It was that stout man from the ship. The one with the very bad English. He was looking rather sheepish. Hannah could tell that he did not want to have to talk to her or make her do something that she did not want to do.
Again, he spoke, "Señora, por favor, please I tie ya a han and blin folde ya gain."
He repeated the exact words, just as before.
Hannah responded, "No point in asking any questions you will just plead ignorant and be non-responsive."
"No anglish Señora."
"Yeah, yeah." Hannah sighed. Her only hope was that the man at that dusty, smokey office promised no harm would come to her. She had to believe that to be true.
He tied her up and blindfolded her and gagged her once again. Hannah felt nervous. What were they going to do with her and who were 'they'?
She could feel that she was in a carriage. The horses neighed and snorted as they cantered down the cobblestones. Hannah heard lots of sounds of life, street vendors calling out about their wares. People shopping. Negotiating prices. Bartering and haggling. Shouting back and forth to each other trying to get the best price and profit at the same time. Then she heard nothing but hooves beating on the ground beneath her. They were moving quickly. The cobbles turned into dirt. The driver pushing the horses faster and faster. It felt like they were on some sort of deadline?
Slowing and finally stopping she heard voices. All in Spanish unfortunately. They were muttering to each other in low tones. Someone took her by the arm. Fear gripped her again. Her face contorted in anguish of the fate that was before her. She could hear the sea. The waves crashing against rock. That sound was distinguishable. Unmistakable. She heard it so often for so long. Someone lifted her up and put her in something that creaked and squeaked. Then that distinct feeling of lifting off the ground. Then silence. Gliding through the air. Not a sound. The sun was warm on her. They travelled, what seemed to her, a great distance. All of a sudden someone was removing wrist restraints. Then her gag and finally her blind fold. She looked around her realizing she was in the basket of a hot air balloon for the second time in her life.
There standing right in front of her was Henry! Henry her butler? What was he doing there?
"What in heaven and earth are you doing here?" Hannah shouted. "You have arranged to kidnap me?" Her mind was racing. After all the time together and how good they had been to Henry he was kidnapping her? This was impossible.
Henry smiled broadly, for all would be revealed in due course. Very shortly as a matter of fact.
"Mrs. Talbot, please forgive all this covertness. You will understand all in a few more minutes."
Before Hannah could speak he directed her with his hand on her back and his other hand directing her line of vision.
She turned still astonished that she had Henry beside her all this time without knowing it. She saw the very rock mass that the ship had attached itself to and they were quickly arriving at the cove. Why was she back here again? Why did they bring her here? Her brow deeply furrowed.
The pilot opened the vents in the top of the balloon and they began their descent. As they rounded the curve of the rock mass to expose the cove and for the second time in her life she arrived safely there.
Her eyes widened to their fullest - for there stood the most beautiful house Hannah had ever seen.
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