The Heart is Torn by Phyllis Mallett Read Free Book Online Page A

himself of his sodden cloak.
    Rain streamed down his weathered face. His tricorne was soaked and battered. He smiled though, his expression tender as he regarded her.
    ‘I don’t much like being ashore in such a storm. It’s much safer afloat. I saw Nick in Polgarron. He told me about your father’s mishap. How is he?’
    ‘Sleeping, and he shouldn’t be, so the doctor said. I’m so worried.’
    He came to her, taking her hands in his.
    ‘Don’t worry, sweet maid,’ he said huskily. ‘I’m not going back to sea just yet. I won’t leave until we’ve married and this trouble has been cleared up. Jonah Peake is behind your trouble, and I’ll see that he doesn’t get away with it. I’ve let it be known in town that I’m going back to Falmouth to be with my ship, but I’m planning to lie low in Polgarron to get evidence of Peake’s wrong-doing. I don’t want you to worry if you don’t see or hear from me for a spell, and I shall contact you when I can. I haven’t even told my father what I’m about. He wants me to be with Seagull . But my first duty is to you, Beth, and that’s why I needed to talk to your father. But we’d better not disturb him if he is resting. Of course, what I’d like to do is spend time with you now, but I must be going. There may be some evil work in progress under the cover of this night and I need to be where it is taking place.’
    Beth was desolated by his words. She threw herself into his arms and he held her close. But she sensed a remoteness in him, a mental distance that hinted at his desire to be about his business.
    ‘Can you not stay with me until morning?’ she pleaded. ‘I feel so alone. Nick will not be home, and there is only Rose in the house. If my father’s condition worsens there will be no-one to go for the doctor.’
    ‘I’m sorry, but I must away. I would give anything to linger, but I need to be in town, and I have to find cover for tomorrow. Don’t tell a soul about my plans, Beth. This is a dangerous game to be playing.’
    ‘I won’t say a word to anyone,’ she replied, stifling a sigh. ‘Be careful, Adam. I would die if anything happened to you.’
    ‘Don’t worry about me.’
    He crushed her to him, his powerful arms entwined around her slender body. She raised her face and he kissed her ardently.
    ‘My sweet Beth,’ he whispered. ‘Don’t look so forlorn. Fates seem to be against us at this time, but the skies will clear, and before long we shall be able to go ahead with our plans. But this trouble has been looming for a long time, and it is better to have it out in the open while I am around.’
    Beth clung to him, wanting him to stay. He kissed her tenderly and she clenched her teeth against the pleas that tried to escape her as he turned to the door. A particularly heavy gust of wind blasted against the window panes, and somewhere outside a crash echoed as a tree was blown down.
    ‘Adam, it isn’t safe for you to go out there,’ she said fiercely.
    ‘We get worse weather than this at sea,’ he retorted. ‘Keep your chin up, Beth. Why don’t you go to bed and sleep the rest of the night away? You’ll be quite safe in here.’
    ‘I doubt if I will close my eyes for a single moment,’ she replied. ‘But go and do what you must. I shall worry about you until we meet again.’
    He kissed her once more, and then opened the door. Rain lashed in and they had to handle the door together to get it closed, Beth throwing her weight against it and Adam dragging at it from the outside. Beth locked and bolted it. She peered from a window to catch a last glimpse of Adam, but saw nothing and returned to her father’s room.
    Beth’s vigil continued through the long night, and when dawn finally came she was standing at the window of her father’s room, gazing out across the cliffs at the stormy sea.
    A knock at the door aroused Beth from her reverie. She sighed heavily, crossed the room to look at her father, who was still asleep, or