“Where will we land? What will happen to us when we reach the shore?” Bertilla asked.
As if he noticed the sudden nervousness in her voice, Lord Saire turned to smile at her.
“We shall be quite safe,” he assured her. “The Malayans are very friendly and, as we are so close to Singapore, there is sure to be someone who will give us a bed for the night.”
He spoke confidently and unexpectedly he put out his hand to take hers.
“You are not afraid, are you?” he asked.
“Not when I am with – you,” Bertilla replied.
His fingers seemed to tighten on hers and after a moment she said with a touch of laughter in her voice,
“You are rescuing me for the third time – but at least on this occasion it is not my – fault!”
“Which is doubtless very satisfactory,” Lord Saire said and she knew he was smi
