The Constant Heart (6 page)

'Good morning, Rosie. I must say that's a dashing bonnet you're wearing today.'

She opened her eyes and found herself looking up into Harry Gostellow's boyishly good-looking face. She leaned against the doorpost, fanning herself with her hand. 'You stupid idiot, Harry! You frightened me half to death.'

He leapt from the saddle and tossed the reins to a small urchin who was gaping at him openmouthed. 'Hold my horse, boy, and there's a penny in it for you.' He turned to Rosina, sweeping his top hat off his head with a bow from the waist and a rueful smile. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just saw you in that charming bonnet and I had to hasten to your side to tell you how stunning you look.'

'You ought to know better than to gallop that poor animal along here.' She went over to the horse and stroked its muzzle. 'Poor old Nero. He's in a lather and all because you wanted to compliment me on my bonnet. For shame on you, Harry.' She took a halfpenny from her reticule and pressed it into the boy's hand. 'Walk the horse slowly, and the nice gentleman will give you twopence when he returns.'

'Why, Rosie, I believe you like Nero better than you do me,' Harry said, grinning.

'Indeed I do. Horses have much more sense than men.' She tempered her words with a smile, and walked on.

'You are a hard woman to please.' Harry caught up with her, measuring his pace to match hers. 'Where are you going on this beautiful morning?'

'I'm going to see Sukey Barnum. Aren't you supposed to be at work?'

'But I am at work, or rather, I have been working. My father sent me to inspect the cargoes of hay that arrived in port last night.'

Rosina stopped and stared up into his face. She had heard the serious note creep into his voice, and she saw confirmation of her concern in his eyes. 'Is it true then?'

'It's serious, I'm afraid, Rosie. Captain Barnum's cargo is perfectly fine, but the hay your father carried is diseased. I can't offer him a penny for it.'

'I see.' She looked away, biting her lip. Of course she knew this already, but it seemed so final coming from Harry. She knew nothing of their finances – Papa and Walter dealt with all that – but to lose money on a whole cargo must be serious indeed.

'I am sorry. It's rotten bad luck.'

'Papa will make up for it, I'm sure. Don't give it another thought.'

'But I do, Rosie.' He clasped her hand. 'I don't like to think of you going without.'

'I don't lack for anything. My pa sees to that.'

'I would give you the moon and the stars too, if I had my way.' Harry pressed her hand to his heart in a theatrical gesture.

He looked so absurd that Rosina giggled in spite of herself. 'And yet you forgot my birthday. That's not a good start.'

'No! Damn me, when was it?'

She was not going to let him off so easily. She pulled her hand free and continued on her way towards the Barnums' house. 'I shouldn't have to remind a man who wanted to give me the moon and the stars.'

He hurried after her. 'No, really. That's not fair. You should have dropped a hint – reminded me, or something.'

She stopped outside the Barnums' door. 'It's all right, Harry. It really doesn't matter, but it was yesterday as it happens.' Satisfied that he was genuinely racked with guilt, she patted his cheek with her hand. 'You'd best get back to work before your father realises what a long time you've taken.'

'I'll make it up to you. Let me take you out for supper tonight, and maybe the theatre or a music hall.'

She rapped on the door knocker. 'That would be nice, but Papa won't let me go unless Bertha chaperones me.'

'Oh God, no. She doesn't approve of me, Rosie.'

The door opened and the Barnums' maid gave them an appraising glance. 'Well?'

'Will you tell Miss Sukey that I'm here to see her, please, Gertie?'

'I suppose so.' Gertie closed the door again.

'I'd sack that stupid girl if I was Barnum,' Harry said crossly.

'My goodness, you are crotchety this morning.'

'I'm sorry, Rosie. I'll be all smiles if you'll promise to come out with me this evening? You can bring the old watchdog if you must.'

'Thank you, Harry, but not tonight. Papa will need me at home. Maybe another night, if he gives his permission.'

'I'll call on you tomorrow. Will you be at home?'

'I might be. You'll have to try your luck, won't you?'

Gertie opened the door. 'You'd best come in,' she said in a grudging tone.

Rosina stepped over the threshold and Harry followed her into the entrance hall. She shot him a sideways glance. 'I thought you had to get back to the office.'

'I do, but I think a courtesy call on Captain Barnum might be in order, and then perhaps I could walk you home.'

The roguish twinkle in his eyes did not escape Rosina, neither was she entirely immune to Harry's charms, but she also knew that he was an outrageous flirt and not to be taken seriously. 'So you suddenly need to see Captain Barnum. Isn't that a coincidence?'

Gertie gave a loud cough. 'What's it to be then? Who's seeing who?'

'I would like to see Miss Sukey,' Rosina said firmly. 'It seems that the gentleman has difficulty in making up his mind what he is doing and where he is going.'

'I say, Rosie. That's below the belt. I have to see Barnum or his mate to arrange for another cargo of hay. The horses in London gobble the stuff up at an alarming rate.'

'I'll take you up to the parlour, miss. But if he wants to see the master, he'd best go to the boat as that's where he'll find him.' Gertie looked from one to the other, and seeing that she had their full attention she warmed to her theme. 'Mr Barker, the mate, come to the door early this morning. Blooming river pirates have been at it again, says he. Why, they've even stole the bloody compass and all the charts. Them's his words not mine, miss. What shall us do, Cap'n? says he. They've stripped the poor bitch bare as a tart's arse.'

'Thank you, Gertie,' Harry said, frowning. 'I think we've got the picture.'

'Who's there, Gertie?' Sukey Barnum appeared at the top of the stairs. Her face lit up with a smile when she saw Rosina. 'Rosie, I thought I heard your voice. And Harry too.' A coral blush coloured her cheeks as she picked up her skirts and ran down the stairs to greet them.

Harry doffed his hat with a flourish. 'Good morning, Miss Sukey.'

'I was just going to show 'em into the parlour, miss,' Gertie said, eyeing Sukey warily.

'No you weren't, you fibber. I heard you telling them my dada's business. Go about your work, girl.' Sukey tucked her hand through Rosina's arm. 'I have a birthday present for you, even if it is a day late. But I had to persuade Dada to give me some money. Luckily he was in a good mood yesterday before the thieves stripped the
Curlew
of everything that wasn't bolted to the deck.' She turned her head to cast Harry a flirtatious glance beneath her golden eyelashes. 'Will you join us, Harry?'

'Sadly, I must leave you, ladies. I need to see Captain Barnum rather urgently.' Harry made a move towards the door. 'I'll see myself out.'

Rosina glanced at Sukey's eager face and then at Harry, who had stopped in front of a wall mirror to put his hat on at exactly the right angle. The thought flashed through her mind that it was hardly the action of a man in a hurry. 'Harry, wait.'

He patted the crown of his hat, adjusted the angle and turned to her with a pleased smile. 'I do like this topper. I must order another just like it.'

Rosina giggled. 'And they say that women are vain.'

'Don't be mean to Harry,' Sukey protested. 'I think he looks quite dashing.'

'Thank you, ma'am.' Harry inclined his head in her direction. 'You see, Rosie. Some people appreciate me.'

'Oh, poor Harry,' Rosina said in mock sympathy. 'You're so misunderstood.'

'Well, I think he looks most handsome today.' Sukey tossed her curls. 'And much too smart to be going on board dirty old sailing barges.'

'Thank you, Miss Susan. But I really must be going. I need to sort out this business with the hay. We're a load down and I need to send another barge to fetch a full cargo.'

Rosina spotted an opportunity for her father to recoup his losses. She moved to Harry's side. 'I'm coming with you.' She turned to Sukey with an apologetic smile. 'We will have to postpone our chat until later.'

Sukey pursed her lips into a pout.

'I say, Rosie.' A perplexed look crossed his face, and Harry frowned. 'I mean, I know you're worried about your father, but there's nothing you can do. You're not thinking of making a scene, are you?'

'Of course not. You said you needed another cargo of hay. If Captain Barnum can't take the
Curlew
, I'm sure my pa would be only too pleased to have the work. The
Ellie May
only needs to be unloaded, and she could be ready to sail on the next tide.'

'I don't know about that,' Harry said, shaking his head. 'The first thing Captain Barnum did when he docked yesterday was to go to the office and sign up for another cargo. It could be difficult.'

'But not if he can't honour the deal, Harry.' 'Hold on, there,' Sukey protested. 'That doesn't sound very fair.'

Rosina spun round to face her. 'Well it wasn't very fair when your dada cheated in the race and set my papa up with a load of rotten hay. I'm truly sorry, Sukey. I hate their silly feud as much as you do, but I must do something. I'll go and speak to Mr Gostellow myself if it will secure the cargo for the
Ellie May
.'

'Well!' Sukey stamped her foot. 'Some friend you are, Rosina.'

'I am your friend, you know that. But I have to look after my papa, just as you would look after yours.'

'But my present for you . . .'

'Will be lovely, Sukey. And I'll come back later to receive it.' Rosina turned to Harry. 'Are you ready?'

'I don't know what Barnum would have to say about this,' Harry said, eyeing her doubtfully. He opened the door and stood back to allow her to pass. 'I know that you're concerned about your father, but you should leave business matters to those who know what they're doing.'

'By that I suppose you mean that I should leave it to the men, who are so much the cleverer sex.'

'I say, Rosie. I don't think your papa would like you using that word.'

She shot him a sideways glance. 'What word, Harry?'

'You know perfectly well what word – the word that ladies do not use.' With an embarrassed twitch of his shoulders, Harry began walking towards the
Curlew
. 'I have business to do.'

She broke into a run to keep up with him. 'Precisely so. You need to keep your father's warehouse filled with hay or he will have nothing to trade.'

'It would take almost as long for the
Ellie May
to be unloaded and made ready to sail as it would for Barnum to refit his ship.'

'I'll fetch Artie Trigg and I know the stevedores will work twice as hard if I ask them nicely. We can do it given half a chance.'

'I'd have to square it with the old man first, Rosie.'

'Oh, Harry. Don't you ever take any responsibility for anything? Stand up to him for once.'