property, but his heart was at peace only at sea.
Kit was distracted from his thoughts by a slight movement on the deck. He couldn’t see the face, but he could tell from the walk that it was Mistress Jamison. Mrs. Collins was too portly and Miss Collins too timid to come up on deck by herself in the middle of the night.
“ Mistress Jamison,” he called out softly. “Are you quite all right?” She looked up at him, her face bleached of all color by the moonlight and her eyes nearly black. “Would you like to come up?”
Mistress Jamison lifted her hem to avoid tripping and walked up the steps to the bridge. She looked anxious and tired.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said quietly. “It’s so lovely up here whe n no one is about.”
“Yes. I like to be here at this hour, just before the sun starts to come up and everyone rises and reports for duty. Were you worried about something?” He knew he had no business prying, but he wanted to know what was keeping her awake.
“I was worried about arriving in Virginia.”
“Do you have family there?” Kit saw her whole body tense and felt terrible for asking.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Louisa looked out over the shimmering water toward the invisible line of the horizon. “I ’m searching for my sister. I know she was in Virginia in 1610, but I’ve heard nothing since, and I’m terrified that she won’t be there anymore. What will I do? Where will I go?”
“Would you return to England if you did not find her or settle in the New World?” Kit thought, quite irrationally, that he would like her to return to England.
“I honestly don’t know. Everything depends on what happens when I get there.” She looked so scared that he wished he could take her in his arms and comfort her, but he pushed the thought away. It would be bad enough if someone saw her up here alone with him , without him making matters worse.
“If there is anything I can do to assist you ; just ask. I will not return to England until I know that you are safe with your sister and have no wish to return.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sheridan. I appreciate your offer more than you know.” With that Louisa turned and left the bridge, bound for her cabin.
Kit looked up at the sky. The stars were beginning to fade, just a hint of light visible on the horizon. He loved the moment when the first fiery glimmer of the sun began to appear above the water, painting the sky pink and gold. Kit suddenly felt sorry that he couldn’t share the beauty of the sunrise with Mistress Jamison, and turned away.
Chapter 14
“Oh, he is a fine figure of a man,
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