Chev swiveled to face Emmaus. “Are you still here?”
“I take it,” Emmaus said, “the meeting did not go well.”
Themeetinghad passed like a dream after she’d stumbled into his embrace. The atmosphere had been something out of a myth, and the night infused with inspiration. If he were a different kind of man, he might have believed some goddess had intervened.
Athena, perhaps.
Then again, Athena was the goddess of wisdom and holding Penelope had not been exactly wise.
Emmaus clucked. “Quite the conversationalist this morning, aren’t you? Very well, I can see I am not wanted. There’s stew on the coals. And”—his gaze raked Chev’s dripping torso—“I’d wash up before Lord Thaddeus arrives.”
Again—fuck.He’d forgotten his promise to hunt with his son.
Thatwas how dangerous Pen was. One would think she has harmless, given her slender form and those soft, inviting—
He cast aside his ax.
“I apologize,” he said, catching up to Emmaus.
“No need,” his friend held up his hand. “I understand.Women.”
“I only wishshewere the problem.”
They stopped at the pump. Chev drew a bucket of water.
“She isn’t the problem?” Emmaus asked.
“Of course not. The problem is me.” Holding his wife had unleashed something within. He had no words to describe what was happening. “Douse me, would you, please?”
He bowed his head as Emmaus poured earth-cold water down over his back. The water ran in rivulets and then dripped down from his chest.
Nowthatwas what he had needed—to work himself into a sweat and then be refreshed, washed clean.
Contrast. Life was full of it.
Like an expert naval navigator who’d taken work as a game keeper.
Like a pig farmer’s daughter who’d make an excellent duchess.
Like leaving a second son and returning as heir to a duchy in desperate need of a duke.
Like the chaos that ate away at prosperity when a leader refused to lead.
“Have you cooled down?” Emmaus asked.
“Yes,” Chev replied.
“Good,” Emmaus replied. “Because I have something I have to tell you—I must leave for a day or two.”
“Leave?”
“I received a message this morning. A naval summons.” Emmaus squinted off into the distance. “I’ve been arguing for my portion of spoils. My solicitor believes an arrangement can be made.”
“Will you travel all the way to London?”
“No, just to the Vice-Admiral of Cornwall.”
Chev nodded. He’d be on his own. He didn’t relish the thought. “Good luck.”
