Free Hiding from Love by Barbara Cartland

her recent resolution and courage deserted her.
    She stumbled over to the porthole, aware already of a slight sickening rise and fall beneath her feet.
    Lights were flickering onshore in the gloom.
    England was passing.
    Home was passing away.  Mama, Finny, Fenfold – all were slipping away beyond the glass – all vanishing perhaps forever .
    And that night – that wonderful night when she had danced with the masked gentleman – before she knew his character and before she knew his name.
    Tears welled and spilled onto her cheeks.  Leaning her forehead on the glass, Leonora began to weep.
    She was so alone and the ocean ahead was so vast, so fearful to her.
    Whatever had she been thinking about, to set out on such a journey?
    Even marriage to the arrogant Lord Merton might have been preferable to this immense loneliness!
    No, she rebuked herself sternly.  Lord Merton had bartered for her like a farmer at a fair.
    He had sought to buy her affections with beautiful dresses and ermine.  He had seen her twice and decided that he could possess her, as easily as snapping his fingers.
    He had frequented the same disreputable Club as her stepfather and had bribed him for access to her.
    How could she ever yield her heart to such a man!
    A sudden tap at the cabin door made her start and she turned, drying her tears.
    â€œC-come in,” she called wondering who it could be.
    She hoped it was not Señor de Guarda!
    The door opened slowly and a solitary figure sidled in, balancing a loaded tea tray.
    Leonora started with a cry of amazement.
    How was it possible?
    There before her stood Finny !
    Finny, dressed as a cabin boy and beaming at her for all he was worth.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Over steaming cups of scented tea and shortbread biscuits, Finny related his story.
    He had only reached as far as the gates to the dock when a wheel on the trap had come loose.
    As he was struggling to tighten the wheel, a carriage pulled up quickly and the passenger – a gentleman – had offered the help of his driver.
    While the driver attended to the carriage wheel, the gentleman drew Finny into conversation.
    He wondered why Finny looked so sad and Finny divulged that it was because he had to return to cheerless Schilling House, whilst the Mistress he had served so long sailed off to Brazil without him.
    The gentleman had looked very thoughtful at this.
    Leonora was alarmed.
    â€œOh, Finny!  Suppose he was an Officer of the law, sent after me by Mr. Schilling?”
    Finny guffawed.
    â€œI knowed he wasn’t, miss, because his boots were too good!  And he was kind into the bargain.  Besides, I didn’t give him your name.  I just said ‘Schilling House’.
    â€œThe gentleman had said it would be an easy matter to arrange to have the trap returned to Schilling House on my behalf.  Meanwhile, he was sure he could pull enough strings to get me a job on board the ship bound for Brazil, if he so wished.
    â€œAnd he did,” added Finny proudly.  “I’m cabin boy to all the private cabins.”
    Leonora shook her head wonderingly.  Who could this gentleman be, who had such influence that he could secure employment for someone who had never even set foot on a ship before, let alone worked on one!
    When she asked the gentleman’s name, however, Finny shuffled his feet and frowned.
    He said he could not quite remember, but Leonora had the distinct impression that he had been specifically requested to forget!
    Well, whoever this kind benefactor was, she was so delighted to have Finny with her.
    He departed for his new duties, so Leonora finished her tea and started hanging up her mother’s dresses.
    When the supper gong sounded, she was forced to think carefully about what she would wear for this, her first appearance in public.
    She chose the same green dress she had mused over earlier.  She put it on and pulled a face before the narrow pier glass.  The sleeves