Oui , I'm certain the captain of a trade ship knows about gallantry.”
“Your sarcasm is misplaced, oncle . He saved my life last night as well as my reputation.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“ Mon Dieu ! Do you really think I would accept that man's proposal without reason? You must be mad!”
“Lower your voice, niece. I am the law in this house and you will bend to me.”
She looked down at the floor. “I am sorry. Forgive me, oncle . I only mean to say I have better scruples than that, and you are not aware of the circumstances.”
He shook his head as if disappointed. “What happened last night then?”
“I received a note to meet Monsieur Le Croíx at the docks. When I showed up, he was not there. Perhaps you would like to call upon him to find out why he set me up.”
“Set you up for what?”
“To be ravished or worse…even murdered. Two men appeared and they were quite rough. My fiancé, the man you seemed to approve of, supposedly hired them. Or so they said.” She looked up to see his eyes widen with something like fear. “Nothing happened, for Capitaine Hill showed up to rescue me.”
“I see. These men accosted you. Obviously you needed protecting and I owe him for that. Why did he not escort you home then?”
“It was impossible. I was unconscious, for one of the men had hit me. When I woke, I was on the ship. The captain had known nothing about me and yet he chose to take me in.”
“To tend to his own pleasures, I am sure...”
She gasped, infuriated. “I assure you he has better morals. He is more of a gentleman than you think. I was dressed like a lady, so it is not as if I tempted him.”
He shook his head sadly. “You are naïve, child…”
“I was left untouched except for this obvious wound from the attack.” She gestured to her jaw.
His eyes narrowed, as if suddenly studying it, and she wondered how he hadn't noticed it before.
“So his intentions were honorable...?”
“ Oui .”
“It makes sense that you defend your hero, but I advise you not to lose sight of reality, niece.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do not confuse your gratitude with something else. I shall look into Monsieur Le Croix’s part in this charade. If he's guilty, I have other suitors lined up for you. I haven't given up yet. This Capitaine Hill is just a man...a stranger who rescued you by the mere coincidence of his presence during a random attack. That is all he will ever be to you. A stranger.”
“Why? Because he is not my suitor?”
“He is a captain, my child, and nothing more. He is only invited to socials because he has done a favor for the emperor a time or two. His family is not alive; no one knows of his financial status. He could never make you happy when his trade continually calls him away. You would only be miserable the rest of your life. Also, I will not forget that you refrained from informing me of your plans last night. Do you understand?”
She lowered her head. It was evident that during the time she'd been absent her uncle had gathered as much information as he could about Grant Hill.
“ Oui , oncle .” As he left the library, her heart sank.
The man did not understand her. Why couldn't he recognize that with everyone he selected she would be miserable because marriage would only be for convenience, for the purpose of a social construct and never love? She would only be content if she herself chose the man she was to spend the rest of her life with, and knowing her place, that never would happen.
Far from content, Fara stood up. She propped herself against her uncle's desk, unaware that she straightened his ledgers as her thoughts raced.
She hated to admit it, but she would not at all mind choosing a man like Grant Hill to marry. Even if the prospects seemed futile, the man was dangerous, yet appealing.
Though she'd only been with him a single night, he was the first man who'd left her feeling something. Not that she'd ever spent the night alone
“Your sarcasm is misplaced, oncle . He saved my life last night as well as my reputation.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“ Mon Dieu ! Do you really think I would accept that man's proposal without reason? You must be mad!”
“Lower your voice, niece. I am the law in this house and you will bend to me.”
She looked down at the floor. “I am sorry. Forgive me, oncle . I only mean to say I have better scruples than that, and you are not aware of the circumstances.”
He shook his head as if disappointed. “What happened last night then?”
“I received a note to meet Monsieur Le Croíx at the docks. When I showed up, he was not there. Perhaps you would like to call upon him to find out why he set me up.”
“Set you up for what?”
“To be ravished or worse…even murdered. Two men appeared and they were quite rough. My fiancé, the man you seemed to approve of, supposedly hired them. Or so they said.” She looked up to see his eyes widen with something like fear. “Nothing happened, for Capitaine Hill showed up to rescue me.”
“I see. These men accosted you. Obviously you needed protecting and I owe him for that. Why did he not escort you home then?”
“It was impossible. I was unconscious, for one of the men had hit me. When I woke, I was on the ship. The captain had known nothing about me and yet he chose to take me in.”
“To tend to his own pleasures, I am sure...”
She gasped, infuriated. “I assure you he has better morals. He is more of a gentleman than you think. I was dressed like a lady, so it is not as if I tempted him.”
He shook his head sadly. “You are naïve, child…”
“I was left untouched except for this obvious wound from the attack.” She gestured to her jaw.
His eyes narrowed, as if suddenly studying it, and she wondered how he hadn't noticed it before.
“So his intentions were honorable...?”
“ Oui .”
“It makes sense that you defend your hero, but I advise you not to lose sight of reality, niece.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do not confuse your gratitude with something else. I shall look into Monsieur Le Croix’s part in this charade. If he's guilty, I have other suitors lined up for you. I haven't given up yet. This Capitaine Hill is just a man...a stranger who rescued you by the mere coincidence of his presence during a random attack. That is all he will ever be to you. A stranger.”
“Why? Because he is not my suitor?”
“He is a captain, my child, and nothing more. He is only invited to socials because he has done a favor for the emperor a time or two. His family is not alive; no one knows of his financial status. He could never make you happy when his trade continually calls him away. You would only be miserable the rest of your life. Also, I will not forget that you refrained from informing me of your plans last night. Do you understand?”
She lowered her head. It was evident that during the time she'd been absent her uncle had gathered as much information as he could about Grant Hill.
“ Oui , oncle .” As he left the library, her heart sank.
The man did not understand her. Why couldn't he recognize that with everyone he selected she would be miserable because marriage would only be for convenience, for the purpose of a social construct and never love? She would only be content if she herself chose the man she was to spend the rest of her life with, and knowing her place, that never would happen.
Far from content, Fara stood up. She propped herself against her uncle's desk, unaware that she straightened his ledgers as her thoughts raced.
She hated to admit it, but she would not at all mind choosing a man like Grant Hill to marry. Even if the prospects seemed futile, the man was dangerous, yet appealing.
Though she'd only been with him a single night, he was the first man who'd left her feeling something. Not that she'd ever spent the night alone
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