Like all good things, Hattie knew her time with Will would come to an end. She had granted herself this indulgence. Their affair had been all that she had hoped it would be, and so much more. Will was a passionate, tender, and generous lover. He had shown her pleasures beyond her imagination.

She now knew what a woman could experience with a man. If love ever did come her way, she would only ever yield her heart to another who could make her feel the way Will had done.

They were close to the end of their long journey home. The Canis Major was slowly making its way through the English Channel. Off the portside the English coastline was now clearly in sight. If everything went according to plan, they would be docking in London early the following morning.

Tonight, would be their last night together. One last day of living out her fantasy of being Will’s woman.

Once they docked, she would go back to her old life. Back to helping the people who so desperately needed her. She had tried to put thoughts of her friends to the back of her mind, knowing there was nothing she could do until she reached London. Now as the ship drew nearer to the mouth of the River Thames, she began to wonder what she would find upon her return.

“Wool gathering again?” whispered Will.

She stirred from her musings. She and Will were lying on the bed, naked in one another’s arms. A long afternoon of love making was drawing to a close.

“Just thinking of what will happen once we get back to London,” she replied.

As Will placed a warm kiss on her nape, Hattie shivered. The air on board the ship had slowly been getting colder the further north they travelled.

She climbed off the bed, suddenly needing to put physical distance between them. Picking up her clothes she began to dress. She tried to ignore the huff of disappointment which came from Will as she left him. Will clambered off the bed and began to put on his clothes.

“I was hoping we could discuss that matter today, though we could easily have stayed in bed to do so,” said Will.

Hattie worked on tying the ribbons on the front of her gown as a sense of foreboding slowly took hold. When Will came to her and took hold of her hands, she struggled to meet his gaze.

Don’t say the words.

“It should be a simple enough matter to convince your uncle of the need for us to be wed. After we have secured his permission, we shall journey to my parent’s home and inform them of our happy news. Rest assured my family will love you. My sisters will be delighted with my choice of new bride. I am certain you will become fast friends with Eve and Caroline. Francis will be like a white-haired pup, eager to do your bidding.”

Her heart sank. What would Will say when he discovered her deception? That her Uncle Felix was not in London. Not only was he not in London, he was not even in England.

“I don’t think we should be rushing into anything just yet,” she replied.

Will growled. “I think time is of the essence. You and I have been sharing a bed for the best part of two weeks. I’ve lost count of the times you have given yourself to me. You may already be with child.”

His words stopped her. She had not considered the risk of pregnancy. Surely it took longer than two weeks to fall pregnant. Her brother’s wife had not fallen pregnant in six years of marriage.

“I don’t feel pregnant. I would surely know if I was. So, as I said, we can wait,” she replied.

The look on Will’s face told her he was not happy with the direction the conversation was headed. He had mentioned marriage; and instead of throwing her arms around him and accepting his proposal, she was backing away from his offer and stalling for time.

Hattie picked up Will’s greatcoat, deciding a turn on the deck might be the wisest thing she could do at this point.

“Where are you going? We haven’t finished,” he said.

She straightened her spine and met his gaze. If she did not hold fast, he would have her doing his bidding. She put the coat on and headed for the door.

Will reached out and took hold of her arm as she opened the cabin door.

“Stay. We need to resolve this. I don’t understand why you are saying we must wait. It’s almost as if you are saying no.”

“Let me go. And I am saying no. I will not marry you Will,” she replied.

She stepped out onto the deck. Will quickly followed her.

“No! What do mean no?”

Hattie pulled the greatcoat around her and kept walking. Will caught up and grabbed her firmly by the arm. She knew he did not mean to, but his grip was harder than necessary.

“Ow! You are hurting me! Let go!”

He softened his grip, but still held onto her arm. In his eyes she saw confusion and hurt.

“Come back inside the cabin,” he pleaded.

The last place she wanted to be was alone with Will. He was a man not used to being told no, and therefore would do everything he could to bend her to his will.

“Let go,” she ground out.

His gaze lifted from her, and settled on something over her shoulder. Hattie turned and saw a good number of the Canis Major crew, working on deck. They had all stopped their tasks and were watching the unfolding argument with keen interest.

Memories of the traders at the market in Gibraltar speared into her mind. Will had played the crowd and won them over. Could she do the same?

After all he had done for her Will did not deserve what was about to come. But, he had now backed her into such a tight corner that Hattie could not see any other way out.

I’m sorry.

“You cannot make me marry you! I know you only want me for my dowry. You are cruel and selfish,” she cried.

A look of horror appeared on Will’s face.

“Don’t do this Hattie. These men are not simple market stall holders,” he pleaded.

“No. No, I won’t stay silent any longer. When we get to London I am going to tell my uncle exactly the sort of man that you are, you beast.”

All movement on deck came to a standstill. The crew were rivetted by the unfolding drama.

Hattie pulled out of Will’s grip. She staggered away toward the crew, doing her best to bring herself to tears. The first mate reached out and put a comforting arm around her.

“It’s alright young miss, you won’t come to harm,” he said.

Will, hands clenched in tight fists, marched over. His breath was heavy and his stance ramrod straight. The master of the illusion was being beaten at his own game and he was livid.

“Gentlemen, you are being played by this young woman. Now if you would let her go, she and I can go back to our cabin and resolve this matter privately,” he said.

Hattie leaned in closer to the first mate. She managed a sob for added effect.

“Mr. Saunders?”

As Will turned, Hattie caught sight of the ship’s captain. The goings on out on the deck had now been brought to his attention.

‘My fiancée and I are having a small disagreement. I am sorry that she has disturbed your crew and taken them from their work,” explained Will.

Will was an intelligent man, and more than capable of talking himself out of any situation. Hattie also knew the captain liked him. Over the past days, she and Will had spent time with the soon to be retired old seadog. On several occasions they had taken supper in the captain’s cabin.

As Will had judged the situation in the town, Hattie knew the stakes were high. She had to rise to the occasion.

“Disagreement? You wait until my uncle hears of the terrible things you have done to me. I will show him the bruises. He will see you for the wicked brute that you are, he will save me from you.”

She buried her face in the shoulder of the first mate and wailed loudly.

“Help me, I beg of you!”

Two other members of the crew mustered behind the first mate’s back in a clear show of solidarity.

“This is a bloody farce,” said Will.

Hattie sensed the shift in the mood. Will had sworn in front of a young lady. Doubt of how much of a gentleman he was would now be in the minds of the crew. She sensed victory.

“Mr. Saunders may I suggest you and I retire to my cabin. The young lady can take refuge in your cabin until things have calmed down,” said the captain.

Hattie clung tightly to the first mate. Her look of fear, quickly replaced by hope at the captain’s words.

Will stared at Hattie for a good while. His jaw was set hard. Finally, he released his fingers from their tightly held fists and backed away.

“I can see that I won’t get a fair hearing out here on deck.”

Will followed the captain to his cabin. The first mate escorted Hattie back to her cabin.

“Will you be alright miss? he asked, opening the door.

She wiped at her face, brushing pretend tears away. She hoped he would not notice the mess that was the bedclothes, evidence of her and Will’s occupation that afternoon.

“I don’t know. There is still a full day before we dock in London. Who knows what lies he will tell the captain to get him on side. I fear what Mr. Saunders will do next.”

“Is there anything the boys and I could do to help you?”

Hattie thought for a moment. She had regularly made deals with the market traders at Covent Garden when trying to secure food scraps for the local parish church. She knew that people were more open to helping others if they could see that they were getting something in return. The tight- fisted traders were happy to hand over rotten vegetables if their names were read out in church every Sunday, their benevolence on display for all to see.

Apart from offering herself, which was not an option under any circumstance, Hattie considered what else she had that the crew could possibly want.

“Do you have a lady waiting for you in London?” she ventured.

She had a bag full of gowns and lady’s toiletries which Will had bought for her. While her gowns would not be fashionable enough for the ladies of the haute ton, they were still of excellent quality. Any sailor worth his salt would know he would be assured of an extra warm welcome home from his long sea voyage if he came bearing gifts.

“I have a lovely lass who will be waiting dockside for me,” he replied.

Hattie smiled.

“Then I think we could be of mutual assistance to one another.”