It seemed anything and everything was conspiring against Roslynn to keep her from having a private word with Anthony, including herself. She had fallen blissfully asleep after they had made love the other night, and then the next morning Anthony had awakened her simply to tell her that George had left and she could have her room back. Just like that, as if the night had never been. And when she had been about to detain him, her stomach had erupted and she had made it to her room only in the nick of time.
Then there had been the wedding and the luncheon afterward that had taken most of the afternoon. But Anthony hadn’t come home with her. He had gone off directly to spend this last evening with his brother, and Roslynn spent a tortuous night wondering what they were up to, because neither of them came home until the small hours of the morning.
And this morning she had been hurried out of bed for the ride to the docks to see theMaiden Anneoff, with the whole family showing up for the occasion. She stood off to the side now with Jeremy while James’ brothers each embraced him and bade him a fair voyage. She had kissed him good-bye herself, a brief peck, what with Anthony’s close attention, which James couldn’t resist commenting on.
“I suppose you’ll miss him terribly, Jeremy?”
The boy grinned at her. “Hell’s bells, he won’t be gonethatlong. And I doubt I’ll have time to miss him. He’s laid the law down, don’t you know. I’m tobury myself in studies, and get me no bast—ah, that is, I’m to stay out of trouble, mind Uncle Tony, and yourself, of course, and do him proud.”
“I’m sure you’ll be up to it.” Roslynn tried to smile, but the smells of the wharf were doing her in. She had to get to the carriage before she disgraced herself. “I believe it’s your turn to tell your father good-bye, laddie.”
Jeremy was crushed not only by James but by Conrad as well, and had to listen to another long list of dos and don’t from the first mate. But he was saved by the tide. It wouldn’t wait, and both men were forced to board.
James could blame Anthony for the hangover that nearly made him forget. He called Jeremy up the gangplank and handed him a note. “See your aunt Roslynn gets this, but not when Tony’s around.”
Jeremy pocketed the note. “It’s not a love letter, is it?”
“A love letter?” James snorted. “Get out of here, puppy. And see you—”
“I know, I know.” Jeremy threw up his hands, laughing. “I won’t do anything you wouldn’t.”
He ran back down the gangplank before James could take him to task for his impudence. But he was smiling as he turned away, and came face-to-face with Conrad.
“What was that about?”
James shrugged, realizing Connie had seen him pass the note. “I decided to lend a hand after all. At the rate Tony’s going, he’d be floundering forever.”
“I thought you weren’t going to interfere,” Connie reminded him.
“Well, he is my brother, isn’t he? Though why I bother after the dirty trick he played on me last night,I don’t know.” At Connie’s raised brow, he grinned, despite the slow throb in his head. “Made sure I’d be feeling miserable today to cast off, the bloody sod.”
“But you went along with it, naturally?”
“Naturally. Couldn’t have the lad drinking me under the table, now, could I? But you’ll have to see us off, Connie. I’m afraid I’m done for. Report to me in my cabin after we’re under way.”
An hour later, Connie poured a measure of rye from the well-stocked cabinet in the captain’s cabin and joined James at his desk. “You’re not going to worry about the boy, are you?”
“That rascal?” James shook his head, wincing slightly when his headache returned, and took another sip of the tonic Connie had had sent from the galley. “Tony will see he doesn’t get into any serious scrapes. If anyone will worry, it’s you. You should have had one of your own, Connie.”
“I probably do. I just haven’t found him yet like you did the lad. You’ve probably more yourself that you don’t know about.”
“Good God, one’s enough,” James replied in mock horror, gaining a chuckle from his friend. “Now what have you to report? How many of the old crew were available?”
“Eighteen. And there was no problem filling the ranks, except for the bos’n, as I told you before.”
“So we’re sailing without one? That’ll put a heavy load on yourself, Connie.”
“Aye, if I hadn’t found a man yesterday, or rather, if he hadn’t volunteered. Wanted to sign on as passengers, him and his brother. When I told him theMaiden Annedon’t carry passengers, he offered to work his way across. A more persistent Scot I’ve never seen.”
“Another Scot? As if I ain’t had enough to do with them lately. I’m bloody well glad your own Scot’s ancestors are so far back you don’t remember them, Connie. Between hunting down Lady Roslynn’s cousin and running into that little vixen and her companion—”
“I thought you’d forgotten about that.”
James’ answer was a scowl. “How do you know this Scot knows the first thing about rigging?”
“I put him through the paces. I’d say he’s had the job before. And he does claim to have sailed before, as quartermaster, ship’s carpenter, and bos’n.”
“If that’s true, he’ll come in right handy. Very well. Is there anything else?”
