Free A Captive Heart by Patricia Scott Page B

daily as her father did on the field of battle.
    S he thought she had little chance of speaking to Adam alone before they parted company for the last time and so she spent most of the journey looking out at the passing countryside. Even though they sat next to one another in the coach, close enough for her to touch him, close enough to feel every movement he made and his body warmth, she felt like they were miles apart and it seemed that her aunt held his whole attention now.

 
    Chapter Twenty-Three
     
    Lady Phoebe was very interested in Tresco mainly, she confessed, because it had been her niece’s home for the past two years.
    ‘I have heard that it is a beautiful place in peace time. Much too quiet though for a young girl like Tamsin with no young friends and little entertainment.’ Lady Phoebe turned to Adam. ‘Do you feel, Master Carey that Tresco is well defended?’
    Only then did Adam’s eyes meet Tamsin’s. It was a pity she thought that men did not show alarm as easily as women folk. He could lie so beautifully.
    ‘Yes it is defended most admirably at all times by Colonel Trevenian, Lady Phoebe.’
    Tamsin, feeling sick at heart, listened intently as they chatted and realised that her aunt was delicately probing him about his present feelings towards her niece.
    ‘It must have been so good for Tamsin to have you visit the castle.’ Lady Phoebe smiled at Adam. ‘Therefore I shall not question you further about your reason for being there. It is doubtless necessary to say as little as possible these days in case it falls into the ears of our enemies, sir.’
    He nodded. ‘That is very true, my lady.’
    ‘I hope you will be able to visit us at Treganna once again. What do you think Tamsin? Do you not welcome the possibility of some young company?’
    Tamsin smiled but said nothing. Her aunt would doubtless not expect her to seem too eager to voice her agreement to this invitation. She could feel the hot colour flooding her cheeks readily as he turned his smiling gaze on her. There was more than a trace of mischief sparkling in his sea green eyes now. And her heart acted accordingly as she tried in vain to avoid his gaze.
    Adam smiled charmingly at her aunt. ‘Thank you, my Lady. I shall accept your invitation gladly at the first opportunity.’
    As Tamsin expected Martha did not look too pleased by this invitation. But it was out of her hands entirely. Though Tamsin doubted whether Adam would take advantage of her aunt’s hospitality. She thought he would be kept much too busy from now onwards.
    Lady Phoebe believed that Adam had served and spent some time in the castle with her father and Adam was not going to let her think otherwise. It was his best defence and cover for the moment and he knew that Tamsin could not betray him else she betrayed what she had done to her father.
    Adam felt her discomfort as the rumbling coach brought them in close contact. He wished he could comfort her, tell her that he loved her and that no harm would come to her while he was there. And he wished that they were on their own without Martha and the eyes of his benefactor Lady Phoebe looking on them both with hopeful anticipation.

 
    Chapter Twenty-Four
     
    Twilight and darkness would soon be setting in and a cool clammy mist was wreathing and rising up from the sea when the coach stopped on the outskirts of Illogan, where Adam made his farewells to them.
    ‘I am most grateful to you for allowing me to journey this far. I trust that it has not taken you too far out of your way, my lady?’
    Tamsin stood up to say, ‘One moment if you please, Aunt Phoebe. Before we leave…’
    Her aunt nodded with a knowing smile. ‘You would like to make your farewells and wish him well, my dear. As I also wish you well, Master Carey.’
    She obviously read something more into this but Tamsin chose to ignore it.
    ‘Thank you. Yes... I would like to say goodbye to Adam. I might not see him again for quite some time, Aunt