Page 41 of Rogue’s Holiday

Miss Crockett spoke with excitement. “Please do. We were just about to venture into the mass of shoppers.” Her eyes scanned the beach. “Have you ever seen so many fish?”

“On the Isle of Guernsey, certainly,” said Jack, “though mostly oyster boats and cod fishermen.”

Seeing the basket Chastity held over her arm, Robbie inquired, “Have you come to buy fish?”

“Indeed, we have.” She turned her bonneted head toward the women selling fish. “We are shopping for Lady Sanborn’s cook.”

Cries went up as the women sitting by their baskets yelled out the fish they had for sale.

Miss Crockett smiled up at him. “It seems that mackerel have come into season, Sir Robert, and the fishermen’s wives want to be certain we know of it. And just there,” she said pointing, “I see turbot.”

“Shall I help you select some good fish?” Jack asked Miss Crockett. “I think I see prawns over there.” He pointed farther down the beach.

“I would welcome your assistance,” said Chastity’s friend, “Cook said to bring back prawns if there were any to be had.”

Jack offered the girl his arm and the two strolled off toward that part of the beach. Robbie turned to Miss Reynolds with a bemused smile, wondering if she would deign to allow him to accompany her. “Is there some fish you favor?” The sky was overcast but her pale golden hair glistened beneath her straw bonnet and her bright blue eyes shone like the sky on a clear day. The peach-colored spencer jacket she wore over her morning gown brought a blush to her cheeks. Altogether, she presented an alluring sight.

“My great-aunt’s cook mentioned dories. I would be obliged if you might direct me to those. The River Nene in Northampton is not home to that fish.”

“I’m sure we can find some here as they are among the breakfast selections at the Royal Pavilion. Come,” he said, offering his arm, “let us hunt for them together.”

With what he recognized as reluctance, she took his arm. Whatever the cause, at least for this morning, she had called a truce and he was glad of it. Curling her fingers over his arm, he held them in place with his hand. The feel of her delicate hand, even through the gloves she wore, brought to mind how soft she had been when pressed against his chest the first night he’d encountered her at Grillon’s Hotel.

They passed the various impromptu stalls and wove their way around large baskets of fish set on the shingles. She gazed into each one, clearly captivated by so much on display. “I love how the vendors cry the names of the fish they have for sale. It makes the market quite lively, don’t you think?”

“’Tis one benefit of being on the coast,” he replied. “It’s the same in the South Pacific on the islands where fish and turtles are caught in great abundance.”

“Have you often sailed to the South Pacific?”

“Aye, with my father and brothers, though these days they sail mostly to the east for tea and spices.”

“It sounds exotic, like the Pavilion.”

“It can be a worthy adventure, especially for young lads as we were when my brothers and I first went to sea. On a balmy day when the sun is setting into the horizon and dolphins are leaping under the bow racing with the ship, there is no more magnificent sight. But there are other times when pounding waves crash over the deck and the weather calls for a man’s courage. My eldest brother once had to fight his way out of a hurricane in the Atlantic.”

Her frown cast her beautiful eyes in shadow. “I wouldn’t want to be on a ship then. Still, travel holds much interest for me.”

She gazed up at him with an innocence he was certain was not feigned. Her blue eyes sparkled and, for a moment, held his gaze. Then he shifted his attention to her perfectly shaped lips. Lips, he reminded himself he had once sampled. Jack’s assessment had been correct. Miss Chastity Reynolds had no idea of her effect on a man and Robbie was only beginning to realize how devastating was her effect on him.

She turned away, her bonnet hiding her face but the peach-colored ribbons lifted in the breeze, making him want to turn her toward him to look again into her eyes. He was certain she would not welcome the gesture.

Robbie scanned the beach, spotting baskets full of dories in the distance and, taking her elbow, he guided her toward the odd-looking fish.

Suddenly, she lost her footing on the shingles and began to fall. He reached his arm around her waist, steadying her. His hands on her soft flesh caused a desire for more to sweep through him. She was slender beneath her gown and more delicate than her personality would suggest.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, righting herself. “Thank you,” she said with a flush of embarrassment.

An overwhelming need to protect her from anything that might cause her to fall surged through him. Such feelings for a woman were new to him. He tried to make light of it, returning her a wry smile while slowly letting go of her waist. “Anytime.”

“You are a scoundrel, Sir Robert. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought you arranged that stumble.”

“I would never be so obvious.” But he couldn’t hide his pleasure at having had her so close. He would have more if he could.

They arrived in front of a sun-bronzed woman who sat on a stool surrounded by baskets of dory fish. On her head was a faded blue plaid scarf and around the waist of her plain gown was tied an apron, spangled with fish scales glittering like sequins.

Robbie focused on the unusual fish, flat and nearly round in shape, but with striking markings. “These are fresh caught,” he told Chastity. “You can tell by their brilliant stripes, nearly orange. In time, the color will fade.”

She pointed to the fish the woman held out for inspection. “What is that black spot in the center?” She was a child full of wonder at nature’s oddities, curious and innocent. So unlike the young women of London, who were either empty of ideas or full of simpering affectations to gain a man’s interest. He watched her, captivated.