Beckett led her to the front hall. He opened the door. Two carriages drawn by teams of matching grays waited at the front step.
“Where are we going?” Gwendolyn asked.
“To see my wedding present to you.”
“Beckett, I didn’t expect—”
He hushed her with a kiss. “Are you curious as to where we will live?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then let’s find out, Mrs. Steele.”
Mrs. Steele.No title could be finer. And he had a gleam in his eye as if he was certain he was going to surprise her. She sat back against the seat.
Her curiosity grew when they began driving to the docks along the Thames. She thought of Dara’s fear that he would expect her to live above the tavern where he’d had his quarters. She glanced back at her sisters in the following carriage and saw by Dara’s expression she was thinking the same thing. The wind had picked up a bit. She held her bonnet to keep it from misbehaving on her head.
The carriage pulled to a stop by the wharf, and a line of ships docked there.
She and Beckett and her family climbed out of the vehicles. Men shouted as they rolled barrels and heaved crates, loading the ships. Gulls circled in the air over their heads. The air smelled of salt and a hint of the exotic.
One of the ships was sleeker and newer than the others. Beckett took her hand and led her to it. The masthead was of a dark-haired siren with a gold coin in her mouth.
“What do you think?” Beckett asked.
“It is a fine ship,” she said, slightly confused.
And then Dara called out, “Look at the name.” She was pointing at the stern of the ship.
Gwendolyn went over, conscious that the ship’s company were now lining up along thegunwales. She looked at the gold lettering over the captain’s quarters.
The Gambler’s Daughter
“You own this ship?” she said, turning to Beckett.
“Weown this ship,” he answered, his smile letting her know he was inordinately pleased with himself. He had been busy the past couple of days. “It even has a small library.”
“And we will live on it?” She couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice.
“If you wish.” He watched her closely, she realized. He wasn’t certain if she would like his plan.
“Idowish, Mr. Steele. This will be a wonderful adventure.”
His grin broadened, and his shoulders relaxed.
“When do we sail? Where shall we go first?” she wondered.
He had an answer for that as well. “I thought perhaps Spain. I’ve a desire to see if my mother has relatives there. I’d like to meet them.”
“That is a good idea.”
“And then Barbados?” he suggested.
“Yes,” she said. “I’ll see if my memories hold true. And after that?”
“After that, we travel wherever your heart desires.”
Gwendolyn threw her arms around him. “You understand everything about me.”
