Janet had explained how it had been a traumatic experience for her, so it was difficult to discuss. He completely concurred. He didn’t like to discuss his father either, but the man’s rescue of the Lost Girls was his most notorious feat.
“Caro,” he said, “could we please review my surname?”
“It’s Ralston. So?” She paused, then blanched. “Ralston? By any chance, are you related to Captain Miles Ralston?”
“He was my father.”
“You are joking!”
“No, I’m not joking.”
“I asked if you knew him, and you claimed you didn’t! Why lie about it?”
“It’s a long story,” he said, which was his typical response concerning his father.
“When I first heard you were coming, I wondered if you might be kin to him. I’ve met a few Ralstons in my life, and I’ve always been curious if there was a connection, but as I mentioned, my own relatives don’t like me to announce my link to the tragedy, and I learned the hard way that it was best to remain silent.”
The remark sounded ominous, and he speculated over what she’d learned from the men in her family. Rumor had it that her grandfather had been a monster. It couldn’t have been easy for her to have been thrust into his home. After what she’d suffered in the Caribbean, she’d likely needed some love and care, but old Walter Grey wouldn’t have provided it.
“Do you remember my father?” he asked.
“Oh, absolutely! When he marched onto our island, we’d been stranded for ages. He’d seemed big and important and scary, and he was so. . . so. . . official, I guess. He was all decked out in his uniform with his medals glowing in the sun. We’d been living like abandoned wolf pups, and it was such a relief to have him in charge.” She smiled and sighed. “I have such fond memories of him.”
“I’m so glad. I was afraid you might not recollect.”
“I recollect every tiny detail.” Her smile slipped, and she scowled. “You said that he was your father. Has he passed on?”
“Yes, when I was ten. It was shortly after he stumbled on you girls.”
“I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to thank him.”
“For what?”
“For being kind to me when I desperately needed him to be. I’ve dreamed about him so often. I hope you won’t deem me to be terribly silly, but I was so bewildered when I arrived back in England. I’d never previously met my grandfather, and to describe him as awful and frightening would be an understatement.”
“There has been gossip about him to that effect.”
“I was confused and unhappy, and I used to fantasize that Captain Ralston was my father. I’d pretend he was searching for me, and he’d find me and whisk me away. I’d pray at night that he and I would return to our pretty island and that we would reside there with Libby and Joanna.”
“Joanna was the third girl?”
“Yes. Joanna and Libby. Once we were in London and family members showed up to take us home, we were yanked apart without our being allowed to say goodbye to each other. After what we’d suffered, it was an incredibly traumatic conclusion.” She started to shake. “I’m still haunted by that separation.”
“Of course you are,” he murmured in response. “You were just little children.”
“And the authorities here in England were so mean and abrupt. They wouldn’t tell us what was occurring or what they were arranging. It’s impossible to explain what we went through. Your father made us feel safe. It’s what I liked best about him, but we were only with him a few days. We sailed to Jamaica, and he handed us over to the navy. After we left his ship, we never felt safe again.” She gazed down at the floor, her shaking more pronounced. “I believe that just might be the most words I’ve ever spoken about any of it.”
“I’m delighted you shared them with me. I’ve been eager to talk to one of you Lost Girls, but when you asked me about him, I couldn’t bear to admit I was his son. If you’d told me you didn’t remember him, I’d have been too disappointed.”
“Not remember him! Are you mad? I haven’t forgotten a single aspect about that period. Occasionally, it seems as if it just happened yesterday.”
He hated to witness her trembling, to realize how distraught she’d grown. He stepped over and drew her into his arms. She didn’t scold him or scoot away. She snuggled herself to his chest, and it was a good sign of things to come.
She was wearing just her robe and nightgown, no corset or petticoats to furnish a barrier, so every delicious inch of her torso was pressed to his. Though she was very slender, she was curved in the appropriate spots.
“Don’t fret about the past,” he said. “As you mentioned, it happened such a long time ago. Don’t let it vex you.”
“I’m not fretting. I’m ecstatic! I’ve finally discussed it with someone who didn’t shout and order me to be silent. I never saw Libby or Joanna again, and I’ve been anxious to hunt for them, but I couldn’t imagine how. Even if I’d succeeded in locating them, I wouldn’t have been permitted to contact them, and now, I discover Libby is performing on the stage in London. The first minute I have the chance, I’m going to town to visit her.”
“When you inquired about her, you truly had no idea how famous she’s become?”
“No. I was floored by the news.”
“I think it would be terrific—maybe even cathartic—for you to visit her.”
“I have to find out if she’s ever heard from Joanna. I viewed them as my sisters, and Joanna was younger than we were—and very traumatized. I’ve been tormented to not know her fate.”
“I’ll help
