“That is not even close to what I intend to do with you.”
Her face heated as her body warmed from the heat in his green eyes.
Oh, she could not wait until they were wed and alone.
Epilogue
Seven Years Later ~ Dominica
“We can go with them,” Rhys offered as Tempest watched her family’s trunks be loaded onto the passenger ship that would take them across the Atlantic. They were already on board, having said their goodbyes, and anxiously waited for the ship to sail.
With Napoleon no longer a threat, nor the French, her father had been recalled to England.
He had lived in Dominica for decades. She had been born and raised here and now her family was returning to a country only one of them had ever set foot in—her father.
“You have not painted a flattering picture of London during the Season,” Tempest reminded her husband.
They would arrive in time for her sisters to prepare to attend balls, entertainments, be courted…all the things that she’d been denied due to circumstances. A part of Tempest had suffered a pang of jealousy, which maybe Rhys had noticed because he was far too perceptive at times. But she also could not complain because her unusual circumstance had allowed her to meet the only man that she could ever love, respect or desire. She could not imagine that any other country held someone better than her husband.
“I was not truly allowed to enjoy the Season either.”
“Because you were too busy eavesdropping,” she teased.
“My duty was to England and my mistress the Home Office, until it wasn’t.”
“Then you became a wastrel.”
Rhys chuckled. “Not for long.”
“Thank goodness for that.” She slipped her arm around his. “Have you sent your letter to Lionston?” she asked quietly.
“He knows that I am truly retired. It is final and there is nothing he can say, do or offer to bring me back as he managed to do while we were still at war with France. I did offer to train and show any new operative the Caribbean under the guise of my ferry service, but that is all I will do.”
“You are a fool if you think The Lion Watch will let you go so easily.”
“You are correct,” Rhys sighed, “and why I should also confess that I had proposed to act as a mentor or supervisor, only, in case the new recruit is still a pup, fresh from university with little knowledge of the world, as I had been when I was recruited. We finally have peace and do not need a foolish buck getting us into another war because of a mistake.”
“I knew you would not so easily give up your position no matter how much you dislike the inconvenience.” Tempest chuckled and glanced over at her father and sisters who stood on the deck of the ship and tried not to be concerned. “How do you think they will get on in London?”
“I do not believe you have anything to worry about. I suspect that Nicoll will have little patience for the dandies of Society but one man will recognize that it is better to have an intelligent, self-assured woman as a wife then a simpering fool. As for Margaret, well, I would not be surprised if she did not try to take over Parliament or at least insist that she also be allowed to attend the scientific societies.”
“What of the other three?”
“That is hard to determine just yet. Ann will only be seven and ten, the same age as most debutantes, but I suspect that she will grow bored because of her curious nature. She will have little patience for what Society believes is interesting or entertaining. Ruth, on the other hand, will likely be intrigued as she studies everyone, and uncovers secrets. She is the one I should tell Lionston about, if he needs another spy in ballrooms.”
“You will do no such thing,” Tempest warned. “I will not have my sisters in danger. Besides, Ruth is only five and ten, too young for a ballroom.”
“She is likely to get herself in trouble when she becomes too curious and it is better to give her a reason to seek out secrets. Further, Lionston will have two years to train and prepare her.”
“My sister is not going to be a spy!” Tempest insisted. “Further, I have no worries about Ruth.”
“Do you of Ellen?”
Tempest sighed. “She is only thirteen, so will not be entering a ballroom yet, but she does like to explore and hates being cooped up. It will likely drive her mad if she is left to cool her heels while father and my sisters attend balls.”
“She is likely the one to get up to mischief.”
“Maybe…”
