‘You must give us your news first. We’ve heard nothing from England in weeks.’
Jane was insistent as they sat together on the small patio behind the house. Carina had brought Harry home and he was smoking a pipe.
‘You can’t imagine the brouhaha when Carina’s poem was in The Times! Every newspaper in England covered the sailing of the Thousand. The country is infected with Garibaldi fever. He’s regarded as the hero of our age! Anyone who knows him is exalted.’
How fickle people were, Carina thought. She was glad her poem had been published and more so that Jane was keeping Harry occupied. She needed time to collect herself. Harry had given her a shock and by the time she had recovered and looked for Ben, he had gone. She watched as Harry unrolled his tobacco pouch and took out a small amount, compressing it with great attention. He hadn’t changed, she thought. With the addition of a top hat and cane, he might have been about to take a stroll down the Mall.
‘How did you learn we were here?’ Jane was inquisitive as Harry lit a match and drew on his pipe.
‘Sir Oliver Temple gave me permission to enquire at the Foreign Office. Mr Goodwin advised them of your whereabouts and they passed the information on to me. I travelled with correspondents from a dozen newspapers.’
‘How long do you intend to remain here?’ Carina asked pointedly.
‘I’ll stay until you’re ready to come home to England.’
Harry spoke of England as home but it was no longer her home. And why had he thought it necessary to ask for Oliver’s permission? He knew she despised her uncle. Carina’s foot began to tap a rhythm on the ground and Harry hurried on.
‘Faith, I don’t mean right away! Another sea voyage would be the death of me!’
Jessie appeared at the door to call them in for supper. She had invited Harry, along with her husband Alberto, who was waiting in the kitchen.
‘One more Britisher!’ Alberto declared as Harry was introduced. ‘We have more foreigners than Italians fighting for our nation’s freedom.’
‘Now don’t you start getting at Mr Carstairs!’ Jessie said as they sat down at the table. ‘He’s a gentleman and not used to your soldierly talk.’
‘Well, thank heavens he’s not another journalist. I’ve had enough of those vultures feeding on our pickings.’
‘The pen’s as sharp a weapon as the sword,’ Jane retorted firmly. ‘The British newspapers have changed the world’s view of Italy. We should be grateful to them.’
‘And since when have newspaper editors won Garibaldi’s wars for him?’
‘Come now, Alberto, stay quiet and eat your supper,’ Jessie scolded mildly as she ladled out soup. ‘A full stomach will put you in better humour.’
They ate in silence for a time. Alberto polished off his plate with a crust of bread and then turned to Carina.
‘I’m glad we found you this afternoon. Colonel Mavrone was most anxious to speak to you.’
‘I can’t think why … He seemed to have recovered well.’ Carina stumbled over her words and blushed, annoyed with herself. ‘Do you know when Garibaldi plans to cross the Straits?’
‘The British are with him all the way!’ Harry interjected. ‘The Prime Minister and many others have contributed to his funds.’
‘A thousand Redshirts wrapped in English banknotes!’ Alberto smiled at Harry.’ Garibaldi will take his decision in the next few days. Now, where’s that spaghetti you promised me, Jessie?’
When supper was over, Jessie and Jane insisted Carina leave the clearing up to them and sent her outside with Harry. They drank coffee and, as Harry talked, she tried not to think of Ben.
‘I’m glad you’ve come round to Miss Parsons. I wrote to your aunt and dare say she’s relieved that you’re together.’
‘And why did you do that?’
‘I thought it polite to tell Lady Farne I was setting out to find you.’
‘Did you also inform your father? I take it he gave you his blessing?’
‘Better to keep the old man in the dark. He dislikes foreigners and abhors revolution.’
His response nettled Carina. Her own father had served in the navy and met her mother when he was stationed in Sicily. As far as she knew, Harry had never left England before and displayed an irritating superiority that was common to his kind.
‘Garibaldi’s campaign has nothing to do with you, Harry. You should have stayed away.’
There was a full moon and Carina saw happiness wiped from Harry’s face. She didn’t mean to be cruel, but his arrival was a complication she could do without. Her life with Ben was about to begin and she must explain this to Harry. It was his first night and she would talk to him tomorrow, Carina decided as she walked with him to the gate and gave him the lantern.
‘I hope you’ve found decent lodgings. The accommodation in Milazzo may not be up to the standard you’re accustomed to.’
‘I’ve booked a pensione beneath the castle and am assured the beds are clean. Will I find you here in the morning?’
‘Yes, if you’re up early enough. We’re handing over to the medical team from Palermo tomorrow.’
Harry held the lamp up so that its light shone down on her face. ‘To be honest, Carrie, I didn’t come to join the revolution. You know why I’m here—’
‘Be off with you now! It’s time we were all in bed.’ Carina cut across him not wanting to hear his next words, her gaze following the bobbing light of the lantern until it disappeared. Harry had written to Oliver and Alice. Why hadn’t he forewarned her? Was he afraid she might have stopped him? They were friends, not sweethearts! She had learnt to bat away uncomfortable thoughts, but Harry was as dogged as she was – and the sooner she told him about Ben, the better.
Disquiet scratched her as she thought of Ben. He wasn’t yet fully recovered and could have a relapse. The Neapolitan navy might sink his boat. Anything might happen to him and they hadn’t even said goodbye. Ben had more lives than a cat, she told herself. There was no use worrying about him, but she wished with all her heart Harry had not come. She was bound to make him unhappy. If only she could pack him off home on the next boat for England.