“I much prefer the warmer climate in the islands.”
He hooked her arm through his to continue the walk, very proper, and yet that was the only warmth she was thinking of. It was very hard to concentrate on conversing with him when their shoulders brushed together and she could feel the heat of his body so close to hers.
“Then why come here for a husband?”
“My father wanted me to have this coming out because it’s what my mother would have arranged for me had she lived. But why do you find it unusual? I am English, after all.”
“What sort of man are you looking for? Give me a few clues and I’ll keep an eye out for candidates.”
Hehelp her to find a husband? She almost laughed. He was probably teasing, so she replied in a light tone, “I probably want what most girls want. I’d like a husband who is tall, and handsome, and witty. Oh, and it would be nice if he enjoys traveling.”
She’d just described him. She wondered if he’d noticed. It didn’t sound like it when he chuckled.
“I think that has to be the first time I’ve ever heard that as criteria for a husband,” he said. “Why traveling?”
“Because I enjoy it.”
He raised a brow. “Do you really?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“Because most women I know don’t like going to sea. They either find it frightening, or just don’t want to go far from the comforts of home.”
“Then they’ve never manned the wheel!”
His look said he was sure she was teasing now. “Well, you’ll have to strike old Wilbur as a contender for your hand, then. He seems a man who’ll never set foot aboard a ship.”
“Nonsense. What makes you say so?”
“I’ve seen him dance with you,” he replied. “He’s got two left feet. Can’t maintain a good balance aboard a ship with two left feet, now, can you?”
She did laugh at his teasing this time. He just grinned and tossed a pebble into the water. Hyde Park was still in glorious full bloom and the lake was beautiful at this time of the year, but she noticed only vaguely, since her eyes barely moved off of Drew. She still found the breeze off the water a little chilling whenever he stepped away from her, but she wasn’t about to mention that she was cold and risk ending their outing, or, actually…No, she wasn’t going to make him think about keeping her warm. She couldn’t be that bold; well, she could, but they were in a public place.
“What about you?” she asked. “Do you often come to England?”
“My brothers and I try to get here at least once a year, ever since my sister took up residence here. We opened a Skylark office in London after Georgie married, so England is once again one of our regular trade routes.”
“Where do your normal routes take you?”
“The Caribbean. I’ll be returning there when I leave England. I was going home to Bridgeport, but only because I was going to meet Boyd there. Since he showed up here instead, I’ll be returning to business as usual.”
She grinned. “You favor the Caribbean, too?”
He grinned as well and admitted, “Yes, but then it’s not such a long trip from there to our home in Bridgeport, Connecticut.”
“Your ship is docked in London, I take it?” At his nod, she asked, “What’s her name?”
“The Triton. She’s a beauty, sleek, and fast for her size,” he said with obvious pride.
“How long have you captained her?”
“I was twenty when I first took command of her,” he replied.
“Isn’t that a name from Greek mythology?”
“Indeed. Most of our ships carry similar names. Our father named all the ones my brothers and I command, so you might guess, he loved Greek mythology.”
“Rather prestigious names, though,” she said, then chuckled. “I’m hesitant to mention the name of my father’s ship. There’s simply no comparison.”
