few weeks later when her father emerged from his counting room, shouting at the top of his voice. He fixed her with a baleful look. ‘Have you seen your brother? We have matters to discuss.’
‘No, Father, but I would like a word with you, please.’
‘Not now, can’t you see I’m busy?’
‘But I must speak to you about Mr Hesketh.’
Since the unofficial betrothal, the man had become a regular visitor to the household, and his attentions to Hannah were increasing daily. She had tried to tell her mother that he was behaving in an unseemly manner, but Mistress Marston refused to listen. ‘Don’t be childish,’ she’d told Hannah. ‘Of course he’s attentive. That’s as it should be. The man’s besotted. Think yourself lucky.’
Lucky, hah!
Her father was in no mood to listen either, it seemed. ‘You’re marrying him and that’s that,’ he growled. ‘I won’t hear another word on the subject, is that clear?’
‘But Father, really …’
‘Here I am.’ Jacob came rushing down the stairs, taking them two at a time and almost tripping on the last set. ‘What’s the matter?’
Mr Marston senior promptly forgot Hannah’s presence. ‘There you are! We still have much to plan. This is no time to be dawdling in bed.’
Jacob looked sheepish, but protested, ‘I wasn’t.’
‘Well, be that as it may, you’re here now. Let us begin.’
The two men disappeared into the counting room and shut the door. Hannah hesitated for a moment, then cast a quick glance around the hall to make sure there was no one about. She tip-toed over and put her ear to the keyhole. This eavesdropping was becoming a bad habit and she promised herself it would stop. Soon. For now, however, it was necessary.
‘Now you do know speed is essential?’ her father was saying. ‘There must be no detours even if you find profitable cargoes along the way. They can wait for another time.’
‘Yes, father, of course I know that, but I still think we should take the normal route and hope for favourable winds.’
‘No, you simply must reach the Japans before the East India Company merchants. And as soon as you get there, you have to contact this Mr Adams.’
‘But if the Company’s ships sailed months ago, there’s no guarantee we can arrive before them. Faith, they have a head start of more than two months!’
‘You can, I’m sure of it. Besides, who’s to say they arrive at all? Anything could happen at sea. We must chance it.’
‘But why, father? Surely there are other schemes that would be both safer and more profitable?’
‘Don’t argue with me, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be the first Englishman to trade with the Japonish nation and there’s an end to it. There might even be a knighthood in it for me, I can just see it. Are the ships ready?’
‘Nearly. We should be able to leave with the tide the day after tomorrow, but what about Kate’s nuptials? She particularly wanted me to attend.’
‘Can’t be helped. This is more important. I’ll make sure she understands, you can count on it. She’s a good girl, she’ll listen to her father. Now if only Hannah would do the same …’
Hannah didn’t stay to hear any more, she had already remained longer than she should have done. On silent feet she retreated towards the back of the house and escaped into the garden.
Despair engulfed her and she blinked back tears. The memory of Mr Hesketh touching her surreptitiously, as he had done only the day before when her mother’s attention was elsewhere, was enough to make her feel physically sick. But perhaps she was being silly and childish?
Any man she married would have the right to do whatever he wanted with her. It was a fact of life and one she’d have to accept. Mr Hesketh was simply so eager for the marriage he couldn’t restrain himself. In all honestly, could she blame him for that? Like her mother said, she ought to be flattered he desired her to such an extent. Perhaps no one else ever
‘No, Father, but I would like a word with you, please.’
‘Not now, can’t you see I’m busy?’
‘But I must speak to you about Mr Hesketh.’
Since the unofficial betrothal, the man had become a regular visitor to the household, and his attentions to Hannah were increasing daily. She had tried to tell her mother that he was behaving in an unseemly manner, but Mistress Marston refused to listen. ‘Don’t be childish,’ she’d told Hannah. ‘Of course he’s attentive. That’s as it should be. The man’s besotted. Think yourself lucky.’
Lucky, hah!
Her father was in no mood to listen either, it seemed. ‘You’re marrying him and that’s that,’ he growled. ‘I won’t hear another word on the subject, is that clear?’
‘But Father, really …’
‘Here I am.’ Jacob came rushing down the stairs, taking them two at a time and almost tripping on the last set. ‘What’s the matter?’
Mr Marston senior promptly forgot Hannah’s presence. ‘There you are! We still have much to plan. This is no time to be dawdling in bed.’
Jacob looked sheepish, but protested, ‘I wasn’t.’
‘Well, be that as it may, you’re here now. Let us begin.’
The two men disappeared into the counting room and shut the door. Hannah hesitated for a moment, then cast a quick glance around the hall to make sure there was no one about. She tip-toed over and put her ear to the keyhole. This eavesdropping was becoming a bad habit and she promised herself it would stop. Soon. For now, however, it was necessary.
‘Now you do know speed is essential?’ her father was saying. ‘There must be no detours even if you find profitable cargoes along the way. They can wait for another time.’
‘Yes, father, of course I know that, but I still think we should take the normal route and hope for favourable winds.’
‘No, you simply must reach the Japans before the East India Company merchants. And as soon as you get there, you have to contact this Mr Adams.’
‘But if the Company’s ships sailed months ago, there’s no guarantee we can arrive before them. Faith, they have a head start of more than two months!’
‘You can, I’m sure of it. Besides, who’s to say they arrive at all? Anything could happen at sea. We must chance it.’
‘But why, father? Surely there are other schemes that would be both safer and more profitable?’
‘Don’t argue with me, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be the first Englishman to trade with the Japonish nation and there’s an end to it. There might even be a knighthood in it for me, I can just see it. Are the ships ready?’
‘Nearly. We should be able to leave with the tide the day after tomorrow, but what about Kate’s nuptials? She particularly wanted me to attend.’
‘Can’t be helped. This is more important. I’ll make sure she understands, you can count on it. She’s a good girl, she’ll listen to her father. Now if only Hannah would do the same …’
Hannah didn’t stay to hear any more, she had already remained longer than she should have done. On silent feet she retreated towards the back of the house and escaped into the garden.
Despair engulfed her and she blinked back tears. The memory of Mr Hesketh touching her surreptitiously, as he had done only the day before when her mother’s attention was elsewhere, was enough to make her feel physically sick. But perhaps she was being silly and childish?
Any man she married would have the right to do whatever he wanted with her. It was a fact of life and one she’d have to accept. Mr Hesketh was simply so eager for the marriage he couldn’t restrain himself. In all honestly, could she blame him for that? Like her mother said, she ought to be flattered he desired her to such an extent. Perhaps no one else ever
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