Free A Captive Heart by Patricia Scott Page A

look of approval on Tamsin’s face and a scowl on Martha’s. Then looking down at the suit he shook his head gravely. ‘Is this how you would really like to see me, Tamsin? I am afraid that this may never be. We shall always disagree on our politics.’
    She sighed. ‘I cannot change you then, Adam.’ She placed her hand impulsively on his arm. ‘But I must trust you not to betray my father. For if you should ever do so I promise you now that I shall make you live to regret it,’ she said echoing Martha’s earlier words.
    He shook his head. ‘And I shall promise you that I shall never betray or harm you or your family in any way, Tamsin.’
    Martha sat up in the bunk and viewing Adam in his Royalist guise she declared scornfully, ‘I wonder what the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell would think if he could see you now, Master Carey? Would he be so impressed to see one of his favourite lieutenants dressed up in such Royalist flummery and finery ?’
    Adam laughed. ‘Captain Carey, Martha. Oh - I doubt that he would. But if this fine plumage,’ he said making another low courtly bow, ‘makes it easier for my arrival to pass unnoticed amongst the Royalists then it will do well enough for me. I shall of course see that it is returned safely to you ere long, Tamsin.’
    Martha spoke out sharply, ‘Oh, it had better be my fine lad. Although her father will want to know how it came to leave his dressing chest.’ Martha shook her head doubtfully. ‘She has yet to find an excuse for needing it.’

 
    Chapter Twenty-Two
     
    As they left the ship at Falmouth Tamsin saw her Aunt Phoebe waiting for them with her coach on the busy quayside and before Adam could slip away quietly from her side she immediately introduced him boldly to her.
    ‘Aunt Phoebe, this is Sir Philip Carey’s son, Adam. He came over on the ship with us. Will you not allow him to travel further with us in our carriage?’ She smiled sweetly at Adam.
    ‘My Lady Phoebe.’ He greeted her with a courtly bow and a sweep of the feathered beaver. ‘I trust you are keeping well, and my Lord Bevil?’
    Her plump, pretty aunt shook her fair ringlets and greeted Adam with a pleasant dimpled smile. ‘Good day to you, sir. It gives me much pleasure to meet Philip Carey’s son again. If I remember rightly you were a friend of my son Jago. It is five years or more since you last visited Treganna, is it not? We are going on to Helford, and you, sir? Are you expecting anyone here to meet you? If not there is room in plenty on our coach.’
    ‘I am expected in Illogan later this evening. Thank you, Lady Phoebe, I would be much obliged if I may travel in your company part of the way.’
    Tamsin looked over at Martha for signs of her dissent. Would she give Adam away? Martha holding onto her arm tightened her mouth firmly and said nothing; she had kept her promise so far.
    Tamsin wondered what Martha was thinking as they sat in the coach and her aunt chatted away amicably to Adam finding his light banter and conversation pleasurable. Reuben was sitting on top next to the coach driver and footman. All had passed muster so far, Tamsin believed with much relief.
    Lady Phoebe suspected nothing, obviously she had not heard about his change of allegiance to the Cromwellians. Tamsin prayed that her aunt would not be angry if she discovered the truth later about Master Adam Carey.
    Tamsin was not enjoying this journey one bit. Soon now she knew she would have to say goodbye to Adam who showed no signs of discomfort whatsoever in her delighted aunt’s company, as without fault he played the Royalist cavalier. She realised not for the first time that he must be a bold consummate actor. His work as an agent gave him good practice every hour of the day because his very life depended on it.
    Had he been acting too when he had shown his deep gratitude towards her and Reuben? This she would never know if the hostilities continued and she never saw him again. He risked his life