Read The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) for Free Online

her, but she forced herself to concentrate on his words. ‘We’re going to try to arrive before some merchants from the English East India Company who’re also going there. If we can get there first, we can secure a trade agreement and then the Company won’t have a monopoly.’ He nodded, as if it was already a deal.
    ‘You mean, it will be a sort of contest? A race?’
    ‘Something like that, yes. Only this is serious.’
    ‘That sounds thrilling. Oh, how I wish I could go with you,’ Hannah sighed. To sail the ocean to faraway lands, to experience new things, see different peoples, it all sounded so much better than her own dreary life. What did she have to look forward to? Marriage to someone of her parents’ choosing and the role of wife and mother. It wasn’t an appealing thought at all, unless her husband should happen to be Captain Rydon, of course. Unlike her sister, Hannah would be quite happy to wait for him for as long as it took. But she would much rather spend her entire life with him, following him wherever he went.
    He laughed and reached out a hand to ruffle her hair and almost sent her cap flying. She straightened it without thinking. ‘It’s far too dangerous,’ he said. ‘Shame you’re not a boy, you have spirit, I’ll grant you.’
    Hannah’s heart sank. Kate had been right after all. Captain Rydon did see her as a child. An amusing one perhaps, but a child nonetheless. Of course she hadn’t expected him to say that she could come with him, but a tiny part of her had hoped he would promise something else. To come back to her, and only her, perhaps.
    ‘I tell you what though – would you like to meet a Chinaman?’
    ‘A Chinaman?’
    ‘Yes, a real live one. He’s not dangerous, I guarantee it.’ Rydon grinned.
    ‘Well, yes, but …’
    ‘Good, then I’ll go and fetch him for you. Come to think of it, I’m sure everyone else would love to see him too.’
    ‘But where will you find one here in Plymouth?’ Hannah was beginning to wonder if the wine had addled her wits. Or possibly his.
    He winked and laughed once more. ‘Just wait and see.’
    He said a swift goodbye and she watched him as he sauntered off. Had he been amusing himself at her expense? Was he still going to meet Kate later and would the two of them laugh at how gullible Hannah was? The thought was more than she could bear and she left the room abruptly. Just outside the door, however, she collided with her mother, who was on her way in with a late-comer.
    ‘Heavens, girl, where are you off to in such a hurry?’ Hannah opened her mouth to give some sort of explanation, but when she caught sight of the person behind her mother, the words died in her throat.
    ‘Mistress Hannah, how nice to see you again.’
    Ezekiel Hesketh, looking neat and tidy in a sober, but well-cut, outfit of finest black silk, was regarding her with a small smile. He wasn’t physically repulsive in any way, Hannah had to admit. Of average height and build, with thick brown hair and deep-set pale green eyes, he was almost handsome. However, there was something about those eyes that struck a chill inside her and made her want to run for cover. She looked from her mother to Mr Hesketh and back again. They seemed to be on remarkably good terms, almost as if there was some kind of understanding between them. The thought made Hannah distinctly uneasy.
    ‘M-Mr Hesketh.’ She stammered out his name, but for the life of her she couldn’t make her hand reach out to touch his outstretched one. Instead she stood rooted to the spot, staring at him.
    ‘Where are your manners? Greet our guest properly, Hannah.’ Her mother gave her an angry little push from behind, almost propelling her daughter into the man’s arms. Hannah quickly put out her hand and he bent over it to place a kiss on her knuckles. She snatched it back and put it behind her, rubbing vigorously against her dress to remove any trace of him. He didn’t seem to notice the childish