The door opened and his father appeared on the threshold.“Everything all right in here?”Will asked, his gaze darting between the two young men.
Shrugging, David said, “Yes.But what was all the commotion about out there?I heard shouting.”
“There were some cataracts we had to go around,” Will replied.“Although the captain has some directional control with the sails, his ship relies on the rudder for quicker turns.”He turned his attention to Tom.“May I have a word with you?”
Tom swallowed and slowly stood.He directed a glance of worry at David before following his uncle out the door and to the stern.When Will indicated one of the metal chairs, he sat down and asked, “What’s this about?”
Will settled into an adjacent chair.“You tell me.”
His eyes widening in alarm, Tom opened his mouth to claim innocence but finally sighed.“If you’re referring to finding me with my arms around Lady Helen?—”
“I am.”
Tom dipped his head, surprised that in all the excitement, Will had even noticed them.“I was merely helping to keep her on her feet.She...stumbled when the ship shifted, and she was carrying the babe and...”He shrugged as if defeated.“I didn’t want her to fall, sir.”
“Good,” Will replied.
Blinking, Tom stared at his uncle.“Good?”he repeated.
Will shrugged.“You saved her from falling.Saved the babe from injury,” he stated.
“I suppose I did,” Tom agreed, although he didn’t show any emotion at the admission.
“So...why didn’t you escort her to her cabin?You left rather abruptly.”
Tom tugged on his ear.“I...I didn’t wish to...compromise her, sir.”
Will sighed and settled back in the chair as he crossed his arms over his chest.“You like her,” he stated.
Suspicious of his uncle’s motives, Tom furrowed his brows.“I suppose.I mean...I don’tdislikeher.”
Arching a brow, Will sighed again.“I know I told you boys to be on your best behavior on this trip?—”
“I have been, sir.”
“—but that doesn’t mean you have toavoidher.”
“It’s rather hard given the tight quarters,” Tom countered.
“You can talk to her.”
“I tried, but that babe...”He displayed a grimace.
Will angled his head to one side.“What about the babe?”
“He’s always about,” Tom complained.
Will blinked.“You sound as if you’re jealous of him.”
Tom knew his face was reddening with embarrassment.“I’m not.”
“Hmph.Well, I was on my way to speak with the captain when I stopped at your cabin,” Will said, not adding that Helen had passed him in the corridor.The memory of hearing Master Bradley’s ‘mama, mama, mama’ nearly had him grinning.The boy certainly knew what to say when he wanted his mother.“I’m going there now,” he said, rising from his chair.“Just...be friendly with her.”
Tom inhaled to respond but closed his mouth and watched as his uncle disappeared down the corridor.
“Friendly?”he had almost repeated.How could he pretend friendship when he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms again?Feel the warmth of her body as it pressed against the front of his.Capture her lips with his and kiss her until he had to take a breath.Slide his hands across her back, along her sides.Mold his hands over her breasts.Undress her and kiss every inch of her soft skin before claiming her as his own.
The thought of sexual congress with Helen Tennison had his cock reacting, and he shifted uncomfortably in the chair.
Just knowing she was sleeping in a cabin directly across from his had him groaning.
This trip up the Nile was going to be the death of him.
