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been polite to do so, although it was clear she was unhappy with her relatives. He had felt her body stiffen as it had on the first night he had met her just before her aunt had made her presence felt. “It must be a huge change from your home life.”
    “It is; there is a lot more freedom in the country while every move is watched and commented upon in town. I’m glad I’m not important enough to attract much attention, but even so I have to be careful. It’s stifling!” Amelia said with feeling. The attention her aunt and cousin attracted was far too much for her liking. Everyone seemed to watch their every move; it was all to prevent Serena getting her way and compromising some poor gentleman, of course, but it did not make life comfortable for those around them. Amelia pushed thoughts of her relatives aside. “You must miss the sea.” Her words were a statement rather than a question. She knew enough of her companion to know he must be suffering in ways that exceeded the physical.
    “I do,” Alexander said quietly. No one had ever mentioned the sea to him; none had seemed to understand its importance in his life. “Every day I long to visit the ocean again, but I’m not sure I ever will.”
    “I know you wouldn’t be able to see it,” Amelia started, correctly interpreting Alexander’s reluctance. “But you would be able to hear it and smell it. Although I am far away from the sea now, I can never forget the sound of the waves on the pebbles, or the smell that is so different from anything else. I’m fascinated with the crying of seagulls and the way they circle the fishing boats coming into the harbour.”
    “I never sleep very well on land. I seem to need to hear the sound of the waves to have a deep, restful night. I’ve always said the waves rock me to sleep, but it’s more than that,” Alexander said. He had turned, leaning back on the seat, stretching his legs out in front of him. An outsider would think he was totally relaxed because of his posture, but Amelia saw the frown and knew he was hurting deep inside. His injury had taken away more than his sight.
    “I can’t imagine how you have the strength to face each day; you are braver than people realise,” Amelia said gently.
    Alexander harrumphed. “My brother would disagree; he had to take me to task before I started behaving like a gentleman instead of the beast I’d turned into.”
    “Well, that’s all in the past now,” Amelia said, wanting to carry on the conversation but rousing herself; they had sat still too long. It was not appropriate for them to remain seated without a chaperone. She might not mind anyone seeing her walking with Samson unchaperoned, but being caught on a bench with a gentleman would put them both in line for conjecture on their relationship. “Come, let’s see if Samson will return you to the seat if we walk a little away.”
    Alexander stood and immediately Samson moved to his usual position on the left side of him. “Right boy, lead on,” Alexander said. The dog seemed to understand and walked forward with Alexander. Amelia followed but was holding back a little; she was interested to notice that the dog did not seem to be waiting for her direction.
    When they had walked a distance from the bench they had just vacated, Alexander stopped and turned slightly, facing the way they had just walked. Samson remained by his side.
    Alexander scratched the dog’s neck. “Come on, boy; I know you can do it,” he whispered. Standing straight, he said in a louder voice, “Samson, seat. Samson, seat.”
    The dog started to move forward with Alexander saying the same words over and over again. The journey was slow; Alexander was hesitant, and Samson seemed to sense the fear and nerves Alexander was facing, so he walked slower than he normally did.
    Amelia was watching the dog closely as the pair walked. He was obviously happy, his tail wagging, although slower than it normally did. Every time Alexander spoke,