She looked him in the eye. “I think I might be, yes.”
He flinched slightly. “Damn it.”
“Bertie!”
“Who is the fellow?” Frowning, he nibbled at his biscuit. “Are you in love with him? Or is there a chance I can steal you away?”
Lydia gasped. “Five years with barely a word, sir! And now, after barely five minutes in my house, you have the audacity to probe into my personal life.”
“Indeed, I’m utterly appalled at myself.” He grinned. “So? Who is he?”
Lydia failed to stifle a chuckle. “I’m sure he is not anyone you know. Yes, I am in love with him, and no, there is not a chance you can steal me away.”
“Damn it,” he muttered again, scowling at his biscuit. “Still, I don’t see a sparkly ring on your finger, so I’m not giving up without a fight. I have much to offer you, Lydia.”
She lifted a brow. “Such as?”
“Well now.” Bertram finished his biscuit, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and set his teacup down. “I’ll start by saying I sailed from Saint John to London on a topsail schooner. Her maiden voyage, actually, and she performed beautifully.”
Lydia blinked at the puzzling response. “And how is that relevant?”
“The ship’s name isLydia Jane.”
She laughed. “Stop it, Bertie, please. I’m no longer the naïve young girl you took pleasure in teasing.”
He sniffed. “I’m not teasing, Lyddie.”
Lydia laughed again, but with less levity. “You must be. Or else the name is a rather remarkable coincidence.”
The hint of a smile appeared. “Not a coincidence, my dear. It is named for you.”
“How?” Frowning, Lydia shook her head. “I mean, why would the ship be named for me?”
“Because the ship’s owner has forever had atendrefor the wretched woman.” Bertram heaved a sigh. “Naming the ship for her was an easy decision to make.”
Silent, Lydia stared at him for a few moments, her mind dancing around the obvious, but unbelievable, connection. She dared to voice it. “Are you saying the ship belongs to you, Bertie?”
He nodded. “She does indeed.Lydia Janeis the first, and plans for three more are already in the works. The Truscott Line will be trading with the Americas as well as India and China.”
“The Truscott Line,” Lydia repeated, glancing away as she absorbed the information. “But how on earth did you manage this? Oh, my goodness, Bertie, I hope you haven’t sunk yourself into a massive amount of debt.”
“Sunkmyself?” The grin returned. “Nice turn of phrase. No, I haven’t sunk myself into anything I can’t handle. I didn’t manage it all by myself, however.” He cleared his throat. “I had an unexpected bequest.”
“Really? From whom?”
Bertram opened his mouth as if to respond, but instead glanced at the window. “It’s stopped raining and the sun is out. I’ve been on a ship for a little over four weeks and I’d really like to step on some grass for a change. Perhaps even look at some flowers. Is the little park still at the end of the street? The one with the bandstand and the lily pond?”
“Yes, it’s still there.” Lydia smiled. “Remember when we used to catch frogs in that pond?”
“And fish for tadpoles,” Bertram replied, nodding. “Yes, of course I remember. Come on, Lyddie. Let’s go and relive some old memories and maybe create some new ones.”
“As you wish, but they willnotinclude catching frogs.” Lydia rose. “You can tell me about this new venture of yours and how it all came to be.”
Sighing, Bertram rose to his feet. “While you can break my heart by telling me who has managed to steal yours.”
A short while later, they stepped out into warm spring sunshine. “Glorious,” Lydia murmured, glancing up at a near-cloudless sky.
“So, who is he?” Bertram asked, tucking her arm through his as they crossed over the street.
