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He walked to the rail and waited while the ship buplank was let down, then he hailed a porter and made his way back across the noded deck to Tess She was sitting patiently where he had left her, looking around with intelligent interest Drab, neat, brave little nun, he thought She looked serious, a little anxious Then she saw hi but pleasure at his return and so inside him went thud

To have a woman slad to welcome him to their horeeted his interest with attention that flattered his title and his pocketbook, if nothing else But Tess’s war to ht he’d feel that about a respectable fehtskirt, come to that

‘Those bags there’ He pointed them out to the porter, who reached for the cat’s basket, as well

‘Oh, be careful!’ Tess caught it by the handle

‘I’ll carry it’ Alex picked it up, gave Tess his other arm and offered up a silent prayer of thanks that no one he kneas likely to be around to view one of the ton’s entleinger kitten off a cross-Channel ferry

‘Thank you’ She was still li her hand against his side to ht height for him ‘You are kind, Alex’

‘No, I aplank, then directed the porter to follow them to the Red Lion ‘I’m too selfish to be kind’

‘Nonsense’ She gave his arm a little shake

‘I am And too indolent to make the effort to be unkind,’ he added

‘I don’t believe that, either Perhaps you don’t care enough,’ Tess h for him to hear

‘Care? Of course I care’

‘What about?’ She tipped her head to one side to look up at him ‘Other than your comfort?’

‘My friends’ He’d die for them if he had to, not that he’d ever say so Adown art and antiquities’ My honour That was so else you didn’t talk about, but it hy he lived as he did now